Holy Mackeral

I sure don't know where time goes. I honestly can't believe that it's been over two months since I last posted. I knew I'd been busy but not that busy. lol. I have some photo documentation for my absence though. I'll try to keep it all in chronological order.

First of all, those hives had me down and out. I had them under the skin on my hands on the palms and for about 2, maybe 3 weeks, I couldn't sew, blog or anything much where I depended on my hands to get the job done. Then I kind of went through a down in the dumps spell. Still not feeling all yippy skippy but better. Anyway, I kind of let things of all nature fall on the wayside for a spell.

I got a huge order from my neice for some crayon bags. Eleven of them in total. I worked to the very last minute possible and thought I had fifteen minutes to spare before she showed up for them. Turns out she showed early and I had just pulled the last one off the machine. I didn't even get pictures of the boys bags and they were the cutest of all. Oh well. Thanks Mick for the order. I hope they enjoyed them. Here is a photo of the seven girl bags I made.


Then we had graduation to prepare for. We had all these announcements and party invitations to get ready and send out.


We had Mother's Day and Father's Day and Memorial Day Weekend. All fairly uneventful for us but nice and relaxing just the same.

We had graduation and my youngest son Shawn graduated on May 30, 2009. Yay Shawn. I am so proud of him and so happy that he is done with school. I wish him only the best the future has to offer.


On June 25th, hubby and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary. It was a great day despite the fact that we both had to work. He brought me home roses and went to dinner at my favorite mexican restaurant. Then we shopped for the party we were having in two days.


We finally got the senior pictures from the photographer on the 26th, one day before the party. I'll have to scan those and get them posted. They weren't even taken til April 30th. lol. We don't have the party photo's back yet but as soon as I have those I'll post those too. We had a hard time pulling that one off. On Monday, June 22nd, I found out the place I had booked for the party eight weeks ago had us written down for the wrong date and someone else's name was in our spot. Last minute switch but new location found and all guests notified of the change. Was told how awesome Buehler's marble cake was so I ordered one but we got a half white and a half chocolate cake instead. About twenty of our guests that rsvp'd didn't make it but all in all it was a great day and we enjoyed the lovely day with dear friends and family all in Shawn's honor. He needed that. Jerry and I have been on vacation this week which was nice having the party weekend, vacation, plus a holiday all before we have to go back this coming Monday. We've been broke so we have done absolutely nothing but piddle around the house and it's been wonderful actually. I was exhausted Sunday and slept almost all day off and on. Honey took his sleeping day on Monday. lol. We got our nasty front porch cleaned off and I hope to have a party Friday or Saturday. We used to have porch parties all the time. Ah, back in the day. lol.

A few weeks back we had some horrendous rain and I think they said it rained 2 inches in an hour that day. Here is a pick of the street in front of the house and our front yard. that is Shawn out there playing in it.


I'm sorry I haven't been around in so long. I have been checking on all of you off and on but not as much as I'd like. I started going down my list today and am looking forward to finishing up here after bit checking in on everyone. Even though I don't always comment, I still like to keep up with all the great people that hang out here in blogland.

I'll try real hard to be back around more often.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Has Anyone Seen This?

I saw it yesterday, Friday, on Oprah I believe and I checked it out on youtube just now. Same thing occured both times this woman opened her mouth, I immediately got goosebumps. Today watching the youtube version, I also felt my eyes brimming with tears and then they quickly rolled down my cheeks. I don't know how to explain the way I feel about this but I guess I am in awe as well as feeling that this woman is truly the epitome of beautiful. I believe she must be beautiful from the core inside. I was just caught up in her performance and I truly saw beauty in this woman's eyes as she sang her heart out and if she doesn't succeed in becoming celebrity, not just Britain but everywhere,the world has missed the boat. I'm just dumbfounded and kinda speechless but I had to share this. It touched my old cold heart just a little bit.

Go here to see what I mean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk




Renee

Oh Woe Is Me!!

WAH!!!!!I have been covered in hives since I rolled out of bed Thursday morning. I can hold them at bay with benadryl every four hours but it's lights out for me when taking that stuff. I try putting it off sometimes but then I kinda get them full blown and the itching is maddening. This is the third time in my life I've had these. Both prior times were associated with intense stress going on in my life but I haven't been particularly stressed at this time. Life is always hectic but I didn't think it was affecting me that bad right now. It's not an allergy to anything and I haven't tried anything new and improved so I know that's not it.

Needless to say I've been kinda like a zombie for about three days now and I'm hoping today won't be such a bad day. Not feeling bad right now cause it's just been two hours since last benadryl. I am so sleepy though but I have to stay awake. I have stuff to do that has already been put off long enough. Obviously no quilting going on either. Had planned to have the big one done this weekend and those plans went right out the window. Hope everyone else is being creative and enjoying a nice holiday weekend. Happy Easter in case I don't make it back.

Take care and Happy Stitching,

Renee

Yucky Monday

Well, I think that instead of springing forward weather wise, we are falling back. It was like winter here all over again today. It's April 6th and it snowed a fair amount. It's not sticking but I don't like it. lol. I much prefer last Wednesday's temps of 69/70 over the current offering. lol. I saw folks mowing their yards here just yesterday as it was fairly nice then too. Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse. Gotta love Ohio.

Yesterday for my son's birthday, we went to the mall and out to eat at Red Lobster. We had a great time. The meal was wonderful. We bought the boy a pair of spiffy new tennis shoes for his gift. I think he enjoyed himself. In between the mall and supper though we had a few extra minutes before we were to meet our other son and daughter in law at the restaurant so guess where I got to go? It was JoAnn's. I could get lost in there but I stick to the fabric section. I left empty handed but I saw alot of lovely stuff. I just can't afford them to be honest. I can't bring myself to pay five bucks a yard for material. I started buying fabric at wal-mart where I always only paid three or four a yard tops. I liked their 2.97 fabrics and the clearance rack. I liked the clearance rack alot!! lol. But like poo poo heads our local store got rid of the domestics department and I have no where other than the little independent shops around here to shop for it and again, I just can't justify it cost wise. I keep hoping that on the rare occasion I do get to JoAnn's that I'll find some awesome deal on something I can really use but it hasn't happened yet. lol.

I tried quilting Saturday for awhile but it did not go well so instead of going through the whole sew it up/tear em' out routine like last time I just politely got up and walked away at the first hint of trouble. lol. I really just wanted to come home from work today and get busy on it but I'll be danged if I didn't get a visitor who stayed from 1:20 until about 3:00. I should feel bad about complaining about getting company and should be happy that folks want to stop and see me and spend some time with me but I just really don't appreciate folks dropping in on me unannounced at all. There were some things I was going to do today as well and I mentioned that fact but it didn't speed up the visit a bit. What do you do? It's almost time for hubby to get home and then I'll have to start supper and after that I'll have to go do those things I was going to do earlier. Probably no quilting today at all now. Wasn't meant to be I guess. lol.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm getting ready to do the blog roll for the first time today and I can't wait to see what you all have been up to. Take care.

Happy Stitching!!!

Renee

Is It Saturday Again Already?

