Thank You!

This post is to say thank you to everyone who contributed to Operation Holiday Stockings for 2012.  I am beginnig to get letters and thanks from the troops and will share that with you in the next post.  Everyone listed below contributed with support, love, and of course stockings, goodies for the stockings, and donations for postage.  We also received the prayers you all contributed for the troops, and for the steadfast volunteers of Operation Holiday Stockings.  We are sending out our last shipment tomorrow, a total of 570 stockings to three units who arrived in Afghanistan during the holiday season.  We are now gearing up for 2013. 

THANK YOU!!!!! 

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS FOR 2012

 

A Dropped Stitch of Sequim, Washington

 

A Loose Knit Group, University of Michigan Institute for Social Research

 

Al and Cindy of Comstock Park, Michigan

 

Amy of Denver, Colorado

 

Angela of Portland, Oregon

 

Anne of Seattle, Washington

 

Anna of Bothell, Washington

 

Applebees Restaurant of Sequim, Washington

 

Baker Family of Wenatchee, Washington

 

Barbara of Appleton, Wisconsin

 

Barbara and Melinda of Collierville, Tennessee

 

Believers Fellowship of Keyser, West Virginia

 

Bernie of Prince Albert, Canada

 

Beth of Duchesne, Utah

 

Betsy of Rockford, Illinois

 

Betsy of Sequim, Washington

 

Betty of Bellevue, Washington

 

Bev of Seattle, Washington

 

Bill Wong DMD of Bellevue, Washington

 

Bob and Wanda of Bothell, Washington

 

Bonnie of Bothell, Washington

 

Bonnie of Sequim, Washington

 

Carla of Mercer Island, Washington

 

Carol of Port Hope, Michigan

 

Carolyn of Centerville, Ohio

 

Casa Adobes Congregational Church of Tucson,Arizona

 

Cash’s Drapery of Milwaukie, Oregon

 

Cassandra of Yuma, Arizona

 

Cassy of Edmonds, Washington

 

Charleen of Henderson, North Carolina

 

Charlotte of Bellevue, Washington

 

Cheryl of Blue Rock, Ohio

 

Cheryl of Seattle, Washington

 

Christina of Seattle, Washington

 

Cindy of Bellevue, Washington

 

Cindy of Poland, Ohio

 

Connie of Hansville, Washington

 

Cornie of Bainbridge Island, Washington

 

Costco of Issaquah, Washington

 

Crown Plaza Hotel of Seattle, Washington

 

Cub Scout Pack 517 of Covington, Washington

Cynde of Canyon Lake, California

 

Dan and Lillie of Bothell, Washington

 

Dana of Cougar Mountain, Washington

 

Danielle of Seattle, Washington

 

Darting Needles Quilt Guild of Appleton, Wisconsin to honor Patricia Kailhofer, Sunshine (Charity) Quilt Coordinator

 

Dave of Gig Harbor, Washington

 

David of Milwaukie, Oregon

 

David of Sequim, Washington

 

Debbie of Elizaville, New York

 

Debbie of Las Vegas, Nevada

 

Denise of Huddleston, Virginia

 

Denise of Manorville, New York

 

Denise and Bernie of Wilkesboro, North Carolina

 

Dianna of Lyle, Washington

 

Donna of Danville, Indiana

 

Donna of Olympia, Washington

 

Donna of Reston, Virginia

 

Doris of Bothell, Washington

 

Dorothy of Beaumont, California

 

Dorothy of Chagrin Falls, Ohio

 

Eastside Knitting Guild of Bellevue, Washington

 

Elaine of Federal Way, Washington

 

Elizabeth of Madison, Mississippi

 

Elizabeth of Sequim, Washington

 

Ellen Reh DMD of Bellevue, Washington

 

Employees of Martin Selig Real Estate of Seattle, Washington

 

Evelyn of East Hartford, Connecticut

 

Floor Solutions of Portland, Oregon

 

Gary and Erika of Edmonds, Washington

 

Gillian of Bothell, Washington

 

Grace of Issaquah, Washington

 

Hancock Fabrics NW of Tucson, Arizona

 

Heidi of Seattle, Washington

 

Hotel Sierra of Bellevue, Washington

 

Humphreys of Provo, Utah

 

Husqvarna Viking Sewing Gallery of Fairlawn, Ohio

 

Husqvarna Viking Sewing Gallery of Hudson, Ohio

 

Hyatt House of Bellevue, Washington

 

