Guess What I Found?

I woke up with a nasty stomach bug this morning. Good thing the bathroom is in my bedroom. At any rate, this afternoon I started feeling a little better so decided to try and finish cleaning my sewing area up in between trips to the bathroom. Amazing, I found a desk and shelves and carpet.


It is sure great to have a place to work once again. The only thing missing is the monitor that will be going with the computer. Hubby bought me a flat screen monitor for Christmas so I can have more room and still be able to sew. Early last year he bought me a new computer to use for school, it came with Vista, which has printer issues, so am unable to get a printer working. He is getting it all set up for me to run both computers (the old one - with printer and embroidery converter box) and the new one. I think is more so he can get on the computer at the same time I am home.



I went to work full time outside the home in March 2007. Then added internet classes through the local junior college. Stands to reason I guess that since superwomanwifemom I am not, something had to get left out. That has been the house and my hobby time. That is one reason I decided to take the semester off. My goal was to be able to start sewing on Wednesday, I made that goal. I will be back in my corner happily putting the pedal to the meddle as the needle sings along.



Now, as I said, I found so many things while I was cleaning. A co-worker and his wife recently welcomed their first child, a baby girl, born in December. I want to make a quilt for the baby, bought some great fabric for it. Yeah I know, with plastic bins and tubs of the fabric all over this house why would I buy more? Because it was a heck of a lot easier and quicker than trying to search through all the places I have fabric stuffed, rolled up, poked in, and stashed around this house. At any rate, I have been letting the wheels crank back up in to motion, after a generous oiling of viewing several recent issues of various quilt magazines, to get inspired and settle on a design for the quilt. Have it narrowed down to five you know. But in the midst of cleaning, I came across this small top I had made for a charity project that has a darling little cross stitched angel (okay, so it was done with my embroidery machine) in the center, done with yellow accents.

I meant to take a closer photo of the center, but my batteries died. Guess I played with the new camera a little too much. I will take one soon though. When I saw this little lost angel, it struck me that if I made a few blocks with colorful fabric I bought to border around this then I would have a nice size quilt. It may look like a single quilt block, but the quilt top is 24 x 24 inches as shown. I know that she is there little angel, even has brown hair like this one. Must be guilty karma going on, but that is the way a lot my projects work out. I get it in my head to make it one way, the perfect person to receive that quilt almost always shows up. It was the same way with a star quilt I made. Everyone in the class was using cottage colors (rose, pink, cream, sage) but I had to be totally different, using bright colors and black. The quilt shop gang just didn't have the appreciation they should have for my color choices, but then I really don't care much for their thoughts any way. A few months later my husband's boss got word that his daughter had been injured very badly in the line of duty while serving in Falujah as an MP when she was the victim of an explosive device that blew up the vehicle she was in. She went through 9 very painful operations to save her leg and skin graphs for the burns. I gave her the quilt telling her she was our shining star. It was all her favorite colors and she has it proudly on her bed. Got side tracked there, it really doesn't take much to do that to me. I will post a photo of the baby quilt when I get it done. I hope to have the top finished up tomorrow so I can take it to my quilt group on Thursday night and use the tables to get it basted. I have really missed the ladies at the church group and know it has been well over a year since I was in attendance with them.

On another side note, I also bought some green fat quarters to make an all green block using the Crazy Quilt method. I have joined the Green Garden Round Robin on one of my Crazy Quilt groups on Yahoo. I make the beginning (called a nakkid block) block then send it to the next name on the list. We are the avocado group. When we receive a block, we will embroidery some embellishments to it and send it on. By the time it has gone through everyone and returns home my block will be all dressed up and ready to shine. I am so excited about this project. Also found some lost bags and boxes of trims and such that will be used at some point. Oh, and by the way, even though I told myself I was only going to have one blog to keep up with, I have created a few more. I created a second edition of my stupidly deleted Needle Me Crazy blog. It is called Needle Me Crazy 2 and you can get to it through my profile. Will be adding the link to this blog sight later in the week. Am just to tired to mess with it tonight.

I am actually fading very fast as I type and need to go get a bath and off to bed. Sure wish I could stay home tomorrow and just sew. But, have to go work to pay for all my little pretties.

Happy New Year

Yeah, know it is a little late, I have been really busy though. But here I am in the late hours of the night, unable to sleep again, so trying to play catch up with all my groups and blogging.

