Friends | FabGrandma

We Sent A Little Help To Our Friends Today

April 29, 2011 By Fab Grandma 4 Comments

You guys are so good! Thank you so much. Because of you, I was able to send my friends, Marcie and Jim, $285 today. I know from experience that even if you do have health insurance, cancer treatment is still hard on your wallet. When FabGrandpa was being treated for oral cancer in 2001, it took every penny we had in savings to meet those expenses. And while the outcome for him was good, and he is still with us, we depleted our savings in the process. Marcie and Jim have no health insurance, so even a small donation of just the spare change in your paypal account would be very much appreciated.

The word from Jim is that Marcie’s surgery went well, and she is recuperating in the hospital now. They still have needs, so if you haven’t already made a donation, you still have time. Just use the Paypal button to send whatever you can. And thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for all you have already given. If you can’t give, then please just pass this on by tweeting or posting on your facebook page.

Filed Under: Friends, Life on the road

Sometimes We Need A Little Help From Our Friends

April 24, 2011 By Fab Grandma 20 Comments

Even if we think we don’t. FabGrandpa and I have been full time RV’ers for more than 11 years. Along the way, many many people have crossed our path and we have made friends all the way from Virginia to Arizona and from Florida to Utah. We keep in touch with so many people after having only spent a couple of days in the same place. It must be because we all have that gypsy spirit, that we have been so blessed in meeting so many wonderful people.

Me, Chris, Marcie at the Grand Canyon

One of these dear people who we feel so proud to call “friend” is Marcie. I met her several years ago online in a forum for full time RV’ers. She and I have many common interests, and see eye to eye on many issues. She and her husband go by the name TaleTellers on the forums, and writes a blog called Ramblings. We finally met in person last summer, when FabGrandpa and I were working at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and she and her husband were work camping in Kanab, Utah. I just learned that Marcie has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, and must go through surgery and a regimen of chemotherapy. She is in incredibly good spirits about this, and is preparing herself for the fight of her life right now.

Marcie and her husband have no health insurance. The hospital where she is to be admitted for her surgery has made a plan with them that includes them paying UP FRONT $4200 for the estimated seven days she will be in there for the surgery and cancer treatment. If you would like to make a donation to help them out, you can click oon the donate button below:

Filed Under: Friends, General, Life on the road Tagged With: donate, Friends, ovarian cancer

Boots, Bras, and Barbecue

March 30, 2011 By Fab Grandma 7 Comments

When we got to town yesterday, I had a shopping date with my daughter, Emily and my friend, Suzanne. We went to the mall so I could shop for boots and bras. Yeah, my two favorite things in the world to shop for. Not!

Last year, we went to a shoe store in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to buy our boots for the job. I bought Wolverines on the recommendation of someone who has worn them all their working life, and paid quite a bit for them. They were comfortable and fit the criteria of being brown polishable boots. But after only two months of wearing them on the job, they started coming apart at the seams. That left me to represent my employer in raveled, ugly boots.When I emailed Wolverine, they pretty much told me they were not going to do anything to help me, that I should expect some wear and tear on a pair of work boots. Well, yeah, but you would think that a pair of boots that cost over a hundred dollars would last more than two months. Even at the Grand Canyon. Especially since I am required to keep them polished and clean. So, sorry, Wolverine. You don’t get any more of my money.

Crafstman 6" Sport Boot

This year, I bought a pair of Craftsmen 6″ Sport Boots from Sears. They looked pretty good on me, were comfortable, and were on sale. I hope they last through the season. If they don’t, I hope that Sears will stand behind their product.

After spending half the day finding boots, it was time to shop for the dreaded undergarments. And you know what a hard time I have shopping for bras! I wanted to buy five new ones, but it seems that most of the women in this town wear the same size as me. With three of us searching, I could only find two bras in my size. Sad but true. At least I didn’t come away empty handed.

After the shopping trip, we all went to our favorite barbecue joint, Hudson’s. It was delicious as usual. I have to tell you about Suzanne. We met over 40 years ago when we were both working at Southern Bell. She was my first room mate when I moved out of my parents house. We kept in touch with each other for about 10 years but then lost each other as life went on. Then, a couple of years ago, we hooked up on Facebook. Yesterday was the first time we had seen each other in at least 30 years! It was really fun to see her again.

Suzanne, her husband, Bob, and me. She was my first room mate way back then.

My son in law Tommy and grandson, Spencer met us at the restaurant, too.

Emily and Spencer finishing up his homework

Spencer is like most other third graders I have known, and puts off doing his homework as long as possible. But because Emily is a teacher, she makes sure he does it. Here he is working on his homework while we waited to be served last night.

Emily, Spencer, and me

Filed Under: Daughters, Friends, Georgia, Grandsons, Life on the road Tagged With: boots, Family, Friends, shopping, shopping for bras

Fabric Pretties and Other Stuff

March 1, 2011 By Fab Grandma 3 Comments

This year is going by way too fast for me. I just can’t believe it’s already March. I have so many projects either piled up on my sewing table or in my head, and so little time to do them. It took me way longer to finish that flower girl dress for my niece’s wedding than I anticipated, so other things got pushed aside. Then we had to go to Georgia for our daughter’s wedding. We got back last week, and I have not felt good since then.