If this week wasn't a whirlwind around here, I don't know what else you'd call it. lol. It's nice to sit here and have a moment to catch my breath this morning. But it's only for a minute because I'm going to try and knock out the quilt today. I don't mean finish it but at least get the quilting done. I must admit all week I have been at a standstill on doing any sewing. I'm looking forward to implementing some great tips you've all left for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Not this past Thursday but the Thursday before, I took my youngest to the doctor. He will be 18 tomorrow and I wanted him to have a big once-over before then and we aren't quite sure how long we can carry his insurance yet so I wanted a few things addressed. He's been having a problem that seems to have gotten worse with time and we decided we had to check that out. When he gets up, he like blacks out. He doesn't fall to the ground or anything but he has to stop where he is and gather himself. His eyes go black and he can't hear, etc. when this happens to him and if one of us is around we grab on to him til it passes to make sure he's okay. Everyone cautioned me against diabetes. I wasn't worried about that because I know diabetes too well and this wasn't classic of anything I'd witnessed there but I was kind of worried about it being perhaps a seizure like activity. And he's been having some shoulder trouble. Anyway, then last Friday he went and had bloodwork, shoulder and chest x-rays, and an EKG. It's been a waiting game all week. Monday we did get the bloodwork results. Everything looks great. No diabetes, no thyroid problems, etc. Yay!! Tuesday the x-ray results came back. Nothing out of place, no growths, spurs, etc. Lungs were clear as crystal. Yay!!!! Wednesday scared me. Usually I know in emergency situations EKG results are back asap. I was worried they'd found something and that's why it was taking so long to hear back. And when the doctor's office called and said please call us regarding Shawn's results, my stomach sank. But, it was also returned with a great reading and all has shown to be well. Thank God!!! I have a problem with worry and I can't tell you how it worked on me until all those results came back clear. Now, because doctors are doctors and they're scared of their own shadows when it comes to malpractice, if he continues to have any more trouble with these spells and/or they become more frequent, he is to go see a neurologist. For the shoulder, an orthopedic doctor. It's kind of like we went to the doctor, he didn't know what it could be, he ran tests, he still doesn't know what it could be but we could go ahead and see two more doctors if we want to possibly tell us the same thing, we don't know what it is. I'm convinced the kid is just one of those who have to watch when getting up too quickly. I will certainly keep an eye on it though as I said I was worried about seizure activity and I'm not ruling out seeing a neurologist yet but we're trying some things to see if we can minimize it. The shoulder thing, it's weird. Both of my sons were born with broken collar bones. They were 9lbs. 2oz. and 10lbs 3oz. at birth respectively and while there is nothing in x-rays and ortho's have said the oldest boys problems wouldn't be related, I still think it plays a roll in the pain they experience. But, who am I? I'm just their mother, I wouldn't know anything about it, would I? lol.

On the work front, there was so much drama there this week that I almost couldn't stand being there. I have to say I was not involved in any way, shape or form and for that I am grateful but even the innocent have a way of getting involved in mass chaos. I'm still not sure what will be taking place with one, possibly three of our employee's but the thought of three of them leaving out of there means this chick will be working double, triple time doing not only my work but picking up the slack with theirs. (Shakes Head) I just have to tell myself I am fortunate to have this job and I keep going back day after day. lol.

Wednesday was a pretty good day on the sewing front. Well not actually sewing but ORDERS for sewing. Yay!!! The lady I am doing this quilt for came to see it and she loves it already. Told me to hurry up she has two more she wants me to do. She and her sister also saw the little purse I made for Spring and if I can get them ready before Easter, they'll likely take three purses. Then before I went to work Thursday I checked my email and my neice wrote and she wants 11 crayon bags for her son's preschool class. I was so happy I think I was walking on the clouds awhile Thursday. lol. My hubby warned me that I had just made the comment that if I wasn't sewing just for the pure fun of it, I wasn't doing anymore projects for people. Well, maybe saying that is what it took to get these orders and make me see maybe I can make a little money at something I love to do. We'll see. I reserve the right to regret taking it all on. lol. But here is my motivation at this point, when it's all said and done, there is approximately $500.00 dollars worth of work. I could use that. We have a graduation coming up in June and while the bulk of the costs are paid for that, we still have a party to throw for it, pictures to be made and school fee's to be paid up. My day is hopefully going to be spent working on the quilt so I can switch the machine back over for sewing purses and crayon bags sometime this coming week.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. We're going to Red Lobster for a birthday celebration and maybe some shopping for a gift afterwards. We usually try to go to Red Lobster once a year. Usually when we get our tax refund check. This year we held off so we could go on Shawn's birthday. It's where we went for Tony's 18th so it's only fair we do it for Shawn. Plus he loves that place. I was hoping to have him a family get together but he's not crazy about those family get together's and we are going to be with the whole family for Easter next Sunday so I might see if we can't celebrate his birthday with a cake and mention then. And I might just decide yet to invite folks over tomorrow evening for cake and ice cream too. Who knows? Tomorrow is definately a family day though so probably no blogging, quilting or anything tomnorrow. So, I better get busy now today so I can get something done with that quilt. Everyone take care. Thanks for the great tips on this quilting project. I have yet to finish that one row I was working on and then I am going to do as suggested and start the next round by doing it in quarters instead of the rows.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and are doing something quilty. Can't wait to check later and see some new projects on your sites.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

LOL!!! I Have To Laugh Or I'll Cry!

Oh my, my, my, my. That is how I felt at the end of the day yesterday when I finally stopped working on the quilt a little before ten last night. I bet it was about 12:15 by the time I got it rolled up and clamped and on the machine ready to go. Not a bad start time. Nothing on my plate to do so all I had planned was working on the quilt. LOL. Here, you guys see for yourself:







I have already from the get go lost any potential profits in my time. LOL!!!!! Still I am tickled to death to have the opportunity to be doing this. As usual my seam ripper and I spent alot of that time yesterday together un-doing some things along the way, alot of things along the way. lol. I can see where I've made mistakes and where I can improve along the way. I got so ticked off at myself for not being able to stipple this thing that by 4 I said a little prayer to please let me be able to do something/anything with this quilt because I had tried stippling first, two times. Then I said to heck with it and put on my regular foot and was just going to do some diagonal lines on it. Tried that twice and hated it so I took a little break and got mad that I couldn't do it the way I wanted to do this one so when I was done with my break it was do or die on the stippling. This is what I ended up with. It was the prayer I know it was. I tend to have to get angry with myself before I can do certain things right or to my own expectations and this was one of them. I think the anger worked fairly well for me. I am pleased and I know Cindy will be tickled. She knew going in this was a first and I do my best at my pace so she's totally let me go with this. Bless her heart. lol.

Hubby just looked at it as I was taking the photo's and he asked if I was doing the whole quilt that way. He scared me. It could take me months at this pace. lol. I did start to thinking of maybe only doing this every couple blocks lengthwise and then do the same widthwise and it would save me a little time. What do you guys think about that idea? Oh, and a great big thank you to those of you who responded to how long it may take me to do this quilt. I have far surpassed Kris' time of 5 hours on a twin size. lol. I just wanted to be sure and thank everyone for the ideas and info.

Gonna get back at it. Have a great Sunday!! Take care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Moments Away From Start

It took me almost an hour last night to pin baste the quilt and that long on my hands and knees still has me stoved up today. lol. But,like the good girl I am trying to become, I got up early this morning and began working on cleaning and organizing my sewing room. I told hubby I enjoyed my sewing so much more back in the days when I began when I used the kitchen table and had one little box of notions. I kept it all organized so well because I usually had to pack it up nightly and put it away until next time I drug it out and did something. Once I got my own sewing room, it all fell apart. Plus I have more stuff now and I knew going into work on this big old whoppin' quilt would not even come close to fun unless I was organized and had the freedom to move around with it. Mission accomplished. I think I might be stalling now just to avoid having to get busy. lol. Truthfully, I am having just one more smoke and cup of coffee, followed by a restroom break and then it's on!!!! lol. Wish me luck. Anyone have any idea how long it will take me to quilt a full size quilt? Any ideas would be great because I haven't a clue. lol.

