Snippy Sews Sometimes

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

To move or not to move that is the question

I thought it has been pretty quiet on the blog lately so I took a cue from Jill and decided to try out the new site. I am so computer illeterate that it took me quite sometime just to get the password thing right. Let's just say the new site is going to take sometime for me to feel comfortable. For right now I would prefer to keep this as my main site. I guess I don't understand why if the same person created both sites why improvements weren't just made to this one? What was the need for a new one? Anyway now that I'm thoroughly confused I'll give up for tonight and post how life has been going tomorrow.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
COMMENTS

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
I agree. I do think the other site is easier, but why can't we just all stay here and get the improvements on this site? Has anyone asked her?

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I asked her that question myself the other day...I recieved a PM that said, the software on this site was outdated and couldn't be updated, that is why she designed the new one. And she also said, she didn't plan on taking this one down anytime soon...whatever that means. Right now, I am just doing a copy and paste of my post and putting it both places... Kristie

Thursday, August 30, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I read Kristie's message and I take it to mean that at this time, she won't be 'closing' this site, but that if anything happens to it, she won't be able to do anything to restore it because the software or program is outdated. This site is very easy to use and the other site has a few quirks, but once you can get past it, it should be smooth sailing. I am thinking about converting my posts this weekend since it is a long weekend. Of course, I have less than 60 posts, so it shouldn't be that time consuming for me. I really like the private message feature. But I had some issues posting a picture - but now that I have posted one, it is basically the same as this site.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Thank you everyone

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for thinking of me today on my birthday. What a surprise that was. So today I turned the big 55. I'm not depressed because this means I finally get some senior discounts at some places as long as they don't raise the age. More later, I have to get back to work. Thanks again for making me smile

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
COMMENTS

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
You are welcome! I hope you have a wonderful evening tonight. Is it movie night? Stop somewhere and have a nice big pice of pie or cake! Michelle

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You are so very welcome. You are a great friend to us all, and I hope you enjoy your day. Kristie

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MoneikQuilts
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your special day and celebrate!

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Were about the same age ,ok I'm a year older LOL Life is just beginning now ,no small kids to worry about ,we can use the excuse we forgot and people actually believe us .There's so many benefits to getting older ,enjoy it to the fullest .

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sunshine
Happy Bday and have a wonderful evening. Don't forget to make that special wish before the candles go out.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Cindy, happy birthday to you. May you have many more years of quilting ahead of you! Hope you had a day that was as wonderful as you are. Maureen (& Emma)

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Happy Birthday...
Posted by take2quilter
Hope you had a wonderful day, Cindy and that all your dreams come true. Good news so far about Murphy too! jaja

Monday, August 27, 2007

If it's Monday, it's Charity sewing night

Last week Jen and I decided that from now on we would get together and sew for Charity on Monday nights. Part of this is so we get our projects finished and part is because Monday night football is starting and Jen and Holly don't like to be home for the games. So tonight we started up again. I finished my flannel raggy quilt and all I have to do is snip it. Now that makes two that I have to snip. Then it was on to starting another flannel one. I seem to be hooked on them. I have those blocks all sewn with their X's and now it's time to put them together but that will be another Monday night. At sometime this week I need to make a Runaround purse and a wonder wallet for one of my friends and another friend called tonight and wanted to know if I could come and help her out with a quilt so I'll do that on Thursday night. She bought BOM's from one of our Joanns when they were going out of business and she's having trouble with them. The blocks are all turning out different in size. We have no idea on how to put it together. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Well I'm off to bed. Happy quilting everyone.
-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
COMMENTS

Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Am I chopped liver? I could come and help too. Are the blocks all together? Is it time to assemble the top?

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You have had a busy night. So nice of you to help your friend... Kristie

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Woo hoo!! Way to go on sewing on Monday!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

A lazy Sunday

Aside from making 9 yo yo's I didn't accomplish a single thing today and it felt great. Maybe it's the weather or something because I just didn't have any energy. I had good intentions but that's as far as it went. I did a little food shopping and did that by avoiding the grocery store. We have a little local beer depot that has hot ham and rolls on Sunday so I went and got that and also picked up some soda. Then off to the apple orchard to pick up some fruit and veggies. Now there are a few other things that I need but they can wait atleast I have some things in the house to eat. While at the apple orchard I bought popcorn. My Mom and my sister get their pop corn there and it really is great tasting. For years now all I've eaten is microwave popcorn because it's so quick and easy. But now I've gotton a taste of the good stuff and it's back to popping my own. What do the rest of you like? Jen and I ran to a local quilt store because they had a huge sale today. I picked up a couple of pieces of fabric to make a new purse and a few Halloween fat quarters to make a wall hanging out of. When we got home we were going to sew and I had a call from my Mom and she needed help with her machine. She said she just couldn't get it threaded right. Over we went and only to find out it was threaded perfectly. While we were there we did a little furniture rearranging for her and moving her sewing table under the dining area light. Now she has much brighter lighting. Home we came and all I wanted to do was take a little nap. We just hung around here until it was time to go to Jen's house for dinner. Now I'm back home and it's almost time for bed. I think I just got burned out yesterday with all I did. Tomorrow night is our charity sewing night so then I'll get something done.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
It must be something in the air...there are not very many of us on here that are getting a whole lot of sewing done. It makes me jealous everytime someone else finishes something. Kristie
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Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Kristie and Cindy I agree very very little sewing done. Hugs Mary Ann
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Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I wasn't feeling too motivated either!!
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Sunday, August 26, 2007 - A lazy Sunday
Aside from making 9 yo yo's I didn't accomplish a single thing today and it felt great. Maybe it's the weather or something because I just didn't have any energy. I had good intentions but that's as far as it went. I did a little food shopping and did that by avoiding the grocery store. We have a little local beer depot that has hot ham and rolls on Sunday so I went and got that and also picked up some soda. Then off to the apple orchard to pick up some fruit and veggies. Now there are a few other things that I need but they can wait atleast I have some things in the house to eat. While at the apple orchard I bought popcorn. My Mom and my sister get their pop corn there and it really is great tasting. For years now all I've eaten is microwave popcorn because it's so quick and easy. But now I've gotton a taste of the good stuff and it's back to popping my own. What do the rest of you like? Jen and I ran to a local quilt store because they had a huge sale today. I picked up a couple of pieces of fabric to make a new purse and a few Halloween fat quarters to make a wall hanging out of. When we got home we were going to sew and I had a call from my Mom and she needed help with her machine. She said she just couldn't get it threaded right. Over we went and only to find out it was threaded perfectly. While we were there we did a little furniture rearranging for her and moving her sewing table under the dining area light. Now she has much brighter lighting. Home we came and all I wanted to do was take a little nap. We just hung around here until it was time to go to Jen's house for dinner. Now I'm back home and it's almost time for bed. I think I just got burned out yesterday with all I did. Tomorrow night is our charity sewing night so then I'll get something done.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

COMMENTS

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled CommenPosted by CountryQuilter
It must be something in the air...there are not very many of us on here that are getting a whole lot of sewing done. It makes me jealous everytime someone else finishes something. Kristie

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Kristie and Cindy I agree very very little sewing done. Hugs Mary Ann
Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I wasn't feeling too motivated either!!

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Murphy's latest vet visit

Murphy and I just got back home after his trip to the vet. For the past month we've been going in every Saturday to have his glucose checked. He's been up lately and they have no idea why. Today he was up from 319 to 329 so they bumped him up from 30 units of insulin two times a day to 32 units two times a day. This means another prescription of insulin was called in and larger needles since his only hold 30 units. After that I took him to the gas station and we drove through McDonalds. I decided what the heck his numbers were up so he got to have a few fries as a treat. He never gets anything but dog food anymore. Now he's sound asleep after his big " outing". Just thought I'd let all of you know because a few have asked how he is doing. Also there is no news from the apartment complex so no news is good news. He'll be staying and so will I. Hopefully that is the end of that. Now it's off to do cleaning so I can spend all day tomorrow sewing. I hope everyone has a good day and thanks for all of the concern for my fury friend.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I hope that they can get Murphy stablized with his meds soon! What a pain to constantly have to take him in and change the dosage. Keep us posted on the apartment and Murphy. I am happy that you haven't heard anything yet!
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I don't blame you, I would have gave him fries too. I feed the horses cereal for a snack, Richard swears that they will end up being diabetic. I sure hope Murphy gets to doing better. I'm not really attached to our dogs, but I know how I would feel if it were one of the horses or Jim. Kristie
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
I wish they knew why his numbers keep rising so that could get it to stop. Murphy is such a cutie and he is sooo sweet he doen't deserve this. I am sure he LOVED the french fries. I say the word french fries and Emma's ears perk. She has known what they are since she was a pup. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the higher dosage works for him. Keep us posted on how he is doing.
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
I hope Murphy gets to feeling better soon. Have they thought to do other tests to see if there is something else going on?
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi hope Murphy is feeling better soon. My lab Bosie just loves to eat fruit every morning I have a banana half for me half for Bosie. Of course she will eat everything vegetables doesn't matter. What would we do without our animals. Hugs Mary Ann
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
I so glad you get to keep the dog that must give you piece of mind ..Now ,can you come clean at my house LIL .My daughter has a cleaning company I'm seriously thinking of having on of her employs come twice a year for all those jobs I hate doing .My daughter works at the hospital ,she always teases she started the company so she would never have to clean her house .
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Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I just wish we could know WHY he's up so high.
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Laptop

I'm half way done with the linen closet

Wahooooooooooo I'm half way done with the linen closet. I took a before picture and I'll take an after shot so I can show off what I've actually accomplished today. Is it anal to make up a chart as to whats on each shelf and put it on the inside of the door? These are deep shelves and I have a front and a back row for things. OK break time is over it's back to work for me.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Good for you, Cindy!!!! Doesn't it feel good???? I hope to get more done tomorrow, and maybe I'll sew too...gee, that would be a novel idea, wouldn't it? Louie will be out of town all day, so maybe I'll just get inspired. Are you just rearranging, or are you clearing out too?
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Come and clean mine! My closets need it sooooo bad. I think making a chart is a great idea!! Kristie
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Good for you Congrats. I either kill myself organizing and usual end up with a bigger mess for a few days or I just ignore the haphazard system I have. Hugs Mary Ann
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Way to go!!
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Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
You crack me up!!!
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Linen closet is DONE

I'm proud to announce that the linen closet is officially DONE. I have a few odd things to find homes for and a bag to take out to the garbage but other than that it's done. It looks really nice and it feels good. Now on to the rest of my apartment. I just keep telling myself little by little I'll get it all done. Since it's just Murphy and me the mess is all mine with the exception of a few dog toys . Tomorrow is a day for Jen and I to sew and I'd like to get a few more things put away but we'll see how that goes. Right now it's time for bed. I've been fighting with WebShots for a while now and I'm getting really disgusted so I guess there will be no before and after shots of my closet tonight.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Don't worry about the before and after shots tonight. We can wait until the morning. :) Congrats on getting the clean up completed!
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Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Glad you got it done. Get some sleep tonight so that you will have a good day of sewing on Sunday. Kristie
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Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Hmmm, I'll give webshots a shot when I come over today.
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Linen closet is DONE

Friday, August 24, 2007

I had good intentions

, I had good intentions today when I got home from work. My plan was to come home, start wash and clean out my linen closet. You know how fast a linen closet gets messy. I don't understand it since it's just me. Murphy doesn't have thumbs so he can't open doors and he needs nothing in the linen closet. Anyway about 4 times a year I take everything out and start over. Instead I was invited to dinner by Jen and Mike. We had great barbecued pork chops. The rest of the night we sat around and watched TV and I watched Jen create things. Can't tell you what she made because I'm sure she'll post pictures and tell you all about it. I think it sounds like all of us with the exception of Michelle are pretty much in the same slump. Lots of good intentions and then poof they are gone. For my weekend right now I have no plans. Murphy goes for a check up tomorrow afternoon so that pretty much shoots doing anyt hing else. I'd like to get some cleaning and laundry done but who knows I won't promise anything. To all of you who plan on sewing this weekend, enjoy. If the weather is nice out, that is if it ever stops raining I'd love to throw open the windows and get some fresh air. OK I'm off to start the linen closet. Wish me luck.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
Cindy: Good luck with the linen closet. I know how daunting those tasks can seem. I got a lot done tonight which is surprising. I know that once this second load of laundry is ready to go in the dryer I am off to bed. Maureen
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Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Wow, she makes it seem like I ruined her to do list!! LOL. I hpe we get to sew this weekend!!
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Trina
I had good intentions today too, Peony. I was going to get ALL the laundry done!! HA! My dryer is broke, so I have to hang everything out on the line, well it was cloudy all day, kept LOOKING like it was going to rain, so I only got one load done....sigh. Even that load did not completely dry, it was just too humid. So maybe tomorrow.
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Good Intentions
Posted by luv2quilt
Hi Cindy, It's a good thing I have good intentions, because most times I don't get much else but my intentions done. I did get some decluttering done today, but not as much as I would have liked. What I did get done made me feel better though. I think our closets and drawers get so bad, because they are just a great place to hide things in a hurry, and if they don't look quite the way we like, we just shut the door. How is Murphy doing, and what is the latest on the dog rules in your complex? Have you come to a resolution yet? Have a wonderful day Saturday, whatever you do! Michelle
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You said it!! We are in a slump! Even my mom was talking about me not getting much sewing done. She asked me what was wrong other than me being sick...maybe I'll blame it on the moon. Kristie
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Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I agree - it's the moon!
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Thursday, August 23, 2007

So much for lists

I had a list yesterday of three things that I wanted to accomplish today. OK so I only did the first one, I forced myself to go to work. Now sewing and no grocery shopping. My day started off shakey when I got a call from my Mom that she wasn't feeling good could I come over. The good thing is she lives 5 minutes from here. I got there and she had just taken one of her nitro pills. She has angina attacks and last winter she had three heart attacks so we really keep a close eye on her. She's now tucked away at one of my sisters houses and is being watched like a hawk. Jen and I stopped over there tonight and she does look much better than she did this morning. Kitty is a great nurse so my Mom won't get away with anything. It's been one long day so I think as soon as my wash is done it's bed time. Better luck tomorrow getting things done. Also, the rain can stop here any time now or I'm going to have to start to build an ark.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
We live in a rain forest...no arc needed!! LOL. Ohh, you went with me to get a button, that should count for something.
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
I'm glad your mom looks better ,you can never be to careful with heart problems .Don't concern your self with your list I guarantee it will still be there tomorrow .I've tried leaving mine but the darn fairy never comes in and does it for me .
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I sure hope your mom gets to feeling better. Heart problems are so scary! Richards grandmother had a couple of heart attacks last October and they rushed her in for surgery. The doctor came out and told us that she wouldn't live through the night...Now she is just as spunky as ever. She is 87 and gets around better now then she has in several years. Keep us informed on how she is doing... Kristie
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
I'm glad your mom is being taken care of by Kitty and I am glad she is feeling a little better. I know what you are saying about building an ark...as it was just Emma and I home today I mentioned to her something about an ark and getting a male springer spaniel...ohh hold on she was spayed...so much for her needing a male dog. LOL Hope you feel better! I know what it is like to be tired...I feel exhaused all the time lately. Ohh well I keep looking on the bright side Autumn is coming :-) Maureen
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - I know what you mean
Posted by born2quilt
I too started my day with a couple of things I needed to do but only got to do a couple. It is hard working nights. Even though I may have off two nights, it feels like only day off. If I work Tuesday night then I have to sleep Wednesday unilt around 2pm. There goes my first day off. Then I finally have off the next day...thursday. But back to work the next day at 7pm so it only feels like one day off. UGH! Steph
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
I'm glad your mom is looking better, Cindy. This darn weather has made my joints hurt so bad this afternoon and evening. It seems for the last week or so...or more....I have just been so tired, but it must be the weather, as others on this blog have complained of the same thing. The full moon is about upon us too. Hopefully, Saturday will be nice and we can get outside. I'm hoping for a nice motorcycle ride...up north maybe? Hmmmmm....
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - healing thoughts
Posted by take2quilter
to your mom and YOU from smoky California...we could use some of that rain to clear the air and put out the huge fire! Hope your mom is well soon and you are refreshed and have your energy back to keep up with Jen! jaja
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Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I hope the rain clears up. Or moves over here to sunny and HOT Cincinnati. We are still in a moderate drought even though northern Ohio is getting a TON of rain. I am just tired of standing in the heat and humidity and watering the flowers! :(
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Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi: Glad your mom is feeling better and yes there is always another day. I'm also tired all the time must be the weather and the exercise. It's very hot 40 in the city today. Hugs Mary Ann
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Laptop Computer

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

A nothing day

What a wasted day I've just had. My asthma was acting up so I stayed home from work today. I slept the day away. I laid down on the couch this afternoon and woke up and it was 6:30. My phone was right there and I didn't even hear it ring. I guess I was very sound asleep. With nothing done I guess like Kristie I should set a few goals for tomorrow.
1. Get up and force myself to go to work.
2. Work on my Project Linus blanket.
3. I really do need to grocery shop.

