Mystery Quilter!

Happy belated fourth of July or an even more belated Canada Day.  How about this?  Happy July!  This is a great month.  The heat is sweltering the entire northern hemisphere and we can for once all agree on the weather.  This is the same month my darling daughter was born.  She came a week earlier than her due date the same as I myself did, which was truly wonderful because I was more than a little sick of being pregnant at that point.  All circumstances considered (such as my post pelvic trauma and current disability for those of you non-followers) my most favorite OB-GYN was on vacation through my due date and promised if DD hadn't been born by the time he got back we would have a c-section August 3.  Oh yes please let's plan a big major deal such as having a baby on my Anniversary!  NOT!

Instead I had the most amazing doctor in the history of doctors.  She was trained as a midwife first and then became a doctor - how cool is that!?  I'd seen her in my office visits before then, but didn't see her for the amazing woman she is.

So now that you've had way to much personal information about me.  How about some birthstone trivia July birthdays have Ruby as their birthstone, my second favorite, only to my own Sapphire - which are really the same exact thing.  The only difference is that Rubys are red sapphires.  Hadn't you ever noticed that Sapphire come in every color except true red?  So now it's time for my MYSTERY QUILTER!  Here is an example of her quilting.  Any guesses?

How about Now?

It's DD!

Missed Me?

My cousin tells me she believes there are two kinds of pain.  The kind you've earned and the kind you didn't.  The kind you've earned is like working in the yard or the like.   That's the good kind of pain.  It hurts but you did something and thereby it's okay.

The bad kind of pain is the kind that grabs you by the throat and takes over, while you are bewildered that you're even feeling pain.  After all you did everything right and didn't push yourself or anything.  Chronic pain sufferers have to deal this sort of "bad pain" more often than we'd like anyone to know, much less admit.

Last night the bad kind woke me up.  Now you know pain that wakes you up has to be bad.  I mean seriously?!?!?  I was sleeping!  So I dealt with that from about 2 am until 4:30 or so.  Oddly I went to sleep around about the time DH cuddled up to me, which that alone is odd.  Normally when I have bad pain I will lash out as the spasms can be stronger than my desire not to have them.

I guess all that meant I was darn well going to earn my pain today.  I stood and held towels while DH pressure washed the last of the house to protect the air conditioner from water leaking in on it.  Then I held the first new window while Rob installed it.  Then I cleaned one tower of DVD's.  I changed the sheets on the bed.  I helped to unpack and sort windows.  I helped repack and sort windows and then I did all that all over again.  Then I stood and cooked dinner.  Trust me when I say I'm hoping the dishwasher fairy will show up at my house tonight.

Little Boy's Red Starting to Show

Baby cardinals seem to be everywhere these days.  I think we have three boys flying around (they look so silly with their red colors coming in and one girl who was oh so gray) No babies with Lady Bird and her Gentleman Bird yet.  In fact the two of them are here together right now.  Lady Bird has been enjoying drinking from the birdbath the past couple of days and her boy was seen feeding her just yesterday. 

Little Boy Cardinal

So as I mentioned above we've been working on our house.  Here is the first new window installed and a snapshot of my Sapphire Blue Sherwin Williams paint.  So tell me what color does it look like to you?

Healthy Lady Bird

Is it better not to know? Last night I felt that way as I took these close ups of Lady Bird. Normally she sits in the bird feeder so I can't see or show you how I know she only has one foot. But last night she helped herself to a nice long drink at the birdbath so I was able to take these. 

See how she sits here at the birdbath?  Aside from her slight expected wobbliness, I can always recognize her by her leg as it sticks out down and behind her.

In the above photo it's clear Lady Bird's leg is missing from just above her knee. While that said it is also clear that her stump no matter when or how it happened is completely and fully healed. So while it is a bit sad to know more, it's also good that she does not have any lingering problems. Just take a second look at that top photograph; her feathers are in great condition this year.

I did a bit of bird research and the longest documented wild cardinal lived to be over 18 years, isn't that something? The common misconception that cardinals only live for a year is actually a skewed number caused by the high baby and adolescent deaths.

Please keep in mind Lady Bird is a wild bird that is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which allows her the freedom to come and go as she pleases. The Migratory Bird Treaty says that the birds on the list shall never be pursued, hunted, taken, captured, killed, sold or possessed. It also protects all things pertaining to, including, eggs, feathers, and nests.

It makes me think a little of the Kalahari Meerkat Project, to watch but never to interfere.

