New Computer

Apparently 9 years old is too old despite new hard drive and 100 times more RAM. The hard drive I bought for old one was wrong type, but Gerry, my RACES friend, said he could build me a new one for about the same amount I'd paid for the hard drive, with the new hard drive, of course. Remaining is the issue as to whether or not I can recover any of my data that wasn't backed up (way too long ago.) Can't get at through Windows, but another friend managed access to at least some of it through Linux. Two weeks, I'll be without home computer for at least another 2 weeks. In mean time I've been using the library, and occasionly at Dads.

Arlington tornado

UPDATE:  ARRL (American Radio Relay League - a nation-wide organization for amateur radio operators) has an article about the North Texas tornadoes that mentions me - but didn't bother to see if they'd spelled my name right.  http://www.arrl.org/news/north-texas-hams-respond-when-tornados-strike

Not only did my hard drive crash AGAIN a couple of weeks ago, I've been very busy helping out at the Office of Emergency Management as the result of the tornado in SW Arlington on 4/3. I was called to come in to handle emergency radio traffic on the 4th because of the severe weather. I was sitting at the intersection next to the Administration Building when the sirens went off. My Dad was going to drive my car home to the garage he'd cleaned out (because of predicted large hail), but I told him FORGET THE CAR, YOU'RE COMING UP WITH ME!  (As I'm looking up to make sure something wasn't about to drop on top of us.) Very interesting experience. No time to be frightened, even when a spotter reported the circulation was right on top of our location. Circulation is rotation in the clouds, NOT a funnel or tornado. HOWEVER, someone took a photo of a funnel only 1/4 mile from our location. It's not a tornado unless the circulation actually reaches the ground. I left the EOC about 6:30pm. Because I sit in a windowless office with a screen way above my head showing radar, and was so busy listening to radio traffic and reporting emergency events to staff, I was unaware there had been a tornado in Lancaster at the same time. The whole area was EXTREMELY fortunate. No deaths, only 2 or 3 serious injuries, the Arlington tornado missed 2 elementary schools and a huge high school by as little as 250 feet. Had it continued on it's original path and not dissipated, it would have hit my neighborhood 2 or 3 minutes later. There has been an over-abundance of volunteers (leaving hundreds of good hearted citizens disappointed that there was nothing they were needed to do.) Nor were donations originally accepted, then later referred to Mission Arlington once a distribution plan was set up. The areas hit by the Arlington tornado were almost exclusively upper middle income and higher, thus most, if not all, are covered by insurance and though FEMA has been in to assess the damages, the likelihood of getting funds from FEMA is small. (They only cover non-insured expenses.)

I called the next morning to find out if our CERT volunteers had been activated, and instead was asked to come in to secure and schedule volunteers for both the Emergency Operations Center and the Tornado Recovery Center. Subsequently, I have been at the EOC pretty much from 7am to 11pm (or later) every night through Sunday. Went home at 8pm on Monday. Now I'm preparing documentation for the OEM/EOC to determine how many different people and how many hours they've put in. So far I've got a total of 215 volunteer hours for the EOC (not including the 3+ I spent today trying to figure out how Excell and Word 2007 work - I HATE THEM - way too overly complicated and far too many unnecessary graphics - I wish they'd leave what works perfectly well ALONE!). I don't have the total hours for volunteers working at the TRC yet, but it was operational from 8am to 8pm Tuesday through 6pm this past Monday. Close to 100 more I suspect. UPDATE:  CERT volunteers logged 185 hours at the Tornado Recovery Center. Altogether, in less than a week, volunteers totaled over 400 hours assisting at the Office of Emergency Management, the TRC, Fire, Police and citizens of Arlington.

One interesting story that I haven't seen published is that when the tornado hit St. Barnabas church, it sucked up or blew away hundreds of plastic Easter eggs, meaning some folks found unexpected plastic eggs hidden in their yards this year. Thankfully, my daughter was working at home. Straight line winds or a small spin up hit her office and blew in windows where she would otherwise have been sitting. God is good!

www.arlingtontx.gov/tornado
http://pd.dfw.com/sp?aff=1100&keywords=+arlington+tornado&submit=Search

New Debbie Cripps Freebie

Small Violet Posy by Debbie Cripps.