Stay tuned until tomorrow to see how many of those I accomplish.
Happy quilting all
-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Good luck on your list, Cindy!! I will keep my fingers crossed for you to get them done!
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Your body must have needed the sleep ,hope your feeling better . good luck with your list .
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Yes Cindy, I know exactly how you feel. With this infection I could care less if I do anything or not. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day... Kristie
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Now wait...charity night isn't until next MONDAY. You can snip here and there but that's it!!
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

It's Tuesday so that's movie night

Well in my world it's Tuesday night so that means it's dollar movie night. One of my friends and I like to go to the movie on Tuesday night because it's only a dollar. Tonight we went to see the Nancy Drew movie. I'm not sure how it happened but in my youth I never read a Nancy Drew book. Now I was a kid who would read anything that had print on it, I'm still that way. How that entire series escaped me I have no idea. Anyway now I think it's time to start reading them. The movie was cute and definetly worth a dollar. I can't wait to see what is next week. So now it's almost time for bed but I can still squeeze in a little sewing yet. I'm working on another Project Linus flannel quilt. It's time to start sewing the blocks together and this is the fun part because it finally starts to look like something.
From reading the other blogs it seems like this past weekend alot of us got new phones. I'm still trying to get used to my new one. Now I've had cell phones for probably the last 8 years. I get to the movie tonight and before it starts I was going to turn it off and I couldn't for the life of me get the thing to shut off. I finally found how to put it on silent and put it back in my purse. OK Jen when you read this don't laugh to hard at me. I guess I need to read a little more in that crazy book that came with the phone.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Glad you had a good time. Start checking half.com or ebay for old Nancy Drew books....or the library. Do you think they would still have them?
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
See, now that's something I can understand. You calling me earlier to ask your phone number that you've had for NINE years is what really freaking amazed me. I missed Nancy Drew too; do I see your influence there? I only ever read one of her books and I totally remember it. It was some mystery about some missing old lace. Hmmm, it appears I liked textiles back then and we didn't even know it. THe book's cover was pink, Nancy had white knee highs on and the writing was in green.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I saw the Nancy Drew movie. I took Claire, my niece, to see the movie on the Fourth of July and then we went to Red Robin. We had such a good time! And we really liked the movie! I told her that I would take her to see any other Nancy Drew movie that comes out!
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Oh, you just have to read the Nancy Drew books! I think I probably read every one of them when I was younger. Kristie
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Nancy Drew
Posted by take2quilter
When I was a girl, until I was married, we spent every summer in Kansas at my grandmother's. My dad would load us all in the car the last weekend in May and drive straight through only stopping for gas and meals! I still remember the sound of the bell at the gas stations and the clink of soda bottles. Anyway, my Mom would buy us each a book to read on the trip and I always got Little House on the Prairie (fitting you think?) or Nancy Drew. I still want a "roadster" like she drove. And I used to have Thursday night family cleaning night because we spent all of our weekends at either soccer, softball or baseball games. I think I might try it again, like you said it frees up the weekend for quilting. I am just too tired from a very stressful workday to do anything during the week. I would just make a mess of it. LOL Joanna
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi A dollar movie not in Ontario that's great. Nancy Drew yes I loved her books when I was young. Perhaps I should reread them I've started to read the Harry Porter books so why not Nancy Drew. Hugs Mary Ann
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Monday, August 20, 2007

Charity Sewing Night

Tonight Jen and I started a new thing and we're calling it Charity Sewing Night. We've decided that from now on we would sew for either Project Linus or Pillowcases for the Troops on Monday nights. Jen finished one flannel raggy quilt and I finished mine from yesterday and started another one. She also worked on pillowcases for her half hour that she's setting aside each time just for pillowcases.
I've really enjoyed making the flannel raggy quilt. Now I have to start doing all the snipping and then it's on to washing and drying it to make it fluff up.
I've very behind in my blogging of the past weekend and all I accomplished but I'm really tired so I think it's time for bed instead.
Cindy

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Monday, August 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Sounds fun! I still haven't made a rag quilt, but it is on my to do list. Kristie
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Monday, August 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Hey, you realize we don't have to wash and dry them right? Esp. since we have apartment washers. I think someone takes them all at once to a laundromat. THe only one I ever washed was that first one I made cause I wanted to see what it looked like.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Hey, don't you and Jen forget to use good snipping scissors. Joann's have them with pink handles, and I think Fons and Porter has a short scissors just for snipping through many layers. If you use regular scissors, you could really stir up your carpal tunnel and wear yourself out too! Good scissors make the job a snap!
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I agree about using the right scissors, but I am sure that you and Jen have all of the right tools! I am working on a rag quilt done in hexagons, but I haven't worked on it in forever! And I think that your Charity Monday's sounds great!
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Friday, August 17, 2007

Project Linus quilts

Wow what a day. I think I had a minor melt down at work today. There are days that my job is so stressful it could push me right over the edge. I normally like my job but today wasn't one of those days. Anyway I really just wanted to come home tonight and take a nap but I had promised my Mom I would come over and help her sew. She now has three more project linus quilts done so that brings her total to three. She's having a ball doing them which is good. I told her I'd drop her somemore off this next week. I've got pictures but I'm so tired I'm off to bed and I'll post them tomorrow.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cowgirl4ever
Hope your feeling better tomorrow. I have gotten fabric ironed and ready to sew but haven't been able to sit still. Can't wait to see your pictures. I want to get my mom into sewing but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe when I come back from arizona
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Your mom is doing great ,its good that she is enjoying it .I've had one of those days myself you'll feel better after a good nights sleep
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Saturday, August 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Hope you got some much needed sleep. I think that is great that your mom is back sewing. My mom used to sew constantly, but in the past couple of years she just hasn't touched it. Kristie
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Saturday, August 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Your mom ROCKS!! I hope that you got some sleep!
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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Housekeeping

Thursday nights are my laundry nights and cleaning night. I figure if I get it all done on Thursday night I have the weekend free. Jen can attest to the fact that I'm forever cleaning and I'm always doing laundry. In my apartment I have small stackable washer and dryers so it's constant small loads. Tonight started off slow but now the bathroom is done and a load of laundry is done. Maybe on or two more to go. I've been thinking about sewing. I need to make a few more runaround purses so I think tonights the night or I could try a wonder wallet. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Come clean my house! Mine is a mess! Just sit down take you a break from cleaning and sew something, I promise it will make you feel better. Kristie
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cowgirl4ever
I got a couple books yesterday one on cleaning made easy and another on organizing made easy... do I think that they will really help? No probably not but I'm going to read them for the ideas anyway. Those wonder wallets are so fast and easy.. I imagine that they would be great craft fair/ bazaar projects. Gifts too.. I have made a couple in the last month.
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Goodness you have done enough for one day .I got up at 7 and started quilting and stayed at it till 9 this evening needless to say nothing got done but the dishes .Now I like a tidy house but you just need to have those days where you say, phooey it will be there tomorrow .Can't wait to see what you decide to make ,don't forget the pics .
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Yipee!! I see that this is your 100th post!!! Kristie
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
Well when I finished cleaning I sat down on the couch and that was the end of me. I just woke up and it's 4 hours later and time for bed. I sure do alot of sleeping lately. Cindy
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MoneikQuilts
Congrats on post 100! I was hoping to catch you, but you just keep writing more and more! Sometimes I clean, sometimes I sew, sometimes I sleep. Depends on what I need! Have a good night.
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Sometimes I like to have things cleaned up when I sew, too. More often than not, the house is messy and I am sewing away!
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
My house is relatively neat, but my sewing area is the pits. I really need to get to that because it's bugging me. Rhoda
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
You know, it's funny. I have the same stackable washer and dryer. There's two of us and I know we wear a lot more clothing than you do. Mike changes out of his work clothes and puts something on for after work. By about 9 he's changing into his pj's which is a different t-shirt and a different pair of gym shorts. I change clothes when I come home from work too. We have double the bath towels. Yet, I only do wash once a week AND we do all of our clothes that need to hang dry in our bathroom separate from the clothes that dry just so we don't accidentially leave them in the dryer so I KNOW we do much more laundry volume wise. I don't get the constant washing thing for one person...I just for the life of me can't wrap my head around it. You go through much more laundry detergent than I do too. I think my original 4 oxy balls lasted until like February...I remember this because it wasn't until GMA was in the hospital and I had to fill some of her prescriptions that I realized PNS had them and bought a new stock of them. I'm STILL using those; it will probably be many months before I tap into my new ones from State Fair.
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Project Linus

I just wanted to update everyone on how my Mom's sewing went today. I talked to her before I had my little nap. She was very upbeat and didn't need any help tonight. She had been sewing most of the day and has one top completed and the second one is together but she realized she sewed the last two rows together wrong and has to take out that seam. I told her I'd come and do it tomorrow night for her if she could wait. She'll wait for me because Friday she said she needs to "clean'. Hopefully I can get her borders on and then take pictures of her latest two tops to post. For someone who hasn't sewn in 20 years, has macular degeneration and age degeneration she's doing pretty darn good. I can see where Jen gets her sewing stamina from.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Trina
I look forward to seeing the pictures!
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
How wonderful ,she is probably having a great time .I hope she meets some new quilting Friends when you have the meeting .It will probably change her whole out look .
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
That is sooooo great! I'm glad that she is getting back in to sewing. My grandmother used to sew daily but after my grandfather died 5 yrs go, she hasn't sewn. She just sits there, we have offered to go up there and cut her pieces out and stuff, but she always comes up with excuses. Kristie
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
good for her! I'm sure time goes more quickly when she has something to do. Rhoda
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Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Ohh, if you do go over there; if there's time can you put the borders on? The bindings are done and then we could take them with us on Saturday to drop off. How Cool!! Don't forget to take the pictures so we can upload them to one of our blogs.
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Peaceful Vacation Day

Today I took a vacation day since I had a Dr's appointment. First I went and all went well then this afternoon Murphy went in for another glucose test. He's finally on the way down. They upped the insulin a little more and we go again in 10 days. This is such a long process but I'd better get used to these ups and downs.

I had so many plans for today. I was going to straighten up a bit and then do some sewing. Wellllllll, I came home this afternoon and I fell asleep and slept my vacation day away. Guess I really needed the sleep. Keep your fingers crossed that I get something done this evening.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
So glad that Murphy is starting to do better. Have you heard anything else about them trying to ban him from the apartments? Sorry, you didn't get finished what you had planned, but sounds like you needed the rest. I know I have slept on and off all day. Kristie
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Glad to hear he's on his way back down!!
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
I'm glad the meds are working for him - poor boy. I would say you needed the sleep! Rhoda
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by scissorhandscps
Glad to hear Murphy is on the mend :0) You really must have needed it! Sometimes sleep is priceless. glad you were able to catch up on some. :0)
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
So glad to hear your baby is feeling better!! I have a black lab and I know how close you can get to an dog. You must have been stressed and needed the rest. Take care. Hugs Mary Ann
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Jill, where are you

I'm still waiting to hear how Jill's date went. Now that she has us all hooked on her dating life inquiring minds want to know. Let us know when you can. Things must be going well or she'd be home already. Could this one be a keeper? Stay tuned for another episide of " Jill Dates"

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I am here! I am home - safe and sound. I will make a post now with an update on the date!
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
That is sooo funny, I was just wondering the SAME thing.
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Grandma and project linus

I had a call this evening around 7 and it was my mom and she was all worked up about her sewing machine. She was having trouble threading the machine and needed help. I told her I'd be right there. I only live 3 miles from her apartment so off I went. It seems she was trying to thread the machine and kept missing the last three places that the thread goes. She has macular degeneration so it's hard for her to see but she's determined that she needs to sew. Anyway I got her retheaded and she sat right down to sew again. She's working on project linus quilts and she's so happy doing it but she's really pushing herself. She wants perfection and she isn't there yet but she'll be there soon. She used to be able to sit and sew all day and she so enjoyed it. You can just see how her mind is going and she's starting to think of other quilts that she can do. It does give her something to do all day. By tomorrow she'll have two tops finished and ready for more.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Giggle. I'll have to stop there after work to get her tops and put the borders on. Maybe I should come home first and get her some more kits from your house to start on.
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Ladies, that is awesome that your mom/granma is that determined to sew! It is inspiring what with the macular degneration and all!
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Does she have a large magnifying glass? I remember that is what my Grandma Opal used. She had one that she carried in her apron and another that had a movable arm on it that attached to her sewing machine. She moved it down in place and looked through it to see to sew. Kristie
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Cindy, How happy you must be to see your mom so excited about something again! Kristie's idea about the magnifying glass is a good one! Sleep well...God is so proud of you and Jen! Michelle
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Meeting a Cereal Killer

Like I mentioned last night I've made many great friends by meeting them on the internet in some form of quilting group. One of the ladies that I met on the internet couldn't make our first meeting with the rest of the group. She was extremely busy at the time helping to take care of her sister who had cancer. Anyway she was in town for a few days and emailed me to see if I would like to meet her for dinner. I saw nothing wrong with this but Jen thought this was just a crazy idea. What, go to a restaurant and meet up with a total stranger. Heck Kay was no stranger she was a quilting friend. So in order to be able to leave the house Jen made me take her cell phone with me. This was back when I didn't have one. Anyway I was also to call her to let her know that I was alright. I had told Kay that Jen was afraid I was going to be meeting a serial killer and we had a good laugh at it. When I was talking to Jen Kay took the phone from me and proceeded to tell Jen that she had never in her life killed a box of cereal and she wasn't about to start now. We've been laughing about this for years. Fast forward to Jen and Mike's wedding and Kay had said she was coming. She wouldn't miss it for the world and she'd be there with bells on. I didn't think of the bells on until I was walking Jen down the aisle and we got to the pew where Kay was sitting and I looked over and she had sewn tiny little jingle bells to the bottom of the top she had on. As we went by I heard this tiny little jingle. See now that's what makes a great friend.
Just wanted to share that with all of you.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by terry4321
That is way cool !
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Thats a nice story but I agree with Jen take someone with you when you go to meet new people ,you just never know .
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Cool story!! that's too funny!
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Yes, Kay will be forever in my heart the "Cereal Killer." Somewhere along the line I seem to remember getting a mini box of cereal with a plastic knife through the center of it from her!! LOL
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Trina
That's a neat story. I think you can make wonderful friends on the internet!!
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Vera
Well how cool. Love the bells that is too funny....I always hear people say I will be there with bells on but never before heard of anyone actually doing it.
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Hi Cindy! You never have to worry about me kiling cereal, HOWEVER, you might want to worry about your CHOCOLATE!...and Peanut butter! Michelle
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Neat story - made my day. Hugs Mary Ann
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Laptop Computer

Monday, August 13, 2007

Blog Archives 4/29/2007 to 8/13/2007

Monday, August 13, 2007 - A new friend and a present, WOW what a day

I had mentioned before that last Saturday Jen and I went to Waunakee to the quilt store there and met up with Michelle from our blog and her quilting friends. They came all the way from Iowa to meet up with us. What a great bunch of ladies and of course what a great guy Michelle's husband Louie is. There aren't too many men who would be the chauffeure for a van full of quilting ladies on a mission. Anyay we got to the store just a few minutes apart. Jen and I were standing in the store probably with our mouths hanging open looking at everything when Michelle found us. What a sweetie she is. We all clicked right away. I have to tell you all a little story about meeting quilters.

