Free Blessings!

How many of us hold tight to the theory that nothing in life is free? Yet, last evening my grandchildren and I experienced the most fun filled evening we had in many months and it was all free.

We were invited to our local park for a free BBQ and movie. When we got there, it was so much more. They had face painters (the girls got butterflies & the baby a flower), free balloon animals, tee-shirts for the adults and the BBQ, well it was hot dogs, hamburgers all the fixings, potato salad, pasta salad, macaroni salad, beans, corn on the cob, soda or water and when you were done with that, there was snow cones and pop corn for the movie.

Of course they had games for the children in which the winners could win prizes (even the loosers got something) & then the movie was 'Cheaper by the Dozen 2.' Even the baby stayed awake the entire time.

The miracle wasn't so much that it was free, it was while watching the movies my oldest granddaughter was lying on her back and she said Ranny, look my PaPa and God filled the sky with stars for us tonight aren't the beautiful? She was right, the sky was filled with stars and they were beautiful and perfect just as the night was!

So, when you start believing that there is nothing free in this world, go to that movie in the park, that free city concert, the free car shows, etc. you may be surprised what God shows you while you are there. You see, when we aren't encumbered with spending so much money as many of us do when we go out on the week-ends, we are much more opened to noticing the blessings around us that are there everyday, but sometimes we forget to take the time to look at the stars.

Have a blessed day!

Fall Leaves Quilt for Sale, Magnificent Quilt!

I have given thought today that many of you who read this (if anyone really does), may be a bit hesitant to send me money or purchase a quilt from me not knowing if I am for real or not. Let me assure you I am more genuine than most vehicles today that say they are made in the USA!

So, here are some pictures of my latest project, a beautiful 45" X 47 1/2" fall leaves quilt with hand appliqued pumpkins and squash done in clear thread and tiny gold stitches on the pumpkin to give it color and rich tone.

The colors are rich wine, oranges, yellows and I used a delicate vine/leaf pattern for the stitching of the top to the back. The back is a heavy stiffer type black fabric that makes an excellent quilt back for a lap quilt or a wall hanging. Trust me the pictures don't do this quilt justice.

I just listed it in EBay under fall leaves quilt and I am asking for a minimum bid of $60 with 15% of the profit going to the Autism Society and the remainder back into making more quilts for dispatchers. Use paypal and know your purchase is protected.

I believe you will find my quilts of very high quality and workmanship and I pray over each quilt as I make them knowing just the right person is going to buy them. So, go on over to Ebay and check out the rest of the pictures.

House Still for Sale - Phoenix Arizona Area

Does it seem to those of you who have sold their homes in the past that we tend to do more to sell it than when we were living in it? It seems that way to me. Oh, don't get me wrong, we have done tons while living here, a huge work shop, ceiling fans, etc. But two days ago we decided no one would want to buy 1/3 acre of dirt, so we went down to Moon Valley Nursery and bought a few trees.

In 2 weeks all 11 tree's, 8 shrubs and 4 vines will be delivered and planted. I never thought I would have so many trees, but now they will go to someone else.

1- Orange Tree
1- Plum Tree
1- Grapefruit Tree
1- Peach Tree
1- Jacaranda Tree

This will all be 24" box size.

1-Eldarica Pine
2- Nitida Ficus
3- Shamel Ash

These are all 15 gallon size.

3- Pittosporums
5- Oleaders (Pink and Whites)
1-Honeysuckle vine
2-Orange Jubilee
3-Hibiscus

That is alot of planting, but it will make our property looke much better and I think sell much quicker. Once again it is horse property and listed under $200,000.

Then, there is the tub to fix all of a sudden the water dribbles out & of course the windows and carpets need to be cleaned.

Anyone know a good window washer let me know!

I want your pocket change & other things

Okay, I feel like I am beating a dead horse to death on this one, but please trust me when I say someday you will need to call 911 & someday may be sooner than you expect. The chances are when the operator picks up she will be kind, empathtic and professional & in spite of all this, she may be suffering her own problems but would never stay home or let the public know she is hurting or in need.

Are you just going to ignore my plea's for help to continue the help I am giving to them? To help them find comfort in some small way?

