Where's Kathy??

Ken & I have taken on a big project. A good friend of ours was involved in a horrible car accident on 2-19-11. Steve was in a medically induced coma for a little over two weeks. He was on a respirator, kidney dialysis, had a shattered pelvis, hip, broken wrist and a badly injured left leg. His left leg is so bad that the doctors had surgery scheduled to have it amputated. But, the following morning, the swelling went down slightly. Steve is now out of the coma, off of dialysis, breathing on his own, has had 5 surgeries on his bad leg (which they are still unsure can be saved), surgery on his pelvis hip and wrist. I brought it up to Ken about having a benefit for him...and it caught like wild fire. It's been amazing. We live in such a remarkable community. People are coming together. It's truly been a blessing.

Spaghetti & Meatball Benefit Dinner

for Stephen Ewing

Escanaba VFW April 30,2011

4pm-8pm

$6 adult, $4 children & kids under 5 free

***Raffles and silent auction***

Steve was involved in a devastating car accident in Manistique, MI on February 19th, 20 II. He was in a medically induced coma for 2 weeks, on kidney dialysis & ventilator. He has had surgery on his broken pelvis, hip, wrist, and numerous surgeries on his left leg. The doctors are still trying to save his left leg from having to be amputated. He has numerous surgeries and many months of rehab in the future. All $$$ raised will go to the Ewing family to help defray travel expenses and bills.

We are also hoping to get Steve a laptop and new hearing aid. Steve is deaf, therefor, he isn't able to use the telephone to keep in touch with family and friends as he is bedridden in the hospital. His communication with the outside world is done primarily through the computer. His hearing aid is also broke.

***Info: Kathy Woodbury kmw825@yahoo.com or 906-789- 1064 ***

Special update: Last week I put the benefit info on my facebook and mentioned that we also want to get Steve a new hearing aid because his was broke in the accident. My fab friend brandy saw my status and told me she would talk to her aunt at Miracle Ear. That very night brandy called me with amazing news!! That very day her aunt Rose had been given a set of top notch hearing aides from a family member of a person that had passed away. The family wanted the aides to be donated to someone who really needed them and can not afford them.

Now, hold on, that's not all. Rose will travel to Steve free of charge. She's doing this on her own. She will do his hearing exam, make his ear impressions and program the aides out of the kindness of her heart. Amazing right!! A pure stranger helping someone out!! Rocks my world!

The only cost is $100 for the actual earmoulds. Which several of us pitched in for. So, Steve will be getting his hearing aides in the near future. Rose told me Steve will be hearing better than he ever has before. What a remarkable gift!!

Being part of this experience has made me realize just how amazing people are. I am honored to be involved in such an amazing event. So, that is where much of my time has been spent. Gathering donations, answering emails and phone calls. It's fantastical!!

15yrs

On 3-23-96 I was given the greatest gift. I became the wife of my best friend, soulmate and lover. He is the kindest, patient, goofy, dorkipotamus, handsome lovable man I know. I love him more that I ever thought a heart was campable of loving. He completes me....

Even after 15yrs of being married. He is still the hand I reach for, the man I will grow old with, the man who knows all my secrets, supports my dreams, give me a push when I need it, and pulls me in his wonderful arms and wraps me in a hug. He completes me. Fifteen years of wedded bliss...can't wait to share another 128 with this fabulous man!! I love you Ken!!! =)

Warmpth

You are looking at the gynormous, unsafe, non efficient unit that has heated this home for a few decades. We have only owned this house for 5yrs. On Sunday, February 20th she died. Ken & I were watching a lil tv before he had to go to work that night. I started sweating, asked Ken what the dealio was. Our house was 77 degrees!! He told me he was cold so he turned the thermostat up a couple degrees. Silly boy! If he'd wear some actual clothes in the winter....he was just in gym shorts. He does not parade around the house in the buff. Anyways, he turned the heat down on the thermostat...heat kept pumping through the vents. He went in the basement to shut the actual furnace off and restart it.

When he came upstairs he had that "this is not good" type look on his face. He said that he shut it off and when he turned it back on, flames shot up the side. YIKES!! We called the furnace fixer men. Yup, on a Sunday night. The fella came and confirmed it, our furnace croaked. Totally non fixable. He said that someone can come Monday morning to give us an estimate on a new one. Ok....So, we're gonna have a slumber party for a night and then get a new furnace. No biggie. Ken called his dispatcher and told her he would not be able to go to work until this problem at home was fixed.

We quickly shut the curtains and hung blankets on the windows that we do not have window treatments on to keep the heat in. We turned on electric heaters and blocked off the staircase going upstairs with another blanket. We were going to camp out in the living room for the night.

I put on my pink footie pajamas with polar bears and blew up the queen sized air mattress. We put an electric heating blanket on the top of the mattress and then our sheets and blankets.