Lady Bird

Lady Bird Mom is on the Left and Baby is on the Right.
Darling little bird. For the past two weeks we have been watching our Lady Bird Mom, Dad, and their little baby bird. It is a joy watching this family as I feel the constutition and fortitue this bird has is a testament to life and one being's will to live. I believe the baby bird is a girl as it is the brownest baby cardinal visiting us. Not a touch of red on her entire body.

Often people who have known me for a little while, long enough they call themselves more than aquantiances, but still haven't known me long say things like "how great I am that I don't let my disability get me down." or that "You're my hero for all that you've done and do." I feel comments are made and are a misinterputation of who I really am. Trust me, mircle that I'm a live or not, I am one person. I do not feel I am a hero. Heroism is deep strength used to the benefit of a person or community. At least that is what it is to me. All I did was live and survive. That is what every other living thing would try to do, yes even my dear sweet handicapped Cardinal, inspite of her missing foot she continues on. Living each day the best she can.

Sometimes our best isn't enough to clean the house, or get to the laundry. But if it is enough to raise our offspring, then it's enough.

The Speed

It is amazing to me the speed at which life can slip past. Last night I had a ball wrapping up presents for Jessica's 4th birthday. I'm supposed to say it's hard to believe she's four already, but it's not hard. She is a very smart girl that I doubt would have been able to hide in a 3 year old's body much longer. Jessica is so excited about all things four, but most especially school. My daughter's personality is like a mac truck. Sure, she seems like peaches and cream, but when she really wants something... Lucky for me this is what I want too.

This morning I received a rare and precious gift. I was putting in a movie for Jessica when there was a bang on my window. I looked up and sure enough there was a baby cardinal trying to land on the aluminium between the windows (where the glass is mind you). The little baby must have been out for one of it's first flights. And who was the only other cardinal in sight? Why me special little lady cardinal. Yes, I'd like to believe that the special girl, I enjoy watching out my window, brought me her little one. It's nice to think that she is a successful mom even lacking a foot.

Not working on anything quilty right now. Hopefully after my mini vacation there will be enough money left for me to buy a slew of batting so I can get quilting. Laugh if you want, we'll just have to wait and see.

Oh, I nearly forgot! I did get the clothes thing taken care of, seems not only was my "measurement size" not my size at all I was in the wrong department. I found this out through the grace of my mom. Just like when I was a kid trying things on, she searched the racks and came back to the dressing room with clothes to try on. It was such a blessing to have her there to help me. My leg and foot hurt like the dickens before I started. I'm certain had my mom not been there I would have returned my pile of clothes for a dress and a skirt, the later of the two were straight returns for a smaller size, and retreated to someplace to spend the rest of the afternoon sitting. As it was, I even had enough energy when it was over to do a little rack combing myself from the seat of a wheelchair.

The back for the Holiday Row Robin quilt is all finished up. I thought I was shorter on fabric than I really was so I'm going to redo the blue border fabrics at the top and the bottom to better match, as I'm 100% sure I can't stand to watch that teal "jump" every year during the holidays.

I haven't bought clothes in a long time, just a new top here or there. Since my accident in 2001 it's difficult for me to try things on, as you constantly have to sit, stand, and wiggle around. I dug out my cloth tape i.e. the sewing tape measure that bends and measured, letting measurements do the talking. Then I went to the website where I wanted to order my clothes, and ordered the size that the inches told me to. Now I hate those numbers. They seem so awful, not to mention women's sizes have three different departments. Who dreamed that one up? Shoot I'd rather be like the men's department and only have one place in the store I need to check for my size, but that could just be my disability complaining.

So anyway, with a deep breath I went clothes shopping online. I was so excited by have a few new things the silly size number didn't matter anyway. The days go by and I wait and wait, insult is added to my waiting because of the 4th, but no matter, I can't wait.

The clothes arrived yesterday. Yes siree, they did. All of them are way to big. Huge is perhaps an understatement for most of them. One pair of pants comes close, but DH would have to add a "hole" to the belt so I can cinch it down enough, to keep the pants where they belong. I was a mess over it. What a disaster. I feel so bad for anyone else that might have thought they could trust their tape measure.

So Rob arrives home shortly after I tried on everything in the box. After a few minutes he tells me, "at least you know those clothes are all to big". Right. Is that truly supposed to help me? Awwgee, sure I'm glad their not to tiny, but I was so looking forward to having them fit.

The Special little Lady Cardinal is here this morning. I bet she's glad she doesn't have to stand and try on clothes.

Check up and Check in

Today was annual checkup time for Sunny and Tiny. I've been a bit worried about them so it was nice to hear how great they are. Sometimes I think my cats must be charmers to become divining rods for compliments. Or maybe that's part of the vets job? I don't know they see so many animals. I did in fact ask my sister if she knew of any "ugly" cats and she is certain that there are such things. I've never met one myself.

