Posts

December is here already?

-
Image
  It’s been another week of running and lists.    Chores and obligations and things that have to be done.   There doesn’t seem to be any down time built into all this.  I thought today was going to be the day and  last night, reminders came in for  orders that people want …yesterday!    This vine was a gift item,  that needed done.              The tree in Ford City needed decorated.  Not my best work,  but checked off the list in the freezing cold!  The half hour ride home with every heating accessory in my car on full blast, didn’t quite thaw me out!          This is one of the seven or eight quilt tops stacked up in  need of visiting the quilter. When I got this one back,  I gave her three more and said to space them out a little  for my pocketbook’s sake.   This one just needs the stitching around the edge.  It will be nice to start to get them all finished.                Still working on samples for art class.  I thought this on
Post a Comment
Read more

A Kindred Spirit and Chocolate Town to Steel Town

-
Image
    Friday started with work.   The students were working in watercolor and crayon,  doing a crayon Batik resist project.  It should not have been that messy.   A little Kindergarten boy raises his completely paint covered hands and tells me,  “Mrs. Strate, this is when you know you are having fun!”  I could not agree more. Sometimes you find kindred spirits in small children.   JWS and I then traveled to Hershey, Pa in a  rainstorm of very hard to see roads.    We are at the Hershey Hotel for the CCAP conference.   When JWS got the info, he apologized that it would not  be at the Lodge where we stay for the PSACF Convention,   I assured him that the Hershey Hotel was going to be a  huge treat for me! It has not disappointed!   It is beautiful and relaxing and just what we needed  after a year of campaigning!          Our first stop was Troeg’s Brewery. It is a must stop on every trip to Hershey.  I would go just for the Rosemary Olive Oil popcorn.   
1 comment
Read more

Christmas Elves

-
Image
Another tree up this evening,                     I had some amazing little elves helping me.   We decided that Kamden’s strong point was not putting lights on the tree,  so he was sent to the yard to do some winterizing tasks. Kendall ended up with two baby Jesus.    Apparently, she had two complete nativity sets set up as one.  We did a little editing and back to normal.  Jesus was not a twin.        Insomnia set in and I finished aprons  and hemmed a pair of pants for JWS.       
1 comment
Read more

At the Ballet

-
Image
  This happened on Saturday Night.   A modern ballet performed in Armstrong County featuring eleven artists from the county.  I am in the red in the middle.  I seriously dislike being in front of crowds and public speaking.   It was a challenge, but I was honored to be chosen and to sit alongside such amazing talent.  I have been singing, in my head, the song from A Chorus Line,  At the Ballet,  for days.          Back to reality, I am nursing a sore throat and spent much of yesterday resting in my chair and working  on catching up my temperature blanket.   My new years resolution already is to not take on any year long projects next year.  The year before I did a Block of the Month quilt and a sampler afghan.  Too much pressure and seriously over estimating how much time retirement would give me.             Sunday morning was spent decorating this tree in Kittanning Riverfront Park.   I skipped church, too much talking for an already raw throat.     
1 comment
Read more

One Year

-
Image
  As I look over the past year, and it has been that long since I posted,  I am amazed at the changes in our lives that have happened.    Service to our church and community have always been a priority for both John and I, however I feel in the rush of working and family life,  they were not as high on the priority l they probably could  have been for both of us.      A little over a year ago, John was approached by several individuals to run for  County Commissioner.  Let me tell you this, public office was never on our radar.  we talked, we prayed and we decided to take the leap.    Were we aware of what a public campaign would involve? Absolutely not!    I pictured fun outings together, shaking hands and meeting people.  Eating food at local festivals, throwing candy at parades, all of which have happened  and more.  We have attended banquets and breakfasts and fundraisers and  gun raffles…oh so many gun raffles!     We believed then and still do that John co
Post a Comment
Read more

McDonald's Salt Packets and the Shelby Tree

-
Image
    The blonde one in the middle with the brown sweater used to come to our house after school.  Somewhere along the line, I think possibly prompted by JWS,  she hid salt packets all over my house, and I mean all over.  It’s been two years and I am still finding them. They sightings are getting farther and farther apart and unless she reads this,  she is not going to know how much  I have enjoyed finding them!   These four,  always fun.  Thrown together as sisters,  20 years ago,  ups and downs,  they are still there for one another.            That brings us to the Shelby Tree. This little tree that stays decorated    and has stayed decorated for many years,   through many moves  to many houses,  has always had Shelby’s preschool picture on it. We have always called it  The Shelby Tree.  It is always a source of conversatiom as to why  ONLY SHELBY has a tree.        Every year on Thanksgiving,  sometime during the festivities,  thing
Post a Comment
Read more

India - The Food

-
Image
  Food plays a big part in travel for me.  I love to find local foods to any area.  The pizza above, while it was Domino’s,  certainly had an Indian twist with the chicken on top.  This little boy seemed to enjoy it!          The vegetable, picked from the tree could not have been any fresher!  I don’t remember what it was called.        And momos!  Not enough good can be said about these little dumplings!  These were from a restaurant on our return from Darjeeling.   Then we made our own!  And these eggrolls filled with vegetables, including beets, were amazing.          Chili Chicken from the restaurant was great,  but then Mridula made her version and it was heavenly!  I don’t have any pics of hers, but it was one of the BEST things I ate.  It was similar to General Tso’s Chicken,  but with a lighter, cleaner taste.                 Below is a late night session of making momos.  I was not good at making them pretty.    I am about to try
Post a Comment
Read more