Brrrr

This is little Roger, taking a snooze when we were staying with friends over Christmas. You can just see Spencer's nose at the top as he also is snoozing. It was very cold there, however it has been cold here the past two weeks too. We are all envious of the little guys who can just snuggle down anywhere when the snow blows outside. One thing that happened while we were there was that Roger found a piece of cheese that he couldn't resist. Unfortunately it was attached to a mouse trap--the kind that is "sticky. He came out from under the counter in the mud room with one stuck to his face and one on his foot. (The house is new and was recently under construction so with contractors in and out constantly and doors open a couple of mice had gotten in before all was secured.) Poor guy, but he was so funny! All three of our furbabies went to the vet this week for shots and weigh-ins. Those dreaded scales at the Dr.'s office----but Hildy has lost 5 much needed pounds as she was getting chubby and the other two were just fine. As we sat waiting our turn, it was amusing to observe the animals that came into the clinic. An old man with an equally old white bulldog came in and that dog weighed 61 lbs. He was huge! A young woman came out of an examining room with a pit bull and she was struggling to hold it with a chain for a lead which was attached to a chained collar. The dog was not aggressive, but by that time a mother and son came in with 3 border collie-type dogs, and with our 3 that was 7 dogs in the small waiting area. Another man came in to inquire about his pet and another came with a small animal carrier. (Not sure what was inside.) Across from us sat a small young woman, with tattoos on her legs, but dressed nicely and it was apparent that she was concerned about an animal and was waiting to speak to her vet. After my initial inquiry about her concerns obviously for a sick pet, she told me they thought it had suffered a stroke and might have to be put down. Worrying about the possibility that she might "fall apart", she told me it was a rat. I thought she meant a rat terrier and asked how old it was. She told me it was two, and when I seemed surprised that a rat terrier had suffered a stroke at two...she told me it was a "rat" and their life expectancy was about two years. (I was so glad that I hadn't said anything about her "dog".) When we came out of our examining room there were NO animals in the waiting room. So if you are an animal person, if you have an overweight bulldog or a rat...they become members of your family and eventually you have to deal with their short life expectancy...(unless of course you have one of those parrots and in that case when they may live to be 100...someone else will have to worry!)

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. - Regina Brett

More quilts

Call me crazy, but I have started 3 more quilts and I have 3 older projects in the works.. I just see things I love and have to try and get so many projects going. Sylvia's sampler is coming along quite nicely. Of 140 small 6 1/2 in squares, I have completed all but about 47. Trying to decide how to set them int a quilt will be a challenge since all have different light backgrounds. This project did enable me to use lots of bits and pieces of fabric too small for much, but pieces nevertheless that I couldn't just toss, so here are the latest squares for that quilt.

I have wanted to try a "wonky" log cabin and after researching on the wonderful internet, I found a process that I liked and with the quilt shop sale last week, I was able to grab some lovely fat quarters with which to experiment. These squares are 12 1/2" and they are easy and fast!
Now that a new year is upon us, Thimble- berries has a new quilt which is a sampler. In other words each square will be a different pattern. Instead of using different fabrics for each square, I have chosen to use the same two fabrics in each of them. This first block has 77 pieces in it and each of the blocks is 14 1/2" square. The 3rd quilt that I am working on is the one I learned to make in the class I took this past fall. I will post an example when I am a little farther along.




We were able to have lunch with our group of retired school employees this week. They have been a part of my life for over 30 years and I am so glad that we are still able to meet and that we continue to share the happenings with our families as our children have grown from babies, to teens, and now to parents. They were such a support group for me and we saw each other through good times and bad.


"Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch."
~ Regina Brett

Reflection

2011---who would have thought? Do you remember when you were a child, trying to imagine what the future for you could hold? From one day to the next seemed like an eternity at times.

We had a marvelous Christmas spent with friends at their new home near Saratoga. Weather being what it is at this time of the year, fully cooperated for travel and found us with pristine snow covered hills marred only with occasional tracks where deer and antelope broke through the crust.
Our hope to visit with other friends and relatives didn't materialize as time flew by much too fast. I have heard from some of those and most were very understanding of our time restraints. Our hosts were wonderful and we think of them as family. The new year came quietly here at home with blizzard conditions, but we were safe and cozy.

