Well, the laptop is fixed but I just haven't gotten around to posting my May's project.  As the summer approached and gardening started I find myself spending more time outdoors and less with with my machines, my projects got smaller.    This one I did finish in time for May and is a Watercolor table runner kit from Whims.

My June project came to a halt because I ran out of one of the fabrics.    I guess I'll have to get a different one.

We also enjoyed a nice trip to OH,VA, MD, and PA visiting friends and relatives the last 2 weeks in May. First, an overnight stop at my parent's home in Nelsonville, then to good ol' Virginia to Vernon's home.  We took Rte 50 down from Ohio through the Allegheny Mtns.  I was leary of it as our family don't handle curvy roads all that well but I was under the impression that there was a new road through.  Well, it was only partly done.    Poor little Kaitlyn.  Tiana would say that about herself as she ended up with Kaity's lunch in her lap.  What a mess!  We were very glad to see the old homestead.  We got there about supper time and met Adam and Susana leaving so they turned around and came back.  Oh what a reunion.  I enjoyed that immensely.  I sure miss my girl.

The next day, May 14th, was my niece, Kendra Chupp's wedding to Phil Sensenig in Stuarts Draft.  We were glad to have this little time with the "Glenn's" as that was the only time we had with them.  Adam's joined us at Grandaddy Martin's for over Sunday.  I was very impressed by the size and beauty of Grandma's irises.

Adam and Susana's car had broken down last Aug. on their move into PA and it had been parked in Hagerstown, MD awaiting Vernon to come and fixed.  Grandad had found an engine for it in VA and so Vernon worked on the engine to take it to MD on Tuesday.

We left for MD on Tues. stopping to see Mama Doris on the way.  We had a lovely visit with her and had supper there before going on to Hagerstown to Alvin and Esther Martin.  We had planned to go to prayer meeting but Vernon had a very bad headache and Alvin had cut his hand so we stayed home.  It wasn't long later when a small tornado went over.  I thought it looked like one but couldn't be too sure but the trees were really bouncing around and later we found out that the neighbors lost 3 trees!  I wish I had thought to use the camera.

Vernon had the engine changed in record time and had the Bonneville ready to go by Thurs. noon.  Meanwhile we hung out at Alvin's and had a few of our closest friends drop in to see us.  A highlight was Thursday when we went over to our daughter-in-law's parents home for the afternoon.  We enjoyed getting to know her family better.  

We thoroughly enjoyed our few days stay with Adam's.  Watching him at work selling shoes and men's wear at Good's in Schaefferstown.

We had fun surprising Rene Rivera in church Sunday morning.  He literally pushed Vernon out of the pew to have him preach!    We were hoping to hear Rene preach but he made up for it entertaining us during the fellowship meal afterward.  We were very impressed with how that congregation made us feel welcome.

We were amazed at how many people we got to see there in PA that we knew.  We were driving around and I was looking at the beautiful countryside and thinking to myself that I could live there when...."Blaaaaaaaght!"  Kaitlyn's breakfast suddenly ended up in (yes!) Tiana's lap!   Well, maybe I wouldn't want to live there after all.  There ARE advantages to living in the flat mosquito infested land of Rusk Co. Wisconsin where the roads are straight! 

We had no idea that Kaitlyn had trouble with carsickness but after 3 episodes like that we learned that she was a true Martin.  We left around 3:30 AM Monday morning driving straight through to home.  Too long a trip...21 hours (a stop off at Cracker Barrel for an hour or so) but all good things must come to an end.  Home always looks best.

I will try to add photos later.  My girlie is needing me.

BUT my laptop had a nervous breakdown.  Right now she's in the hospital awaiting surgery.  Actually, the hard drive is fine but the motherboard went bad. We are looking for a replacement Dell Inspiron 1501 to stick our hard drive into but the one I thought I had bought on Ebay didn't pan out.  (Don't worry, I got my money back.)  So until that happens I won't be posting on Xanga because the desk top is way too slow to upload pictures.

Until then, I hope you all are well and happy.  God's blessing on all of my friends.  Kim

Here is another quilt top finished at our house but I cannot take credit for it.  This time it was Lavina who did it.  She had started it before she had her bout with pneumonia in March.  So, it got laid aside until she felt strong enough to tackle it again.