For a while now Sunny has had his own trading card over at Blue Buffalo. The makers of our cat food. Feel free to head over there and check him out.

Earlier this evening my daughter told me "Sunny went poop!" Followed quickly by "we need to bag it up and take it to the vet!" The things children say sometimes. It cracks me up.

Today was in fact a hard day for Jessica. She missed Kitty very deeply today, and I even though I try my best to love and support her, I feel like sometimes it isn't enough.

Tonight I am watching out the window at my "special needs" Cardinal. Perhaps some of you remember her. The cardinal with only one leg that visits my bird feeder quite frequently. Tonight I can't help but worry a little about her. She is curled up in the bottom "bowl" of the feeder. She's been sitting there for about 10 minutes, and now it's past 8pm. I hope all is well with her as watching her visit everyday brings joy to my days. Since those first visits we've learned a bit more about her. She does have two legs, but one has no "toes" at all and she seems to like to keep it out behind her to keep it from being banged around. Ahhh hark, the Cardinal has flown. It's so nice to see her depart this evening. I'll be looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow. Perhaps she too just needed a quiet moment. Feel free to read more about her and see a few photos here.

Tip Toe Through the Apples

I have made nice progress on the Apple Quilt, just two more seams and the entire top will be done. Check back for those photos.

Yesterday I stopped by the Salvation Army as yet another coffee pot has found it's demise. I didn't find any coffee pots, but it was half off clothing Wednesdays so they were packed. I do accept hand-me-downs for Jessica. I was surprised to find some clothes of great quality and even Name Brands. I picked up three pairs of long pants (two beautifully embroidered), three Land's End shorts for school, with four matching tops. Oh and one purple sweatshirt that was to cute to pass up.

I also found one pair of size 8 (aka 5mm) bamboo knitting needles (50 cents). I was out the door with all my purchases for $10 and change. I washed it and Jessica helped me fold it and put it away. She's thrilled with the things I purchased so who could ask for anything more?

As with all second hand purchases, remember to check for holes, stains, and that all the zippers and buttons are attached and functioning. My own mother, who I love dearly that I very doubt has ever bought any clothes that weren't for "working in the field", even commented that some of the items I'd purchased looked nice enough for to be "first day of school" clothes.

I know, I know normally I'd have photos of everything, but my leg still hasn't recovered from the stress the past couple of weeks.

Another Baby Quilt

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm working on another baby quilt. This one will have the entire alphabet embroidered out on it. I just love the greenish-teal on the white. The white fabric from my neighbors scrap/leftover pile. It's about 1/2 a yard of apparel fabric. It feels rather like minki, though I very seriously hope I wont have that much trouble with it.

In spite choosing nearly a full spool of polyneon to embroider these 5.5" letters with I'm still running quite row. With 10 letters left to go I am certain I will need another spool. Madeira thread isn't available locally so that will be a post haste order going out hopefully this weekend. At least the company I like to order from it has my color (1888) available in cones as well as the spools. I don't want to have a run like this again. It's crazy how fast those little spools can go. Not to mention going faster as it gets closer to the center. But you already knew that didn't you?

My pain levels have been quite high even waking me up last night out of a blissful sleep. I suppose it must be the stress of all that has been happening lately. At first I was delighted to learn a chipper rental would only be $140, but then there are fees, rental insurance in case it it stolen from your property, deposit, etc. It all adds up very quickly. So I'm not certain how that will work out.

I hope you all are enjoying spring and living stress free, why not take a minute and tell me about it? The good, the bad? It's always nice to know someone is listening.

Stop!!!

Who R U?

I am a handicapped, mother. Now let's stop right there. Handicapped is listed first. It is always listed first, seemingly no matter who you talk to. WHY?!?! Being handicapped defines my limitations. It does not define me. While a part of who I am, I am not a chair, a cane, or a walker. With that word first you draw whatever conclusions you'd wish.

That second word. Mother, that can evoke many images. Dark sinister ugly thoughts, or warming happy comforting ones. It's really all up to your perception. Mother defines all that I do. If you ask a mother something - there is a seemingly instant connection between the question and my child. How will my decisions in this moment influence said child if at all?

I am a quilter. It delights me define creative side in this way. I just past my one year quilting anniversary. Everyone gains skill and advances at different rates, especially when you consider we all have different amounts of time to spare for things we really enjoy. New and different things excite me, I feel I'm in a constant state of improving my skills. My love for color, fabric, and thread are all encompassing. I even use my background knowledge in drafting to expand my skills further.

