Not So Tweet Tweet: Opinions Please

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. –Earl Nightingale

A couple of months ago, I won a Tweet Tweet charm pack from Marg over at Sunshine? Paradise? When it arrived I thought, Baby Quilt! So, I browsed the web and found the perfect coordinates {on sale!} and planned to make something really adorable with them. I cut, I chain stitched, I pressed and chain stitched some more and then I laid it all out.

BLEH!

It was surprisingly ugly {remind me to have my mind's eye checked } and I wasn't sure what to do about it. So I let it rest and hoped that perhaps it wouldn't be as bad as I thought in the morning. It was.

I decided to try something different. I laid out my coin strips with some Kona in Chocolate, hoping to tame the wildness a little bit.

Meh.

Determined to make it work, I headed to the LQS for those adorably Tweet birds and tried again.

Eh.

I like this last layout best, but I don't really like it, at that. It is only a small improvement over the others and didn't wow me like I thought it would, what with all the cute birds and polka dots and stuff. After letting it rest overnight, I like it a little better today than yesterday. But I still wonder if it is good enough to give as a gift. Should I keep going {because I'm itching to quilt some feathers in this} or just call this a wash? The last layout requires quite a bit of unpicking. I cut new coins from the three coordinate fabrics I have and just laid them over top of all the fabrics that had trees in them to give it a little bit more conformity. It was way too busy with so many strips of random fabrics that didn't give a complete picture of any of the prints. But it is still busy. Each of the fabrics is really cute on their own, but I'm afraid I've not done a very good job of combining them into something cute.

What do you think? Is it as bad as I think it is? If you got this as a baby gift, would you say, Oh. You made me a blanket, and then stick it in the bottom of your birdcage? I'm a little stuck here. I hate to waste money/materials/time, but if this quilt is really bad, it would be worse to give it to someone and have them hate it. Honest, constructive suggestions are much appreciated.

* To get a closer view of any of the pictures, right click on them to choose to open them in a new tab or a new window; or center click to automatically open in a new tab.

'Till We Meet Again

Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. –Alma 40:11–12

{December 28, 1927 – April 7, 2011}

My Grandpa passed away sometime during the night. I'm a little bit sad. But I'm also a little bit happy that he has been released from all the health problems that have plagued him for so many years. And I'm sure he's in a better place. I'm not sure what you believe about life and death and where we came from, but I believe that before we came to earth we lived as a family with a loving Father in Heaven. I believe that when we die, we are greeted by that same loving Father. There may be accounts to settle, but I think those are set aside for a time when we are called back home because, because no matter what we've done in this life, that doesn't lessen the love that He feels for us and I'm sure He is happy to see us. I think that the celebration wouldn't be complete without family and friends; perhaps my Grandpa's father came to meet him, and I hope his mother and his wife, my Grandma, were also there to greet him.

{Betty & Homer
June 12, 1946}

While I'm sure there was a joyful reunion in Heaven today, those of us who are left behind mourn the loss of someone special. Grandpa will be missed. As I mentioned, there are mixed emotions. Grandpa lead a long, full life. He faced his share of difficulties and trials. He began to lose his eyesight at the age of 18. He suffered with gout as an adult. As the years passed, he relied more and more on my Grandma to take care of his needs. He's done passably well taking care of himself since she passed away 7 years ago, but his health had really declined in the last few years. It is sad to see someone you love go from completely independent {regardless of his poor eyesight} to completely dependent.

{Betty & Homer
June 1996}

I've been thinking a lot about my Grandpa since I got the news this morning. Here are some fun things I remember about him. He was never afraid to speak his mind. He worked hard, he was frugal with his earnings, but enjoyed using them carefully to make life more comfortable. He kept everything in good repair around his home. He learned to work around his poor eyesight and the only thing he ever gave up because of it was his driver's license. I am the oldest grandchild, and when I got old enough to drive, my grandparents would have me drive them around sometimes. Grandma, who was the regular chauffeur, would ride in the back and Grandpa would sit in the passenger seat. If he thought I was driving a little too fast, he'd say, you pay your own tickets. If they went on a trip, which they often did, they would have me drive them to the airport and let me keep their car while they were gone. That is a lot of trust to put in a 16-year old.

You can't talk about Grandpa without thinking of Grandma too. She was the heart and Grandpa was the soul. He'd have an idea and they'd plan it together and she'd put into it {whatever it may have been} the love that they both had for life and each other and their family. They shared what they had with their family. They loved to travel and took their children and grandchildren on many trips with them. When I was in 5^th grade, they took me and an aunt and we drove down to San Diego and went to the Zoo and Sea World. What I didn't know was that they'd planned a day in Disneyland, too and surprised me with it as we passed the sign on the freeway. It was a really wonderful trip. We went back to Disneyland in 1996, this time with all of my brothers and sisters and my parents and at least one aunt and some cousins. It was pretty spectacular.

Last year, when he was clearing out his house to be sold, he gave me my Grandma's china. It was a sweet gift from him that I will always treasure. I'm glad that I was able to do a couple of things for him in the last several months, including the quilt I sent to him in February.

Grandpa, say hello to Grandma for me, will you? I'll miss you. 'Till we meet again.

