It has been a while

This is my first block for my Dear Jane quilt. I have been not feeling so great and have not done very much in the last two weeks. Okay, I have don't nothing until yesterday. I made 7 pillowcases for the USS Greenbay which put out to sea last week. A guild member, Jody, has a son who is serving on the USS Greenbay and she is going to get the pillowcases to them. Then I made a spinning star block for a block of the month project I am involved in for my guild. I am pretty certain that Karen doesn't read my blog--probably doesn't even know I have a blog, so safe to talk about the block. Karen wants all of her blocks starched. I had no trouble putting the block together and decided to use the same technique on my Dear Jane quilt. I made one block -and it turned out to be 5.5-inches. Too big. The blocks are supposed to be 4.5-inches. So I made a second block. It is slightly larger than 4.5-inches. That is enough. I am going to make the blocks the best I can and then I may have to use a sashing and veer away from replicating the Dear Jane quilt. I hate the border anyway and was not planning on doing that border. Hmmmm.

My sewing/quilting time ended when I got up from my chair and it was claimed by Max. I don't hold out a lot of hope that it will be a quick nap.........

SO, until next time........

Catching Up

Okay, I can't spell. I really can, I just can't type. I guess Spell check doesn't check the title.....

I am doing a Dear Jane quilt with others in my guild. Could still be a chance to join if you are inclined, but I make no promises....Anyhow, Sammy is our fearless leader. I love her. Like me, she has made no blocks--unlike other people who seem to be forging ahead. I thought of being really authentic and hand piecing, but I think that I will lose the thrill pretty quickly and therefore I am going to machine piece. My plan is to use all those little extras that I have left over from Jo's Little Women. I just realized there are over 5000 pieces in this quilt, so I am not even thinking about completing it--just beginning it. I will take one block at a time. You can check out Sammy's progress at http://sammykattsdearjane.blogspot.com

Sadness. I missed the Folsom Quilt Show. I always go, but I am not feeling good enough to go walking around. I missed the quilts and the vendors. So, so sad. My husband wasn't that sad because I always spend when I go.....

Julie

Thimbleberries

I went to Thimbleberries last night. Lily, our RJR rep came by and showed off the new lines coming out. I am really excited about one of the Christmas lines. It has a wonderful cream that has lots of texture and good contrasting cream on cream. I am tempted to make a Christmas quilt this year!

On the other hand, I am sad for two reasons. One is because I haven't gotten the information for my secret sister yet. I am anxious to start on the projects I want to do for that, but I need to know her color preferences. I am trying to be patient. Not always happening for me.......The other reason is much more important. A friend of mine, who never misses Thimbleberries without a really good reason, was feeling so bad she had to go to the emergency room. She was still there when I called on my way home. So, keep good thoughts for her to feel good again. I really missed seeing her.

Speaking of Thimbleberries....we have two really wonderful women who run our group. Nicole and Pam are always encouraging and they have a way of making everyone feel like they are a part of the group. I also love the quilts they bring in to show. I hope I remember to say that to each of them the next time I see them.

Enough of that. I want to get some quilting things done tonight, but we are going out to the Golden Corral for dinner with my in-laws and the visiting cousins tonight and that could push me in bed early. Don't know why, but it happens. Debbie, Montana cousin, has finished a quilt while she has been here. She was doing a block of the month in Billings and she brought it all with her and then finished it --quilting and binding! It is a combination of blues and purples. I really like it. She says she is going to put it under glass to save forever!

Food

I was reading about all the yummy food Kim had at her Superbowl party. At our house, I was the only one watching the game, but we still had food. I am now dying to try the pizza "cupcakes" Kim made. That sounds yummy. we had Diablo Dip (beans, sour cream, salsa, onions and cheese in layers), potato skins, pinwheels and these cheese ball things that the daughter wanted to try. The cheese balls had sundried tomatoes in them and the ones I bought were cut in strips (julienne). They were left in strips, but the texture was odd. I don't think we will make them again.

