Just another rainy day!

Santa's Sack has arrived!!!

2011-12-18T23:41:00.004-10:00

YIPPEE! I almost forgot to post a picture of my goodies that arrived in Santa's sack all the way from Illinois! My swap partner was Ruth
Thank you again Ruth! She was gracious enough to gift me with not one, but 2 cute windchimes (and I LOVE chimes!!!), among other goodies!!! And a BIG thank you to you Cheryll for hosting this fun swap!

Sunshine!

2011-05-14T09:22:00.000-10:00

YAY! After the past several weeks of RAIN, intermittent lightning & thunder showers...which IS unusual for our island at this time of year...WE GOT SUN!!! And blue skies! Summer is right around the corner, which means lots of beach days! Yippeeeee!
Because of all the dreary weather we'd been having, hubby & I at least got to finish renovations of 2 more rooms...complete with freshly painted vintage desks for each room! Not much sewing at all done at this time...BUT...I must get back to sewing MORE baby blankies & what we call HALI'Is (quilts) because...my "hanai" (adopted) daughter is expecting! YAY! And she's coming to visit this summer, so I plan to have them done for her to take home to Maui when she leaves!
Have a ~blessed~ day, everyone!

MAY DAY IS LEI DAY IN HAWAI'I!!!

2011-05-01T08:10:00.000-10:00

When I was growing up, May Day was when EVERYONE wore their mu'umu'u or aloha shirt...and you just had to wear a lei! It's really not like that so much anymore, the schools here opt to be more "politically correct" and now they do more things like outdoors field days of play. Even "maypole" dancing! WHO DOES THAT??? All my grandchildren here attend Hawaiian Language Immersion schools, so their May Day is celebrated more with what I'm used to seeing as a child. The festivity, colors, LEIS...and added to that is their May Day performances of hula, hula, and more hula! Gotta love it!!! It isn't going to be celebrated until next Friday & I'm so excited to see what they have in store for us this year! YAY!

Santa Sack Swap

2011-04-30T21:55:00.000-10:00

Oh! How exciting that I've just received word that my swap partner is Ruth!! So I'll be seeing you all...gotta get busy!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!

2011-04-18T22:07:00.000-10:00

HAPPY DAY RECIPE
Begin with a smile
Mix in some laughter
Add a dash of wisdom
Stir in plenty of hugs
Blend with inspiration
Combine with joy and
Top off the day with
A generous sprinkling
Of love!

Hooray!

2011-04-17T17:33:00.000-10:00

I'm now into the 2nd day of spring cleaning & ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL setting up a "sewing cubby" for me to hide away in while I sew my days away! I'm so excited for it to be finished! Once I get all my fabric organized in there, all I have left to do is to sew my tie-on curtains & I'M DONE!!! Yay! Thank God I had painted the entire room a couple of months ago, before I got sidetracked baby sitting my 2 youngest grand daughters...and what a peaceful element to the room it is! Oooh I can't wait!!!
~blessings to you all~
Leona

So happy to be back!

2011-04-10T22:04:00.004-10:00

After such a long blog break, I am really happy to be back...All of you continue to be such an inspiration with your beautiful blogs & creations! The past several months have been such a strain on my family with the hubby having to live and work on another island to be able to keep his job as a prison guard. He has finally returned home after almost a year away! Praise sweet Jesus! Another highlight of the past few months is that we survived yet another tsunami (tidal wave) scare, this time actually having to evacuate our home near the ocean & head for the mountains! Actually, my sister-in-law has a home way, way up on the mountain slopes, so we spent the night there!
I have just joined Cheryll's "Santa's Sack Swap" and am excitedly preparing my list of possibilities! Go check it out,sounds like loads of F*U*N!!!!! You can find Cheryll at stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com
Yes, I sure am happy to be back! I intend to stick around this time & will try & catch up with all you wonderful ladies!
~~Aloha~~
Leona

Laundry day!

2010-10-20T14:50:00.005-10:00

My oh my! Because I've been trying to cut costs due to my husband's job re-location, I've been making & using homemade cleaning ideas that I find here in blogland...My wonderful friend, Carrie has an AWESOME recipe for fabric softener that works like a charm! Here it is:
Fabric Softener Recipe
1 cup vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner ( I used Suave's new Wild Cherry Blossom this time)
6 cups of water

Mix all this together. You may use this like any other Fabric Softener. ***I forgot to add that you must shake your bottle or container each time you use and I use 1/2 cup per load...

If you prefer dryer sheets you can try this~I diluted this down with water~ 3 parts water, 1 part softener. I then poured it into this glass container. Next I added sponges. For each load~ wring out the sponge and add to the dryer as you would fabric sheets. I added a few drops of Downy scent! Smells wonderful! I have used other hair conditioner scents, but have found the Wild Cherry Blossom best. One recipe lasts me about a week to 10 days, because I wash alot! And the best part of it is it only costs me $1.50 to make if I can get the conditioner on sale, at which time I buy oodles! Hurry! Go try it out!