Actually, we got the idea from Dorcas Smucker's blog of the Disappearing Nine Patch.  We decided to use lavenders and purples with yellow in the center.  We had the lavanders on the outside corners so that when we cut the 9 patch blocks in half horizontally and then again vertically, it cut the the purples in half.  We flipped 2 of the squares so that the yellow squares were at the Northeast and Southwest corners and she sewed them back together.  Quite frankly, I think she did a topnotch job for an 11 year old.  I am pretty pleased (proud?) of her! 

Well, we are packing to head for VA, MD and PA., so I'd better get off here and get busy.

The other night I was reading in bed before turning out the light.  I picked up the paper that I was using for a bookmark and just as I was placing it between the pages, I noticed it was an old MAM (Mennonite Air Missions) newsletter. 

Then I saw Glenn Martin's picture.  It was his obituary from over 3 years ago.  I looked at his dear face again and remembered.   As I turned out the light I realized I was crying.  Will I ever stop missing him?   I am so glad for those memories.  He was one special person.  Thank you, God.

Don't you just "love" putting a 1,000 piece puzzle together only to discover that its only a 999 piece puzzle?  What about 991 pieces?

Last August, someone gave us a wolf shaped puzzle which was a dilly to work but imagine our chagrin when we discovered 9 pieces missing.  I was pretty confident that Kaitlyn was guilty unless proven innocent as I had to get after her for trying to help us.  She also was in this jag of putting buttons and other odds and ends in bags and carrying them around.  We left the puzzle on the board just in case we found them....but we didn't.  Then last week I was cleaning the loom room getting ready for company.  I saw a cloth bag hanging on the closet door and decided to put it away.  Oh, there was something in it; a toy tractor and its implement, a rag and NINE puzzle pieces!!!   So, we finished the puzzle with gusto.  We'll probably make a wall hanging of it for Jonny's bedroom.

Have I told you how much I love my Accuquilt GO! fabric cutter?  This past week I cut out 2 quilt tops with it.  One is a Dresden Plate and the other is a type of pinwheel using red, white and blue fabric.  I am not sure when I'll get them sewn but they went into ziplock bags until that time.

I did get a quilt done this month-- I call it Kaitlyn's Butterfly Garden.  This is her birthday gift but I wonder if it will be her next birthday before I finish quilting it.  I don't enjoy the quilting part.

Polly Patchworker gave me an idea when she posted some Kaleidoscope pictures.  I have a type of one but its a tube with a clear glass ball at the end.  There are 2 mirrors in the tube forming a V.  So the design comes from what ever you look at through it.  Very interesting.  Its for knitters and quilters to see if colors go together.  I wish I could remember the name of it but I got mine at Knitpicks yarns.  I don't use it like I thought I would but the children love playing with it.  Tiana took some pictures.  A couple were her dresses, one was of Kaity's pink tennis shoes.

I had more but they don't let me upload any more.  I'll try later.  tootledo

I had forgotten my digital camera when Lavina was in the hospital so I ran over to Walmart and bought one of those disposable ones.  When I dropped it off at Walmart to get it developed I ordered a CD with the photos so I could download my pictures here.  Guess what?  The CD is empty!  Well, I am going to tell them about it, believe me, but it is aggravating to to plan to post some pictures and draw a blank.  Well, tootle do until next time.

Today we finally got our bill from Ladysmith.  I had no idea what to expect but was relieved it was only $2,500.  A lot more manageable than the $24,000 one from Marshfield.  I still wonder how we are going to pay that one.  But on a better note I want to say this much for the LifeLink Ambulance service, they are honest.  Vernon called and wondered why they charged us for the same mileage that Rusk Co. ambulance charged us.  They checked it out and called back and said that it was a mistake and to forget the whole bill.  WOW!!!  It was a nice feeling to believe that we had $7,000 less to pay than what we thought we did.....BUT...we too, are honest.  So, Vernon called them back and reminded them that their personnel was who went in the Rusk Co. Ambulance.  So, now we have to wait for a new bill.  Well, at least it won't be that high.  I wonder what it will be. 