Okay, since the last posting, I finished up the pantry. Even sat down and made up menu plans for several weeks using only what I had on hand. Believe me that is a lot of food. This will be my first real test of it, as this is the first full week back after the holidays and the kids go back to school as well.

Now the really cool stuff. I used some of my Christmas money to buy me a really cool little digital camera so I can take photos of all the stuff I plan to make. It is an extensive list, a good portion of which is UFOs and PIGs but of course that is every quilter and crafter as well. I also bought this awesome rolling tote which was half off to put all my beads and embellishments in so that I have them in all in one place. Earlier in the year I would take some of my crazy quilting to work to embroidery on during lunch, but it never failed that I would get there with out needles, without floss, and so forth, even have a wonderful collection of items that a wonderful person gifted to me to help get me started and it is all in a shoe box. Okay a boot box, but still it needs to be where I can use it.

Now this week end I got started on clearing all the crap from my sewing desk so I can just get to my machines. So much dust on the poor baby's and they are just covered with copies of test, notes, homework assignments, mail, kids school papers, and photos. I did manage to get a good deal of it disposed or put up in a proper place. I had two big garbage sacks full that went to the dumpster along with a few Walmart bags full of papers as well. I hope to have it all cleared and able to actually sew by Wednesday.

I have to make time for the gym in there somewhere as well. Was so surprised that I actually lost some weight over the holidays. Of course having pneumonia for over a month had a little something to do with that. But hey, I will make sure it stays off and hopeful shed a lot more. A great deal more. If I keep really busy with the gym and sewing then I won't have time to keep up the emotional eating that I have a huge problem with. Not as bad as it was this time last year, but still creeps in from time to time.

I admit it, I bought fabric this weekend as well. I know I shouldn't have, I have a hundred tons of it stashed about the house, but I need to make a baby quilt for a gift and that was just quicker than trying to sort through the tubs of fabric at the moment. Besides, it is really great baby quilt fabric with purple fleece for the back and it was all on sale. I also bought some cotton yarn to make potholders out of.

I have joined a couple of swaps, am making myself adhere to a strict limit of them due to time considerations, and am really looking forward to them. Both are through a couple of my Yahoo groups. One is for a color on color swap of crazy quilt blocks. The whole block has to be done entirely in greens. It is not really a swap, it is a round robin. In other words, it will get passed along the list of names and everyone will add a little something special to the block for me, I will be adding a little something to everyone else's block as well. The second one is a potholder swap on a crochet group. This is a true swap and I will be sent one name and her info, then crochet from cotton yarn a potholder, send it to the name and they will send one to me as well. Oh goodness I can hardly wait to get started, even purchased what was needed to make my offerings, but will not let myself get started on any of it until I have that desk cleaned up. The projects are however, and all the others I have planned, HUGE incentives to get the cleaning done quickly.

Good thing about cleaning, I found some nice treasures was sure were lost forever today. Found some treasures that I was needing, but didn't know I had already gotten. Such is life though. Okay, allergy meds have kicked in and am now sleepy, also have gotten quite cold sitting here so it is time to get to bed and warm up with my fuzzy teddy bear (aka dear sweet hubby) so until I have more to post, here's hoping you have a truly blessed year to come.

Busy Day

Today has really been busy. I went grocery shopping and household shopping. Then home to put it all away. Sneaked in a new quilting magazine of course. I put all the perishables up first, then left the rest out for a while. I knew I had to clean out the pantry, so why put it all away just to take it all out. I managed to get the top half of the pantry done, so feel like I have accomplished a great deal. Still have the bottom half, but shouldn't take as long. I probably took to the dumpster about $50-$60 dollars of food if not more that had all expired or gone bad from the brown moth infestation that I am plagued with. That was the main reason for the cleaning, then added some moth repellent sachets to chase the little buggers away. Also gave me a chance to inventory my pantry. Could not believe that some how I have ended up with 13 cans of beef broth. After buying groceries and coming home with cans of black and red kidney beans for a particular recipe I want to try, only to find I already had three of each on hand, I was further convinced that this cleaning and inventory was essential. I am also going to make up a menu plan for the next three weeks and challenging myself to see how much I can actually do with just what I have on hand. Which really is a ridiculous amount of food.

We have had an on going problem with mold growing in our bathroom. Hubby has become fearful that the mold is what is making me sick and the reason I can't seem to get completely well, so he mixed up some bleach water and went to work on the walls and ceiling. It looks so much nicer. Discovered that bleach water makes old wallpaper (actually it was former owners great idea to use contact paper and glue) come off very easy.