Take care everyone. Hope you all get to do some quilting today. Have a great weekend.

Renee

Looky What I Am Going To Do

Here it is. This is the trip around the world quilt top that my friend's grandmother made. I just got back from Wal-Mart about an hour and a half ago with the backing and I have it all ready to spread out on the livingroom floor when the fella's take off for the evening. As excited as I am to be doing my first full-size quilt, I am not looking forward to the time it will take me to pin it because I'll be on the floor on my hands and knees. But, it must be done!!!!!







I got some New York strip steaks out at Wal-Mart and we're having those, cocktail shrimp and mozarella sticks for supper. Isn't that a concoction? lol. I'm fixin' to get ready to do that in a just a few but I wanted to post the quilt top photo's so you could see what I'll be doing this evening. Hope you all have a great night and weekend. Take Care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Here's My Spring Rag Purse

You can't tell because of the terrible photo's but aside from the denim pockets, it's also made of white flannel with little pink flowers on it. I love it. It's not fancy at all and since it had the pockets outside I didn't put any on the inside of it. But I just needed something to carry the basics(keys,wallet,smokes,& phone) in so this works perfect. I just wanted to share. It's a bit o' spring here in my little cold corner of the world. It looks pretty out today but it's deceiving. It's cold!!! lol. But the sunshine is nice so I'll take it.

Hope you're all enjoying your day. Take care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Never Again!!!

Oh, let me tell you folks. I will never, ever again in life volunteer to hem curtains. No way, no how. In fact I told hubby yesterday that from now on if my sewing projects aren't just for me for the fun of it, I am not doing it. lol. I had one last ding dong curtain to whack off and hem for the boy yesterday. Perfect day, no one was here, just me and I had room to spread out and do things right and I was so happy with the way everything lined up prior to cutting. That's as far as the bliss went. I got the stinker all measured and was ready to cut. I got cocky in that I was just thinking to myself that maybe I should measure again to be sure of myself. Well, I thought that since this was the last and I had those dimensions embedded in my head, I was confident I had it right so I whip out the shears and commence to cutting. About a third of the way through, I realize I am cutting on my hem line, not the line three inches down that I meant to cut. AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! I know my neighbors heard me swear!!! lol. Boy was I really thinking I might be ska-rewed because where I cut was supposed to be the bottom line on them. I had to walk away a minute but I was determined to not let it get me down and don't ask me how I did it but I reattached what I cut off and tried a few tricks and ended up with the curtain one inch longer than it should have been and when I turned that up, my goof just disappeared right into the mess. Yay!!!!! Of course I am going to tell on myself and offer to buy a new set of curtains if they are not happy but honestly if you didn't know I did it, you couldn't tell so I think I'll be okay. lol.

I love to sew and quilt more than just about anything else but I find when I'm doing something specifically for someone else, the pressure is almost too much to bear so I'm taking that pressure off. I have that quilt of my friends I told her I'd put together for her but from now on, no more custom orders, no seamstress jobs, etc. It just sucks all the fun right out of it for me.

I was here alone last night and I've been thinking about a new spring purse so for some fun I made me a little rag bag out of denim pockets and pretty pink flowered flannel. I call it shabby chic meets grunge. lol. I have to take off my closure loop and either re-attach it so it's actually centered or I might just put velcro on it instead. Not sure yet but when I get it done, I'll post a pick.

Not much planned for today though. Probably finish up the purse and then tackle the laundry again. Hope everyone had a great weekend and you all have a great week ahead. You all take care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Happy Spring!!!!

Myspace 2.0 layouts

Hey everybody! Are you ready for the weekend? I sure am. I'm in for the duration if I can get away with it(lol)until Monday. I doubt I can get hubby to go do the grocery shopping that needs to be done around here. lol. I've been putting it off and putting it off but it's beginning to look like Mother Hubburd's cupboard around here. lol. But for tonight I am looking forward to some peace and quiet Renee time. The fella's have plans to go play cards and I intend to batten down here in front of the computer or the t.v. in just a few short hours. No sewing tonight unfortunately but tomorrow looks hopeful. lol. I've been draggin' tail around here with my chores and stuff I need to get done and I just need to get to crackin'. lol.

I hope everyone has great plans for the weekend. Here, they claim it is going to begin to get warmer again tomorrow. That has really helped me have a little more pep in my step. I was just outside in my t-shirt on Wednesday and it felt great. Raked some leaves and hubby trimmed our one and only tree. lol. Yesterday I froze to death and this morning I froze but it didn't turn out too bad this afternoon. I still don't want to have to go back out in it though. I hope to venture out tomorrow and find a suitable backing for the first full size quilt I've ever dealt with. This too I have been putting off and putting off and it just needs done plus I could use the money I'll receive for doing it.

Turns out I will be needing tons and tons of money here in just the next few months. My youngest, Shawn, my baby will be 18 in just 15 short days and I'm almost devastated. lol. He'll be graduating this June and entering a whole new phase of his life. My boy is a man now. But in spite of the sadness that goes with your babies growing up and not needing you so much, I am so proud of this one. He is just the most sweetest kid you'll ever meet. He tries so very hard and he does a great job at whatever it is that he tries. He puts on a tough outward impression but he's just one of the biggest old softies. I want only the best for him. I just hope I can afford it. lol. Seriously, we just paid over two hundred dollars for a notebook sized box, about three inches thick with his graduation announcements and such. Ouch. We have yet to have a portrait made (sad I know and shame on me)but I spoke with a photographer this week and his cheapest package is almost two hundred plus a sitting fee but he gave me a gift card to cover that so that was real cool. This kid has no desire to have his photo even taken and the sole purpose of doing so is because I want it. So, we'll see.

I wanted to share this awful scanned image with you all. I had mentioned some time back that where I work was being featured in our local paper and while I thought it would be available online, it was not the last time I checked and since there is no link to show you, I scanned my newspaper. lol. It's not a good scan but you can tell how full that deli case was and how busy I had been that morning. It's like that everyday. See why I live for the weekends? lol.



Well, got to get some food going around here. Hope you all have some great projects in the works this weekend. I look forward to checking after while to see. Everyone take care and have a great weekend.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Thank You Everyone!!

I have been looking over my posts and reading comments and I just wanted to thank everyone here for all the support I can find here. Most recently I really appreciated the comments left offering kind words and thoughts for the week we had around here. What a difference a week can make. This time last Sunday, I was having that awful headache. It wasn't just the curtains stressing it, as always it's a culmination of everything and I think last Sunday was the day to say it was time for a chill out. Sometimes our bodies have a way of saying time out when we aren't quite ready to call it quits. I'm not great at recognizing my signs. lol. And all that being said, I don't want this to be a personal whine blog so just one more time, THANKS to everyone who took a moment to let me know you're out there. Although my responses are not always timely and my visits are brief, I do know there are always some of you are are always around and I am also daily checking you all out as well. lol. What a great bunch of folks!!!

On the quilty front, still nothing accomplished there BUT, I did get a big old dent put in some much needed cleaning around my home. I always find my morale is low when my house is cruddy. lol. It's a pride thing isn't it? lol. Us women!! I had hoped to have the spring cleaning done by the time spring got here but, huh uh (clears throat), I assure you, it is not done. Nor will it be until I can get in a few more days like yesterday. lol. I hope to get some more done today. I always feel better starting my week when I have the house in order beforehand so I'm not pressured to have to run home everyday and do something major on top of working and keeping up with the fam.

