And Off She Goes

The YO will be moving into her dorm room this afternoon. She's a high school senior and I think it's a little too soon for this. She seemed surprised last night when I told her that I was sad and we would miss her being home during the week. I still am the momma.

It's Been Awhile

I had an accident in October and haven't been the same since. My hands hurt. Really, really hurt. And when the don't hurt I try to do something (like clean the bathrooms) and then they really, really hurt again. They wake me up, they make me sleep. They keep me from cooking how I want to. They keep me from sewing and quilting all the gifts I want to give. When you're a crafter and a SAHM and your hands are your enemy life is hell.

The best laid plans of mice and men....

......oft go awry. While I did have good intentions today, they were somewhat changed. OO decided that she could not attend the Ravens game, she had a paper or two to finish. I drove DH and YO to the game, came home, drove OO back to school thus most of my alone sewing and watching time was gone. I did get to design a "butterfly" in Inkscape and transfer it to SCAL. I have yet to cut it but I am proud, this is my first non-word design and it was fun. It's name is Hooty Butterfly.

Sunday Football and Sewing

The Ravens are back home today after a tough loss in New England last week. Husband and the OO are going to the game, Momma and the YO will be at home. I love football Sundays! It gives me a chance to have three guiltless hours sewing/crafting and watching the game.
Today I will be starting a scrapping album for OO's friend who expecting a baby boy in December. I get to play with SCAL, Inkscape, my Cricut and my brand new Binds It All. Maybe I can work in the new thermal laminator that somehow found it's way into my home last week.

She's Got Legs.......

I love these little baby leg warmers. I don't have a baby, but I do have a great grandniece and I hope her momma likes them.
I found the tutorial here on Everything Your Mama Made. Very clear instructions and believe me easy to do, I think it took me a 1/2 hour to make three pairs and that included the first "test" pair.

.....she knows how to use them

I'm Under so Much Pressure....

...and loving it. This summer I decided to can my crop of tomatoes. I had canned jellies and jams before using a water bath canner but after research I decided to buy a pressure canner. My tomatoes turned out beautiful, so much so that I would go to the farmers market just to buy tomatoes to can.
After the tomatoes I decided to become adventurous and can some Chicken Noodle Soup. The soup darkened during the canning process and I have yet to test, I mean taste it. Soup, tomatoes, stocks and jellies finished what could I do now?
Well, I could use the pressure canner as a pressure cooker. What soup does my family love but takes me tons of time so I only make it about once a year? ... (thinking) ... (still thinking)....Oh, Crab Soup! And I don't mean just regular Maryland Crab Soup, what I brew is something we refer to as Baltimore Crab Soup. Baltimore City had a very large German (and Polish and Irish) population and I think this is the reason for the difference in the soup that is made in the rest of Maryland. I never find this style of soup in restaurants but this is how my momma taught me (over the phone, no measurements) and this is what my family enjoys. Blah, blah, blah.... back to the cooking.
The soup usually takes me all day to cook and cool, then we eat it on the second day for the best taste. With the pressure cooker within 2 hours the soup was ready to eat and the best of all it tasted exactly the same!! Now I'm trying to come up with other "family" recipes that I can convert.

Bon Apetite!!!

Where Has All the Time Gone

I've been really busy, but the work ( mostly phone calls and coordinating) has been worth it. The "other" house is almost done and hopefully we will have it on the market by the end of August. Mom wants us to come visit, but we can't. The trip would be too much on the dog and me. just going to the beach. Found another photo that i love. It's of my grandmother, Grace Marie Killmayer, and her two brothers, Bernard and Thomas. I can upload it after I convert to jpeg. until then this is my Aunt Catherine Killmayer Mraz. That big bow must have been the style, I have a photo of my mother-in-law with the same type bow.

On The Road

I've been traveling with my husband since last Tuesday. We went to Seattle on business and then the OO and YO joined us on Saturday. We were there for a few days together and now the whole bunch is in San Francisco. The business stuff should be completed soon and then off for a day of siteseeing. I am missing home, mostly because of the dog. She is elderly and does not handle it well when we leave. She has never spent a night in a kennel. She either spends time at others homes or Grandma comes to stay. Grandma couldn't make it this time and OO's friend is with her. Don't worry Mitzi, we'll be home soon.

State Cup Champions!!

My YO's soccer team are the Maryland State Cup Champions!! I am so happy for her and her team. It was a long journey (they lost the State Cup two times on PK's, Penalty Kicks for the non-soccer people. This year was a great game that ended at regulation time. No overtime, no pk's!! Way to go Baltimore Bays 92-93!!! Off to the Regionals!!!

Great Grand Aunt Grace

This is Grace Killmayer Kruepel. She was my great grandfather's (John Killmayer) sister. Even though she never had any children she was a midwife to many. She helped to deliver my grandmother Grace and her siblings. She also helped to deliver my mother.
I always wonder how many babies she helped to bring into the world.
My great grandmother (Mamie) kept a journal and one entry states that Aunt Grace took her stillborn baby to a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
At the time autopsies were illegal and I assume this was her contribution to science.

Another Find

This is another photo that I love. It is a photo of my maternal grandmothers family. The gentleman holding his hat in his hand is my great grandfather, John Aloysious Killmayer. His parents are the seated elderly couple, Caroline Bucher and Conrad Killmayer. Conrad came to the United States from Germany in 1864 and Caroline followed soon after. This photo is from the late 1890's or early 1900's. (Before 1902) Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Wasting Time

Since I have had bad experiences with losing my digital data, I have spent most of the morning uploading my photos to the web for storage.

I love this picture, it must be from 1908. My grandmother is the little girl, my great grandfather is the gentleman standing. All the buildings are gone now and I'm in the process of trying to find the name of the bar.

No More Braces

YO had her braces removed this morning and oh my my how happy she is. Two and a half years and now she is free. I finished 2 more potholders this morning. Big deal. I need a car. It's more fun to spend money in the store than on the internet, but I do like the packages. Back to sewing, it sure beats cleaning.