Quite a few years ago I had off the week between Christmas and New Years. I knew absolutely nothing about computers but Jen had one and tried a few times to show me how to use it. Anyway to make a long story short I ended up in the Quilters Chat room and the rest is history. I started chatting every chance I had staying up late into the night to chat with my new friends. After a couple of months it was decided that we were going to have a get together and meet the ones from around here who could make it. We had a great first meeting with lunch and a show and tell. We were so used to calling everyone by their screen names that to this day that is still how we refer to each other. That's where I got my nick name of Snip. We've shared alot of things through the years from marriages to divorces to deaths. We've stayed close and are always there when one of us needs something. We don't get together as much as we used to because some of us are working and can't get away. We no longer chat in the chat room but through emails or phone calls. I guess where I was going with this is I think that is where the, friendships made in this blog are headed. It's great to think that you can take total strangers and in a short period of time they feel like family, they become family. So, the newest member in Jen's and my family is Michelle.
Here's the three of us outside a quilt store in Sun prairie.

Michelle brought me a surprise that she made and here it is. A really pretty litter bag for my car and a thread bag/pin cushion for my sewing table.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Saturdays Purchases

This is a roll of fabric that I bought on our shopping trip on Saturday to Mill House Quilts. I saw these colors and the patterns and just knew that I had to have it. I've decided to make myself the "Yellow Brick Road" pattern using this. I just really like the soft colors of peach, green and purple. I'm going to make a lap sized quilt just to have in the livingroom because I can.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Murphy in Disguise

I was on my way home from work today when I got a call from Jen. As most of you know we live in the same apartment complex. Last month there was a dog that bit someone and it was put down. I didn't even know what kind of dog or what apartment. So fast forward one month and today they put a letter in everyones door saying that because of this certain kinds of dogs are being banned from the complex. Low and behold Murphy is on the list but the dog who did the biting a golden retreiver isn't on the list. So I went right to the office on my way home. In the mean time Jen went to my house to let Murphy out and she sent Mike to meet me at the office. I had to wait a little while for the manager but there was no way I was going to leave without talking to her. Granted Murphy is a Doberman but he is the most mild mannered dog I've ever had. He gives a whole new meaning to the words laid back. There is not one viscious bone in that dogs body. Anyway, she said the insurance company is telling the corporation that owns our complex that there is a list of certain dogs that can't be there. Now let me go back six years to when I applied for my apartment and Murphy had to be approved by management. I took in a picture of him and I even took in Murphy and they let him in. I paid a seperate security deposit for him above and beyond the one for the apartment. I pay a little extra each month in rent because I have a dog. My dog is NEVER outside without a chain on him. I clean up after my dog and he's done no damage. Now they have me really worried because I don't know what I'll do if they say he has to go. He's my life. He's a diabetic that requires special care. He suffers from great seperation anxiety so I know he wouldn't be able to live with anyone else.
To try and find a little humor in the situation I took some of the hats from my lawn goose and put them on him and took his picture. This way if he has to go into hiding these are going to be his disguises.

The first picture is Murphy as a yard Gnome. Next Murphy as a bumble bee. Murphy as a sunflower. Murphy as a Red Hatter.

Murphy as the Bride of Frankenstein and last but not least, Murphy as Murphy just a smiling away. Anyway I just thought I'd share these pictures. Let me know what you think. Maybe the witness protection plan would take him>>>>>>>>

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Saturday, August 11, 2007 - A fun filled Saturday

Today was a wonderful Saturday for me. It started out with Jen picking me up and we went just outside of Madison to a great quilt store. We were going to meet up with Michelle from the blog and her quilting friends. They all came up in a huge van to meet us, shop the quilt store and of course do lunch. It was so much fun to meet all the ladies and of course their chauffeur, Louie, he's Michelle's husband. I bought fabric and patterns and I promise tomorrow I'll take pictures and post them. The it was time for lunch and then on to Sun Prairie to another quilt store JJ Stitches. Bought a couple of small patterns there and that was fun too. Our day came to an end and we all had to say goodbye but it was so much fun. Thank you ladies for coming all this way so we could spend the day together. And, an even bigger thank you to Michelle for my presents. She made me a wonderful quilted garbage bag for my car and a great thread catcher/pincushion for my sewing area. I promise pictures of those tomorrow too.

On to part two of the day. Jen and I headed home and once home decided that we were going to go to the Wisconsin State Fair. We're really lucky because we live in West Allis and the fair is in West Allis. Quickly fed my dog, grabbed Mike and off to the fair we went. I happen to haveo a girl friends who lives across the street from the fair grounds so we parked at her house instead of having to pay anywhere from $10 to $20 to park. Across the street we went and while we were waiting to buy tickets a nice man gave me a free ticket, saved another $8. It was crowded and it drizzled a little but we managed to see everything that we wanted to see in a short period of time. It was actually too hot to eat. Normally we have cream puffs too since that is one of the highlights of our fair but we passed on those. I'll go ahead and make them for us next week. Mike and I did have our corn on the cob, Jen her deepfried cheese curds, they had the flavored milk. We used to have a senator Herb Kohl who had a milk stand and for 25 cents you could have flavored milk. I think they had mocha and rootbeer flavored milk. We watched a little of the clydesdale horses the two hitch competition and moved on. Walked through the cow barn and it was time to hit what we call the "junk" buildings. First stop was the oriental village. Wow we ran across this great little purse that is one continueous zipper. Again I promise pictures tomorrow. Jen and I each bought one and i think they were like $6. Nothing else grabbed us in that area so off we went. Next stop was the flower building that now also is the new home of the baked goods competition, garments and quilts. Wow some of those quilts were unreal. Jen took lots of pictures so I'm sure she'll post them. They had an area where kids entered vegetables that they grew. OK so what makes a tomatoe the blue ribbon winning tomatoe? Inquiring minds want to know. After that building we had to go and meet up with Mike because he sat outside and listened to the Brewer Game while we were in that building. Now it was time for the BIG exposition building where they sell everything from nuts to hot tubs to trucks. That is always a fun place to look. We were on a mission, we wanted more Oxy Clean detergent balls. Jen and I bought them last year and they work so great that we wanted more. Bam there they were and in we went for the buy. We ended up getting 4 balls, the bags to put them into in the washer and a container of orange cleaner and all for only $20. That is a bargain because in the grocery store or WalMart they are almost $7 for one ball. We were very happy. Then up and down all the aisles we went. Next purchase was when the kids bought a pound of fudge. It was then almost 10 PM and that building was closing. Our last stop there was for some carpet and stain cleaner for pets. They bought it two years ago and it works great so I bought some too. We were done and heading out when I decided that it's time that Murphy wears a tag that not only has his name and phone number on it but it should also say that he's insulin dependent. So of course they have all kinds of booths that etch the tag so he's a proud new owner of a great little tag in the shape of a stop sign with all his information on it. Then out the gate we went and now we're home.
It's been a very long day but tons of fun. My feet are killing me and I'm pooped so it's time for bed.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Monday, August 6, 2007 - More Organizing

Well today I finished organizing the fabric cabinet. Everything is in stacks according to color. There must have been a time in my life when I was into buying panels to make things. I have them for all the holidays and not little ones either. Big full sized door panels from rabbits for Easter to lots of Christmas ones. I'm not sure if I'll ever make them and if not they will go to charity. While I was at it I straightened up the spare room some too. Then I spent the rest of my time making yo yo's. Next I have to borrow the circle cutter from Jen again so I can cut another batch. Soon I'll have to start sewing my garland together to see how it looks.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Time to organize

Today was spent sewing with Jen. We did both of our BOM's and then I went into my spare room and stared at all my fabric that had attacked that room. I spent a better part of the afternoon going through fabric and trying to organize it. I have a cabinet that I keep my fabric in so it's in piles according to color. Of course Jen laughed at some of the pieces that I had. She was also amazed that the entire top shelf is all Christmas fabric. Straightening out things really makes me feel good. Now again I know what I have and I can hopefully get some things made using my stash. I found quite a few more UFO's that were hiding in the mess. I know have a basket that holds all the UFO's that need to be completed. Hopefully I won't be adding to this stack. I did find a few table runners using snowmen that I had started, a Halloween table runner that needs I'm not sure what but something and a partially finished baby
quilt that I can't find the pattern for. I might just have to make it into some other pattern. It's all sewn together into strips so who knows how I'll finish it. Now it's time to go and finish up some more yo yo's.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Quilting with my Sister Kitty

This is my sister Kitty. She's the one I've been telling you all about who is learning how to quilt now that she's retired. The first picture is of her in Joann's buying her fabrics.
The next picture is taken at my Mom's where Jen and I worked with Kitty to teach her how to use a rotary cutter, mat and ruler. She took to cutting fabric like a duck takes to water. The girls a natural at it and not in the least bit afraid of cutting. In the last picture she's ironing her quilt top. Kitty decided to go ahead and make a baby quilt for a soon to be new Grandaughter. The pattern she is making is the Split Rail since we thought that would be a nice one for her to learn on. She sat happily a couple of weeks ago at her dining room table just a sewing away. Next we have to get together with her so she can put borders on the top and then layer it up. I can't wait to see what she decides to make next. Her mind is already full of all the things that she could make for the babies room. It's fun to see someone so exciting about learning to quilt. I just found out the other day that she signed up for a beginning quilting class at our local technical college. I know the instructor since she heads up our Friday night BOM. She's going to really enjoy her class. Stay tuned to see what she makes next.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Friday Night July BOM

This block is from our Friday night block of the month group. We're almost finished with this one so I can't wait to be able to put my blocks together into a quilt top.
I had to change my block slightly since I didn't have enough of the blue blocks. We get all of our fabric cut just so for us and I was missing 4 blue blocks. I switched a few things around and here it is.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Moda-U BOM

This is the latest in my BOM from Moda U. We go to a local quilt store called Bits N Pieces for this one. What a great group of ladies. I chose the Spring version and there also is a Fall version in brown tones. We have to go until January to finish this one. So, this is how I spent part of my day.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Saturday, August 4, 2007 - The quilts are done

Well tonight I sewed on the last of the bindings onto the quilts that Jen made. It was such a feeling of accomplishment to be able to help her out with this project. Tomorrow if it isn't raining we'll take pictures of all of them so she can post them for all of you to see. While I sewed tonight Jen made pillow cases to "wrap" the quilts in. Now a little relaxation time and then it's time for bed and a little reading. Gee I wonder what I'll sew tomorrow?

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

Saturday, August 4, 2007 - Discouraging Vet Visit

Well Murphy and I are home from the vet and I'm very dicouraged. Murphy was diagnosed as a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic in early spring. We got his levels where they needed to be and all was going along just fine that is until about two weeks ago. I noticed his water consumption was up so into the vet we went. His glucose level was twice what it had been. Higher insulin was the adjustment. Now I watch this dog like a hawk when it comes to food and every thing else. Today he was even higher. They have no answers for me just keep an eye on him and up the dosage again. This is very discouraging. We aren't doing anything different so what is going on? Sorry I just needed to vent.
Cindy

Thursday, August 2, 2007 - A quilter is born

Last week I wrote about my sister Kitty who decided that she wanted to start quilting. Jen and I helped her with a baby quilt. This is the first thing she's sewn and she did a great job. Anyway I was talking with her today and she's signed herself up for a beginning quilting class at our local technical institute. The good thing is her teacher is the woman who heads up our BOM on Friday nights, Wendy. Kitty is going to learn so very much from Wendy. It's really good to be able to have this in common with one of my sisters. I'm just so proud of how she's just hopped in and given it a try. Now she's talking about turning her rec room in the basement into a sewing room so she can just leave her things out and walk away. I see lots of fabric in her future.
Cindy

Thursday, August 2, 2007 - Great movie night

I just got home from the movies. Yeah I know I just went the other night but that was a crummy movie so tonight we went back of course we had to pay $2. We finally saw the movie "Disturbia". It's patterned after the old movie Rear Window only it takes place in the suburbs. Let me just say if any of you like suspense movies that's the one to see. It was really good. So, now that I'm home it's time to put the binding on one of Jen's quilts. She's getting ahead of me so it's time for me to kick it up a notch.
Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday and then comes the weekend and time to quilt. I'm getting so many ideas from reading everyones blogs that I don't know where to start first. So many things to make and so little time to do them.
Cindy (Peony the House Elf )

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - Crummy Movie Night

Tonight at one of our local movie theatres it's dollar night. Normally a movie there is two dollars but Tuesday is only a dollar. I was going to meet one of my girlfriends and see a movie. Well, us and everyone else. I got there almost half an hour before the movie and there were long lines. It is pretty hot here so I think alot of people were just trying to cool off. We were going to see a movie call Disturbia. It's subposed to be on the lines of the old movie Rear Window. So I wait in this line for 20 minutes and finally get in the door and there is a sign that Disturbia and Wild Hogs will not be seen tonight. Now what? Jeanne is waiting inside so I just buy a ticket and go in. We ended up seeing a Disney movie called Meet the Robinsons. OK so for kids it was good but it wasn't my ksind of movie. But the popcorn was good. So now I'm home and it's time for some quilting. I'm going to put on a binding for Jen. She always does her own bindings but I'm helping her out with these quilts that she's doing since she has a deadline.
Cindy ( Peony The House Elf )

Monday, July 30, 2007 - Cleaning, what a miserable job

I actually got quite a bit done tonight but none of it was quilting. I was whipping through this place doing laundry, vacuuming, cleaned out the fridge and in general straightened up. Now tomorrow night since all of this is done I can finally sit down and quilt. I still ha ve to straighten out my spare room but that's one giant project. Since I live in an apartment with no other storage I use my extra bedroom for storage. I have all kinds of storage bins stacked up with Christmas, pictures, fabric and more fabric and just odd things. This room is going to get it little by little and I hope to get rid of a good portion of the stuff in here. OK it's time to make the bed and then I'm off to sleep. Tomorrow I QUILT.
Cindy (Peony The House Elf)

Monday, July 30, 2007 - Peony the House Elf checking In

Hi all, well I moved my binding of Jen's quilts back to my house. I had been sewing at her house all weekend and feeling guilty about leaving Murphy alone so much since he isn't feeling well. I now have to do the blue quilt and she just finished the pink and purple one tonight. I also need to clean here a little so this week I'll finish them. She was just starting to stipple the kind sized log cabin when I was leaving. She's a little afraid of that one but she's going to be fine. It's sooooooo big but if she takes it slow I figure three day's she'll be done. She's got lots of determination.

I took over alot of the brats that we had from work last Friday for our cook out. They were partially cooked so Mike finished them off on the grill for dinner. Now we each have enough to last us all week for lunches. Well time to clean and vacuum a little before I start on the next binding.
Cindy ( Peony the House Elf )

Sunday, July 29, 2007 - A day in the life of a house elf

Today is my first official day as Jen's house elf. I finally got my name and it's Peony. We got a little bit later start today but still had a very productive day. We went to our LQS because it was dollar fat quarter weekend. Now I need more fat quarters like I need a hole in my head but that didn't stop me from buying 32 more. I'm starting to think ahead to the holidays and what I can make for people. I bought quite a few that are great for Christmas. I'm thinking about making this the year of the purse and making those for gifts. Then it was home to pick up Murphy and go to Jen's. Today my job was to clip all of the basting tacks from the green quilt so that I could put the binding on. That took me forever since we probably had 800 or more in the quilt. With that done I trimmed up the quilt and put on the binding. Next up was the blue quilt and I finally finished taking out the tacks and it was time to go home for the night. I have to finish laundry so I can go to work tomorrow. After work tomorrow I'll go back to Jen's and trim the blue quilt and put on the binding and then start taking out the binding tacks on the pink and purple one. I'd like to know where that girl gets her energy from because I could use some of it. In two days she has now machine quilted three quilts. I'm sure she finished the pink and purple one after I left because she already had it 3/4 done. I get tired just watching her.