I am a wife. My husband is my compliment, my counter balance, yet at the same time he is very much like me. I do not feel that he is "my other half". He completes me, when he is away part of me is missing, still the world turns and the days move past. He takes care of me in many ways others would never begin to dream of, I love him body, mind, and soul.

I am many other things to, but at this time I'm going to stop and ask you. Who R U? What defines you? Take a moment, maybe you'll surprise even yourself.

Blue

It bothers me somewhere down inside that white and I are not friends. I love white. White on white fabrics make me drool. I love the embroider on them. I have made two STUNNING quilts with white. One was even simple red and white. Yet I myself can't have white.

A couple months back I found an amazing deal on a white organic tank top ($5!) it was nice for a bit of "dress up" or "dress down" and looked great with... You get the picture. But heck if I could keep the thing clean. My DH is the master of all stains. They all stop and yield to his will. Of course he has to know about the stain to will it out. In spite of all that after only a couple of wearings my beautiful "nice" white tank was spotted. Well heck if I was going to let it go the way of every other white t-shirt I have owned.

So today at the grocery store I bought some rit dye. I can't believe it was $2 and change but hey it is what it is (I could swear you can get fabric dye from Joann's for a buck!) I'm a driven person. Mood inspires me. New things move me. So I couldn't resist (after the groceries were put away and my DH had gone to work) digging right in to my little dye project.

Now let me stop right here and say when they tell you to use gloves bite the bullet and use gloves. It has taken me all evening to get the dye area limited to my fingernails. (yuck). I did the sink method in a big stainless stock pot mostly because I didn't want anything stained forever, except the shirt ~ of course. This process takes a whole lot of standing. I'd like to think it's the last time I will do it when I don't have help, but almost for certain I will encounter something that will lead me astray.

I just love how the rhinestones didn't take the dye. The package said anything plastic would take the dye (that's why I didn't bother trying it in my front loader - not to mention the automatic size sensor wouldn't allow enough water in to completely cover the material per the directions). The rhinestones being plastic surely should have take the dye but you can clearly see they didn't.

I'm glad to have my "nice" shirt back. Even if it isn't white.

Habit Overcomes...

Last night I told myself that I would go ahead and get right to knocking out the last border on the dino quilt. My intention was to get up and go directly to the sewing machine. Well my morning hasn't panned out that way and somehow I'm sitting here writing to you. Ah well.

Jessica's uncles came over yesterday, they are only 6 and 8 years older than she is so for the most part they have a good time together. My clean house got lost somewhere along the way, but that's okay.

Jessica's G-U-I-T-A-R is on it's way. We bought her a Mahalo Ukulele in purple. I'll let you know how it is after Easter. Some of the websites I'd found said the painted Mahalo's have some cosmetic imperfections, but I'm not to worried about that. We bought the one for Jessica direct from amazon and I know they stand by their stuff. This one is a U30-PP-G the pp is the color i.e. purple, and the G stands tells you the style of the tuning adjusters. With the "G" they will be out at the sides instead of the normal model where they come out from behind. We're planning on restringing it right way with Aquila Low G strings as I have heard that the Soprano Ukes can be a bit shrill, and the string they come with can slip out of tune. I'm not 100% certain about that they do need restrung when they arrive because they way they are strung in the first place is to prevent damage during shipping, it could be the review I read about slipping it just someone who didn't restring it. The Aquila nylgut strings are more likely to stay in tune and stand up to changes in weather, not to mention better sound. That's one thing the B-U-N-N-Y can mark off the list.

While I did consider a 1/2 size guitar I found the Ukulele much easier to tune. Since she's only three and a half my brain tells me that's important. Or maybe it's the future echos of my ears?

I added my hooks to the wheelchair bag so my part of that is all done. DH has promised to attach/install it before I need it next weekend, I'll take photos once it's installed as that should be the best angle.

Take care and have a great weekend.

Today I blog.

In color! Today has been a good day. I started out my morning with my daughter telling me that her "clothes had grown up" because she had a growth spurt this Winter and has shot up out of the 12-24 month outfits she was wearing. While she's whining about it I hurry her off to her room.

Me: Do you want to go shopping in your room?
DD: (Whining badly) I don't want to go shopping in my room.
Me: Come on let's go shopping in your room.
DD: (near laughter from my silly behavior but still whining) I don't want to go shopping in my room.

Once in her room I start going though her dresser. As that's where I stash all of the "when she grows clothes". Poor me, she hasn't done much growing so it had been a while since I'd been digging in there. Then it happened, my fingers touched the bag.

