Happy New Year wishes to you both. I hope that 2008 holds health, happiness and contentment for you and K.

I got some good news--the computer shipped earlier than they said it would and in fact it is on its way and should arrive before Jan 4th sometime. I am so excited and cannot wait to get it set up and going. Reminder: WORD for mom. I am praying daily for you and that your health issue will be minor and easily fixed. Remember I am here for you in any capacity that you need. If you want me there, consider it done. If you need anything, you can count on me to the exhaustion of my resources. You are my darling girl and I love you more than you can imagine.

Everywhere I look around the house I see work that needs doing---how did it become such a mess is beyond me. I intend to work like a Trojan trying to correct that today, so picture me deep in the salt mines today. Love, love, love

Storm Warning

Thanks for the heads-up. I do indeed get tons of greetings (fortunately/unfortunately???) from friends and some from family. I will be exceedingly careful and hope that this little worm passes me by.

I got such a giggle from your last post. As I mentioned on the phone they are setting FIOS up on Jan 18 at my request because it is the end of my billing cycle. The computer should be in around the 7th unless they change the date again.

It is a glorious day today. I got up late for me and then went straight to the sewing room to finish up a block I was working on because I want to take it with me tomorrow with the Quilting Seven get together in Sanger, TX for the day. Guess I better go get cleaned up and take Ms Molly for a long walk. We got more rain last night at just the right time---bedtime. Hooray. Hope you are enjoying the same good weather and not more snow.

Head's up!

I know you're normally really careful about your browsing and email but an extra heads up...there's a bad piece of malware out there being passed around called Stormworm. It's being passed from emails, websites and blogs containing the phrase "Happy New Year".

Here's an article:
http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2007/12/a_stormy_new_year.php

Dear Mom...

Please don't make my husband covetous again. Thanks! Your daughter.

Seriously, he was so jealous of your new Verizon FIOS service he couldn't hardly stand it. When you can make your technology professional son-in-law jealous of your internet connection, you've officially graduated from "technology noobie" to "geek". Congratulations! You're now entitled to wear the official tshirt of the secret society emblazoned with our motto:

"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

Just in time to get your wireless set up and use your spiffy new laptop! When are they supposed to come set it up?

Christmas Day

We have glorious weather to celebrate Christmas. The sun is shinning and it is just nippy enough for a light jacket. I hope that the weather there is following suit.

It was nice to talk to Kevin Christmas Eve, but I hated to hear that you had to work. I hope you got to come home early. I wanted to thank you both for the amarylis. I was so excited to see Fed Ex come rolling up to my door as I was not expecting anything and at first I though maybe the computer had arrived earlier than expected. Imagine my surprise to get a gift!!! When I saw what it was and that it was the Charisma variety I was just thrilled. I think that it the most gorgeous color (at least in the catalog). I know that I will be checking daily to see the growth progression and eagerly await the blooming. Knowing that it can then join my others in the garden for years of bloom is just too amazing. Thank you both for your generosity. You are both very good to me and I appreciate it and love you all the more for it.

I hope you both have a fun relaxing day playing with your new toys---I know you have one and am guessing that Kevin does too--and the critters. Molly sends love to Faye and kitties, and I send love to you my darling daughter and to Kevin, who is a wonderful son in law.

Wow

That does sound good. I can't wait to try it. I'm having to be good for a few weeks and eat properly while they're doing all these tests. Bleh. I really dislike having to do all this---and the not knowing is crazy making. While you always know it's most likely something very minor, it's a bit unnerving nevertheless.

Massive clean this weekend! I'm going to be giving the house a heavy cleaning before starting the paint job, Faye goes into the groomers and Kev has to clean up the branches that dropped during the ice last week. It finally all melted. I'm working on Monday but Kevin has the whole week off. I hope he gets some nice weather so he can go hit golfballs and such. He's offered to do a lot of tasks but I want him to take some fun time too.

Have you decided what you're doing Christmas Day?

Recipe

Potato Casserole

1 two pound package of frozen hash brown potatoes (I use Ore-ida)

1 stick of melted margarine

1 cup of grated cheddar cheese

1 can of cream of chicken soup (undiluted)

1 cup of sour cream

Mix all ingredients together in a 9 x 13 inch pyrex dish and bake at 350 degrees for one hour until top begins to brown.

