December 16, 1915

This is a photo of my grandparents (Mom's parents), Abraham Lincoln Troyer and Emma Barbara Eichelberger on their wedding day - December 16, 1915 (or maybe December 15, 1915 - I've seen both and am not sure of the correct date. The family calendar that was made for 2000 says 16th, but the little bulletin for Grandma's Memorial Service says the 15th).



Wow, just a few minutes after I posted my blog entry this morning, we had a car pull up in front of the office (yes, I was blogging while at work). Nebraska license plate, 34-(something). For those of you unfamiliar with license plates in Nebraska, most counties are assigned numbers for their license plates, so if you know the number assigned to each county, you know where they are from. (I believe the Omaha and Lincoln areas are now too big to have numbers assigned to them, that changed after we left Nebraska so I'm not sure how they work.) Anyway, I've seen MANY 34-county plates and knew it was from Filmore county, which is where my grandparents (above) lived. When I was young, we made many trips on Sunday afternoons to go see them and seeing that plate today just bought back a flood of memories. The people came into our office and I had lots of fun talking to them and of course had to tell them that I'm a native Nebraskan who had family that lived in Shickley (they live in Geneva). They didn't know any of my relatives, but I still enjoyed talking to them. It's funny how seeing that plate just made me happy. Right after they left I went to lunch and really got to thinking about family. So I called Mom to tell her, we always laugh about how it's such a small world. She had told me a while ago that when she was working at the shop in Seward they had a mom and daughter come in from Texas and this is how the conversation went:



Mom: Where do you live in Texas?

Them: Austin

Mom: Oh, I have a daughter who lives in Georgetown

Them: Well, we live in Georgetown, but always just say Austin because no one knows where Georgetown is.

Me: FUNNY!





Anyway, while I was at home and thinking about family, I went to look through some old photos I have and found the picture posted above. I just think it's neat and wanted to post it so everyone could see it.





I also found this one:


EEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!! I wish I could remember for sure when this was taken, but I'm guessing 1993 or 1994. The little boy Mom is holding is my nephew, Josh, who was born in 1992, that's what my guess is based on. Mom, Brian or Jerolyn, do you know exactly when it was taken? If so, email me or put a comment on this post and I'll write it on the back of the picture.

So to find out correct dates, I had to pull out my copy of the family calendar that I keep important family stuff in it. Mostly it's full of obituaries. My dad's parents were both deceased before I was born, so I never was lucky enough to know them. I do remember Mom's parents and going to see them on Sundays. I remember always taking a little baggie full of pennies because Grandpa collected them. I don't know what he did with them after I gave them to him though. I also remember him being VERY TALL. My older brother and some of my cousins inherited his height, I didn't. He died on August 27, 1971; he was 81. (I was thinking it was later than that because I thought my younger brother had been born before he died, but I guess not. Barry was born in 1972.) Grandma died on October 11, 1989; she was 96. They were married for 56 years and had 12 kids (Mom is second to youngest). When grandma died in 1989, she had 39 Grandchildren and 58 Great Grandchildren. I wonder what the count is now, 20 years later, in 2009. My kids were3 and 4 when she died and now they have kids of their own (Todd and I have four grandchildren.)

And in two days, Todd's grandmother turns 97. I wish we could be there to celebrate with her, but it didn't work out. At least we got to see her at Christmas.

And tomorrow is Samantha and Jason's anniversary. I think this will be their 3rd. I have a card at home for them, so we'll have to get with them soon.

I guess I've rambled on enough for this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!!!!! :D

The yoga pants are done....

and turned out very well. I bought enough fabric for two pair of pants, plus the pattern and elastic for $20. Pretty well considering I could have gone to Old Navy and paid $15 or $20 for ONE pair. Plus, when I decide to make some more, I won't need to buy the pattern again, so it will only be the fabric. I need to wash them, then figure out how to take a good picture of them. The waist on them is HUGE (thus the elastic) and I really don't want to take a picture of them on me. I did make the extra long and I really like them a lot.

It's been cold here the last 24 hours. It was in the 60's when I went to the gym at 5:15am yesterday, then a cold front came through and it was below freezing overnight (welcome to Texas). So I used the cold and possible ice on roads as an excuse to not go to the gym this morning. I usually don't go on Thursday, but will have to make sure to go tomorrow. I really need to watch what I eat more, but with Todd home it's hard. For instance, he made his oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies again on Sunday. He makes the HUGE!!! I can keep myself from eating more than one a day, but it would be lots easier if they weren't around. He also told me he ate FOUR yesterday!!!! UGH! Must be nice to eat that much and not gain weight!

I went to WalMart to buy the new movie out - FIREPROOF. I watched it alone last night (Todd went to bed early) and it's really good. I'd highly recommend it for everyone - whether single, in a relationship or married. The Sunday School class at Church we went to the last four weeks was based on it. It's about a couple almost divorcing and how they pulled their marriage back together.