DD: (in awe) What's in the PRINCESS BAG mommy?!?!?!?! (packing something away in a Disney Princess bag is a sure fire win no matter what is in it!)
Me: (Dumping it out on our laps) I don't know, let's see! (I buy what is cute and whatever hand-me-downs that aren't so ugly that I climb the walls (there was one dress... Hounds tooth... oh it was awful but that is another story) Most of the time what I have put up and away is as much of a surprise for me as it is for her. After going through (and passing over a beautiful purple hoodie with flowers for "later" she settled on this mock tank and dress. Not what I'd have picked for her, but she added a necklace and I'm here to tell you I spent the rest of the day thinking how pretty she is. I know I'm biased, but I only get one child so I'm allowed.

Then she wanted to work in her dearly beloved "workbook". My child loves working in her workbook. She makes sure we do one page a day, but sometimes demands a second one in the afternoon. We've been working out of her preschool book for about a month now, and I am really surprised at her progress. Today we started the "Get Ready to Write" chapter (I skip around depending on where she is at, and what looks good at the time). This chapter begins with those dashed lines and progresses to curves, ect. all for tracing. When we started it was a war trying to convey what "to trace" even meant. Today she buzzed through it like the wonderfully smart child I know her to be.

Then my sister and I tried to run an errand and failed, but still had a great lunch with an AMAZING waitress, at one of our local haunts. A mom and pop place called "Gringo's" where the food is yummy, the service comes and goes, and doesn't cost much.

When we arrived home Jessica wanted to play outside and it was so beautiful outside I couldn't resist her. I took care of my roses and had Sunny out on the leash. There is nothing funnier than watching a 12 pound - nearly five year (OMG!) old Maine Coon Cat with one eye PLAY. He looks like a kitten trapped in a huge furry cat body. After a while daddy came out and joined us, doing a bit of "housekeeping" around the yard. When he found a volunteer tomato plant from last year. It might look scrawny now, but with a bit of love and care I'm certain I'll me photographing it's tomatoes for you this summer. I even picked up a little sun while we were outside. On the craft front, I read that when a knitter is very poor they can go to Good Will and look at the sweaters. Picking carefully they can find a yarn that they like and take the sweater apart for the yarn. Well I found a maternity sweater that I just loved (super nice cotton) with a stain, and started attempting to take it apart. I didn't have much luck, so before to long DH took it from me. Once he found out that I had started taking it apart from the wrong end (FYI start at the top) he made short work of my beloved sweater, and it became 14 oz of yarn! Since DH has taken all of my Christmas yarn to make a mat for the cat water bowl, it's nice to have a bit of yarn for myself to work with. Since it's white yarn I wasn't quite sure what to do with it at first and have settled on another scarf for Soldier's Angels. I will make it as white and then dye it later into a nice co-gender color. Most likely green as I have a pair of curtains in the front bedroom that used to be Sage green and have "sunned" to a strange peach. There is just the right nip in the air. My shorts fit and aren't riding up, my $5 Sam's Club organic (I know! Who knew you could buy organic cotton for $5?!?!?!) tank top makes me look cute, and it's an all around nice day.

Tomorrow is Valentine's, and DH will be working. I don't have any plans, shoot I don't even think I have any chocolate in the house. I did not get the top of DH's surprise apple quilt done. In fact it's so far from done as to still be mostly pieces. I tried working on the last blocks the other day, and I'm finding it quite hard to get motivated. Perhaps I'll just email him the photo and say "Happy Valentine's Day" I know, I'm such a shlub!

While the quilts aren't talking to me the wheelchair bag I'm making is coming along swimmingly. This bag is made up of three canvas bags that I have taken apart and sewn back together - once again on my reusing mission. One was a Disney Trademark bag so it will have the Disney date emblazoned on it. I'm even planning on making it with a little something special so it will be able to hold shopping bags. A nice feature I'm sure I'll be glad I included in years to come. I'll post that when it's completed.

So get out there and have a great Valentine's Weekend!

Weight

I'm feeling a bit restless tonight. For the past three nights I've had nightmares from the time my head hits the pillow until I open my eyes. It has not done well for providing rest or for helping me want to sleep tonight. Perhaps I will ask the sewing machine to provide comfort and solace this evening.

It seems that you can't be straight Medicaid, so I've spent the past two days trying to find some plan any plan that lets the members of my family continue to see the doctors they've been seeing. DH's PCP is out. DD's PCP is only on one of the plans so I have to try and get her into that one Monday, and of course I'm up the creek. The doctor I've been seeing for my foot is not on any list except straight medicaid at least as far as I can tell, and the woman he referred me to who now has all my records is on two different plan options, but when I accidentally came up for the reviews online for her as a doctor, well let's just say they are bad really bad. So I am beside myself. I can't imagine trying to have everyone in my family on different medical plans. It's a great worry for me.

