Stash Project and a New Baby

I did it! I started making my blocks the day Judy at Patchwork Times posted the instructions for this Stash Project. And I finished my top today! I'm not loving this picture but it's the best of what I took.

She posted the finishing instructions on Friday. Thursday, I had my blocks all set the way I wanted them and sewed them into rows. I didn't sew the rows together because I wanted to know how Judy did her setting triangles---just like I do--so I waited for her instructions. Friday morning I started working and wanted to get the top finished. But when Crystal called, I went in to town and babysat Elliot and Clella so she could have some alone time to run errands. I had the first 2 borders on and would finish it in the morning.

I knew I had all day Saturday to myself. Hubby had Gun Safety Class all day and then he was coming home to shower, change and head into town for the Friends of the NRA Banquet. Big day for the big guy!! I was going to sew all day long.

Then at 7:30 am, my phone rang. It was the baby's coming call. I headed into town to help out with the other kids and forgot all about sewing. I went to baseball practice and then brought Taylor and Ashton home with me while we waited and waited. By bedtime, the call hadn't come yet so they spent the night.

We now have a brand new family member.....Jaelynn Renee joined our family last night around 11:00. I haven't met her yet because I am waiting to have her without all the hospital visitors. I am a shameless baby hog. I want her all to myself! I took Taylor and Ashton into town this morning and came home to work on my top.

Now I am going to work on my bear paws blocks. I hope this isn't a long babble post......I think I need a nap!

Keep On Keepin' Up

Things are looking good on the keeping up on the current projects front. Stashbuster Yahoo group gave us our next 2 BOMs for the Sunshine Sampler. I did them both yesterday. They are the top blocks in the photo. So far I like it. I hope I remember to take a photo each month as I finish the blocks. I think I will make the bottom right block into a pillow. I exchanged that one for the one on the bottom left. I like it so much better.

I finished sewing up the blocks for the Stash Project, put the first borders on the Strip Twist. My big jobs for today are to finish the borders for Strip Twist, finish the borders on the Double Delight and cut the pieces for my last Carol Doak pp block so I can sew it tomorrow. I'd also like to get the backings made for both top and cut the batting for both of them. I want to get them finished and marked off my list! And if I get all this done today, I am going to work on that darn homespun plaid quilt top!!! I must get that one out of my way!

I'm at a stand still on the quilt on the frame. I didn't like the quilting on part of it and I don't have a thread color that I do like. So I will take it off the frame and take it with me to get some thread to match. And while it is off the frame, I'll take out the stitching I don't like.

~TTFN, I have stuff to do!

What Happened to the Weekend?

Some weekends fly by. I have no idea where the weekend went. When the alarm went off this morning, I wondered why we had to get up so darn early on Sunday! It took quite a while to figure out it really was Monday. Saturday was spent with Taylor. We made cookies for Grampa then Grampa took us out to dinner and shopping. She was in bed right around 9 and we weren't too far behind her. Another exciting Saturday night!!

How do you like my latest art piece designed by Miss Taylor? It is very cool looking and is hanging right here by my computer. Aren't pipe cleaners great!


I didn't sleep worth a darn and was up very early. I played on the computer and did some fabric cutting. When directions call for 2 2" x 7" rectangles, they really do want 2! I'm sure glad I caught that before I started sewing. Then the rest of the day was spent with family and supervising the assembly of a new computer cabinet.

You remember I wasn't starting anything new??? Forget I ever said that! Judy at Patchwork Times is doing a Stash Project. I have stash, I like a project. Especially when you just go in and pull fabrics. This time I kind of went with mostly tone on tone or there about fabrics. I had a lot more of these that I thought I did. Lots of fat quarters. So I cut my pieces and patiently waited for today's post. Then I sat down and sewed all of my blocks and am now patiently waiting for her next instructions. I already have a plan for my next quilt like this!

Now I am headed outside for a while. We are supposed to get a week of rain and I want to get some things cleaned up before it starts. We all know that a week of rain could turn into a month of rain around here. But all the rain keeps us very green and gorgeous! And I have a few projects to work on.

SsssNnnnnnn Ooooooooooow

I really wish you could hear the way Elliot says snow. It is so cute and now whenever his mom or I say snow, we use Elliot speak. We have a little bit of snow this morning and "they" say it will be gone by afternoon. This is the view from hubby's chair.

I have to take Tony to the vet this morning. He needs his next series of shots. I'm going to ask for the anti-stupid shot for him. Sometimes I think all of this training was just a dream. He forgets he knows how to sit, forgets what down is and forgets he knows how to go to the door to go out to pee. I have to remind myself he is still a toddler and not to be mad at him.

Yesterday at our sewing day. I worked on my 11th block from Carol Doak's Yahoo Group BOM that started August 2007. This is the June block, the July block didn't want to print. Every once in a while, my printer doesn't like the Adobe files. It will print one, hate the next, and print the 3rd. So Sonya printed it off for me, I will make copies and get that last block finished. Then I need to figure how to set it. I'm thinking mini cornerstones but haven't found what I want to do yet. She is so talented and generous with sharing her designs.

I know it isn't the homespun plaid UFO I should be working on. I'm mulitasking!!! It's fun to take a small project to Marian's and come home with an almost complete block. Time to get ready for my big trip to BG!!!! Hmmmm maybe Taco Bell for lunch. Haven't done that for a while.

UFO #9 Done

How exciting to be finished with another UFO.

This quilt was started sometime in 2007 and now will be marked off the UFO list. Waahooo! UFO # 9 was called for my small quilting group on February 8th. This isn't so bad considering I was sidelined.

Now I have to work on that darn UFO # 22. It will go fast, I am determined to stay up with my plan to get this list down to nothing! And when I showed Hubby #9, he said that wasn't the number he chose so now there is more pressure!
Hmmfff, I scoff at pressure! Bring it on. Besides, what's the bid deal, it's been in a plastic bin forever!!!

I know this sounds weird but I'm looking forward to the next number drawn from my group. Maybe I cheated a bit and picked 11 projects that I really wanted to finish. I like the way I'm working on the others on the list also. Someone picks a number for me and I feel obligated to do the job. Wonder if that will work for housework..........

TTFN

Getting No Where Fast

Have you ever spent a day where you are doing, doing, doing but not getting a thing done??? That's the kind of day I'm having.

I did finish these cute little luggage tags. I saw them on Elaine Adair's blog and thought they would make great little gifts. Well I discovered I was late in a swap so I finished these 4 up and packaged them up along with my swap items and sent them off in the mail. I have 4 others pieced and several more blocks printed off to paper piece and turn into tags. I got the designs out of Carol Doak's 300 Paper Pieced Quilt Blocks.