I still need the following to continue on:

14- Quilters Need to Know Card #80932 $5.95 each
15-Fons and Porter's Perfect Binding Cards #81035 $5.95
16- Triangle Measurement Card #80595 $4.00
17- Machine Needle Threader #81659 $5.59
18- Sew Easy Guide #81785 $5.00
19- Machine Seam Gauge & Adhesive Guide #81716 $4.89

Notice each one of these items is less than $6.50. Which means they are less than the cost of a supersized meal at Burger King, less than 2 cups of coffee at starbucks, less than a tank of gas and probably less than the pocket change you collected in your change jar this week. Can't you please reach into your pockets and your hearts and donate to my cause?

911 dispatchers are the least recognized people in the field of emergency response teams because we are not seen and we are forgotten once help arrives, the help that we sent, but we don't worry about it or complain, we just continue to do our jobs to the best of our abilities.

If you really want to help, get a group together and you can all pitch in for a week, here are some more of the higher end needs I have:

1-Country Thread Set #20911 $23.852

2-Pastel Thread Set #20909 $7.953

3-Bright Thread Set # 20910 $15.904

4- Variegated Thread Set #20912 $23.90

6-Lancaster Lesson Sampler #108778 $17.60

7-Applique Gold Needles Size 10 #20932 $2.75 per set

8-Milliners Gold Needles Size 10 #20936 $2.75

Remember all these things are available at Connecting Threads.com and they have been the cheapest and most reasonable quilting shop I have found out there yet.

Pray about it and then send in the above, you won't be wrong in your decisison. After all, 911 is there to help you when you need them, won't you help them now that they need you?

A great BIG thank you from Mississippi

I thought it appropriate to show one of the recent thank you cards I recieved from a dispatcher who received one of my quilts. It is always a blessing to hear back from someone that recieved one of my quitls and knowing how very much they enjoyed it!

Though it may be difficult to read, rest assured it is a genuine card and not something I made up myself!

Quilts for New York Dispatcher's Children

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Well, here they are as promised, pictures of the quilts I made for the dispatchers in Broome County NY that were flooded out of their homes this past season. I was asked to make 5 quilts and you can see 4 hanging on the back of my couch.

There is a close up of the 2 boys quilts, both portraying baseball teams in a different way. There is the infant girls quilt on the right. It has taken me a bit over 3 weeks to get these done and that includes working on them as opposed to sleeping at times. The Americana quilt was special request for one of these children who loves our flag and the red, white and blue of America. May God Bless her!

The cost to ship these out was $27.09 so that leaves me just under $35 left from my birthday and with the recent 911 Cares contribution to make some more or at least mail another one of two quilts off.

I am still looking for contributors to help in the area of cash, thread, batting and the other items requested through out this blog.

Financial Backing, A Blessing

This is a quilting blog, but in reality it is so much more, it is a piece of who I am.

This week, I have been working on knotting the last quilt for the New York dispatchers and next week, I will send them out via UPS. Never knowing where I will get the extra money from, it appears as a blessing when least expected.

Yesterday, in the mail was a $100 check for my quilting cause. It was a major blessing. Also with it was a very nice polo shirt with the companies logo on it & since this company also benefits other dispatchers, I will wear it proudly.

I also want to recognize and thank the anonymous donor who provided me with the following supplies: 2 scissor leashes/2 rotary cutter holders/2 needle cases/big eyed needles/quilt kit (for future money making purposes) & a quilting book. May God bless you for reaching out to someone in need without thought of a tax write off. I can guarantee everyone, this money & the supplies go right back into my quilts.

My mom even blessed me this week with an entire box of fabric in an assortment of colors all ranging from 1-2 1/2 yards in a variety of colors and patterns and that saves me money.

I have friends who have tried to get their local papers to pick up my story and even my local papers, but no one seems interested in publishing a story about a dispatcher that makes quilts to help others. Yet our local paper will print front page stories on old ladies in the red hat club getting their nails done. Go Figure!!

If you are a publisher, editor, writer or know someone in these fields, please contact me for my story, I feel it really needs to get out of the work I am doing to help those dispatchers and police officers in need. Hate to say it, but even my own department doesn't support me, but there will be those that do & they will be blessed!

Have a blessed day and remember: 'God is always at work around us.' Sometimes, we just don't realize it or see it because we are too busy living in our own little world!

HOUSE FOR SALE - WEST PHOENIX AREA

We're a little bit city and a whole lotta country and we are selling our little corner of the world for under $200,000, which is practically unheard of in this area for horse property. You read this right, horse property in the Phoenix area for under $200,000. We are asking $180,000 for our home and property.