This is fast, delicious and I have yet to find someone that did not really like it.

Wednesday wind down

It was so nice to see an entry from you. I can appreciate how busy you are. I remember the work days. I think you stay as busy when you retire, but in a different way. The business is not directed by a job, or a bosses' whims.

I have not received my catalog and need to contact Bluestone to find out why. We have had several days of very nice weather and I have been out everyday doing a few jobs that need doing. Yesterday I cleaned the entire house as well as doing some yard work, and was a tired, but happy camper last night.

I am mildly concerned about the Dell shipment later this month, as there has been a rash of robberies of folks following UPS trucks and stealing the packages they leave before they can be retrieved by the rightful owners. Hopefully the concern is unfounded. They think that several folks are doing this and not just one which is making it more difficult to stop the stealing. Of course with the publicity the idea has been given to several more.

I have lots of chasing to do today. Gasoline, water store, grocery store, Bernina to pick up the software that just came in that will go on the computer when it arrives that will allow me to use the computer with the sewing machine.

I am happy to hear that Kevin has come over to the "new carpet" side and know that will make your job easier. It would be nice if you too had a week off at the same time as you could get a lot done with an entire week to work on it..

I have not grown Campanellas but am familiar with them. I think the common name for them is Balloon flowers. I do not think that they do well here, as they cannot take our summers. Wimps, they are!!!

I hope the rest of your week goes at a slower pace. Hugs

How does this happen?

I looked at my last blog post date and wonder ---- "How does this happen? Where did those days go? I wasn't exactly out partying!" I swear I don't know. Things have certainly continued apace a work as my boss is determined we're going to have an entirely new wireless infrastructure in place in under 30 days and certainly isn't letting reason or reality stand in his way.

I'm still only halfway through the spring 2008 Bluestone Perennials catalog. Did you get yours yet? Campanula's were the plants I was trying to ask you about. They have several pages of them and they appear to come in all kinds of colors. I was curious if you'd ever grown any or had any experienced anything with them. Looking at all the shapes, sizes and colors it appears to be like saying Euyonomous to identify the plant (Page 11 if you have your catalog) and it's really a huge genus covering a variety of things.

We still plan on trying to get a lot of painting and projects done on the house over the holiday. Kev has a week off. I don't but eh, he'll get some stuff done. He's even come totally on board about getting new carpet. I'm going to try to talk him into doing carpet in the LR, hall, stairs and then do the flooring in the kitchen before tackling the bedrooms and basement. I think a different carpet is okay in the basement don't you?

Outside of that no news. Just doing the daily work thing.

Thursday break

Today was just so nice weather wise. The sun was shinning and it was just nippy enough that a sweatshirt was perfect for outdoor chores. Tonight another cold front is on its way and is bringing rain for the next couple of days anyway, with maybe some wintery mix come Sunday.
Molly and I went walking (frisking for her) around the neighborhood. You could tell she was delighted to be out after several days of rain.

The yard is deleafed front and back again, but I cannot say the same for the gutters. I need to get those cleaned out, but with bad weather coming, they are going to have to wait awhile.

I hope to spend the day tomorrow doing fun creative things in the sewing room, but I know that cleaning floors and bathrooms will have to be in there somewhere.

Saturday I am going to Plano with a friend to pick up her order from Bernina and to pick up an item we both ordered from a quilt store there. I then have to do some cooking for our class Sunday School party on Sunday.

Enjoyed lunch today at Red Lobster with Kay and Lois and saw her pictures of Singapore and Cambodia and heard about her trip. Kay's arm continues to get better and she is getting over a cold, but looked perky. I realize that this is not earth shattering news, but as we have discussed before this is my life. I love you both. Stay safe and hopefully warm and cozy and ginch the critters for me.

Brrrrrr Monday

It is damp and chilly here, but realize that we are tropical in comparison to your frozen state. Ah the joy of being "down south" hint, hint.

