Finally – Friday!

 

That means it’s the weekend – and what a weekend it’s going to be. 

 

We’ll be leaving this afternoon to head to the YMCA Regional Championships.  Swimmers who advance beyond Regionals (by swimming qualifying times) will compete in the Area Championships in 2 weeks … swimmers who advance beyond Area will compete in National Championships.  All 3 Ts have qualified for Area competitions, and T#2 and T#3 both have some more events that they are close to making Area time (T#1 made area time on all his events by the 2nd meet of the season).  Have I said how much I love watching them compete? 

 

 

We had snow yesterday morning … maybe a quarter inch at most … but it was certainly gorgeous as it was falling – nice big flakes, very Currier & Ives-esque.  I would have liked to have taken a picture to share, but I was in my car heading to my Dad’s … somehow he lost his email account on his iPhone.  Since I was going to be out of town all weekend, I chose to go out yesterday morning to restore his email account.  Because of his declining health, he doesn’t get out as often as he used (especially in the winter), he relies on our emails for “company”, and we rely on his emails to make sure he’s doing ok. 

 

 

I got home in time to get in a few hours of quilting on T#3’s quilt … I am almost done with the 2nd of the 4 outer rows of blocks.  Over the next month, there will be plenty of times when Life will intervene to keep me away from his quilt, but I’m still hopeful that I’ll be able to get this done by the end of March like I’d hoped when I started quilting.

 

 

I’ve been watching for the mail man this week, and on Wednesday he delivered a couple of packages, containing:

I won a giveaway over on Rachel’s blog Quilt or Dare … fabric, some quilt labels, and some cute buttons … there was a lot of loot in the package she sent me!

 

and:

Katy over at Katy Quilts was piecing together these fabulous album blocks (if you click on the photo, you can see them better), but in early January, she was growing disenchanted with them.  I kiddingly offered to take them off her hands … and she took me up on my “offer”.  I had thought that with so many other quilts already started, I might not get to these blocks for several months - or more, but after seeing them in real life, I love them even more and might have to move them up higher on my to-do list. 

 

 

I’m looking forward to the mail man making another delivery next week, as I ordered some fat quarters yesterday morning … Sew Sisters Quilt Shop is having a fat quarter bonanza through the end of this month … the bundles are priced at $2.00/fat quarter, so I bought two bundles – one of repro blues and one of repro browns. 

 

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 
1. Did you watch The Oscars? How many of the Best Picture nominees have you seen? (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash)
We rented The Grand Budapest Hotel, but we just couldn’t get into it – at all.  I thought it was just us, but our neighbors tried to watch it and gave up after a while, too.  Hmmmmm  I do want to see several of those movies, but we’ll be waiting until they’re out on DVD.  We’d rather pay $1.50 and pop our own corn than to pay the outrageous prices movie theaters charge for tickets and refreshments.  Plus we can turn on the subtitles so DH can better follow along (we can turn the volume up for him, but even then sometimes the soundtrack overpowers the conversations).
 
Do you think actors should use their acceptance speeches as an opportunity to promote their political and/or social agenda? Does that sort of speech make you more or less inclined to change the channel?
Oh. My. Word – that’s EXACTLY why I refuse to watch award shows, the Oscars in particular!  And when I read that so many did that this year, I knew we’d made the right choice to watch a movie instead.  I guess I’m showing my age when I say that I can remember when the Oscars were glamorous and entertaining … and while awards shows aren’t my favorite TV programming, I rather enjoyed the Oscars back in the day.  Not any more.   Besides, I am not a fan of having someone's political views shoved into my face (even if I agree with their POV), which is why I spent a couple of hours "unfollowing" a few Facebook friends ... I hated having my newsfeed cluttered with their political posts.
 
2. Speaking of the movies... are you comfortable going to a movie alone? How about dinner in a restaurant (not fast food, but an actual restaurant)? The second half of this question was posed by Carrie who blogs over at It's Not Easy Being Queen. Thanks Carrie! 
I wouldn’t be opposed to going to a movie or dining out alone (I’ve done the dining out alone when I’ve traveled on business back before DH and I married, while still working, etc.), but I would prefer not to … while I’m not uncomfortable with my own company, some things are just more enjoyable when done with others … so if I had the choice/opportunity to invite someone to join me, I would.   
 