Got up on Monday morning and the fella came her to check it out and get the info needed to make an estimate. The day dragged on, no word of an estimate...we thought he forgot about us. Ken called and a short time later we had two estimates. So, Monday night we slept in the living room. Again.

It really wasn't bad at all and we had fun. Reminded me of when we would camp in a tent. On Tuesday we thought, ohh awesome, we will give them their $ and work will begin on the new furnace. Nope, we had to wait until Wednesday. Ok, so night three on the living room floor.

Wednesday morning the banging began promptly at 8am. The guys took a break around 10am. Oh, and one of the fella totally looked like an older Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. I contemplated how I could get a picture of him to show yas. But the hubby thought it would be a bit too odd. LOL

At lunch time Ken & I decided to go get sub sandwiches and we offered to get one for the fella that was still working in our basement. Neither Ken nor I hadn't the slightest clue who this man was, but we were grateful that he was going to hook us up with some heat. When we got home with our sandwiches Ken asked if we were going to make the guy eat in the cold basement or in the semi warm dining room. I said around the dining room table with us of course! Ken was thinking the same thing. Folks, we had a stranger eat a meal with us and it was fun. We learned about where the guy went to college and his family. It really was pretty neatotastic!

After we cleaned up lunch we realized that an aspiration on my 2011 list was completed. We paid for a strangers meal & had them eat in our home with us. Pretty cool if you ask me. By 4pm the 93% efficient new furnace was in and we had heat. I felt like hugging the man!!

Crazy Birthday Hats

Beware: If I know you, know where you live, know where you work or know what vehicle you drive I am sooo going to make you a crazy birthday hat. No if, and's or but's about it. It's part of my 2011 aspirations actually... to make gifts. Well, I decided this year I am going to crochet sillified hats. I started with a monkey hat for my brother Bruce. His bday is in February. I gave it to him before we went on our annual family sleigh ride.

Then came Cody's 5th bday the beginning of March. Totally hooked him up with a dragon hat.

My lil brother JJ's bday is in March too. Made him an Escanaba Eskymo hat with the #58 (his football #) on the back. I'm working on a few more of these for other 'Mo' fans and bdays.

Then my brother Pat....He's got to be one of the biggest Green bay Packer fans I have ever known. He sooo needed a Packer helmet hat. Can you believe he wore this at our family fun day bowling this past weekend!

I still have a couple more March bday hats to deliver. I think it might be the most busy birthday month in my family. Hmmm, people get really antsy for summer in June I guess.

I only have one bday hat in April to make for my very immediate family. If I hear through the grapevine that YOU have a bday next month you better bet that somehow a personalized crazy bday hat will be delivered to you!!

Day 31

Day 31...a picture of yourself.

This is me, standing on frozen Lake Superior. This is where I go to find myself, rejuvinate, relax, adventure, be close to my babies. Lake Superior is my lil piece of heaven on Earth. It is the home of my heart and where my dreams are dreampt.

Day 30

Twenty five years have passed since I lost my parents and I miss them more than ever.

I miss the times we had in the short 10yrs I had them, I miss their laugh, I miss my dad's lunch pail on the counter, I miss going to Red Owl with them, I miss crocheting with Mom, I miss trying to turn the channel when Dad was sleeping on the couch, I miss hearing their voice, I miss our family camping trips in the bus, I miss seeing them with their grand kids, I even miss them saying "Katherine Marie", I miss the memories we never made, I miss that they never saw me grow up, graduate, get married, I miss that they were not there when we lost our babies, when we had numerous adoptions go bad, I miss that they never met Ken, I miss watching Andy Griffith, Beverly Hillbillies and Gunsmoke with Dad, I miss listening to my Puff the magic Dragon 8-track before school with my mom, I miss going to church and taking up a whole pew with the whole Pepin family, I miss being the toast maker for our big breakfasts, I miss hearing mom holler "Kathy" from the porch like all the moms did to call their kids home, I miss the smell of moms Charlie perfume, I even miss seeing Dad's Pall Mall cigarettes. I miss when all the memories I have of them were very vivid and I didn't have to look at pictures or video to refresh my memory. I miss my Mom & Dad

Day 29

This picture always makes me smile. This is Ken's old truck parked at Woodbury Collision (which is now Bobaloon's). It's the same truck I mentioned before about having bullet holes, the air horn, it is the truck Ken was driving with my friend Scott on the day that I met Kenif. It's a 1974 Chevrolet stepside. Only two wheel drive but the glass packs and air horn made that ok. Plus, the hunky owner totally made this truck the best!!

We spent many hours and numerous gallons of gas cruising main in this stellar mobile. I always sat in the middle of the seat next to my hunny. Ken had plans of refinishing it, even had it all in primer. Then we moved to Green Bay and he sold it to my cousin who then sold it.