My mind is just whirring with ideas. Thanks to my two newest toys-GPS and Laptop- my horizons have been vastly expanded. I have put house refurbishing on hold as it is just too much fun to follow my creative juices at the moment. Wish you could be here to join in as we seem to come up with even more ideas when we brainstorm together. Of course that might be dangerous as who knows where we might wander together. Way back in my mind is expanding my herb collection come spring, so that means rereading all the Phyllis Shaudy material. I am picturing us over a cup of tea, some warm gingerbread, pouring over garden books plotting and planning or cutting up fabric and making wonderful things.

I hope that you can slow down at work real soon and find time to wander into your studio and make something that delights your heart. I really think that it is very important to have some creative outlet that you love that involves creating something. It keeps your mind "yeasty". Having several creative outlets is even better. I may have overdone it though.

Years ago Toni gave me a pattern for making toothbrush rugs. It included a tool that looks like a toothbrush without the brush and filed to a point on one end with an eye drilled in rather like a needle made from a toothbrush handle. I put it in my files and have looked at it from time to time over the years, but never did anything with it. Yesterday I saw a rug made with the tool and was WOWed. It looks just like an expensive handmade rag rug. They are offering a one-day class in January and I plan to sign up to learn how to make these. I definitely will want to show you how to make them too if I can learn, as this is a wonderful craft because the finished product can go right into your home and look like you spent a fortune to buy it. The end product could be table mat size, chair size, or rug size, or even coffee mug size depending on how taken a person was with the process and how much time they could devote to doing it. Versatile, I like that!!

This post has evolved into a novel, so I will wish you a wonderful, stress-free week and get out of here.

I have nothing of note...

given it's a grey, blustery and cold day there's nothing to report since I've done...nothing. Except watch Pirates: At World's End. I did want to thank you for the lovely compliment. It's nice that you're willing to discuss things with me.

I'm pleased we found you a nice laptop at a decent price. I think that'll do great things for you and get you humming away on many many neat and nifty sewing projects.

You are such a great help

I so appreciate you serving as a sounding board when I am thinking though decisions. I have always talked through decisions and Pop was the reflection and question poser that helped me come up with what I wanted to do. You are now filling that role and I truly appreciate it. Whenever I am making a big decision I really need to "talk" my way through it in order to organize and prioritize my thoughts and be able to come to the best decision.

After some more research and overnight pondering, I have decided to do nothing on my machine for a number of reasons none of which have anything to do with money. I could always pull money out of savings (which I do not like to do, to buy "toys") In looking at what would be necessary to run the latest and greatest, it is way more than I want in my sewing room. Internet access, computer laptop almost a necessity, an upper end computer at that to interface with all their requirements. Aaaargh, way to much for this ole lady. I have been happy as a clam in dip sewing away and I still can do that, plus I have 20 or so cards that each have lots of designs on them that I can embroider. That should keep me out of trouble for years.

I have to make that grocery store run that you have already accomplished this week today. Not one of my favorite things to do, by the way and then I want to get out into the yard and do some work. We are having an unseasonably warm spell and there is lots of rain in the forecast for the weekend, so this would be perfect timing to get some things planted and everything ship shape.

Be the windshield!

Briefly

Since I have just a few seconds in a day of fire extinguishing, here's some dealer names. Maybe just call them to find out what the process of getting an appraisal is. These are all members of the American Numistics Association:

Dallas Rare Coins
Don Willis Rare Coins
Heritage Numismatic Auctions
Heritage Rare Coin Galleries
Mike Follett Rare Coin Co Inc
Southwest Numismatic Corp

Found all these buy searching at:

American Numismati Association

All work and no play------

I am sorry to hear that you have had such demands on your after work hours and I hope that you will see the end of that shortly and can turn your attention to things more of your liking.

I think that I am going to have to have an expert look at the coins. Several sites that I checked all recommend that you find some expert and say that you are want the coins appraised and only after they appraise them discuss selling. I do not know if that is correct or not. I feel so ignorant, but of course would like to get the most I can from the coins. I am surprised that the gold $20 piece is not the most valuable, aren't you? Do get a list of folks in this area. Also what do you think about me contacting Fidelity and as if they can recommend anyone. I may wait until you can come for a visit and have you go with me, as two brains are better than one and I highly value your business sense.

