Life on fast forward

Hi everyone! I'm afraid that life did get back to normal - but at triple speed. Still doing PT for my new knee but also working fulltime! YIKES! I'm really not good at this! AND working full time isn't getting me caught up! They kindly [ha] saved alot of projects for me.

At home - well, we are redoing the bedroom level. Just 2 bedrooms and the sewing room! GASP! Another week and we should be pretty much back together again. Boy, there is nothing light in a sewing room! Books, fabric, tools! And so much of it! My house is barely big enough to contain my sewing room outside of my sewing room! DH is doing a whole lot of mumbling!

My Take it Further March challenge just needs to be bound - so I should have pictures of that next weekend. I really like it - but noticed I went a different direction from the others I have seen - quelle surprise!!

I need to finish quilting the border on my March UFO - hoping to get that done by the weekend too!

I'm signed up for the No-buy challenge in Stashbusters -- BAM, bump, bounce, bounce!! That's me falling off the wagon! One of my favorite quilt stores was calling me this weekend - they were holding a pattern for me. But I managed to get 2 patterns, 3 FQs - all legal so far ... and a kit! Oops! The patterns are from Lori Smith "fit to frame" and they are fairly wonderful! The kit was Decoy - a Schnibbles by Miss Rosie and it is terminally cute! The Moose does kits and BOMs right - Debbie has a wonderful way with blending fabrics!

I got a "pre-tour" of the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln last Friday. It's a wonderful facility - we got to see some spectacular quilts from their collection. The Reconciliation quilt is hanging and selected quilts from Nancy Crow in one gallery. Very interesting! Check out their website above - they have a search engine for their entire collection - lots of fun to play in.

March Take It Further Challenge

March TIF challenge is challenging to me. It's "Detail" this month. There's a lot of crazy quilters on this list (okay - quit smirking - you know what I meant!) And I know what detail is involved in crazy quilting, but that didn't thrill.

Well, I looked hemmed and hawed and whined silently to myself about the theme but the month was flying by. I told myself that I didn't have time for this - there was so much stuff going on in my life this month. Then it dawned on me - that is "detail". We've all heard that Life is the journey - let's take it further - the detail is what makes your life. The "to do" list. The treasures you surround yourself with. The friends you spend time with and the activities that are important to you. Details all! I have my design and hope to "detail it out" this weekend.

I told you that we were remodeling the spare bedrooms and my sewing room is in one of them ... Well, no more! I have cleared it out - okay, almost! It's amazing how many boxes are marked "sewing room". My DH asked me where all this stuff was coming from - it was the smallest bedroom! Then he got cranky about it - muttering about how crazy I am!

The other thing was how dusty the room was! Okay, confession time. How many dust and really vacuum their sewing rooms on a regular basis? I straighten and vacuum the middle of the floor - but not the edges. The dust bunnies have been having a party on those edges! I'm allergic to dust and it's amazing that I could even work in there! Behind every box, storage container, under every shelf, behind every piece of furniture ... DUST and cobwebs!

I've got to figure out a way to keep it from happening again! Suggestions welcome!

Hoping life is getting back to normal

Whatever normal might be! My knee is still “not going gently” into complete recovery! But I’m working it!

DH said I’m always discouraged during this time period. Aggravating when he's right, isn’t it.

Just got this picture of Miss P - 18 months old and already loves to play dress-up!

This last weekend I got to go to Spring Retreat. It was just what I needed! 47 crazy quilters out at the 4H Conference Center sewing and eating 24/7! Okay, we do split up that 24 hours and take shifts … but generally there is SOMEONE sewing at all times. Last year I was just able to “visit” retreat – wasn’t up to staying there. So this year was MUCH better. The “bedroom” [cabin] is a little far from the “living room” [conference center] but the kitchen is manned by a chef and he takes good care of us. Great food and all we have to do is put it on our plates and take it home on our hips!

Yesterday, after working on them at retreat, I finished three series of post cards for exchange: houses, spring and Easter post cards! I’ll post pictures after the recipients get them.