Still stitching on the Dimensions Sunflower pillow chart my mother started before she passed. I really don't care for the greens in the kit. Not sure whether to change or to just live with them. She substituted a small piece of 14ct natural linen aida, which gives it a more rustic look. I'm having to guess at which of the 5 yellows/gold are which. Two of the light yellows are so slightly different that after stitched I can't tell the difference. I'm only stitching the center and the borders, and maybe 3 or 4  rows of that outside mishmash.That's all the available fabric and all I'm interested in stitching anyway, although the outside design appeals to me more than the solitary sunflower center.

New Permin Freebie

Cute Easter type duckie

Medical stuff lately so I haven't been keeping up with the Freebies. Hopefully I'll get back to that in the near future.

PIF: Columbine Bookmark - Winner

Winner of the PIF drawing is Dee in T!

Thank you to all the ladies who entered. Wish I had multiples so I could send you each one!

Happy Stitching,  LindaMc

Columbine Bookmark

Except for a couple of stitches, all I  have left is a LOT of backstitching - not my favorite thing. Although the original kit came with 15ct aida banding, floss, felt backing and a tassel, I received this as a PIF with only the well worn chart, on which someone had marked the DMC colors, and some left over floss, though I mostly used my own. This is stitched on 28ct natural linen banding, which has a slightly wider center stitching area. After stitching the 904 mid-value green, it was difficult to distinguish the difference with 895 dark green so frogged it all and started over. But after considerable search thru stash ended up blending the 904 with 319 instead. I added a couple of spaces to each side of the design before the border to make it fit better between the bands, only to discover no matter where I "centered" it would be one square off on the banding. Am adding a couple of stitches to the left side of the flowers and moved the bottom vine one left and added an extra stitch to make the design more centered. I may restitch that center tendril as well to add a couple of stitches in width. When finished it will likely become a small wall hanging instead.

New Freebie Bookmark

In Honor of my Mother and in Appreciation for over 20,000 Hits on my Blog

My Mother made hundreds of bookmarks for church bazaars, family reunions, and other occasions during her lifetime, often designing as she stitched along.  I've attached many to my bedroom walls (needless to say an eclectic assortment of photos, cross stitch, and original art) with a push pin rather than use for the purpose intended. This verse was particularly meaningful to her, as it is to me, and this holds place of honor on the wall right next to my bed.  Provided you include the copyright information, the chart is yours to share without restriction.

• Stitched on white 14ct Aida, stitched area 92w x 18h 
• Finished size of fabric (stitching plus necessary extra rows) apx 7' wide by 1-1/8" high
• DMC colors used:  907 (light green), 905 (darker green), 725 (topaz) and 315 (deep mauve). Or chose your own.
• 9" length of 1-3/8 grosgrain ribbon, burgundy or your choice
• Lightweight fusible webbing just one row smaller than fabric
• Center stitched piece with webbing on ribbon. Iron. Notch ends of ribbon.
• Be sure to add a French knot above the "i" in "with." Just realized I missed it.

My Cousin's Obituary

William "Bill" Anthony Hensley 
(July 15, 1945 - February 8, 2012)

William "Bill" Anthony Hensley, 66 of Mounds. OK, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at his home. He was born on July 15, 1945 in Burnet, TX. to Marion and Earlene Hensley. He was grounds keeper for Greenwood Cemetery. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era. He was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and spending time with family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Earlene Hensley. He is survived by his wife Beverly (Tyler) Hensley of the home; children, Robert Jones of the home, Janet Smith of Sapulpa, OK., Tracie Miller of Ravia, OK., Kimberly Parizon of Decatur, TX., Jonathan Jones and Jamie Jones both of Mounds, OK., and James Hensley of Ramona, OK. ; 21 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and sister, Janet Nunez of Erath, LA. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the Smith Funeral Chapel, Sapulpa, OK. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2012 at Smith Funeral Chapel, Sapulpa, OK. Officiating will be the Reverend Stephanie Sargent. Bearers will be Chester White, Danny White (Rossie), Mark Roberts, Tony Roberts, Curtis Parker, Billy Smith, John Brooks, Billy Raye Young. Honorary Bearers will be Wade Jones, Marcus Tarter, Thomas Miller, Cody Jones, Angel Garcia, Clyde Smith, Sean Keen, Lance Keen, Joshua Hensley, Colby Jones, and Jonathan Jones, II. Interment to follow at Mounds Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Sapulpa, OK.
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His mother was my mother's sister. I had no idea he had so many grandchildren or great-grandchildren. The long drive and wintry weather prevent some of us from attending the funeral today.