Few more pictures to share

This poor amaryllis sat in my garage neglected for almost a month.  When I remembered it was there I put it on the back porch, gave it a good watering and look how it thanked me!  I might just neglect another amaryllis another time and see if I get the same results. 

And this is Mufasa last weekend, looking at Roscoe, his little brother.  That beanie baby is one of the miniature ones that McDonalds gave away with Happy Meals, just to give you an idea how little Roscoe is…. But isn’t he darling!

Last day of the month and what have I accomplished?

I have a total of three quilt tops of the Project of the Month, Sailing Ships which I made in April.  Yes, just tops, they are still not quilted.  I will work on getting them quilted in June as well as make a few more of the June projects.  I started out to make a king in a different pattern which turned into two queens and a twin… I’ll explain that later because it is the Mysteries For Relay project for July 14th.

And I once again moved my sewing room.  It’s only half moved, and will stay only half moved because I am sharing the office space with John.  He’ll have his half with his computer desk, printer and filing cabinet and I’ll have the other (larger) half with my bookcase desk, sewing cabinet, shelf unit and cutting table.   It’s going to take me a while to get settled, deciding what I have to have downstairs and what can stay upstairs, but at least I’ll be able to sew by tomorrow.  (I just need to get organized some more!)

I can’t even say I did a June project quilt in May.  I started it in March and finished it in April although it was donated in May, does that count?   The June project is Carrie Nation.  This is a nice easy and quick block which makes beautiful quilts any size from baby to king. 

Now I need to get my new sewing room organized so I can get back to my quilting.

I remembered

Yes, I remembered that it was Wednesday and I went and saw my rheumatologist.  She is pleased, as am I, that the pain and stiffness is gone.  However she is afraid that means I might have to stay on the prednisone for a long long time… how long?  As long as I don’t want pain.  And I am quite enjoying my pain free except for occasional other everyday aches and pains life, so I will stay on the prednisone for as long as she wants me to.   

Still no sewing today, John is still home attending school on line, and I don’t want to disturb him.  One more day of school and then he goes back to work… and then I think I will sew again.  If it is as nice and cool tomorrow as it was today I will do some organizing upstairs.
 

I have to remember it is Tuesday

Whenever we have a Monday holiday I am off days for a week, sometimes more.  Since I have a Dr’s appointment tomorrow, Wednesday, I have to keep reminding myself it’s Tuesday today.  I sure hope I remember.

Having John home isn’t helping either, him being here makes me think it is the weekend.  He’s home because he’s taking a class on line, and the firewall at work won’t permit him to access what he needs for the class. 

And since he is home and in the office doing his work, I can’t get in there to finish my organizing and getting back to sewing.  So today I cleaned some… rearranged the back porch making it more comfy for summer viewing… we can sit on the sofa now and watch the hummers at the feeder and the other birds in the yard. 

I also had to do some replanting of plants, pots getting over crowded so it was time.  I tried to pawn off give some to Mike and Kelly, but they only took one.  And Jonathon didn’t want any either… how does one get rid of snake plants other than tossing them in the compost heap? 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. Service Members who died while in the military service. First enacted by an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic — to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars. (from Wikipedia)

Memorial Day should not be known as the official start of summer. Memorial Day should not be a big sale day in stores to draw in customers. Memorial Day should not be known as race day.

Memorial Day should ONLY be known as a day to remember those who have died in giving us the freedom to call the day whatever we want and the freedom to do whatever we desire this day and every other day.

Thank you to all who have served!

How?

How can I be so happy and so sad at the same time?  I’m trying to not think about it, but I can’t stop.   I got what I wanted… Mufasa is in his kennel on his way to his new home.  But I really miss him already.   When I came back in the house after waving good-bye the door was slightly ajar and my heart jumped into my throat thinking he’s escaped.  Then I remembered he was gone and came inside.  I sat down in my chair and waited for him to come into the room to see what I was up to… he didn’t come and I remembered again he was gone.  Then when I started to go upstairs and I expected him to run ahead of me on the stairs… he’s not here anymore.  That’s good news, I can sew uninterrupted, doubly so since the boys brought the sewing machine and cabinet downstairs.  But I still miss him.  I knew I would, but I can visit him in his new home sometime soon if I’m invited.  I know he will be happy to have Mike and Kelly back again, and I know that sooner or later he and Roscoe will become friends, or at least learn to tolerate each other. 

