Heads at Ease pillowcase project - our motto is: ALL OR NONE

These are for the Lighting Dept on the Washington will post them in the Misc folder too.

cute stockings.  how big are they?

glad that your shoulder is healing, so it's just as well that your machine isn't there quilt.  praying for your daughter.  yes, we will definitely help when your son deploys.  keep us posted.

Speaking of sons and deploying, Natalie's son has deployed with a marine unit.  As soon as she gets the information, we will be doing that one next.

tripped at work this afternoon and now my left leg really hurts.  grrrrr! 

ahpmomb2, WOW!  exciting.  the trip will go fast.   praying for your safe journey!

very nice looking ME.  are you doing so much detail on the 150?

leg feels a bit better this morning.  just moving slow.   Ray called for surgery yesterday.  his doc has to refer to the robotic surgeon and that hasn't been done yet.  They said to call back on Thursday.

We have 2 new members.  Welcome to "tolivebyfaith" and "chrisnavymilship12div004".  I hope I got all of that right.  We are happy to have you join us.

DC, can you add your photo of the Stennis pcs to the misc group?  they look great.

it's Wed, which means I am at school a long time!  My teacher's son came home last night, thanks for praying for him.  He had a really bad case of mono with symptoms the docs had never seen before.  

leg is better and I filled out an accident report.  hated to do that, but the nurse at school saw me limping and was shocked that I didn't fill one out.  

have an awesome day today!

I haven't been here in awhile, you ladies have been busy with doctors, sewing and visits!  I have had a call from my sister.  My nephew-the marine in Afghanestan- put a post through his hand the other day.  All he told his wife was that he could see bone and tendon.  They have not heard from him since then.  She also heard that a sargent in the same unit as Dave, didn't deploy this time because his wife was having a difficult pregnancy.  Apparently she died in childbirth earlier this week.  The baby is doing fine, as are their other 2 kids. 

Please keep both of these marines in your prayers.   I hope God isn't too busy to listen to all the prayers he is getting from HAE!!

Will keep all of you in my prayers as well.  We have been busy cleaning up, putting the boat away, and shoveling snow!  There was about 4" on my deck last Saturday.  It was weird looking because there are still alot of leaves on the trees so there was no snow under the tree branches.  I will try to post pics later today.

Have a great day everyone!

I am so sorry to hear this news of your nephew and this other marine.  oh my, that is heartbreaking.  even in today's world of advanced technology, childbirth is still a dangerous thing.

God is never too busy to hear our prayers and I will pray for them.

Snow is beautiful, when you want it right?

M'smom, the snow is lovely.  We didn't get that much although a town 15 miles away had quite a bit more than we did.

Oh, the news of your nephew is of concern.  I do Pray that he heals with no lasting damage.  Also I agree with the Sue that the loss of the mother in childbirth is heartbreaking.  We get so used to all going well that it is a shock to realize that women still die in childbirth sometimes.  Her husband and family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sue, I will post the picture in the Misc. thread.

Hi Everyone,

We made it to Great Lakes!!! We left Florida yesterday at 11:00am and arrived at the Navy Lodge at 3:00pm today! I am so excited for Friday! I talked to my son yesterday, he called while we were on the road, Battlestations is over. He made it!! He sounded really tired and relieved! I will post a pic when I get home! Thank you everyone for your prayers!

WOW, Theresa, I wish I was in FL.  Would love to see that ship.  Hope some FL moms can go.  Let us know if you do!  Thank you for posting this information!

Happy days for ahpmom!  glad that you made it safely and congrats to your sailor and you!!!

OOOOPs sorry, I knew I forgot to update the Teddy thing. Well We saw the diabetes doctor and he didn't think that the meds are causeing the memory loss and that the regament he has been on for the past 16 years just needed to be tweeked a little. So we did some tweeking of the meds and he added 1 more and put him on a strick use of one of his Insulins so that he quits having so many highs and lows. Its been a crazy week and hes doing good with the blood sugar and now its time to make an appointment to see the Neurologist and see what he says about the memory loss.

On a good not I got an order for 6 more of the Christmas stockings and I got a lot of mending in and done already so I will have a few bucks to put towards things for HAE.

Sue I will put Ray on my calander for the 12th fo his Surgery.

My Sailor WILL be home for Christmas and whild she is home she is going to go see the Brownie troop that did pillowcase for the Bush. She don't know that there will be 3 troops there and they are going to give her a Sailors Welcome Home. Dianne said they want to through a little something together for her. I am in tears just trying to tell everyone. I am so Proud of her.