Then I did some housework and played online for a while. After scolding myself for wasting so much time, I finally loaded the Crayon Box quilt onto the frame. I had to cut batting, bobbins were already filled and now I am quilting--just a meander--and can only do a row at a time. Then rest the knee. While resting, I made vet appointments for the dogs, folded clothes, planned my menu for the week and deleted a bunch of shows from the DVR list.

Now I need to get dinner started. Leftover baked chicken turned into chicken burritos and spanish rice. Yumm... I could eat pizza or Mexican food every day of the week if Hubby wouldn't complain. But he will so we won't!

Quilting Along at the Quiltathon Day 2

I stayed up too late last night, got up too early this morning, drank coffee, read the paper, threw in a load of clothes and started to sew my papers. Then Hubby decides to go into town to look at a computer desk. I stayed home to sew. I had just sat down when the phone rang and Dad wanted to come over for a visit. By then I needed to get the chicken in the oven to bake so I did that while I waited for Dad. Just as he was leaving, Hubby comes home so Dad stayed for a while longer. After he left, we ate dinner, cleaned up then I got to sew.

Even with all that, I'm feeling pretty good about my Quiltathon Day 2. I finished all my Half Square Triangles and made some extras for my Depression Block Quilt. I decided I may as well print enough papers for the background fabric I had cut. I cut my strips 9" wide and then subcut the strips 6" wide and ended up with 21 pieces. So I printed some more papers, cut more of my prints and got busy sewing. The sewing part doesn't take much time at all. The cutting, pressing and tearing off the paper takes lots more time.
Here is my basket of 252 HSTs. That will give me 60 extras. After I got everything all cut and pressed, I took my baskets to the couch, got the ole ice bag, put up the foot rest, sat down to watch the rest of the Nascar race. Just as Matt Kennseth was taking the checkered flag, I was peeling the last paper off my HSTs. WooHoo for both of us.

Now I am going to put on my jammies and plan my week. Should be pretty exciting. Tony needs to go to the vet for another shot and DJ needs to go to the groomer. Oh yeah, I live the high life!

Quilting Along at the Quiltathon Day 1

Today I am getting a late start on the quiltathon. I spent a good share of the morning with my foot up and the ice bag and the knitting. Then Crystal and the kidlets came for a visit. Crystal brought me 4 quilts she wants quilted and is wanting to pick them up next week! Such a funny child! She know how I do with pressure. After they left, I fixed dinner of leftover pork roast and rice. Oh my gosh, how I love a good Paula Deen recipe. I don't have the links for those right here so I'll post those later.

Slowly but surely I will get my 192 half square triangles made for my Where Are the Bears Quilting Along project with Judy from Patchwork Times. My fabric and papers are cut to size and most are pinned together. Last night I sewed and cut 3 sets then peeled the paper off my 36 perfectly sized HSTs.

I am using my Triangulations CD for making the HSTs. I don't know why I have waited so long to used this program. I do know, I have lots of my fabrics cut into strips and I have used the Easy Angle for so long that I never think to use any of my other tools. Then Judy mentioned the Triangulations CD in this post and I pop myself upside the head because I have it and need to use it.

Now that I've made a few, I like using this method. I can tear the paper off while watching tv with the big guy. It doesn't take long to sew and cut a few at a time so I am not disobeying doctors orders. :-)

I'm actually doing better than I thought I would be. I went to JoAnn's and grocery shopping yesterday and I have to admit that I may have over did. But I rested today and my leg feels pretty good. Not ready to go dancing good but better that a few days ago. Now I am going to sew 4 more pages of these nice little HSTs so I will only have 10 pages to go! 16 pages times 12 units per page, equals 192 HSTs in no time at all. I'm making 17 pages for the just in case factor!

TTFN

No RSVP Required

You are cordially invited to My Pity Party. No need to RSVP, just join me as I snivel and whine. I don't do well with pain. I hate that about me.

My Gramma lived with excruciating pain from her early 50s until the day she died. She seldom complained. I have a hurt knee and to listen to me whine, you would think there is nothing as painful as my knee. Wrong! I made the decision today to shut up. I am going to try really hard not to be a whiner.

I finished knitting a simple scarf and started another. I am using plain ole worsted weight Red Heart yarn that I have loads of. I found a design on Ravelry called 2 Weeknights with Warrick. It's a fun and easy pattern. Then I want to make a couple more dishclothes. I have my projects in the bag on the couch just waiting for me to finish one and start the next.

I am following doctors orders and trying hard to be a good girl. No whining!!!
Later, I need to elevate.
TTFN

Grounded With A Sewing Injury

I've been grounded from using my right foot for 2 weeks! No right foot on the gas pedal of the sewing machine. Keep my leg elevated, use ice. I have not been letting my knee heal up from a few months ago when I originally stepped in a hole and twisted it. I've had some serious knee pain and finally went to the doctor. He grounded me!!! But like a sneaky teen, I'm not going to stay grounded because I can use my left foot on the gas pedal! So there. I'll sew for a bit then elevate........not today. I'm knitting.

I started these Potluck Wool Mittenettes a couple/three months ago for myself. They were way too small for my chunky hands but fit Miss Taylor just fine. She laid claim to them right away. (I think she gets that from her Mother!) So I started the second one and put them away. Today she is spending the afternoon with us while her parents are on a Valentine's Day date. She spotted the mittenettes and started hounding me. So I sat down, elevated my leg and got busy. They are now finished and ohhhh so cute.

Now I will work on the blue scarf that she swears will look awesome with jeans! Gotta love her, she does have a knack!!!

TTFN

Where Are the Bears?

Judy at Patchwork Times is doing Quilt Along #1. I have done quiltathons with Judy but this is the first time I will be making one of her designs. I'm very excited about this quilt.

I have always wanted to make a bear paw quilt. When I saw Judy's the itch started again. Then she says she is going to do the Quilt Along and of course, since I am not starting anything new, I signed up!

I have already decided this quilt is going to Ian when it is finished. He had asked for a new quilt quite some time ago. I feel like the mean Gramma because it has take me so long to make him one. I knew this wolf fabric was in my stash so I started pulling fabrics to go with it.