Joan of Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jacki of Seattle, Washington

 

Jackie of New Creek, West Virginia

 

Jamie of Cincinnati, Ohio

 

Jan of Ankany, Ohio

 

Jan of Columbus, Ohio

 

Jane of Bloomfield, New Jersey

 

Janet of Bothell, Washington

 

Janine of Bloomfield, New Jersey

 

Jay and Gina of Bellevue, Washington

 

Jean of Bellevue, Washington

 

Jean of Mukilteo, Washington

 

Jean of Sequim, Washington

 

Jean of Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

Jill of Seattle, Washington

 

Jim B of Seattle, Washington

 

Jim L of Seattle, Washington

 

Jo of Bellevue, Washington

 

Jo of Manchester, New Hampshire

 

Joan of East Hartford, Connecticut

 

Joan and Matt of Bellevue, Washington

 

Joan and Dennis of Walworth, New York

 

Joann of North Liberty, Indiana

 

Joey of San Francisco, California

 

John and Mary of Walla Walla, Washington

 

Jolyn of Bellevue, Washington

 

Joyce of Kinsley, Kansas

 

Judi of Westland, Michigan

 

Judith of Morrisville, Vermont

 

Julie of San Jose, California

 

Justine of Bellevue, Washington

 

K of Land O Lakes, Wisconsin

 

Karen of Ann Arbor, Michigan

 

Karen of Medford, Oregon

 

Karen of Shoreline, Washington

 

Karen of Thousand Oaks, California

 

Kari of Bellevue, Washington

 

Karin of Hillsboro, Ohio

 

Kathy of Bainbridge Island, Washington

 

Kathy of College Place, Washington

 

Kathy of Sequim, Washington

 

Katie of Bellevue, Washington

 

Kay of Seattle, Washington

 

Kelli of Port Orchard, Washington

 

Kenya of Yadkinville, North Carolina

 

Kim of Redmond, Washington

 

Kinsley High School of Kinsley, Kansas

 

Kris Brain DDS of North Bend, Washington

 

Ladies of the Elks of Sequim, Washington

 

Ladies of the Lakes Quilters Guild of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire

 

Lake Hills Orthodontics of Bellevue, Washington

 

Lana of Seattle, Washington

 

Lana of Sequim, Washington

 

Laurene of Uncasville, Connecticut

 

Leanne of Seattle, Washington

 

Leslie of Yakima, Washington

 

Leslie of Seattle, Washington

 

Liberty Free Methodist Church of Liberty, New York

 

Lil’ Jon’s Restaurant of Bellevue, Washington

 

Lil’ Jon’s Veterans Group of Bellevue, Washington

 

Lilly of Bainbridge Island, Washington

 

Linda of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

 

Linda of Cherry Hill, New Jersey

 

Linda of Kirkland, Washington

 

Linda of Carlsborg, Washington

 

Linda of Tucson, Arizona

 

Lindsey of Seattle, Washington

 

Lisa of Seattle, Washington

 

Lisa of Bellevue, Washington

 

Lockwood Village of Bothell, Washington

Lorri of Sequim, Washington

 

Lynette of Mulkiteo, Washington

 

Lynne of Seattle, Washington

 

Maggie of Seattle, Washington

 

Marchand of Seattle, Washington

 

Margaret of Montlake Terrace, Washington

 

Margaret of Norton, Ohio

 

Marina of Bremerton, Washington

 

Marisusan of Bothell, Washington

 

Margot of Niagara University, New York

 

Marilee of Kingston, Washington

 

Marleen and Darrel of Seattle, Washington

 

Marlys of Seattle, Washington

 

Mary of Bainbridge Island, Washington

 

Mary of Bellevue, Washington

 

Mary of Coronado, California

 

Mary and Walter of Sahuarita, Arizona

 

Mary of Sequim, Washington

 

Mary of Tomahawk, Wisconsin

 

Meadowdale High School Key Club of Lynnwood, Washington

 

Melody of Bellevue, Washington

 

Melody of The Colony, Texas

 

Memorial Donation on behalf of WWII Veteran Howard of Bradenton, Florida

 

Michael Mulick DDS of Seattle, Washington

 

Morry of Everett, Washington

 

Myrna of Edmonds, Washington

 

Nancy of Bellevue, Washington

 

Nancy of Seattle, Washington

 

Open Aire Market of Sequim, Washington

Pacific Fire Systems of West Linn, Oregon

 

Pam of Gamble Bay, Washington

 