I got some pictures of my houseplants that I've been nursing along the last month or so since they spent a really dark, neglected winter stuffed in the corner. I lost a few but as you can see, I still have plenty. lol. Gonna go snap those pics right now......

I apologize in advance for the bad pics. It's a cellphone and I can't hold steady to save me. lol.

Here's the whole crop. Pretty pitiful, eh? lol. I think they will be okay though.


This is my Gloxenia. Never heard of one before until I received it three years ago this coming Mother's Day. Knock on wood, it keeps coming back year after year. It's kind of like an African Violet, same family, but it has those large bell shaped flowers on it. Mine is purple. I haven't one pic of it in bloom. Must get one this year. It is lovely.


And this is my bamboo my oldest son got me a few years back for prosperity. I love that curlique branch.


Can't wait to sit them out on the front porch for awhile. They love that sun.

I have company coming so I'll end now. I'll have some pics of that other project I'm tinkering with next time. Take care. Have a Great Sunday!!!

Happy Stitching,

Renee

I Think I Finally Woke Up!

After the week we had around here, I was never so glad to see a Friday come around in all my life as I was yesterday, Friday the 13th, when I punched out of work. Work wasn't bad at all yesterday. It was oddly slow for a Friday but you won't hear me complaining about that. No way. lol. I got home at one o'clock yesterday, sat down in the recliner and I was out for the count by one thirty. I was drained. I slept til five and hubby finally woke me up. We ate and yacked awhile and when he left the boy went upstairs to watch a movie he knew I wouldn't enjoy and by eight fifteen I was snoring again. I slept til four this morning and was ready to put the coffee on when I realized it was only four and said to myself, "Oh, he$# no!". lol. I knew if I got up then I'd be wanting to crash by noon today again so I laid and rolled around awhile and did go back to sleep til eight o'clock this morning. Wow, do I feel lazy but oddly refreshed as well.

Have you ever done that before? Wanted to or felt like you slept for days or something? What makes us do that? I can see it when one is sick or something but I haven't been sick, just had one heck of a week. I went to the jewelry party Sunday night and practically ran out of there. I will not do that to myself again for nothing. lol. It just is not my thing. Hubby spent countless hours working on this dumb car we got that went kaput. Coupled with his lack of mechanical skills and the pouring rain for about a day and a half and we were at wits end with the dern thing. Long about Tuesday he let me mention our troubles to a friend who by Thursday had a mechanic down here and the car running by 3:30 that day. Cost: $80.00, Value: Priceless. Yeah, it was one of those moments. lol. Turns out it was the anti-theft system gone haywire because the battery originally went dead last Friday with the radio on which robbed the computer thingy majig of the code to start the vehicle. It was a joke. It's behind us now. Thank God for small miracles.

On the crafty front, all I have done is fix my kid's bluejeans. The second pair of curtains may come today. I have help here to help me measure today. I've also been working on this idea I concocted way back when. I'm not far but I have enough blocks cut for two and a half rows and I'm just playing around with placement and such now. I usually when making a baby quilt will do the entire thing in rows and then sew the top together row by row. Well this time I thought it may be easier to make a block of four and then sew them together by blocks. I haven't had much luck yet but I've only attempted it once so far. I think I can actually line them up better doing it in rows. We'll see. I'll try to post some pics later if I have any progress today.

The house is a wreck so hubby and me are tag teaming it this morning. He's over there now folding laundry so I better scoot and help out. How lucky am I that he helps like that? It's not everyday but when he's willing and can lend a hand, I sure am thankful for it.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and that the weather gets a little nicer. Everyone take care.

Renee

Headache is gone, for now

Yesterday stressed me out so bad between the curtains and the car that I will absolutely not put myself in that position again today with everything else I have to do. lol. The other pair of curtains will have to wait.

Today hubby has to work in the yucky rain to try another shot at the car. He worked 6 hours at his real job yesterday and then came home and played mechanic on this crazy car for another 6. Poor man. We are dumbstruck as to what to do next with it.

I have to get laundry finished and bills done today. It wouldn't be a problem but I'm on a time table because I have a jewelry party to go to at six. I absolutely do not want to go but my daughter in law is hosting it so I feel I should. I do want to see their lower level remodel too. I think they are upset with me that I haven't been to see that yet but once I'm home, I'm home. Plus, I know when my son gets here he's got another emergency repair job needing done on one of his two pairs of pants again. Hopefully that won't take me long. Sounds like a busy day for me today don't it? lol. What is everyone else up to today? Fun stuff or mundane chores? I'll be around later to look in on everyone and see what you've been up to. I hope everyone's had a relaxing and quilty weekend.

Take care and Happy Stitching,

Renee

One Pair Finish

Still have the throbbing headache. Overall, I'm happy. Just hope the recipients are. lol.

One Curtain Down, Three To Go

Chopping Off & Hemming Curtains=Massive Brain Ache

Okay, so now I'm doing as I had planned on the curtains I needed to shorten and hem for my son and his wife. I have one panel of four cut and ready to be hemmed. I am so stinking nervous. But I figure if this first one goes okay, I should be okay on the others. I'm just scared to death they won't hang right/even. Say your sewing prayers for me here. I'd hate like everything to ruin their new curtains. After that one quilt top recently came out longer on one end than the other on me, I'm kinda gun shy now. lol. I'll post some pics after bit of what I have came up with.

Here are those templates my hubby cut out for me at work. I mentioned them some time ago but I got some interesting comments on them so I wanted to be sure and show what I'm talking about. They're just stainless steel plates. I was wanting some nice square block templates. These are awesome. One is missing as I've been using it and it's buried in the sewing room. lol. These are the two, four and eight inch ones.



Still nothing on the kids car situation. We had the battery tested and it's fine and now we've gone online in search of suggestions and I got one really great one this morning that we will try as soon as hubby gets home from work today. We're on a tight budget round here and we need to do this cheaply and on our own so let's hope it's not a major repair. More on that later.

Doing some laundry and messing around with these curtains here otherwise today. What are all of you up to? I need to take some ibuprofen and knock out this headache so I can get on with the actual hemming of those curtains. Just wanted to stop in and say hey and see what everyone is up to.

Happy Saturday,

Renee

Rrrready For The Weekend!

How glad are we it's Friday? It's been a long week around here. The only thing spoiling my ability to forget it and proceed with some r and r is that my son's car has gone haywire. He and I have been putzing with it since shortly before 2. Then hubby just finally got home after a doozie of a day and he's had to go take the battery down and have it tested. We are not optimistic it's the battery but that would be a great thing if that is all it is. Poor kid. All he wanted to do was clean it out while it was such a nice day. He had his doors open and his radio on earlier for about fifteen minutes and it won't make a peep now. He was getting ready to go sweep it out and wash it. What luck! lol. I really hope it's nothing serious and that it's not something that will require hubby to be at it for very long tonight on top of the day he's already had. Poor guy. lol. I'm just full of sympathy for everyone today. lol.

I hope all of you are ready to wind down and enjoy the weekend. I hope to get some sewing/quilting done this weekend. I did my house cleaning today when I got home from work and I swept my livingroom floor real well because I'm gonna have to spread some stuff out there to measure and cut one of my projects. I was prepping for some Saturday morning sewing. Well, after our car excursion outside, I now have mud on my freshly swept livingroom floor. (Deep Sigh)-back to square one. lol.

I hope to have some pics of these projects I want to get started this weekend. It'll be a few days but I hope to have a few to show. I've been admiring all kinds of things going on in blogland.