The fabric on the right will be the sashing and borders, the fabrics below the wolf print will be for the Half Square Triangles and the fabric on the left are some I'm not sure of but I think will go in as more HSTs. I do need to go shopping for a backgound fabric. I want a very, very pale gray but will take samples with me to match to. I have the Triangulations CD that I haven't used much so I think I will use this method for all the HSTs this quilt requires.

Today is quilting machine day. I have my backing made and the bobbins full for the Crayon Box and it will get loaded this morning and hopefully finished today. Binding is cut and waiting. This one has an owner also, she just doesn't know about it yet. No Dee, it isn't you. :-)

TTFN, I have work to do!

You're Starting Another Project?

I have belonged to the Stashbuster Yahoo Group off and on since it started. There was a time I went 2 years without buying any fabric for my stash. This group has changed the way I buy fabric. If I don't have a project for it, I don't buy. I will buy for borders, backs and bindings if I know I will use it right away.

Well, I usually don't buy. For some reason I thought this green and orange fabric would make a great backing. Then I saw the orange plaid and somehow they both came home with me. After all, they were on sale!!

I had also decided not to do anymore block of the month projects. Why do I say stuff like that when I know darn good and well I am going to start new things! Stashbuster is doing a Not So Ugly Sampler project. I wasn't going to do it. Then I looked at the photos and I caved. I knew this green and orange uglyness would make some nice blocks.

I have my Double Delight top almost finished. I didn't know what I wanted for the borders so I looked at some of the photos at the Quiltville Chat Yahoo group. There was a photo from Nancy in Georgia that I fell in love with. I emailed Nancy to ask if she minded if I copied hers and she was nice enough to say yes. So I got to work on my borders and would you believe I don't have enough fabric! Lucky for me the lady at the store I bought my border fabric from said there was more and I will get 1 more yard when I go to town on Wednesday. If there wasn't any, I was going to have to get creative and make a pieced section on my side borders. I still might but I want to use the brown and that is what I want to use for the binding.

My project for the rest of the day is to use some stash fabric for backing on the Crayon Box quilt. I wanted to use flannel but I don't have anything that I want to use on it. I got out some purple and will use that instead.

TTFN

UFO #9

It is time for this month's UFO Challenge for my small online quilting group. This is UFO #9. It is my version of Quiltville's Crayon Box. I had started making 4 patches as leaders/enders. Then I added some 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" bricks, then 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" strips. Then I saw Bonnie's quilt and knew I should keep going with my ideas. My bin of bricks was overflowing so I decided this was a good way to use them up.

Why did it get put away 2 years ago and never finished??? I didn't have enough of the sashing fabric. As I was searching through the box for this UFO, I remembered that little point. Just after I picked up this bag, there was another UFO with that fabric as borders. My mind went nuts........I'll just take those borders off-they were 5" wide-and used that fabric for this UFO and find other fabric for that UFO because they were just borders, none of that fabric was in the quilt. Lucky for me, the binding was already in the bag and those borders were just enough fabric for my sashing.

Last night, I sat down, watched TV with Hubby and took off the borders. Then I had to work on the quilt. At 10:00, I turned of the machine. I had one more row ready to add to the 3 that were done and the 5th row was all organinzed and waiting for me.

Now the quilt only needs the top and bottom sashing/border. I am not going to put borders on. I am going to use flannel for the back. I am also going to work on the UFO that I took the borders off of. Turns out this is UFO #8. If I get that one finished before the number is called, I will have to replace it with something else.

I am on a roll with these UFOs. I got out #29 yesterday and made another block for it. That one is a Carol Doak BOM that I needed to make 3 more blocks for. So it is one block closer to being done. I have another block ready to cut fabric for and the 3rd block doesn't want to print so I will have to print that one at Crystal's next time I'm there. (This is for Crystal to remind me!) I still have that darn homespun plaid laying here looking at me! I think today I am going to make it into a top just so it will quit tormenting me.

TTFN

Happy Birthday Elliot

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIOT

It sure doesn't seem like 3 years!

Love You!!!

Thing I've Learned While...

...working on my Strip Twist quilt top. If I cut 4 strips from each of my fat quarters from the pack, it isn't enough. I need 12 blocks and only have 10. I probably should have done some math but I usually fly by the seat of my pants.

So 80 strips means 8 strips per block! Wow, I can do math. So now I need to cut and sew 16 more strips. I think I will take all of the remaining fabric, cut it into strips and work on an inside border. My plan is go shopping (yeah, I know!) and find a nice dark brown, almost solid for a skinny inner border, then put on the scrappy border, then wider border and bind with the same fabric.

Yesterday I finished the Next Door Neighbor baby quilt. The baby shower isn't for 10 days and I already have the gift finished. What's with that???

I'm Blaming the Super Bowl Project

I've said several times that I wasn't going to start any new projects until I got some of my UFO's taken care of. I caved and did the New Year's Mystery at Quiltville. Those blocks are done but not sewn together yet. Then Bonnie comes up with an idea to make her Strip Twist as Super Bowl Sunday Project. Who am I to not participate! I've made this quilt once and it lives in the living room and is used all the time. The above fabrics are from a fat quarter pack that I got for Christmas a couple years ago and didn't know what I was going to use them for This is the perfect project.

I wasn't a very good quilter yesterday, I got my stips cut and sewn into pairs. I got sucked into Ravelry and found a scarf pattern that I wanted to make. So I pulled out my needles and a skein of yarn and watched the last part of the game with hubby as I worked on the scarf.

Today I finished quilting this fabulous Mom/Baby quilt. I found the pattern in a Country Quilts Magazine-no dates on any of the pages-and tore the pages out of the magazine and put them in my notebook. I had a small collection of reproduction fabrics and knew I wanted to use them on this quilt. The block is from Quilter's Cache called Next Do0r Neighbor and the magazine article is called Hey, Neighbor!

I had sewn this top at a retreat in November so it hasn't aged a long time. I'll sew the binding on it next and stitch it down Wednesday at Marion. This one is on the list as UFO #23 and will soon be listed as DONE!

Now I must work on UFO #22. I think I'll at least put the blocks up on the wall and maybe that will inspire me a little more.
~TTFN

Where Did January Go?

I was shocked when I saw today is the last day of January. Who took January away from me? I had a very good quilting month. Two UFOs are marked off my list, I finished Sharon's quilt. That one was a challenge for me but it is finished and she will pick it up this weekend. Can you tell how much give there was? I had to do a lot of pushing and pulling to get most of the folds out. I didn't get them all, there are some frinkles on both the front and the back but I think that adds to the charm of Gramma's stitching. I quilted over most of the long stitches to hold them in place and hopefully fingers or toes won't get hooked up on them. I hope her cousin is happy with it.