You get horse property (you can keep up to 4 horses), while all the time having the amenities most people want from the city (sidewalks, driveways,soon to be 2 brand new daycare facilities within 1 mile of the house, grocery store, brand new Target & Ross stores, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Banks, etc. all within 3 miles of the house). Yet, you have the peacefulness of living in the country with the best neighbors anyone has ever had since Sheriff Taylor lived in Mayberry.

Front yard is grass with 2 mature shade trees (non-desert type trees). Carport holds 5 vehicles at the same time so you don't have to park in the street. Large RV gate and RV cement pad in the back yard. Block fence (6 foot tall). Back yard has an animal pen, large oval grassy area border by concrete curbing (plenty of room for the trampoline and swing set). Large above ground garden area with sprinkler system set on timer.

Mans dream of a work shop (16' x 20'), 2 story (has loft storage), gambrel roofed complete with indoor outdoor carpet, hot air roof vent, cabinets, storage, electric and telephone. Two large flourescent lights to keep you working after you enjoy the beautiful sunsets.

Water softener system (enclosed in a Rubbermaid Storage Center), hot water valve on the outside of the house, bug zapper, sun screens all around, security/motion lighting, white security front screen door, custom light fixture in front.

Step inside this beautifully kept 3 bedroom, 2 bath, over 1600 square foot manufactured home and you will immediately be drawn to the custom faux painted entertainment center that looks like it has been covered in rock and men...it will hold a 44" flat screen television. Small portable lights make the perfect lighting to watch television by in the evenings. Ceiling fans in all rooms, fresh semi-gloss colored walls (not a white wall to be found). Custom designed coat closet with large shelving spaces & adjustable coat rack.

The dining/family room has a bay window, built in china hutch with leading glass door inserts, telephone hook up, cable and computer hook ups. Could actually be walled off and make it another bedroom or private office.

Kitchen ladies...is unbelievable. Bay window sitting area for dining, bay window above kitchen sink for keeping a watchful eye on the little ones while they play in the back yard, or just lookig at the Estrella Mountains from the windows. Slide in, ceramic cook top, self-cleaning Maytag oven, a builting in 2 shelf Maytag microwave and a 3 rack Maytag whisper quiet dishwasher.
The sink has a pewter high necked faucet and sprayer. There are 2 pantries and an extra large appliance garage inside one of the pantries that hold lots of things. There are a total of 22 cabinets, 14 drawers and the 2 pantries. There is a nice ceramic tile edged kitchen island and 9 recessed lights in the ceiling for a brighter kitchen when it is dark outside.

Step inside the laundry room and you think you have gone to heaven. It has room for a stand up freezer and it has more cabinets. There are 2 cabinets above the washer and dryer with a hanger bar for clothes between them. On the opposite wall, there are 12 cabinets (6 top and 6 lower) with a counter that is over 7' in length. A great place for folding clothes or setting plants.
There is also a custom built-in shoe rack for placing shoes when you come in from the back yard.

The hall has custom covered wall socket plates and switch plates and a new 3 light fixture for more light. The closet has floor to ceiling shelves for lots of storage space.

The first bedroom is perfect for children with its bright dual Disney colored walls and angel print border. It has a custom shelf over the window for collectibles you don't want children to reach and also a rod for curtains. The wall plates and sockets are all custom designed covers and the closet has 4 sliding doors to access its large inside.

The second bedroom is smaller (currently being used as a craft room) and has custom designed closet shelfing, drawers and clothes racks. It looks out upon the backyard.

The bathroom has new hardware and custom designed and molded butterfly pull knobs, an over the toilet shelf that is anchored to the wall and has glass doors with butterflys on them as well as they cover the toilet seat.

The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, 2 long windows and cathedral ceilings. This is a huge master bedroom (currently houses a king sized 4 poster bed, 2 night stands, a 9 drawer chest, a 6 drawer chest, antique desk, cedar chest and curio cabinet) and you still have lots of room to move around in.

The master bath has double sinks, a large garden tub with 2 windows to bring light into the room and a large shower with dual molded seats. There is a tall storage cabinet as well as cabinets and drawers under the bathroom sinks.

The home is wired and plumbed for dual Master Cool swamp coolers but we have never gotten around to putting them in.

The area right now is all 1/3 - 1 acre manufactured home sites with horses. They will be building homes in the area soon. We have beautiful views of the Estrella Mountains, peaceful sunrises and sunsets and have never as much as had a leaf stolen off our trees, it is a great neighborhood and quiet. We receive city services (police, fire, EMS, trash and street sweeping), the water is via a private water company and the home is set-up on a septic system. Taxes are aprx. $1300 per year.

