Loni's Life

I've been yo-yo'ing with the same 3 pounds for the past 5 weeks... or maybe longer... ever since my foot has been on the injured list.   But I'm getting back on track; even trying to do well on the road with a stop at Safeway to pick up fruit in the form of apples, oranges, bananas, and pears to get me thru Saturday.   I even have a JC appointment for Sunday morning to help keep me on track.

I had such a great time yesterday on a mini Yarn Shop Hop here in the San Jose area.   I visited The Knitting Room, Yarn Dogs, and Green Planet Yarn.   The Knitting Room was small, but friendly.  Yarn Dogs was also a bit small; but very friendly and their king charles cavalier spaniels were friendly too.   Green Planet Yarn was my favorite of the three and closest in vibe to my own home Local Yarn Store, The Woolie Ewe.   I picked up some yarn and beads for the Nelkin Designs Mystery Knit Along (KAL) that starts at the end of the week.

Mocha managed to dispatch with two of her stitches; so Mommie removed the remaining 4 to save a trip to the vet's office this afternoon. Mocha has been grooming, grooming, grooming.

The Knitter in the family has been learning to sew.   Since Mama Cheryl has been working on soooooo many projects for others; some of her own had been put into the project queue. After working with Auntie Jill to learn how to sew pillow cases (body 3/4 yard of fabric; cuff 1/4 yard; accent 1 1/2 inches), Mama allowed me the privilege of getting getting this project out of her queue.  S a new pair of pillowcases for Mama's bed.    I really enjoy making pillowcases; they are near instant gratification compared to knitting projects.   Though to be clear, of the stitching arts, Knitting still is still my favorite :)

Yesterday, I stopped at Mama's for dinner and the CBS line-up to discover that CBS was going to be running NCAA basketball coverage instead of our normal shows.   So instead, I asked the cooped-up Mama if she need to run any errands, shop, etc. since she has not yet been released to drive.   Indeed, she did need a trip to the post office to mail an item and to stop at Lowe's for some PVC pipe for her at-home therapy.   And since it was such a pretty afternoon/evening, we opted to go out to eat at Los Charros.     We mailed off Mama's item and I picked up my mail.   Then off to Lowe's where I parked at the Garden Center so Mama could look at plants and flowers.    I would have picked up a hanging basket for myself; however, I'll be out of town next week and my dear hubby would forget to water it and I'd come home to a planter full of wilted and dead plant.. so I will get a hanging basket when I get home....

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2011/03/friday-fill-ins_24.html 1. Why does it matter? 2. Knitting is equal to crocheting only in the minds of those who neither knit nor crochet . 3. My favorite breakfast includes maple syrup . 4. Light the Stars was the last book I read on my Kindle . 5. I am SO glad it is Friday! . 6. A massage ; a hot bubble bath ; or a freakingly huge lottery win would make me feel better right now. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza and ice cream , tomorrow my plans include a celebration lunch out with friends and Sunday, I want to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine !

I am feeling very, very blessed today.   My wish is that everyone could be as blessed.

Last week Nana Cheryl had shoulder surgery and Mocha had a dental cleaning and a small mass removed from behind her shoulder blade.    I am pleased to report that both Nana Cheryl and Mocha are on the mend.   Nana is sporting 9 staples across 3 puncture wounds from the arthroscopic procedure while Mocha is sporting 6 stitches across the 2 inch incision point.    Since Mocha was starting to lick and chew at the stitches in earnest, Mocha's Mommie bought her a set of small doggy t-shirts which seemed less stressful than an E-Collar aka Cone of Shame.    Mocha's stitches will come out next week.     Nana Cheryl has been a good patient and was freed from her heavy post-op bandages this weekend; she may be lucky enough to get rid of the staples this week too. Updated 9:00AM The histopathology report on Mocha's cyst came back this morning.  Terrific news is that it is not cancerous; it is a epidermal inclusion cyst. ...

Ooops, what happens when you don't stamp ahead and sleep late on the morning of a blog hop.... but here's my spring creation...  You've probably arrived from Angela's Life with a Wiener Dog ... Isn't Frank just sooooo adorable as are Angela's creations.    Elsewise, to start at the top of the hop click here . Stamps: Builder Wheels - Delight in Gladness (certainly celery); Butterfly Bliss (So Saffron); Pleasing Polka Dots (Pirouette Pink); Flight of the Butterfly Ink: Triple Cell un-inked jumbo cartridge- Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Pirouette Pink refills; Rose Red Paper: Certainly Celery; Whisper White Accessories: Certainly Celery 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon; Butterfly punch Tune in April 16-17 for another SU Stars Blog Hop! Leave a comment by 10pm Sunday 3/20 and Mocha will announce a Blog Candy winner on Monday. Hugs & Blessings, Loni 

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2011/03/friday-fill-ins_17.html 1. I love to go to Denton because I can go to Beth Marie ’ s for ice cream . 2. I love Stampin ’ Up!, it’s the quality of their stamps and demonstrators tha t make them great ! 3. The last thing I had to eat was breakfast . 4. Getting the daily newspaper is no longer essential so long as you have internet access . 5. Please take a moment to give thanks for all the Blessings in your life . 6. Trust your instincts which have brought you this far. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to stamping a Spring card for tomorrow ’ s SU STARS Blog hop , tomorrow my plans include stitching the binding on Z ’ s Dr. Seuss quilt and Sunday, I want to have some Beth Marie ’ s !