I took out the depression blocks and started working the HSTs as leaders and enders for my Double Delight quilt (which has all the blocks finished and is ready to lay out and piece into a top). I used almost all of my pieces so I had to do a layout to see how far I was. And I wanted to look at it again! After doing some figuring, I decided to pull out more short strips from the 2 1/2" drawer and cut more HSTs. I will take it off the wall today and just keep working on those little HSTs, get a bag full and make more and more blocks. Maybe next time I put it on the wall, it will cover my queen size bed!

Today I am going to quilt a baby/momma quilt that I pieced at the last retreat. I thought I had a picture of it but I don't. I'll have to remember to take one when it's finished. I did put it on my UFO list because the top was finished last year-in November-and not quilted. Again, that's just how my mind works!

TTFN

Choices--How My Mind Works

How do you decide which project you are going to work on when you have a day dedicated to just sewing? Today, I had the day to myself-mostly.

I gave myself 3 choices: 1-the quilt the quilt on the frame that I am procrasting about-everything is ready to go, 2- UFO #22-the homespun blocks that I am not so thrilled with or 3-work on my Double Delight blocks and my leader and ender HSTs.

My choice today was easy. Today is Wednesday Sewing at Marian's. But there is no sewing today, she has company and I had to wait at home for the phone guy. We had planned to go shopping in Portland today but I had to pass. I really wanted to go too.

I didn't want to run the longarm, it's too noisy and sometimes I can't hear the phone ring--music might be too loud--or the dogs barking--could be the unwanted visitor and I don't want to go see. I didn't want to work on the homespun blocks so I picked the Double Delight--and it's all set up right by the machine.

And besides, if I were at Marian's today, I would be working on my DD.

So after a few hours of sewing, I have 33 blocks complete of my 50 needed. No, I didn't do all those today! I did finish 9 of them though. I have 6 more almost finished then I only need to finish the 11 double 9 patches. That will go fast. Maybe I'll just sew the rest of the day away.

I don't get to have DSL, I live too far outside of the circle. Alway looking in from the outside!!! So I will live with my pokie ole dial up, save money by not going satellite and be happy with it. And I will sew!

Deep Fried Cajun Tilapia

Judy at Patchwork Times is having a giveaway and I really want to win her prize. As soon as I read her post I knew I had to get hubby to cook his blackened cajun salmon. (His hunting club friend had given me a recipe for cajun spice mix and this is the only cajun thing I have ever tasted.) Only thing is, salmon is very expensive right now and I am very frugal. So I had to come up with a new plan.

Hubby has recently decided he likes to cook and I like it that he likes to cook. He had just bought a Fry Baby to deep fry his fish. He has become a master fish cooker. Almost as good as Skipper's, our favorite fish place. So tonight, I made up his coating mix and he fried our dinner. Deep Fried Cajun Tilapia and salad. One balances the other in my mind.

I mixed up equal parts pancake mix and flour and added some of my cajun spice mix until it smelled good. (I don't measure, I dump, then smell. If it smells right then I continue.) Then I mixed up an egg with some milk. He did the good ole dry, wet, dry dip method and fried up our fish. You need to have 2 dishes for the dry so your first dish doesn't get too ookey.

And as you can see, I have a pretty good mess to clean up. It was worth it, dinner was very good. Wonder what I can get him to cook tomorrow..........

I Am A Shameless Procrastinator!

I really should be working on this quilt (it is a preprinted design) for my friend Sharon. Her old Auntie was hand quilting it for a granddaughter and didn't get if finished. Sharon brought it to me to see if I could quilt it and leave the stitching in. I said sure! I'll do just about anything for Sharon. Even this! (I should say that after hanging overnight, the wrinkles are no where near as bad as they look in this picture! Thank goodness)

The quilt was full of straight pins, huge safety pins and hair clips. Auntie had done quite a bit of quilting on it on all sides. So I pinned one edge to the take up roller and started to roll it on, back, poly batting and top. Ouch, there's a needle inside, oooohhh a pin I missed. I am having to clip some of the stitching to try to get some of the folds out. I just don't know how much to take out. So I will continue to roll it up, then reroll it to the backing roller. Then I will "quilt as desired" (I hate that term!) and hope she likes what I do.

Instead of working on the quilt, I have been working on journaling my quilt photos. I don't do fancy scrapbooking like Daughter Jenny does. I just opened a Word document, inserted a picture and wrote what I wanted. Then I printed it out, put it in a clear sleeve and into my notebook. I think now I will start saving my pages and have them printed out on nice cardstock at the copy place. Until then, I feel good about getting a few photos journaled.

Now I must work on that quilt!

#17 Is Not a UFO Anymore :-)

WooHoo, it is now in the washer getting rid of any bad words that may be in there. Why did I fold it up and put it away instead of finishing it? I have 28 other projects that I am wondering the same thing about. But I have finished 2 UFOs so far this year and it is only month one! I wonder if I can do 3........

When I showed it to hubby, I had him pick a number between 12 and 30. He picked #22. Crap, I don't like this quilt, that's why it's in a box and I haven't looked at it for 2 years. It is home spun plaids that I made 30 Slice "Em and Dice "Em blocks. You know the 9 patch that you slice and sew back together. The quality of the fabric isn't that great but I am going to go ahead and sew them into 2 small quilts, quilt them and donate them. I was thinking about not being in a hurry to do them but that's what happened when they went into the box. I'm going to try to get them sewn together tonight.

A bit of Progress

Quilting has begun on UFO #17 aka the 6" diagonal string quilt, but will now be known forever as #17! I love the Plumage pantograph. It goes pretty fast and looks good.

I'm using a medium gray thread which really shows in the black and hides in the colors. One of these days I'll find the perfect thread color to use on black. So far I haven't found it. I'll keep looking.

I'm tired now so #17 will have to wait until tomorrow to be finished. It's time for pj's and snuggling on the couch with my quilt and my book.

How Cute is This?

Mr. Tony has learned to jump up into the big dad's chair. If you are sitting in this chair, get up and walk away, he jumps up there and looks at you as if he's saying HaHa. This is what I saw when I came out of the sewing room today. A Kodak moment--aka blog fodder.

Not much quilting has happened today. I started pinning the back to UFO #17 to the frame and then realized I had to hurry and get the big dog up to the groomers for his day of pampering. Then I came home, talked on the phone for a while and then started to finish pinning when my brother came over.