Watching a program this morning about eating healthy, part of what we all resolve to do, I heard the term "coconut water" referring to the liquid one drains from a fresh coconut. Wow! It reminded me of my dad. As a child, we were not exposed to many fruits that we didn't personally help can or freeze, especially in the winter. The exception was the orange in our stocking at Christmas and the coconut. My dad would quite often bring home with the monthly grocery purchase, a coconut. I am not sure if he actually loved the coconut "meat" or if he just got a kick out of the process of chipping away at it. He would drill a hole in each of the "eyes" and then carefully drain the liquid into a glass. Coconut "Milk" is what we called it. Each of us kids would get to drink a little of the milk...not especially tasty as I recall...but it was a novelty for us.
He would then hit the coconut with a hammer as we all watched it shatter into sharp hairy brown pieces with the white coconut inside. As I recall, it was a chore to chip the coconut away from the shell, but we would gather around as dad rationed out the pieces of coconut. Yummy stuff for 4 little urchins....but I expect that my dad had fun watching us clammer for the pieces and it sure made for some good memories. Looking back...I do remember trying to imagine what it would be like to be grown with children of my own...but I have to think that my dad had a lot to do with my life as it is and has been and know he would be pleased.

Starry Night

OK...I have never loaded this many pictures before so lets see how this works. Starry Night was the Thimbleberries quilt for this year and I didn't actually use all of the block patterns. Some of them just didn't appeal to me so I had to adjust my quilt. Improvising with a piece of paneling to have a large enough surface was the first and it worked really well to sandwich the backing, batting and front. Then I pinned all three together and began to stipple on the machine. It took a total of 3 days, working a few hours each, to finish the quilt and as you can see, it is now on our bed! I love it!
I will now start another row of Sylvia's sampler and ready myself for another Thimbleberries quilt this next year.
So, we are now snuggling down at night under two quilts and some fluffy pillows and winter, which has arrived stays away.

"A good conscience is a good pillow." ~ Coussin

My lazy dogs

Just a quick picture of part of the last wall in my sewing room where this little garage sale table and chairs now sit. There are more pictures to come of this wall as the room is large enough for several activities. I love having the space to quilt, paint and perhaps just sit and have a cup of tea without having to stop and "pick up one mess to make room for another". We are continuing the wall as it extends nearly the entire length of the house downstairs, but the Mr. is now shooting fasteners into the cement and my poor dogs do NOT like the noise. Drywall is next, then mudding, priming and painting...AGAIN!
Ahhh! Another row of Sylvia's sampler quilt squares. Remembering that these squares are 6 inches finished, some of these pieces are very small! I am half finished.
And these lazy dogs!!! Both my little gray boy, Spencer and the little white boy, Roger are sporting new haircuts for the holidays. However they always choose to find the hallway the most comfortable place to nap! We have learned to step over them and they have learned to expect it!

"I have learned ...that when you are in love, it shows." ~ Andy Rooney

New Year Resolution

Like so many others, with resolutions fully intending to be kept, alas, I have failed! We have been so busy that I haven't even been able to get to my blog and that makes my resolution pretty much null and void. However, this is what I have been doing. My unfinished craft room, sewing room, art studio is slowly emerging.
Although it still lacks a ceiling, the walls are nearly finished and my work tables are almost in their permanent homes and with 4 sewing machines, it looks like a sweat shop. There is one more long wall which is getting electrical outlets and mudding and paint yet. More pictures to follow when finished!
My door casings and window casings are not yet installed, but I am finally able to get some of the treasures I have kept from my childhood and family displayed. This includes some of my old toys, a Shirley Temple doll given to me from a cousin, a quilt panel from my grandmother's needlework I think, and a place to do stained glass, quilt, paint etc. as well as lots of storage for these things which are all an extension of my need to create. We have also finished an area for a utility sink next to the bathroom so that I may bathe my little dogs when needed and clean up painting messes.

I am so very grateful that I am able to enjoy these retirement years after what seemed like an eternity working everyday. Getting up before the sun, driving in the blowing snow in the dark, dealing with unhappy clients, trying to juggle family and work and home--all were a test of my ability to succeed in life. I feel as if I have passed the test!

"I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted paychecks." ~ unknown

Winter arrives

I know it has been forever...where have I been? The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Wow...no pics today. Just a short note to say hang in there. We have been working on the basement...drywall, mudding, priming and painting walls and more! The Mr. had an opportunity to buy a 69 VW which will be reincarnated. An electric vehicle will be it's destiny....providing we get to that point. So many projects and not enough time. We have had good friends who have had health problems, so that is on our minds, and had an opportunity to get together with lots of old past co-workers who celebrated the closing of our old workplace, Mt. View Elementary School in Rawlins, WY. What a wonderful experience! Other good friends were here to shop for their new home and we were included in that endeavor and had lunch with 9 people today, also past co-workers. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful circle of people with which to share time. Quilt classes start tomorrow for me and the Mr. is playing pool leagues again....so hopefully the merry-go-round will slow down a little and I can get back to this blog. Sooo....hang in there!