I've caught the "thrifting bug"!!!

2010-10-11T16:35:00.002-10:00

So...I guess I got a kick-start when I helped my "sister" rummage thru all that neat fabric & trims the other week! Lately I've been checking out the local Goodwill & "Sally" shops & have now found oodles of vintage sheets & pillowcases! YAY! I've only been interested in the white pillowcases so I can embellish them to my heart's desire & let me tell you....I am having so much fun!!! Again, I really wish I had a camera to be able to show off my goodies! I guess my Christmas stockings project will have to wait a little bit longer now...
~until we "meet" again, be blessed~

It IS raining!!

2010-10-04T10:24:00.006-10:00

I never thought I'd be so happy to say "It's raining!" but after this LONG drought, I AM! We've had too long a time of Hawai'i's summer weather, and it finally started raining on this side of the Big Island 2 days ago. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to wake up in the CHILLY morning...ran out to check the thermometer this morning & it read 64 degrees! It has been a long time, alright! Time to get out my down comforter! Yay! And now my garden can get back to life!
Otherwise, I've been thrilled to be helping my "sister" go thru her mom's storage. Her mom is a retired professional seamstress,(specializing in wedding gowns~ooooh!) so she has many years of accumulated fabric & trims! Do I feel like a kid in a candy store? OF COURSE! Oodles & oodles of silks, satins & velvets to make a bunch of Christmas stockings for my grandchildren! And loads of old linens & cottons for my hobo bags for more Christmas gifts! I only wish I had a camera again to show y'all!
I've also been keeping busy doing needlework on all my white pillowcases for my bedroom once I'm finally done re-decorating! I'm making white lace-trimmed curtains for the room too! You know, the kind that will blow so gently in the breeze! Ooooh! All accents in my room will be the Copenhagen-ish blue! Can't wait!
I have been visiting all of your blogs lately & am so happy to see all of the busy-ness y'all have been up to! Please keep our friend, Teresa & her family in prayer...Her husband, Jack was found collapsed on the floor of his hotel room & is now in ICU in the hospital.
~Blessings to you all~

It's been way too long!

2010-09-09T21:05:00.002-10:00

I must say...these past few months have been such an adjustment for me! I am glad to finally be back, now that I've "caught my balance"...My hubby's job required his transfer to another island here in Hawai'i back in February & since then I've been thrown into the role of full-time raising of our 3 grandaughters alone, most of the time! What a journey that has been...I really did try my best to keep up with all of you, so full of inspiration!!! But then, life happened! So for now, I'm back, catching up with all of your beautiful & fun creations! Maybe that's what I need for a kick-start to get going with my projects! Have a great weekend!
~blessings~
Leona

Merry Monarch Festival 2010

2010-04-18T00:43:00.004-10:00

Every year,Easter Sunday marks the beginning of a week long celebration of the Hawaiian culture here in Hilo. We have hula exhibitions, competitions (said to be the "Olympics of hula") Hawaiian crafts and lots of "ono" (delicious) Hawaiian food! It is always one of my favorite times of the year mainly because everyone's decked out in their mu'umu'us & aloha shirts...many wearing leis, either around their neck or as hatbands on their lauhala(woven pandanus) or good 'ole cowboy (paniolo) hats! Such a joyous time! The lady on horseback is typical of our pa'u riders in the parade during the festival...The riders have a whole unit on horseback, each unit representing one of our islands in color...she is representing Kaua'i...purple..and the green lei she wears is the mokihana berry from Kaua'i...Beautiful!

While I've been away....

2010-04-18T00:14:00.004-10:00

Oh my! How time does fly! The past few months have been such a whirlwind...I've been mainly in a cloud since the start of this year...when it became very obvious that yes, indeed, my husband would have to leave us for his job transfer to another island...So he has been gone since February, leaving ME to hold down the fort!!! It has been very trying at times, but it IS such a great thing that I DO KNOW WHERE MY STRENGTH COMES FROM!
So...hopefully soon...I will get out of this slump & be able to focus, once again, on sewing...or my needlework...or SOMETHING! In the meantime, thank you all for the inspiration! I do keep up with all of your beautiful creations & lighthearted moments that you all share on your blogs! Thank you friends!
Oh! Happy Spring to all! And I thought I'd share this picture of some of our well known quilters here on the Big Island...see our pretty Hawaiian quilts!

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!

2009-12-23T20:00:00.000-10:00

Falling behind.....lots of catching up!