Pat of Hazelhurst, Mississippi

 

Pat of Vilter, New York

 

Pat of Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

Patricia of Loveland, Colorado

 

Patty of Ashland, Wisconsin

 

Paulette of Sammamish, Washington

 

Pearl Valley Baptist Church of Wesson, Mississippi

 

Perkins Coie LLP of Seattle, Washington

 

Peter Wong DMD of Bellevue, Washington

 

Plano 9^th Ward (Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints) of Dallas, Texas

 

Priscilla of East Hartford, Connecticut

 

Purr of Ryderwood, Washington

 

Randy Lake DDS of Renton, Washington

 

Reddick Methodist Church of Reddick, Florida

 

Redstone College of Broomfield, Colorado

 

Rachel of Milwaukie, Oregon

 

Ricardo’s Family Mexican Restaurant of Bellevue, Washington

 

Rita of Lauderhill, Florida

 

Renee of Bellevue, Washington

 

Robert and Barbara of Linden, Michigan

 

Roger and Mary of Mission, Texas

 

Rosalee of Indianapolis, Indiana

 

Ruby of Vicksburg, Mississippi

 

Russell Construction of Tualatin, Oregon

 

Ruth of Sequim, Washington

 

Sally of Woodbine, Maryland

 

Sandra of Albuquergue, New Mexico

 

Sandra of Edmonds, Washington

 

Sandra and Robert of Sequim, Washington

 

Sandy of Nottingham, New Hampshire

 

Sara of Pelham, Alabama

 

Schmitz Park Elementary School of West Seattle, Washington

 

Scott of Bellevue, Washington

 

Shari of Leesburg, Florida

 

Shari of Longville, Minnesota

 

Sherry of Bellevue, Washington

 

Sherry of Bolivar, Missouri

 

Sheryl and Chris of West Bend, Wiconsin

 

Shirley of Millers Creek, North Carolina

 

Silver Cloud Hotel of Bellevue, Washington

 

Soroptimist Club of Sequim, Washington

 

Stacey of Boca Raton, Florida

 

Staples, Inc. of Kent, Washington

 

Stephanie of Bellevue, Washington

 

Steve’s Repair Customers of Sequim, Washington

 

Stitch ‘n Bitch of Sequim, Washington

 

Streimer Sheet Metal Works, Inc. of Portland, Oregon

 

Stitches from the Heart of Bellevue, Washington

 

Sunbonnet Sue Quilting Guild of Sequim, Washington

 

Sue Lynn of Redmond, Washington

 

Sue M. of Seattle, Washington

 

Sue V of Temple Hills, Maryland

 

Susan B. of Carlsborg, Washington

 

Susan C. of Bellevue, Washington

 

Susan M. of Lakewood, Colorado

 

Susan M. of Bellevue, Washington

 

Susan M. of Seattle, Washington

 

Susan R. of Sequim, Washington

 

Susan L. of Waltham, Massachusetts

 

Syrinda of Seattle, Washington

 

Target of Issaquah, Washington

 

Target of Renton, Washington

 

Teresa of Seattle, Washington

 

Teri of Dallas, Texas

 

Tess of Cordova, Tennessee

 

The Jel Sert Company of West Chicago, Illinois

 

Tom and Mary of Renton, Washington

 

United Way of King County, Washington

 

Virginia of Wilton, California

 

Wade of Seattle, Washington

 

Walmart of Lynnwood, Washington

Warwick Enterprises of Hillsboro, Oregon

 

Wendy of Cordova, Tennessee

 

Western North Carolina Quilt Guild of Henderson, North Carolina

 

Woof & Poof of Chico, California

 

 

 

TTFN

 

Sue

Miracle

Everyone who knows me, and knows how I feel about Operation Holiday Stockings is aware that I pursue this project on faith.  I pray for the troops, for their families, and for all of the volunteers of Operation Holiday Stockings.  I pray for all of the wonderful volunteers who are making stockings for us, those who are out collecting goodies for the stockings, and for the folks who help with our postage expenses.  All of this is done on faith, faith in other people, and faith that we all will be given the means to continue with Operation Holiday Stockings. 

Look at the picture above.  Look at the faces of the soldiers as they are picking out a stocking that we sent for their party.  That is why we do this each year.  That is why we will continue to do this.  These men and women are away from their families during the holidays and the least we can do is bring a little bit of cheer in the form of a stocking.  These stockings aren't full of everything they will need, they are full of love and support, and of course prayers for their safety.  The real gift is the stocking because it was made with them in mind.

