Grandma Shirley's Corner

Oh the woes of a quilter!!!  I almost always start out doing something wrong. But I still love to quilt! Amazing!! I'm making a wall hanging for a 'challenge' in our quilting guild, and yikes!, it's suppose to be made and quilted by Christmas!! And I've already started it off wrong. Here is a picture of what it is suppose to look like: I know that everyone is going to use some kind of prints in darks and lights; maybe prints, maybe batiks, so I wanted to do something different. Different, was my First Mistake!  Well, no, not paying attention to the details of how to put the pattern together!! I decided to use dots. Dark ones, small to big, and light ones, small to big. That was all well and good. Then I wondered what should I use for the middle square of each log cabin. I didn't want a plain color.  I wanted something whimsical!  I choose a fabric with Sock Monkeys all over it. (I love to fussy-cut!) Now here's where I put my thinking cap on. ( Sec

Tangles...no,  not hair, but those are bad too. I remember when my hair was long and thick and I had to deal with those....no fun! Not super highways either, though all the loops, off ramps, on ramps, ups and down, overs and unders is a HUGE tangle!  When I lived in the desert in California the freeway down near LA was a horrible, tangled mess. In the 20+ years I lived out there it took me several years to even attempt the drive down to LA.  Then I only drove it about three times, then never again the rest of my years out there!! People who drove that everyday, to and from work, must surely have had ulcers!! Very stressful!! Tangles...the ones I have to deal with now.  What are they?  They hide everywhere around the rooms where I live. They're like multiplying rabbits! Every time I buy some new techie equipment...more tangles!  And they're dirty!  And have spiders, like mites on a plant, or fleas on a dog!! What are these tangles...... They are Cords!!! Hundreds of C

A few days ago I left rather early to walk to Kroger. It's quite a long ways from where I live, but I've walked it many times before and it was still cool. The following picture will give you some idea of how far it is: In this picture I have already walked a loooong ways up to this point. By now I have crossed two highway connections, with a little island out in the middle of the turn lanes...that's not really too bad. But I still have as far as you see, to go yet! Now with the highway, and traffic and various places on either side once in awhile, I call this The Concrete Jungle. Boring. Bland. Noisy. Tiring. There are many types of "Concrete Jungles" , metaphorically speaking, one must endure or pass through in life. Too many people get too bored,  or feel like there is never anything to do, and wind up depressed.  But my philosophy is to find some good or beauty, in wherever your at or whatever your in. Nature is full of natural beauty, even in a Conc

                                                                             Miss Red                                             Well, everyone, meet Miss Red. You may have seen her before on Twitter. She came to me on either Mother's Day or my Birthday (sorry Carmen) from my daughter-in-law, Carmen. She is young and not any trouble to watch after. She appreciates it when I give her some water once in awhile, not too often, and enjoys sitting in front of the window which has low light coming in. The other evening I took her outside with me to enjoy the late afternoon sun. I sat in my recliner and she sat up on the table beside me. We was just relaxing, taking in the sun and listening to the birds. I was quite content, but I kept noticing Miss Red was facing longingly toward the butterfly bushes across from the porch where butterflies were flitting about happily. I think she was feeling a little lonely.  I asked her if she'd like to go over and join them (I do en

Hi everyone!  I hadn't intended to blog today, but, I have a reason for doing so. Not a good one, but a reason. I dirtied up dishes this morning, at lunch, and dinner, and they are all in the sink. I've just sort of been ignoring them as the day goes by. It's seven in the evening and yes, I know I have to get them done, but I figured that if I sit here and chat with you a few minutes, what could it hurt. Ya' know? But let's go in the kitchen for a bit,  don't look in the sink,  and check out the spices. Well, you can't but I'll tell you about them.  I like to use different spices when I cook.  But I don't really cook very often anymore.  When there was a husband and four boys, I felt like I was cooking for farmers! So I was use to making big meals every day. But living alone I just don't cook like that.  Of  course when I do want to make something in my crockpot, I have enough to put one or two meals in the freezer for a couple of days.  Theref

Hi grandkids, gamers, and viewers! Recently returned from a gamers convention in Owensboro, KY.  I must admit that I was afraid to go. Why? Because I'm 81 years old and I knew they would all be young! I was afraid no one would know me from my YouTube channel, and that OMGcon would be sorry they invited me! But man was I wrong! There were so many young people coming up to me asking if I was "Grandma Shirley"  or  "The Gaming Grandma", and telling me that they watch my channel!!  Actually some of the other 'guests' knew me.  And,  I was surprised to see some other older gamers there!! The most fun for me was when I did my "Panel",  which is just me, a mic, and a bottle of water. LOL AND   everyone one sitting out in front of me. We just chatted back and forth...me just talking and them asking questions etc.  It was so much fun!                                                          Here's a funny picture for you: Actually th