I also worked on the blasted pink disappearing 9patch for the second retreat – got the blocks into “foursies” but then ran out of room to work with them. That pattern is fun, not too many seams to match up, but not that fast when working with nickel squares – a whole lot of trimming going on. Hopefully, I’ll get the top together by the end of this month – I’m going to tie it because N graduates from college THIS May and I’d love to hand it to her!

Then I worked on the green disappearing 9patch – much more to my liking! I found myself arguing which block was my favorite! This did not happen with the pinks! The green goes to J2 who will receive her Masters this summer! So that needs to be done for our Oregon trip in July.

We’re heading into the remodeling period, so I’ll be without a sewing room by the end of this week. AND I’ll be packing said sewing room all week! Send good thoughts my way – I’m not sure our house is big enough to hold what’s packed into my sewing room! I’ve been weeding it out for months – knowing this was coming – and I really think I have more stuff than I started with!!! And it’s ALL treasures!!! Good Grief! Supposedly, all will be back to normal by the end of the month – fingers crossed, everyone!

Hopefully, I’m back to my blogging schedule of twice a week. I think I’ve got my sense of humor back … and getting out and about – there’s actually things to write about!

February Take It Further Challenge

Well, I've turned into a procrastinator! This postcard has been sitting around, the design done since the middle of February. In my own defense - it's been a heck of a two weeks! Still fighting the knee - and it's been fighting back! We're getting ready to have the bedroom level redone - paint and carpeting. That's 2 guestrooms and the sewing room. OYE VAY! So I have been cleaning out and reorganizing and of course, it looks worse than ever! I go back to work part time next week and I'm not even half way thru the list of things I was going to get done! I have been know to be over-optimistic about what I'll get done. But still!

The TIF challenge was "what I'm old enough to remember". I'm pretty old! But the biggest change I think has happened is 'kids in summer.' I remember the endless summers and all the free time we had. We got up in the morning, did some chores and then we were literally thrown out of the house for the day! Told to "go play!" We did have lunch, of course, but no matter how much we begged to play inside during the HOT afternoons - nope, we were told to sit on the cool garage floor and play cards!

Here's what I remember about those glorious - unplanned - summers: riding bikes everywhere. building forts in hedges; under the slide; in a fence corner. Setting up elaborate doll villages and playing there all day. Climbing the apple tree and sitting up there discussing the world as we knew it! Laying on the side of the hill, watching the clouds and making up pictures we saw. The summer reading program that we finished in 2 weeks - not 6! Neighborhood vacation bible schools - everyone wanted to take a friend or two - we probably went to 2 or 3! Summer playground at our school with four-square; arts and crafts and that stick hockey game in the wooden frame! Swim lessons and how cold the pool was the first week. Outdoor movie theatres and cook outs. Playing jacks on the garage floor. Hours of "Authors" or "Old Maid" card games in that same garage. Clover necklaces. Lightening bug rings [ick] Gunny sack swings. (softer than a tire swing and not as hot!) After dinner games of hide and go seek in the dark. Even the smell on your clothes after a long hot day outside! A cool bath before bedtime and we got to do it all over again the next day!

Yes, we have 3 Pay It Forward winners!

Just waiting for the snail mail addies at this point. Thanks! It's safe to comment now!!!

Ran into yet another knee problem-blip on the road to recovery - and I'd so counted on this knee going smoother!!! Won't bore you with the details - I'll just let you know when it's solved!!! But it makes for one cranky doni - who doesn't blog unless she can "not whine!" And I'm pushing that limit right now. :> What I really need is quality time in the sewing room - wish I felt like it.

Spring MUST be coming - please!- Yesterday birds woke me up. They were just grackles - not pretty bird song, but still - it's a first. DH said they were yelling at each other about who's bright idea was it to come north this early! And it does kind-of sound like that!

Been working on postcards lately - something to do with my attention span! But when friends were visiting this weekend I made them help me frame and pin baste a small wall quilt. My designated UFO for March! Now it's ready to quilt at will!

Finishing up my Take it Further challenge this week. Hope to have pictures for you this weekend. I loved this theme - "what are you old enough to remember?"