ME, doctors don't know everything.  So don't let them blow you off on this with Teddy.  Do some research on your own.  Do you have all of his drugs filled at the same pharmacy?  If yes, I would ask for a consult with the pharmicist as well.  They are the ones who know about drug interaction and what they can do.

By all means, check with the neurologist, but if he doesn't have an answer, start digging.  I worked for a neurosurgeon years ago and I learned that our brain is a wonderful tool.

ALSO, I was flipping thru a magazine from a store called Sprouts yesterday.  And there is an article called "Brain Food".  I chuckled cause at kinder lunch, as I cruise the lunch room, I am quite bold with their lunches as I look to see what "brain food" they are eating.  That's what I call the protein.  but this article gave 5 foods for the brain.  I'll look them up and post later.

Thank you for putting Ray on your calender!  That's what I do too, or I won't remember to pray.

And that is wonderful news about Dani.  I love the surprise from the Brownie troop!  Can't wait to hear how that goes.

My vet, is going to be the kinder's "vet of the month".  He is coming to school on the 18th.  I am excited.

Hi all,

we had some great rain early Saturday morning and it has turned quite chilly here.  I would say cold, but the ladies in the cold states would say I was crazy.  Feels good to get some fall stuff out and I made a pot of chili yesterday.

I needed a  new can opener so decided to go to the store yesterday afternoon.   I fell as soon as I walked in.  I was mortifiied!  hit my right knee hard on the wood floors.  Today, I am achy, have  bruise on upper right thigh, but knee doesn't hurt unless I press on it, so duh!  don't press on it ahah.

The manager did fill out an accident report though.  And I did get my can opener.

Welcome to Mary D!  We are very glad that you have joined us.  We are sewing and stashing, getting ready to do another unit soon.

Sorry to hear about your fall Sue.  You sound like me I would be more worried about how many people saw me fall than if I hurt myself or not. lol  I have made some quick recoveries when I have fallen in public just to make it look like nothing happened.  My most recent fall was at a local drive in that we go to with our car club.  I walked out towards the parking spots to look at something and didn't realize my granddaughter had followed me and when I turned around to go back I tripped over her and we both ended up sprawled out on the concrete in front of everyone and I ended up with a huge ugly bruise on my hip but she didn't get hurt at all luckily.

We have had cool weather in Texas and it always puts me in the mood to cook.  Only bad thing is those stews and soups last a long time when there is only two eating it so I am freezing a lot for when Matt comes home at Christmas.

Yeah ME for Dani coming home for the holidays! 

Matt's mom, thanks for sharing about your fall.  Amazing enough, despite the bruises, my right knee and leg don't hurt.  My left leg hurts more from tripping over the bucket a week ago at my job.  I guess I need to pay better attention.  So glad your granddaughter wasn't hurt!  I get nervous when the kids come up behind me.

speaking of them, yesterday and today, they are making cards for the Veteran's at our local Veteran's hospital.  Honest to pete, they are so good!  Brings me to tears.  They get it.

This is my 3rd year doing this, so this time I typed out "thank you" on the front of white cardstock and inside "Dear Veteran, I am truly thankful for your service to our country."   And they are big this year with lots of room to decorate.  

I have observed the past years that the kids "bog" down on the writing.  they can add their own message, but can also just sign their name and decorate. 

I have a co-worker helping me with this, so all 4 elementary after school programs are making them too.  We should have 150 cards this year.

I bought a bunch of stickers at Joann's too for this project and the kids have used them very creativitly.

Dawn L!!!!!  AWESOME, your boy is coming home today.  How fun is that?  Enjoy every minute.  glad to hear that your dad is home.  do the docs think his memory will return with healing?

we had lots of rain yesterday and it was so cold!  in the high 30's this morning.

Tobs does not want to go outside.  haha 

hello and good bye already.  will chime in later today.

I just have to say PIR was awesome!!! It was so exciting to see my son!!! He is off to A school in Texas. Its so nice to be able to talk to him now regularly. We made it there and back safe and sound! Now Im ready to get started sewing PC's. Thanks everyone! Terri

Natalie, Yes he is going to be a Corpsman. A school starts next month and he will be done in March.

Mornin'!  I had a staff meeting last night as well, and by the time I was ready to come on here, my computer was just too slow!  So I went to bed.

