How I spent my day

I had decided that today I would just sew things that would make me happy. I wasn't sewing for anyone just for something to do. Michelle had made a mitten trash bag for her car and she was kind enough to share the pattern with me. Here are my first two of many that I made. The blue one was the first one that I made and next up was the black one and I don't think you can tell but it has hearts on it that are made out of candy canes. This was such a fun project to make. Next I'm going to see if I can make one in the shape of a heart for Valentine's Day. What a fun day sewing I've had so far.

A new day

Today is a big day in Cindy world. Michelle and her quilty ladies are as we speak driving up here to spend the day with Jen and I. I am so excited I got up extra early to start my Saturday jobs. Last night Jen was laughing at me because I was making a list of all the things that I want to get done this weekend. My apartment needs a big straightening and cleaning for fall. There is stuff everywhere and it's driving me crazy. When you live in a small place it doesn't take much to make it look like a bomb has gone off. I started on the kitchen this morning and made great progress. Now I'm waiting until 8 so that I can start the washer and do my vacuuming. My upstairs neighbors probably can't hear the vacuum but they are such nice people that I don't want to take the chance of waking them up. Then it's time to straighten my sewing area. I figure if I come up with a master plan and take a certain amount of time each day by the end of the week I'll be finished and happier. I have to also work in some time for sewing.

Last night we started our new BOM for Fridays. This is going to be so much fun because one of my sisters who just started quilting has joined along with one of my nieces and a dear friend of Jens so it's a good group. We did a little shopping after the meeting and then a few of us went to a Mexican restaurant close to the shop for some food and of course a margaritta.

Back to my cleaning. I"m so excited because I can't wait for the group from Iowa to get here. More later after our company has to go home.

Our day in Iowa

Jen and I left my apartment around 7:20 Saturday morning headed for Michelle's in Iowa. We were headed for a fun day of sewing with our new dear friend. The internet has made such a difference in my life. A little history first so bear with me. Back in about the late 90's I was first introduced to the internet one Christmas break from my work. Jen showed me how to get on and I went right for a quilting chat room. I spent the next week late into the night chatting with ladies who had the same interest that I did. Soon we started to bond. Little did I know then that all these years later we would still be the best of friends. Little by little we started having get togethes and soon we were sharing so many events in our lives. Weddings, funerals, divorces, graduations and mile stone birthdays were just a few of the things we shared along with our love of quilting. Now fast forward many years and there's a whole new group of you out there who have become part of my family. Back to our travels. The trip went really quick and it didn't seem like it took us that long at all to get to Michelle's. OK I have to admit that in the end Jen fired me as the map reader. Down to her quilting room we went. Let me just tell all of you that Michelle has the coolest room for quilting. Well actually throughout their house you see all of her quilting touches so beautifully displayed. Jen's quilt was the first one on the frame and soon she was quilting away. I had taken a table runner along to work on but I was just fascinated watching and learning as she quilted. Once hers was done off we went for some lunch and a tour of the town. We saw all the sights and even where Michelle and her husband Louie work. We stopped off at the car show and found out they had taken a second place in the Harley that Louie had rebuilt. Back home we went and on the quilter went my quilt. Let's start out by saying that this was a dream come true to me. I've wanted to quilt on a quilter for so many years and here I was doing it. Well, I'm not that talented after all. I just don't have a rhythme. I can't stay on one "pattern" so I was all over the place trying all kinds of things and in the end, yes, I had quilted a quilt on the frame but it looked like I was on an acid trip. Oh she's done alright but I have a long way to go. If I could just get the rhythme of a pattern then look out world a new quilting monster will be born. Before long it was getting late and we had to leave. This made me sad because we had so much fun at Michelle's house. She is such a gracious hostess and our time just flew by.
We loaded everything up and out we headed. It was around 9:30 when we left and we had a long drive ahead of us but since we're both used to being up late on the weekends it wasn't bad at all. I got to be in control of the MP3 player so we sang our way home. We made a couple of quick pit stops. Once we pulled into a McDonalds for something to drink and then across the street for some gas. Gas is so much cheaper in Iowa so we took advantage of that. Then one more stop down the road because now Jen had drinken the big soda from McDonalds. I was waiting in the car and I see this young man come out and pass infront of the car and well he was dressed rather strange. He had on these old fashioned pants with suspenders, an odd shirt and he was carrying what appeared to be a small pouch like we used to keep marbles in. He got in a car and I didn't think another thing of it with the exception that I thought maybe he was part of some musical group. Jen comes out and gets in the car and before we back out we see an older man pass us and he's got these same odd pants on and these long things that go from below his knees to his shoes and she says "hey he's dressed in civil war pants". I look over and he gets in the car with the younger man and they had a large trailer behind them and it's a civil war enactment group from Wisconsin. Well for some reason at that time of night I guess you had to be there because we laughed like crazy. All rest of the way home all of a sudden she'd just say to me " he had civil war pants on:. The rest of the trip was uneventful and we were home in no time at all. We unloaded my stuff and played with the dogs a big and then Jen made me sit at the kitchen table and start drawing patterns to go over and over again so I get a rhythme for quilting. I'm hoping that someday this comes to me easier because I honestly can't wait to try another quilt.
Today I've done nothing but watch TV. Now it's time to forge for food and I have a vacation day tomorrow and some appointments tomorrow but then I can do whatever it is I want to do.
Don't forget to check out Jen and Michelle's blogs they have pictures of our day and watch Jen's movie about me.