2009-10-05T23:21:00.004-10:00

Whew! Where did the time go???!!! It seems that only yesterday summer began...and now..it's already October, with ONLY 80 days til Christmas!!! I have been so busy babysitting now & then...TRYING desperately to finish painting my room so that I can finally sew my curtains, etc!!! And of course, doing my PIFs & Advent Swap gifts in between! I will try to post pictures of my goodies soon AND I have NOT forgotten about my giveaway that I had planned a while ago...Oh my!
I also have my grandaughters doing "shoe boxes" for the kids in Samoa that were affected by last week's earthquake & tsunami...We were on a "tsunami watch" here in Hawai'i on alert in case we neede to evacuate as well..because our home is located near the shore, we go thru this often..But, PRAISE GOD that the watch was called off when the Pacific Tsunami Center announced that there was no threat to us here!!
My family has now officially joined the ranks of so many others in this state & nation...The economy seems to have warranted our Governor to call for job furloughs AND layoffs!! My husband is a State employee and therefore received notice today that he is required to relocate IF there's even an opening in his department!! That means he'll have to move to another island for work...And we can't possibly afford rent there & our mortgage here! I am leaving it in God's hands..Somehow our state is in deficit of millions, if not billions of $$$! Oh well!
Thank you ladies, once again, for all your inspiration! It is always a pleasure to hear from you as well as visiting your blogs!
~~blessings~~
Leona

FLASH! ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!

2009-09-16T21:18:00.002-10:00

Nicole over at Our Cozy Nest is having a giveaway!!! It's a great one especially if you have a baby shower coming up soon, because she also has a tutorial for some cute gifts! While you're there, check out her other tutorials!!!

AMONG THE GUM TREES GIVEAWAY!

2009-09-15T21:19:00.002-10:00

Wow! Go check out the F~A~N~T~A~S~T~I~C giveaway that our friends from down under have put together! Hurry on over~winner will be named on Oct.1!

GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-08-24T00:32:00.004-10:00

Hey there girls! Head on over to see Bonnie's AWESOME giveaway! You'll find her at calamityjanescottage.blogspot.com!! What a nice summer's end project for some lucky lady! Thanks Bonnie!
Hmmmm.....That reminds me, I WANTED TO DO A GIVEAWAY for my 50th posted & I got so caught up in life that I overlooked it!LOL! So I guess I'll have to do one for my 56th? OR maybe for my 60th!!! Stayed tuned!
~blessings to you & thanks for visiting!~
Leona

AND another giveaway!

2009-08-15T22:53:00.002-10:00

Hurry on over to enter Linda's cute giveaway! Please tell her that I sent you over for a peek! Hurry! Her drawing is on the 16th!

Summertime going ons!

2009-07-14T08:41:00.003-10:00

Whew! This summer seems to be flyin' on by alright! I wanted to show you some of the projects I've been busy teaching my 12yr.old grandaughter to try! The cupcakes on the stand was done by her & she so wanted to contribute to my FRIENDS swap with Lanette, she also sewed a little tote to put it onto! The fabric flower is from another endeavor of ours'~of course, we forgot to take pictures of all of them together!(Sorry about the blur!) And the teacups are just sittin' here, waiting for the inspiration to come! For now, I'm busy painting & re-doing MY bedroom & I must say I AM LOVIN' the color! LOL! After it's all done I might never come out of there! I really want to move my sewing machine in there for the peace & quiet, but we'll see! LOL!
Have a great week!

Barb's Christmas in July giveaway!

2009-07-05T00:50:00.002-10:00

Ooooh another one! Go check out Barb's fabulous giveaway!

F~R~I~E~N~D~S Swap

2009-06-28T19:15:00.004-10:00

I received my swap package a few days ago from Lanette! It was packaged up sooo beautifully, I was ALMOST afraid to open them! But when I did...OMG! Look what I found! I LOVE IT!! I have enough to keep me busy for a while! I was especially thrilled because of all the quilting goodies & the fact that we only have 1 very small quilt shop where I live, so there isn't much of a selection! Now, thanks to Lanette, I have LOTS to do! THANK YOU AGAIN LANETTE & Khris for hosting this awesome swap!
~Blessings~

Another giveaway & MY 50th post!

2009-06-26T21:41:00.002-10:00

Hey hey hey! Kim is having a fantastic giveaway! Her pillow, using Texture Magic is simply beautiful!
And.....speaking of giveaways, since this is my 50th post...I will be having one of my own soon! Stay tuned!

Summer IS here!

2009-06-15T20:22:00.002-10:00

Hey there everybody! Whew! Boy, IS summer here! Been kept pretty busy with the grandchildren, even had my grandaughter from Nevada visiting for a short while! Needless to say, our hearts were so full, after all, we hadn't seen her for 2 years!
Besides that, we helped an elderly uncle of my best friend clear out his house of a lifetime's accumulation of "stuff" his deceased wife had...AND I ended up buying(at a really low price!) some of her vintage chenille bedspreads!!YAY! I can't wait to sew more baby sweetness with those!! I PROMISE TO GET PICTURES ON HERE AS SOON AS I CAN!!
I have been visiting most of your blogs over the past few weeks & I must say! You gals have been so busy with all your beautiful work! Thank you for continuing to inspire! I will be back soon!
Take care & may God bless you all!
Leona

Advent swap for Christmas 2009!