Came home to do laundry and while I was watching TV thought I would straighten up my sewing area. It looks bare without my machine but I left it at Jen's until my job as the quilt binder is done. I dug around and found all kinds of 6 inch swap blocks that I had been accumulating for years. I found kits that I had for small wall hangings so all of that is now organized in bins. All of this is starting to take over my living room and mysnack bar. It's a good thing I live alone. A little more straightening and it's time for bed. Little by little I'll get this place whipped into shape.
Cindy, ( Peony the House Elf)

Saturday, July 28, 2007 - A day of sewing

So far today has been a very productive day sewing wise. This morning I went with Jen to Franks Sewing Center to use his large classroom tables and we basted 4 quilts in around two and a half hours. Next it was time to take Murphy to the vet. I don't know if I've ever mentioned before but in early spring Murphy, my Doberman, who is five was diagnosed with type 1, insulin dependent diabetes. I almost lost him and I was scared to death. Anyway we've now got him under control and he eats a special diet and gets insulin injections from me twice a day. Anyway early in the week I noticed he was drinking alot more water. Sign number one that something is wrong. So today he went in to have a glucose test done. Sure enough his level was up to 360 and normal for him is 170. There is no explanation as to why this happens it just does. His diet is the same, his insulin is the same his body just got thrown out of whack. Anyway I now just increase his insulin and we test him again next week. With that done I took him home so he could sleep and went on over to Jen's to see how the quilting was coming. Her stippling on the green quilt is really very pretty. My job is to make binding for the four quilts and sew on the binding so she can keep on quilting. I have enough binding done for the three quilts and I still have to make the binding for the big log cabin quilt. So far she's right on schedule with these jobs. Time to get back to work before she wonders where I am and comes looking for me.
Cindy

Saturday, July 28, 2007 - Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Back in 2001 the year that the kids were married I decided early in the year that I was going to make them a Double Wedding Ring Quilt as a gift. I happened to go out to visit my sister Karen in Arizona in January and bought a lot of southwestern fabric at that time. I knew that it was a look that Jen and Mike really liked. Once home I started making the quilt. It took me atleast 8 months to make it. I cut everyone of those little pieces and sewed them back together again. Sometimes I'd get started and have everything out and Jen would call and say she was coming over. I'd have to quickly put everything away to make it look like I was doing nothing. Finally the quilt was done and all I needed was a label for the back. I used one of the extra blocks and I was finished. I gave it to them a couple of days before the wedding. First they didn't know what to say and then they kept on saying how pretty it was. This quilt was made with much love. It hangs on a quilt rack in their home and it's really the first thing you see when you get to the top of the stairs.
Tonight when we were outside taking pictures of her green quilt we took this one too.
Cindy

Friday, July 27, 2007 - I've made a decision

I've made a decision tonight and I need for all of you to know it so then that way I have to do it. Now I'm raising my right hand and saying, " I Cindy do here by promise that I will clean up the clutter in my apartment. I promise to do a little at a time until things are straightened up and I can find what I'm looking for." Now I need for all of you to keep on me so that it gets done. All this came about tonight after I got home from Joann's with Jen. I went to clip Murphy's nails, since he has a vet appointment tomorrow, and for the first time I clipped one of them too short. Now I know somewhere in this place I have a brand new little bottle of stuff that you use to put on the nail so it stops bleeding. Well, I can't find it and normally when I'm looking for other things I'm always running across it. I ended up going to the neighbors and she had some. So this is it I have to make time every day to tackle some portion of my place. I need to toss and sort and toss somemore. There I just tossed out three things while sitting at my computer. It's progress, small baby steps.
Cindy

Thursday, July 26, 2007 - Nothing is getting done

At work today I decided that tonight when I got home from work I'd start straightening up. So far I've been home since 4:30 and I can honestly say I haven't accomplished a thing. It seems I keep moving from one thing to another. I've started straightening up my sewing area. Then I'd jump to putting things away. Next I'd watch a little tv and then I'd think of something else to do. So now it's bedtime and I haven't really accomplished anything. For a while I was out with the dog and chatting with mouy neighbors.

Tomorrow at work we're having a cook out. Just brats, Italians and hot dogs with all the fixings. I had to bring home a box of Italian sausages tonight because they wanted them to be pre-cooked before we put them on the grill. Now I don't know about any of you but I don't do this for myself. This is happens to be not only our month end at work but also our fiscal year end. There is so much going on and on top of it all they threw a new phone system and new phones at us yesterday afternoon. It's really funny how quickly a person can loose call. Anyway on top of all of this we're having a picnic. I think it's time for me to go to bed since all I can smell now is the Italian sausages and that's all I have on my mind is eating one.
Cindy

Sunday, July 22, 2007 - Busy Saturday

Saturday was another busy day around here. First it was off to BOM with Jen. We're doing a BOM and it's a Moda University block. We're doing the spring one so light and pretty colors. The LQS that we go to for this has also been having fat quarters on sale for $1 .00 each. I bought a bunch last week that I'm using on my Yo Yo's for the Christmas tree garland and yesterday I dug through the bin and picked out some in more fall colors. I'm already thinking ahead towards Christmas presents and birthday presents for the ladies at work. I think I'll start assembly line sewing some Lazy Girl Designs and do the RunAround bags. They only take a couple offat quarters and a zipper. I'll just watch for the next zipper sale. Then it was on to pick up my Mom and go for haircuts. I love my mother dearly but there are days that she does get to me. I have to keep reminding myself that she is 87 and this is all a part of getting older. After haircuts we went back to her apartment to pick up her sewing, we were going to my sisters for an afternoon of sewing. Now my Mom I've mentioned before lives in a retirement building. She doesn't socialize with the others in the building. But my sisters and I do. We were leaving and the lady next door stopped us in the hallway to chat. A very nice lady so I thought if we stood and chatted a while my Mom would make a new friend. After about 20 minutes we left and the first thing she said was wow can that woman talk I thought she'd never shut up. So off I go again explaining to her it was just polite conversation and getting to know her neighbors. Then on to the exciting part of the day.

I wrote the other day about taking my sister Kitty to the fabric shop since she'd like to learn to quilt. I have to brag here she is one fast learner. By the time I left yesterday she had her first baby quilt top done and just needed to put borders on it. She's making a split rail fence quilt for a new grand baby that will be born in November. She's never done any kind of crafting before and she sat happily at her machine and was humming and smiling as she was sewing. This is GREAT. Jen was there and helping her along the way. It was so good to see the progress she made. So there we were Mom, Jen, Kitty and I all sitting around the diningroom table sewing away. By the time I got home I was so tired I put my sewing things away and Jen came over and I fell asleep on the couch. Todays another sewing day.
Cindy

Saturday, July 21, 2007 - Harry Potter

Hi all just a quick blog and then I"m off and running for the rest of the day. Last night Jen and I went to sit at Barns N Noble and wait for midnight to get out Harry Potter books. It's become a tradition for us to do this and we always have fun. Last night was no exception. We got there early around 5:45 because we had heard they were going to shut the store down once they had 900 people in it. We went armed with food and drink and of course our Yo Yo's to work on. Already at that time you couldn't find a place to sit so we pulled up a piece of carpet in the corner and camped out. We flipped through all kinds of quilting magazine and then a huge stack of quilting blocks. We then settled in to start on our Yo Yo's. I was onto my second one and of course Jen had done about 6 already and I kept saying how hard they were to finish off. YEAH because I was doing them wrong. We had a good laugh and Jen showed me the right way. What a difference now they are so much easier. While sitting there my old boss Lynn found us and joined us. The party atmosphere kept growing and so did the noise in the place. I got up and walked around and couldn't believe all the people that were there. They were sitting everywhere and even had sleeping bags and pillows. Finally it was time and they counted down to midnight when you could pay for your books and leave. We got out of the store right around 12:45 which wasn't bad. When we got outside we saw the longest line of people who hadn't been able to get in the store yet. We drove around and looked and there had to be atleast 2000 or more people outside. Anyway I have a new pair of harry potter glasses that glow in the dark and my book. I was so tired I only read the first chapter but I'm again hooked.

We'll spend the day helping my sister the new quilter with her quilt and tonight I'm READING.
Cindy

Thursday, July 19, 2007 - A new quilter is born

Tonight was so much fun. I am the youngest of 6 in my family. My sister Kitty is 6 years older than I am. On December 31of last year she officially retired. Now she's decided she needs a hobby. Her daughter is going to have her second child in November so Kitty is going to make baby quilts. Off to Joanns Jen and I went to help her pick out fabric. She brought my Mom along so there we were again three generations of women in a fabric store. Kitty is going to start out with a split rail fence pattern. She bought three really cute pieces of fabric in pinks and purples. Then my Mom had given her a piece that is blocks and in each block is either a bear or a bunny. She bought a soft lavevender flannel for the back of that. Off to my Mom's house we went to start Kitty out on cutting out her quilt. Let me just go back a second. While in the store she we ask if she needs anything else and she says really full of confidence that no because she has a scissors. Well of course we laughed at that. She left the store with a cutting matt, rotary cutter and a ruler.Jen started her out showing her how to square up fabric and then within a matter of minutes she had all her strips cut out and ready to sew. She was too cute thinking about all the things she could make for the baby. Saturday we'll all get together and sew in the afternoon. She's going to sew her strips together tomorrow. So, another quilter is born.

Cindy

Thursday, July 19, 2007 - people are strange

I know this isn't sewing related but I need to get this off my chest. I don't know if any of you know but I've been the Queen Mother of my Red Hat Society group for 5 years now. I am one of the founding members of our chapter. We had a very small group only nine of us because they never wanted to expand. Right now I am the youngest one is the group and I'll be 55 next month. Anyway through the years they have gotton a little odd. Anyway last Saturday we were to have a party for one of the members because she's decided to live with a man and not marry him. Now I'm not old fashioned but when someone says they don't want to get married because they don't want to loose their freedom then I start to question why are they together at all? She was engaged to this man 55 years ago and when he went to Korea during the war she dumped him and married someone else. Fast forward 55 years and her husband passes away. She learns that his wife has also passed away so she gets in touch with him and they go out. They see each other for about three weeks and they are engaged. Another month goes by and he's moving in with her and selling his house. She keeps say ing she doesn't want to loose her freedom. I never hear her say she loves him but he's moving in. Now all of a sudden we are to have a party for her and they are calling it a "living in sin" party. Something about this whole thing doesn't seem right to me and I keep telling Jen I don't want to go I'm not comfortable going. So, I decide it's my life and I don't go. All bloody heck breaks loose because I'm not there. Now keep in mind when any of the other members don't go to something it's perfectly alright. I don't go and it's the end of the world. Next thing I know one of them is suggesting I resign and someone else take over. I send her my resignation and she comes back with she won't say anything until I email the whole group. I come home today and there have been all kinds of emails going back and forth and it's very apparent that she did tell them all because they are talking about who should take over. Anyway for me it's OK I've made some good friends and then some so so friends that I wont' be seeing again. I sent the entire group my resignation and also told them I was done with the chapter.
I really do like being a Red Hat but not when it's with a group who never wants to do anything. There idea of fun is to sit at one anothers house and constantly eat. There I feel better now that I got that off my chest and out of my system. Thank you for letting me rant.
Cindy

Sunday, July 15, 2007 - Brewers Win

Another hot but exciting day here. I went to the Brewers game with Jen, Mike, and Debbie. Man was it hot out there and of course I didn't think to take a hat or a visor or for that matter sun screen. Oh well bought a hat at the game. Best money I've spent in a long time. Now I just need to vent a little about people who take small children and even babies to the ball game. It's no place for them. One couple infront of us had a baby maybe 4 months old. Granted they had a hat on him but it sure didn't look like any sun screen was on him. They sat there drinking bottled water, sodas and even ice cream and he never got anything not even a drink of water. Did they not have a relative or friend or a baby sitter he could have stayed with. Finally in the 7th inning the Mom took him up and into the shade. Well DUH it was about time. Little boy behind us whined the whole time because he didn't like sun. Well hello you're stting outside and the sun's out. Then one across from us was pretty well behaved but she was maybe between 2-3. Baseball didn't interest her at all. She played on the steps but everytime she didn't listen to the Mom she would grab her by the arm. I swear one more time I was going to step in and say something. By the end of the game she had her Mom's finger prints on her arm inthe form of bruises. Why I ask all of you do people do this? When my daughter was little and it wasn't the right place to take her and we didn't have a sitter we just plain stayed home.

Anyway the Brewers won and the sausage race is always the highlight of the game. We have these people who dress up in huge sausage costumes and they race. It's alot of fun. We have this great new stadium with a retractable roof. It's really a very nice place. Bernie Brewer sits in his chalet out by the bleachers and when a home run is hit he slides down the slide and fireworks go off. Anyway as you can tell I had a great day. Now it's time to think about bed because I'm really tired from sitting out in the sun. Then to top off my day I was out and picked up a large soda in a plastic up with a top on it, sat down to read the blogs and heard a thud. Murphy had knocked it off the end table and I had to steam the carpet. The criminal is now in his kennel as a punishment and I'm drinking water.
Cindy

Saturday, July 14, 2007 - What a movie

I just got home from seeing the new Harry Potter movie. I'm a Harry fan and let's just say WOW. Now I can't wait until next week when the new book comes out. For the last couple of books Jen and I have been going to Barnes N Noble's to wait until midnight for the release of the book. We've had a lot of really great fun doing that. Some people come in costume and they always have activities. It's one big party atmosphere and I can't wait. Last year they gave us plastic Harry glasses and we stood behind card board cut outs and had our pictues taken. This year we're going to take along Uno cards to help us pass the time. OHHHHH maybe I should take along my Yo Yo's. Everyone sits around on the floor and checks out books and then the excitement starts to build the closer it gets to midnight. Today Jen and I went and we pre ordered our books. She'll stay up and read until the book is done. I'm not sure if I'll do that this time or do like I did last time when I only allowed myself to read a couple of chapters a night. That was really hard for me to do.
Cindy

Saturday, July 14, 2007 - Yo Yo's

I really didn't ever think I'd catch the Yo Yo fever but it go to me. I was watching Eleanor Burns Quilt In A Day and on todays episode she showed how she made yo yo's and put them together to make garland for the Christmas Tree. I'm hooked. I have three small trees that Jen gave me last year and they are perfect for my apartment. So today our LQS had fat quarters for a dollar each so Jen and I went and low and behold I bought a bunch of homespun fabrics in reds and greens. I've already cut out three fat quarters of circles and just finished my second YO. Now I'm hooked. I think these will look really cute on the trees giving them an old fashioned look. When I get a bunch made I'll post a picture. I just wanted to let everyone know that I stepped over to the dark side.
Cindy

Saturday, July 14, 2007 - BOM

Last night was our Friday night block of the month meeting. It's always so much fun because they are a great group of ladies. We always start off with show and tell so this month I actually had two quilt tops and a door hanging that I made since I saw them last so I had things to show. We took my Mom along and she truly enjoyed herself. All of the things people showed were great and so were the Alzheimer quilts.

After our meeting we always shop in the store and the owner Brad gives us a discount which is great. Last night he had a clearance on thread so of course I shopped and then shopped somemore. After shopping let me just tell you all I FELL IN LOVE. OK not with a man but with a quilting machine. He has two of those quilting racks where you attatch your own machine and then quilt away. Had I had the money last night I'd be the proud owner of one even if it meant getting rid of my livingroom furniture to fit it in. The one can go all the way up to a king sized quilt. They had wooden templates underneat that you can follow or you can free motion quilt. I played with it and so did Jen. My dream is to own something like this or a Gammill when I retire and take in quilt tops as a little something to help me survive and keep me busy. Now if I could just win the lottery I'd own one now.
Cindy

Thursday, July 12, 2007 - The Eifle Tower

I just got home from Bastille Days. That is one of the festivals in downtown Milwaukee. I t's nice because you don't have to pay anything to go and it's a great place to people watch. OK so they have this mini replica of the Eifel Tower and all kinds of music and all kinds of food and booths with stuff for sale. Basically they had everything but French Food except for some desserts. I had a hot beef sandwich and a couple of us shared chicken wings. But the best part is the people watching. People should really take a look in a mirror before they venture out of their house. Lots of little old ladies in really tight pants with heels and tons of make up. I was beginning to wonder if these were elderly ladies of the evening? So first we watched a three piece band. Three guys from Florida who looked to be around 60. One played the banjo, one an accordian and one somekind of a homemade base instrument made out of a wooden vegetable crate. They were sure different. Then on to another stage where we came in at the tail end of a lady singer, an older lady but wearing a very nice long dress and some guys in tux jackets all playing music. I think when they were all younger they probably were a pretty hip group. Then out came out last group of the evening. Mrs Fun and her Friends. I kid you not. She had on this huge pink hat with feathers, this long pink dress and I can't even explain what the skirt looked like, long gloves and huge earrings. She was a French singer. It all sounded nice but we couldn't understand a word she sang about. I kept waiting for it to turn into a comedy group of somekind but it never did. OK enough people watching so it was time to leave. They have a Bastille Day run but it doesn't start until 9PM and I think they only run a little over two miles. Then I guess at the end instead of giving them water they all get beer. So it was a fun evening but I"m glad that I'm home. Tomorrow night is our block of the month group so I'd better get to bed so I can go to work and do my 8 hours and then come home to play.

