THREE

Three friends sent these out today… I’m taking it as a sign. 

AN EVENING OUT

We drove about an hour and a half to hang out with some friends yesterday. 

The setting was incredible, the food was incredible and the company was incredible. 

One of those events that makes you excited for the next time you will get the chance to hang out with this group again! 

Here’s to making new friends! 

TREASURES

When you leave treasure for your favorite someone to find!!!

DEAR JOANN FABRIC

I understand that the decline of shopping in a fabric store must be great. After all I can remember when there was a choice between Joann Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics and the latter has been gone for a very long time now. 

Years ago I taught classes at my local Joann Fabric store. Both my oldest daughters first jobs were working at that same store in their teens.

I have done my best to keep you afloat dear Joanne Fabrics. I have invested in uncounted yards of fabric, with no foreseen purpose. I own nearly every hue of thread and enough yarn to crochet dozens of afghans. 

I do understand that this was just not enough. 

I know there are quilting shops for all my quilting needs, but…please, tell me, (and I understand that I have the availability to research it on line) where will I go to find apparel fabric? Where can I wonder the isles and touch all the textiles and admire all the textures and colors. Where will I go to look at all the ribbon and lace? Where will I go when I just need to sit and look through all the latest fashion patterns books? Most of all, where will I go when I need to escape the real world and go somewhere safe where I feel loved and at home, no mater what city I am in?

Joann Fabric have filled so many needs in my life, and I hate to see you go. 

As I walked through my local store this morning for the last time, seeing it nearly completely empty, it may sound silly and sappy, but I felt as though a beloved friend had passed. And my heart hurts. 

KINDNESS AND GIVING FORWARD

There have been so many kindnesses done for me in my lifetime. Kindnesses I could not repay at the time or to the individual. I have never wanted to take any of that for granted, I didn’t want to become callous to the thoughtfulness or generosity that was given me. 

Whether it was the invite to a ball game when I didn’t know how to be alone, or the cash left in the cookie jar when I had none, or kind words when my world was tumbling. 

I could share volumes of kindness that have been shared with me.

The other day, I was given the opportunity to pay a kindness forward to a friend in need. 

She said “I’ll return the kindness somehow.”

I told her “Don’t return it to me, someone gave me kindness along my path, I’m just passing it on. Someday you will get to pass it forward as well. This is your time to receive. And oftentimes that is the hardest, when receiving is needed.”

If we turn off the news and just look at the people around us I think we will remember how important kindness is. 

LOOK UP

GREEN RIVER DISTILLERY

Super Great Experience! 

I highly recommend this tour! 

The history is wonderful and Hana is a true delight!

BATS

Okay, so we have lived in this cute little redbrick house for 6 years now. 

But I learned something new tonight. 

As we were in the garage cleaning down the bike after our ride… okay I was not cleaning, 

I was watching the birds over our yard. 

But wait a minute!

Those are not birds! Those are bats! 

THOSE ARE BATS! 

I had no idea! 

There are lots of them! 

Where do they live! 

They were eating lots of bugs. 

Some have holes in their wings. 

I have to admit, I have never seen a bat before. 

I had no idea… 

I’m slightly creeped out and I’m just blown away! 

HAPPY EARTH DAY

PASSION

Passion

Is

What

Makes

Life

Interesting 

MOM and DAUGHTER DATE

20 YEARS LATER… WE STILL LOVE IT!

The Great Race

The Great Race coming to Owensboro this summer-raising profile of tourism in Kentucky
The Great Race is coming.
At about 5 p.m. on June 24, 120 vintage cars — the oldest made in 1916 — will roll into Owensboro on a 2,300-mile nine-day race from San Antonio, Texas, to Greenville, South Carolina.
Cars from Japan, England, Germany, Canada and all over the United States will be in the race, competing for $150,000 in prize money.
Jeff Stumb, organizer of the Great Race, said in a news release that he expects a large crowd to be downtown to see the racers pull in.
“When the Great Race pulls into a city, it becomes an instant festival,” he said. “Last year, we had a couple of overnight stops with more than 10,000 spectators on our way to having 250,000 people see the Great Race during the event.”

The Great Race For Derby

A few years ago, Great Race Director Jeff Stumb and long-time Great Race supporter Ted Stahl put their heads together to create a regional rally to provide enthusiasts with a warm-up for the Great Race in June. The result was the Coker Tire Great Race Spring Rally presented by Stahls Automotive Collection. Like the Great Race, the Spring Rally moves to a new location each year. 

This year, Owensboro, Kentucky will host the three-day event for a record 83 incredible cars! Starting on Friday, the cars will go out each day and race back to Owensboro.  The main public event takes place on Saturday, May 3, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Be sure to line up along Veterans behind the Hampton Inn to watch the cars come racing into downtown Owensboro.  Each car will park along Veterans and will be open to the public to come view!  