I haven't had an appraisel for a few years, but I am willing to be the home and land appraise for at least $160,000, which I feel is low, so you would need to come up with the rest of the money, because I am patient, feel God told me to ask for this much, so I can wait.

If you would like to see this home, know someone who might be interested, it is by appointment only and would need to be arranged through my realtor. NO AGENTS PLEASE!

NASCAR FANS...WE ARE LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY!

Contact me at rannyjeanshaven@yahoo.com if you think you want to stop by and take a look.

A Lag in Posting

I just know that everyone has been sitting on the edge of their chairs wondering where I have disappeared to over the last five days. Well, I am back now and just felt I really had nothing to say, not to mention I have been busy with 2 of my 3 grandchildren starting school this week, working 12 hour graveyard shifts and trying to get my Lexapro dosage under control so I can work & sleep and function.

It has been a busy week and I am now getting ready to put together 2 really cute lap/wall hanging quilts for the upcoming fall season and as soon as they are done, I will put them on here for sale. I really think they will go quickly because of their colors and their simplicity.

So, stay tuned for some pretty awesome quilt pictures and be ready with that cash in hand to help support the cause for the dispatchers that help all of you when you are in need.

Another Day, Another Quilt

Well, yesterday was the day I stay awake all day because I have no daycare provider. So I got busy and worked on the quilt for the little 8 year old in New York whose family lost their home recently due to flooding. I even machine quilted it in a few places and it came out looking really neat.

Today, I should be able to complete one more and that will give me 4 out of the 5 requested. I am still stumped with what to do for the 15 year old, but thinking I need to check out JoAnn's in Phoenix instead of my local WalMart which has great deals but most of the same stuff.

Will post pictures of the 5 quilts here soon!~

Ottawa Universities Article on My Quilting

I have tried over the last two days to post just the article the college Alumni paper did on my quilting, however, it will not upload, so I am enclosing this link and I hope it works. It was a great article and it is so nice to be recognized for the work I am doing.

We are trying to get the local paper to do a piece on it as well as some of the local news stations so I can keep doing this. I received $80 thus far as a reply to my pleas for cash instead of gifts for my big 50th. That should help with mailing quite a few of these off.

Check out the article and let me know what you think. Once you open Ottawa, go to Alumni, go to the bottom of the page to news and notes and open Summer 2006. Sorry, I tried to make this easier, but it won't work.

www.ottawa.edu

My 50th Birtday Gift

The above was something that was supposed to appear in our local newspaper, the West Valley View with the collaborative efforts of several people. My friend Pat who was the master mind, my hubby who sent the pictures and my dear friend Bill, who was somehow involved with getting the local paper to print this, but somehow, I lucked out and it didn't appear.

I just thought I would share this with all of you and let the world know how very blessed I am to not only have turned fifty when prior to my heart surgery 48 years ago I was expected to die before I turned 6 years old, but blessed to have such wonderful friends who love me and accept me for who I am.

I would venture to say that makes me richer than most people my age!

Sadness Washes Over Me

I was so excited this morning to see that my piggy bank contained over $46 in it for Novembers race at Phoenix. I started saving all my change awhile back so when it is race time, we can kennel our dogs instead of taking them with us for the entire 10 days. So, I am slowly getting to my goal.

Then it hit me really hard. This will probably be our last NASCAR race at Phoenix and possibly ever again due to the rising costs of the tickets that keep going up and the restrictions they place on the season ticket holders. It would be nice if they gave us 4 payments to make instead of 2 and not demanded the money almost a year in advance, but that is big business and I understand they have to stay in the game.

It just breaks my heart that we will have to give it all up after the race in November. The two weeks per year everyone knew I would be gone from work, the two weeks my husbands co-workers knew where he would be & now after almost six years, it is over as quickly as it started.

Part of the fact is that it costs just as much almost for the kids tickets as it does the adults and we just truly can't afford to pay almost $2K for tickets alone.

I am hoping maybe we will go out once a year or at least try to hit a few races once every other year at different tracks. How fun would that be? Seeing Vegas, California Motor Speedway, Texas. Lots of new faces.

I will miss terribly the 'old guys,' as I call them (Buddy, Dayton, Harold & George), Sandy and Brad, Keith & Kellie and of course Roger and JoAnn the newlyweds in our midst. We all live in different states or different parts of town, we work and while some of them do, still others are retired.

Life is funny & things change & move forward. What wonderful adventure will we try next?