I'm old enough to remember:
black and white television and it took FOREVER to warm up!
watching American Bandstand and being my teenage sister's practice partner!
TV test patterns - yep, there used to be hours in the night that nothing was on tv!
the FIRST MacDonalds built in Lincoln - 4 blocks away from my house
Penny candy at the stores
The first manned space shot - we watched it in the auditorium at school
Cars without air conditioning - they had vents!
Walking home from school for lunch
and lots more that "I remember" but just not this minute!!!

My TIF piece is about what I remember about summers. Coming soon - watch this space!!!

Pay It Forward Contest

Paula [Thanks again, Sweet P!] sent me a Pay It Forward package while I've been recouping and it's time to - you know - pay it forward. Everyone who comments or emails me this week will be eligible. I have no cute pets to pick three names - but I'll pick names on Saturday. Paula made a darling little homemade bag - no guarantees of something homemade from me. But I have lots of sewing doodads and kits. Also let me know if you'd be interested in a year's worth of QNM or an old unopened Quilt Engagement Calendar or nickel squares. The catch is that you will then have to Pay it Forward to 3 other people.

I love Pay it Forward. The book is awesome - the movie with Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey is good - but the book is better! If you haven't read it yet - look for it.

I got to play babies this weekend. G's daughter just had Miss V 11 days ago. Well, yesterday Miss V came by to introduce herself! Boy, you forget they come that little! Holding a 10 day old baby is definitely good for what ails you! The little funny faces and stretches ... the cuddling into your body. What fun! Thanks S & C for your visit - I loved it.

It's been 3 weeks since my knee replacement. I'm happy to say that the pain relief pill switch has finally kicked in - much better. But a 2 am DVD is now in my routine! Something in the middle of the night gets me up and down to the recliner to get comfortable ... I can't sleep there - but have been watching DVDs from my extensive collection! This week end I watched "Deep Impact", "Dave", "In Good Company" and "Pretty Woman". Those are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head!

Can we talk about how it is possible for a woman alone in a king-size bed to run out of room? LOL! Well, this has been recovery central for the last 3 weeks - let's take a look at what I'm sharing this space with.

Well, right now there is a digital camera and case and the laptop computer and icy knee wrap. But they're only on the bed when I'm actually using them. PS - I'm NOT listing what's on the bedside table!

In bed with me is: 6 pillows; sheets; 3 quilts; 6 quilt magazines or books; tin of Ritz crackers; box of Puffs; sweatshirt (okay - I just finally warmed up today); 7 get well cards(!); 3 fabric post cards; approximately a 3 inch stack of pages torn from Quilters Newsletter Magazines; a sewing basket that I put peppermints in; 4 fiction books; cordless phone; red canvas belt for exercises; new Lands End catalog; spare glasses; box of papers that I sorted from the sewing room; breathing exercise thingie from hospital; I can't look any further! Let's hope I get this mess organized or else there will be no space for me and my new knee!

February's Take it Further Challenge

Sharon has come up with another winner for February. For the whole challenge explanation go here.

The question is "what are you old enough to remember?" Of course, there is a problem, as we get older - we remember less??? Or maybe that's just recent stuff we can't remember.

I'm old enough to remember summers filled with "play without appointments". Yep, you heard it here. Our mothers used to get us up, feed us breakfast, make us do chores, and then shoo us out of the house to "go play". We weren't supposed to come back (bother her) until suppertime!!! Okay, we were allowed to have lunch at home, but generally, we took turns eating lunch together at each other's houses.

It was really fun. We climbed trees, played with Barbies, rode our bikes, skated (with clamp-on skates with skate keys!) When it was too hot to move, we'd come back home and BEG to come into the air conditioning. NOPE! So lots of afternoons we sat on the cement garage floor and played Authors! It was surprisingly cooler - although harder - to sit on the cement. And after dinner we all met again to play Hide and Go Seek until bed time! WOW! Those WERE the days!

In winter I remember being so proud of ourselves! We stood on the bus stop corner and "smoked" candy cigarettes! By the time we got home, someone had already reported me to my mom!!!! SCORE! It didn't take much to convince her I wasn't really smoking! We were so excited that we tried it again and again - but the neighbors were in on our game by then! But still!

Hmmm - post card size isn't going to hold all these memories! I'll have to pick my favorites!