3. What's the last home repair or home improvement project you had to pay someone to complete? In hindsight was this a project you could have done yourself? 
We had a leaky faucet in our bathroom.  My DH is not handy, and thankfully he knows it … so when we’ve had to pay to have a repair made, we’ve not had to pay to have DH’s work undone before the repair can be made.  So whenever we’ve paid someone to take on a project or make a repair, there’s never been any regrets or second thoughts here.
 
4. Have you ever had Indian food? Like it or no? If you're a fan, what's your favorite dish? Have you ever prepared this yourself at home? Is there an Indian restaurant in your current hometown? 
I’ve never had Indian food … I wouldn’t mind trying it (especially if I had a clue what to order), but I doubt if DH would be as interested … he’s not very adventurous when it comes to food.    There are no Indian restaurants in our little town nor any of the other nearby cities (at least not that I know of ... I'll admit that I've not looked).  I’m sure there is at least one over in St. Louis.
 
5. A song that reminds you of your parents? 
Just about anything by any of the “old school” country artists would remind me of them … Marty Robbins, Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, Gene Watson, Patsy Cline.
 
6. The 26th of February is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day. What's your favorite, or one of your favorite fairy tales? Do you have any childhood memories associated with a particular fairy tale? 
I confess that I prefer the Disney animated versions of the fairy tales, thanks in no small part to my two granddaughters, especially T#4 who lives all things Disney princess.
 
7. What's a problem you solved yesterday? 
Ummm … what to fix for dinner??   
 
8. Insert your own random thought here.
This week has been a quiet, uneventful week … the calm before the storm, so to speak, since the next 2-3 weeks are going to be busy.  I’m taking advantage of this lull to spend plenty of time with my needle and thread.  I took this when I getting ready to move the hoop to the next block.  I’m ready to start quilting the outer blocks on the opposite side of the quilt … I’m 2/3 done with the blocks. 
 
We’ve got more wintery weather coming … a small storm moving through tomorrow morning, a bigger system moving coming Sunday, and freezing rain/ice predicted for next Tuesday.  I won’t mind the snow, but the freezing rain/ice?  No thank you. 
 
I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Sleepy Slow Sunday Stitching

 

It’s another early (and I mean early – like 2:45) get-up this morning.  I’m going to blame DH for this one (kidding!).  He’s been suffering from some kind of respiratory crud this week … which means that he spends his nights snoring and coughing and that I spend my nights tossing and turning.  Tonight (last night?) I just “had enough” … he might be able to sleep through the coughing fits, I certainly couldn’t … and after four nights of this, I desperately needed some sleep.  He was willing to go to the spare bedroom for the rest of the night (maybe so he could sleep without my nudging him to roll over every 20-30 minutes - in a futile attempt to get him to stop snoring), but by the time I turned down the bed for him and crawled back into bed, I was wide awake.  I stayed in bed trying to fall back to sleep … to no avail.  By then, I was reaching the “vicious circle stage”, where I was fretting over needing to get to sleep if I was going to be able to get up to get to church by 8:00.  After about 30 minutes of that, I knew that I was never going to be able to fall asleep and decided to get up and at least do something semi-productive.   

 

My something semi-productive included catching up on emails and blogs (my usual morning routine) and putting a few stitches into T#3’s quilt.I’m not sure if you can tell, but after I finish the block in the hoop, I’ll have only one more block to quilt (to the right of the hoop) before I start quilting the outer ring of blocks.  Since we have nothing on our calendar for this afternoon/evening, I’ll have plenty more time with my needle and thread. 

 

I had hoped to be on the outer ring of blocks by now, but I wasn’t able to pick up my needle and thread yesterday … T#1 had his family birthday party … pizza and wings with chocolatey peanut buster bar dessert plus board/card games = fun times!  All the more so for me since DH isn’t a “game player”.

 

The weather yesterday was certainly more like what winter should be at the end of February … and thankfully when we got home last night, the roads and our driveway were all clear.  Just in time for a return of the cold weather … complete with a windchill advisory through tomorrow morning.    Good excuse to stay inside and quilt (not that I need much of an excuse – ha!).

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Better Late than Never

 

I’m a little slow getting this posted this morning … it’s just one of those mornings where I’m just moving a little more slowly than usual. 

 

Now that we’ve had our “real” snow, I’m ready to be done with winter … but alas, winter is not done with us yet. 

The snow doesn’t worry me nearly as much as the ice. 