Fabric spree

I went shopping again yesterday for backing and batting and walked away with a bill just under $100. I found some seriously neat fabric that was ticking fabric in a variety of colors and 60" wide so it will be perfect for 2 of the quilts I am going to be starting.

I got 5 battings and material to begin another quilt. Also picked up some pictures of my quilts and as soon as I can figure out how to use my new scanner, I will post them to this page.

I guess for awhile I am done buying fabric and batting as my DH (dearest husband) thinks I am taking food out of our mouths to do this. Let me tell you as I told him, I would never buy fabric, mail packages, etc. in place of providing food on our table.

I explained to him that a few people have been generous enough to pay for the fabric and batting in the form of gift certificates and yes, I do pay for the mailing out of my own pocket, but only after ensuring all my other bills have been paid.

I want to once again thank everyone for their support in the way of prayers, gift certificates, encouraging words and CASH when you can. This is a project of love and sometimes, I have more love to give than money in the bank. I appreciate all the trust and support from all of you.

Boxing Photographer arrested in relation to Phoenix Serial Shooter

For those of you that have been following what has been happening here in the area of Phoenix with the serial shooters, you can look up the name Dale Hausner on the net and find 0ut that this man is a well known photographer in the Phoenix area, but also in our local boxing community.

His website states he also does weddings, birthdays, etc. It is just mind boggling to me that someone with such skill can become such a cold blooded and brutal killer, but we the public have no answers yet, so I will wait to hear more. Just thought people out there might like to have some further information that the news channels are putting out that you may not have if you aren't living in the Phoenix area.

Seems Dale and his partner were also into arson as one of the links together was some information investigations pulled from some WalMart arson fires out of Glendale. Of course the public isn't privy to this information, but it is amazing to see how diligent and hard and non-stop everyone worked together to get these people caught.

The victims continue on. It seems Dale Hausner has a small child that has a rare terminal illness so as opposed to taking care of family, he went out and killed. May God watch over and protect this little angel and her mother and their family from the media and gawkers.

The other subject there is not much out on him yet. Stay tuned!

Phoenix Serial Killer Captured

Many of you have read with horror about the serial killers the citizens of Phoenix have been keeping eye out for. As someone who actually lives in the area where this animal shot and killed horses, dogs and people without any regard, let me tell you how thankful I am to all those in law enforcement and the public who caught these people. These 2 people were monsters and cowardly ones at that. Perhaps the photographer wanted to shoot more pictures of his rampage , whatever his major malfunction was, he is behind bars and that is what counts!

The fear of coming home from work in the morning and keeping an eye out all over as I drove was a safe way of driving, but soon you worry about everything. The person in front of you, next to you, who and why? No one knew when these people would hit, who they would hit or why.

As not only a police dispatcher, but a citizen of the Valley of the Sun, my heartfelt thanks go out to everyone involved in capturing this person. God Bless each and everyone of you!

Why I Quilt

This is why I quilt and why I do what I do always sewing, always knotting, always asking for money and supplies. This is not a doctored picture, this is the picture of a police dispatchers home in Pass Christian, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. This angel of the airways, worked for 12 days straight before she left the above gas station (a temporary dispatch center) to go home and see how her house was and as they reached the corner, her house went floating by her and stopped up against the temporary dispatch center.

I do not know how this must have felt everyday to go to work and knowing here was your home with nothing left. The quilt her mother made her prior to her death was lost in the storm she relayed to me today. The quilt I made for her was a wonderful gift. She called me to thank me & tell me how much it meant to her.

You ask me why? Isn't this enough? To know somewhere,somehow I made someones day a little bit brighter.

How about you? Are you willing to reach out and help me to help others? It isn't about money, it is about caring!

Children and Sleep...The joys of working nights

One of the great things all parents must worry about is who is going to provide child care while they work. But what if you work graveyard shift? Then you have to worry about who is going to watch the children when you sleep. Well, in our case, there is no one at this time, so for 4 days every month, I get to loose sleep.

Today however, has been a good day. As I lay asleep somewhere between being wide awake and REM sleep, I can feel the warmth of a childs quilt (that I made) being place over me, then the softness of a childs hand as they pat my head and brush my hair out of my eyes.

I can hear someone ask me if they can watch the Tigger movie and have a cookie. I ask about breakfast and up pipes the 5 year old telling me it is okay, she fixed everyone cereal. I get up to look around and the table is cleared and the bowls and rinsed.