And I know that I will rejoice the first time John and I want to run away and CAN because we don’t have anything here to worry about…
but I’ll miss him…


PS, Yes I know you told me so, just don't rub it in!

Done for the day

Yes, I am done for the day, already.  I was up early, thanks to the alarm cat, again.  (He goes home on Sunday morning and I plan to sleep in on Monday)  I got my shower and got some quilts ready to take to my quilter.  Fortunately she had errands to do so we met closer than I would have had to drive to her house, and on a holiday weekend I don’t want to do much driving at all.  After seeing her and dropping of four quilts for her to work her magic on, I headed home.

However on the way I remembered my sister-in-law telling me about a small plant accident they had at Lowes, a whole cart of plants got knocked over.  To me that meant that there might be some plants on sale, the damaged ones, so I decided to stop in and look.  I was lucky and got some pink petunias for 50 cents a carton (6) and eight perennials for half price.  Sure they might be done blooming this year, but they will grow and be gorgeous next season. 

Then I came home and planted them, well most of them.  I decided to give Jon and Steph a few to take home this weekend.  And then of course I was all hot and sweaty so I took another shower, and then started laundry.  Then I went upstairs and it was too hot up there already… so I’m taking the rest of the day off.  I’ll finish laundry and who knows what else…I downloaded a few books the other night, may be a good day for reading.

Don’t if figure

I’m working on samples for the upcoming mystery.  I finished one top and went to put it and the backing together so I could take it to the quilter tomorrow …  and….  the backing isn’t big enough. 

So I decided to work speedily on the purple sample to take that to the quilter’s instead and that backing isn’t big enough either. 

Oh poo

What's wrong?

LOL… I just got an email from Kathy asking “what’s wrong?”  I emailed her back “what?”  She emailed me, “You haven’t posted in two days.”  Whoops… nothing wrong, honest.  I just plain forgot. 

I’ve been sewing, working in the yard a bit because it’s been cool and not sunny, and just keeping busy.  I’ve also had my nose in my nook.. read two more books, Finders Keepers  and Hide and Seek, both by Catherine Palmer.  I enjoyed them both. 

And I am almost finished one of my new mystery samples.  I added two borders yesterday, just need to add one more border then that one will be finished.  And then I can finish #2, and then maybe work on #3.  Mystery starts July 14th if you want in on it! 

Some days…

Some days it’s just not worth getting out of bed. Not today, I was up and sewing before 8 today. The clouds and coolness meant I would have a comfrotable sewing room today, and I need to take advantage of that.  Plus I have to make up time I lost yesterday. I got into my book and even after the shakes had subsided I couldn’t put it down. I finished it sometime last night while John was watching TV.

I was reading A Month at the Shore by Antoinette Stockenberg. Good story and I will look for more from this same author. I got this one for less than $1for my Nook. Before that I read Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke, another one I had a hard time putting down and another author I will read again.

But now I need to get back to my sewing!

This week

This week I am making 624 inches, give or take a few, of some kind of block and/or piano key border.

Step one, sorting scraps. Step two, cutting scraps. 

Interruption, run car to glass shop to have chip repaired.  Then since it was cool outside I did some yard work.  Yes, me, all by myself.  Then I came in and started cutting again.  Until the shakes hit.  Dang prednisone.  Guess I'll have to spend a little while reading, if I can hold the Nook still enough.