2009-05-26T00:36:00.003-10:00

Looky what Fiona's got goin' on! Sounds
like fun!

Oh what an exciting weekend we just had! Our 2nd grandaughter graduated high school on Sunday & is set to start college this summer! We are so very proud of her! Way to go, Anuhea!

~~blessings~
Leona

Me & my chickens!

2009-05-13T21:23:00.002-10:00

Here I go again! After my whirlwind-baby-stuff-making-marathon a few weeks ago, I sorta fell into a creative slump...sort of...I did take advantage of the sunshine-y weather to clean up the garden & get it back in shape for this season's planting (& I will post those pictures at a later time)...I "kicked started" the creative energy & painted up my last "old" window that I'd found last summer at an antique store!! Yay! I then did it up with some chicken wire & decoupaged fabric in my beloved chicken pattern and voila!! Now to find the perfect place to hang it!
I will be away from blogland til early next week..going on a vacation of sorts..to O'ahu to visit my mom & DS! Maybe I'll get to visit the fabric stores there & replenish my dwindling supply! LOL! Oh I can dream, can't I?
See you girls next week!
~blessings~
Leona

Pink~a~Boo Giveaway!

2009-05-13T20:54:00.002-10:00

Elizabeth is having a giveaway! It's simply beautiful & I HOPE I WIN IT! LOL! It is a beautiful quilt, so fresh! Hurry on over to enter because it ends on Monday, May 18th! AND if your name isn't chosen to win that beauty, there's other goodies to try & win! Go take a peek at her blog!

Oh so sweet giveaway!

2009-05-11T19:16:00.005-10:00

Julie's having such a sweet giveaway & you have til midnight, Friday 5/15 to enter! Go on over to "Tattered Threads & Willing Hands" (by clicking on the image on my sidebar) to say hi!