While you admire the cars, enjoy Galactic Foghorn live on the outdoor stage at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Plus, downtown will be buzzing with food trucks and mobile bars to keep the good vibes rolling!  And since it’s Derby, you can expect derby-themed drinks and locally crafted beer.  

The Great Race will conclude on Sunday.  

https://visitowensboro.com/2020/02/the-great-race-is-coming-to-owensboro/?oti=130&otx=614,619&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=120219212357510125&utm_content=120219212360040125&utm_term=120219212358280125&utm_campaign=120219212357510125

IN HISTORY TODAY

TOOTH FAIRY MAGIC

Yesterday was a magical day for Mayberry! She went to bed with a wiggling tooth the night before and woke up with her first lost tooth! 

It was awesome! 

She is so delightful!!!

LAST NIGHTS SUNSET

It was a beautiful sunset!

SOWING SEEDS

Spent some time pruning, weeding and sowing some seeds this weekend. I’m hoping to have a fun garden this year. Time will tell!!!

IT IS SIMPLE

1. If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. 

2. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.

3. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. 

*Not doing these things, and living without making the most of my life, was the most frightening thing I ever faced.

Do the things, live your life! 

You weren’t put here just to survive. 

RILEY STATION

Local band with great talent, that we have been following for years. 

FULL MOON

IT’S PINK

I got a package today. 

I was excited when I ordered it, but I guess I was more excited when it arrived, because I met the delivery driver outside. 

I know it’s not really a big deal. 

Lots of creative people own these. 

But I have wanted one all my grown up life. 

And all my life I have explained to myself why I truly didn’t need one. 

But, you see, I have a brand new studio, and a list of darling things to create. So I gave myself permission to purchase a few new things…and since I was repurposing most everything in the studio, I told myself this was just fine. 

So as I sit here admiring my new pink cutting mat, I am also delighting in my old lace curtains hanging in the window, and imagining the way the second hand art will look on the wall, and wondering what color to paint the old dresser that I plan to repurpose. 

And when John asked if I have the rotary cutters to use on my new mat… I said “No, not yet… but I will!”

CONVERSATION OF SORTS

Helen Mirren once said: Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of a different perspective. Because if not, there's absolutely no point.

Not every argument is worth your energy. Sometimes, no matter how clearly you express yourself, the other person isn’t listening to understand—they’re listening to react. They’re stuck in their own perspective, unwilling to consider another viewpoint, and engaging with them only drains you.

There’s a difference between a healthy discussion and a pointless debate. A conversation with someone who is open-minded, who values growth and understanding, can be enlightening—even if you don’t agree. But trying to reason with someone who refuses to see beyond their own beliefs? That’s like talking to a wall. No matter how much logic or truth you present, they will twist, deflect, or dismiss your words, not because you’re wrong, but because they’re unwilling to see another side.

Maturity isn’t about who wins an argument—it’s about knowing when an argument isn’t worth having. It’s realizing that your peace is more valuable than proving a point to someone who has already decided they won’t change their mind. Not every battle needs to be fought. Not every person deserves your explanation.

Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is walk away—not because you have nothing to say, but because you recognize that some people aren’t ready to listen. And that’s not your burden to carry.

How do you determine when a conversation has shifted from a healthy discussion to a futile debate?

CIVILIZED

Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But no. 

Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said."

We are at our best when we serve others. 

Be civilized. 

100 DAYS

Today is the 100th day of 2025. 

Now you know!

SUNSHINE

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

​

– J.M. BARRIE

PRECIPITATION

This is what we have been dealing with since Wednesday of this week. Today is Saturday, and as sad as it is, this Phoenician is tired of the rain. I would be just fine to never hear hail hammering my home or the scary odd sound of tornado strength wind. I am blessed to have a basement with only has a small leak. But every yard is a swamp, every road is a waterway and every farmers field is a vast ocean. 

I have friends who live along the river banks that are having to sand bag their homes. They will probably not make it into work next week because the roads into town will be impassable come Monday. 

For my zip code alone, we have already received 17.95 inches of rain this year. Normally we get an average of 11.93 inches all year. 

It’s only April 5th.

Due to all the tremendous amount of rain water, over 242 billion gallons of water went through the Kentucky and Barkley Dams in the last 24 hours.

We have another 24 hours of this stormy rainfall still coming our way. I’ll keep praying for those in need. But I sure wish I could send some of this precipitation to the Valley of The Sun… the Midwest needs a break. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Often when you think you’re at the end of something, 

you’re at the beginning 

of something else.

Fred Rodgers

MIDDLE AGE

“The really frightening thing about middle age is the knowledge that you’ll grow out of it.”

D.D.

Nope, truth is, what we believe to be middle age is far past middle age. Thank Heaven for good family genetics and L’Oreal!

APRIL 2025