More on coins

I used Numismedia Full Market Value catalog to look some of these up. Here- Numismedia FMV
You can look as well if you want. Select the coin selection and then at the top where it says Grade: select the grade range you're looking for. The MS 61-70 requires a login and both the username and the password are: planchet

It appears the value fluctuates highly depending on where they were minted. Many of the coins minted in San Francisco (S) are much higher. Might be worth getting out your handy magnifying glass and seeing if you see any S markings identifying the minting place.

I found a few of the coins I could identify from your description and their approximate value as listed:

1923 Mercury Dime, MS68 with full bands - $11,700 (If S, astronomically higher. Grade below 68 goes for $35K)
1922 Glaudens Gold $20 piece, MS63 - $1260 $4560 if S
1922-D, Liberty Silver Dollar, MS 64 - $100
1903 Morgan Silver Dollar, MS63 -$90 $440 (O) $6590 (S) (Known as Peace dollar)
1911 Dime,MS 60. under that is 0 80, under that is 3384 - I think this is what's known as a "Barber Dime" and goes for around $110.00

Obviously, this is all a whistle in the wind since this is in no way my field of expertise but it's possible there's some decent money in this collection and it might be time to consider contacting someone to professionally appraise it and/or broker it. Once you look at the coins to see if you can find the mint stamps, that'll let us narrow in a bit more on the values. At that point, it is probably time to consider some calls or emails to some reputable places. I can gather you a list if you'd like and even pre-call them to find out what the procedure is for this kind of thing.

It has been a bit crazy...

I wish I could say I've been busy with projects for the house or an amazing social life but truthfully, it's just been work. I have several large projects going on and a lot of my portion of that work has to happen on "off times" like late at night. The one upside is a lot of it I can do from my machine at home in my fuzzy slippers but still, that means working a lot of evenings.

If Pop's machine doesn't work out, give a shout. We have an older spare PC that's fairly small that might do the trick. It's just sitting in the closet under the stairs so might as well be doing someone some good.

Sounds like you and Molly are having fun with your excursions though. She's a loving dog with a sweet temperament. She's just trying to protect you and her from the unknown and once you expand her horizons on the unknown, I suspect she'll be a great companion around company. It also has the benefits of getting you out walking too and I know I need that. I've not been doing very well with exercising the last couple of months and I'm really feeling it. My energy level has just been low low low lately. Today is the start of trying to eat well and get back into some sort of movement program. I have a full physical scheduled for the 14th and I'm sure in two weeks, I'll be above all reproach by the doctor. (cough)

My Busy Bee

I always know when you have been super busy because I do not see entries on the blogg. I hope that some of the busy has been social occasions or home/garden projects and not just work, work, work.

Yesterday we had temperatures in the upper 70's and strong winds all day and night. That brought in the next front which dropped the temperatures into the low 30's. I say again Texas plants have to be TOUGH.

I have a list of chores a mile long for today. Some involve shopping, some just cleaning. Then of course there is laundry to do. My empty closet said get going on that little chore.

I am so thrilled at your solution to my computer need for embroidery. I just hope that I did not throw out the cable connection that hooks the computer to the machine. I guess if I did I can find one to purchase. I know I went a little nuts on clean-out for a couple of weeks. I have not tried setting up the computer in the sewing room yet, as I have not had time, but want to do that this week. I have two bags of cables, so I have high hopes that the one I need is there somewhere.

I am supposed to go with Lois and Kay to the movie tomorrow. They chose Mr. Magorian's something or another with Dustin Hoffman. That would not have been a choice I would have made, but such is life. Kay has a doctor appointment after the movie to have more tests done on her elbow. She said she is not sure why they are doing the test. I think a small nightlight would have been a big help in preventing this accident. There is that 100% accurate hindsight.

I have a bunch of new sewing projects dancing around in my head, and cannot wait to get going on some of them. I have chosen the colors for the hall and my bedroom and need to pick up the paint and get going on that real soon. I want to do my office too. That will be all the back part of the house with new paint and I can turn my attention to something else. THERE is always something else.

I send warm hugs to you both.