OMG! Julie emailed me last night to give me the GREAT news!! I won the quilt kit!! YAY!!! Thank you, Julie!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2009-05-07T20:25:00.002-10:00

~~~to all the moms out there....isn't that the truth! Enjoy your day, girls!
~~Hugs~~
Leona

May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i!

2009-05-07T00:15:00.003-10:00

Just thought I'd share what May Day looks like here! My grandaughters are students at a Hawaiian language immersion school,and hula is included in their curriculum...so here are 2 of my beauties!

Spring fever happenings

2009-05-02T23:52:00.002-10:00

Well, I guess for me, spring has reached it's plateau! I have never been so "creatively energized" in a LONG time! I will post pictures soon of all my "creations" ranging from painting & redecorating my grandaughter's room to sewing baby blankets (galore!), burp cloths & hooded baby towels for my son's 2nd daughter due in a few months!I just don't know what in the world came over me! LOL! I am truly having a lot of fun though! And in the next few weeks I will start on my room, painting & decorating again!
My hens are laying like crazy & I find great pleasure & relaxation in stealing a few moments thru out my hectic days around here, just meandering in my backyard, watching the girls go about their busy-ness. One of them INSISTS on going over to my neighbor's house & hopping into one of their unfinished bedroom windows to dutifully lay her precious egg in there! Another one just HAS TO lay her eggs in my DIL's umbrella that stands on the porch of their house. These girls are just so comical!
I've really missed coming here & checking in on all of your blogs! I will definitely TRY to discipline myself to at least pop in to say hello more often! Oh! I signed up for Khris' F~R~I~E~N~D~S swap & got my partner assigned, so that IS exciting! Hmmm...wonder what I'll do next? I'm really itching to do a giveaway soon, maybe once I'm all done with MY room! LOL!
Until then, ladies.....

F~R~I~E~N~D~S Swap over at Khris' blog!

2009-04-22T22:14:00.007-10:00

Hey all you ladies out there! In case you haven't heard, Khris over at "Sew Prim Khris"is having such a cute swap! Go check it out! To get to her blog, just click on to her button on my sidebar!HAVE FUN!

UPDATE****
My F~R~I~E~N~D~S swap partner is Lanette! Yay!

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

2009-04-11T00:03:00.001-10:00

We have much to be thankful for!

EGGS!

2009-04-03T21:48:00.003-10:00

OMG! Just when I thought something was REALLY wrong with my girls, they have restored my faith in them! LOL! Raia, my grand daughter/chicken rancher-partner(LOL!) came running in this morning from the hen house with our 1st egg! We had heard a ruckus so she ran back there to see if it was another mongoose raid causing the girls to squawk so loudly...nope! Just the loud clucking announcing an egg arriving! YAY! Of course, I had to scramble it up for Raia right away & she proudly announced to everyone that crossed her path that her hen "laid a egg" In her excitement, she patiently sat on "egg watch" all day outside the hen house awaiting another arrival...not today! I'm sure she'll be out there again at the crack of dawn tomorrow!
Ahhhh...the joys of childhood!

Ooooh! Another giveaway!

2009-03-19T22:05:00.003-10:00

The girls over at Internet Cafe Devotions are having a fantastic giveaway! Go & check it out! To enter, you just post on your blog how you plan to rejuvenate your spiritual life this spring & then leave a comment on ICD that you've done it! Yay!
I've already started on mine~by spending more time in the Word~immersing myself in worship~& being more of a servant to others~I had really missed that! I really think I was put on this earth to serve others & it is pure joy to do just that! LOL! Such an exciting adventure! In return, I receive so much! A continuous learning experience! Praise God!

Perfectly said!

2009-03-14T17:17:00.003-10:00

I came across this little piece of such great wisdom & I'd like to share it with you all because I was so stunned when I read it! I FELT AS IF SOMEBODY HAD GONE INTO MY MIND & TOOK MY THOUGHTS! LOL I've always felt his way & more so now that I'm approaching MY 55th birthday! YAY! I have anticipated this day for the past few years (LOL!) because now I can have my 20% discount at my favorite stores! hehehe! I am so excited, you can't imagine!! LOL! Anyway, I have ALWAYS said that you're only as old as you feel & I don't know what 55 feels like anyhow, so I must be having fun! LOL! Does that make any sense at all? I'm constantly surrounded by grandchildren & they sure do keep me young! They range in age from 4yrs old up to 19yrs old, so I have great fun playing "mental volleyball" when they're around, you know, never ending switching gears! LOL! So please take the time to read this:

*The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.
Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And sometimes I am taken aback by that person that lives in my mirror but I don't agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.
As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the import ant things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?
But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).
And tonight, I will eat dessert!

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY!!!!****I WON!!!!!

2009-03-14T07:24:00.008-10:00

OMG! After taking a blog~break this week (I'm painting & decorating my grandaughter's room) I checked my email this a.m. for the 1st time all week & lookie what I found! I had entered Tina's beautiful giveaway over at seaside-stitches for her beautiful pins & I WON!!! For the 1st time in my life, I WON something!!! LOL! I am so thrilled! Thank you Tina! Go check out her blog! Oooooohh!
Have a great week!
Leona

Goodies

2009-03-07T00:04:00.004-10:00

While browsing online, looking for more "projects" to keep myself out of ~LOL!~trouble, I came across this neat blog with all kinds of free graphics! Go check out Mandie's blog for some of her goodies!