Oh the good front Kitty's neck is healing beautifully, nothing but a little scab now. I've never seen anyone ever heal as fast as she has. It's like she has a new lease on life. I keep telling her it was a double or nothing deal and now she's stuck with us for another 9 years. Yep Kitty just turned 9 at the first of this year, how about that. Tomorrow marks the day we picked her up from the ASPCA eight years ago. Right this moment she is content to sleep at my feet, and her large bulk and desire to be with us more and more has DH planning a stepping platform to help her get on the bed with us. Perhaps a bad idea, but she is so funny, she will walk into the room and look for me, if she can't find me she will walk to DH's side of the bed, and then back to where she expects me to be, and back and fourth until one of us helps her. She is such a shy cat if you lean to quickly or the bed creaks to much she runs like a crazy cat. You honestly wouldn't believe a cat as large as she is (18 pounds) could run like she does. She will knock you off your feet to stay away from the vacuum! If you have been watching my to do list you have seen a Memorial quilt there. It has been a joy to work on, and now the top is completed. This is my only eye candy for the evening, I hope you enjoy.

Roll in with the Holiday Cheer

I've been up to my knitting when my hands are free. I'm need to pay attention to what I'm doing, but all the same I'm up over 18". That's only 30" from my goal for my scarf that I'm planning to send overseas.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend, even if your Thanksgiving wasn't perfect perhaps you got the perfect gift or you put up all your Christmas things? Well I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was the Thanksgiving that almost wasn't but my sister came in and saved the day. We had a great time laughing and joking all afternoon. Sometime around 6 we settled down to eat all different kinds of food. Some that was Amazing all the way down to okay. Let me just tell you my husband's mashed potatoes and gravy was even better the second day and that's saying something since it was great to begin with.

I do not do Black Friday. What are you going to do with you see a scooter going at full throttle? You're just going to walk on your own way to get there. I tell you what I think they have governors on those things so they can't go fast. I can't imagine what it would be like. Instead Rob and I watched the "Mork and Mindy" Marathon that was on all day. Me on and off, Rob all day. You can see so much into the future parts of Robin Williams in that show it's just amazing really.

My daughter loves Eggnog, who would have guessed, right? Well not me. I think the price of it is up this year, but based on how she's been drinking it, I might need to make sure to have some in the house all this Holiday season. I even have baking plans this year.

We put the tree up yesterday (Saturday) and I have high hopes that Rob will get all the outside lights done today. We shall see I suppose. He's told me such pretty ideas I'm really looking forward to it. The photo above is without the flash. Funny how it all changed when the flash is on.

Currently on the back of my mind is the apple quilt I'd like to make for my husband, I already have the pattern picked out. As well as the child's quilt I'd like to make for Charity in 2009. So far I haven't decided which charity I will make it for. My sister asked if I might be just donating it through one of the local hospitals. I tried to look up doing something like that, but I couldn't find anything. I couldn't even find anything for giving a quilt straight to St. Jude's, if you can believe that. Oh well all that is slated for 2009, except maybe the apple quilt. I feel like I'm falling behind in what I'm working on because December is getting here so quickly. Tomorrow in fact. Take care all!

My oh my...

I have a minor upper ankle sprain, don't worry it's completely stable. My on the other hand, I seem to respond to "rest and don't push it" by doing everything that needs done. Yesterday I cleaned the main house, and went shopping with mom. Then I came home and worked on my sister's pants. I can not believe how much trouble I'm having dealing with those. ACK! I've drawn three embroidery files and I still don't have one I can use, not to mention all the ones I downloaded that I can't use.

After I gave up on that I worked on the Bargello quilt, It has half the border sewed on and is waiting for the other half. I put Jessica to bed and then picked up all her toys. I killed two huge wolf spiders. ACK! One was within a foot of her sitting on her potty! Being a mom gives you consitition! Grit your teeth and deal, no matter how AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh! You might feel.

This morning I've been up since 7:15, a new Pet Store is opening near us and I felt the need to send Rob out to get one of the free gift cards they offered to the first 50 customers. I've washed, dried and folded laundry, cleaned the addition, cleaned the kitchen, and run the vac around a bit, not really in that order.

I've also sat and enjoyed two episodes of "Sabrina: the Teenage Witch" (I have always liked Melissa Joan Hart) and an oldie of "Step by Step", who remembers that show? Wow, I used to sit and watch it with my mom, I'd even seen that one, but it was early then and Jessica wasn't up yet.