I had written about all the wonderful things I was going to do last night. Well, it was the night for being exceptionally tired. I couldn't do anything. I watched a movie (The Holiday) with my husband and then stayed up long enough to watch the Bachelor and fell into bed. I was gone from 7:30am until 6pm and that is quite a day for me. I really need my nap. I love having a nap. I don't know why everyone doesn't take a nap. I don't have trouble sleeping at night even with my nap. It is my hour of pure joy! Today I will definitely have that nap so I can do something tonight! I have lots to do and not enough time...................

Bye.

Superbowl

It was Superbowl weekend! My husband lost a bet and had to watch the game with his friend, Warren, waving a yellow flag cheering for the Steelers. He is so happy that Greenbay won, but Warren is probably crying in his Crown Royal whiskey.... The kids and I had a small party of appetisers and we watched a creepy movie on Lifetime. Eventually the daughter deserted me cause I would switch back to the game at commercials. It was very relaxing, but since we didn't have dinner, I am hungry. Time for cheese and crackers and then bed.

Have a great week. Tomorrow I have goals: 1. make my square for the Saturday Square class; 2. begin my embroidery for the cancer center donation quilt; cut and prepare the 12 squares for the red work embroidery project. I think I will have to start Dear Jane when I am off the week of February 20th. There is still the wall hanging for my friend's bathroom to quilt. I think I will have to post pictures.....

ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DARLING DAUGHTER FOUND MY CAMERA!

From Abigail to John

My Dearest Friend,

Should I draw you the picture of my heart, it would be what I hope you still would Love; tho it contained nothing New; the early possession you obtained there; and the absolute power you have ever maintained over it; leaves not the smallest space unoccupied, I look back to the early days of our acquaintance; and Friendship, as to the days of Love and Innocence; and with indescribable pleasure I have seen, near a score of years roll over our Heads, with an affection heightened and improved by time--nor have the deary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the Image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my Heart.

Abigail

A letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams dated December 23, 1782.

Love Letters

Kim's Big Quilting Adventure asked an important question today. What do we want? This morning I was happy to settle for a movie on DVD. It is inexpensive and easy to pick out. My husband need only say, "Daughter please get me a movie for your mother" and it will be done.
I know that most of my gifts lately have been picked out and purchased by her. I could not fail to see that his efforts had improved dramatically with our daughter getting older. Now that she is an adult, the gifts are practically perfect. My poor husband is not the best in the "get my wife a present" category, but I didn't marry him because he was a fantastic shopper. We do not go all out for Valentine's day. In fact, there were so many comment on Kim's blog (mine is number 38) saying "take me out to dinner". We would never go out on that night. I hate crowds and I don't expect superior service when everybody and their brother is eating out. I always make some kind of nice dinner and we will eat together as a family.

But, I am getting away from the true gift. I want a love letter. I will not be getting one as my husband is not friendly with pen and paper, but, again, not the reason I married him. A love letter would be the ultimate gift for any occasion. I think I might just drop the daughter a hint when my birthday comes around......

On a related subject...my husband was using the skill saw outside and blew the breaker. When he did, the outlet in the bathroom that resets it blew too. A new one would cost $25.00, but usually we have that kind of thing out in the backyard....So, my husband is busy fixing the problem and he says, "nothing gets fixed by magic." Here it does. That is one of the reasons I keep him around! That in itself is a gift.....

What to do next?

I am here at work thinking of my next project. I can concentrate on quilting now that I have found my camera! Thank God! Really, it was my daughter who found it. She was motivated since I was using hers for my picture taking!

I have some white on white material to make a 30's pinwheel. I love those quilts and have made a few. Unfortunately, I usually give them away. I think I need one. So, I have the fabric, the triangle paper and I am ready to start. I will have to start another day because tonight is Criminal Minds night. I go next door and drink wine while we sit and discuss how cute the Spencer Reed character is..... Can't miss that!