Life as a "chicken rancher"

2009-03-04T23:42:00.002-10:00

Did I ever mention that I raise chickens too? LOL Well, I have 18 hens of various layer breeds (they better be!) & 1 very frustrated rooster! His name is Mr.P, but I call him "the Evil One" or the rooster from hell~LOL! He got out of his very large pen today, without my knowing, & yup! as I walked into that part of my backyard, he came at me, out of NOWHERE! OMG! All I saw was him jump up at me & caught me with those darn spurs of his right on my leg! LOL It wasn't funny at the time, but after I got him back in his pen I just sat there & laughed because I must've really been a sight, trying to get away from him! Thank God no one else was around at the time, to see such a hilarious sight! LOL My son & husband want so badly to turn him into roast chicken or some other dish...but I feel there's hope for him, inspite of his "evil" nature & constant crowing all day long! LOL He really is a big, beautiful rooster & the only Buff Orpington I have left after last summer's mongoose massacre of all 10 of my Barred Rocks & Buff Orpingtons. Actually, he WAS the only survivor of that attack & at the time we thought he was a hen so we named him "Precious". Then, about 2 months later, early one morning my youngest grandaughter & I awoke to the sounds of what we thought, at the time, was one of our goats choking. LOL! So, we ran out back to check & there the sound was again! It was his first crows OR trying to, at least! LOL! Hey! I never had chickens before, so HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW?! LOL! My chickens have been another great source of "excitement" in my life, let me tell you! Now, if only I could get the hens to start doing their jobs & start laying! LOL

Whew! I'm back!

2009-03-01T22:11:00.002-10:00

Oh boy! I am finally getting over this flu bug that's been "bugging" me for the past week! It just about wiped me out! I have never slept so much in all my life & my body is now in pain from being in bed so much! LOL Now, I rarely ever get sick but back about a month ago, 2 of my grandaughters came down with it & "lucky" me caught it! It sure feels great to be back with the living!LOL
I spent this evening catching up on my blog reading (of course!) & sure looks like everybody's having a lot of fun, as usual! And poor Lani sounds like she's wiped out by the same nasty bug! I sure missed you all! Blessings to all! And make sure you all get lots of vitamin C & some Airborne (that really works, I just was stupid enough to think I would have been spared from the flu~since I almost always have been in the past! I guess my resistance was lowered by all the late nights I had been spending in Blogland! LOL) Take care!
Leona

All the colors of MY rainbow!

2009-02-21T00:11:00.002-10:00

Lookie what I found! And so true!

Your rainbow is strongly shaded blue and white.

What is says about you: You are a tranquil person. You appreciate quiet moments. You share hobbies with friends and like trying to fit into their routines. People depend on you to make them feel secure.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

AIN'T LIFE GRAND?!

2009-02-20T23:12:00.004-10:00

My friend, Janice over at "One Day at a time" passed on this award & I'm supposed to list 5 things that make my life grand! Here goes:
I AM blessed to know that MY REDEEMER LIVES & HE is right here with me weathering thru any storm that may come my way! I am thankful for His grace & mercies, renewed each & everyday! It sure IS GRAND to be a Daughter of the King!
I AM blessed to be married to a very humble & loving man for as long as I have been~even if he drives me crazy at times!
I AM blessed to be mother to 4 & grandmother to 10 of the most beautiful & funny keiki o ka aina! With all of them, thru our trials & tribulations, life surely IS grand! Especially grand is the fact that I consider both my daughters to be among my best friends! Of course, they're also my 2 GREATEST CRITICS, but hey! Life is that much more exciting! LOL
I AM blessed to be living in one of the most grandest places on earth! Although I DO love OREGON!
I AM blessed to have not only many grand friends here where I live, but also out there in Blogland...from whom I LEARN so many things & am so INSPIRED by so many of you! My humble gratitude to you all! Thank you Janice! Have a GRAND weekend you all!
Leona

Busy little me!

2009-02-20T17:45:00.003-10:00

Well, I've been busying myself with lots of activities~will try & get more pictures up! I've just been trying to adjust to many new situations here on the home front....so in order to keep my sanity...LOL I turned the hearts stitchery that I did last month into a door~hanger!

HELP NEEDED!

2009-02-09T02:25:00.002-10:00

Can somebody PLEASE tell me what's going on with my blog? I can't leave comments on anyone's blog, or my own for that matter! CHOOSE A PROFILE or something or other keeps me from doing it! Tried the help center, but it still won't work! What am I not doing?

Beautiful days

2009-02-03T22:36:00.003-10:00

What a beautiful sunset!

Here's some of my grandaughters at the beach~

Blessings

2009-02-03T22:18:00.005-10:00

Tranquil beauty of the ocean~just a short walk from where I live!

Spent part of the day pondering the blessings God has bestowed on my family~ Good health, love for one another, etc....Here's my younger daughter at work! She does hikes onto the lava flows from our very active volcanoes, taking tourists that arrive here on the cruise ships~
Same daughter in our Kamehameha Day parade, riding pa'u for the island of Kaua'i...

DANCIN' IN THE RAIN!

2009-02-01T23:39:00.001-10:00

Attitude is everything.
Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

I'm back!

2009-02-01T22:50:00.003-10:00

Hi there! I went to O'ahu for the weekend celebration of my mom's 75th birthday~When I arrived in Honolulu Friday morning, my sister & I stopped off at some thrift stores & I felt like a kid in a candy store when I saw all those WOOL jackets! I just about thought I died & went to wool Heaven!!LOL!! You see, here in the Big Island where I live there are only a handful of stores that sell fabric & NONE of them carry wool, not even wool felt! UGH! So, since I was in our "big" city, the hunt was on! Now I have enough wool to try & make felt for quilting!! YAY! So I will be busy tomorrow cutting them up for all my projects! I even found a nice wool blanket, but I'm just leaving that one as it is!