Oh Lordy, the guy is a pain, but I can't be mean to him so I sat and watched some tv with him--hubby is conveniently at a gun show today. We did watch CMT Cribs and they showed Charlie Daniels home and Craig Morgan's. Craig Morgan has a tv watching room full of animal heads (which is kind of cool in a creepy kind of way) and one of his chairs is a tree stand chair on one of the support pole things in the middle of the room. Hilarious! I can't wait to watch it again with hubby, cuz ya know I have to, Charilie Daniels and a hunting dude on one show--must see TV!

Anyhooo, I am going to work on the quilt now so I can post another UFO done.

:~)

I've Made Some Quilty Progress

Here is my progress on the Double Delight Mystery from Quiltville. Sorry if you are reading this and didn't want the mystery revealed. I have all of my block parts made and now need to finish assembling my blocks. I am close to half way but I have other things that need my attention more.

After yesterday's post full of nothingness, I got busy. I filled bobbins for the next 3 quilts that I plan to quilt. I looked at quilt number 4 that I am not too excited to do but I'll do it anyhow because I said I would.

I sorted through a bunch more fabric that was piled on my cutting table. I need to get busy and get my basket of scraps cut into sizes I use based on Quiltville Bonnie's Scrap User's System. If you haven't looked at her site, you should at least read what she says about your scraps. Yes, I am a fan, a huge fan, of Bonnie's and I have been for as long as she has had webpages. She also has a new page that I found to be quite awesome called Behind Her Scrappy Mind. Enough of my shameless promo for Quiltville.com.

This morning I have decided what's for dinner and have it thawing--turkey meatloaf, zucinni quiche, maybe some homemade bread but I haven't started that yet. I've started the dishwasher, fed the dogs, cleaned up the papertowel roll mess that Mr. Tony made and now I am going to finish this and get behind the quilting machine.

I loaded Nadine's quilt yesterday and then my dad came for a visit so I didn't get started on it until after dinner. It will get finished this morning and then I will make the back for UFO #17. And sometime today get it loaded and started. I am using the Jodi Beamish pantograph called Plumage on both of these quilts so that makes it pretty easy. I may use it on the 3rd quilt in the pile also. Just because I can!

~TTFN

A Post Full of Nothing

Judy over at Patchwork Times blogs today about having a "Nothing Blogworthy" week. I've had nothing blogworthy months before. I do feel bad for anyone that comes here expecting to find something new and exciting and all they find is the same old stuff. I'm trying to post more often but sometimes I just have days full of Nothing. Then there are the days when I don't shut up.

So here is a post full of nothing important. I am very excited about next Tuesday. I will be leaving the boring world of pokie ole dialup. I will come into the modern era with something they call Extended Range DSL. My box full of important equipment arrived yesterday so now I will wait patiently for the very nice guy to get here to install it. I know it will be a very nice guy because that is what I ordered. Really I did, I asked for a very nice guy, not the grumpy guy that hates his job.

I'm super excited about having a faster internet speed because right now I am waiting not so patiently for my email to down load. Someone forgot that I CANNOT accept supersized emails, meaning anything over 300KBs is too large. I seem to have one of the supersized messages coming my way because this will be my 2nd day of trying to download my emails to my computer. Even going into my servers webmail is not working because the big email is somewhere in cyberspace trying to get to my inbox. So I've read the important ones and am going to tie up my phone line this morning to get this taken care of. If that doesn't work, I'll be on the phone with my internet people. Oh yeah, I have people.

Yesterday was sewing day at Marian's. It was bittersweet because Sonya was home in bed trying to deal with her back pain and not dealing with it very well. We had a birthday party for Nadine and she loved the bag that was made for her. We make each other gifts for birthdays. So far we have been very sneaky and the recipient doesn't know what's going on. This time Nadine told us exactly what she wanted so that is what we did. She is an awesome lady and I'm glad I have such great friends to spend every Wednesday with.

I came home very ispired to get my sewing room organized and rearranged. I have been doing some work every day but then I sit down to sew for just a few minutes and that turns into a few hours. I'm working on my Double Delight mystery blocks. I think I have about half of the blocks sewn together and on the design wall and there are about 10 little square in a square blocks to trim. Baby steps on the boring stuff and it eventually will get done.

Today's big plans include loading a quilt on the frame, filling bobbins and laying out the pantograph. I might even get it quilted. Next of the list of quilting room stuff is to make the back for the string quilt that Crystal has laid claim to. I have a quilting list so it would be nice to mark 2 off the list this week. I have dinner planned, will do a quick dance with the vaccuum cleaner, a load or 3 of laundry, and keep an eye on the dogs. If the sunshines again today, I'll work on the leash traing of Tony. I forgot all the little details of puppy training. Ugh!

I guess I'll post this Post Full of Nothing, go find the number for my tech people and give them a call. 45 minutes should be enough to download email! Is it Tuesday yet?????????

I've Got The Whim-Whams

Do you ever feel like you have the whim-whams? You know, like the heeby geebies, when you can't settle on one thing? You bounce from project to project?

That's how I am today. My brain doesn't want to slow down. I feel like I have accomplished nothing. But I have. I made a Marian Blankie.

Yesterday I met Crystal at Joann's for a short shopping spree--I had a gift card, I needed a bulb for my OttLite, no longer have a gift card. Dang those things are spendy and of course I didn't take the old bulb with me so I bought the wrong one. (Came home, ordered one online.)

Anyhow,I found this cute flannel that I had to have to make Clella a Marian Blankie out of. (A Marian blankie is 2 1 1/4 yard pieces of flannel that you sew wong sides together, turn and topstitch--named after our friend Marian who made Clella her first Marian Blankie.) You see, Miss Clella loves her Poppy. If she hears his voice, she just about snaps her head off to find him. It is near impossible to get her away from him. She will shove your hands away and go right back to loving on Poppy. He loves it. So now she has a blankie to remind her that she has a Gramma.

So as I was getting ready to sew this blanket, I needed to get out my screwdriver to change my sewing machine needle--I do that quite often--and I decided to take a picture of this thingie. It came with my machine and I have no idea what it is or what it is for. I've even looked in the manual and can't find anything. One end says in, the other says out. Any one have a clue??

Edited....I have the smartest friends! Cheri wrote and told me this is used to change the light bulbs and that she went through the whole manual before she found it. I looked at my manual, in fact I have looked in it several times since I've had my machine and I never, ever saw that page. It is on the first page in the section that is titled Care of Your Designer 1, page 110 in my book. I have looked at that section, honestly I have. And I didn't know that my machine had 2 lightbulbs.........makes ya think of the joke how many whatevers it takes to change a light bulb. Thanks Cheri.