Gonna get some supper started here so I'll sign off for now. Happy quilting to everyone. Have a great weekend.

Renee

How Was Your Monday?

Phew, I had a busy one today at work. The local paper was coming at ten to take a picture of our deli to run with an article about the place that will run in the Focus on Business Section in the Ashland Times Gazette. Not sure when but if you see the article about Troy Road Market, take a look at that deli case in that picture and you'll see how busy I was today. GRRR!!!! lol. That's what I do plus wait on customers. I had my hands full today and it's not a day I wish to repeat anytime soon. I guess secretly I had expected a little more of my co-worker's over the weekend in preparation for the ordeal. Anywho......

I'm not going to do much tonight cause I am tired and I have laundry to do/finish. Certainly nothing fun like I want to do but something to do none the less. lol. I'm fixing pork chops for supper. Not sure yet what will go with them but it won't be too hard to come up with a side or two. Yesterday's plan for the lemon pork chops didn't work out so I'll probably just fry them tonight. Shawn's home tonight and he certainly won't go for the chops made that way. He doesn't like his meat baked with sauces and gravies on them. He puts steak sauce on everything he eats. lol. And he won't eat anything else besides biscuits and gravy and corn. I get so tired of biscuits and gravy. I wish he were more like his brother who will eat about anything. lol. The older Tony gets, the more he tries and the more different he eats than what he grew up on. Wish the old man and Shawn would try more things and eat more combinations of things. I can keep on hopin' anyway.

I'm going to end early tonight. I have my plants to move back into the livingroom. I moved them to the kitchen the last two weekends so they can get some light. Can't wait til I can just put them outside and forget it for awhile. Hey, wait I thought I said I wasn't doing much this evening. Looks like I have a few things to do. Have a great night.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Fun Playin' With My Blog

Since I don't have any interesting pictures just yet of my own, I've been having a blast finding graphics for this page today. You'll be seeing plenty more of them cause they are so cute. lol. Hope I don't overdue it. lol.


Glittery texts by bigoo.ws

I Hope This Finds Everyone Well

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on my last post. Thank you all so much for the great words of encouragement and the wonderful ideas on how to "de-stink" my stuff. lol. All in all, this past week was better but I still wasn't creative. I'll get it all together here soon enough though. Those curtains for my son and daughter and law are my first priority and probably will get started today with the boys help. lol. He'll be here so I intend to have him help me lay them out and measure them so maybe between the two of us they will come out even and not two inches longer on one side than the other. lol.

After that I have that quilt top that my friend wanted me to quilt. It was her grandmother's. I have batting for it now and I think I may have a piece of backing fabric big enough to go ahead and just do it. I'm trying to whittle down what I've got over there to work on but I've decided I need to make a plan and stick to it. So for now my order of business will be the curtains and then this quilt top.

The stupid little quilt I was working on that came out whopperjawed is now thrown in the corner as I did have to take a break from it like some suggested I do. I did try to square it but I'm still not happy so it's in the "someday" pile. That is twice now I've worked with those pre-cut blocks from my sister and neither time was a success. I will definately measure any and all pieces of them before using again. lol. Live and learn.

My honey bunny made me some square templates out of stainless steel.............

LMAO!!!!- I just have to share this with you guys. lol. I just went to get me another cup of coffee and it's either still too early or I'm not as awake as I thought I was. lol. I just went to fill the sugar bowl and instead I just poured one cup of sugar in my coffee cup. lol. What was I thinking. lol. Phew, this is a sweet cup of coffee for sure. lol. Of course I dumped it but the whole inside of my cup was dusted with it. lol. Wow, that reminds me of the time I went to make a pot of coffee and grabbed the metamucil instead. lol. That was classic. About the time I thought I ought to be smellin' the coffee, I started smelling this strange warm orange smell. lol. We laughed for days over that one. lol.

Anyway, sorry for that. Now back to those templates. I don't have anything but a yard stick and a square to measure my blocks. My square is slightly bent so I haven't been happy with my measurements. My old cardboard templates have seen better days and I just hate making new ones, I'm paranoid they won't be square. So, I figured hubby could make me some with precision at his shop and as far as I can tell so far, they will be perfect. They are nice and heavy and won't shift around while I'm tracing around them. And they will last forever. I'll post some pics of them later on. I had him make a 2 1/2, 4 1/2, 6 1/2, and 8 1/2 inch square.

I also wanted to mention that sometime ago I had started making golf seat covers for hubby's cart at work. I got the seat cushion done and one back cushion and strayed from the project. Well last week, his boss made us a deal. lol. He told the old man that if I could finish that one cover within two weeks, he would let us use the business card to go out to dinner last weekend. Well, of course I couldn't pass that up. So, last Saturday hubby and me went on a little mini date out to eat at Casa Fiesta, our local Mexican restaurant. I love, love, love to eat there but we don't often cause I'm about the only one crazy about it. Needless to say, last Sunday, I got up and set to work on the last cover and had it done in less than an hour. Put a little food in front of me and you'll be suprised what I can get done. lol.

I'm thinking about having Bub (oldest son Tony) and Steph up for supper tonight. They have been remodelling their lower level in their house and I haven't seen the boy much for the last couple of weeks. I want to make lemon pork chops and augratin potatoes tonight and they love them so I bought enough yesterday at the store to have them up. Lemon pork chop is a deceiving name for this dish because there is so little lemon juice in it. All you do is brown your chops nice and brown and then lay them on a baking sheet. Take equal parts of brown sugar and ketchup and mix together (I use about 1/4 cup each cause I usually make a bunch and they like the sauce), add a shot of lemon juice to the mix and put a dollup of the sauce on each pork chop. Then take a sliced onion and put one whole slice of onion on top of the goo. If you have enough goo, put some on top of the onion too. You cover these and bake for half an hour covered on 350, then uncover them and bake another half hour. Yummy. The onion is almost like candied in the end and it is so flavorful. Man, now I'm hungry. lol. If anyone tries this, let me know what you think.

I should go for now. It's just now starting to get daylight and I'm beginning to see all the things around here I need to get done today. lol. Sorry I haven't been around much but I've been keeping up on all of you just the same. Hope you all have a happy weekend. Best of luck for the upcoming week. A new month. Wow, how time flies. Take care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Well Heck,

Sometimes I don't think I can do anything right! Please just allow me to list the things that have been "wrong" this last week since I last posted. Hopefully after you see, you will forgive me for asking you all to keep a watch out for something exciting the next time I post. Warning: This post is not exciting!! lol.

First off, last time I posted I mentioned Valentine's Day but didn't elaborate on mine. That's cause it sucked. That's neither here nor there but I had to get that out there. lol.

Second, the little stupid quilt top I've been working on and wanted to get together got put together and now it's about to get put in the trash. That stupid thing is 2 inches longer on one side than the other. What the heck? I was sure I was working with all the same size blocks when I started but they were pre-cut when I got ahold of them so I should have made sure. Anyway, so now I have this quilt top that I don't know how to fix or even have the desire to fix at this point. I thought about chopping it up into doll quilts or something. But gee whiz did that cheese me off. Should have know when I had to hem some of those rows in places that it would end up that way. Still kicking myself.