Oh and I got the most lovely quilted postcard in the mail today from Jen. We also went last night to play strip poker and I still ahve to go and count my strips to see if I came out ahead or not.
Cindy

Monday, July 9, 2007 - sleep is a wonderful thing

It was a very hard thing having to go back to work today after my short vacation. Good thing the office was nice and quiet because I definetly didn't want to be there. I wanted to be back home either sleeping or quilting. Once I got home tonight I had big plans to start my next quilt for my dog, Murphy. I had bought some 6.5 inch squares with dogs on them at the LQS and I wanted to make another quilt for him so I could again practice my free motion quilting before I attempt it on my good quilt tops. The big problem was when I sat down for a little while and woke up about almost 4 hours later. Guess I needed the sleep. So I just put together the first block and hopefully tomorrow night I can do more.
Cindy

Sunday, July 8, 2007 - Another UFO of mine

Today was spent doing pretty much nothing. The only thing quilting wise I did was practice my free motion quilting. Today was also the last day that my Mom was here with me. I took her home a little while ago since it's back to work for me again tomorrow, the vacation is over. We ended up we had a really good time together. What I did miss was sewing with Jen this weekend but oh well we'll have other weekends to share. Anyway I had said a while back that I would share other pictures of my quilt tops that I've got but haven't finished. Here is one that I made years ago as a wallhanging but it was way too wide for my quilt rack so I never finished it. Now I think I'll finish it and use it as a table topper.

Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 4th of July Gertie

I thought it was time to show you what Gertie the goose is wearing these days for the 4th of July. I just have so much fun dressing up this crazy plastic goose. I must be showing my age.

Friday, July 6, 2007 - this and that

Today was one of those days where I actually got quite a bit done but it was a hodge podge of things. My Mom has been staying with me for the last couple of days while I'm on vacation. I don't get to have her over that much since I work and a couple of my sisters are retired so they have her over more. Mom is 87 and has macular degeneration. She was a fantastic seamstress in her day. She could sew from morning till night and she could make anything.

We started out our day running some errands. First it was the hardware store to get Mom one of those small folding carts so she can use it when she takes her laundry to the laundry room in her building. Next we were off and had lunch at McDonalds because it was time for her to take a pill and we needed liquid. On to the dollar store, the grocery store and then home we came. I've been cutting more strips to use for coins for strip poker so we spent part of the afternoon doing that and rolling them up. It was nice to just sit and do something like that and have help doing it. Then Mom had recently bought a blouse and she wanted it shortened so I did that for her. Next it was on to making a valance for her bedroom window so I did that. We had dinner and while we were eating I started looking at my chairs. Let me step back a little. Back in 1974 we bought an antique dining room set, 6 chairs, a dining room table with 4 leaves that extend the table to around 14 feet long and it came with a buffet. When we bought it the set was over 100 years old. We stored it because at that time we still didn't have a house. Once we bought our house in moved the dining room set. My Mom and Dad had a small reupholstery business so Dad helped me redo the diningroom chairs. When we took the original fabric off it had the old horse hair pading underneath. On went the new fabric. Now we jump ahead some 30+ years later and I have the buffet in my dining area, the table top is stored in my garage all wrapped up and 4 of the chairs are also out there. I've been looking for new fabric to redo the chairs again for months and have never found anything I liked. That is until today. I have 10+ yards of a pretty fabric with a stripe in it. Now I know Jen's told me for quite sometime to use that fabric but I wanted to keep looking. Well I'[m looking no more since I'm going to use it finally. So after dinner I started taking off the fabric from one of the chairs. Mom was the technical advice and I was the labor. It only took me about an hour and half and it all off. Tomorrow we'll get some of the things that we need to redo and then we can start. I figure if I do one chair at a time it should be fine. I am even going to be able to use pieces of batting that I've always kept in my scrap box. Stay tuned to see how this all turns out. So now it's late and I have a great feeling of accomplishment for today. Mom and I had a great time working together. My Mom likes to be busy and feel that she's helping you so finally after she asked me lots of times what she could do for me I gave her a dust rag and she was in seventh heaven dusting my livingroom. She even glowed when I was taking off the fabric from the chairs that my Dad had put on. We laughed alot about how many upholstery tacks he had in that chair. It certainly would never have come apart on it's own. I feel like I'm maybe in some small way carrying on a family tradition by doing these chairs. Who knows what I'll do next.
Cindy

Friday, July 6, 2007 - Murphy's Quilt Finished

Well I promised a picture of Murphy's quilt once it was finished so here it is. It's made out of 6 inch charm squares that I got years ago when I was in a swap for patriotic blocks. I practiced my free motion quilting on it but still can't seem to get myself into a rhythm or a style. Is there a secret to this that I'm just not getting?

( 2 ) :: ::

Sunday, July 1, 2007 - Murphy's Quilt

I finished Murphy's quilt tonight. I was practicing free motion quilting on it and still haven't gotton my rhythme just right. I'll have to free motion another one of my UFO's so I can keep on practicing. Tomorrow I'll post my picture of it. Right now it's on the couch and Murphy is on it.
Cindy

Saturday, June 30, 2007 - Another UFO

Well here is another picture of one of my UFO's. I made this quilt top probably 20 years ago. The pattern is called the Diamond Lil and in person the colors are fantastic. For years I had it pressed neatly and folded over another quilt in my dining room over a quilt rack. It's not a finished quilt but with the way I had it folded everyone always thought it was done. All I need to do is layer it up, quilt and bind it. It doesn't go in my house now but I think it will make a great project to finish this next winter.
Cindy

Friday, June 29, 2007 - Really scary Patriotic quilt top

Last weekend I took out my UFO tops and took some pictures of them. I really thought I had more of them but I was pleasantly surprised with the ones I had. Well almost surprised with some of the ones I had. Did you ever do a quilt and later look at it and think what made me do it? This quilt we fondly refer to as my Patriotic quilt while on drugs. Now I wasn't on drugs but the quilt top sure looks like someone was on something. It was during the time when I was living with my Mom after my divorce and I had a room in her attic that I called home. My friends referred to me as an attic orp because I lived in the attic and since my Dad had recently died I wasn't a true orphan but I was an orp.

When I picked out all of these 4th of July fabrics to me they were all very nice but once the top was together it actually gave di me a headache. Those fabrics should never have gone together. A while ago Jen came up with the idea that a person should put someones name on a quilt top that isn't finished so that when you die they think you were really making it for them. Anyway we have a very nice friend named Gayle and the last time I saw her I told her I was leaving her this quilt. We laughed like crazy because she remembers this particular quilt top. She tried to talk me out of it telling me it was too special of a quilt and should go to family and I kept on telling her she was a special friend and should have it. This is now a running joke and it will have her name on it. So, here it is.
( 10 ) :: ::

Thursday, June 28, 2007 - Definition please

I need clarification on just what a " Holler Monkey is? I'm very confused.

Thursday, June 28, 2007 - My 4 patch flip, or can I drive Jen over the edge?

OK I did it again only took about 20 minutes. She now told me this is why she doesn't have children because she doesn't have any patience. I think I've driven her over the edge.

Anyway this is my 4 patch flip with it's borders on it.

She wants to make a voodoo doll of me and stick pins in it.
Cindy

Thursday, June 28, 2007 - Learning about pictures

Another interesting night at my house. First Jen and I went to Noodles R Us for dinner. It's really Noodles and Company. We discussed Kristie thinking, wow they have a store just for noodles!!!!! Kind of like the dog wash. Then it was on to do a little shopping. All the while I kept saying I wanted to go home so I could learn how to put pictures on my blog. So far I have three pages of notes. Oh by the way I can eat Ceasar Salad with chopsticks. So here goes nothing.

OK I think I did it. This only took me the time it took Jen to make 6 yo yo's.
Cindy

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Shopping made easy

I just came home from a great little trip to the Dollar Store. I don't know if everyone has them close by but we do here. Tomorrow we're celebrating a co workers birthday. I needed to get a few things. Colored cake plates, napkins to match, candles and a gift bag and plastic forks. Let me just say I got all of that there along with some really pretty colored tissue paper and a card. I think my best deal of the night were the birthday candles. Most of the time you buy this box of either 24 or 36 candles. You know the kind they have a swirl of color on them. Anyway for $1 I got a box that had 4 boxes of candles in them plus little colored plastic holders for the candles. There were pink stripes, red, yellow and blue. I guess I'm just easily amused but I thought this was a great find. Now for the next I don't know how many years I've got birthday candles. I just needed to share that with all of you. Oh I also got one of those fold out center pieces, it's a colorful birthday hat. Not a bad night in the store. For kids they had so many things it was unreal. Anyway I hope all of you have these stores.
Cindy

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - A much better day

Today was a much better day. Thank you to all of you over the concern with my car. My car and I are becomming friends again. It's just a really sick pit of the stomach sick when you turn the key and nothing happens. My son in law and daughter came to the rescue. They bought me a new battery and then Mike installed it for me. He kept mumbling about this man who wanted to sell him a battery for $175. The thi fng sounds like it was made of gold. A very nice $90 one is now under the hood. I'm still a little nervous everytime I put the key in but soon I hope that goes away. Next week it goes in for a clunk and I can have a few other things checked out too.

Today for. work I had to go out to our cold storage facility to do some spot checking for inventory. They sent our buyer and me out. Let me just say there is no way I'm going to do that again next year. Those freezers are very cold. This one is at -18 degrees. Even though we were dressed in what we thought were warm clothes it seems like your body starts to shut down. After a while we had to leave and warm up before we could go on because we both felt like we could have sat down and fallen asleep. The extreme cold really had a good time with my asthma and it felt like I had two very large men sitting on my chest.

Last night after all the chaos with my car I settled down and made a Run Around bag by Lazy Girl for someone in our offices birthday tomorrow. She goes to alot of festivals and I thought it would be perfect just for putting keys in and a little money. Tonight I have to run out and get the plates and napkins and forks and a card and then see if I can buy Summerfest tickets somewhere. Summerfest is one of our huge festivals and it starts tomorrow. It's on the lake front here and it runs for 11 days with tons of bands all over and great food and wonderful people watching. Hopefully I can get there too because I got free tickets from work.
Cindy

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - I hate cars

I just need it to be known that I hate my car at this moment. I just need to blow off some steam. Since I'm alone I always dread the==day when I get in my car and it doesn't start. Today after work was that day. Now take into mind it's about 90+ degrees out and the air is really bad. I'm so happy I'm leaving work on time and I get in my car, turn the key and NOTHING happens. I of course pop the hood, I have idea why and I stand there looking at it. Yep there's an engine alright. I think in the 6 years I've had my car this is only the third time I've looked. OK so back into work I go. As I go to open the door one of our maintenance guys Ricky is holding the door so I can't get in and I of course growl at him that I'm in no mood for this. I just let out my car is dead. Out we go so he can look at it. Oh boy I get to open the hood again. Yep the engine is still where it was before. AHHHH he discovers that my battery cable is loose. All good maintenannce men carry a wrench thingy around in their back pockets so he tightens it and then says quite seriously do I have jumper cables, my response, yes a very nice pair at home in my garage. He rolls his eyes and one of the other guys bursts out laughing. Now I don't carry them because I don't know how to use them. I figure with my luck I'd blow up the car. OK we find cables and jump it. She starts right away and I figured I'd just sit there in the heat and let it run. Three guys tell me just drive it home and it will charge up. OK, I don't even use the air, I open all the windows and proceed to melt. But, I'm smart enough to back it into my parking spot just incase anythings happens. I get out and sure enough I leave the back windows open, no problem I get back in and confidently turn the key, ZIP ZERO NOTHING. At this point I want to just cry. I text message Jen and she calls me. She calls my son in law and then plan is he'll come tonight and jump it with his truck because he says if it blows up it's not a big loss. Well I'd feel bad.

OK so Mike came and we tried to jump my car, no luck. Then we tried a bunch more times and finally it took. But once you turn it off it doesn't go. The plan is after dinner we jump it again and take it in somewhere. All I see are dollar signs. I'll let you know what happens.
Cindy

Monday, June 25, 2007 - What a night

Another exciting night in the life of a single person. Tonight was the night to take the dogs for baths. Since Jen and I both have big dogs and we live in apartments there is no place to wash a dog. Oh sure I've done it in the bathtub but then you spend all kinds of time cleaning your bathroom when you're done. We have a PetCo near us and for $12 you have everything that you need to do the job. A nice ramp for Murphy to walk up into the tub. A little door to close once he's in. They even give you a special collar that hooks onto the side of the tub. Shampoo a nifty sprayer and when you're done towels to dry them off with and even a dryer. I think it's money well spent. Murphy smells great again and Holly came out looking like a little black bear. Since she has different and longer hair she's all fluffy again.

On the way home I drove the dog through the gas station he was very interested in that and then I thought what the heck and we got a car wash too. First I thought he'd be afraid because when he was younger I had to stop taking him along because it freaked him out. This time it was fun to watch. The first swipe of water had him ducking and after that he really seemed to enjoy himself. Now that we're back home it's time for me to take a shower and then we're all squeaky clean. See, don't I lead an interesting life?
Cindy

Sunday, June 24, 2007 - Another one done

Well I got the borders on my 4 patch flip and it really looks great, I went outside with Jen and we took some pictures and from there on it all went down hill. I realize I'm not the most computer savey person out there. For the life of me I can't get it in my head how to get the pictures from my camera, onto the computer and then into my blog. I have directions written down from Jen on how to do it but somehow I just never get it right. I downloaded the pictures and now for the life of me can't find where they are in my computer. I can find every other picture I've taken and not that one. I can't ask Jen again because she gets very short with me because she thinks I should be able to do this. Gee I work on a computer all day at work I function just fine but some of these other things just completely confuse me and oh well. Take my word for it it's really pretty.
Cindy

Sunday, June 24, 2007 - Cindy's Flower Garden

Well, here it is. This is the top that I made from the 6 inch exchange blocks from my Friday night block of the month group. All of the blocks have flowers in them. Once the top was together and it was so simple to put together I had to decide on what my borders were going to be. For some reason I had it in my head that I would use pink with a small print for the border. I've never done anything with pink so this was totally new for me. I have a 4 inch border and when I layer it up and machine quilt it then I'm going to use the same white on white that is in the quilt for my binding.

Someday I hope to figure out easier how to add pictures to my blog. I just sat for around 20 minutes and finally I gave up and was going to go back to sewing when Jen took pity on me and helped me out.
Cindy

Saturday, June 23, 2007 - I made it to Saturday

Well, I made it and it's finally Saturday. Not that I've done anything yet but there's still plenty of day left. Somedays just start off wrong and all you can do is hope for the best, today was one of them. I fell asleep last night on the couch again and got up around 1 and went to bed. All was fine until around 4 when the dog, Murphy, woke me up and wanted to go out. OK, no problem. Gee my nose was all stuffy so I popped a Benadryl and went back to bed. Now normally Murphy I swear can tell time and always wakes me up at 5:15 waiting for his breakfast at 5:30. He's a little creature of habit ever since he's on insulin and eats at a specific time. I figured no problem. Well, I woke up and it was 8:08 and Jen was coming for me at 8:15 so we could get breakfast and go to our BOM. Wow that shower was quick. Then she called me and I still had to finish getting dressed, feed Murphy and give him his insulin. My head was spinning. I absolutely HATE being late for anything. In the end it worked out OK because we decided to go to breakfast after the BOM. WHEEEEEEEE that helped.

I took along my two quilt tops that I've made this past week because I need border fabric for both. For the one made from our block exchange I completely pulled apart my sewing cabinet last night and now my spare room looks like it threw up fabric. That's a project for another day. Luckily no one ever just stops in and if they did I'd just close the door. The border I bought for that one is a medium pink and once it's on I'll post a picture of the quilt top. I plan on machine quilting this one myself for practice. It felt good not to have to buy anything except 1 yard of fabric for borders. Now that I've torn my cabinet apart I found lots of odd pieces and I think a scrap work quilt should be up next to use things up. I also picked up border fabric for my 4 patch flip and hopefully tomorrow those borders will go on and then I can take it's picture and post it.