Tomorrows the Big Day

Tomorrow is the big day that Jen and I go to Iowa to see Michelle and her husband Louie. I"m so excited. All I have to do tonight is make the backing for the quilt that I'm taking along to quilt and pack up my sewing things. I"m not sure what time we're leaving because Jen and Mike are at the ball game tonight. Then it's one trip to Walgreens to pick up some more insulin for Murphy and I'm ready.
I'm not sure what time we'll be home tomorrow night so if it's late I'll post how our big adventure went on Sunday. I'm definetly taking my camera along. Oh I need to buy munchies for the road too.

So, until next time all of you have a great day tomorrow and think about us........


Look out Michelle HERE WE COME...........

Saturday

Saturday was quite a busy day for me. I started out running to Jen's house because Michelle and Louie from Iowa were riding up for a visit on their motorcycle. Maureen was the next one to get there and then in rode the bike. It was so good to see them all. My only regret was I had to leave after about an hour to take Murphy in to have a glucose test done. Everyone should be happy to know that his numbers are down to 219 YIPPPPEEEEEEE. Then it was back home to my house to wait for my friends Debbie and Marge to come we were going to celebrate my birthday. We had a very good time and went to of all places Bakers Square where I had to miss the lunch earlier with everyone else. Just so Jen and Maureen know I had something different for dinner. I had terriyaki chicken stir fry it was fantastic and of course triple berry pie alamode. Then it was off to WalMart to just walk around for a while and then back to my house. I got a gift card from Joanns from Debbie and a great Storage jar from Marge. We had a really good visit and then it was time for bed because I was so tired.
Cindy



-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
COMMENTS

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
It sounds like a busy day, but lots of fun. Rhoda

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
It was SO good to see you...I wish you could have stayed longer! I'm so happy Murphy is better. I will pray he keeps it up. Have a great Sunday! Michelle

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Hooray for Murphy!! I am glad that his numbers finally stabilized!

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
So glad to hear Murphy is doing better .That pie sounds so yummy ,I can almost taste it LOL Sounds like you had a very nice day with your friends .

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Too funny that you ended up at Baker's Square!!! Glad you had a good day. -Jen http://cre8tivequilter.blogspot.com/

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Sounds like you had such a great time. I am so glad that Murphys testing went better this time. Kristie

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Jealous!
Posted by born2quilt
I am jealous you guys are able to get together. Anyone in maryland want to hook up anytime? Stephanie

Monday, September 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
Cindy: We missed you once you left to take Murphy to the vet. I am so glad his numbers are coming down. YEAH MURPHY! I hope his numbers keep coming down to normal. Umm I think on Wednesday night you will have Triple Berry Pie Ala Mode. I'm psychic. LOL Maureen