Third, I thought that this here post in particular would make me post number 75 and I had been wanting to do a giveaway since I missed it on the 50th post. Well, as usual, I was wrong, this is now post 76 and the last one would have been the one to announce a giveaway. Ding Dong. Must practice basic math skills and reading ability. lol. So, I've blown it and also have been having major anxiety about doing a giveaway afterall. I must confess, this bugs me and I wouldn't want someone to think bad of me for it but I've mentioned before, I smoke. I'm terrified to send any of my stash out to folks who may not and may detect a smoke odor on the fabric. I can't wash pre-cut squares so that they would look like anything when they got done and I don't have any fat quarters or yardage to giveaway so that I could pre-wash that and seal it before giving it away. Gee whiz. All in the name of a cigarette. lol. So, I beg everyone's forgiveness on the fake out regarding the exciting news in the next post that I last posted about. I just can't do it right now.

Fourth, there is just worry, worry, worry everywhere I turn right now and it's wearing me down and I'm retreating just a little bit. I had to go pay bills the other day by myself and I about hated it. I just attempted to start my meds this last week but they made me sick to my stomach so I'm waiting to try agan tomorrow with those. Monday will start a fresh new week to get on track with them. But, nothing creative has happened all week.

And last but not least, I am so sick of this cold weather that I can't hardly stand it. I think about it and this is about the time of year I typically get itchy to be able to get outside and tend my yard and all. I want like everything to spring clean this house but I don't have the energy. I got one corner in the kitchen done a week or so ago and that's it.

So, now I'm going to ask everyone to forgive me for whining and thank you in the same note that I can come here and get this off my chest once in a while. lol. I feel lots better now. I won't promise anymore exciting news and I'll not be dreaming of hosting giveaways anytime soon (lol) but I hope you all continue to come by and see what's happening here. I so enjoy visiting all of you. It's my time of the day when I can sit down here and go through my list and see what everyone is up to. I'm so jealous of some of you. lol. But I also think it's neat how most are so devoted to their love of the craft of quilting. Keep it up!!!

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Hodge Podge Sunday

I know I'm late but love is still in the air, right? I hope all you folks here in blog land had a great Valentine's Day.

Today I had to hand sew a pair of jeans that my son blew out at the top and down the right side of the left back pocket. Not at all fun. Then I put them on the machine and went over them a time or two after that just to make sure. This isn't the first time I fixed these pants and I'm afraid it is going to be the last though. lol. I could have sewn and patched on them all day. But just so long as the back end isn't air conditioned anymore was all the more we had to do today. Next I'm going to go finish the quilt of many colors quilt top. I got batting and backing for it last night. I decided the sheet I had bought at Goodwill was going to be used for my "Man Quilt" instead of this lap quilt. If I am so inclined I might start cutting some blocks for the "Man Quilt" later on. lol. But I just bought a twin sized flat sheet in a pretty light blue shade to use on the back of this quilt of many colors. I also bought some quilt binding just because it was on sale/clearance and it's an off-white. If I use that on it, that will add yet another color to the mix. lol. I like color. lol.

Later on we are going to my oldest brother's house for a fried chicken liver feast. Our grandma used to make the best fried chicken livers and biscuits and gravy you ever laid your lips to. Yummy. If you guys are like my husband and youngest son, I know you are saying "Gross!". lol. It's the most extreme food that I eat that is for sure but I do love them and my brother and I were talking the other day about how we'd like to have some and well, one thing led to another and we're all supposed to get together tonight and pig out. lol. I kinda wish I didn't have to go but it will be nice to at least not have to cook tonight.

My sister loved her pillow I sent her for Valentine's. I sent it to her via my brother who was going to see her Friday and she called me yesterday and went on and on. She made me feel so good about my work. I have a problem with my confidence level still. lol. But, anyway, now my brother tells me he likes birds too and that sure was a pretty pillow (hint, hint). I'll have to see what I can do. I still have curtains to cut off and hem for the kid. I told him today that I will have those done this week. Now the pressure is on. But I need to spend more time sewing anyway so I might as well committ. lol.

I will have a suprise for those who stop by and visit in my next post. Not sure when that will be exactally but I hope tonight or tomorrow. You all stay tuned to see what I have up my sleeve. It will be cool. No worries. lol.

Meantime, enjoy your Sunday afternoons. Happy Stitching to everyone.

Renee

Some Good News

My sister, Becky, is in remission with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Praise God. We got even better news Monday night when we heard she got the results of her latest pet(?) scan. This latest test came back with great results. Her plattelettes also came up to where they should be. That's an improvement from the last time. Yeah!! I know she's been worried about the results of this one for some reason but I'm so happy that she now knows she's still okay and I can't imagine what a relief it is to her to know. I cannot imagine and never will attempt to let on like I understand what it's like to have cancer. All I know is that even though she has been given this good news and a clean bill of health, she must still always carry in the back of her mind the fear of it's return. I just hope she grasps this good news and it helps her spirits to lift somewhat. If she doesn't, I know she must have her reasons and I will never question that. Having cancer is personal and no one will ever know how that feels until they are told that news themselves. No two cases of the disease can be compared, it's a very individual experience. All I can do is be there for her when she needs me. And pray her spirits will lift and she will want to thrive again as the fighter I've always known her to be. I just am so overjoyed that she is well. And I wanted everyone I know to know it.

This week's plans have t-totally gone right out the window. No sewing, no more cleaning, no sewing machine brought up, nothing. If it's not one of us, it's another right now not feeling well. My husband was down for a day and a half with a mind numbing headache. My oldest boy told me today he think's he has a stomach ulcer and hasn't felt well since yesterday. The youngest actually isn't doing so bad health wise but being a teenager, there is always plenty of drama that can be draining at times to say the least. I'm still kind of a mess. Haven't gotten those meds I was supposed to get almost two weeks ago yet and had the big bro show up here wanting to know what my problem was and then once he found out he got all worried and upset over that and now I'm feeling guilt for all the ruckus that I didn't really know I was causing anybody in the first place. Geez oh pete!!! lol. I just like being quiet and be of as little bother as I can be to folks and I guess they aren't used to that from me. I'm not used to that from me but it's the way it is right now. I got all kinds of people encouraging me to go for the counselling but I'm still not sold on that either. Ah, it's like the young girl over at work is always saying (bless her heart, it's for lack of anything else better to say. lol.), she says, "Ah, it'll all buff out." lol. She's so funny and young and naive. lol.

Well, I could go on and on but I got a hungry hubby glarin' at me over my shoulder here so I'm gonna go throw on some grub. Just wanted to share about sister and my lack of any accomplishments whatsoever this week. lol. Take care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Work, Work, Work

That is the theme for the day here at the old Shaffer house. If I don't talk myself out of it, I will be washing down kitchen walls and cabinets today here in short order. It's grossing me out so I have to do it. lol. We've been talking about doing some painting and upkeep in the kitchen as soon as time and money allow so I'm hoping the cleaning today will lay the ground work for that process to start taking shape. If only I had a hand sander too. lol. If I kind of "force" matters that may get the ball rolling even sooner. lol. But regardless the cleaning needs to happen whether it gets fresh paint soon or not so what's a girl to do? lol. No sewing for me today. (insert sad, sad face).

I am so anxious to get that little quilt top done, the one of many colors that only needs a few tucks and two rows sewn back on for the top to be done, yeh, that one. lol. Anyway, as soon as I get it done and find a suitable batting, I'm trying my hand at the stipple quilting again. After practicing there on Super Bowl Sunday, I think I can do it again. I did it once, on a trip around the world baby quilt I made so I know I can do it again. lol. That seems to be my primary focus but believe me I have plenty of other things I should be doing. I still have my friends quilt top to make into a full size quilt. Not eager to do it but time is ticking. Then I have a pair of drapes my son and daughter-in-law got with a bedroom set that needs cut off alot and just hemmed but I'm scared of my hemming abilities. But seeing as how they belong to the set I know they want those done as soon as possible and that's on my mind heavy. And there are several other little projects I've stuffed away for now but still I think about them from time to time and you never know when I might pluck one of those out and take a shot at it again. lol. So much to do, so little time. lol.