 

Thankfully, I have nowhere that I have to go today … I’ve gotten my walk in with Lois, and I plan to spend the rest of my day in my recliner, quilting T#3’s quilt.  I’m at the halfway point … soon I’ll be quilting the outer ring of blocks, and I’m going to begin to feel like I’ll get this quilt done. 

 

And in other quilty news, I hit the jackpot!  I won a giveaway over at Lynn’s Kansas Trouble’s blog.  I won a Five and Dime Ruler and a pattern.

You all know that Kansas Troubles is my most favorite line of fabric … and isn’t that quilt in the pattern absolutely delightful?  And if that isn’t cause enough for celebrating, I’ve got some more goodies on their way to me.  I feel like I won the quilty lottery!

 

I need to pull myself away from the laptop and get busy with my quilting … time’s a-wastin’!

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)
I’m trying to remember … I guess it was when I had to get a new driver’s license last spring, so I had to go to the DMV.  Surprisingly, my experience wasn’t altogether unpleasant … I got right in and right out, so I’d rate it a 9. 
 
2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?
I’m more concerned about a candidate’s stand on the issues than his or her education.
 
3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?
Does the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library count?  DH and I visited there a couple of years ago and enjoyed our visit.


4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds?
I didn’t know that there was a National Almond Day, although I shouldn’t be surprised because it seems that there’s a National Day for just about anything and everything these days.  I like almonds and prefer them “as is”, but I don’t eat them too often because I have a hard time limiting the quantity.  I like my daughter’s homemade granola bars that includes almonds. 

5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated its 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite, or one of your favorite, skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?
I used to watch SNL a lot, back in the day – way back when I could stay up past 9:00.  I don’t know that I could narrow it down to one particular skit … maybe the Weekend Update.
 
6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?
No … obviously I’m just not much of a fan of purple … I’m not sure I’ve ever worn anything that was truly purple nor ever used it in decorating. 
 
7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens.
She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 
Making the bed is something I don’t particularly enjoy doing, but I always feel like my day is ready to begin once the bed is made.  I prefer to place the pillows on top of the comforter. No, that’s not one of my quilts … but I do have 42 blocks pieced and ready to make into a quilt … one of these days. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 
Another visit from my old pal Insomnia … I was wide awake at 1:45 this morning!   

We got more snow last night … just a dusting, but everything that was cleared off (streets, driveways, etc.) is white again.  And we’re not done with wintery weather … we’ve got a low of –5 forecast for this evening and wind chills as low as –20 forecast for today/tonight/tomorrow plus icy weather forecast for Saturday.  Ok, we’ve finally had a “real” snow … winter can go away now.

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Snow Day

We finally got the snow I’d been dreaming of … I suspect we got about 4 inches ... just the right amount, I think ... enough to cover everything in a blanket of white without being so much that everything comes to a screeching halt.  While most of it fell overnight, enough fell during the morning that I was able to quilt in my chair while watching the snow fall.This was the best I could do from the warmth of the house … I couldn’t find a shot that would show exactly how much we got …

And what does any self-respecting quilter do on a snow day?  Why quilt, of course!  I got a few more blocks done on T#3’s quilt. It’s hard to see some of the quilting from this angle, especially on the horizontal logs.  I’ve got 25 blocks done now, which means that I’ve got 38 blocks and the borders left to quilt.  This is going a little more slowly than I’d hoped.

Of course it doesn’t help when life interferes, like it did yesterday afternoon when I forced myself to take a break from my quilting and work on our taxes.    Usually I get them done as soon as we get all the necessary forms, but this year I just couldn’t get motivated to get them done. 

We’re not done with winter yet … There may not be any snow days in the forecast, but it’s looking like we’ll be having some stay-inside-and-quilt-days. 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Snowy Slow Stitching Sunday

We’re supposed to get snow today … and a real snowfall – finally!  And that means it’ll be a splendid day for staying home and quilting away on T#3’s quilt. Some forecasters are predicting as much as 10 inches … even I will admit that’s a little excessive. 

While I am looking forward to the snow, I’m praying that it will stay on the lower side … T#1 is having some of his friends over tonight for his birthday (tomorrow).  The plan is for them to head over to Edison’s tomorrow morning for some bowling and laser tag, while I watch the other 3 Ts.  I’m praying that the timing and snowfall amount won’t interfere with his plans.

Because I’ll be spending my Monday with the younger 3 Ts, I had to take a rain check on a sewing day with some of my friends from my guild … tomorrow is a holiday, so those who work are off, which means a perfect opportunity for a sewing get-together.   But with a significant snow coming, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go anyway … they’re getting together in a small town about an hour north of here … I can’t be sure that the secondary roads would be cleared adequately tomorrow morning. 