The past few years we have struggled to get all of the stockings, supplies and postage that we needed to fill the requests from these troops and from their families.  We were to the point of putting units on a wait list until we received everything we needed.  Of course I was praying we would, and we did.  We sent out close to 3000 last year so we figured we might get requests for about 3500.

That didn't happen.  Requests started coming in early this year.  They were coming in from wives, daughter, aunts, sisters and friends.  The requests were coming directly from the troops themselves, asking if we could possibly put them on the list because the morale was so bad.  You all know what I said.  I said yes and the number of stockings needed started climbing up to 2000 by the middle of summer.  I prayed for a miracle, and several miracle happened. 

 

We were able to have a booth at the Open Aire Market in Sequim, Washington this year.  We had a good time meeting our neighbors and visitors to the Market.  We invited them to sign a little card to put into the stockings and they did.  They picked out the stocking for the note, and we hung it on a tree. 

The next miracle, and this was a big miracle, came through Debbie Colgrove's column at About.com on Sewing.  At the end of August I started getting emails from people who wanted to sew stockings for OHS, a lot of them.  I was puzzled as to where this was coming from.  Finally one lady told me she read about OHS in Debbie's column.  A check of the hits for our website showed it went from 23 on August 26th to 179 afterwards.  We truly can't thank Debbie enough for telling people about us.  The rush was then on.

 We ended up on a newsletter for the machine embrodiery groups

 Knitters started sewing so they could get more to us.

 One nice lady did over 300 stockings for us.

 A group of retired folks got together one weekend and sewed and stuffed stockings for us as a community project.

 Knitters who had never heard of us found out about us through Debbie's column.

 Kids continued to decorate stockings for us.

 The crochet groups also got involved.

And the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, 4-H Groups and Schools got involved. 

We had one school in Seattle collect their Halloweeen candy for the troops and donated 600 pounds.  It was a project sorting through all of this, but we are so grateful for the donation.

In additon to the stockings, we had groups send cases of product for the stockings, and we were blessed with donations for postage. 

Stockings were everywhere, some which had previously been stuffed earlier.  Some that needed to be stuffed. 

 

Over several weekends we logged in all of the wonderful stockings and supplies we received from everyone,

we stuffed them,

packed them up, and shipped them.

In total we have shipped out over 4100 stockings this year.  I just received another request for 400.  I am now praying for another miracle. 

TTFN

Sue

Journey

The Fall Harvest

 

This past summer has been an incredible journey for me.  I've seen a miracle happen.  I have been busy, that's true, but it's been a good busy.  I am going to try to bring all of you up to date in the next few days but I have pictures scattered everywhere so it's going to take a bit to find them.  As you know, we were part of a community garden this year and the harvest was amazing.  I primarily spend the summer with dear friends and family harvesting and processing food so we are going to be well fed this summer.

 

 

Susan and I ordered 50 pounds of Yakima peaches from the Boy Scouts this year and made Peach Salsa and put up a lot of peaches.



Rachel and I canned Blue Lake Green beans from the garden, and made dill pickles from beautiful cucumbers we purchased from Sunny Farms.  They are really, really good.

 

 

As Fall started moving in we were still canning green beans and harvesting the tomatoes (which are a Fall crop in the Maritime Northwest).  As you can see, while we were all taking care of harvesting and processing the harvest, stockings for Operation Holiday Stockings started coming in.

I was finding these stockings everywhere, even on the jars of sauerkraut fermenting in the kitchen.

 

These stockings even ended up in the green beans we were harvesting to take up to the food bank.  In fact, we were able to donate over 300 pounds of these beautiful beans this year. 

 



The socks showed up on the herbs I dried, like in the pan of parsley.



They started coming in by the boxes and I had to gather them together in baskets to keep them under control.

As you can see, until they were all stuffed, packed and mailed out this year, these stockings were everywhere.  Such a beautiful sight.  A Miracle happened, but more on that later.

 

 

 

In the meantime, the grill masters around here decided that we should have a Grilling Pavillion hooked up to the wood and outdoor storage shed. 

Fortunately, David's thumb was the worse injury.  He managed to mangel it up a bit with the table saw.

We spent a lot of time laughing and sharing this summer.  So many wonderful family members and friends came for visits and to help with the Pavillion.  Big thanks to Jim, Steve, Frank and John for all of the time and help you put into this project for us. 