Now I think I am going to put some things away so I can load a quilt on my frame. Oh yeah, I need to cook dinner. Chicken and spanish rice. I hope I make it back into the sewing room today.

UFO #17

Like most quilters, I make a list in January of my UFOs. This year's list has 29 on it so far. It could grow as I move things around and discover something old that should be added. After finishing up #5, I decided I should get out another one and keep going while I was still happy with my finish.

When I was talking to Crystal today, I asked her to pick a number between 12 and 29. After explaining to her why I needed the number, she picked 17 and this is what it is. On my list it says "diagonal strings--is this a top that needs quilted?--2005 & 6". How sad that I don't even know if it's a top or not.

So I go get it out of the box and sure enough, it is a completed top. I thought about adding an outer border but I decided I am not going to. I have picked out the fabric to use for a backing and I will get that made and get it loaded on the machine. I already have batting and a drawer full of thread. I think I will quilt it with a fun pantograph and as Larry say's "Get 'er done!". But first, I see where I need to do a little unsewing and get some sashing lined up a little better.

But first, I need to do some more domestic stuff.........

Let's Do The Happy Dance

IT'S DONE!!! How happy am I??? I can't even tell you. UFO #5 is finished, in the washer getting a bath with a color catcher (please don't let any of the red run into the cream), then will go in the dryer to get all crinklie and fluffy and soft. WooHoo.

To my friends that made me blocks, to my friends and family that encouraged me, to my dogs and hubby who left me alone, thank you. Sounds like I just won some fabulous award doesn't it??? This is the one UFO I dreaded working on and you do not know how happy I will be to give this one away. I think she'll like it.

Now that this is crossed off my list, which one will be next? I only have 28 to choose from and I have the Double Delight Quiltville Mystery that I have been working on.......Hmmmmmmm let me think........

~TTFN

Things to Think About

Here are a few things to think about. I'm talking to myself today.

1-Notice the photo, see the pin on the right? The point is sticking up. The pin on the left? It's been tucked into the batting. When you are happily stitching along and you forget to tuck that sharp little point down into the batting, you stab yourself in the thumb. It hurts, it bleeds. I didn't want to get blood on this quilt so I had to take a break.

2-When you take a break because you are bleeding, you need to come back to what you were doing. 16 hours is not a break! It's a whole new day. (May want to consider putting a box of bandaids beside the machine so you won't need a 16 hour break.)

3-When working on a quilt as you go, or any other quilt with sashing, you probably want to check that your blocks line up before you sew the sashing. If you do this, you won't have to spend quality time with your favorite seam ripper. Duh!

4-Don't go thinking you are going to have this quilt ready to stitch binding down today. You have 3/4 of a row of stitches to take out and you have 3 more rows and 2 more sashing strips to sew on. And you haven't even cut and pressed the binding yet.

5-Figure something else to take to work on today.

I'm going to take my Double Delight blocks to work on. I am loving this quilt and want to get it done but first, I have UFO #5 to work on. I can't wait to call this one DONE!

~TTFN, I've got stitches to take out.

UFO #5

On one of my small online quilting groups, we are doing a UFO challenge. There are a few of us that picked 11 of our UFOs, listed them with a number, sent our list to the UFO mom--she didn't want the UFOs! Then once a month, she will pick a number and that is the UFO we will work on. My goal is to get each of mine finished. I tried to pick some of my older ones and a few of my recent ones.

Well, lucky me, she picked the one I liked the least. Or the one I thought I liked the least. When I unrolled #5, I decided I really like this quilt. It's the process I chose to quilt it with I didn't like. It's the quilt as you go method and I'm a longarm quilter so this wasn't fun for me. And I swear I will never do this again. But knowing myself as I do, I'm afraid I might.

Here's my progress on this quilt. I belonged to another group and in 2004, we did a block exchange. You picked your colors, pattern and then made 2 blocks for each person in the swap according to their choices. I chose Civil War reds and blues or something close to that and I wanted stars. Let them age a few years and then in March 2008, I start to quilt them, put it asided, start again in May and again in July. By then, I hated this quilt so I rolled it all up and stuffed it away. (As I think about this now, I did it this way because I could sew but not cut after my carpal tunnel surgery and I needed to sew something.)

Then 2009 rolls around and it is still on my UFO list. Not for long. I got it out today and will start to work on it tomorrow. I'm hoping to have binding on it by Wednesday so I can stitch it down at Sewing at Marian's.

But today is play day with the kidlets and I need to get ready to play.
~TTFN

I'm NOT Starting Anything New.....

Have you said that before??? No new projects until whatever, whatever....

Whatever happened for me when Dear Miss Bonnie of Quiltville fame decided to do a New Year's Eve Mystery. I do love all of the things Miss Bonnie does so I had to jump in and start the Double Delight Quilt. I picked most fabrics from my stash but had to buy some cheddar and chocolate brown. This time I wanted to stay pretty close to the colors Bonnie used. And my stash is dwindling and there aren't many big pieces of fabric left.

I don't know about you but when there is a mystery, I want to keep up with the clues because I am not good a not peeking. There was no way I was going to keep up with this mystery so I turned into a shameless peeker. After a cutting error (or as I call it-building of my 2 1/2" strips stash) and the need to go buy more fabric, I jumped ahead a step and started making my little 9 patches. So much fun! I love grab and sew.

I couldn't stand it any longer and had to lay out a couple blocks to see what my quilt will look like. I love it and will spend the day working on parts 2 and 3. Last night I got the rest of my 9 patch strips sewn and cut into units ready to form the cute little blocks (I love the June Taylor Shape Cut Ruler) . The rest of my browns and cheddars are cut and I have piece 1 sewn to most of my cheddar blocks. I hope to get those finished up today.

I already have the flanned that I am going to use for the back of this. I was in JoAnn's one day when they had the mega flannel sale and found a brown background with quiltie things all over it. I had to buy all they had! I knew it would be used for a back, I just didn't know I would be using it so soon. I sure hope Bonnie posts the border step soon. I can't wait to see what the finished quilt will look like.

Maybe I should get crackin' and see what mine is going to look like. But first I am going to take my lint brush and clean off my fancy flannel backed table cloth/design wall.

~TTFN

My Goodwill Find

I really wanted to title this post Tessa, You Ungrateful Snot but then I got to thinking and decided that maybe it wasn't Tessa's fault that this cute little wallhanging was at the Goodwill Store. I really would like to know how it ended up there and why. But this will problaby be one of the mysteries that I will never solve. I know I am happy I found it and it was still there for me to buy.