Other than that, my payday is on Monday, so we'll be able to pay bills and PAY OFF OUR LAST CREDIT CARD!!!!! **HAPPY DANCE** Then we need to figure out a time to call Dave Ramsey and do our DEBT FREE SCREAM. :D

It's sad when I have no new projects to post :(

BUT I did finally snap a couple pictures of the stained glass piece my sister made me. Mom and Dad brought it down in November when they came to visit.

Todd and I decided to put it in one of the few windows that does not have a mini-blind. So we decided to put it in the dining room. It's really pretty and looks GREAT from the outside when it's dark. Isn't it pretty!!!! Angel and Alyssa have fun standing in the "rainbow" when the light shines through it just right. I love it!

And so you can see how high up the window is....


My project for this weekend is to make me some Yoga Pants to wear when I work out. I only have three pair of workout pants that I like, so found some information online yesterday and whipped up a quick pair out of some old black knit fabric that has been in my stash for years. They turned out OK, but I'm going to look at patterns at WalMart this weekend, then hopefully I'll be able to find some really cheap (as in $1 or $2 a yard) to make some out of. I figure instead of paying $20 for one pair at Old Navy, I should be able to make three or four pair for that price, PLUS, I'll have another project to post pictures of! :D

I'm at a stand-still on my quilt. I was not going to start any other projects until I got the quilt in and started on it, but the wood pieces that I have for my quilt frame are not long enough, so Todd's going to have to make me some more. Of course, he says he has to buy a table saw in order to do that, so it may be a while until I can start on it. The thought has crossed my mind, that he's using that as an excuse to buy a tool he's been wanting for a while..... Any thoughts????

On the workout front, it's working so much better for me to go early in the morning instead of after work. My problem is that I know my alarm is going to go off at 5:15 am, and it seems every day I wake up at 5:00, then can't get back to sleep. I think next week I'll try just getting up at 5:00 and see how that goes. Besides, then I can beat the girl to the gym that is always on the elipitical machine. LOL

Hopefully I'll have something fun to post next week!!!!!!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

IT'S DONE!!!

I finished my new gym bag last night. It's made out of an old leather jacket I bought for $6 at Mom's EtCetera store in Nebraska and some cool pink skull material I got at WalMart.

Here's the jacket before I took it apart:




And the material for the lining:


I had to sew just a small part of it on my new industrial sewing machine, but most of it was done on my Kenmore I've had for years. Here is the finished product:
I put two pockets on one side of it, they are divided instead of being one large pocket. I also added a pocket on the side to hold my water bottle in.






And the lining - it has six pockets, three on each side to hold stuff.


It's a little smaller than the first gym bag I made, but I can still fit everything I need for the gym (change of clothes, shoes, towel, deodorant, etc.) Here it is full. (Cell phone picture, sorry)


I'm very happy with it. I found some EXTRA STURDY interfacing (better than what I used on the last gym bag) at WalMart, so it will be interesting to see how it holds up. The other one held up pretty good, but since it wasn't full it didn't hold the shape too well. But it's still a great bag!

I'd love to hear your comments!!!! :D

Here are some pictures.......

While Todd is making oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies, I'm in the office/sewing room. :D

Here are some new pictures!!!

I had to take this one of the sewing machine so I had something to reference to re-thread it. Turned out I didn't need it, but here it is, anyway.


And the books of fabric from Kinsey Interiors. Some are small pieces, but there are some larger pieces that I'll be able to use. The smaller ones would make pretty pillows.
 

Happy 2009!!!!

It's been busy around our house with me going to the gym every day after work. I tried sewing on my new machine on Sunday, but it was acting up to Todd worked on it for a while. I took apart an old leather jacket I paid $6 for at Mom's church thrift shop in Nebraska, and am in the process of making it into a new gym bag. The first one I made it still great, just a little bit too big. The leather one will be the same style, just slightly smaller. I found some really cool pink and white skull fabric at WalMart that will be the lining. I have the lining all done, just need to get the outside sewn, just one night should pretty much do it. The problem is that I'm so wiped out by the time I get home from the gym, eat supper and take a shower. Also, the new machine is still out in the garage and it's been cold here!!! 40 degrees is cold to people who live in Texas!! Today it's warmer, so I may go out and try to get some done on it tonight. As soon as I get it done, I'll take pictures and post them.

I did get some presents today from Kinsey Interiors - the interior design place in our shopping center that I buy my upholstery fabric from. They brought over five or so books of fabric samples. Not big pieces that I can make purses from, but lots of neat fabrics that I can make wallets or pillows out of. I'll try to take some pictures of them when I have a minute.

Other than that, Todd and I went to early church on Sunday. They were starting a Sunday School class called "Fireproof Your Marriage". It's based on a movie that was out in September (I had never heard of it), and is coming out on DVD later in January. It looks good and it was fun to be in a big room with lots of other couples taling about marriage and how hard it can be at times. I think we'll be done about the time the DVD comes out, so hopefully someone will buy it so we can all see it or I can find it somewhere to rent or buy for cheap.

That's all that's been going on in our part of the woods . Sorry I don't have any new pictures to post. :(