Gee I wonder how the hog roast is going? It looked like they were going to have a wonderful time. I can't wait to hear all about it from Kristie. Well, enough time stalling I'm off to put on borders.
Cindy

Friday, June 22, 2007 - FRIDAY

Hip Hip Hooray it's Friday. I was beginning to doubt that Friday would ever come. But it has and tonight I get to quilt. I just had to share that with everyone.
Cindy

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - It's that time of the year

Well, it's that time of the year again when those pesky mosquitoes are out. I was just outside with Murphy while he played for about 15 minutes with his neighbor dogs and I have a total of 7 bites plus I killed 4 that were trying to suck the blood out of me. I wonder just how long a mosquitoe lives? He wants to go back out but there's no way we're going out for a while. If we did I think both of us would have to go get a blood transfusion. How are the mosquitoes where everyone else lives? Or, do you even have them.

I've been working on another quilt top. It's from the 6 inch squares that we exchanged at our BOM last week. I think it's really pretty and I have the top together and now I have to make two strips of white with green corner stone blocks that will go down one side and across the bottom. The other two sides are on when you assemble the blocks. It's a really easy pattern and I've been able to use fabric that I already own from my stash. Once that's done then I can decide on what to use for borders. I'd like to be able to do it all out of my stash so we'll see how that goes.

Cindy

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - Sewing machine books

Today was another interesting day. Work was as always work, just wish things would slow down some. Got home and Jen called and said she was picking up Grandma and we'd have dinner. Tossed in some laundry and of course straightened up a bit since my Mom was coming over. We had a nice dinner and then Jen shortened the sleeves of a blouse for my Mom. It's always nice to get together with her and she was so happy with the sewing manual that Jen was able to print up for her. When we dropped her off tonight she was happily looking at her manual. I remember that sewing machine always sitting on our kitchen table. Always being sewn on. It was the first machine I learned to sew on. It's over 40 years old and still works like it's a new machine. It runs really quiet for such an old machine. I can just picture my Mom sitting at her table tonight when she's subposed to be sleeping looking over her sewing machine book. Good job Jen.
Cindy

Monday, June 18, 2007 - A little quilting a little sleeping

No sewing tonight for me. I think I hit burnout over the weekend. I finished the top that I posted about Saturday and it just needs borders. This Saturday we go to our BOM and when we're there I'll pick up fabric for the borders. Anything we buy that day we get 20% off so I might as well wait.

Yesterday I worked on my quilt top from the squares we exchanged last week at that BOM. I think it's really going to end up to be a very pretty top. Lots of different light florals with white latice and green corner blocks. It's 2 rows bigger than the pattern but I figured I might as well use all the blocks that I made. I have the rows sewed together and I have two big rows already together. I was going to sew tonight but it was a rough day at work so hopefully tomorrow night I can work on the top somemore. I can't wait to get it all together and I made up my mind that this is the top that I"m going to try free motion quilting on.
Cindy

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - Huge sewing day

Today was our sewing day with the block of the month ladies. We had a fantastic time. There were only 5 of us and for most of the day only 4 but we had so much fun and we all got so much done. I got my 4 patch flip top finished all I have to do now is buy the fabric for the borders and put them on. Next week is our Saturday block of the month group and I'll buy my borders then because we get 20% off anything we buy while we're there. Next I started my quilt from the flower blocks that we exchanged last Friday night. I think it's going to be pretty once it's done. I've been working on that one all night I'll post a picture of it when I get it together. The good thing is with that one I had all the other fabrics that I needed for it. Well that's about it so now we'll see if I can post a picture.
Cindy

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - Big sewing day

Well today is the big sewing day at Franks. Jen and I had my car packed with our machines and everything we need last night already then I locked the car and it's locked in my garage. I'm ready, just waiting for Jen to call me. Jen ran to pick up some bagels so we'll all have breakfast once we get there. I'm so excited you'd think I was going on a big vacation. Wish us luck I'll report in tonight hopefully with pictures.
Cindy

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - I forgot to tell you all this

I totally forgot to tell you all what we use to collect the coins from poker in. You see we play at long tables so if you're on the end it's hard to reach the center pot for both putting in and taking out. Last month I did quite a bit of tossing and my coins were everywhere. We were all talking about what we could use to collec them in. One suggestion was a fishing net since it would have a handle on it. The shop owners Mom said her church was closing and she was going to ask if she could have one of the old collection baskets with the long handle. She wasn't there tonight but she took a basket with a handle on it that you'd use either on an open fire to cook something or on the grill. She made a fabric cover for it that was made out of game fabric and then inside of that she placed a small plastic bin. This way who ever is sitting in the middle of the table can pick it up and reach those who are on the end. It was really cut and worked out just great. Makes we almost want to go to a rummage sale to find something like that just to make a liner for it. Don't know what I'd use it for but it sure was a neat idea. For next month I'm going to decorate a visor for my bitg night out gambling. Each time we play from the shop we get a small jelly roll of two inch fabrics. The first two times they were the same fabrics with all kinds of games on them. Jen took her's and made a bag to carry his "chips" in. I haven't made anything yet but look out one of these days who knows what I'll make.
Cindy

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - I lost big time

I just got home from strip poker and boy I was this really big looser tonight. I have one month to do some serious cutting of my coins to replenish my stash. As always it was lots of good fun. Everyone was a little wacky tonight and couldn't remember anything. Good thing there is always a sheet there so you remember what games you play. We only had six of us tonight but they are a fun group. We picked on Julie, she's the shop owner and then everyone picked on me which is OK. Now I'm home and I think instead of sitting still and watching TV I should just start cutting fabric. I get inspired by what I see everyone else make but I like to have one quilt going at a time so I"m working on my 4 patch flip. Hopefully Saturday at our all day sewing get together I'll get the top done just will need fabric for the borders. After that quilt I can make the one with the 6 inch squares that we exchanged the other night. They are all florals and really very pretty. I have enough to make a small quilt and all I need is the lattice which I"m going to use a white on white and the corner blocks and I've got the green for that. It always feels good to use things up.

Cindy

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - Strip Poker

Tomorrow night is our monthly night out at the LQS to play "strip poker". It's such a great time and you're only there about an hour and a half but the time just flies by. You cut 2.5" strips of fabric the width of your piece then you roll them up and those are ouyour "coins" that you use to play with. Somenights you go home with lots and last month I lost lots. So, I just came home from the dollar store where I bought a package of little girls pony tail ties and I got 250 in a package for a dollar. Now it's time to cut more strips and wind them up and tie them with the pony tail things. No sewing tonight. We're gearing up for the big sewing extravaganza at Franks Sewing Center on Saturday. It's an all day sew with the ladies from our Friday night BOM group. They are such a great group of ladies so I know it's going to be a good time. Hey strip poker could be fun for those of you who belong to a quilt guild. Anyway I'm off to make my coins.
Cindy

Sunday, June 10, 2007 -

The day is done and Jen and Holly just left a little while ago. After I finished my door banner I've been sitting here trying to decide what project was going to be next. I should keep going with the four patch flip but there's so much cutting to be done. Of course once the cutting is done then it goes together really quick. I also brought out my 6 inch blocks that we all exchanged with each other last night at our BOM. We came home with 42 different pieces of fabric and a nice pattern showing us how to use them. Guess I'd better stick to one project at a time thought and do the 4 patch flip first.

Kristie thanks for letting me know just how big Jim is. He's considerably larger than Murphy. Oh well it's off to bed I go. Until tomorrow happy dreams of lovely quilts.
Cindy

Saturday, June 9, 2007 - Patriotic Door Banner

Today has been a good day. I finished up my housework early so that I'd be ready to sew whenever Jen came to sew. My goal for today is to make my Patriotic Door Banner pattern that we got last night at our BOM meeting. So here it is I'm really quite proud of it. It's hanging on my front door and I might just make another one to hang on the inside of the door so that when I have the air conditioner on and the door is shut I get to see it too. It was actually quite easy to make. Since my door is a metal door I just bought two magnetic clips so I didn't have to bother with a sleeve to hang it from. I saw this hanging on the wall at Frank's Sewing Center last week when I took my machine in and I sketched it out but didn't do a really great job of it. I'm so glad that Wendy gave us the pattern last night. I finished it off with some flat buttons from Michael's sewn onto the prairie points and whallllaaaaahhhhhhh it's done. Now all I need to do is figure out what project I'm going to work on next.

Saturday, June 9, 2007 -

Just another quick note. Check out my daughter Jen's blog, Cre8tiveQuilter she's got the pictues we took of the two of us with the Eleanor Burns cardboard cut out. That was so much fun.
Cindy

Saturday, June 9, 2007 - what a week

It's finally Saturday and let me tell you I"m thrilled. It was one very long and at times very frustrating week. Last night was one of those times that makes it all worth it. It was our monthly BOM meeting at Franks Sewing Center. For our meeting this month we all brought 6 inch square cut out of two different floral fabrics to exchange. We got such a pretty assortment of squares and then our leader Wendy gave us a pattern to use them with. That definetly goes on my list of things to sew next. That list of mine just keeps growing. Then of course we got our block for the month to make. Next Saturday we are having an all day sew at Franks so I know that's going to be great. For the first time we went on a small field trip after the meeting to one of the local Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood for a little liquid refreshment and something to eat. I had the best orange dreamsicle margaritta I've ever had. We have such a great bunch of ladies in that group that I really look forward to our once a month get togethers. I don't belong to a guild so this is my guild.

We carry on about so many things it's hard to remember them all. One last night was animals and how we got on that subject I have no idea. But I was telling them about Kristie's mule Ole Jim. Whenever I see a picture of Jim it just makes me smile. So here's my question mostly for Kristie but any of you can hop in, just how big is a mule? I want to think he's the size of a horse but I'm not sure. I mean all I have is a dog, a large dog but Murphy is a dog. If someone were to think of making Jim his own kerchief to tie around his neck how big around is a mules neck? So if any of you would like to go out and say measure your mules neck please let me know, inquiring minds need to know.

Today I'm going to make a patriotic small wall hanging, watch for pictures. I saw this wall hanging out at Franks the other night when I took my machine in to be repaired and I sketched it out quickly. Wendy who I said is our teacher for BOM designed it and gave us the pattern last night.

Oh my final fun thing from last night was they now have a life sized cardboard cut out of Eleanor Burns in the store with a purple feather boa around her neck. I've been an Eleanor fan since the first quilt I made. Of course I had to have Jen take my picture with the cut out since that is the closest I'll ever get to Eleanor. When I get that picture I can post it in here. OK I'm off to do some laundry and start sewing. Everyone have a nice day, it's beautiful out here.
Cindy

Thursday, June 7, 2007 - Caulk

I am the proud new owner of a new board at the bottom of my apartment and 4, yes I said 4 tubes of caulk that they pumped in. It had to be really bad when they took off the board that they replaced it and did that much caulking. Plus they took my air conditioner part way out and vacuumed all the stuff that I couldn't get at so maybe that will take care of that problem. All of the furniture is back in place and I'm ready to get back into the SEWING MODE. Look out 4 patch flip here I come.

We're headed for some pretty nasty weather tonight with high winds, large hail and heavy rain so we'll see how good the caulking is. Off I go to sew.

Cindy the proud owner of caulk

Wednesday, June 6, 2007 - No caulk yet

Well after work today I went home hoping that my apartment had now been calked. Boy was I ever a dreamer. No caulking done, nothing done with the air conditioner. NOTHING done period. First I went into the bathroom to see if on my forehead I had the word SUCKER on it because I believe what the office tells me. Nope no word there so into the car I go and over to the office. There are now three women who work there. Woman number 1 reminded me of Paris Hilton only with dark brown hair. I had to keep doing a double take. Her favorite thing is the nibble on her long hair while she's talking to you. I apologize for making this assumption but she's not the sharpest crayon in the box. Woman number 2 seems semi normal and atleast listens to what you tell her and doesn't have that glazed over look on her face. And last but not least is H, I'll call her that for now. H must be the manager in charge. Another one whose elevator doesn't go to the top. She proceeds to give me a great song and dance about my water problem. I have to add that while I'm in the office I'm watching the clouds roll in so I know it's going to rain again today at some point. I said gee I looked for calking yesterday like I was told and didn't see it at all. Answer for that one was oh he was on the roof and cleaned out the gutter and calked around it. HELLO my water is coming in at the base of the apartment where it meets the slab. That tells me that maintenance is a few watts short of a 60 watt bulb. They promise to come out tomorrow to fix it all and to take my air conditioner out of the spot it's in replace all of the gaskets around it so it stops shooting out black gunk. Of couse I should be prepared that it will make a HUGE mess but maybe they'll bring a vacuum along to clean some of it up.

Now keep in mind I was pretty calm at this point. Then I totally went balistic. I even surprised myself because I instantly became an insane woman. Things came out of my mouth that I'm not even really sure came out. I gave them one more day and I'm going to get a can of that GREAT STUFF that you use and it expands and I'm going to caulk the hell out of the outside of my building and then when the insurance investigator who comes around once a year to make sure things are being taken care of can ask what the heck that is. I want to volunteer to be the apartment for our building that they look at. I'll burn a vacation day if they will just let me be the one. Plus H told me that the chanting has stopped under Jen's apartment because she had a talk with them. They said they are only chanting outside and not loudly and they are doing a SILENT CHAT inside. NOT.

The high point of today is about to happen. Jen and I are going to our LQS to see Mary Ellen Hopkins. I can't wait I am so excited about this and I'm taking my book along that I've had for years to see if I can get it autographed. Stay tuned for the next segment of " How the Apartment Leaks."
Cindy

Monday, June 4, 2007 - Finally good news

Finally I have some good news to report. The carpet cleaning man just left my apartment. He sanitized the day lights out of the carpet where the apartment leaked. Great job now I just have to run the fan for 48 hours, there goes my electric bill oh well.

I took my sewing maching in on the way home from work and Brad was able to fix it right away. It was a little spring that works when you use the thread cutter. It's located in the bobbin area. really really tiny but he said a thread got caught on it when it didn't cut right and that's what made it spring.

I feel much better now that my machine is back home and I can sew again. I sure didn't want to have another day where I was actually looking forward to going to work just to get out of here. I figure I'll have a few allergy pills and feel better in a little while.

Cindy

Sunday, June 3, 2007 -

The sewing day is over. Everything is put away. Jen and Holly have gone home. No matter how many problems occured today a day at home sewing with Jen is better than any day spent alone. I'm about to move into my new purse and then I think it's time for bed. It's been one very long weekend. I hope the rest of the week goes better for everyone.
Cindy

Sunday, June 3, 2007 - Purses

I've been working on adding pictures so let's just hope that these come out OK too. Here are the two Lazy Girl purses that I've been able to finish this week. Once you get going on them they really aren't that bad. My favorite is the Patriotic Gracie. I like the back pack too but it just doesn't hang right on my shoulder. Both were fun to do and if I can do them anyone can do them.

Sunday, June 3, 2007 - Gertie The Goose

The highlight of my weekend so far has been the new clothing I got for my yard Goose the I call Gertie. She sits by my front door and greets everyone who comes to visit. I got Gertie last year from my daughter Jen for my birthday. I don't know why I wanted one but I did. Maybe it's the child coming out of me as I get older. So one Saturday when I first got Gertie I decided since she was going to be outside she needed to be filled with something. Off to the store Jen and I go. Well, sand comes in a 50 pound bag and I thought there was no way I'd need that much. Off to see what else we could use. I ended up at the pet store and bought around 9 pounds of aquarium rock. I thought what the heck that should do it just fine. Home we go to fill Gertie. Well let's just say all it did was fill Gertie's neck. Back out to the store we go and buy the 50 pound bag of sand. Now there is only a small hole in the bottom of Gertie so we made a funnel out of paper and proceeded to spend about two hours pouring sand into the bottom of a goose. I had a little rain coat, rain hat and umbrella so I put that on her first. For Halloween she was the Bride of Frankenstein and Dracula. For Thanksgiving she was a pilgrim and for Christmas she was Santa. I made her a few dresses but it's really all the other accessories that come with the outfits that really make her cute. Spring came and it was time for some new Goose Duds. Here's Gertie all decked out as a sun flower. Stay tuned to see whatelse Gertie will be wearing this summer.

Sunday, June 3, 2007 - Sewing ????????

Well the day started out OK I ran the fans and air conditioner all night trying to dry out my carpet. By this morning it was only damp in one place so it was time to put all the furniture back in place. I totally rearranged the sewing area because I don't want my machine near the air conditioner or the wall that leaks. I like the way the room turned out and I'll have to post a picture soon.

