Photo project ...

Since Wendell died, I've been trying to get things organized.  (Like my life...)  Lots of different things, but these past few weeks I've been going through old photographs.  Sorting, tossing, organizing into chronological order, boxing in acid-free containers, labeling.  It's been time-consuming but tedious, interesting, fun, sad -- sometimes all in the same five minutes.  Some days I just had to stop and walk away for the rest of the day, or sometimes for several days.  Just emotional overload is how I'd describe it.  But I'm just about finished now.  Really, all I have to do is label the containers.  I've had the label maker for more than a week now.  It's like I don't want to complete this task and do that one last thing so I can put these on a shelf somewhere and walk away.  

Thought I'd share a few of the pictures.

Jeff's holding on tight to his baby brother and really loving him up!

Ray and Jeff at the Winchester Armory to see 'wrestling' with Danny and Donnie Cochran.

Just home from Boy Scout camp after a week away.  Dad helps unload the van...

Now, some of Wendell and I.  I found more than I thought I would.  You see, I HATE to have my picture taken and so I don't have lots of photos of me; I was almost always the one taking the pictures!  (See how I worked that?  LOL!)

Christmas Day, 1961, the day after we became engaged. At his mother's house.

1985.  A week's vacation at a cabin at Lincoln State Park.  We shared the love of reading!

2013.  Taken at a winery just outside Wilcox AZ on our 50th wedding anniversary.  We had a nice brunch there and then took a long drive through the mountains.  Our official celebration was a few months later, in Spencer, with family and friends.

Our dream home in the country.  This is what we left behind ... I still miss it!  But life goes on.  You can't live in the past.

Well, I'll stop for now.  BTW, my next project will be organizing the garage.  The boys are going to help with that; help me decide how many tools I really need to keep.  And I want to get the garage painted, too.  I'll let you know how that goes!  

God willing, I have lots more projects to look forward to.

Adieu January!

Can't believe this month is almost over!  My new year's resolution was to set goals and find a new way to live without my sweetheart.  To keep busy.  To be useful.  To do something for others and stop thinking 'poor me'.  So far I think I'm doing okay!  I have kept busy.  Crocheting like mad for the knit n' crochet group's various charities.  Started a Geri-Fit class to keep flexible.  My big project at home this month was organization of old photos -- getting them into acid-free storage.  Also, I've cleaned out my bathroom and kitchen cabinets.  (When I moved in I actually only wiped them out with disinfectant wipes because they looked okay.  Now I know they're really clean.  In doing that I weeded out more items I don't really need.  Either because I shouldn't have moved them in the first place, or I don't use them anymore since Wendell is gone.

So ... let me look at my photos and see where I've been and what I've been doing...

One of the things I've been doing is finding UFO's (un-finished objects) and completing those projects.  Here's one; I've been doing lots of needlepunch and then what???  Well, this one I used fabric glue and affixed it to this little tote.

Here's more needlepunch.  I glued these three to stacking/nesting boxes which I had painted. The common denominator of each is the American flag; I love our flag!  I like the looks of these but now what?  I'll probably gift them to someone.

I made this gaudy throw to go to charity.  Probably this will go to either the veterans project or the nursing home project.  We make them approximately 36" square, which is just right for the lap of a wheelchair user.  I took a lot of heat when I was working on this brightly colored thing, but I think someone will love it!

One of the things I have been photographing lately are murals.  There are lots of them around here!  So here's a couple that I found in Union City (there are more but I haven't captured them yet):

Heard on the radio that we're supposed to get a snow/ice storm this week.  I'm ready.  As long as I don't loose power I'll be okay.  It never lasts too long.  (Famous last words!)  Hoping it passes us by!

All in all, I think I'm doing okay.  God is good!  All the time!