11.6.23

 It feels so good to cross things off my 'to do' list! I've been putting off making my oldest grandson a Penn State quilt because I haven't found a pattern that speaks to me. I finally made a final decision and began cutting out blocks yesterday. I wasn't completely sold on the design but the more I think about it, the more I believe that with my own additions, it will be just perfect and it will be a fun quilt to make. I also need to put a Christmas quilt top on my longarm and get that quilted and bound. 

I finished my baby grandson's quilt yesterday and have to say, I'm really happy with it. I made him a quilt to go along with the book 'The Ghost who was a Quilt' and the first try was just awful. I have never used minky as a backing and tried to skip a few steps since it was such a small quilt. I ended up giving it to my dog Casper. I made a new one and heavily basted it and quilted it on my Bernina 880. It turned out perfect! 

I have 6" blocks that I'm sewing together for the Lutheran sewing group but can't remember if it is nine by fifteen or eleven by fifteen. Until I find out for sure, I'll just be sewing together 15 blocks rows.

Looking back

I had to stop at the library last night to drop off some books. It was just before dark and there were some kids practicing soccer on the field behind the library. Oh did that take me back. I remember taking my kids to and picking them up from soccer practice. I remember going to their matches. I remember the years that 3 of my kids practiced on different nights of the week so every evening was rushed dinner, rushing to practice, and then rushing home to finish homework, get baths, and go to bed. Our world was spinning so fast at that point that I don't even remember being aware of the noise of soccer practice: the coaches hollering at the kids to do this, do that; the players giggling over whatever it was that little kids giggled about; and moms shouting to their sons and daughters to 'hurry up, we need to get home'. But those memories came back to me last night - snuck up like a thief to remind me of what I had back then. Those times were good and I wish I'd had more time to savor them.

A new leaf, a new life

 To say that retirement has been the best decision I've ever made is an understatement. After not being employed for 8 months, I took a part-time job for a few hours a week. It takes advantage of my love of the early morning hours and gives me the chance to talk to people in my community. And it is only 5 miles away from home. Despite living in this area for over 25 years, I feel like I never really got to know my neighbors. By volunteering with the fire hall and the library, I'm meeting more and more people and am starting to feel connected.

10.9.23

 

Plans for today: work on Christmas quilt, put new needle in Kenmore, sew at least 3 rows of church quilt.

My projects

I totally forgot about this blog! I know that I started it because I only wanted it to focus on quilty-related things.  I'm nearing retirement - 90 days - but who is counting :)  Words cannot express how excited I am to know that I will be able to focus my time on what I love: quilts and fabrics!  I've already re-joined the local quilt guild and it is an absolute joy to spend time with others who share my love of all things quilts.  I'll be rejoining quilts of valor and I'm so excited! 

Today is a beautiful fall day - the universe knew that central PA needed this and it delivered! I've been thinking a lot about what makes me happy because I'm not retiring because I don't want to work, I'm retiring because now I want to focus on my true passion and what I love! I am making every day a special day. I'm living for the moment and it feels really, really good.  

 

Old Goats.

A post from a long time ago.  Both Leslie and Cinderella have since passed away.  

Leslie - RIP

For the first time in a long time, my goats escaped.  My son received a phone call from the neighbor last Saturday morning to let him know that Leslie and Cinderella were on the loose.  He wasn't at home so he called me.  I was on my way home from town but unlike years past, I wasn't in a frenzy to get home and catch them. Because honestly, those goats are old just like I am. They are no more interested in going any farther to get something to eat than I am interested in traveling very far for food.  So I took my time and when I got home, I stood out back and sure enough, the goats were close to the fence nibbling on the neighbor's rose of Sharon bush.  All it took was for me to jiggle an empty bucket and the girls came trotting up the hill and back into the pasture without a problem. Also unlike years ago, they didn't run right back to where they escaped so I had plenty of time to gather the tools I needed and leisurely fixed the fence.

Chaos.

That is what happens when I try to organize my fabric. I've got fabric - oh, I've got fabric! I'm aware of all the organization systems and have read about each but when it comes down to organizing my own, I'm just befuddled. 

I'm ok as long as I am just working with plain old solid fabric or fabric I don't like.  But if I come across something that has a sentimental connection or that I forgot I had or that is exceptionally beautiful - I'll want to put it off to the side so I don't forget about it.  Consequently, I have numerous piles and nothing is organized. 

Now I've found mouse droppings in my sewing room. This means that I will be forced to go through all of my fabric and wash it.  Maybe as I'm folding it and putting it away, I'll manage to organize it in some sensible order. It would be so nice not to have to search through absolutely everything for that piece of fabric I know I have.  Only to not find it, purchase something else, and then find the fabric I was looking for when I no longer need it!