Rob of course is out and about. I do like to not have him around when I clean. He loves to say things like "I said I'd do that for you." Uh hu. All that and it's only 10:30! Okay so life is happening again. TTFN!

What a time of it!

Good Morning Folks! This morning I was awoken by the ringing phone. My favorite sound in the morning not! Just when I was trying so hard to keep my eyes shut tight against the day (in spite of all that Jessica was doing to get me up). And who should it be? Well there's no telling, because the phone in the bedroom is dead. I race to find another phone throwing off the covers and chasing down the hall. Oh crud it's the Sears Repair guy, "HELLO!!?!?!?" Nope he's gone. Drat. I hurry to get dressed and pull a brush through my hair that has gotten annoying long. Then my eyes aloft on the rest of the house. ACK! The kitchen is covered in last night's trial of the New Mexican place down the road.

Bell Peppers make me sick and so I put myself to bed shortly after dinner. Rob's old boss asked him to come back, so he was off to work (overnight, ugh). The toys where a mess, oh it was just awful. So I race to dress Jessica, I race to pick up her toys. Oh no it's 8:30 AM when I call my mother. "Hello? Mom?" More racing to clean the goo off the dishes and hide them in the dishwasher. Race, Race, Race. Kitchen is okay, living room is okay, bedroom - we'll just close the door. Oh but what if he comes in through the front door? ACK! Oh well can't help it now. Off to the bathroom, YUcky, there's poo in the potty. UGH... Dealing... Talking on the phone... The things we do.

It's 9:00AM and I'm off the phone, no husband yet... Check emails... Do I have that book? Ummmmmmmm.... So I head off to Jessica's room. It's nice in there karmic precision has been obtained. Serenity now! Oh it's marvelous. My hair that never made it up is hanging in sweaty strands. Oh there's the book... That's nice, oh there's a bit of a breeze, I can feel it now. I love this room... I'll just sit here until something happens. Of course that was when the Sears guy drove past.

Why did I even need him you ask? Well they over torqued the cover on the water filter at the factory when they put the filter in, best get the part now, while I can still say it arrived that way.

Perhaps I forgot to mention? Sears tried so many times to fix the old fridge they were out 6 times in 3 weeks. After they changed out the compressed things went from bad to awful, and the entire fridge stopped working. Everything in there that hadn't already been lost by the freeze/thaw things that the freezer was doing was completely ruined when everything completely melted mere hours after the repair person left. Somewhere along the line, thank goodness the lemon clause kicked in and I got a completely new fridge. I feel a bit like Vana White. Look at the beautiful new REFRIGERATOR.

Which brings you up to the broken little cover thing at delivery. Hopefully that will be the end of the big bad fridge story. Currently we are all calling the new one the Big Cold Monster, as it it quite a bit bigger than the old one. The length and width measurements were the same, but somewhere someone fibbed, as it's taking up at least an extra inch or two of the hall way. No matter it's so cold I've turned it down twice. The seal on it is so strong you have to use two hands sometimes to get it open! EEEK!

After Rob got home and went to bed I fell twisted my ankle (the good one) on the last step into Jessica's room. It was a book completely hidden under her little rug that caused it. Hopefully it wont effect my luncheon when my mom on Friday.

Quilts? Oh you want to talk about what I did yesterday after the post? Well I told you about dinner. Before dinner I had Trusty Gem out. That's the name I've been auditioning for the 2001 Brother ULT. And I put the prettiest little butterfly near the basket of roses that I hand pieced for that blue quilt. So pretty. I'm going to do another in slightly different colors on the other side. Good thing everything I want to do today has me sitting, hu?

Harvest?

Conversations around me seem to be of harvest and bringing in produce. Sure enough even dh and I shared our first home grown tomato last night. In this case it was only a cherry tomato and my half was the size of a dime but we'll take it.

My grandfather had a garden futher back than I can remember. He was always growing the best veggies, and one of the very special things about grandma and papa's house was the FREEZER PICKLES. So since I'm in a sharing mood today I will share with you the how-to's of freezer pickles.

Freezer Pickles
2 quarts unpealed cucumbers sliced (4-6 large cucumbers make a quart)
2 tablespoons salt
2 Medium onions sliced (I think she used vadalia's when she could get them)
Mix and let stand 2 hours
Make syrup of 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 vinegar
Boil only until sugar is melted.
Remove from heat, with coll set aside in refrigerator.

Drain cumbers and onions and squeeze out all the water. Pack into plastic containers. Pour the syrup over the pickles, cover with a lid and freeze. When I was older she used ziploc bags to take up less space in the freezer and served them up in her tupperware "pickle server".

