On a roll

Two more finishes, sort of. These are leftovers from my Quarter of a Courthouse and a few other batik quilts.

You can see the left over blocks on the left. That will be a pillow topper once it is quilted.

And the other one is just scraps sewn together hodge-podge style.

They kind of go together and might. I will use the pillow topper for sure, and might just throw the hodge-podge quilt on the bottom of the bed for extra toe warmth on these cold winter nights.

November Stars again

Here is the finished top. I really love this one, the stars POP right off the reds! Now to get it quilted and then finished.

My next project will be a pillow topper made from left over pieces of Quarter of a Courthouse blocks, and then my scrappy batiks, also leftovers from the same project and many more.

After that, Aunt Peggy’s Quilt, which is still downstairs in the office… I’ll have to bring it up in stages, only to keep the piles and pieces straight.

PS, since someone asked the pattern is available at
http://delawarequilts.com/Relay/Patterns4Relay.html

WOW... neato

Another day in my sewing room

I love being back up here. Everything is within easy reach and so organized, it makes sewing so much nicer. I worked off and on all day on my red and white November stars. If you think I would be close to finishing, you are right. I think after tomorrow I can post a photo of the top. I love how the stars are popping out of the red. I’d give you a sneak peek but I don’t have a camera up here yet… something I will take care of tomorrow.

I’ve decided quitting time will be sometime between 4 and 4:30 every night. Otherwise I’d stay up here all night long, or until I fell asleep at the machine anyway.

So I’m shutting the blinds, turning off the lap top, sewing machine, lights and iron and heading to my other jobs, laundry woman and cook.

Busy Day

I love being back in my sewing room, even more so on the weekend. When John is home his computer is on and the noise the fan makes on it drives me bonkers. So much so that when he is on his computer and I wanted to sew I wouldn't... but that's not an issue now. I can go upstairs and he can make all the racket he wants. He can have his computer and loud fan on, be watching tv and talking on the phone all at once and it won't bother me one little bit.

To celebrate I sewed almost all day long. I finished the Dallas Cowboy quilt, just a little bit of thread trimming left. Then I decided to finish my red and white November Stars. I worked on it at the November Retreat until I ran out of reds because I left a stack of 4 1/2 inch red squares at home on the cutting board. I now have all the large stars and the nine patches finished, progress. And I have a great start on the small stars. I need nine for the setting I want. It's looking really nice and I'm glad I started it.

John came home from his daily visit with Aunt Sheryl and announced he wanted steak for dinner, so we went out. Truthfully I think he is tired of turkey, LOL! I had turkey pot pie on the menu for tonight.

Guess what?

My Quarter of a Courthouse is now officially finished and off of my UFO list and on my bed!

Guess what else?

I have now officially moved my sewing room back upstairs! I can navigate the stairs almost normally, no pain at all, and decided it was time to come back upstairs to my own space. Some of my “stuff” is still downstairs in the office, but little by little I will bring it all back up here where it belongs. I think I will even take down the extra tables we put up in there and make it an office again rather than combined sewing room office… John deserves at least one room to himself in this house!

But for now, I have a project that needs doing ASAP… I am making a Dallas Cowboys quilt for a special little guy. I had the fabrics and he needs a quilt, so I’m making it. It will be a simple and easy quilt but already two young men said it was perfect for the purpose!

PS.. Guess what else? This is my 700th post! Imagine that.

Thanksgiving thanks

This year I have a lot to be thankful for, most of all my amazing family. I could not have asked for better men in my life, three wonderful caring men. The ladies in my young men’s lives are also wonderful and I hope they stay around forever. Kelly is the sparkle in Mike’s eyes and Steph the motivation in Jon’s. And John, what can I say. He is my Mr Perfect and he is my reason for living.

I am thankful for my health, so much more now than I ever knew I had to be thankful for my body. I have conquered all the quirks my body has thrown at me so far and am extremely thankful I could prepare Thanksgiving dinner and clean up after and not have any aches and pains afterward.