Have a great week!

Spreading the love!

2009-01-28T19:42:00.003-10:00

Ok, here goes, ladies! In Hawaii, there is what is known as "the spirit of aloha" which is interpreted as showing love, kindness, gentleness, etc to all living things. It was a difficult decision for me, because you ALL have it & I THANK YOU! My congratulations to these 5 ladies...
Lani
Andrea
Kylie
Kris
Winona

Another award from Julie!

2009-01-27T00:06:00.004-10:00

Thank you Julie for this award! When I first started this blog, Julie was ever so helpful whenever I needed help to "tweak" my blog, I could always count on her responding to ALL my email SOS screams! LOL Julie, you are truly an awesome friend, so deserving of "The Spreader of Love" award & I thank you for sharing it with me! Your example is one of EXCELLENCE! I can only hope to follow in your giant footsteps!
God bless you!
Leona
P.S. I plan to pass this award on to 5 more people but....it's late & I need to get to bed...I have another full day of puppysitting tomorrow beginning at 7 a.m. while DD is off to work on the lava fields! So...I will sleep on it & probably pass it on tomorrow night!

Myspace Christian Graphics

Words of wisdom~

2009-01-23T21:26:00.003-10:00

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Been pretty busy this past week trying to finish up another stichery I'd started awhile ago! AND tending to my chickens, now that the rains & winds have passed! They are such characters! I will try to remember to take new pictures of them to post~And then...I'm left to "puppy sit" this weekend! OH NO! LOL! DD & GDs are off to a softball tournament on the other side of the island & won't be back til Sunday evening, so I'm left to hold down the fort! Puppies are 8 weeks old now & into everything! LOL! Hootie (the blue merle boy) has been very sick for almost 2 weeks now with what his vet calls "puppy strangles"~~likened to the human lupus..so he's on steroids & antibiotics~every 12 hrs..I can see how my weekend will be! Hah! stressing over "when did I give him his meds last?" hehehe! Nah, I'm sure it'll be just fine!
Have a great weekend!

Yet ANOTHER giveaway!

2009-01-22T20:09:00.003-10:00

Wow! De over at Bowls-n-Annies is having a giveaway, winner to be announced on Feb.1, 2009. Her name is "4ever & 4ever" and she is a 12" tall cutie! De also has other beautiful annies as well as her hubby's wooden bowls! Go to her blog & leave a comment to enter this giveaway!
Leona

WOOHOO! ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!

2009-01-19T20:27:00.002-10:00

Hey there! Go & check out this new giveaway that above all fabric has going on! Even a $50 gift certificate for FABRIC! Go to fabricfamilyfun.wordpress.com & check it out!

Be My Blogintine GIVEAWAY!

2009-01-17T21:38:00.000-10:00

Hurry on to Lani's blog for her fantastic giveaway! All these giveaways & swaps are sooo much fun! Thank you Lani!

Windy day in Hawai'i nei!

2009-01-17T13:19:00.002-10:00

The winds started kicking up around midnight (I was still up cruising the world in blogland LOL) I know weather is way worse than this in many parts of the world right now...but we'd just had about 4 days of BEAUTIFUL sunshine after WEEKS of RAIN (UGH!) And now this! So at around 1 a.m., hubby, grandaughter & I are outside batting down the hatches so our guinea pig cages don't fly away...our chicken coops tied down, so they don't all fly away (LOL!), along with any other loose objects that could become suddenly airborne! Weather forecasts said we'd have winds of up to 60 mph! You see, when we live such an "idyllic" life, we FORGET how it could be in the storm of things! Talk about teaching us a lesson! Earlier in the day, I WARNED my family what the forecast would be....but oh no....they tell me that the storm will hit the west side of the island (according to what THEY heard on the weather news) HA! I wonder what forecast THEY were listening to, because that's NOT the report I heard!!! We live on the windward side of the Big Island (East) & the weatherman SAID the windward side! So...do I feel guilty about rousting the only 2 willing humans from sleepy-time to get out there & secure things? NO! Not at all! LOL! They should be THANKFUL that it wasn't RAINING too!
So it is now 1:30 the next afternoon & it is still very windy & temps in the low 60s (hey, that's COLD to us here in Hawai'i!) Because we live very near the beach, we get the cold winds off of the ocean too! that's brrrr... to me! And I LOVE snow!

We Are the World!

2009-01-17T01:34:00.006-10:00

WOOHOO!! I am honored to have been given an award by Andrea over at Kimonos & Sushi! To sum it all up, it is a Portuguese award that~to me~means WE ARE THE WORLD! We share many common interests & have fun sharing our ideas, daily lives, joys, heartbreaks....we have all become friends...sort of a "sisterhood" I thank all of you for being such an inspiration~~I can only hope that I will be an inspiration to others!~~ & I know I will form many great friendships here! I've only been on this blogsite for a little more than 2 weeks & I've already learned so much from you all! THANK YOU!
And now I would like to pass this award on to:
Heather- http://iamfallingforward.blogspot.com
http://inthissmallhouse.blogspot.com
Gunnymom-http://somuchfun.blogspot.com
Janice- http://fivepsinappod.blogspot.com
Lani-http://golanigo.blogspot.com
Winona- http://catloverandquiltmaker.blogspot.com
Robyn-http://countmydailyblessings.blogspot.com
Julie-http://bushbabyjag.blogspot.com

Aloha & God bless you all!
Leona
OH MY STARS! I was also given this award earlier by Julie over at BUSH BABY JAG! I am truly honored! This is so fun & I really hope to get to know each one of you better! Thanks JULIE, you're awesome!

1 more PIF player NEEDED!