I saw it there on Tuesday when I went searching for a good deal on shirts--but that's another rant for another day. I left it there and then spent the night hoping it would still be there in the morning so I could rescue it. So on my way to my Wednesday sewing date, I went back and bought it.

I don't know why Tessa doesn't still have this. I only hope her Grandmother doesn't see this post. How would you react if this happened to you? I know my feelings would be crushed.

So if you are Tessa or her Grandmother and would like to have this back, please contact me and I will make sure it is returned to you. Until then, it has a home on my guestroom wall. I think it's adorable.

Puppy Update

Tony has lived with us for 2 weeks now. Has it really only been 2 weeks?? He has doubled in size and length and trouble.

Here he is with Taylor on New Year's Day. The laughter was out of control. She would hide her face and then call him and he attacked. So much fun.

Notice the soda bottles? See the one under my sewing box? That one has to be resuced by a human. But how much fun is spinning 2 or 3 or 4 bottles for an over excited puppy! The soda bottles are the best toys but my advice is to peel the label off before you spin the bottle for the puppy. After a day or two, you will be picking up little scraps of plastic label.

Notice the box blocking the outlet where the tv is plugged in? I decided not to take any chances--didn't want to see the big guy cry because his surround sound was trashed. That would not be pretty. So far the box has worked but no one has touched it so he hasn't been curious. But you know as well as I do that he will discover it, probably sooner than later.

Lovin' On Safeway

Do you use your Safeway club card? I do and yesterday we got to reap the benifits. Safeway had a special promotion for your gas reward points if used your club card when you bought gift cards from them. We bought several gift cards for our adult children for Christmas gifts.

Yesterday while on our way to buy a new computer, I reminded Hubby to stop at the Safeway gas station and fill up the Bronco because we had to use our reward points by the end of the year. We have offered these to our kids that live in town but no one had used them. Silly kids, when your mom tells you to use the Safeway gas station, you might want to listen to her! Now I will be saying "I told you so!!!" and laughing like a mad woman.

We filled up the Bronco with 12 gallons of premium gas for the cost of 12 cents! That's right, 12 cents. HAHAHAHAHA! I told you so. We saved $2.04 a gallon. Can you believe it. I don't know if there is any more savings left there but if you need a fill up and you are near a Safeway station and have a club card, you might want to fill up.

Lovin' on you Safeway and your Club Card. Track my spending. I don't care.

Romping In A Winter Wonderland

Notice the little sunshine flag on the left??? I want to see a big ole happy sun shining from the sky. It doesn't even need to have cool sunglasses to make me happy. Even just a minute of sunshine. I love the snow, but enough already. I have never dreamed of a white Christmas but I am getting one. Really, I am not complaining No, I'm not. I'm warm and dry, except for an occasional potty trip outside! 6 more inches on the ground this morning and snowing again. I love the snow, I love the snow.

We made it through the night with no puddles. Tony is appearing to be a very smart little boy. He is training us quite well. He's already figured out when you go outside, come in and sit by the sink and you get a treat. He hasn't figured out his treat is a peice of his dog food.

Oh yeah, he is half Black Lab and half German Shorthair.

Have a great Christmas Eve.

Meet Tony

This is Tony. Born November 4, 2008. Adopted by us December 23, 2008. He is going to be one spoiled rotten dog. He has a big dark chocolate, jealous lab brother DJ, who at the moment, doesn't want anything to do with the little pest.

Tony is named after one of our favorite Nascar drivers, Tony Stewart, 2 time Sprint Cup Series Champion. He has a little bit of an attitude and likes to play and have fun. He really likes tormenting DJ, named after another Nascar champ, Dale Jarrett. Can you tell we like our Nascar???

Hubby was reading the ads in the newpaper, saw this ad with a local phone number. I did a reverse search and realized the people are practically neighbors and that we know each other casually. It really is a small world. They had 5 puppies to choose from and Tony chose me first, how could I not adopt him. But I could have brought all of them home with me. They are just so darn cute.

I can't wait to introduce him to the rest of our family. I think they are going to like him. Our hearts are still broken over the loss of Uggie and Tony will not take his place. His is a new addition to our family.

Let the potty training begin!!!

Fancy Socks

I finally finished my pink socks tonight. I have spent alot of time not working on these. I don't know why, I just haven't picked them up for a while. I got the first one done about 3 weeks ago and just didn't pick up the second one. It only needed the toe to be finished. So tonight I did just that.

These are made with yarn from Knit Picks called Felici Self Striping Sock Yarn. It is now on clearance so I'm hoping there will be new colors soon. Not like I need any right now, I have 5 more colors to knit up. I can't wait to wear them.

It feels good to finish up another project. The next pair will be made with the same kind of yarn. I can't wait to start them. Maybe I'll try the 2 circular needles again but I don't know, I am so comfortable with the double pointed needles.

I think first I will finish up the shawl I started not long ago. Maybe I can start 2009 with one less UFO. How strange would that be.........

Play Day

Holy Cow, I think I may have figured out how to change the size of my photos so I can upload them. Of course I have yet to publish this post so I better not get too excited.

Hubby is outside on the tractor. He is having fun, I think, keeping the snow plowed out of our driveway and the path to the woodshed. My job for the day is to shovel off as much snow off the deck as I can. Problem is this ole chucky broad is waaaay out of shape. So I've spent half an hour out there and right after I came in the house another huge pile fell off the roof. So next I will get my outdoor gear on and get to shoveling again.

We are doing fine in this storm. We have a well stocked pantry, a woodshed full of firewood, a generator if we lose power--gotta have tv! and no need to go anywhere. Although if we do need to go, the bronco is chained up and our driveway is clear. The country boys continue to keep our road clear but I just don't see me leaving the property any time soon. I know, I am a whimp!

I'll report again later,

Stay warm, stay safe.

37 Things About Me

I've seen this on several blogs and thought it was fun.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yum! Blue Cheese Dressing to dip hot wings in is my favorite.

2. Have you ever smoked cigarettes? Yes, 2 years smoke free.

3. Do you own a gun? Yes.

4. What Kool Aid flavor was your favorite? Root Beer but they don't make that flavor anymore.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Horribly.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Don't tell me what's in them, I know! Ketchup and mustard please. Or maybe some chilli and cheese on top!!!

7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? green tea.

9. Can you do push ups? Are you kidding!!!

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? my wedding rings.