I am thankful for my friends… my friend for the last 23 years who has become like a sister to me… family friends who are not really family but closer to me than any family I ever had… cyber friends who are now near and dear to me, some who I have gotten to know and love dearly like family members. And of course all my cyber friends who I have never met but who support me and encourage me daily.

I am thankful for my lovely house with all its dust and leaking copper pipes because it is a roof over my head and truly home.

I am thankful,

Happy Thanksgiving

From our table to yours.

We are thankful for many things this year, among them all our wonderful friends on the World Wide Web. May your blessings be bountiful.

Sherry said...

In her comment Sherry said...
Christmas is on a Saturday this year.
Yes I know what day it is, what I should have said was… I wonder what weekend OUR Christmas will be on this year. See, I have two grown up (most of the time) boys who no longer live at home and who I have to share with other special ladies. I told my boys as they were growing up that once they fell deeply in love with the girl they knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with I was willing to rearrange holidays to adjust for the other families.

Why, because for the first 13 years we were married, and BC, before children, we tried to do all the families on special holidays. Sometimes that meant hours in the car and a stressful holiday. We decided when we our children came along that our place on most holidays was in our own home. We could visit all the rest of them on other days, close to holidays.

Now my boys have two families, and I really don’t mind that we don’t always get them on the exact date of a holiday, as long as they set aside one day for us to celebrate whatever holiday it is. Last year we had Christmas on December 20th during a blizzard. I texted Jon and Steph not to try to make the drive downstate, and they called to inform me that they were already on their way.

John’s birthday fell on a weekend this year, and we don’t ask the boys to drive here on weekends in the summer, too much traffic… so we met on a weeknight in Dover, half way for everyone.

It really doesn’t matter WHEN we celebrate, what matters is that we do… together!

I’m committed now!

Or maybe I should be committed! I said I wasn’t going to do Thanksgiving here unless I felt better. One day awake all day and I’ve decided I’m better and now Thanksgiving dinner is here.

Actually the Doc said I was better, so much so she didn’t give me those dreaded shots today. My counts, marks or levels or whatever they say are all right where they should be finally and that means I am almost cured… almost. It could come back. But for now I am doing great, and I even get to skip a whole month with no Drs appointments.

Maybe… Remember I had more blood work done today, just incase that sleepiness was something bad, fingers crossed it isn’t.

I am now on a very low dose of prednisone for three months, and if all those counts, levels and marks stay where they are supposed to be and I don’t have any flare ups, I can go off of it.

And between now and then, Thanksgiving first. Only twelve people, I think I can manage, and I know my Honey will help me… right Dear?

And if I make it through Thanksgiving, I will consider Christmas… wonder what day Christmas will come on this year?

How come?

How come every time I go to the Doctors I have to visit the vampires shortly after? How come they never order the test they need the first time and make me go back again and again?

How come some people can find my veins in seconds and others, not at all?

How come it seems every time I have fasting blood, the computers are down? If I’ve just had a nice meal and am not hungry at all everything goes speedily. If I am fasting aka starving to death then nothing goes anywhere at any speed…

Today the computers were down and it took them an hour to check me in… after I’d been there 55 minutes they decided they could draw my blood without the paper work. Took the tech two minutes to draw three buckets full and the paper work still wasn’t ready. Want to bet they mess it up and I have to do it all over again?

Giving Spirit

I’m in a giving spirit lately, I think the upcoming holidays has a lot to do with it. I just want to give things away to people who NEED them, not necessarily want them. I shared my Relay donations from the Retreaters with other team members and a few non-team members also. I’m out of money to donate for this year, unless I sell a quilt sometime soon.

I have a box of quilt tops to go off to my friend who does the long arm quilting and her cute husband who does the bindings and then as a couple takes them to Children’s Hospital. Hopefully it will go in the mail tomorrow, and make for some nice New Years quilts… I don’t think they will be doing much longarming over the holidays.

