What I've been up to...

I have been trying to get some sewing done.  With a wedding and birthdays coming up it's time to get sewing.  First was a few 3 inch variable star blocks for the Charm and Daughters of Charm quilt for the silent auction at the Capitol City Quilt Guild show coming up in May here in Lansing.  These were the one's I made

Next came my exchange block for December that I needed to give at our January meeting of the Variable Stars.  That block was Pam's block made with 30's reproductions.  This is her block..

Saturday this past weekend was terribly cold, 10 degrees or lower.  So I wasn't about to go to water aerobics.  So I just stayed home, turned on the heater in the basement and started sewing components for a queen size quilt I need to get done.  The blocks are made of 1/4 sections like this one

of which I made at least 35 on Saturday.  They will then be used to make these blocks

By my figures I need to make 80 of these blocks.  I'm glad we have a quilting retreat coming up in a couple of weeks.  I'm hoping to get them all done before the end of the weekend.

Between the holidays I went through my box of quilt tops to see about getting some to Wendy for quilting.  I hadn't realized how many of them need borders.  So I need to start picking borders and getting them on.  I figure I can do that during our Wednesday craft day at work.

Well more to follow

Loss of a Friend

This morning I received an email that a very good friend has passed away.  I had known Marge probably for at least 15 years.  She was a member of our Variable Star quilt group.  Marge was a wonderful woman.  She had many interests but number one in them was her family. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 18 months ago and had fought valiantly to have time with her family.  She has shared her thoughts all through her illness and has been an inspiration to many.

I'm glad she had this extra time to make lasting memories with her family.  She will be greatly missed but will serve as a continuing inspiration.

Happy New Year

As starts go for the new year mine was just a little rough.  The Monday after Christmas I came down with the intestinal flu that had made it's way through most of my family since Thanksgiving.  Guess that is what I get for getting cocky and thinking I had avoided it.  Must admit though that it helped me to get rid of a few of the pounds that I put on over the holiday.  Now I'm ready to get back to eating healthier and getting back to my work outs.  Today I made one of my favorites, tuna patties, for lunch.  My recipe makes four so I could have one for lunch and now have some for tuna pattie sandwiches this week.  I've also got a turkey meatloaf in the oven.  Mmmmmm, meatloaf.  I could eat it 6 days a week.

I have started machine quilting Jack's heavy equipment quilt.  I got most of the straight line quilting done. Now just need to do the borders and some more quilting in each of the blocks.  I really don't have a good set up for machine quilting so it is a little slow going.  I also need to work on my block exchange block for January.

Vacation in 2010 was a trip to London and Paris, complicated by the volcano last spring.  This year I'm going to do something I have thought about for about 3 or 4 years.  I'm going to go out to Wyoming and go on a 3 day wagon train excursion into the Tetons.   It is kinda in honor of my dad as he did quite a bit of his growing up in South Dakota.  The last time I drove he and mom out west for a Lei reunion we saw a wagon train just outside Belle Fourche and dad seemed to be intrigued by the idea.  I saw an article about a ranch that runs the 4 day trips so I have contacted them for more information.  I feel confident enough in the progress I have made and will continue to make in my health that I want to do this.  I have always been intrigued with the West and so why not go.  I went out a couple of days ago and bought a pair of hiking shoe/boot so that I can get them broken in before the trip.  The other think I have to do is to brush up my riding skills.  Not sure if I will contact a friend who has horses or just go out to someplace like Sundance.

Well, enough lallygagging, back to sewing.

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.

Merry Christmas...Oh what fun it is...

 How much fun is it to have little ones in the family again.  My nieces and nephew are all in their 20's or 30's now, and now that one of them has children Christmas is soo much more fun.  We had Christmas at my mom's house on Christmas eve.  That way the little ones have christmas morning at home which is at it should be.  My niece, Denise, was home from New York and we got to meet her current boyfriend.  He seems to be a really nice guy.


