Monday - Excitment at the House Today

We have lived in our house for nearly 37 years. In all those years the electricity hasn't been off, except maybe 6 times. We have a great power company. But today just as I was rebooting the computer I heard a very loud explosion and the power went off. Sounded like a transformer blew. I walked up the road and saw the problem. The pole that carries power down our road was burning, and the 7000 volt line was just hanging there. The flower girls mom called the power company, they said they'd get right on it. We don't have cell phones. For me, no power means no telephone , and everything out. That means no computer, no heat, no coffee. WHAT! NO COFFEE. No way. Back yard grill to the rescue. Had coffee, but it tasted like outdoor grill. Egads, that meant out to eat too. Power came back on just a few minutes ago. Other than that a decent day. What am I saying, it was a crappy day. Snow, sleet, 33 degrees windy. And I got absolutely nothing done. Unless you want to count 3/4 of a James Patterson book read.

Old Sewing Machine...Really Old

Got a telephone call today from "Flea-market Kenny". Said he had recently acquired an ol' sewing machine. Wanted to know if I was interested. "Flea-market Kenny" is the one who I dickered with for two years before he met my price on a perfect condition Singer Featherweight. Kenny's recent acquisition is a WHEELER -WILSON treadle machine, vintage about 1860-70 (I think).

I think it's complete, with the exception of the flat drive belt. Now I know Kenny traded a pistol for the machine. When I returned home from checking this out, the first thing my wife said was, "you don't covet it do you"? I said, "Lord no"? You see, we already have five sewing machine in the house. But on a one to ten scale, with 10 being really don't covet it; I am really at about 8.

"Gotta Go Make The Donuts"

Anyone remember this commercial. Donut maker (DUNKIN DONUTS?) always makin the donuts. He mumbles to himself "gotta go make the donuts" as he goes to work every day. The idea was that donuts are always fresh baked. Then one morning as the donut maker is leaving home to go make the donuts, he runs into himself coming home from making the donuts.

This is exactly how I feel right now. Got way too much goin on. Just keeping up with the great Gnome adventure is getting more and more involved. I already missed a posting opportunity this afternoon. I had another message done and delivered, before I remembered to photograph it.

The "jist" of the message from Gnomey was for the flower girls to plant some seeds in some small flower pots that Gnomey provided.

In addition to the Great Gnome adventure, I am trying to prepare for two carving shows that are rapidly approaching, start and finish some doll quilts for some swaps, teach the beginner quilting class at the senior center, and finish carving 14 friendship cane segments. Yesh! is that all? I need to stop whining.

Zinnia Gives Gnomey Her Family Photo

Yesterday afternoon, the flower girls dad rang our door bell. He had a little plastic bag with this note and some photos in it, from the girls. He said that Zinnia had written the note after she went to bed the night before, when she was supposed to be asleep. And, she had him make copies of two photos, yesterday morning. One photo was of the girls together, and the other photo was of the girls and their mom and dad. Zinnia put the note and the photos in the Gnomes mailbox, before they all left for the day. The dad had sneaked out and retrieved the stuff so that the girls would think that the Gnomes had taken it in. Now I don't know if dad is getting swept up in all the excitement or if he just wants to make sure I am not "sleeping at the switch". I asked him if the girls really do believe. His answer, "Oh yeah, that's all they're talking about and they check the Gnomes mailbox all the time". "The ball is in my, err the Gnomes court now".

The Fun Continues - Maybe Expands!

While I was teaching a beginner quilt class, Zinnia and a friend from school came home to find the Gnome mailbox, the note and the family photo package. The little sister was at a friends house. Now the flower girls have some rules that were set down by their mom. These rules state that if one sister finds something from the Gnomes she has to wait until the other sister is there to open it. Since some time had passed between Zinnia's request for a Gnome family photo and actually getting a response from Gnomey, their mom had prepared the girls for the great possibility that no photo was coming. The girls were told that probably Gnomes could not be photographed (somewhat like vampires). My wife reported that Zinnia and her friend from school came running over, screaming and all "a-twitter" at finding the response from the Gnomes. Of course Zinnia wanted to open the package and read the note. My wife and the girls mom reminded Zinnia of the rule. And Zinnia agreed that she would not want Dahlia to open something from the Gnomes without her being present. It was the longest 15 minutes waiting to go get Dahlia, and bring her home. When Dahlia did get home they opened the package, read the note, and saw the photo. I was not home when this happened, but my wife said all three girls came running and screaming over to our house to show the photo. But the real kicker was, Zinnia's friend from school was heard to say, "I want to write a letter to Gnomey too! I hope he'll answer it".

Later, when I did return from the quilt class, nearly the whole scene was repeated.

Finally! Photo & Note for the Girls

Dang! I just now have been able to actually have Gnomey respond to the flower girls request, by putting up the mailbox and leaving the photo and note. The girls were playing in the yard all yesterday and up until late this morning. You might ask, "what about last night"! Big problem here is that I think I go to bed earlier then the flower girls do. You'd be amazed at the stealthy, sneaky, and otherwise subterfuge involved in trying to keep this thing alive and somewhat believable. But the "stuff" is out for the girls to find, when they come home.

Message From Gnomey

The flower girls might be wondering what's happened to Gnomey; so I better respond to their request. It's going to be a bit more difficult this time. The girls are on spring break. That means they're home (well most of the time). But I can be pretty sneaky and get a little package delivered. This is the note that will be delivered in the new bigger mailbox, and the family photo that will have to be wrapped, and hung on the mailbox.