We got a little bit of snow yesterday … no real accumulation, but the snow was so pretty when it was falling.  I’d have to say that in spite of the lack of any accumulation, this was the first real snowfall we have had this winter.Yes, I admit, I’m a bit of a full-fledged weather geek … but seriously, while I am not a fan of cold weather, I do love snow. 

I got in a couple of hours of stitching yesterday … I now have almost 22 blocks quilted, which means I’m a third of the way done.I got 2 more blocks quilted after I took this picture when moving my hoop.  I’m hoping to get several blocks quilted today.  Regardless of how many I get quilted, I certainly intend to enjoy the process (and seeing a little snow falling while I quilt would be an added bonus).

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

DH and I have been married long enough that Valentine’s Day is pretty much a non-event.  He prefers to do something sweet every once in a while, unannounced and unexpected … and I like that much better … it means so much more that he chooses to do it instead of  doing it because he feels obligated to do so.  Besides, it keeps us free and available to watch the Ts if their mama and daddy take advantage of the special day. 

 

Besides, this is the best gift idea for a hubby to give to his quilter sweetheart.That and time for his sweetie to devote to her obsession passion … something my hubby gives every day, not just Valentine’s Day. 

 

 

I spent Thursday morning quilting while watching Gone With the Wind (my favorite movie!) … I timed it perfectly as it was lunch time when we reached the intermission.  Just as I was heading back to my recliner, I got a phone call from T#1 … the Ts requested Nana’s presence for a Minecraft party.  The kiddos all love Minecraft, even T#4 (she was playing when I took that picture of her on the pool deck here).  They all love the creativity … exploring for a settlement, mining for building materials, building and creating their own villages.  While the game can be played solo, we can also join in someone’s “world” and play together.  While I certainly wouldn’t play Minecraft on my own, I have to admit that it is rather fun to join in occasionally with DD and the Ts. 

 

By the time I got home and finished up with dinner, I was too tired to get back to my quilting, so we watched the first 2 periods of the hockey game before calling it a night.

 

Yesterday was a movie marathon here at Chez Nana … I finished up Gone With the Wind and then watched Casablanca and Secretariat while quilting.

 

 

Like I said, DH and I have no plans to go out and do anything special today.  We’re just a couple of homebodies (me especially).  A dear woman from our old church passed and the visitation is this morning … we plan to go pay our respects (with a stop at Panera on the way for breakfast).  We had talked about doing some shopping afterwards (I want to replace the shower head in the shower in the master bath), but the temperatures here are going to be plummeting, dropping almost 30 degrees over the course of the day.  Too cold for me … I think I’d rather spend the rest of the day home, snuggled under some quilting instead. 

 

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day, however you choose to spend it.

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

This n That on Thursday

Winter has returned here … the temperatures started to drop yesterday as the wind picked up.  And we saw a very light dusting of snow when we got up this morning.  And other than a bit of a respite tomorrow, it looks like winter’s going to be sticking around for a while.

At least we have some snow in the forecast, although it doesn’t look like it’ll amount to much. 



With the temperatures dropping yesterday, I decided to make some White Chili.  DH was out running errands, so I asked him to pick up a can of diced green chiles.  As I was opening the can, I looked a little more closely at the label and noticed that he brought home a can of this instead of this
Ooops!  I’d already opened the can and had started the chili, so I went with it (and skipped the cayenne pepper).  It was spicy but good … DH has a pretty low tolerance for heat, so I worried whether he’d be able to tolerate it, but he had a second bowl …



I was able to get in some time with my needle and thread yesterday … I’m almost done quilting the 16th block of T#3’s quilt.  I’ve got all the center blocks quilted … just the outer 2 blocks all the way around the quilt are left to be quilted.  When I saw that big section of blocks quilted, I was sure that I was on the downhill slope of quilting … until I remembered that there are 63 blocks in this quilt … which means that I still have 48 blocks to quilt.    Good thing I enjoy the hand quilting, eh?



After a few weeks of good, sound sleep, insomnia has reared its ugly head again.    This time, instead of getting up at 2:30 in the morning, I’m now falling asleep at about that time … and while I’m technically sleeping in (6:30 instead of my usual 4:30), I don’t do too well with just 4-5 hours of sleep. 



I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy