Time Does Not Stand Still For Anyone, Even Me!

Hard to believe, but it's been over a year since I last wrote in this journal. What was I doing that was so important that I couldn't take a few minutes to jot down my thoughts. Can't think of a single thing....

In January, I went to court and met the trooper who made my ticket go away after I showed him my receipts for the tags. I didn't have to pay the court costs and fines. Thanks Trooper Clark!

I spent a lot of time in January getting things made for the fair. Doll clothes sewn, knitted and crocheted. Cross-stitched a beautiful "Three Faces of Santa". Love it!

Alex turned two and just gets more and more loveable, if that's even possible! We counted the coins in the money jar and there's almost $500. The jar is way to heavy to lift - even if we could, I'd be afraid the bottom would break off. The jar is almost full. So what do we do? Get a new jar? Cash out the coins?

I started going to Emma's third grade class to help with multiplication facts. Some of the kids are really fast but most of them are not. They are so cute as they scrunch up their faces trying to remember (or trying to count). You can almost see the steam coming out of the top of their heads.

All through the year I attended band practices, choir and bell practices, play practices. I looked for work but no one wants to hire a grey-haired grandma. I dealt with a computer scam telling me I had a trojan worm (I didn't). We went to Nicole's dance recital in Tyson's Corner. Alex loves to see his Mama dance! We dealt with snow and electric outages.

I had Grand Jury duty for three months. That really brings the nasty side of life to the forefront. I'm glad I don't know any of those people.

We had several friends and family members die this year. We also had a new baby - Lily Rodgers. She's simply adorable! I guess she's my 1st cousin, twice removed. My cousin's granddaughter.

In April, we had to buy a new refrigerator this year. That's something we absolutely didn't want to have to do! We're still digging ourselves out of our financial hole. I love it, though. It's black. I would have never thought I'd want a black 'fridge. Brenda and Frank came up in their camper again. We hit a few yard sales and went shopping.

May brought us the death of Bin Laden. Nicole went to Lebanon for a 10-day conference on land mines. We had lots of birthdays in May - Kara, Frank, Dick, Maggie and Emma. Scott got married on May 21, but I couldn't attend. I was in a play. There was no one to take my place. Rats. Emma played "Amazing Grace" on the recorder in church on May 8th. I love my grandchildren.

We survived "rapture day".

In June, July and August, I spent a lot of time at the pool with Kara and the girls. Maggie and Emma started diving from the board (finally!). The community band summer concert series went off without a hitch. The July 3rd concert is always a hit with the community because of the fireworks. I just love fireworks. Emma has learned to tolerate them.

We didn't have too many snakes this year. Yea! Kara and the girls and I went to Florida to Brenda's. We spent a lot of time at the beach. The Titusville Girls' club always has fun! They even let Morgan join. She's just too cute!

After we got back from Florida, it was time to go get my items from the fair and to see if I had won anything. I had entered 16 things and won 16 ribbons. One 'Best of Show', twelve 1st places, three 2nd places and one 3rd. I got about $47. Nice.

In August, as we were sitting at the pool eating lunch, we experienced an earthquake. Emma was so scared she was crying to go home. I told her we were safest out in the open. It was over in less than 30 seconds. Our house had some foundation damage and I noticed hair-line cracks in my bedroom walls.

We had to buy a 1993 Ford Explorer from Charlie so I'd have something "reliable" to drive. The other two cars aren't dependable. I wish we'd just get rid of them.

We had our 44th wedding anniversary on the 23rd of September. We went to Outback for dinner with Charlie and Alice.

In October, I started making doll clothes for Nancy Thompson's granddaughter for Christmas. I wasn't going to make any for Maggie and Emma, but I went ahead and did that, too. Brenda and Frank came up again in October.

I spent the next weeks getting things ready for Christmas. I wanted to knit Alex a sweater and hat but I didn't use my knitter because I wanted to do a design on the front and I don't know how to do that on the knitter. I did use the knitter to make Maggie's and Emma's ponchos and head warmers. The knitter is so much faster for that kind of straight knitting!

I was also getting things made for next year's fair, including Maggie's pink afghan. Emma wants one, too, but hasn't decided what color. I'll make her's for the fair of 2013. I've entered three afghans so far, but haven't won 1st place, yet! I was so sure 2011's afghan was a winner - it's absolutely beautiful! - but it only got 2nd place. Even the first place winner told Kara she was surprised! She expected me to win. Rats, again!

We had all the holiday dinners - Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had all the family gatherings - holidays, birthdays, etc. I read a lot of books and watched a lot of good programs on TV. I made a lot of cards and scrapbook pages. I've watched my grandchildren growing (and wishing they could stay little a little longer).

I guess all this is what I was doing instead of writing in this journal!