Bloggers’ Quilt Festival - Spring 2012

I really enjoy Amy’s Bloggers' Quilt Festivals on line, better than a quilt show and a lot easier on the wallet than a real show with all the tempting vendors.  I’ve participated before, always viewed the quilts and now have decided to participate again. But I have a reason for participating… I want to share a story.  Maybe people will read this, maybe they will just look at the quilts and go on, doesn’t matter, I’ll have my say and be happy about it and showed off some lovely quilts again. 

I made the first quilt on my computer only.  I was playing with Electric Quilt and when I was happy with the design, I wrote the pattern directions.  I knew it had to be a mystery project for the Mysteries For Relay group, and I knew I would use it for the November Retreat in 2010, so I named it November Stars. 

I wasn’t sewing at the time, separated from my sewing machine and fabrics by a flight of stairs and polymyalgia rheumatica.  Those stairs were like a mountain to me, and I didn’t make it to the top until the Drs had a diagnosis of what my problem was and I started on the prednisone.  Once that prednisone kicked in I was back up in the sewing room sewing like a speed demon, and this was one of the first quilts I made. 

When it was finished I took it to my long arm quilter Jackie and she made what was a beautiful top a truly splendid quilt.  I loved it and was very proud to show it off, then and now. 

Except… I don’t have it to show off any more, only photographs.  I sold it to raise money for my Relay For Life team. 

Two years later I got an email from a quilter in California who had bought the pattern from my web site.  She said “I was getting desperate to find a pattern that 'spoke' to me. When I saw November Stars on your website I knew my search was over. It is perfect.”  She made this, which she called “Stars of Hope” and raffled it off for her Relay For Life team.  I loved her stars, and hope to make one just like it for myself. 

Coast to coast Relay for Life fundraisers… the perfect quilt in my opinion! 

PS... Be sure to visit Amy's Creative Side Bloggers' Quilt Festival to see LOTS of beautiful quilts!

He's going home!

Mufasa kitty, cat child of Michael and Kelly Gordon will be leaving us for life in the big city next weekend.  Am I sad, you bet I am.  Am I happy, no, I am overjoyed. 

Let’s be honest, he’s been a lot of fun.  Entertaining us with his climbing abilities, his jumping skills and his uncanny need to run and play at bedtime.  On the other hand, his entertainment has meant never knowing when he would attack.  We never knew what was safe or not and he could jump in a single bound to the top of the highest piece of furniture in the house.  And we’ve gotten used to him lurking outside the bathroom at bedtime, waiting to jump on us as we go to bed. 

I have enjoyed him.  I have not enjoyed his scratching my furniture.  I have enjoyed his purring and loving.  I have not enjoyed his yowling when he doesn’t get his way.  I have enjoyed his company when I come home to an empty house.  I have not enjoyed him running out the door the minute anyone tried to come in. 

In preparation for his move to the big city I’ve decided to leash train him.  Mike and Kelly got a dog last week…. don’t ask me why, I advised against it, but…  so they will be walking the dog often.  You kind of have to do that with dogs.  And I thought that maybe if Mufasa was leash trained he could go on some of the walks too. 

It will be interesting to see what happens.  So far so good, he behaves nicely on the leash.  But then again… I’ve only taken him outside once. 

Molly is at peace

Molly passed away at 3:30AM this morning, surrounded by her family and friends. 

Miracles For Molly

Imagine being in kindergarten and your best friend gets sick, really sick.  That happened to my great niece.  Her bestest friend Molly is still sick and could use some cheering up.  If you are on facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/miraclesformolly to learn more. 

Molly’s story can be found on YouTube at http://youtu.be/wupHpVKFACk

Print a photo of Molly found on her facebook page and blow it up pretty big, then take a picture of that and something in your world, then post it on facebook and tag either Tag Kristen Dunn or Miracles for Molly so Molly can see. 

Come on quilters, show Molly the world through your camera, please

And thanks

Today....

This pile              became                  this pile

which became…

Well if you want to know that you will have to join Mysteries For Relay.  We’ll be doing this mystery July 14 and 15, so you have time to join and get your fabrics lined up for a great mystery!