I’ve done all my Christmas shopping, I hate shopping, so I bought goodies when I found them and shopping is done. Except…. maybe I will find something for my honey… I never know what he wants, he never says… I just have to guess and I’m never sure if he likes them or not.. he’s a boy that never grew up and doesn’t know how to pretend he likes what he’s given. (Example.. one year I gave him nice dressy sweater for work, and three years later found it with the tags still attached)

So how else can I give? Hmmmmm… how about another box of fabrics to a lucky donor? Not a raffle PayPal, I know I’m not allowed to do that anymore. But I will be giving away a large priority box of fabrics to someone who donates to me or who HAS already donated sometime before Christmas. If I time it right, and if the donor lives close enough, maybe mailman Santa will deliver it in time for Christmas Eve.

Two ways to get in on this if you haven’t already donated… PayPal link at the Donation link on http://delawarequilts.com/Relay/ or if you’d like a tax receipt you may donate at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/MargeGordon Either way, 100% of your donation will go to Relay For Life. Maybe you can help my team reach their goal before the end of the year?
Regardless, thanks for donating! Every dollar brings us closer to the cure, and perhaps will get you a box of fabrics….

Half a bug?

Every heard of anyone having half a bug? I think I do. I can’t keep my eyes open, feel like I’ve run a marathon and if you know me you would know that would wipe me out for months… I’ve been sleeping 14 to 16 hours a day for the last three days. I have no appetite, just nothing appeals to me. I’m not sick, but I do have problems with runs… and we’ll just leave it at that… I’ve been running and not in that marathon either. I don’t really feel bad, I just don’t feel good.

Can’t blame it on the retreat, I got plenty of sleep this time. I was in bed by 10:30 every night but Saturday, and that wasn’t too late, only 11:15.

Honestly, I am wondering if I picked this up when I went to visit the vampires earlier this week. Even though there were hardly any patients waiting to have their blood drained, one of them must have shared this with me… wasn’t that nice… NOT!

PS, I have an appointment with the Doc on Monday

November Stars

Here is the quilt I have been really wanting to show off. I really love how it came out, and so far everyone else has loved it too. My sample was made with all batiks, my stars were all purple, my favorite color.

This was the November Retreat Mystery, which is why I couldn't show it off until now.

If you would like the pattern, check my pattern page. $5 from each pattern sold goes to Relay For Life

There are a few more WIPs from the retreat here.

Divvying up the money

At each fall retreat I sold notions, fat quarters and patterns as well as T-shirts and in November some books… didn’t have room in the car for them in October. All of that money, plus the profit if there is any goes to Relay For Life.

Because it is now officially the end of year 14 of my retreats, I am making a final accounting and donating the profits from sales and retreat profits to charity, most if it being Relay For Life. However I’ve decided this year to donate to some other worthy causes as well.

I made two donations to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through family and friends who were walking in a recent Walks to Cure Diabetes. Let’s try to cure diabetes sooner than later, so these kids can live long and healthy lives. I also donated to Habitat For Humanity to help build new homes for single parent families. The number of homeless families in our area is sad.

I’ve donated to team members who are having birthdays this month, Kelly and Anne both. And I made a donation to Carole Lyn in memory of a past teammate and friend Annie. I will add more to my sponsor donation too.

Thanks to all of the retreaters who so generously supported my charities, especially Relay For Life. Together we WILL find the cure!

10,000 Boxes!

IBOL guy is at it again, and trying to make us aware of things we can do to make the world a better place. That’s a lot.. and I agree with Art… you need to think of what YOU can do to make life better for someone else.

One thing of the many he is doing it the $26 challenge… I’m on board… $1 a week in an envelope. Hope he had good ideas for my $26.. personally I can think of several. There is a local soup kitchen that needs help… I just sent them a donation via PayPal.

I challenged some Relayers to ask strangers, family members, friends, etc, just one person a day for a $1 donation. Not a lot, just one little dollar. Some relayers have problems raising even $100… so ask one person a day for $1 and you can raise at least $365 a year… I’ve done my asking, and I have $240 in my $1 a day challenge envelope so far. How and why $240? Because that is what I've collected from people when I ask them for just $1. ( I will donate this to a deserving team member sometime this Relay year, but don’t tell them!)

