This Cat Will Be The Death of Me!

New scare with the cat.  We managed to live through whatever and then the cat disappeared.  He was gone all day.  Very unusual for him.  He likes to eat--a lot!  So at 9pm, when it became apparent that no one had seen the cat at all, I went out to the backyard and looked in the dark.  I called and called and no cat!  I went out to the front yard and called.  I thought I heard a noise--a very small noise.  I called again and the noise was definitely there.  A very small meow.  I walked over to the driveway and sure enough, the cat got locked in the cab of the big green 1972 Chevy Truck in our driveway.  He could have been there for ever.  The truck does not run and we never would have looked in there.  Some guy on Friday came by and asked my husband about selling the truck, but he wanted it to be running.  So, Saturday and a little bit of Sunday, my husband tried to get it to run and while he had the truck door open, the cat must have jumped in.  Dingaling cat!

I spent the day working on a block-of-the-month quilt from my guild.  It has a medallion of 9 12-inch blocks with dark sashing.  Then there is a border of the background fabric.  The next border is a background fabric and blue checkerboard.  I added another background border of three inches.  Now I have to think about my next move.

Hello Again

I have been sewing up a storm.  I finished the top from the Pattern Party book for this years Thimbleberries club--the embroidered quilt.  I am working on my block-of-the-month from my guild.  I am avoiding the applique blocks because I am unsure of how to actually start.  I am thinking I need to go over and spend time with my friend, Imelda.  She is so fast and her work is so good.

This past week we have been watching our cat.  Max was not acting like himself, but nothing you could put your finger on.  Then he went under my son's bed and didn't come out.  Eventually my son pulled Max out from under his bed and put him on the tile floor where he just lay there not even moving.

Max had done this once before.  We thought he was on his last legs, used up his nine lives as he tried to hide in corners.  We were happy to see him perk up after we put him outside--just in case.  He hadn't eaten or drank or did his business for two days.  We still don't know what it was.  Probably ate something bad.  He likes to eat.  My son said he really didn't want him to die now that we have grown to love him.....  Today he is his usual self and is back to running around, chasing the neighbor cats off our property and out of the backyard.

Back to my project......

Friday Night Sew-in

I had such a good time for someone who was missing her friends and the fun they were having.  I began my sewing day at 1pm (after doing a bit of organizing and choosing a project).  I decided to go with a red and blue star quilt that I began a month ago.  I went to a group sew-in the 3rd Saturday in January and had the pieces all cut out.  So I began piecing and ended up with nine of 30 squares.....today.  On Saturday, I ran over to Quilter's Corner to look for a background fabric for the online Shabby Cottages BOM.  I had called before I left because it is a bit of a drive.  I spoke to Debbie (who is just wonderful) and she thought they had something I might want by a quick description over the phone.  When I got there, Debbie was busy with other things.  I had picked out three fabrics that might work and not one of them was what Debbie had seen on the shelf.  After talking it over I actually decided to purchase a pale yellow with very light orange dots.  Sounds a bit hideous, but it really is cheerful and sunny and the dots are very pale.  I am bringing it to a friend tomorrow for review.

About the squares, I had seen this quilt hung high up in the back of the store at Quilter's Corner.  I found a great background fabric and couldn't wait to start.  Now, I know there is a heck of a lot of piecing that will be done before that quilt is finished.  I am chain piecing as much as possible.  I made a casual comment about that quilt and found out that Debbie made the shop sample.  She agreed with my assessment about the time it is taking to piece the stars.  It is just an eight pointed star!!!

Okay, I know you have heard this from me before, but I am having issues getting the pictures to come up.  Darn!  So, tomorrow is a new day.  I don't really understand this, but it helps to have the pictures for a day before I try to mess with them.

Have a great day tomorrow!

Sew-in on Friday, February 17th

There is a sew-in with Heidi tomorrow evening.  Just stay at home and sew to your hearts content.  How great is that???