1/2 teaspoon celery salt can be added to each container if desired.

It might sound odd but I PROMISE it's wonderful.

Yesterday's post did indeed motivate me to work on the perinatal quilts. I now have another top done and ready to quilt, this one will be either a Medium or Large Preemie, I know what an oxymoron. I have two Small preemies quilted but I'm out of the blue satin bias binding I wanted to use, so they will have to wait a little while.

I have completed the embroidery on the label for Jessica's quilt. You really have to look at it to see all the work I did. I even put french knots in the swirl centers, but the colors don't really show off my work.

I think I need my head examined because now I'm thinking of beginning the quilting for this quilt MYSELF. Yes, I'm very near committed. I'm planning on machine stitching the blocks with hand quilting for the hearts that would run up and down the boarders. I can't even begin to explain how careful I will have to be to budget my time and not over work my hand. I'm tempted to tell dh that if I start it and don't have it finished in two years he has to contact a hand quilter to finish it. A nice safety net I thought of.

I broke my Butt!

Okay I didn't really break my butt... Here's my tail of woe... I went to the beach with my daughter and my sister today, while the canal is only a block or two from my house the beach is more like a mile, rough like I know. Rather than follow the two of them around the park and beach area I sat on the seawall which afforded me a good view of both the play area and the ocean.

Seawalls are not made to be sat on. If you have a chance sit in the wet sand instead. So I was sitting with my good leg hanging down and my bad leg up on the wall. Unbenost to me this was rolling my pelvis, allowing my leg/hip to slip just a little out of socket. This might not have been the case for you but we all know my pelvis isnt normal anymore. Seriously! So the first time it slipped it hurt rather a lot to slide back in. Well I guess I'm stupid because I just assumed I was having trouble because my leg was hanging down, so I achingly pulled it up, forgot about it, and let it fall back to hang down again. This happened seriously 5 or 6 times! After a bit I knew it was my hip giving me trouble, but what's a woman to do, it was the seawall, the wooden park bench, or the wet sand.

The last time it happened, it hurt so bad couldn't even think how to get up, now that I really wanted to. My poor dear sister is watching nearly pleading to help me, and I'm fending her off. Why!?!? Because I hurt so bad I was afraid she'd hurt me worse if she touched me! Yep, so I just rocked there like a dumb bird until I could rock forward enough to be on my hands and knees and get up from there.

So now I'm home and clean (and Jessica keeps telling me she needs more beach!) but my pelvis has slipped painfully three times since I've been home, doing nothing more than sit and be in bed. Yeah, I know, BROKEN BUTT! lol

I didn't take the camera, which is a sad thing because I saw a DOLPHIN again! Yep! Luckly me, or so I hope. My husband has convinced the computer to accept the SanDisk card from the camera, so hopefully I will be taught how to do that soon, and you'll be seeing lots of pretty photos of the crazy lady rocking her butt on the beach! :D

Now for your viewing enjoyment I have one photo of the Buzzard's Roost Block that I made. This is the one I remade to be more juvenile, and I've posted both so you can judge for yourself how pointless my work was.


Don't forget you can always click on my photos to see a better detail, and we can all hope the photos from the camera will be better than these taken with the camera phone!

The Broken Butt Lady Bids You Good Day, and Happy Butts!

And Good Tidings to you!

Today is a pain in the knee, literally I think I smacked my knee on something. Seems like most every time I turn around something aches. I love being 27 and feeling 72! lol!

These days Jessica is picking out her own clothes. She will more than happily open her drawers as I rummage through the closet for "mom clothes" you know the ones, cotton, cool comfortable, and never ever seen on a fashion anything, except perhaps a fashion don't. Meanwhile Jessica has pulled out something fabulous and is well on her way to being completely dressed.

She's not much of morning person though. Some people have to have their morning coffee, my daughter has to have her cereal and a tv show. Doesn't matter what kind, I imagine I could turn on the history channel and she'd watch it (maybe I'll try that tomorrow). After her meal and her show she is ready for the day. Me? Oh well some days I do alright and other days I'm mom zombie in my mom clothes, that was this morning in fact.

While I tried not to drool in my tea, my husband tells me he's off to go fishing. Seriously it's not even 8 am and he's "off to go fishing!" Okay... When he got back he told me he saw a dolphin, a great big one he said! Seriously a block from my house. Aren't they supposed to be a sign of good luck? I sure hope so! I think it goes back to the days when the fishermen would go out to sea, and if they saw a dolphin that would mean there were fish nearby. My thoughts would be that dolphins are naturally curious and friendly so in theory they might help a man that was overboard. Hey it's a nice theory!