The One Where Elizabeth Gets A New Phone

As a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you. –Fran Lebowitz, Social Studies

I have been fairly conservative when it comes to cell phones. It really wasn't a high priority for me to have all the whistles and bells. I just wanted something cute {read pink} that would get me out of a jam, like when I got all the way to the grocery store and realized I forgot my list. I kept my plan conservative with 300 minutes and texting not included. I texted so rarely that an extra 20₵ here and there wasn't a big deal.

When Mr. Bug got his job, I texted everyone I know and it was kind of a hassle trying to type out my excitement using the number pad. Luckily, I at least knew how to send to multiple recipients and use a recent message in a new one, so that I only had to type it out once. But then there were tons of replies and my replies to them and I realized that I really needed wanted a new phone. And a new plan, because I kind of forgot that it was 20₵ for outgoing AND incoming texts .

After we got the news of Mr. Bug's new job, we went out to dinner to celebrate with our favorite double-date couple, who not only are really good friends, but are family; Mr. Bug's cousin and his wife. They were married just a few months before we were and through the years we've formed a great friendship and love to go out with this great couple. At dinner we got talking about cell phones and they told us that they only pay $25 a month for 300 talk minutes, and unlimited texting and data. On top of that, there is no contract. I was intrigued {read ready to jump ship on my current provider because their plan was $12 a month cheaper and included lots more than mine}. They told us that their provider is Virgin Mobile, and you do have to buy the phone, but that they haven't had any problems with their service and their bill really is $25 a month. Every month. I was sold. {No, I'm not getting paid to advertise for Virgin Mobile, but we all know how much I love a good deal so I have to share.}

Enter Elizabeth's new phone:

{Samsung Intercept
with Paisley Blues & Greens Skin}

Whereas I mostly kept my old phone in my purse {where it would sometimes run out of battery because I'd forget it was in there and leave it for days}, I carry my new phone around with me everywhere because I don't want to miss when it does its magic. I keep wishing more people would call me so I can play with my new toy use my new phone.

I've started calling it my Precious. Talk about whistles and bells. It has a touch screen and cool ringtones. I use the alarm on it to wake up in the mornings. There are several other features that I haven't even played around with yet. But my favorite is the slide-out keyboard for easy texting ! I've texted more in the last eight days than I have in my entire life. I'm really tempted to give out my number here just so y'all can text me and I can text back . But I won't do that because then I'd be in trouble with my dad. Sheesh! I really am like a teenager with a new toy!

Various and Sundry Monday: Vol. 3

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. –Mahatma Ghandi

Three of anything is a collection, so VSM gets its own tag because I have a lot to say today .

Sick Day
LadyBug stayed home from school sick today. Mr. Bug is gone for most of the week for a new employee orientation, so I'm holding down the fort and stayed home with LadyBug. Unfortunately, I didn't get out of work. It is the beginning of the month, which means invoices which must be done. It is a really long process with a deadline, so I packed all the stuff I needed here and had my first ever telecommuting day. Technology is great, but in certain situations {like when you want to skive off work and squish up with your sick Buglet on the couch} it is possible to have too much of a good thing .

LadyBug is one sick little Bug who won't take her medicine. It seems that for her, the cure is worse than the condition. I got her to take two doses yesterday, but by the second dose, she was fighting it pretty hard. I threatened her with hospitalization and an I.V. today and she managed half a dose, but won't take any more. I wish I knew how to help her better. She hasn't had much of an appetite and her fever is so high. I keep bringing her drinks she only sips and offering her different food choices she declines.

Finally around 1:30 she asked for some Mac 'n Cheese, which we happened to be out of. I told her I'd go to the store for some and she asked for some chocolate cupcakes too. I swung by the bakery and grabbed the cupcakes and then headed for the freezer section for her favorite Mac 'n Cheese. They were out. I put the cupcakes back, hopped into the car and went to another store. They had the Mac n' Cheese, but no cupcakes at all in the bakery and LadyBug didn't want anything else. I bought the Mac 'n Cheese, hopped in the car, went back to the first store, picked up the cupcakes again, and then waited in line for 10 minutes to pay for them. When I finally got home, LadyBug's desire for Mac 'n Cheese had passed <\ and she ate less than half a cupcake. I hope she gets better soon.

Mr. Bug's Navy T-shirt Memory Quilt
I got the top finished. I'm doing a little happy dance . I liked the quilt with the other sashing, but I like it even better with the sashings made from his work shirts. I'm going to do an embroidered tag again, and this one isn't going to be concise .

Snow
Yesterday {April 3} we woke up to 5 inches of heavy, wet snow. It was surprising. The view from my front porch.

Still looking out from the porch, LadyBug tree.

This is the back of our house. There are tulips buried under the snow there.

This is looking out from the back of the house. The snow has to be really wet to stick to the fence like that.

School play
Today's grand finale is all about Grasshopper. This year he tried out for and made it into the school play. He sung Happy Birthday to You for his audition . They did a musical revue of popular songs through the last century. It was a 25-minute production called On The Radio. Between each song, there was a little skit introducing the era and what was popular at the time. He got a speaking part in the section that introduced popular music from the 50's. Here he is doing his best Elvis impersonation.

Here he is cutting Footloose.

This is the cast after the performance. He loves to make goofy faces for the camera.

Having this experience has really had a positive effect on Grasshopper. I love that. Besides the feeling of accomplishment he's gained from working hard at something and seeing it through to the end, he's learned that he's got a greater capacity than he thought he did. I can see it in the way he responds to what is going on around him. I'm really proud of him.

Sabbath Songs: We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. –D&C 1:38