Listen to Art’s video at
http://ibol.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/ibol-3d-and-veterans-day/ and see what you can do to make life better for someone else.

And start saving fabrics for those ten thousand boxes… I’ll bet we quilters can met that challenge! Thanks Art for all YOU do!

Didn’t forget

No Kathy I didn’t forget to come back and post more yesterday, I ran out of time. I worked until 10:00 when John told me he was headed to bed. I looked up at the clock thinking he was teasing me, the day had flown by.

What did I do all day? I did three loads of laundry, #3 is still in the dryer and needs to be folded. I worked on web pages, two new Retreat pages links here - http://delawarequilts.com/Retreat/ I did some Relay work and the photos from the November Retreat, http://delawarequilts.com/Retreat/2010/November/ and I even figured out the money from the retreat, what was Angels money, what was November money and what goes to Relay. Then I had to figure out costs, and for some reason that got me thinking of the retreat pins… next year is #15 so we’ll certainly need a special pin and that was what I was working on when John announced it was 10:00.

The November Retreat was a lot of fun, and I did get a lot of sewing done, two and a half sides of my Quarter of a Courthouse, a small scrappy batik quilt and a good part of another mystery quilt, which I could have finished if I hadn’t left half the fabric home.

The new ladies who attended this retreat really gave me a challenge, one I never expected. Before they had even gotten into the hotel they were asking why they couldn’t come back next year. I explained they’d filled spaces left by “regulars” who were not there for one reason or another and the next morning those same ladies said they wanted their own retreat. It took a few phone calls and emails and now I’ve added a third fall retreat, one exclusive to that group… for now at least.

Funny thing is, I cancelled my September retreats as no one had signed up for them the last two years, and because next year’s September Retreat happened to fall on Mike and Kelly’s wedding weekend. Now I’ve scheduled three fall retreats again, and yesterday I had a request for a private retreat in the summer….. The economy may not be picking up fast but some quilters sure are helping it!

Home Sweet Home

I arrived home last night about 5 after another truly wonderful retreat. Lots to tell but I have to catch up with other things first, like laundry. Will post more later

Thanks to all the November ladies!

Oh darn it's Saturday again

I truly dislike Retreat Saturdays even if they are sometimes the best day of the retreat. Saturday always means the retreat is almost over and I hate for them to end. Still a lot of shopping and fun happening and I'm not ready for this to end.

Our retreat project is half scrappy half not. One retreater doesn't really like scrappy so used a lot of control over her blocks... I call this extreme controlled scrappy.

Still here

Having a wonderful retreat and actually getting some quilting done too. Almost wish I could add another week to my stay.

Looks like there will be an additional retreat next fall, maybe a few openings. I will post that information at the end of the year.

Done shopping

I will make a full report later but for now will confess I went fabric shopping today. I got what I wanted and a little bit more... just a little... spending just under $200 on fabrics and bulk foods at Sauders.... and probably only $30 of that is food, LOL.

Having a wonderful time and the retreat hasn't officially started yet. Expecting ladies any time now, I hope, unless they are all out shopping too.

Saw these handsome fellows on the way back, wanted to share... didn't know geese shed in the fall but these guys certainly were losing their feathers.

Home away from home

I have arrived safely here in Bird-in-Hand once again at the Amish Inn View and Suites. This is the view from my room... lovely. Tomorrow shopping at Sauders and Berkholders and then back to the Inn to great the other retreaters!

My November Retreat projects

I will be putting the binding on this at the retreat, it’s so big this very well may be the ONLY thing I do, LOL! This is last year’s Retreat project, which I finally finished a while ago. Now all that is left is the binding and I can mark it as finished on my UFO list!

I’ve also cut out another of this year’s Retreat/Mystery project, I like it so much I wanted to make another one.

I also have another project I want to work on while there, and I have my have my scrappy batik project that I started at the October Retreat.

I have plenty to keep me busy, besides all the retreat fun that goes on. I start retreating tomorrow, I'm picking up Anne at the airport around one and then the fun begins!

Market and Festival

I did not make it to market this year, it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been really. However I was there in heart and in spirit in many ways.