I went an played a little with some fabric I have. Just had to touch the little sweeties, make sure they are still there and all. Can't wait until I can start slashing them to pieces and then stitching them back up. I have several tops that I am going to layer and finish up before I let myself start on anything else. I have four major quilt projects that need to get done first off when I get started back. First, quilt for co-workers new baby (plan to make up a few extras for future gifts), second is throw size quilt promised for raffle prize to booster club, third is a few quilts that just need binding, and four is quilt that I started for a wedding gift for my son. The wedding was postponed, then called off, then they broke up. I still want to finish the quilt though. Then I have a mile long list of various UFOs and PIGS I want to do. Doesn't everyone? My new year's resolutions include being more organized, so will make a list of projects to mark off. When I am not working 40 hours, not going to the gym, not cleaning house, not taking care of the family that is. Yeah, I know!

Well, off to a warm bath and even warmer bed so I can start it all over again tomorrow.

Finally Back Home

Well, 18 hours on the road and we are finally back home. The kids are ready to go see friends and we are ready for our own bed. Hubby is already there.

We went to TX and back for the holidays, saw all the family and had a Christmas with all my children. Moved the oldest daughter back to Odessa. Her husband has already started at the police academy, she was hired to teach 6 grade math. They will be living with the mother in law until they can get established and find a house. Waiting to see how that goes.

Have so much to do now, unpack and clean house, put away the new gifts, soon it will be back to work. I am looking forward to cleaning up the house for a change and making some positive changes around here. Between working 40 hours, college classes, and football season, the house has kind of gone to heck in a hand basket. I am already planning projects, reminding myself to finish up a few first as well.

Now I am off to catch up on all my emails. Tried to check them at my mom's, but her connection is so slow I just gave up. Besides, the display is set so large that I could only read one line at a time. Oh well, once again, I am reminded how truly wonderful a life God has given me.

Hope everyone has a happy New Year Day and blessings in the year to come.

Just Can't Get Well

I thought I was doing better. Was actually starting to feel like my self, hardly coughing at all, actually making it from the car to building and still breathing easy.

That was yesterday.

During the night I had a bad spell of coughing again, of course am out of cough medicine and waiting for the doctor to answer a request for a refill. At any rate, hardly slept during the night, finally fell asleep only to be awakened by idiotic neighbors blasting the stereo so loud my photos were shaking, at 8 o'clock on a Sunday morning. Now, I wake up and I am tired, my throat hurts, coughing all over again, head feel like it weighs a ton, and the gland in my neck is swollen. This is great news, considering I promised youngest daughter a trip to Build a Bear and still need to finish up a little shopping. Most of it is done thankfully, as we leave Friday.

I am so tired of being sick.

Also, I now refuse to ever step foot in Best Buy stores again. We were trying to shop for Christmas gifts. After standing for the better part of 15 minutes, a clerk finally came over to help. We showed him the item we were interested in (can't say exactly as you never know who may be reading this) and then also showed him the other two we were considering if they were out of the one we wanted. Could he take down those numbers at the same time to go see if they were in stock? HEAVEN'S NO, that would possibly make sense. So, off he goes for another 15-20 minutes while we stand around. Back he comes, they are out of that product, won't be getting any more in. Now he takes the second choice and is gone another 15 minutes or so coming back to tell us they do have it in stock. Gets the keys to the case, it isn't there, gets the latter and checks the thousands of boxes piled up on top of the cases, (Won't even get started on how great an idea that is to stack computers to the ceiling on top of shelving units in the heart of earthquake country) after looking for another 5 minutes or so, he informs my husband that there are no more of that one, but they do have some for the same price that have been optimized so it will be another $29. In frustration to the length of time it is taking, hubby says yes, we get it, go get another item on our list and get in check out line. THIS IS WHERE THEY HIT YOU. There is a fee for this, a fee for that, and would you like this service, or that one, warranty, might as well extend it while you are here, how about some insurance for replacement value, includes replacement of battery. Okay, you get the picture. We had three items to pay for. Now after having been in the store for about 45 minutes already, we are placed in the check out line behind a man that was buying 5, yes five, laptops. Could the cashier just ask if he wanted all the crap add ons for all of them at one time? OH NO, he has to ask him laptop by laptop, then offer up cables, battery chargers, and so forth. The poor guy bought the cheapest ones there ($450) and when we gave up to leave they had only rang up three of them and he was already up to $2,700 and still had two more to go. We had left the two big items just sitting and I went to the front check out with youngest daughter's Build a Bear Workshop video game. She had gotten her newsletter from BB that included a $5 off coupon for the game so she attached it to her letter for Santa. If I had been able to find the game anywhere else, I would have left it there as well. But, up to the check out line I go, get to the checker fairly quickly (should have been a clue) but the coupon is not in her system. Off she goes to three different checkers to ask how to do it, then sent word for a manager to come over, 15 minutes later she shows up. I looked at the manager and told her about having to wait in line at the back, told her that we had been told the item was available, then suddenly it wasn't but could get a similar one for $29 more, told her that they had already lost sales of over$1,000 that we just walked away from in the back, what is $5 going to matter? Was told sorry for our inconvenience and that it is part of their job to make sure we have everything we need to use the items when we get them home.