It takes a village to care for a Mama. My role this week was to was mainly get Mama C to/from the surgery center for her shoulder repair on Monday. Since she had been told to arrive at the surgery center between 10:30 and 11, for a surgery at noon; I arrived at her placed around 9:30. Shortly after my arrival, she received a phone call from the center asking if she was already there since they had her arrival marked as by 9... So the timeline for Surgery Day then went something like this: 9:40am - Departed Home 10:10am - Arrival at surgery center  {I would later discover from various waiting-area discussions with other families that pretty much the center's scheduling skills must have been way out of whack for that day; since one patient was told to be there at 6:30 and when he arrived was told, "No, you are too early; your surgery is at 2". Another arrived at 8 and was told, his was not until later (but they had a voice-mail to prove what they had been told). The ...

Ok, I guess I am kind of rooting for Rob this go 'round; he's certainly his normal conniving self.. and seems like I had been pulling for him over Amber in his original season. Still, a likeable enough guy in the game of Survivor and he's learned a few new tricks since his original season. Swapping clues for the hidden immunity idol was just priceless... now to hope he doesn't get caught getting voted off to Redemption Island with an idol in his pocket.

On the mend... my foot is on the mend; had another shot on Tuesday; have to continue PT for another month; and continue all my at-home care. My temp crown is feeling pretty good. Mama is on the mend from shoulder surgery. BFF is doing well at 5 months post VSG. I hope Auntie J is on the mend from the upper respiratory infection and healing from grief of a recent and unexpected loss of a family member.

Here's the pretty girl and her spring break temporary housemate. Have a grand week!

 http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2011/03/friday-fill-ins_10.html 1. Oh gross! I thought it was my hot cocoa; but the drive-thru window messed up and gave me coffee... YUCK! 2. Eating Pickle s well THAT's off my bucket list.... hahahaha as if Eating pickles was EVER on my buckle list. 3. No, No BadKitty . 4. I love Heart and Soul s . 5. And then there was a dog house, a skunk hole, and the moon rising at midnigh t.  6. I can't forget that it's time to Spring Forward this weekend . 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to picking up Mama's youngest for spring break , tomorrow my plans include cutting out pillowcases and Sunday, I want to bike; but it's in the shop (boooo) !

I must say that I really do enjoy Survivor.. it is by far my Must See show of the week... even during not-so-hot seasons of it, I still love it.    Last night was the Redemption Island duel between Russell and Matt... a stack your dominoes, release a ball, break your tile race.   It was tight and I think Russell made a HUGE  error in stopping to watch Matt's first attempt.  In the end it was Russell that was ousted.. first in tears and then came up swinging with pretty much ousting as much about his tribe to the 2 spectators from the other tribe.   Meanwhile, I must say, I've been cheering for Boston Rob this go 'round.   Sure, he's got a target on his back same as Russell since he is a multi-season player.... but seems like so far he has learned from errors of seasons past and even came up with a Hidden Immunity Idol.   I do wish they would ship off Mr. Baggy Drawers Phil.   And for next week....  Oh boy,...

The plantar fasciitis is on the mend.   Woohoo!   The hope of my physical therapist is that I will get released from PT next week.  Pain is down from 9-10 first thing in the morning to 1-2; and 5-6 during the day down to 0 to 1.. and the 1 is only if I've been standing on it for extended periods or walking.   No pain during the night or that keeps me awake or from falling asleep.   Still have to keep it on ice treatments at night along with the Rx anti-inflamatory.   The daily stretches are here permanently; but I get to start coming out of this tendon strap this week.  Yippee!     So PT on Thursday and then Tuesday; a follow up with Dr. Ashton on Tuesday and potentially another cortisone injection to knock out the last of the inflamation to hopefully get that down to zero at first thing in the morning and zero during the day.   I've been approved to add cycling and swimming back into t...

