What have I been doing?

Where to begin. Life is good. I feel like I'm living this charmed life. I'm retired after 43 years of working for somebody else. Now that I look back on those 43 years I have to say they went fast. I don't have another 43 years to go but I do plan on making the best of the time I do have. There are so many things I want to do now that I feel a little overwhelmed. After being off work for two weeks I do seethe potentioal for wasting time. It's too easy to do nothing and at the time it feels good. At the end of two weeks it feels like a waste. So here's what wasn't a waste.

I attend a work shop with Anelie Belden. She wrote the book Thoroughly Modern Dresden. She teaches her quick and easy construction method. I'm making the table runner so I can use up some of my stash. I picked out some beautiful oriental fabric and I hope it's not going to be too busy. I will post a picture when I'm done. The quilt pictured below is Romancing the Reds, one of the quilts featured in her book. I have the fabrics to make this and it's 3rd on my To Do Lists. I love red and white. These are Alex Andersons fabrics. Love them! That's Anelie on the right, holding up her beautiful quilt.
This sweet wall hanging is Blue and yellow Shineshine. I like blue and yellow's too and this might be added to my To Do List too.

This quilt is named Luisita and is 71" x 71". I looks like a kilidascoup but it is peaked-top blades that are fussy cut. It's very beautiful.

This was a great workshop and I recommend the book. She also has a special ruler, sold separterly, that assists in the cutting of the various blades. The book has a sheet of templets.

This is Tokay Stitch'N'Quilt Guilds 2010 Opportunity quilt. It's called Reflections and I'm proud to say, I helped make the blocks. Their quilt show is November 6 and 7 in Lodi.

On the 17th family and friends joined together to celebrate my Mom's 80+ birthday. I guess after 80, who's counting. Personally, if I make it to 80+ I'm going tell ya about it. I might even give you some tips on how to live till your 80. My Mom is in fairly good health and has a lot to be thankful for. This is a photo of my brother and his son and grandson and my daughter and one of my grandsons. So now she has a photo with four generations. We had a full house, lots of food and a great time. My Mom brought out some very old photo's, from before my time, and shared the life and times of the Donner Party. Just kidding, but that's what it was beginning to sound like. She complained about the white chalk they had to grind and mix with water so they would have something to polish their shoes with. Gee, have priorities changed or what?

What's a party with cake. So here we go, chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling. I practiced my royal icing daffodils. Good thing this is just a hobby. A scoop of vanilla ice cream really topped it off, in more ways than one.

So now everyday is a weekend and I can do just about anything I want. How cool is that? I would say very cool. I'm going to finish my Dresden table runner and cut out my Turtles 'n Tidepools quilt.

Wishing you a blessed day.

2010

It was a crazy night in my neighborhood. Now I have an idea what it's like in Pakistan. It's quite now and starting to rain. I love the rain. I have my new year's list before me and I'm ready to start my new habits. Have a wonder start to the new year.
God's peace be with you.

Happy New Year

2010 is just hours away and it doesn't seem possible that another year has come and gone. My focus for 2009 was redefining who I am. I'm not sure I accomplished that but I can tell you, I have a new attitude about life and how I should live.

Do you make New year Resolutions each year? Are you able to keep them? What ever your resolution happens to be, the only way to succeed is to take it one step at a time. Set specific goals and make the decision to stick with it. So, my first and most important goal is to establish healthy eating and exercising habits. I've read that it take 26 days for a task to become a habit. Since I am retiring in two weeks I will have the time to plan and follow through with purchasing and preparing healthier meals and spending time in action. Being home this past week has shown me how easy it is to get comfortable in front of the television and just sit. I don't want to get into that habit. I am starting with a walking regime. I will start with 30 minutes a day. My other goal is to spend more time reading. I have been putting together a list of books I want to read. They aren't all fiction. I'm going to read Sarah Palin's book, Going Rogue. I admire her so much. More about that in the future. I'm going to spend more time in prayer and reading and studying the Bible. I can add to this list but I want to be realistic. These are the most important things I want to accomplish. I have UFO's to finish and other things I want to do but next year I want to report, mission accomplished.

I wish you and yours the safest and happiest New Year every. God's peace be with you.

Christmas Blessings

I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas. We spent time with family and for us that's what it's all about. This is a picture of three of our seven grandchildren. Brook, Bree, and Brit take the most beautiful pictures. Their Mom has pictures taken on a regular basis and I'm so thankful for that because they are miles away.

I'm on vacation this week and so I'm cutting fabric for a quilt class in January. The book we are using is Thoroughly Modern Dresden. I'm going to do a table runner using oriental fat quarters. I want to use up some of my stash.

When I return to work on the 4th I will have two weeks and then I'm off, done, retired. I can't even express how much I'm looking forward to that. I've worked for 43 years and I just want to have fun. I'm looking forward to quilting when I want as long as I want and finishing projects. I want to sleep in during the week and stay up late t night. I want to sit in the backyard and watch the flowers bloom and the birds flying from one tree to another. That is just the tip of the iceberg. I've been cleaning out my office and bring stuff home. Paul asked me to stop bring stuff home so now I'm going to go through what I have and toss or donate. There is still more to come.

Have a blessed week and a very Happy New Year.

Saturday Planning

Greetings.
It's started raining yesterday and it's been off an on since. I love the rain. When it stops everything outside looks so clean and fresh. The rain relaxes me and my brain kicks into the creative mode. I started listing the creative projects I want to try. It's Saturday and I would like to work on some of the things on my list. Unfortunately I have other things that have priority over what I want to do. In 66 days, everyday will be a Saturday.

This is Ethan's quilt. I finished it Monday and delivered it to his Grandmother Tuesday. I love the little bunny's and the activities they are performing. It's all boy. I quilted airplanes and clouds in the border and stars in the solid squares.
The back shows up the quilting. Sorry it doesn't show up too good in the pictures. I wish I had the fabric to make two. Now I will focus on my Turtles and Tadpoles quilt. Film at 11:00.

This darling quilt pin was purchase by my friend Donna. She isn't a quilter but she does appreciate the art of quilting and what goes into it. This is hand made and she found it in a catalog. I was going to order one until I found out the price. When you look at the detail and workmanship in it, it's worth it. It's beautifully done. When I was in Michael's last week I found some discounted jewelery making supplies and I purchase them. Jewelery making is something I've always wanted to try. I've been buying sale items and putting them aside for the time when I can start creating. The creative list I mentioned early has a make a quilt pin listed on it. I'm always inspired by other's works and I need to work on some original projects.

It will be a busy and productive weekend if I sign off and get busy. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Peace be with you.

It's Snowing

Greetings from the Central Valley. I'm looking out my window at snow floating from the sky. It is so cool. It started about 7:00 am and as I stood under the patio watching it float down, I was amazed at the stillness outside. It was so peaceful, I love it. I've never seen it snow in Stockton, although I know it has. I took some pictures but I'm not sure how they will turn out. When the snow hits the ground it melts so there is no evidence there, you just have to see it. I feel so blessed that this happened when I was home to enjoy it. Thank you Lord.

I've been in a funk for the past two weeks and every day has been a struggle to get things done and take care of business. I spent yesterday shopping for Christmas gifts for grandchildren. I don't enjoy shopping, especially when I can't find what I want. Today I will probably sit in front of the window until the snow stops. I can type and watch at the same time so that's good. It's not so good for the quilt I should have finished two weeks ago. Oh well.

It's been 46 minutes of snow and it looks as if it over. I can get busy on the quilt. I feel great.
Peace be with you.

Happy Thanksgiving

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

author unknown.

Wishing you, your family, and friends a blessed Thanksgiving.