I don't need insurance for a battery to use the item.

So, we went to Circuit City, an unannounced special started while we were there, got a better one at a significant savings. I still can't believe that we have to be charged a disposal fee for an item we are just now getting to use. But hey, that is CA and hubby loves it here (fees and regulations bleeding us dry are not thought of) so we are here for a long while it would seem.

Okay, now that I vented a bit, am heading back to bed for a little while.

Monday

It is Monday and am home with a sick child. She has the stomach crud. I am still coughing like crazy, but it doesn't last as long or cause as much pain.

We had a wonderful weekend, that didn't last nearly long enough, but it is now over. I got to see my oldest daughter graduate from college. It was bittersweet. Proud that she had accomplished so much, a little guilty that we weren't able to help her as much as she needed. Then there is a little bit of envy going because she has this whole other family that seems to look after their every need. During the meal out at the restaurant, I barely spoke to my daughter a total of 10 minutes. We were there for about 2 hours or so. Then, I had planned a little surprise get together which hardly anyone showed up for. I did get to see my grandson though.

Now, I had mentioned in a previous blog that I couldn't even get to my sewing machines if I wanted to. I snap a photo or two for illustrative purposes.

Like I said, I have a lot of cleaning up to do just to get to the sewing machines and to see just what kind of supplies I do still have around here to work with.

Hopefully we will get our Christmas shopping done very soon, wrapped up and under the tree. It is still hard to believe, but we will be back in Texas two weeks from this past Saturday. It will once again be a quick trip, too quick in some ways, too long in others, but will be nice to see the grand baby again.

Now, I need to get off of this computer and get to work on some laundry and cleaning. A co-worker and his wife just had a baby girl and I want to make a little something for her. Just need to find something to make it out of.

I am off on a mission.

Additional Thoughts

I did it, I have turned in all my assignments so except for waiting for the final grades to be posted I am done with my class. I really did enjoy the class and had so much fun learning all about Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, and Vista. So why then does it feel like a big old weight is off my shoulders?

Could be the pneumonia is starting to clear a little bit and it is finally easier to breathe. Now to just get rid of this annoying cough. It will be just a tad bit dangerous to take a rotary cutter in hand and start coughing in waves of uncontrollable shakes that end in massive "feel like my head is going to explode" head aches while I fight to keep from passing out due to lack of oxygen because I am coughing out all the air unable to take any in.

Okay, enough moaning. I am in that phase where I make myself miserable because I want to be sewing, or quilting, or embroidering, but can't because I have way to much that has to be done first. I really should take a photo of what is supposed to be my sewing corner and post it so it will be totally clear to anyone reading my blog why I cannot sew anything.

By the way, one more positive note. I was successful in making the evening meal totally out of the pantry and freezer, and in a very short time. We had ham, mashed sweet potatoes, and broccoli. Okay, you got me, the ham steaks were fully cooked (hey I did have to thaw them out, then added a little brown sugar and pineapple) the sweet potatoes were an instant mix (Betty Crocker, free trial coupon, surprisingly the family loved as hardly any left over) and the broccoli was frozen (I did have to cook it and of course put a little bit of margarine on it - no trans fats though) but it was a perfectly acceptable meal. The only left overs were just enough to make me a lunch to take to work tomorrow in the hopes that I am able to make it all day.

Time now for more cough medicine, a nice warm bath, and a breathing treatment. Then hopefully some much needed sleep.