I went to the doctor yesterday, with a list of complaints a mile long. I have a bladder infection, which is making me listless and tired, so instead of sewing, I’ve been napping. I’m hoping I’ll feel better tomorrow after the meds have a chance to do their magic.

I also had the doc look at the rash on my face, and he diagnosed Rosacea. And of course, there was a med for that and a cream for that. Along with my regular blood pressure and diabetes meds. And don’t forget the anti-fungal potion that keeps me from itching to death. The doctor finally told me “It’s not unusual for a fungus infection to recur often. They are difficult to get rid of once you get them.” Well, DUH! He could have told me that last year. All in all, I walked away with six prescriptions @ a total of $132, not including the doctor’s office visit. All out of pocket, I might add as I do not have health insurance.

While we were out, I bought a new iron. Yes, an iron. You can not sew without an iron. The old one was probably 15 years old and just does not heat up like it should anymore. So out it goes, and in comes the new. I wanted one that is heavy–because it is hard to press seams when the iron is lightweight, in my opinion. This new GE is a beauty as far as irons go:

Ooooo, Baby!

I have no clue how it works, as it doesn’t have a temperature setting knob on it that I can find. I guess I’ll have to get out the instruction booklet that came with it. Who knew you’d have to read up on how to use an iron?

I needed the iron to finish up this cute project I’m working on. See the uniform my son is wearing:

My son--I am so proud of him

My daughter in law asked me to make a tote bag for her out of one of his old ones. So, here is what I have done so far:

Uniform tote bag

and another view:

another view

When I finish this bag, I have a huge project coming up. A long time reader of my blog, Judy from Travels With Emma, asked me to make her a T-shirt quilt. She spent the day a while back cutting the backs and sleeves out of her shirts so she could mail them to me. I borrowed this pic from Judy’s blog:

look at all of those T-shirts

I ordered the fabric for the sashing, borders and back, a lovely brown diamond print:

Studio e Diamonds in brown

The T-shirt fronts arrived last week:

Judy's T-shirts

And this is as far as I have gotten with the project:

2.5 inch strips for sahing the quilt

So, as soon as I am feeling better, I will be back to work on this. I can not wait to see how it turns out.

Filed Under: Family, Friends, Life on the road, Projects, Quilting, Sewing Tagged With: Quilting, Sewing

13 For 10: Handmade Reversible Apron #2

January 28, 2011 By Fab Grandma 1 Comment

My online friend, Sally, donated two of her cutie cute handmade aprons for the cause! This one is green and blue, and oh! so cute:

Green and blue reversible apron

Sally makes these aprons, and I think they are just soooo cute! And because it is reversible, you get two looks in one:

Green side

And here is a pic of the blue/green print to give you a better idea of how it looks:

Blue floral print

Bidding starts today and ends on 1/31/2011. I am starting the bid for this item at $10. All proceeds from this auction are being donated to The Oral Cancer Foundation, a national public service, non-profit entity designed to reduce suffering and save lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy, and patient support activities. To make a bid, just leave a comment here with a dollar amount that you wish to bid. The auction winner is responsible for paying shipping from Washinton zip code 98223.

See the auction rules here.

More information here.

This auction will close on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time. The highest bidder will win. The winner will be responsible for paying postage to ship the item. If you have any questions about this item, email me at fabgrandma @ gmail.com

If you’d like to spread the word about this auction to benefit The Oral Cancer Foundation, and to help educate people about oral cancer, please tweet about it, post about it on Facebook, or write about it on your blog. I’d really appreciate it! and you could be saving someone’s life!

Filed Under: Friends, Volunteering Tagged With: benefit auction, Friends, oral cancer, Volunteering

12 For 10 Auction: Sterling & Turquoise Earvines

January 27, 2011 By Fab Grandma 5 Comments

Our good friends, Mike and Gaelyn at Bryce Canyon NP

I guess you noticed the 12 up there, instead of 10 in the 10 For 10 auction. That’s because FabGrandpa and I have some of the best friends you could ever meet! One of them, Gaelyn from Geogypsy, has generously donated a pair of sterling silver and turquoise earvines for me to offer at auction in my benefit for The Oral Cancer Foundation.

Earvines by Geogypsy

Gaelyn makes these earvines. I have seen them in person and they are really beautiful and unique. They allow someone with one hole pierced ears to look as if they have multiple piercings. Here is how she describes them:

“Ear Vines bend to follow the curve of the ear. They only require one pierced hole. Insert unbeaded wire from front to back
and pull down like a dangle earring. Swing up with ear between wires, align as desired and give a little pinch”

These beautiful sterling silver and turquoise earvines normally sell for $20 a pair. All proceeds from this auction are being donated to The Oral Cancer Foundation, a national public service, non-profit entity designed to reduce suffering and save lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy, and patient support activities. To make a bid, just leave a comment here with a dollar amount that you wish to bid. The auction winner is responsible for paying shipping from Arizona zip code 85362.

See the auction rules here.

More information here.