Countdown

I have meetings every night this week, so this morning I pulled out stuff to work on once the Olympics start:  a new sock and handquilting.

I started the handquilting years ago but didn't get far.  I waffle about handquilting a top purchased at a sample sale (vs. something I made myself), so I may take out the stitching on that one block and go for some big stitch utility quilting instead.

Morning sampler

Mary's new sock kick has motivated me to a finish.  (And she is fast!) Mary, I love that you're making them in Scarlet & Gray -- Buckeye colors.  ; )

This pair was started in May'09 and has been languishing... waiting for those last 20 or so rows of the second leg to be done.  As is my usual, once I know what it's going to look like, I've moved on.

Last week I discovered that this young pup has been using my dining room as his personal potty.  I have an open kitchen/dining/living area, but I never go through the dining room, or even use it much for that matter. Unfortunately I've had to go back to crating him while I'm at work.  Here's a picture of one of his milder moments this morning.

Non-diet food:  I made some kolaches to take to work today.  One could find sausage kolaches in nearly every donut shop in north Texas, but no one locally has heard of them. Just as well, since it's cheaper to make them. This last batch is fresh from the oven, but a couple mysteriously vaporized as soon as this picture was snapped!  

Eckrich breakfast links rolled in Pillsbury Grands biscuits (biscuits were separated in half horizontally before rolling).

We're supposed to be in for "the biggest snowstorm of the season" today and tomorrow, but it hasn't started yet. Are the weather people in your area incite-ful alarmists too?  By listening to them, you'd never know this is a northern climate with four seasons.

The good news is... I finally found the cord to my new camera!  It looks just like one of my computer cords, so it was right under my nose the whole time.

Happy Thanksgiving/Christmas/NewYear!

I really am still alive.  I just haven't been in the quilting mood for so, so long.  Well, I haven't been in the mood to make anything... but I still think about quilting nearly every day all day.

During my little unintended hiatus from blogging I did manage to finish a couple of string quilts, bind several JSS quilts, start only one new quilt, organize all the pictures and free patterns stored on my computer, clean and organize my sewing/storage room, make some QAYG blocks, and work on cutting 'kits' for some long-term scrap projects.  Seems like boring, un-blogworthy shtuff.  Plus the usual day-to-day work, family, dog, exercise, and choke over the cost of medical treatment.   If I could find my camera cord, I'd share it all with you!

And I'd share a picture of the puny little snow we got last night, but go check out Jeanne's California pics instead... amazing!


Sheila
P.S. It seems blogger has changed a bit; I may have to retrain myself!

Knock, knock...

... is anyone home?

I'm here.  Just hadn't been feeling that great and ended up in the big white house again for a few days last week after some trouble breathing.   After an oxymoronic "minor" invasive procedure ("It's done hundreds of times a day."  "Well, not to me it's not!"), I'm home and feeling better than I have in months.  I can live with nothing but D5W to eat, but they really need to work on that letting the patient sleep thing.

Some good news was that I'd lost 9 pounds in the month since my last episode.  Yeah, it may be fluid loss, but it's still a loss.  I've been 99% diligent about what I eat, eating only fresh foods prepared by me and splurging with one meal out on paydays.  Not entirely easy when you cook for one, but it has to become a way of life if I want to be around to see those grandkids grow up!

AND!  I have a hunky new workout partner and personal trainer.  He's the antithesis of my preferred tall, dark & handsome, but a cutie nonetheless. Please meet Oscar:

Sorry for the dark pic, but with the flash on you see nothing but green eyes; he blends into everything!  Oscar's a terrier mutt/mix sweetie and comes to me from my daughter-in-law's sister who was here visiting. I was thinking about finding a rescue pup anyhow, so this works out perfectly for me.  He'll be 5 years old next month and is so very mellow and a snuggler.   He's used to being out in a fenced yard whenever he wants, so it's a bit of an adjustment for him since I have an upper level condo, but he's doing great.  We're working on getting him on the P&P schedule that works best for ... ummm... both of us!?  Double treats for him when he makes deposits near  a dog dropping container instead of after our walk is done and nearer my door.

Hopefully back to some quilting this week... it seems like it's been forever.

Take care,
Sheila

Let's Kick-off November

Okay, so October was a near total loss in the quilting department and I'm determined to make November better.

No sewing being done. Sadly, no October Schnibbles. Yesterday I summoned the energy to work on cleaning out some UFOs. Joanne wants to practice with new pantos, so these are on their way to her for quilting. I can't wait to see what magic she works on them!

From 2003 -Stars & Moons- This has a really cute backing of a little boy riding a spaceship.

From 2005 - The non-pattern I've only known as "Rainy Day Satisfaction."

From 2007 - another Disappearing 9-Patch. These make such cute kid quilts for donation.

From around 2005 (and my matchy-matchy, scared of scrappy days), I think.

Barbara's Antique pattern by Debbie Caffrey.

*****

Thanks for all the cards, emails and general good vibes regarding my health. You all are the best, and your good thoughts mean the world to me. There are definitely issues but we are going to watch-and-wait for now while trying some non-surgical, non-medicinal interventions first. I'm crying over NO CAFFEINE, though!

*****

Make the most of today!

Sheila

Although I've never been a prolific blogger, I hope to be back to posting soon. I had a bit of a health scare a couple of weeks ago and have been through the mill with tests and such. I hope to know more this week and get life moving forward again, one way or another.

My younger grandson turned 1 on Friday, and his party and baptism were today. Of course, I went off and left my camera at home, so I have to wait for others to send me pictures to post.

There's definitely no quilting going on, but hopefully soon!

September wasn't a total loss

September didn't start out too well. My dishwasher went on the fritz. I thought my sewing machine died, but it was just a faulty power strip. My iron died and had to be replaced. Then my sewing machine really did start acting up, just as I was trying to finish and mail some promised quilts.

I managed to get the County Lines quilt to the semi-flimsy stage and just need to add borders and get it quilted.

My challenge quilt for JSS made it to the flimsy stage and was turned in on time, along with backing & binding; it got 2nd place for best use of pink. Now to find time to get to the center and get it quilted and bound.

I got the bindings on couple of Heartstrings quilts and am working my way through the handstitching, then they'll be ready for washing and pictures.

Cricket from the Heartstrings group mentioned needing a couple of quilts for homeless kids, and I certainly have plenty of those ready for completion. I got the binding on this lasagna quilt before my machine gave out. The gifted coin quilt from Megan was already bound and didn't make it to it's intended destination back in April or May, so it was in 'the stack' and ready to go. I added a couple of coordinating purchased blankets because I was told these quilts would be all these girls had and I was concerned they wouldn't be warm enough.

blogger seems to have flipped this on its head

the quilt Megan hated

Onward and upward.... making goals for October.

Take care,

Sheila