MIA (to coin a friend) time is over, time to renew friendships via this blog.
What has happened since my last post?? First, my PT Cruiser engine blew up last November, using up all my meager savings for another engine, ( remember, my Viking Sewing Gallery had been closed on my birthday, newly unemployed and on SS). The crank shaft oil seal blew out, dumping all the oil....it was not a pretty thing!! Just before Christmas time too. God is so good though, my church paid my high heating oil bill. My 2 daughters went together to provide wood for my fireplace, I cried as I opened the door, son in law standing on the porch and the pick-up with wood parked in front, "where would you like this stacked Mom?" Someone put money on my electric company account, and someone left money for me to pick up. It was a prayerful, tearful, counting all my blessings time in my life. A time of wonderful testimony to share. Giving all praise to Him who promises to take care of our needs, and we are so surprised when He does!!
The end of March, past, marked my 1 year of being unemployed. I have had the time to evaluate where I am, a new chapter, where do I want to go with my life, and the celebration of turning 63 and 13 years cancer free, another "thank you God" moment. My birthday gift from my daughters, is a
tattoo, I had talked about having done, Celtic cross (Irish background), Christ's crown of thorns, 3 roses growing around the cross, each in color of the daughter's birth color, over my heart....the most important things of my life.
Saving money has become an adventuresome challenge. Not that there is much to save, and, by using the Internet, I discovered all the many fun things available, just gas money required, and time...which I have had an excess of!!
I joined several "Meet Up" groups. You can do a search for these, marking off your areas of interest and suddenly there's groups to join with your interests in mind. I chose several, two photography groups, for my photography hobby, even though I still use a "film" camera, it has been fun. Met new friends, while I learned about F-stops,
depth of field,
landmarks and places of interest, who would have thought Hippo Hardware would be such a
blast 
and hiking the 4T trail was considered a "photography" opportunity.
For my water color hobby, a couple of groups. One group I really love, an artist guild of people who share many different art mediums, and encouragement is given by all as we share our art work each month, over chocolate. The other is a Plain Aire, painting outside, I discovered Ft. Vancouver.
There is the Over 50 and Fabulous, Anyone Can Join and Keep Portland Weird groups, each is self explanatory. I have discovered great eating places, the history of Big Foot in Oregon, as he surprised my daughter,
the beauty of Lone Pine Cemetery,
how to paddle a Kayak and met some of the "colorful" people who make up our city. The Art Museum group, visiting museums of interest while learning about artist. (love the Monet works
and found Mary Hill in the middle of no where)
Urban hikers, Glass Fusion group where I have discovered the beauty of melted glass
, and, not to forget... Dog lovers groups where Adele showed off her St. Paddy's Day attire.
Adele has become my companion in travel. We have discovered the "dogie park" in Scappoose and Hillsboro, where we have both made friends, McCall water parkway, a romp on the beach, walks around town where she meets and greets walkers and their companions. She is a good exercise inspiration for me.
Sewing, have done very little. Gardens look great,
have finally carpeted my hallway and found the perfect old fashion wood screen door, which I painted....are you ready.....
bright yellow. (I know the color is a shock to some).
Along with all this, I have discovered how to apply for unemployment benefits, file a weekly claim, look for a new job, apply, be turned down, or just ignored, and the daily jobs now offered to become a "money collecting site" for people in foreign countries....all with the last name of Mr. Smith or Ms. Brown, and the opportunity of becoming a "Secret Shopper" after I open a warehouse of stock, with all my unemployment money.....all via the
INTERNET.....do you believe???? My goodness, times have changed!!
I had the privilege of becoming a Costume Director for our church Easter play. Wonderful time, talented people and a group of fabulous ladies as my seamstress team.
Oh, the latest turn, a phone call from the Manager of the Vancouver Viking Sewing Gallery.....would I please consider coming back to work for Viking?? I have, and another new chapter begins, I'm not the boss this time, and it feels okay 8^)
This pretty well brings my life up to the present...so...on with my blogging.