Nana Cheryl sent Mocha a new toy... actually it is an empty spool from a thread cone... Mocha enjoys it.    February SU STARS Hop ~ Blog Candy winner is Carey Rogers aka Roscoe's Mommy who said "You are asking a very hard question about what SU demonstrator inspires me. There is Patrice Herrera, Carole'Anne Sluchinski, Sandi MacIver, Monica Weaver, Diana Gibbs, Ellen Kemper and a LOT more people that I look at just about every day. Thanks for every thing that I learn on all the blogs I look at."  Next SU STARS Blog Hop is March 19-20 featuring Spring or Mini Occasions catalog items. OWH Spring Bunny Hop ~  Blog Candy Winner is Mindy who said "I love your cards - love the color combos!  I love OWH because it gives me a chance to use my cards for a great purpose!!! And this time I have a goal of 80 cards to send in." Have a terrific week!

Though my married half is out of town on business, I filled the time with family and crafting so I still had a great weekend.    Friday night, I finished up work and went to my JC appoint where the result of too many Girls Scout cookies and not enough fruits, veggies, or exercise showed up on the scale.  I knew it was coming and the GS cookies were worth it.. and hopefully since the plantar fasciitis pain is easing up due to the at home care and physical therapy along with the cortisone shot, I'll be able to turn up the heat on the activity levels pretty soon.  Then I met Mama with a surprise tagalong of Auntie Jill at Joann Fabrics where I was picking up flannel for backing BFF's trio of baby quilts.   Then we went to Aaron Brothers to pick up Auntie J's custom framing job to find that it was not yet ready as they were backlogged due to the huge sale.  Then off to La Hacienda where I had some great chicken fajitas and enjoyed the company of two...

This is a sample of blocks for Operation Triplet for BFF.   Since her business travel schedule is so hectic, I helped out by cutting the panel into squares; cutting fabric into strips, sewing strips together and then making the sewn strips into squares; cutting out the sashing and borders; and then picking up backing flannel from Joann's on sale ~ so all BFF has to do is assemble x3.

Welcome to Loni's Life and  the Spring 2011 Operation Write Home Bunny Hop.   If you've arrived from Shelly's My Creative Rumblings , then you are in the right place.  If you are friends, family, or followers, then you know the drill.. it's another stamping blog hop.    It might take you all weekend to get through over 130 blogs on the hop!!!   So grab a beverage and sit a spell as you journey through so many wonderful projects supporting our Heroes.  The hop officially starts at 10AM EST ; so some posts may not be there if you start hopping early.   If you get lost along the way, just return to the OWH Stars and Stamps blog.   Now for my projects...   Stamps: A Good Egg Ink: Only Orange, Basic Black, Summer Sun Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, Only Orange, Whisper White Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Black Grosgrain ribbon, Word Window Punch, Blender Pens Stamps: Asian Artistry (Hostess Level 2) Ink: Al...

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2011/03/friday-fill-ins.html 1. Bring your favorite snack and beverage to Mama ’ s Oasis and Craft day . 2. Batteries are included. 3. Chocolate is exactly the perfect way to end a day . 4. Well, you see, this is the year of knitting for me; so if you get a project from me, then count yourself lucky . 5. Bike MS is coming soon!    Tax deductible online donations can be made here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/LoniHolt.2011 6. But what if I won the Lotto; what would I do? 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to stamping , tomorrow my plans include the Operation Write Home Spring Bunny Hop and Sunday, I want to go to an Art Show !

Enjoyed dinner, Survivor Redemption Island and the two Criminal Minds tonight.  Also enjoyed finishing the machine piecing on Mama's placemats. 

Operation Quilted Comfort was started in 2004 by two military spouses living on post at Fort Hood, Texas. When several local quilters attended the post Quilt-A-Thon, at Fort Hood, they saw the potential to make this a community service project very meaningful to the families that would receive these quilts. The purpose is to create quilts for the families who have lost a soldier in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The concept is a comforting hug for the family members who now face an empty chair at the dinner table. It is not just one quilt per family; it is one quilt for each hug needed. Perhaps a young wife with several children, a soldier's Mom, Dad, Uncle, Aunt, as well as a soldier's sister or brother. The project expanded to include those soldiers with life altering injuries.   Here's the quilt top that Auntie J pieced for the cause.  It shipped back to the coordinator with mine and Mina's today.   

I completed yet another Project Linus blanket; this one for a Special Challenge by the Collin/Dallas/Denton/Grayson/Rockwall Counties chapter.  I didn't snap a photo of the final tied project; but here is a picture of the kit available at JoAnn; I nabbed mine on sale for 50% off.   It turned out pretty cute for $11 and an hour while watching TV and keeping Mocha away from it. Challenge Name Don’t Bug Me Due Date Tuesday, March 8, 2011 Minimum Blanket Size Any size. Note: Please keep in mind the age bracket associated with your pattern/fabric.  When in doubt, bigger is better. Note: Inspiration for this challenge are children ages 8-12. Complete Instructions The community our chapter supports includes a nonprofit organization called By Home Hospice of Grayson County.  Each year, this organization provides a camp for it’s children called Camp Dragonfly.  And our chapter gladly offers this camp blankets for each of th...