11. Favorite hobby? Hobbies--sewing, quilting, knitting, reading

12. Do you have A.D.D.? Possibly.

13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Readers--don't leave home without them.

14. Middle name? Ann

15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment? 1. Get me out of this house for a while. 2. Crap! It's snowing again. 3. Let me make it to town and back without having a nervous breakdown!

16. Name three drinks you drink regularly. Water, tea, coffee

17. Current worry? Will it ever stop snowing

18. Current hate right now? I try not to be a hater.

19. Favorite place to be? Home

20. How will you bring in the New Year? At home with hubby.

21. Where would you like to go? Back to Hawaii!

22. Name three people who will complete this? Jen, Crys, Sue.

23. Do you own slippers? Yes

24. What shirt are you wearing? teal t-shirt

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't think I ever have.

26. Can you whistle? I try.

27. Favorite color? Green (subject to change without notice)

28. Would you be a pirate? I don't think I'd be very good--I'm too scared to be on the ocean.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing there.

30. Favorite girls name?

31. Favorite boys name?

32. What's in your pocket right now? Burt's Bees Lip Balm

33. Last thing that made you laugh? Listening to Mae Mae over the phone.

34. What vehicle do you drive? Honda Accord

35. Worst injury you ever had? Carpal tunnel surgery.

36. Do you love where you live? Yes, my roots are very deep here.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4


Your next!!!

Got Snow???

Dear Mike, I tried to post a picture of the snow but since my pc crashed, and I am using my laptop, I am unable to resize my picture and it is taking waaaay to long to load. Believe me, we have snow--the whole place is white. Sorry, I tried. I'll work on it and see if I can get you a picture.


Want some? I've been trying to give away (really I'm trying to sell) snow since Saturday. So far I have no takers. Even when I tell them they have won a bucket full of snow!

I am so happy hunkered down inside my house. I ventured out yesterday for a short walk about. A trip to the mail box and back to the house was enough. I don't do well in the cold. I am a wimp. I like being warm and toasty. When the temperature gets below freezing, I want to be inside. I have lots of things to keep me busy. Today I have been making a few extras for Christmas gifts. I have my gifts finished and now I can have fun.

The country has a road maintance shop up the hill from my house. The county boys are working away at keeping the roads plowed and sanded. They keep our road plowed off pretty good but I am still a whimp and will not go anywhere. There is nothing out there that I need right now so I stay home and stay out of their way!!! I am so nice. :-)

Goodbye Uggie, I Love You

This week we had to say goodbye to our beloved Uggie dog. I will miss you, you silly thing. I will miss your Elivis smile, your constant, irritating licking, your wiggles and the way you peeked out the bedroom window when we drove in the driveway and then met us at the door so we wouldn't know you were up on the bed. I will miss our cuddles on the couch. You know the kiddos will miss you, especially Elliot. Who will he take on walks now?

Uggie loved to go over to the neighbors and play with their dogs. Silly boy didn't know that he couldn't run in front of the car and be ok. The oldest of the neighbor boys (young adults) had moved back home just this past weekend and had not yet met Uggie. He saw that a dog had been hit by a car (and no the a**hole did not stop) so he did what was right and he buried him in their pet cemetery. That is a great place for my Uggie, he loved to play with the nieghbor dogs.

I miss you little dog. You will always make me smile.

My 100 Things

Over at daughter Jenny's blog, is her list of 100 Things. I love reading everyone's list and was quite surprised to see this on her blog. So I decided to copy and highlight my own 100 Things. Like Jen, there are several I have done, several I will never, ever in a kabillion years do.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars (kind of, in a tent...)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo (NEVER going to happen!)
11. Bungee jumped. (would only happen after I sang a solo!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort (attempted to ... don't think we ever actually achieved an actual fort!)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (isn't life a marathon?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48.Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (attempted to snorkel.... can't do it!)
52. Walked in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (NEVER going to happen!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (opps!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (bleck!)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published in a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (oh the joys of growing up in the country!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

What's Happening in My World

Let me think--Yesterday my baby boy turned 34. I feel funny saying that makes me feel old when I think about my dad. He put that bug in my head once and now when I say something makes me feel old, I hear him say "How do you think I feel?". Darn him! Anyhow, we went to Doug and Lacey's for dinner. Lacey and her sister, Allie, made the absolute best marana sauce and meatballs I have ever tasted. They say it is a secret family recipe from Sicily and each of them has their part down to a science. Oh my goodness, it was so good. I've got leftovers in the fridge but I think I'll put them in the freezer for another time.

Tomorrow is Miss Taylor's 9th birthday and in a couple weeks, Miss Clella turns 1. That takes care of the birthdays for the year unless I have forgotten someone.

Our dinner on Sunday was good. The kids had fun and it makes me wish we could have more family days. Christmas dinner will be at Jen's house and then we probably won't all be together again until Easter. BooHoo!

My Christmas gifts are almost all finished. I joined an online group last January and we work on Christmas all year. I am feeling no pressure at all and that is a first! Of course we have all decided to cut back dramatically--only gifts for the kids. But I have to have at least a small gift for my kids. I just have to!

Today is sewing day. I have missed my friend time and really need to go. I'm looking forward to a great day.

What's Happening?

This is the second of the three quilts I quilted for my friends. In our small group, we had a block exchange and made blocks that represented our fine state of Washington. One of the gals had signed up but then surgery was scheduled so she had to drop out. Being the sneaky bunch we are, we made her this quilt. I had a blast freehand quilting this. The only problem, I forgot to take a picture of it when it was finished! How could I do that? I take pictures of all the quilts I do. So maybe, just maybe, my dear friend Cheri will send me a picture. Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaase.

I've been sick. Yes, again. First it was the horrid cold, then the stupid knee--that one is still not healed--and then this weekend I had to go to Urgency Clinic. I knew what was wrong but they have to have you come in before you can get the medication. So I am on 2 nasty antibiotics. One of them is just horrible. My mouth tastes like I'm eating a big o' ball of foil. Nasty! So I am drinking my water, eating careful and sleeping. I didn't know antibiotics made you sleep but I don't care, I feel horrid so sleep is fine with me.

I thought today I could venture out to the grocery store but I just don't have the energy. I don't have to cook dinner on Thursday so that pressure is off. I do have a house full coming on Sunday. I am being the nice mom and giving my kiddos one less place to be on Thursday. But what I am really doing is hogging them on Sunday! So pray for nice weather so they can play outside.

I'm done checking in now, I need a nap.