Welcome to Jodi.  We're glad that you are willing to help with pcs now, as we are what I call a "pay it forward" group.  My son is now a Navy Veteran, but he served 5 years with VFA 34, the Blue Blasters, which is assigned to the Lincoln.

We believe in our military here, so we all help where we can.

The USS Heads at Ease.  Good one ME.

We have confirmation on our new group.  Natalie posted a new thread, so check it out.

ahpmomb2, so glad that you made it to PIR and back safely!  It is an awesome experience!

Welcome to Luseika!  We are happy to have you join us and please tell us alittle bit about yourself.

Happy Veteran's Day to all!  I do not have school today, so that is a bonus for me.

All 4 kinder classes made Veteran's Day cards for my local Vet's hospital.  I should have taken a photo, they are amazing.

Then all 4 afterschool programs also made cards.  Yesterday was my craft day and I had some "incentives/thank you gifts" for the kids.  I had navy and marines pencils and a Navy diver comic book.  For 1 card, they got 1 item.  And I had a limited number of Marines dog tags, marines and navy posters.  for those, they had to make 2 cards  AND their best work!  

They turned out awesome.  In fact, I have to print some more cards.  This is my 3rd year doing this and this time, I printed "thank you" on the front and "Dear Veteran, I am truly thankful for your service to our country."  All they had to do was sign their name and then decorate them. they could add more if they wanted to, but I observed in the past years, that by the time they wrote, they were done.  I made white cardstock and big, so they had a great canvas for decorating.  Got a bunch of stickers from Joann's last Saturday. I am truly blessed.

My teacher has a friend who is a doctor at the VA hospital so I know they will get into the hands of our vets!

Here is something that was on the carrier page:

Found this on the Navy Exchange Facebook status and thought is was a
great Veterans Day tribute.

On Veterans Day we take time to reflect on the sacrifice and
courage that is the hallmark of all America's service members, past and
present.

There are more than 21 million veterans in the United States, and more than 2 million men and women currently serving in both active duty and Reserves. These men and woman who have worn the uniform of the US armed forces have helped preserve our freedom with unwavering dedication and quiet courage. They have given so much, as have the families that supported them at home. Our veterans have risked their lives, and some have lost theirs, to build and shape our nation.

I posted some new numbers.

Mornin' everyone!  I get the rare opportunity to stay home today!  WHOOHOO!  I so need a "hermit" day and sewing in on my agenda.  Need to make some things for my craft fair that is less than a month away!

Got a request from some of the Marines in CLB 6 yesterday:

I don't have any of those in my stash, but I do know that they can be special ordered at JoAnn's

J and O Fabrics carries NFL fabrics.    It is rather expensive ($7.98/yard) and minimum order is one yard. Joann's has some cotton for $6.00/yard but not as many teams represented.  I have purchased fabric from J and O and it is nice fabric.  It is also 60" wide.  It would not be too bad if there were multiple requests for the same team.

the J and O fabric is nice.  I suggested that she just do the sport, like football, baseball or basketball and then do the team colors.  I made a Chicago bulls one like that a couple of years ago as a special request and the sailor was happy with it.

I did do some sewing yesterday, but my goodness, I am slow!  I feel like I am slow at everything anymore.  

cloudy and alittle rainy here today.  I've gotten to have some "home" time this 3 day weekend and I am thankful.

Thanks for the suggestions on the fabrics.  Will check out J and O.  

I also have a prayer request.  Some of you may have heard of the newlyweds, Mike and Nicole Abel, who were killed in a chopper crash in Hawaii last week.  The young man was the brother of a good friend of ours.  This is a horrible thing that no family should have to go through.  Prayers please for both families as they struggle to understand how they can have a wedding one week and a funeral  the next.

Sue, I have a possible lead on some fabric from Craiglist (don't know how much they have but the price was right $1-1.50/yd.) When I contacted them, they said they didn't think it would work since it was too feminine. I e-mailed back to see how much they had and if it work for pcs. Waiting for a reply, but my question is, should I get it even though its "girly"?

Jodi- This from the recruiters at Arvada Recruting office in Arvada Colorado...

"They don't care as long as they get a pillowcase." "I had a soldier that had a Hello Kitty pillowcase and HE just loved it." You see they don't care, just send them stuff from home. And some of the pictures I see coming home from the ships is GUYS with pillowcases I know were sent in a "girls" box. I questioned this one day when I and my dear husband were disagreeing if the pillowcases were girl or boy. Some I had as girls and he said they could go either way and some I had as boys and he said GIRL!