Jack

This was the first time Jack was wearing dress pants, and something must have felt off about them, because he walked around all evening pulling up both or alternately one leg or the other up to his knees.  He couldn't quite explain what felt odd about them.

Miss Molly

That Dukes of Hazzard girl and her Aunt Jen



Jason, Denise and Uncle Mike

Hurry up Uncle Daryl.  I want my new dolly.

This was the snowman I got at the MSU Union Craft Show in November.  He hangs by the back door.

This week I am off between Christmas and New Years.  I have to get 2 new tires for the truck and have decided to have an aftermarket remote started put on the truck.  I would like to get some serious sewing done on a couple of quilts and machine quilt Jack's quilt.  I also need to get back on track with my training and weight loss.

I also need to get out to Ovid to the local Western shop to get some boots to wear this summer on a wagon train trip out west.  They need to be well broken in so I figure I should get started now.



Holidays

Such a busy time of year.  Monday night was the Christmas meeting for the Charm and Daughters of Charm group. We had the judging of the Attic Window challenge that Daisy had put out.  Kate and Mary Edgar came and assigned ribbons to each of the quilts.

Then Tuesday night was the Variable Star christmas party.  We are getting to be a smaller group.  Marge now lives in Minnesota and Dian moved to Florida.  Barb was snowed in at the cottage so there were 8 of us for the party.

We had plenty of good food.  Then the fun with block exchange and christmas gifts.  These were the 2 blocks that I had made for Becky.

For our Christmas gift exchange this year, were supposed to bring a hand made items in a brown paper bag.  When we started with one person and she picked any bag other than her own.  Here are the results:

Wendy got this tin of Melanie's home made carmel corn.

Pam picked out a bag made by Claudia.



Claudia picked the table runner I had made.



Becky got this beautiful pillow made by Jo.



Jo received this wonder water color by Roxie.



Melanie got this beautiful quilt made by Pam.

I got a beautiful stained glass calediscope that Becky made.

All in all it was a wonderful evening.

Pline Christmas

Today was my mother's side of the family christmas party.  She comes from a large family and I remember my grandmother saying that she and my grandfather had no guess what they has started when them married.  What they started was a huge family.  My mother was the second oldest of 12 children.  She has lost 3 siblings, Martin, Daniel and Diana.

We long ago outgrew having the party at someone's home.  By the 1960's we were having the Christmas party at the Jaycee's hall and various other locations.  Now we hold it at the local Conservation Club.  Each year 2 of the siblings and their families are responsible for putting the party together.  This year was my mother and her youngest brother, Tony's turn.  Although it takes a good amount of work it is worth it.  My youngest brother played Santa today and I think he rather enjoyed it.

I also made what I think, even if I say to myself, the picture perfect cherry pie.  You judge,

Enjoy your families and hold them close to your heart.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  As my nieces and nephew have gotten older the holidays has changed for us. One off to spend the holiday with in-laws, one with future in-laws, one with a boyfriends family and the past in New York who will hopefully be home at Christmas.  So what to do for the holiday.  My mom decided that we should go to Thanksgiving dinner at the local VFW.  They were putting on a free

community dinner where people could make a donation. Mike and Carole joined us and we walked over.  You were served a plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, beans, cranberries, coleslaw and a slice of bread.  And then also had a table of desserts.  It was nice.

When I got to mom's this morning she was already baking her mother's sugar cookie recipe.  I brought a batch of refrigerator cookies. So we baked them up as well.  Later in the afternoon Pamela, Ken and the kids stopped by to see grandma.

Then today we made chocolate dipped pretzels. Put up garland on the back porch, my baby sled in her bay window with packages, and christmas tree up and decorated.  And we stuck in a quick trip to Lake Odessa to the quilt show and a really nice gift shop.

Saturday and Sunday I need to get some sewing done.  Christmas gift to finish, block exchange block to finish and maybe make some peppermint bark.  Whew I just realized I didn't get my nap this afternoon, well tomorrow I can sleep in.

Happy holidays.