I asked Nora what her father thought of the pillows that I made for them and she said that it brought tears to his eyes when he seen them. She said he loved them. That makes me feel so good. And kinda sad too. I didn't mean to make the poor old guy cry. But there is enough fabric left that I think I'm just going to make up as many more as it will allow and give them to her for her daughter to have a set and whoever else she wants to have them for. But those are on hold til I get more polyfill. I stuffed those pillows with one pound of polyfill each. lol. I didn't know how else to be sure I had them both evenly stuffed so I dug out my old fashioned kitchen scale and weighed them up. One pound each. lol. Nora told me to just make some more and sell them if I wanted to but it just don't seem right. We'll see.

I'm going to get sister's pillow ready for the mail today so she'll have it by Valentine's Day. I hope she will like it and I hope by surprising her with it, it will cheer her up a bit. I have to wash it and dry it real good though before I send it. I want it ready for her to use or display or whatever she wants to do with it. I like to wash all of the stuff I make before I give it away because we smoke here in the house. It's a hassle sometimes to make sure the stuff is put in plastic and hustled out as soon as it's dry to keep it from picking up the scent again. But I am what I am and that's a smoker.

Well, oh, I almost forgot to mention. When my Mom passed away, I received my Grandmother's old Singer treadle sewing machine. It's been about six years now that I've had it and it's been sitting in my damp, musty old basement and I am not happy nor proud that it's been there that long. It has been haunting me for sometime now so tomorrow hubby said while him and both big sons are here , they will go down and get it and bring it up for me. I told him I had to be ready to clean it and put it where it was going to go though when I did get it up here. I don't want it brought up with all the dust and cobwebs and moldy, mildewing, spidery goodies on it and left to sit any time at all like that. he went so far as to tell me that as soon as we get it upstairs, we'll just get busy on cleaning it up and be done with it. Wow, that's an offer a girl can't refuse. Bless his heart. He knows how much it means to me so him offering to lend this kind of hand in the project really means the world to me. I'm scared it's damaged from being down there and don't really have a clue how to go about cleaning the wooden cabinet. Any ideas or suggestions on how to do this would be greatly appreciated. I hope it's not to the point where it will need stripped and re-varnished or anything but that would be my luck so I won't be surprised at what I find when it gets up here. I'm excited about it though. I've seen all these photo's here in blog land of how folks have them and boldly, beautifully, and proudly display them in places of honor in their homes versus being stuck in a rotty old basement for years on end. I tell you the guilt about eats me up for letting that happen. So, wish me luck tomorrow.

And I'm about to get on that major kitchen scrubbing as the boy is now leaving for work and I'm ready to get down to business. lol. Not really but it must be done. lol.

Everyone be creative today if you can. Happy Stitching to all.

Renee

Nora Loved The Pillows

The set of pillows I made this weekend for my friend at work from her mom's fabric were delivered this morning. She loved them. She said she bet her dad would really like them so I'm anxious to see tomorrow what he had to say.

I doubt I'll get any sewing done tonight. I worked on those pillows and finished up sister's yesterday. Then I started playing around with trying to stipple quilt some little sandwiches I threw together to practice on. Hours later and tons of thread later I emerged feeling like maybe when I get the quilt of many colors done I might remember how I practiced it and can try this again. lol. I knew I could do it but it just wasn't working for me the last few times I did try it. I might sound dumb here but I think I figued out that last time I tried I didn't take the shank off my machine. Could be the reason it wouldn't move and sat and spun millions of tiny little knots on me, eh? lol. Anyway, I was just trying to burn some time while the stupid Super Bowl was on. Sorry, no offense to any football fans but I can't stand it. At half time I had quit playing in the sewing room and begged hubby to trade me rooms so I could watch what I wanted from my beloved sofa. lol. He did it, bless his heart. I didn't do much over the weekend sewing wise but I'm tired today and don't think I'll mess with anything except supper tonight.

I'm even gonna sign off now and take a power nap before the troops get home on me here tonight. Take care.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Sister's Pillow Is Done

Sorry for the cheesy photo's. This is what I'm sending my sister for Valentine's Day. I hope she likes it.





Keep On Keeping On,

Renee

What A Week

First let me start by apologizing for not being around posting anymore than I have this last week. Looks like tomorrow will make a week since I posted. I'm sure any of you who are in northeast/north central Ohio right may have a clue what this week has been like around here. I wrote and whined Monday about how cold it was and that was that. Well, the storm of the century came Wednesday as you all know and yesterday (Saturday), we finally got completely dug out. The stress of worrying over my loved ones travelling this past week has about put me at the edge. lol.

I've been having washing machine issues and it must be off kilter because it's making all kinds of taking off and landing sounds but thank goodness it has not left the floor as of yet. lol. It isn't spinning right and I have to either wash a real small load or let it do it's thing and run the spin cycle two or three times with a normal load. Ordinarily I could take this with a grain of salt but right now all of us (three of us) are wearing two and three layers of clothes to work and such and keeping them all clean and ready for wear are also taking it's toll on me. It's laundry everywhere I look. Sweatshirts, long johns, hunting socks, big stupid boots all over my house. I think this may be the closest I've come to cabin fever yet. Plan today is to belt out all the laundry for the week and hopefully we can start reducing the number of layers we wear this week too. While I hear it's supposed to get warmer, I also hear another big storm coming tomorrow. We'll see.

There was no creating over the past week. My quilt of many colors is just as it is with the last two rows still needing taken in and re-attached. I did get the sheet that I want to use for the backing washed yesterday so it's ready when I am. lol. Washing my quilting supplies hasn't been a priority with all the other laundry right now. lol. Yesterday I did sew a button on my boys dress pants. I know, WOW. I should be so proud. lol.. Hey, I ironed them too. For that alone I should get Mother of the Year award. lol. He was supposed to be going to a dance at Northwestern High School last night with his girlfriend but she is evidently having some major bullying issues with the girls on her cheer squad there and after the game last night she was so upset at how they treated her that she didn't even want to go to the dance. Poor kid. Why are kids so mean? These aren't little kids either, they're high schoolers. Personally I just want to smack them all real hard just once to wake them up but the law won't allow me to run around slapping mouthy teenagers so I'll just vent about them here. lol. I was crashed when Shawn got home but I'm sure he said they went bowling with her family instead. Not only do I feel bad for her but for my baby boy too. He left here going to a dance, ya know? I just want to put a bubble around this one and keep him locked up and my baby forever. But, the law won't allow that either. Darn laws. lol. Here's a couple blurry, not the best pics ever of him before he left for the dance last night.





I told hubby to come have a pic made with his handsome son and this is what we get gang:



Dorks, but I love them just the same. They're my dorks.

I work with a great lady, Nora who's dear Mom passed away on New Year's Eve. She has really been through it and her father is also not in good health at all. She is working two jobs and trying to do her best to care for the both of them before her mom passed and now just worrying about her dad losing his will to live at this point is weighing on her heavy. Maybe put in a prayer for her strength and that her dad will get better. Anyway, last weekend she brought me some of her mom's clothes and some fabrics scraps that she thought I might want. In the box was this lovely piece of blue fabric with colorful birds all over it. There must have been a yard and a half of it and Nora told me her mom loved birds and was just in love with that piece of fabric. Her dad didn't really want her to give the fabric away because mom loved it so much. So, she asked me if I would make her a set of throw pillows out of it anyway so dad could have them around the house. I got busy and did get her pillows made yesterday. There is still enough fabric for a few more sets probably. I might see if she'd want me to go ahead and use up the rest and make her a few more sets of them. If not, I have to come up with an idea to use it. I did take a piece of the scrap from the first set and am working on a little block type pillow for my sister I think. My sissy needs her spirits lifted and maybe a nice little gift in the mail to say I love you might cheer her up a little. I hope to finish hers today. Here's a pic of the pillows for Nora and the start of the block for my sis.