Now, I feel bad. I feel bad I have to work, I feel bad I can't stay awake for days on end like I used to when I was 20 and not on anti-depressants. I feel bad that my shift is being hosed again and I will have to stay on this shift. I feel bad my husband can't get a job in Washington so I don't have to work graves.

Now, they are sitting quietly with their pillows and blankets telling me it is nap time and they are ready to lay down. If you have to work graves, it doesn't get any better than this!

Dedicated to 911 Dispatchers Everywhere

The following is an Email I received. It can be for police officers, fire fighters, etc. but today, I choose to dedicate this to those in the 911 centers all over the world.

I Want to Tell You Lies

I want to tell that little boy his mom will be just fine. I want to tell hisdad we got his daughter out in time. I want to tell that wife her husbandwill be home tonight. I want to tell them lies.

You didn't put their seat belts on, you feel you killed your kids. I want tosay you didn't...but in a way, you did. You pound your fists into my chest,you're hurting so inside. I want to say you'll be ok. I want to tell you lies.

You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes. I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind. You ask me if he'll be ok,with pleading in your eyes. I want to say that yes he will, I want to tell you lies.

I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke. If you'd maintained that smoke alarm your children may have woke. Don't grab my arm and ask meif your family is alive. Don't make me tell you they're all dead. I want to tell you lies.

I want to say she'll be ok, you didn't take her life. I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife. You thought you didn't drink too much, you thought that you could drive. I don't want to say how wrong you were, I want to tell you lies.

You only left for a moment, it happens all the time. How could she have fallen from there? You thought she couldn't climb. I want to say her neck's not broken, that she will be just fine. I don't want to say she's paralyzed;I want to tell you lies.

I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain because he thought that it would be cool to try to beat the train. I don't want to tell him that this will haunt him all his life. I want to say he'll forget, I want to tell him lies.

You left your cabinet open and your daughter found the gun. Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done. You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five. I don't want to tell you she won't see six, I want to tell you lies.

He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone. It was only for a second that you left him there alone. If you let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive. But I don't want to tell you that, I want to tell you lies.

The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn and we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned. Did they suffer? Yes,they suffered, as they slowly burned alive. But I don't want to say those words; I want to tell you lies.

But I have to tell you like it is, until my shift is through. And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you. You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine. I hope you understand, sometimes, I have to tell you lies.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

**This poem is dedicated to those hard working men and women who work in dispatching, law enforcement and fire fighting and any other job where we have to tell lies to avoid telling others of their real mistakes when deep down inside they know.

To everyone of you who has ever shed a tear, gone home in the middle of your shift or at the end of your shift and hugged your family a little tighter, kicked ans screamed and questioned God as to why life seems so unfair at times. God Bless you all, Lord knows the job you do is thankless so let me say this:

Thank You, I appreciate your dedication!

Turning the big 50

John Glenn once said, 'There is still no cure for the common birthday.' But what about the uncommon one? In exactly seven days, this old broad will turn 50 years old. Wow! I won't bore you with waxing poetic on remembering the Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan ( Ed who?), watching Sky King and Roy Rogers shows on the week-ends, hula hoops, Woodstock and so much more.

But I will say one thing. It is true, all things DO really come around again. What we called hip huggers when I was younger are now the pants worn below the waist on young girls today, even those that shouldn't wear low pants and short shirts. Dangle earrings are now coming back in style and so are padded bras.

Hmmm, what do you do when you are 50? I don't know. I know I look like 35 and feel like I'm 100 so what happens then? Alas, my body is breaking down faster than I can keep up with it. All I know is when I turned 40, I had a hysterectomy on my birthday to avoid the hoopla that went with it. Sorry Pat and Deb, I know I spoiled all your fun.

Now, I am turning 50 & can officially say I belong to the red hat club, but will I wear one is the question? What will my friends do to get me back for all the years I have taunted them about their age. I know its coming, just don't know in what way, shape or form. So go ahead Deb and Pat, hit me with your best shots, I will still never be as old as you 2 & thats a fact!

I wanted to do so much before I reached 50 & now, life is almost over and I don't even have a nickle in savings. So many ideas and not enough money or backing to support them. But, I have family and friends who love me and that is all that matters.

I really want to go to Richard Petty driving school and race a car for the first time in my life. I thought about jumping out of an airplane but my back wouldn't tolerate the hard landing.

So, I appealed to all of my friends to help support my mission of making quilts.
After all, once you are 50, nothing is as good as reaching out and helping others.