This morning Kaity was saying "I wish Marvie J and Kendra Lily would come home!"   Also she was lamenting that Marv had asked her if she wanted to go with him to Guatemala and he didn't even take her!    Well, she's getting one wish anyway, because her beloved hero is on his way home.  I'll be glad to see him too.

I have the older girls up painting Jonny's room.  I decided on light green as the base and want to decorate it in Northwoods style.  The girls think my color is off-beat.  LIGHT GREEN???!!!!  I hope my first choice is right, I hate having doubts.    Now, I need a nice border to compliment it.  I've looked on Ebay but either the stuff is too pricey or I don't like it.  .  I'll try to get some photos when I can.

We're having revivals this week.  Stephen Schrock from Odon, IN.  He reminds me so much of his dad, Jonas.  One of my favorite Bible School teachers at Messiah.

I finished about 5 rag rugs last week.  Need to get inspired to clean house.  I did do the fridge freezer yesterday.  I found a roast that was marked 2003!  Yikes, that's old. 

Tootle do until next time.

After a few balmy days we had another snowstorm.  This time we got over a foot and a half. 

Marvin's VW Jetta nearly buried.  One reason was that Vernon and girls were scraping snow off the roof and some of it ended up on the car.

Our van in front of the house.

On the east side of the house.

Front of the house, behind the van.

Northeast of house, our woodpile.  I thought the trees were really pretty.

Vernon scraping the parking lot.  There's a lot of work involved here!

Temperature this morning was -5F.

As I tried to get comfortable on the recliner in PICU the other week, I began thinking about the "comforts" of hospitals.

I remember 26 years ago, my friend Pat and I were expecting our second babies.  I had had a home birth for our first one and was actively planning another this time.  Pat couldn't understand why I would want a home delivery....I couldn't understand why she would want a hospital birth. 

Her answer was, "I want to just rest and relax."  I thought that funny, because I thought I'd rather rest and relax at home without worrying how my little girl was faring without me.  Now 26 years later I still don't understand.

In the four days that Lavina was in PICU in Marshfield, WI with pneumonia, I am convinced that if anyone wants to rest and relax in a hospital, they have a LOT to learn.  I was informed that in ICU the schedule is every 2 hours versus every 4 on the regular pediatric floor.  Hmmm.  Every 2 hours???? Lets see, first its the automatic blood pressure cuff hissing every 15 minutes, then the vital signs which includes taking her temperature.  Next the IVs are changed...there was a time when she had 4 different drips.  Her blood sugar levels were being checked periodically because the steroids they had her on caused that to rise.  So the insulin they gave her made her potassium level to drop.  So they had to inject her with something to take care of that...Then there was the chest XRays at 5 AM!  I wondered if it would ever end.

Every 2 hours??? Well, it might have been if everyone would have synchonized their schedules with each other.  As it was, neither of us got too much rest nor relaxation.

On the other hand....We are thankful Lavina is doing better.  It WAS a long 6 days.This picture was taken right before we took her to the Emergency room.

 I have a video of her but couldn't post on here...its in Videos on the top of this page. 

I just finished my March quilt.  So far, I'm on schedule but I am going to lay the quilt piecing aside as I need to do some other projects.

This one is called "Nancy's Fancy" by Nancy J Martin in A TREASURY OF SCRAP QUILTS.  Queen size.  100 pieces per block.  30 blocks.  Go figure!  Don't believe I'll be doing another very soon.  If I do, It will be bigger than 2 and 1/2"  squares!  Maybe with 3" 0r 3.5"  would still be pretty.

The other day when we had a snowstorm, Vernon was scraping our parking lot when "whoops!" he rolled the skidsteer.  We tried to push it back up but it was too heavy,

so we had a family snowball fight instead.

Marvin and Kaity have a special relationship as can be seen here. 

This last picture is of something I thought I'd never see.  Oh, Vernon reads to his youngsters on a regular basis....but THIS??? 

Look closely, yes it is  Dr. Suess' Fox in Sox!    One of her favorites by the way.  She can quote  a lot of it.

Hasta luego, amigos!