                                     www.handmadebyheidi@blogspot.com

Cough, Cough, Cough

I have something much like the creeping crud.  I don't feel like doing anything much more than lying around and watching season one of the Good Wife (my daughter has the DVD).

I did go to work.  We had an Africa celebration for the 7th grade.  They learn just a smattering of information about Africa and then the history book moves on to China.  Just enough knowledge to think that there was nothing to Africa except slavery.  I had a ton of questions, so I asked one of our teachers who has been to Africa three times on humanitarian missions to give a talk.  It was so wonderful.  We saw pictures, toys, and spears.  The spears were especially interesting.  I said as each boy approached, "No, don't touch.  See the sign?" 

Happy Valentine's Day.

Such a long Day

I started this day off not feeling so great.  Thank God for sick leave.  While I began feeling better later on, no sewing was actually done today.  Hard to believe, I know, but I did go over to a friend's home yesterday to see her newest block she is going to begin on Saturday.  I traced some teapots for Saturday. 

Have a great day tomorrow.

We are like Whooping Cranes

Today I was researching whooping cranes.  Whooping cranes are only in North America, the tallest bird in this area and are endangered.  My favorite fact about whooping cranes is that they mate for life.  They pick one partner and are together for life.  A whooping crane will only find a new partner when one of them dies.
So sweet.

Taking Credit

Today in history class (7th graders) we were talking about taking credit for others accomplishments.  Really it was all about the many contributions by Muslims that we take for granted (like hospitals, algebra...).  I was reminded of something that  happened to me.

Someone I know (we shall call her Sue) was making a quilt using a Jenny Beyer idea on how to construct your own quilt--without using another's pattern or more traditional pattern.  After quite a bit of time, Sue brought in a shoebox with some pieces sewn, some cut and just some fabric telling me she could no longer stand "the quilt from hell" and would I take it off her hands.  I took the box, sorted it, drew up a plan and sewed the quilt.  I gave the completed quilt top to Sue and promptly forgot about it.  Sue had the quilt top quilted and then tried to sell it.  Little did I know she was passing it off as her work.  After she failed to find a buyer (too dark in my estimation), she decided to give the quilt to a mutual friend who was suffering with a brain tumor.  That is when I found out she was taking total credit for my work when all she did was buy a book and sew some squares together.  I even added some of my own fabrics (trying to lighten it up).

I admit it.  I was angry, but more hurt that Sue would not have said I worked on it too.  I would not have been upset if she had said we worked on it together--even if I did all the work.  I have not done anything like that for her since.  Forgiven (because I can't keep a grudge going that long) but not forgotten!!!

What will I start next????

This is Max!  He was a rescue cat--twice!  He was rescued by our cousins.  They couldn't stand how he clawed their furniture and sent him out the door, even though you are not supposed to make rescue cats outdoor cats.  I actually received a 3 page email saying why I couldn't have a rescue cat because I had an out door cat and did I realize how dangerous that was????  Billy and Mollie have this cat for while and then he starts annoying their neighbor.  It got ugly and they agreed to get rid of the cat.  Billy joked about how he knew one day these neighbors might get annoyed living next door to a teenager and he drew the line at getting rid of his daughter!  Ha,ha,ha!  Max joined us at Thanksgiving a few years back.  We had no problem letting him outside since that door was already opened.  We have had none of the problems we heard Max had.  No scratching the furniture--the only time it happened we said no and that was that.  Max is the best cat.  He is sweet and lovable.  I admit it was a full year before he really trusted us.  I think the first year he only stayed around because we put food out for him.  He refuses to eat inside--even if it is raining.

 Isn't he just he sweetest kitty???  Lately he had taken to sleeping in a box that sitting on the kitchen floor.  I wish I had thought to take a picture.  My mother-in-law gave me a box of books and they were living in the box until I cleaned the bookcases in the hallway out enough to put them up there.  Someone threw an 13x11" manila envelope on top of the books and Max began sleeping there.  It just couldn't have been that comfortable.  Since I cleaned out the box on Saturday, Max is back on my ironing board.  He likes to be where we are.