Jen and I went to Joann's for some fabric but all I ended up buying was a button. Off to our LQS for some floral fabrics that we need for Friday nights block of the month exchange we're having. Home we went to sew. I wanted to finish up my purse and move on to my curtains so I could start my next quilt. Sewed a little and then some spring near my bobbin went and now tomorrow after work I have to take my machine in to be repaired. All in all this has been just a horrible weekend. I have accomplished nothing and all I've been is extremely frustrated. I did stop in the complex office and give them a piece of my mind about my apartment leaking. All they could say was they were so sorry. Yeah right for the amount of rent I pay there should be nothing wrong with this place. They haven't heard the last of me only now I'm going to go over our local managers head and straight to the top with my complaints. They are letting our apartments fall apart and this just isn't right. It's a nice complex and they used to take much better care of our units. Well I want it to be the way it used to be.

Low and behold after my machine broke it rained again. Yep it leaked again. Tomorrow I'm going to be all over them. I want this fixed, I want the carpet either replaced because now it smells like mildew and I have bad allergies and asthma and I want it done NOW. No more excuses.

Sorry to rant but hopefully next week will be better. I'm actually looking forward to going back to work tomorrow, maybe there I can get something done.
Cindy

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Alternative means of transportation

I like Kristie's idea of just horse back riding. When I was a little girl all I wanted to do was ride horses. I had one of those jumping horses you sat on and it jumped or rocked. I'd put on my cow girl outfit and sit in the basement and ride for hours at a time. I walked around in cow boy boots for years.

Can you tell how bored I am. Every little while I get up and walk on the carpet to see how it's drying. I think if I give it a few more hours I can move everything back in place, FINALLY. All I know is tomorrow I'm going over to our office to give them a piece of my mind. How dare they ignore someone when you call and say your carpets soaked from the rain. Just put a towel on it was their message to me. When something squishes it's beyond put a towel on it.

Kristie how was the zoo?????? Tell all we need pictures.

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Just waiting

I've spent the better part of this evening waiting for my carpet to dry. I gave up on waiting for the matintenance guys to come and suck the water out of my carpet so I steamed it myself. Now I have two fans on it and the air conditioner waiting. I'm getting anxious I want to sew and I want to sew now. I've now lost an entire day and that really stinks in my world. I guess it's a good thing that I'm alone because I'm really crabby because this isn't how I wanted my Saturday to go. I've just finished reading another book and there's nothing left for me to do and it's too early for me to go to bed.

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - sewing NOT

Well I guess today just isn't going to go well so maybe I should just go back to bed and start over. I ran my errands quickly and returned home to start sewing. I sew in my living room since it's just the dog and me and it's what I call my sewing room that just happens to have a TV and a sofa in it. Anyway I walk behind my sewing table and I step in water. Not just a little damp went enough to make my foot squish. We had a big rain last night and my apartment LEAKED the carpet over there is soaked. I'm pissed because this happens quite a bit and I complain and they caulk and then bam it happens again. Now I have everything pulled out of the corner, the air conditioner on and a fan pointed at the floor. I ran over to the office and of course even though they are subposed to be there no one is there. I go home leave a voice message and nothing yet. So no sewing, no biking today things are going so badly they have to get better from here. Plus soon Jen is coming over to set up and sew............

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - MACC Ride

I just wanted to comment on the MACC ride that my daughter Jen just blogged about. I gave this ride a try last year and I still don't think I'll ever get over it. I'm not a huge bike rider but a casual go out for a slow swirl kind of rider. I have a basic Huffy bike with speeds don't know how many but it's got them. Anyway last year about a week before the ride I finally put air in my tires and go out to buy a helmet. You have to have one to be in the ride. The morning of off we all go. Our section of the ride starts and I'm really pumped up about doing this. Now remember at this point I still have high hopes of finishing my ride. Off we go and as I look around all the other bikes are all these really nice Trek bikes and I'm on my Huffy, my Shopko special. There are so many times when I just don't think. This happened to be one of them. The area they ride in is called the Kettle Moraine Area. Around here anyone knows that it means lots of hills up and down but I still think, "no problem". There are all ages from very old people to kids doing this ride. People in all their fancy bike wear and then then rest of us. You start out and the ride isn't all that bad. Pretty country side lots to look at. Oh also I'm allergic to everything outside. Jen and I are riding along and going up hills and going down really fast. As soon as you do one there is another ahead of you. Jen stays with me and after a while I keep telling her to ride ahead because there's plenty of people out there so I'm not riding alone. Well the I finally do what I refer to as the hill from hell and I end up walking part of the way up. I know I"m beat there is no way I'm going to be able to finish this ride. Jen rides up ahead to the next rest area to send back the van to pick me up. They have all kinds of people with vans who do search and rescue. In the van I go with my super Huffy and these guys can't believe I tried to ride this thing in this bike ride. At this point all I want is a DRINK. We go back to the start and they drop me off. Now I have quite a few hours to kill before Jen gets back so I start to walk around. One man comes up and says he can't believe I rode that in the ride. Yeah Yeah I know. I stand my bike up next to my son in laws truck in hopes that someone will come and steal it. I'm such a dreamer. I vow that by next year which is now I'd have a different bike for this ride. Those darn things are expensive so of course I don't have one yet. My other problem is I'm short well not what I can really short I'm 5'2". They now make a bike that would be the perfect height for me and of course I don't have the money for it. This really makes me angry because I want to ride, I need to ride. See years ago when my ex husband told me he wanted to divorce me the reason he gave was and I'm dead serious and telling the truth, I didn't ride a bike so we had nothing in common. That was his stupid reason. Nothing else just I didn't ride a bike. I've had bikes all my life of different kinds and have always enjoyed a leisurely ride. He'd wait until it was in the 90's, very humid and then he'd want to go out riding. I'd go along thinking alot of the time that I'd die along the way but I went. I've become much smarter since then. So riding a bike is a personal issue for me. Sorry I didn't mean to rant and rave but I had to get that out.
So, if my son in law reads this later, WAY TO GO MIKE, I'm proud of you.

Cindy

Friday, June 1, 2007 - Friday

Happy June 1 to everyone. Is it me or did this week just seem to take forever? We were discussing today at work how even though it was a 4 day work week it just seemed to take a very long time. I figured out that's because we had to do 5 days worth of work in just 4 days . It was also our month end. We've been without a controller now for the past two months. People from one of our other companies have been coming to help out at month end. They are discovering many more problems than they thought we had. Our old controller jumped ship because she said she didn't like all the travel, yeah right.
So far tonight all I've done is a little laundry and finished a book I was reading. I've read this series of books by Jennifer Chiaverini, she's written the Elm Creek Quilts series. If you haven't read any of those yet I highly recommend them.

Now it's finally time for sewing. Hopefully I'll be back later with a finished project.
Cindy

Thursday, May 31, 2007 - Nap time is over

Well by the time I got home from work today I was so tired I could hardly see straight. I think this has alot to do with our crazy weather and the really lousy air. Anyway once I was done with what I call my zoo duties, feeding the dog and giving him his insulin shot, I decided I needed a nap. Wow that was one long nap. First up I found a call from my Mom on my phone. It was in the livingroom and I was so sound asleep I never heard it ring. Usually I hear it ring because I'm always on the alert when I'm home incase she needs me. I being the good daughter I am called her right away. I had to listen to where had I been when she called me? Gee I was here but sound asleep. Did you leave a message, well no. OK what's wrong? She tells me she's hot and then she's cold and this has been going on all afternoon. Now if any of you have elderly parents you now know what I'm talking about. Besides when I saw her last night she was going by one of my sisters houses today and was going to be there until Sunday night. That's a whole other story. Anyway I ask how do you feel now? Well, she's cold again. Do you want me to come over. NO I'm fine. Ok this conversation was getting us nowhere. Next I call the sister she was subposed to be with. Wrhy isn't Mom by you? She told me she had other plans for today. We're all so confused. In the end now the other sister is going to call her and see if she wants to be picked up for a couple of days. I just said just let me know what the heck is going on. I realize that as you get older your memory isn't the best but geez. I think we need a board on the fridge saying where she should be every day.
Sorry I just needed to vent. Now I can go have supper, finally and work on my purse unless of course I get another call and then it's off to Mom's house.
Cindy

Thursday, May 31, 2007 - No quilty here

I'm bummed I did not work on my purse at all last night. I had the bright idea to call my Mom to see if she wanted to come for dinner. OK first she wanted to know what we were having. Now she knows I work all day and during the week I usually don't cook unless it's to reheat things. We usually always go to our favorite neighborhood restaurant. Anyway picked her up and it took her almost half an hour to be ready to leave her apartment. Now I'm steaming because the dogs need to be let out. Finally off we go. We get to my house and Jen comes for doggie day care pick up. I suggest Hawg City and she says to call her after Murphy eats and gets his insulin. Mean while Mom decides she doesn't want to go to Hawg City but Arby's. I call Jen but she doesn't want to go there. Off the two of us go and we get there and it's tooooo cold inside. I think it's great because it's 84 out. No we have to sit outside and eat. I don't know if I ever mentioned it but I'm allergic to everything outside. By the time we were done my nose is now runningl like a faucet. Then for a woma who wasn't hungry we needed ice cream on the way home. OK I stop for ice cream and then one more stop to pick up her prescription. Then on to her house. Half an hour later I'm roasting and need to leave. By the time I get home it's 9 and I'm mentally fried. So, I gave in and went to bed. Don't get me wrong I love my mother dearly but sometimes spending time with her is a bit much after a day at work. Hopefully tonight I can SEW. Good news though Jen dropped off two purse bottoms she cut for me out of foam core. I've officially "Moved" into my back pack.
Cindy

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - next project

I've decided that my next quilt is going to be the 4 patch flip. It's quick and somewhat easy and I do like the pattern. The yellow and blues will go with the ideas I have for redoing the livingroom. It' gs time for a change. I've been in the light house mode for so long and now I need change. I think the easiest way is to get outside and start taking some pictures of flowers. Then when I find the ones I like best I can have them blown up and frame them so the living room will have a nice light and airy feel to it. This might take me a while but I think in the end I'll like the results.

I just got home from the movies. If any of you have a chance to see the movie Premonition go ahead and see it. It was very good and in the end my friend and I looked at each other and asked just what the heck happened. We agreed if it's still at the budget next Tuesday we'll spend another dollar to go see it again. This is the first time I actually sat through a movie and didn't have popcorn and a soda. There must be something wrong with me.

So, I'm off to press my purse so that tomorrow night I can work on the flap and the handles and be done and move forward to my curtains.
Cindy

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - Progress

Well I actually did have a nice sewing weekend . Saturday night I finished my organizing before I went to bed. I really didn't want to but I just couldn't see myself getting up on Sunday and looking at the mess that I had made. Since then my mind has been going with different ideas for my sewing area. Stay tuned for updates on that.

Sunday was a sewing day. First I went grocery shopping so Jen and I wouldn't have to leave the house and g o out and forge for food. I worked on my back pack. That thing took a lot more time than I thought it would take. I finally finished it up on Monday. Pictures to follow. Next up I was going to start a quilt but decided to make one more purse. It's about 3/4 done so I'll finish that one of these nights. I have goals set up for myself for the week. The first thing I need to do is finish my purse. Next up my bedroom needs curtains and I have the fabric and it's just one window so I'll go ahead and make those. Nothing fancy just a cafe curtain with a valance. Then I'm moving on to my next quilt.

Let me just say and I mean this in a loving way I have one crazy son in law. We were going to cook out yesterday and since the majority of food was at my house it made more sense for him to make his famous burgers on my grill. Nope, he brought over his own grill. Excuse me but a gas grill is a gas grill in my eyes. Apparently not in his. Luckily they have one that folds up to be taken places. I'm not talking a small table top grill but a big full sized grill. I had to laugh when he came to the door totting his own gas grill. It's a good thing I like his burgers because he's just plain crazy. So, all in all it was a wonderful weekend and much was accomplished. I was also able to toss in a showing of the new Pirates of the Carribeane movie.

Tonight I'm off with one of my red hat friends to our budget movies where on Tuesdays it's a dollar. The movies have been out a couple of months but that's OK with me. We're going to see a Sandra Bullock movie called Premonition. I'll let you know if it's any good or not. The popcorn and soda will cost me more than the movie.
Cindy

Saturday, May 26, 2007 - Organization

Well Saturday is almost over and I think I accomplished quite a bit. I've been bitten by the organization bug lately. Today I tackled my sewing area. I sew in my living room since it's just the dog and me. I look at it as a big sewing room that just happens to have a sofa and an entertainment center in it. Anyway in one corner I have my sewing table by the window and a shorter table against the wall to store sewing things on. I have two Iris carts that I had scrapbooking things in so I moved all of those things to two rubbermaid bins since I'm not really scrapping much anymore. Now that cart can be used to house my projects in process. I don't mind having my sewing in the livingroom but it drives me crazy when it isn't neat looking.

I also went to my block of the month group today for a Moda quilt that we are making. Then it was off for a hair cut and yes a color. These last few months have really brought out the grey in my hair. A few highlights over it and a cut and I'm good to go again.

After I grocery shop tomorrow morning it's home for two days of sewing. The back pack needs to be finished and then I'd like to make a Gracie Bag and then it's back to quilting. I have a nice stack of yellow and blues that I want to make a quilt for the livingroom out of. I'm not sure of the pattern yet but that will come to me soon I hope.

Anyway everyone stay safe this weekend.
Cindy

Thursday, May 24, 2007 -

OK I'm going to give this another try. Somehow I seem to always hit the wrong thing when I'm almost done with my post and I keep on loosing it. Anyway t what I need to know is how do you add a friend to your blog list of friends? I know there is probably some simple way to do it but for the life of me I can't figure out how.

Only one more work day and we're finally to the long 3 day weekend. I'm so looking forward to doing only what I want to do which is going to be sewing. I need to finish my backpack so I can move forward. I don't know if I'll make one more style of Lazy Girl purses or go on and start a new quilt top.

I just finished going through my dresser and putting winter things away. I bought some of those space bags that you suck the air out of and it all squishes down so you save space. I've got two bags filled and now it's time for the ultimate test to see if they really do work like people claim they do. Wish me luck. For any of you who are traveling anywhere this weekend just be careful on the roads.

Cindy
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Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - Hip Hip Hooray it's Wednesday

Well we made it, it's finally Wednesday. Only two more days and it's the weekend and I can't wait. My only plans are to get a hair cut on Saturday and then do whatever it is that I want for the rest of the weekend. I'm hoping to get my backpack finished and maybe a second purse. I always have big plans but sometimes they run amuck. I've been cleaning out my bedroom closet for weeks now and so far nothing have been touched. I can always find an excuse for putting off those things.

They started this walking for your health thing at work on Monday. Now we wear podometers and keep track of how many steps you do in a day. On Wednesdays we do a walk around the outside perimiter of our building. If you go around 2 times it's a mile. So after lunch today off a bunch of us went for our walk. First off it was overcast which was perfect. The downside was they cut the grass yesterday and I'm very allergic to grass, well actually just about everything outside. Two years ago for security reasons Campbell's made us put up a fence. Oh I work for Campbell's Soup. Anyway since the fence went up we're always joking that we're going into the prison yard once we drive through the gates. So we're walking along the busier street and one of our guys starts waving to all the cars that go by. He's in the maintenance department so he's wearing dark blue pants and a dark blue shirt. He pipes up and says people must think we're the prisoners and we're out for our daily airing out in the prison yard. Next week I think we'll be carrying signs for the outside world to please help us escape.