First and most importantly, I had five of my own quilts there and a total to 30 quilts which were representing Delaware Quilts. They were the 30 which I sent to Ami Simms and The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. I don’t know and I don’t know if I ever will know how much money they raised for AAQI, but every dollar counts and I feel I helped in a wee way.

Second and most importantly I had a friend I’ve never met there, but a really nice guy. I’m sure he never thought of me the whole time he was there, well maybe once, but he was there representing me, and seeing things for me. I just read PART of his report on the Festival and it sounds like he had a great time. Somehow I missed that his wife had not one but TWO quilts there, amazingly wonderful. Any husband who didn’t allow a wife with a quilt in the festival to attend should be tarred and feathered….but Art made good on that, and even went along.

The PART I am waiting for… photos. Yes he handed out cards but so far no report on how many, nor have I had one photo arrive in my in box. (I did see ONE on line though, thanks!!) I promised to pay for photos of quilters with Art… surely someone saw him and snapped a photo. (I got three photos of friends with Ty Pennington, LOL!)

Yes, I had other quilting friends attend Market and Festival this year for me. One was even carrying around a Delaware Quilts T-shirt to hand to the IBOL guy if she saw him. But she never did. Another friend went to Market for her shop, and sent me some terrific recommendations for things I have to have for the retreats and Delaware Quilts… I’m waiting for the samples to arrive in the mail. And another Festival virgin was there and called me at least ten times a day telling me what she was seeing… I’m glad you had a great time Ginny.

Know what, I’m worn out and I didn’t even go, but am so glad that all of my friends who did go had a great time!

Q and A

Are they really your chickens?
No I do not have chickens, my neighbor does. I’ll admit when he first got them I wasn’t real happy about it. He seems to think he lives on a farm, but only has about an acre and a third, and on it has had all kinds of animals, from a miniature horse to goats, sheep and assorted feathered flocks. I used to love the geese, perfect guard animals. They would squawk and carry on every time we went near the fence. Then they got used to me and used to just call at me when I went outside. The goats were a hoot, climbing on everything in his yard from the kids play fort to his pool deck. Was always funny to look over the fence and see a goat sunbathing on the deck. The goats loved our crap apples there were many successful breakouts to get at them. Then came the chickens… when they were little chicks they went right under the fence into our yard. I guess they feel at home here and are here every day now. And Scrappy the rooster is getting used to me, he even came close to the deck today to see what I had for him… my camera and the battery died so I didn’t get any pictures at all.

Did you ever figure out the 2013 retreats?
Yes and no and I’ll know better in 2012.

What will you be working on at this retreat?
Well… I have my Quarter of a Courthouse to put the binding on, that might take me the whole retreat. I also cut out another retreat project, scrappy reds and a white-on-white. And I have my scrappy batik project that I started at the last retreat, all scraps. I’m sure there is more but I doubt I’ll get to whatever it is.

How are the knees? And that other thing you had?
They are still there. Both the knees and the polymyalgia rheumatica are still there and doing OK. I have monthly blood tests to check the pmr, I did OK for several months in a row but my numbers went back up again so I’m still on the prednisone, although very low doses so little or no side effects anymore. And the knees are doing OK, although I am due for more cortisone shots on the 22nd and I’ll admit I’m looking forward to them.

How many people are on the Spring waiting list?
As of yesterday there are six ladies on the waiting list. Payments are due the middle of December so I will know how many people are really coming after that. I will let those on the waiting list know after the first of the year. You can check that at http://delawarequilts.com/Retreat/2011/Spring/

Thank You from ACS and me

I want to share with you a message I got from ACS today. And I want to add my thanks also.


It’s the time of year when we reflect on all the things we are thankful for. At the American Cancer Society, we’re thankful for Relay For Life donors like you who help us save lives and fight back against cancer!


Did you know your Relay donations help cancer patients get well? Hope Lodge is one of many free American Cancer Society programs. Located near treatment centers, they provide a home away from home for patients and families going through cancer treatment.