2009-01-16T18:57:00.003-10:00

Good evening, ladies! I am still looking for 1 more player for my PIF! If you're interested, just check out the rules that I posted in an earlier posting!! The only change is that once I get the LAST one signed on, I will be mailing out something (including an item handmade by me) within 6 months...I know, I know....I did say within a year, but I MIGHT NOT REMEMBER by the end of this year! LOL!! So my target is by midsummer...So,any takers out there? JANICE: Wanna play?

C'mon! Three cheers for Janice over at "One Day at a Time" for being the 3rd player on my Pay It Forward! Hip, hip, HOORAY! The fun begins! so...let's get this show on the road! Now each of you girls can sign up 3 players under you & on & on it goes!
Thank you 3 ladies, once again!
Leona

try again!

2009-01-15T23:00:00.003-10:00

Ok, let's try this again! That beautiful blue merle that's looking right at the camera is "HootieHoo" My grandaughters named him!

Puppy updates!

2009-01-15T22:28:00.003-10:00

Well, the puppies turn 7 weeks old tomorrow & 2 have already gone to their new homes! It's looking like the rest are here to stay LOL! Of course, the hubby's not too pleased with that idea! I really believe that daughter dearest is purposely dodging calls from prospective buyers! Especially after one lady called yesterday to inquire & then went on to say that she's trying to sell some "car parts" so she could buy one of our precious babies! GRRRR! ~~I REALLY DON"T THINK SO~~~NOT IN THIS LIFETIME!!!~~~What in the world?*%# Needless to say, my daughter was DUMBFOUNDED & quickly told the lady that she would NEVER consider selling one of her puppies to someone that obviously couldn't afford to properly care for it, let alone BUY IT!!!! GEEZ! The pups that left earlier this week went to great homes that are friends of ours' that we do know will provide the best care for them & we get to visit anytime!
***I'm not sure why, but I can't get those pictures posted! I'll try tomorrow....

Busy hands

2009-01-15T21:58:00.003-10:00

Here are some of the pieces I started last summer LOL! I am finally getting them done & ready to sew them onto wall hangings OR (do I dare?!) small quilts, maybe lap size? I can't decide yet, depends on my level of confidence! All I know is that I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN! Thank you again ladies!

Mountain riders

2009-01-11T09:20:00.003-10:00

Just thought I'd share with you how we sometimes spend our weekends, far..far away from the rain! My daughter & 2 grandaughters go up to her friend's ranch up high in the mountains for some relaxation..BEAUTIFUL country up there! They get to ride (& somtimes work!) all day to their hearts' desire! Those 2 beauties on the left are my angels, Leihali'a & Anuhea. Leihali'a means "lei of fond memories" & Anuhea means "cool, gentle breeze" & I must say, their names befit them perfectly!!

2009-01-04T00:20:00.000-10:00

Yay! I spent nearly all day finishing most of my embroidery on (hopefully) quilt blocks that I'd started last summer!!$#% See! I told you girls what an inspiration you all are to me! As I took each stitch, my mind was flooded with all kinds of project ideas! Oh oh! Maybe I CAN do a project (or two) a month! Ha! Once again, ladies, thank you for being my inspiration!

Pay it forward

2009-01-02T08:44:00.000-10:00

I have been inspired to join Julie's Pay It Forward, so here goes! Now I just need 3 people to join me!
The rules are that if you come aboard my PIF, you need to find 3 more to join under you & then those 3 each find 3 more under them, and on & on it goes! Anyway, once I have my 3, I then will send each of those 3 something & they in turn do the same for theirs'. We have until the end of the year to send our gifts out! I REALLY HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE! LOL
Julie or Robyn: did I get that right?
Thanks everyone for being such an inspiration for me to get back SERIOUSLY to all my sewing, crafting, & quilting!

Fun with "WHIRL INTO WINTER" giveaway!

2009-01-01T15:05:00.000-10:00

Whew! I just spent a better part of this 1st day of 2009 checking out all the wonderful blogs that are having fun with "Whirl Into Winter"! Such fun! I am brand new to the world of blogging, and most of the blogs I visit are those of quilters and crafty people. I must say ( as my grandaughters say), you guys absolutely ROCK!! I am totally in awe! Not only your handiwork, but you all seem like such loving, caring people & I have so much fun on your sites, I think I'll easily get addicted to this computer! LOL
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-01-01T00:13:00.000-10:00

As we say here in Hawaii~"HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!" That's Happy New Year! And yes, it IS still raining! I woke up this morning to VOG! That is the gases emitted from our live volcano-Kilauea~Imagine waking up to the strong odor of sulfur! Ugh!
So because of the continuous rain, there wasn't much fireworks being set off in my neighborhood! I never did care for fireworks (that is, unless they're aerial displays) so the unusually quiet midnight suits me just fine!
Here's wishing everyone a very blessed New Year!

Farewell to 2008

2008-12-31T01:05:00.000-10:00

As I bid farewell to 2008, I reflect upon the many blessings during this past year and I am thankful to God! I anticipate a GREAT New Year. I pray for my family's health, happiness, love and appreciation for one another, and that each one of us draws closer to Him, seeking His face continuously!

Puppies on a rainy day!

2008-12-30T15:13:00.000-10:00

Since it's raining, puppies must stay indoors! What a mess! They're 4 1/2 weeks old now and very rambunctious! Their dog mommy doesn't sit still long enough to nurse them anymore, so it's puppychow & our special milk formula, which they love, of course!

2008-12-30T10:17:00.000-10:00

Aloha! It has been raining CATS & DOGS here in Hawaii & my 2 beautiful mountains, Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa are covered with a blanket of snow! What a beautiful Christmas gift that was! Thank you, Lord!