Back to sewing

Now that Relay is over I can get back to my sewing. I left the sewing room on Tuesday and haven’t been back up here except to grab things for Relay since then. I was a good girl and wrote myself a note so I knew where I was headed with the piles of stuff I have laying on my machine table, ironing board and cutting table. I need 7 or 14 more blocks for quilt A and more for quilt B. And I have strips cut, but I’m not real sure which one of those two quilts they are for, LOL! I guess I will make the blocks and then decide where to put them.

Done!

I am finally finished all my Relay work for this year…. for now anyway.  I know there will be more to do, but the bulk is finished. 

We sold two t-shirts yesterday, putting us officially at $11,000 and some cents.  So I’ve raised the goal again to $12,000 which is what Joan wanted us to raise this year.  Wonder where we can come up with another $1000 before the year ends in August. 

Photos can be seen at http://eastsussexrelay.com/2012/photos/ and I have so many favorites, it’s hard to narrow it down.  Here is link to a display of the luminaria, which is very special to me.  http://eastsussexrelay.com/2012/photos/2012Luminaria.gif

I think the other photo that is special is this one, taken at dawn, by me… it’s been a long time since I saw day break. 

Happy Mother's Day

My husband John, me, my special friend Joan and sister-in-law Cheri

This is part of my Relay For Life Team... the special people who raised $10,980 in the fight against cancer!

Just an FYI… I took a four hour nap yesterday, and slept twelve hours last night/this morning.  Yes, 12 whole hours.  I think I’m caught up on my sleep, maybe

I am so tired...

Why?  Well last night was our Relay For Life and I stayed awake all night long. 

Why we Relay All Night Long…Relay For Life starts one evening and ends the next morning.  The light and darkness of the day and night parallel the physical effects, emotion, and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment.

Honestly this year I was scared when we arrived at the event, for the first time in years I was doing the data entry off line.  What if I screwed up?  Nothing compared to what a cancer patient goes through when they hear those horrible words “you have cancer”.

As the evening goes on it gets colder and darker, mirroring the emotions of the cancer patients.  The time from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. represents the time when the cancer patients start treatment.  They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up.  As a participant, you have been walking and feel much the same way.  You are tired, want to sleep, maybe even want to go home, but you cannot stop or give up.

And I didn’t.  I did my best which was about all I could do, and hope for forgiveness if I made any mistakes.  Fortunately mistakes can be corrected before I do the data entry on line.  I was tired, and I wanted to sleep, oh I wanted to sleep oh so bad.  But I had a job to do.  When I was done the data entry I walked laps, and took photos to prove, perhaps mostly to myself, that I was still awake at that time of night.  A cancer patient has treatments and sadly scars to remind them of their fight.  I pray to God that I never have to go through that.

The time period from 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. symbolizes the coming of the end of treatment for the cancer patients.  Once again they are tired, but they know they will make it.

The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patients.  They see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that life will go on.  The morning light brings on a new day full of life and excitement for new beginnings.  As a participant, you will feel the brightness of the morning and know that the end of the Relay For Life is close at hand.

Dawn breaks and people start packing up.  Closing ceremonies and we’re done. 

When you leave the Relay For Life, think of cancer patients leaving their last treatment.  Just as you are exhausted and weak, so are they after treatment.

I did think a lot, during the Luminaria ceremony when I walked alongside the bags of friends who are no longer with us.  There were way too many new In Memory bags of my track this year..  And as I left Relay I thought of my many friends who are survivors, long time or just beginning the fight.  And that is why I Relay.

Relay Day!!

Thanks to everyone who ordered luminaria yesterday and this morning, all the bags are printed.  The only way to get one now is to make a donation and give me a call to order the bag… I will not be on line at the event. 

THANK YOU to ALL of our supporters! 

TOGETHER WE WILL FIND THE CURE FOR CANCER!