Air Force veteran Bill Gregory was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, and discovered he needed Hope Lodge. “Doctors told me I could stay at the Hope Lodge for free while I was being treated, which was just miraculous since I had no money to pay for a hotel room,” Bill said. “I was kind of waffling on my desire to live through it when I found out about Hope Lodge. It removed a big excuse I had for giving up.” Bill is cancer-free today, but he still makes regular visits to Hope Lodge to help and encourage guests.


Hope Lodges supported by your Relay For Life provided more than 34,000 free lodging nights to people like Bill last year.

Thank you for saving lives and keep fighting back!

If you would like to donate, click here. And thank you!

Rainy day

It’s a rainy day here in Lewes, good day for catching up on things. I printed the mystery clues for the retreat, and even double checked my suitcase… it is all packed and ready to be loaded in the car. All I need it my meds and my toothbrush, which will go in my last minute tote bag.

Do you have a last minute tote bag? I started using one years ago when we’d go on band trips. I’d have things in there like extra white gloves, tissues, and even some illegal Tylenol. I was not allowed to give a student any, but if I happened to leave one on my the seat in the bus and a girl with horrible cramps happened to find it, it wan’t the same, and she felt better. Now I use my last minute tote for things I can’t pack until the last minute or things I remember in the middle of the night before I leave.

While I was checking another bag on the back porch I wondered where the chickens all were, I didn’t see one in the yard. Then one moved and I found their hiding place… guess chickens are all dumb after all.

Going to International Quilt Festival?

If you are, please be on the lookout for the IBOL Guy, and if you see him, say Hi and tell him Marge sent you. Don’t forget to snap a picture and send it to me. For every photo I will donate to Relay For Life in his honor. My goal is $1000, although I’m sure more people will recognize him than that… I just can’t afford to donate more than that right now!
Thanks

Photos into puzzles

I love jigsaw puzzles, I have for years. They got challenging to me when arthritis set in but I got around it. How? With a computer jigsaw puzzle game that’s how. Several years ago back on the original lap top I found a terrific game which I really loved. It came with some puzzles ready to play, and also gave you the option to create your own puzzles. I loved taking miscellaneous photos from all over the www and making puzzles from them. When that lap top died I tried to find the game again, and woe be me, it wasn’t anywhere to be found.

Then miraculously one day recently I happened to find it again and bought it again and now I have it on both lap tops. When I am web surfing, or even better blog hopping, I save pretty photos into a file I call aptly “puzzles”. Then when I am in the puzzle mood, usually in the evening when I’m almost tired but not quite, I load up one of those photos, create a puzzle with it and puzzle myself to sleep.

So thanks to all of you who share your lovely photos on your blogs… today I “borrowed” photos from Bonnie and Dawn, ones I am sure will make lovely but challenging puzzles for some late night adventure.


PS, the name of the puzzle game is Jigsaw Puzzle Platinum Edition and I got it at GameHouse.com

One step and another day closer!

That November retreat gets closer every day, and I can’t wait. Today I finally got around to printing all the patterns, the ones for after the mystery is solved. Tomorrow I will print the mystery steps. Need to remember to pack my paper scissors so I can cut the clues up after I get there.

I really can’t wait to show off my finished quilt for this project, I love it so much! At first I thought I loved it just because it was completely finished, but the more I look at it the more I truly love the whole quilt, the fabrics, the pattern and the lovely quilting!

PS. Not one political call today, YIPPEE!
PS again, spoke too soon. Three since I posted all asking me if I voted and I told them all the same thing, N.O.Y.B!

Phone insanity

So far today President Obama, Sarah Palin, Christine O’Donnell and quite a few others have called my house. Since I am not a registered party member of any party, I guess they are desperate for my vote.

Honestly, I’ve treated them all the same way…. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # hang up.

What do you want to bet that after tomorrow not one of them calls me.

African Violets

I seem to have pretty good luck with violets, although sometimes it takes them a while to bloom. A long time ago someone told me to water my violets with egg water… soak egg shells in a glass of water till you can’t stand the smell, then water the violets with the water. It seems to work, because almost as soon as I water I get blooms… lovely I think.