Tonight was a quick trip to our LQS for a little patriotic fabric and then WalMart for some super man fabric. Topped off the night with an ice cream cone from McDonalds. Now I really think it's time for bed. It's hard doing nothing at night it just tires a person out.
I just want to sew something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cindy

Monday, May 21, 2007 - what a night

Ok so it's just me again but I needed to share. Today I was subposed to have picked up my Mom after work and taken her to my house for dinner and then we'd sit and watch Dancing with the Stars. Well she called me about 1:30 today and told me my brother called and she was going to his house to make him dinner. OK I guess this bothers me but yet it doesn't. His off day is Mon day and if he wants to take time to spend time with her that's fine. But gee, I just got ditched by and 87 year old lady.... What gives? Anyway I picked her up from my brothers and took her home where we proceeded to watch our dancing show. Now the big dilema who do you think is going to win tomorrow night? With that over we moved on to the Bachelor. Now normally this isn't a show for me but Mom likes it so I've watched the last two weeks with her. Now that was way past her bed time but she stayed up and we got sucked into watching the two hours of the show until "Andy" picked his lady. I had voted for Tessa but I told Mom that if he picked Bevin I was never going to watch that show again. Now I'm stuck watching it next season because he proposed to Tessa and she said yes. So did anyone else pick her? Will they ever really get married? Stay tuned because tomorrow night is the finale of Dancing With The Stars. My vote goes for Joey. Anyone else want to pick??????

Cindy

Monday, May 21, 2007 - Next project is a back pack

My next project that I'm working on is the Lazy Girl back pack. When it's done I'll post a picture of it but that might not be until the weekend. First off I had to layer up the front of it and I did my first free sty;e quilting. It didn't turn out that bad infact I'm proud of it. As I was cutting some of the other pieces my daughter Jen told me I needed a class in cutting. Wow I thought I was doing a pretty good job but I guess not. Next up I have to make the pocket for the outside and add that and then I think I'll do the straps and put the zipper in. Stay tuned for the next episode of "As the back pack turns."
Cindy

Monday, May 21, 2007 - A busy sewing weekend

I had quite a busy sewing weekend. Friday night I had to finish my purse that I wanted to give my sister Karen before she returned to Arizona. I sat and figured it out and the next thing I knew it was done and I had cut out two more for the Red Hatters. I went to a Red Hat gathering on Saturday and I was behind in birthdays so I made the two purses with the red hats on the fabric and the top piece is a marble purple. They were a big hit and so was the purse for my sister. When I gave Karen her purse my two other sisters were there and the next thing I knew I said I could make each of them on too. My one sister is a Master Gardener so I'll look for some fabric relating to gardening and the other sister really doesn't have any hobbies so I'll just look for something that is pretty. After I was done with those on Sunday I went ahead and made my Mom a purse too. She only needs to carry a few things when she goes out so this little run around bag will be just perfect for her. On hers I added the little piece of ribbon on the zipper since her vision isn't all that great anymore.

Thursday, May 17, 2007 - I feel happy

Well I did it. Tonight I made a Lazy Girl purse and it feels great to have it finished. I made the Runaround Bag. I wanted to make this one as a gift for my sister Karen who is visiting from Arizona. It was a feeling of accomplishment. While I was sewing I found myself smiling because I was having a good time. Now this is the way a person is subposed to feel when they sew. Now if I can figure out how to post a picture then I can show you all what I did.
Cindy
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Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - A nice day off

Today I stayed home from work, called in sick and slept most of the day. I have asthma and this attack has been building for quite some time. In all even though I was tired it ended up a nice day. Last night Jen came over and we celebrated Mother's Day. I got this really great card that when you open it up it plays a song. Next I got a really neat apron pattern that I can't wait to try it's made from a square of fabric that you place on point. I am also the proud owner of one of those little mini irons for pressing while I quilt. The pattern and the iron I was with her when she purchased those on Friday night but with all that's been going on I totally forgot about them so what a surprise. I also received the neatest scanner/ printer. Now I'll be able to print directly onto fabric and not have to worry about it. I have the best daughter who even set it all up for me. Tonight I'm just going to sit again but maybe just maybe sew for a few minutes.
Cindy

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - It's already Tuesday

Time just seems to be going by faster and faster lately. Someone once told me that as you get older time does go faster so I must really be aging. I've had a very busy last 5 days. Our out of town company was so much fun and my sister is still here for a few more days. The weekend was great from my Friday night block of the month group to Sundays post wedding shower for my nephew and his wife. Many memories were made in those days. Now it's time to get back to normal whatever that is. I have a couple of small purses that I want to make and of course I'm behind on my block of the month blocks. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day to do all of, the fun things that I want to do. I live in a small apartment and once it's cleaned and straightened up it doesn't take all that much upkeep. I don't have to worry about taking care of young children so where doesn my time go? My problem is when I get home from work at night I usually don't care to do anything but sit. My sewing machine has been calling my name so I think for atleast 15 minutes tonight before I go to bed I'll go and sit down and work on a purse. I just have to keep telling myself it's OK to take baby steps. But I really need for those purses to get done.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Thursday, sewing machine repair

I talked to my Mom today and she asked if I could stop over and look at her sewing machine tonight. I've mentioned her old Singer that was so much a part of our family before. So, tonight Jen and I went to Mom's to see what the problem was. We were armed with sewing machine oil since my Mom kept saying that it needed oiling. Anyway first thing I did was fill a bobbin for her and re-thread the machine. It sewed just fine but really needed a new needle. I looked through all of her sewing things and no new needle to be found. Mental note to self to take her some needles. Then it was time to oil the machine. When I talked to her today she told me not to worry she knew exactly where to put the oil. I'm a chicken myself and leave the oiling of my machine to Jen. I figured I'd take the machine apart, clean it good and then oil it and she'd be good to go, NOT. Things just didn't want to come apart like they should. We fought with the plate by the needle for quite sometime before it finally came off. Next I wanted to take the bobbin case out and of course I couldn't get that to budge. All the while my Mom kept telling me to just put a little bit of oil on everything. Then she told me the bottom came off so I flipped it on it's side and proceeded to take off the bottom. The little feet on the bottom need replacing because of dry rot. Let me just say OMG. Now remember this machine is atleast 45 years old and hasn't been sewn on for atleast 10 to 15 years. The built up oil and lint was now the consistency of hardened carmel. I screwed the bottom back on and tomorrow night I'll take it to our local wonderful sewing machine repair man for a good cleaning and going over. Once that's done I'm sure Mom will be back in business. That machine of her's is a work horse. Never any problems and sews very quietly always has. I guess there is something to be said about the way things were made years ago. It's a basic machine and if I remember correctly it did have a few attatchments. There was this huge contraption that always made perfect button holes. I'm not sure if it ever zig zags I want to say it only does straight stitching. Some years ago on one of Mom's throwing out binges she tossed out the book and now of course there are non to be found anywhere. All I'd really like someday for sentimental reasons would be this " grand old lady" of a machine. When one of my older sisters got married in the early 60's her husband had an old fashioned label maker and made a red label that still is on the top of the machine and it simply says "Arlen Darlin" for my Mom who's name is Arlene. If that machine could only talk the stories it would tell. The many happy hours of sewing and all the wonderful clothing it made for all of us. Right now it looks a little sad and it's owners eyes aren't the best but we'll get her going again soon. Old friends live forever.

That brings us to some of her sewing supplies. Jen needed to do some ripping out of stitches on a top of Mom's. Out came the old ripper. Now if I'm not mistaken this is probably the only ripper that she's ever had. Let's just say Jen could have chewed through the thread easier. So on the list of things for Grandma for Mother's Day the ripper heads the list along with sewing machine needles and of course the good cleaning she'll get.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - My vacation day

Today I took a vacation day from work and so far it's been wonderful. I had a Dr's appointment first thing this morning and again she told me the stress I've been under is taking it's toll on me. Well DUH that's nothing new we all have stress in our lives. Then we talked about what's been happening since I saw her last. When I was done it felt good just to unload it all. Her advice to me was to go home and do only what I wanted to do. I took a three hour nap and it was fantastic. Since then I've been looking at my sewing machine and I really do want to do some sewing but I need to wait until Jen gets home from work so I can borrow a pattern for a purse I want to make. My prescription from her was to everyday take sometime just for me. Well I've been trying to do that for the past 8 years but I think it finally set in that I really do need to do this for me. I'm going to practice saying NO when I really don't want to do something. How do all of you manage the time that you need just for you? I would think since I'm going to be 55 this summer I would have figured this out by now but I guess I'm a slow learner.

I'll work on this but not until after next week. My sister from Arizona and her kids and their spouses are coming home for a visit and I can't wait to see all of them. Then I promise my time will be my time. All I guess I want is some Cindy time. Thanks for letting me ramble.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - I made the purse for me

Have any of you ever made something and then when you show it to someone else they immediately say that you should make them the same thing? I get this all the time where I work. I took in my T owne Purse today and right away someone asked if I could make one for them. I said how long it took me and how I'd probably not make the same one again. No no you can make me one and I'd like these changes and then proceeds to tell you the changes they'd like made. First off I make patterns like they are I don't go modifying something that I'm not sure of. Second of all if I wanted to make another one I'd make it for myself. When I make something for someone it's because I want to as a surprise not because I've been asked to. How do all of you deal with this because it comes up all the time from different people. It seems just because I have a sewing machine I should be able to make anything and every thing for other people..

Sunday, May 6, 2007 - A good day for sewing

Today was a good day for sewing. I finished all my housework yesterday so I could concentrate on nothing but sewing today. I have to admit I am a little sore from all the furniture moving I did but a few more asprin when I go to bed and I'll be fine.

The first thing I finished today was my Towne Purse. I started it last weekend and today it was putting in the zipper, attatching the handles and sewing the purse parts together. I have to say this purse was a challenge for me. In the end I had to modify what to do with the zipper ends because they stuck out of the top and they wanted you to bend them down, tack them in place and then sew buttons on the side for decoration. The more I looked at that the more I didn't like it. Finally Jen suggested I just tuck the zipper ends on the inside which I did and it looked much better. It has lots of nice pockets on the inside and a pocket on the front. I'm just glad it's done and now all that's left to do is to move into it.

The next thing to make was this cute little purse. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of it but Jen had the pattern and it went together so well I don't think it took an hour to make. I like then zipper on the front and it has a pocket on the back and it's just big enough so if you're going somewhere and all you need are a few items then you're good to go.
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I'd say all in all it was a great day. I got to spend it sewing and best of all I got to spend the day sewing with my daughter, Jen. We even had supper made for us by her husband Mike, great burgers on the grill.

Saturday, May 5, 2007 - cleaning takes time

We're having out of town company next weekend. My sister and her whole family along with spouses are coming home to Wisconsin from Arizona. This is the first time all 5 of them are going to be here at the same time. This is going to be a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day. So, today I decided to tackle my apartment to get it ready incase anyone wants to come here to visit. What I really wanted to do was SEW but I promised Jen that I'd get done what I had to today so on Sunday we can spend the day sewing.

I started out with my bedroom. Completely rearranged the furniture and vacuumed the heck out of it. On to the spare room UGH Someday I'd like to put a twin bed in there for company. It's better now but along way to go. Bathroom, livingroom and part of the kitchen are done too. I think alot was accomplished today. It feels good to be done this far. So tomorrow I get to SEW. I want to finish my purse so I can post a picture of it. Then it's on to a couple of my block of the month squares. Stay tuned to tomorrow and hopefully I can post pictures.

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - Life makes me giggle

There are times in a persons life when you just have to stop, take in what was said to you and then all you can do is giggle . I had one of those moments last night.

My Mom is 87 years young and for the first time in her life she is living alone in an apartment for seniors. All of Mom's adult life she's loved to sew. I can remember her sitting for hours and the Singer treadle machine and watching her feet go up and down while she sewed. In I think the 60's my Dad bought came home with her first electric machine, again a Singer. While I was growing up that machine was always either on our kitchen table or sitting on the floor right next to the table. It was like having another person in the house. When she could she'd sew till wee hours of the night. Many a beautiful dress, a warm shirt or a fun summer outfit came off that machine. In the early 80's the two of us decided to take a quilting class together and that's when we fell in love with quilting. We made the same sampler quilt and each block was machine pieced but hand quilted. That was my first and last attempt at hand quilting. We both went on to make many more quilts and at the same time I was sewing all kinds of clothes for my daughter while she grew up. Later on I did special dresses while she was in high school. When Jen was getting married I made brides maids dresses. Mom started sewing less and less because of her eye site. Macular Degeneration set into one eye and age degeneration into the other one. When Jen wanted to learn to quilt Grandma gave her a huge box of scrap flannel from all of the PJ's and shirts and night gowns she'd made for us girls and the grandkids. Jen produced many quilts from that box. For my parents 80th birthdays she made them a special quilt out of Grandma's scraps. My Mom still cherishes that quilt even though most of the flannel is now over 40 years old and is showing it's age. Grandma inspired Jen in her quilting and she still loves to see the things that Jen makes.

Anyway that takes us to my giggle moment last night. I had stopped at my Mom's to drop off a few things and there on the kitchen table was her old sewing machine. She had it out and was going to attempt to sew a summer outfit for one of the great grandchildren. She lit up when she showed me the crinkle crepe fabric with Strawberry Shortcake on it. All she wanted was for me to thread the machine needle and she then thought she was going to give sewing a try again. She talked about sitting and sewing the night away and hoped she'd remember how. I hoped for her that she'd be able to do it again. Her hobby that had given her so many wonderful hours of joy. It was time for me to leave and as I walked down her hallway in her building she called out to me and asked me " do you know how to sew"? I stopped and thought well gee of course I know how to sew, I've been doing it since I was 14. I turned around and simply said, yes I do. If you need help call me and I continued on my way out. That one question really in a way made me sad because by Mom asking me that was her memory going? Or did she simply mean did I remember how to sew clothing? I'm not sure which it was but for the rest of the night whenever I thought of her question it made me giggle. I hope that someday when I'm 87 I'll still want to sew and hopefully my daughter will be there to help me out.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - Strip Poker and other fun things

Well, tonight was Strip Poker at our local quilt shop. It's always a fun time with a bun of very fun ladies. Tonight the games moved right along and now that it's over I was a really big looser. We decided that when we get together next month you have to have some article on that you made specifically for the poker game. I'm thinking about making my own visor like they used to show on TV when serious people played poker. Next up it's time to cut more "poker chips".

So far it's been a fun week. Last night I went with some people I work with to see the Brewers play ball. We started out in the 300 Club and we sat out on the deck and has a little something to eat and of course a little something to drink. I was introduced to my first watermellon martini. All I can say is I think I found my new summer drink of choice. Then down into our seats we went and we proceeded to see our home team win 12-2.

Now that I've played for a couple of nights its time to get back to working on my purse. A zipper and handles and I'll be able to post a picture of my Town Purse by Lazy Girl.

Sunday, April 29, 2007 - I thought I should do some quilting

Let me start out by saying that never in my life did I think I would have my own blog, heck, one month ago I didn't even know what a blog was. Of course alot of things are constantly changing in my life. So today is the football draft and I'm spending the day with my daughter Jen and my Granddogter Holly. We ran some errands and then it was time to set up and sew. Jen comes to my house most weekends with her sewing gear and mainly she sews and gets things done. I on the other hand do alot of putzing around, a little sewing and mainly just watching her sew. Tonights the night, I'm going to make a purse. Not just any purse but a Lazy Girl purse. So here it is after midnight and all I have to show so far are the inside pockets. As usual I did a little sewing, a little ripping and a tad of swearing. Jen has now taken pity on me and is free motion quilting my fabric for the body of the purse. I've been told I can't go to bed until it's done. Guess that means no sleep for me.

Tomorrow is a big day for me. You see I'm the queen mother of our Red Hat Society chapter and we're getting together with around 500 other Red Hatters for a birthday celebration. Today I made myself a new hat for the occasion. Well actually it's not a hat but a red head band complete with purple and white tooling and purple flowers. I have to admit it turned out pretty nice. Atleast I finished one thing today.

Jen is almost done quilting my purse pieces so I guess it's time for me to go back to sewing. I'll fill you in tomorrow on how far I got on the purse. Of course this is the way our sewing always goes. Her purse is almost done and it looks great and mine, well, the jury is still out on that one.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

To move or not to move that is the question

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Thank you everyone

Monday, August 27, 2007

If it's Monday, it's Charity sewing night

Sunday, August 26, 2007

A lazy Sunday

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Murphy's latest vet visit

I'm half way done with the linen closet

Linen closet is DONE

Linen closet is DONE

Friday, August 24, 2007

I had good intentions

Thursday, August 23, 2007

So much for lists

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

A nothing day

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

It's Tuesday so that's movie night

Monday, August 20, 2007

Charity Sewing Night

Friday, August 17, 2007

Project Linus quilts

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Housekeeping

Project Linus

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Peaceful Vacation Day

Jill, where are you

Grandma and project linus

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Meeting a Cereal Killer

Monday, August 13, 2007

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