And now I must get busy and get the clothes going and get ready to make some breakfast. Have a great Sunday and I hope all your week's are great. Let's pray this storm passes us up tomorrow.

Happy Stitching,

Renee

Seventeen Stinking Degrees

Oh my gosh. I really hate to be a whiner but I am so sick of this cold weather that I can't hardly take it. I froze at work today, I froze in the car, I froze at the doctor's office and I am still freezing at this moment in my house right in front of the register.

I work in a convenience store so the door is open and shut all day long so of course it's not going to feel like a heatwave in there on a day like today but it was only sixty degrees in that place and customers were complaining that it was cold. Must be something wrong with the furnace cause it was set on 74 and it was, like I said, sixty degrees. My feet got cold and wet somehow, not sure how cause I didn't get them wet at all this morning and I haven't been warm since. I went to the doctor and the kid's car used to have a heater that would run you out of the car but he's been complaining about it lately and no one has had time to check it out and let me tell you, he has a problem with the heater now. That trip, not just once, but twice across town, because I got all the way to the doctor's office on the other side of town, signed in and went to hang my coat up and realize, I forgot my stinking money. Crap!!!! So, instead of rescheduling they told me to just hurry and get it and come right back, so that's what I did, with little to no heat most of the trip(s). I finally got home around three and put on dry socks and shoes but I still am not warm. I tried to rest my eyes earlier and I put a blanket over me for about twenty minutes and that is the best I've felt all day.

I haven't seen or heard the official weather but everybody and his brother has told me today that we are expecting these temps and snow for the majority of the week ahead. Yay!(sarcastic). I so have appreciation for folks that work outside or are in and out all day long. God bless them cause I couldn't do it. lol. I think of all those who don't have warm homes and warm clothes to wear in this cold weather. The thoughts of the little ones going to school in tennis shoes right now about breaks my heart. You know their little feet stay cold and wet all day long.

I just have to share this other thought that that previous comment above spurred a memory of, an incident here just yesterday here at my house. My son, Tony is a huge Steelers fan and of course he's all excited about the upcoming Super Bowl. He got on ebay yesterday to see if there were any tickets for sale. He told me that one deal for tickets was at $140,000.00. I almost seen red. I got on my soap box just a little bit and made the comment that I think it's ridiculous that football tickets are selling for more money than alot of people pay for their home. Then that led to the comment that I think it's just great that someone is cashing in on that kind of frivilous money when there are people homeless and hungry in this country. It makes me ill. Poor kid! lol. Bet he won't be telling me about ticket costs in the near future. lol.

I'm trying to wrap it up here. It's just the more I write, the more I think of to write. lol. Anyway, I did go to the doc today. Feel alot better just knowing I took the first step to feeling better. Aside from him telling me I was going to die, seriously, if I didn't take my thryoid medicine, all went fairly well. I used to have hypo thyroidism but then I did the radio active iodine treatment and now it doesn't function at all BUT according to all of my past bloodwork, I do not need the medication. The last time I went to the doctor, he put me back on them just to control the growth of a goiter/nodule on my thyroid gland. When I told him that, he said, oh well, maybe you'll be okay then but we'll need some blood work to make sure. He said I would just feel like I was choking if I didn't take it and I told him I was there now. So I'm sure I'll be going back on them for that purpose. I got my old friend back, the effexor for anxiety/depression plus I got xanax to hold me at bay with the anxiety until the effexor kicks in. And we talked about the counselling, he thinks I could benefit. And I wanted to know that since I have both anxiety and depression if I was bi-polar or not and he said absolutely not. He said it's totally different and mania lasts for days/weeks not just a day or two of ups and downs here and there. That meant the world to me to hear because all the reading I've done on the topic in some way sounds very familiar to me just not so blatant like mania is described. So, basically I feel like I am not a lunatic but just need a little help getting it back on track here. lol.

The main reason I wanted to post is that I wrote a couple more little ditty's over at AC I wanted to share. Below are the links to the articles.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1419029/tales_from_the_mother_of_a_teenage.html?cat=25

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1418019/where_do_i_begin_the_most_proud_moment.html?cat=25

Probably won't be sewing tonight. I hope everyone else is being creative and have had a good start to their weeks. Take Care.

Renee

Soup Bean Sunday

I don't know about all of you but around here a soup bean Sunday equals a disinfectant Monday. lol. Oh, but the smell of beans cooking and the taste of a fresh pot of soup beans with some ham is too irresistable to let that stop me. lol.

I've had a pretty good weekend all in all and am winding down the day here just me and honey. Shawn is at work and he hates beans anyway so I thought this was a perfect cold night to eat a nice warm bowl of beans. I've cheated though. I have found that Save-A-Lot sells cans of great northern beans. I used to buy them in jars but here they are now in a can for like .39 cents or something. Two cans of those with a few thick slices of ham chopped up and some bread and butter and wha-lah, half an hour later, you have a little feast for around three dollars. Quick, cheap and easy, what else could a girl ask for? lol.

I worked on a purse today for my daughter in law. This silly purse is her most favorite purse and of course it's a seventy five dollar purse to boot but the dang strap broke on it. It's not as easy as it sounds. lol. These handles have two straps and they are tied in a knot down around where they attach to the purse. Well, we thought we had the knot right. Twice, we thought we had the knot right and as soon as I'd get done sewing it and tug on the strap, out came the knot. Grrr. Walked away from that one too. lol. Well, here a little while ago I got mad and got down to business and fixed it, finally. And now she loves me so it was all worth it. lol. I don't know how long it will hold but at least I tried and she should be able to get some more use out of it.



I did not work on my quilt top of many colors except for taking off the last two rows because they didn't line up and I refuse to try and work with it like that. Tomorrow I might try to fix that and get them sewn back on. We will see. It will depend on what the doc tells me tomorrow as to what I will get into when I get home. I have some questions for him that I am not leaving until he answers me and the answers may send me running to my bedroom to cry and sleep for days. lol. Let's hope not. lol.

Everybody keep on stitching and have a good evening. Hope you all have great weeks.

Renee

Walking Away

Well, here are the white rows inserted vertically. It may not get the horizontal strips. lol. It's a tad off and on the very last row I missed a seam so I have to take it down and redo that row and then do some trimming to square it a little. Then I will put the horizontal rows on and see what it's like from there. If I have the material, I am putting another colored border on it too. I'm probably done with it for the night though. Getting ready to hop in the shower to go shopping and hopefully out to eat too. See you all later.

Renee

How Hard Can This Be?

I have been trying to put together a quilt top from these rows of blocks I sewed together. My sister had made the blocks but I sewed them all together and wanted to add white rows in between. I got the first three together just fine. I went to line up the second row of colored blocks and it is way off. These squares should line up and they are way off so I started taking some of them in to make them match up and, now I have just finished ripping out two rows of stitches and am going back to "re-measure" these rows of colored blocks. CRAP!! lol. I thought I could just sit down and belt this sucker out in no time. HAH!!!! lol. So, I'm off again. Wish me luck!!!

Take Care,

Renee