Just a note from the peanut gallery...  Have a great day!

I heard back from the CLB request-they need 2 of each team!!  I just happened to do a Joann run last week and in the clearance section, which was all 50% off the marked down price they had 2 bolts-one of generic football and oneof baseball!  For about $1 a yd.  Then we get this request over the weekend!  The Lord does provide!  Thanks for the prayers.

Thanks for letting me know. Most of the fabric I am starting with is more on the girl side but I am trying to use up what I have before I go buy more. My hubby commented on it being more for girls (where I reminded him that there ARE girls in the Navy!). I haven't heard back from the Craigslist person yet but I hope I can get that material.- It's been a long time since I bought material. It sure has gone UP in price since then!

Jodi, in the 3 years I have been making pillowcases, the guys love the girly stuff. It reminds them of their mom, grand-mas, girlfriends, and wives. When I did the Bush and passed them out on the ship the guys were taking girly ones to remind them of someone special in their lives. So GIRLY is great.

Thanks Maryellen, After what I heard from the rctr's I no longer worry so much about the guy/girl pillowcases. I still have two piles, one tends to be guy the other tends to be girl. But in the end I know that, on the ship, all the cases will be dumped on a table and everyone will be allowed to choose as they please...

Maryellen & Phoebe, I am so glad to hear that because I started making pcs with the material I have, thinking I would be sewing and stashing until a unit came up with lots of females. Glad to know that I can contribute right away!

Jodi, if you have some solids that you can use with the female fabric that is good too. I take 2 different floral patterns and put them together. Just be creative, what you think might not work together they will love. Remeber that each one is made with love, and support. They really don't care what it looks like its just nice to get a touch of home when your so far away. I have had guys request florals so make them and see what you come up with. Have fun with the fabric, get crazy You should see some of the one I have done, they guys call them funky. Have Fun, its time to finish my stockings.

When they live on a ship for months on end, anything that looks like real flowers, trees, animals are greatly appreciated. One of my thank you notes was from someone who was glad to have A PILLOWCASE that was not Navy issued! He said it was so soft that he would be worried about it getting stolen from the laundry! Another Sailor said he had been offered $$ for his stars & stripes one! LOL!

I had one submariner that said he wanted a pink pcs because if anyone stole it, he it would be easier of get back. Not sure how you successfully steal anything on a sub?

Hi all,

T will be praying for these 3 women in your life.  Please keep us posted on their conditions.  Thanks for praying for Ray.  He is beginning to get stressed out as he wants all his "ducks in a row" before hand-for the just in case.

Yes to the girly fabric.  T had a photo of one that had motorcycles with flames and pink band.  The ladies who got to hand deliver to the Bush all said that they won't worry so much about that anymore.  I know I had put a bunch away and when we needed more for the Bush, ME and I went thru everyone by phone and I sent many.

Quilt, that is a good insight especially about being on a ship.  The ships are gray and the color makes it more like home.

I got to greet a special young man last night at church.  He was in his fatigues and I went to just shake his hand.  but then I saw Army and his name and I said "are you xxxxx?"  He said "yes".  "Did you get the pillowcase that I sent you?"

He grinned "yes ma'am I did and I love it."  WOW, now meeting someone like that makes me feel like I met a celebrity, but in truth, he is much more than that.  He is a HERO!   He is special ops and he will see about adopting his unit when he goes out again.  What a thrill that was!

M's mom, since they want 2, I would use the sport fabric as a base and then do the bands in the team colors,  If you have pretty handwriting, you could write the team name on the band with fabric markers.  Who are they for?

Sue-She didn't say who they were for.  I think I am going to order some from JoAnn's-They just sent me a new coupon.  Then do the generic for the others. 

Also have to do a special one for my other nephew-also a Marine- who deploys the 1st of December!  My poor sister will have both her sons on deployment at the same time!!  At least Kirk will be safer, on a Navy ship, for his deployment.  I told her we weren't doing the whole ship, though I would be willing to do for some of his buddies if they wanted them!! 

By the way turns out the post hole in the hand incident wasn't all that much.  Dave was digging with a chair (jokes about the Marines not having enough money for shovels were heard!) and part of the metal on the chair went through the skin between thumb and pointer finger (also jokes about purple heart for war wound).  He is fine.