CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER...
and a bit of ye ole misc...

THE APPLE HAS ARRIVED!!!

The NEW Apple computer arrived for our Megan! It feels like Christmas! She's never owned a new computer of her own, and has been well content with a second hand computer. We're looking forward to her arriving on Thursday, so she can see it for herself!We can't thank her brother Mark, and the generosity of his NC parishioners, for helping make this possible! We couldn't ask for a better brother for Megan!

On another exciting note, our landlords have purchased a gas range for us! This is VERY exciting news indeed! I LOVE cooking on a gas stove. Just in time for our big Thanksgiving Dinner with Mark, Diane and Paul. Hopefully Philip and family will make it as well! The icing on the cake would be if Abbey and Lee could join us. Oh, JOY! Hopefully, round two of Tony's chemo won't be any more difficult then the first.

Halloween 2006 is now passed...

In spite of the rain, we had several kiddy winkies come knocking at the door for halloween. They all were pleased to see Daisy (our Goffins Cockatoo) sitting on my shoulder, as we doled out candy. Daisy added her own touch to the events by flapping her wings and telling each of our visitors, "bye bye"

GETTING SIDE TRACKED...

Just in case any of you wonder what this clergy spouse does, when she's not tending to her priestly hubby... well, one never knows.... but, it would be crochet, knitting, quilting, embroidery, decorating, baking, rug hooking, and the list goes on. But, today I got a bit side tracked, when I took the dining room table apart, to clean it and move it to the living room. Our dear little dining room table was looking a bit worse for the wear, after many a move! So... the only solution? Strip, Sand, Stencil and Varnish!

From Arkansas, to South Dakota, to Paris, and then Clermont-Ferrand, France, and back to the states in WV, our dining room table has served us well, but with all the packing, moving and begin stacked upon, its original beauty was waning. As you can barely see, I had a little visitor while I was working. A daddy long legs decided to hang out with me for a while.

After getting the wood completely stripped of varnish, it was ready for stenciling. I chose to use a copper color, and stiple a bit of copper patina looking paints on top of the stenciling. While I was adding these detailed embellishments, a wren and cardinal chirped away. I wonder if they were trying to tell me to quicken the pace, as RAIN was coming, and I was working at the edge of the garage.

The first half of the first coat of varnish. You'll get to see the finished product in tomorrow's blog... once I have the table put back together. Maybe I'll also show you why I chose the fleur de lis design. :c)

UPDATE ON THE WV PARSON

Fr. Tony took it easy this morning, had an ample lunch, then headed over to the church to meet with the clergy and bishop. Within a couple/few hours he was feeling shaky and called to say he'd be home soon. Only a couple more days and he'll start back on the steroids, which means no sleep, unless the new sleep meds Dr. Craig prescribed help. Crossing fingers and toes. Fortunately, his appetite is still very good, and maybe he can make up the lost 6 pounds, before he starts on the steroids again. If "I" ate all that he eats lately, I'd be the size of our house!

Time for sleep.

Night All, PitterPat