I received both of these patterns from a raffle and as a gift.  The book is embroidery patterns called Folk Art in the Garden--designer is Diane Arthurs from the Powder Mill by Imaginating, Inc.  The other pattern is called Be Mine Twice--as in two table toppers.  It is from the Main Street Cotton Shop--the Thimbleberries shop (http://www.mainstreetcottonshop.com/).  Possibly my next projects.  I say that as I realize that I haven't begun my teapot quilt.  I am supposed to be making this with my friend, Valerie, but I haven't even started.
I am thinking of picking the fabric tomorrow and doing some of the embroidery on Saturday when I meet with my friends.  Such decisions to make. 

I leave you with this little bit about Starbucks.  I went one day and got a coffee at the Starbucks inside Safeway.  My receipt invited me to take a survey and getting a free tall coffee in return.  I went home and took the online survey and then lost the receipt.  It surfaced yesterday.  I still had  few more days to use it.
This morning I thought that I would stop on my way home from work and get my free coffee.  I put the receipt in the car.  Then, I split coffee in it.  Then I realized my cup was on top of the receipt.  Forgetting that it was probably still damp from having coffee spilled on it, I pulled it and tore it into three pieces.  Now I have three pieces of dripping paper.  I took it in today and asked if it was still good.  Hurrah! It was because the most important info was still readable.  Life is good.  As the very nice girl is making my mocha frappacchino, we are talking.  The next thing I know she has put caramel on my drink accidentally and is offering to remake my drink.  I choose to not care about the caramel and it was delicious.  I have avoided the caramel because I don't usually like it.  This was so darn good! 

Have a lovely evening.......

Five Weeks and 6 more days of Winter

I believe the ground hog today.  I went out to take the darling daughter to work at 4:30am and my windows were iced where the fleece wasn't covering them.....

True strength is delicate.
               Louise Nevelson (sculptor, 1940)

Six More Weeks of Winter

It is official.  Punxsutawney Phil put his head up out of the ground and saw his shadow, so we have six more weeks of winter.  Of course the official date of spring is (surprise) six weeks away and Punxsutawney Phil is correct only 39% of the time......

Last night was a night to celebrate.  We had one more wine on Wednesday.  Turns out the class that Anna is taking begins on the 8th and last for 12 weeks, not eight.  Darn.  So, I celebrated by going out for coffee at Starbucks with my friend, Leah and then to Anna's for wine.  We drank a good Zinfandel.  Yummmm.  I am so a red wine girl. 

Turns out last night's Criminal Minds was a rerun, so we watched American Idol.  After American Idol is this show called Mobbed.  It was addicting.  Howie Mandel arranges flash mobs to make announcements (engagements) and such, and last night it was about an apology.  Seems Tim was angry at brother Nick and sold all his clothes and belongings including a valuable guitar.  Tim and Nick hadn't spoke in eight months and it was causing problems in the family (four brothers and a mom).  Funny thing in  that Tim and Nick are in the same band (and they were good by the way), but weren't speaking.  So Howie Madel arranges this elaborate flash mob thing for Nick who ended up crying.  He was presented with a guitar that matched the one Tim sold.  Everyone hugs and off they go into the sunset (at midnight).  I can't wait for the next episode...

Just a note

Last night I was reminded by a friend that I need to make 15 flying geese by February 8th or forget it.  On one hand, do I want more mystery stuff?  What if this is the quilt of my dreams and I could have used some of that fabric I just had to have?????  So, Saturday will be the day if I decide to do them.  More importantly, I am cleaning out my hall way on Saturday.  I am making a commitment to getting this done and the fabric off the floor because it really bothers my husband.  I want to make a commitment to clean out the entire house, but that involves getting rid of his things and he won't do it.  My stuff is not that valuable according to him, but his is priceless. 

Have a great evening all.  I am having coffee with a friend because there will be no more wine on Wednesdays as Anna has a class for eight weeks. Are coffee and wine the same thing?????