 

 We also did the 3rd Annual Tomato Festival and of course will be doing it again next year. 

 

Well, this is a lot to digest for today so I'll sign off. 

 

TTFN

 

Sue

Gossip

I have always hated gossip.  I also hate what gossip can do.  It can hurt, and it can destroy. 

In high school I wasn't one of the "cool" girls because I couldn't stand staying in the girl's bathroom participating in, or listening to gossip.  Consequently, I was a routine target of gossip, and some of it wasn't very nice. 

Gossip is cruel and very damaging.  It can hurt.  Most of the time the gossip consist of incorrect information, omitted information, or information that should instill some empathy or understanding for the victim of the gossip. 

I can't speak for men, but in my life experience the women who gossip are the ones who have insecurities that the "topic" of the gossip doesn't have.  Gossip is tied up with envy and jealousy.  It's a means to belittle the person being discussed.

The Urban Dictionary defines gossip as "exaggeration or fabrication of a story, regarding somebody other than the tale bearer, in the absence of this person who is being discussed - for the malicious purpose of demeaning, slandering or tarnishing this person's reputation."

It has been years since I've been a direct victim of gossip gone bad.  I would think that women in their 60's and 70's would be above that type of behavior, but I've learned that isn't the case. 

I've lost a friend due to her listening to this gossip and that makes me sad.  I was tried and sentenced without the benefit of a trial, and that makes me sad.  I've also learned that there are still those out there who possess to be a friend but will still cave in to peer pressure at the expense of friendship.

Oh well.  I am a fortunate and blessed woman.  I do have close friends I trust and know I will always be able to trust.  They are secure in themselves and aren't afraid to say "bullshit" when someone starts throwing around damaging comments about another person, especially someone they care about. 

It's too bad everyone can't try to find the goodness in others and focus on that. 

Lesson learned. 

TTFN

Sue

Hiatus

I know I've been absent for a long while.  Life got complicated and out of sorts.  I don't have any thing witty to say tonight, or fun, just the plain facts of what's been going on. 

First of all, let me start out by saying everyone at Edgar's Acres is fine.  David is loving retirement and is staying out of trouble being a Master Gardener.  Edgar has retired along with David. 

Louie and Johnny are living a dog's life, and Abby the Alpha Cat is having a second childhood chasing dogs, watching birds and sleeping anywhere she wants. 

I continue to work in Seattle for three days each week.  I telecommute on Mondays so bright and early on Tuesday morning I head over to Bainbridge Island to catch the ferry to work.  After work I take the ferry back and head to the apartment I'm sharing with Susan.  Thursday after work I head back to Edgar's Acres and live the good life with David and the dogs and Abby. 

Yes, life overall is beautiful.  Except for Hidradenitis suppurativa.  HS is a hideous skin disease I have lived with for over 40 years.  In the last several years it has escalated to a level III, and has been hell.  For the past six months I have been very sick and in extreme pain so have stayed away from posting anything.  I didn't want to gross everyone out or turn my blog into a forum for self pity. 

I am more fortunate than many of those who suffer with this crap.  I have a dear and understanding husband, wonderful family and close friends, all of whom are very supportive.  All of these wonderful people have been here for me, making me laugh and helping to keep things in perspective.  It means so much to me.

I am sure you are wondering why I am now posting.  Well, many prayers have been answered and I have been able to find an amazing team of physicians who know what this disease is, and are prepared to help me deal with it.  I am now feeling better physically and emotionally, and feel like there is an end to this dark tunnel.  I am currently working with this team of physicians so I can have surgery to remove as much of the HS as possible.  It won't be immediately, and it will be a nightmare surgery to go through, but the other options aren't real favorable. 

Besides prayers, family and good friends, knitting has been a refuge for me.  I've knit 42 OHS stockings, two baby sweaters, three baby blankets, numerous doggy and kitty blankies, one scarf, one shawl, and two sweaters for American Dolls.  Knitting is something to focus on when the pain gets too bad.  Knitting is something to occupy myself when I just don't have the energy to be nice.  Knitting is also a creative outlet for me to express some beauty when I feel like I look like crap.  Knitting is dear friend. 

To all of my faithful readers, thank you for letting me share this with you.  It's good to be back.  I had forgotten how much I love to write and this feels right.

TTFN

Sue

Still Around

Dear Blog. 

I haven't forgotten you.  Trying to find time to visit seems to have gotten away from me.  I can't post alot right now, but soon, very soon.

TTFN

Baby Boomer Sue