Relay For Life

For the last seven years the Delaware Quilts team has been a part of Relay For Life. Tomorrow is this year’s event. Would you consider making a donation to help keep us in first place? If not, how about making a donation to help someone out there who is fighting cancer? Or help a scientist find the cure for cancer. Or provide lodging for someone who has to travel hours for cancer treatments. Your donations help in so many ways. Please consider making one today! Thank you!
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/MargeGordon

Or would you like to light a candle at this year’s Relay in honor of someone fighting cancer, or in memory of someone who lost their battle? Please make a donation today, and send me an email or tell me in a comment and I will make a luminaria bag for you, and share the photo here. Thanks! (Let me know who to make bag to, and if it is in honor or memory)
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/MargeGordon

No time to blog

No time to blog today, busy preparing for final Relay meeting tonight and then two days straight of Relay work and Friday night fun into Saturday morning, then for me work when I get home sometime Saturday.  Weather is looking good for the event, thank goodness.  It will be breezy, which helps keep away the bugs.  And it will be mostly sunny, not too hot.  Chilly in the evening, but that’s good for walking, will keep everyone awake, and walking will keep them warm. 

Thread

Someone once suggested that I date my thread cones when I put them on the machine, so I know how long it takes me to use one.  So I’ve done this for my white, my primary thread, for the last two cones.  The first one was dated June 16, 2011 and end date was December 5, 2011.  The second one was started when the last one ended, and ended today.   There I was sewing along and no thread. 

So I rethreaded the machine and sewed about seven stitches… and the bobbin ran out. 

It has been suggested I link to Facebook

A Friend has suggested to me that I link my blog and facebook page, so whatever I post on here will automatically post on facebook. Can that be done? Anyone know? Help!

Best laid plans… can be changed!

Well I sewed most of yesterday, and finished 131 blocks, which was more than needed for a king size quilt.  I sewed the first two rows together, and then stopped for the day.

This morning I decided to lay the blocks on my design bed, so I could move them around into a pleasing pattern.  John happened by the bedroom door and peeked in and said something like “oh”.  So I looked at it closer.  And went on with my sorting. 

I went upstairs and sewed another row together and then… well then I decided to start over again.  I was making this for our bed, and if he doesn’t really like it, and I’m not 100% sure about it myself, why keep going. 

It was made from scraps, so there are a LOT of colors in it.  I think that grouping similar colors together might work a little better… maybe too many colors isn’t the thing.  Or not enough contrast in the colors. 

So I’m going to sort my 131 blocks into groups and make a few smaller quilts.  Interestingly I have enough blocks with purple in them to make a twin quilt, and that will be what I’m working on first!

Planning Mother’s Day

It started out when DS#2 called to say he and his wife would be coming over on Friday night for Relay, which was really sweet of them.  But then it got complicated.  They wanted to take me out to brunch on Saturday morning for Mother’s Day.  That was sweet also, since most likely everywhere that serves breakfast would be jam packed all day Sunday.

However, because I will be up all night long on Friday, and hopefully working and walking laps too, I am not sure I will be awake enough to go out when they want to.  See I plan to do my job at Relay this year, off line, which means I will have to do it on line when I get home, sometime after 9AM on Saturday, after being awake all night long remember… 

Mike complicated it a little more by saying they wanted to do brunch on Saturday so they could get back to Maryland for Mother’s Day dinner on Saturday at Kelly’s brother and sister-in-law's house…  ok.  SO I thought the easiest solution was to just delay Mother’s Day one week.  Mike agreed and we hung up. 

Little bit later he called me back…. Ummm he’d forgotten one very important thing… Kelly is graduating that weekend, her master’s degree even and they sort of kind of should be there, which I agree with.  SO… we’ll just move Mother’s Day another week forward, which lands it on Memorial Day weekend… 

So now I’m wondering if we should move Christmas to May so maybe we can kill three holidays in one weekend and just get it over with…  Planning holidays around all these extended families sure gets complicated, but I love it!

Done cutting

I took some time this morning to do some more cutting.  I had 77 blocks finished and they went together so fast I decided to try to make this one into a king size quilt.  So I cut some more.  

Then I sewed some more and now I have 101 blocks done.  Just a few more and I can start putting this quilt together!