What I wouldn't do to have it back. That truck brings back some pretty fantastical memories.

Day 28

Something I am afraid of....you mean like tall narrow bridges, octopus's', cancer, dying, wood ticks? I chose time, which in this case is equivalent to death. I am afraid I won't have enough time to do everything I want to do in life. There is so much life has to offer, things to experience, goals to achieve, people to love, ice cream to eat, memories to make. I'm an avid liver of life and try to fill it up with meaningful things with the ones I love, chasing my dreams, trying new things, laughing.

I think in the back of my mind I always think of how young my parents were when they passed away. Both in their mid 50's. They had so much more life to live and grand babies and great grand babies to love. But, they ran out of time...

I want to make the best of the time I have here, chase every dream, take every opportunity, and spend oodles of quality time with my loved ones...before I run out of time.

Life is far too short. Whether you live to 35, 55, 155.

Day 27

This is my little sister Maddy. She was almost ours once upon a time. I am so happy that she stayed in the family and I get to have her as my lil sis. She's super smart and a total nutball. She fills my heart with happiness, love and lotsa giggles.

Day 26

Supporting cancer research means a lot to me. I watched my dad die a slow, agonizing death from it. I have lost family and friends, my friends have lost loved ones too. The more support and awareness of all kinds of cancer, the closer we will be to finding a cure.

I urge you to do whatever you can to help the cause. You can become a chemo angel, donate your time or even a few bucks, participate in a relay For Life near you. I'm telling you, after you participate in the relay you will be filled with hope and determination to do whatever you possibly can to kick cancers ass!

Day 25

Today I went to my sister's house because my niece Joy and her forever mommy were going to stop by to visit. I haven't seen Joy since December and I have to admit, my heart was sad and really missing her. I didn't know how my heart would ...feel because I go through so many emotions when I see her, hear her name, see pictures. I wish the feeling of feeling like a failure would go away. I often wonder if she remembers that we let her go and if she will think we don't love her because of our decision. She fills my heart with happiness and I know we made the right choice. My day is complete after seeing her and getting hugs and kisses from her.

Day 24

Something I wish I could change??? Hmmmm....I wish I could change the way people treat others and have the ability to change the world into a place of peace and love. I believe one person can help make that change but I also have to be realistic and realize I myself can only change my ways and hopefully inspire others to do the same. Ultimately though, it's up to the others to want to change. So, what I want to change is.....the oil in our vehicles. Last summer I learned how to change a tire. This summer I am going to sweet talk the hubby into teaching me how to change the oil in on eof our vehicles. Not the semi. Usually we take our trucks to the oil changing places. For once I want to be the oil changing place. I'll curl my eye lashes, apply my mascara and eyeliner, put on some bib overalls, wear a polka dotted hat, hang a blue rag out of my pocket and wear goggles and maybe a face mask too. It'll be great! I better start sweet talking the hubby right now....

Day 23

There is no such thing as a favorite book for me. If you are at my house and ask me that question you will be shown my favorite books on the bookshelf in the living room, then I will show you my favorite books in the den. I'll take you by the hand and show you my cookbooks showcasing some delish recipes. Then, I will take you to the upper landing upstairs and show you those books. Then, we will go into my craft room/office where you will be shown 3 large file cabinets beaming with spectacular pattern books. We're talking knitting, crocheting, tatting, weaving, woodworking, sewing, quilting, miniature dollhouse patterns, cross stitch books...you name it. Just open the files, they are all in alphabetical order. It's like a alphabetized library of craftiness going on in those files. It's rather spiffy, if your a crafty geekoid like myself Then, if you manage to get out of that room and still have an inkling for books, like my geeky self, I'll take you into our bedroom to the three large bookcases that are lined with thrillers, biographies, fair tales, romance, true stories. Books that will scare you, make you cry, chase your dreams, inspire and piss you off.

One of the books I will always grab is "Into The Wild" I think anybody would like this book. It's an easy read. It taps into your adventurous spirit, makes you believe in your abilities, to dream, survive, it scares you, makes you laugh and cry. Oh, just believe me, it's a great book. it was also made into a movie. Must read/see. Oh, and for my Yooper friends, the main characters Mom is from the UP!! p.s. It's also a true story.

Day 22

I wish I was better at knitting. These are some of Nana's knitting needles and accessories. She had extreme patience and humor teaching me the basic knit and pearl before she passed away. Getting my left hand to cooperate is almost impossible. I am determined it is there for decoration or to help me talk with my hands. Now it's up to me to put these needles to use and make something spifftacular, and by spifftacular I don't mean a dishcloth. We're talking socks, mittens, sweaters...for the whole family! Yup