Monday, November 30, 2009

Ah-Ha!

We did okay in Cleveland though I left Lou there to help and will go get him this weekend; most likely Omi will go in Saturday for a week, and I will probably take the next one. But that's not what the Ah-Ha is for. That's for a picture that multitasks:

this picture shows me in the apron I won (on the left) and the apron I made for Peg for National Tie One on Day-an apron of course! 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Monday, Monday-can't trust that day

Today has really been "one of those days".... My father-in-law called mid-morning to cancel their trip in for Thanksgiving because Peg had to be hospitalized. She has been having a series of bad days...and neither of them are getting much sleep. He is exhausted and just needs some respite time. So, Lou and I will take Thanksgiving on the road-minus the turkey. There's no sense in cooking a 16-18 pounder for 4 people, 3 of whom don't eat a lot at one sitting (and don't even ask who number 4 is...)

Then, Alan texted me that his mother-in-law passed away on Saturday, the funeral was today. so, we will see them when we're in town. It isn't exactly shaping up to be a great holiday.

Next, I had to call Sarah and cancel their trip in and assure her she didn't need to come into Cleveland with us. So, she and Henry will stay in New York, and hopefully one of his friends' families will take pity on them and invite them for the day.

I worked like a fiend today to get everything on the system and my paper checks cut. I'll do the direct deposits tomorrow, and then mail the signed checks and get the filing done, then I'm just going to have to go with the flow about the rest of it.

On a more positive note, there are many things I am thankful for. First, my health ("If you don't have your health, you don't have anything") I remain Plus 1, cancer free. My family and friends who have been my support staff throughout this adventure. Second, all the new friends I have made online through blogging, swapping, and Weight Watchers. To share common interests with people all over the world, and see how similar we are in so many ways, makes my heart light.

And now, a word or so to all: There is a very cool site called Baking GALS that you can google and read about. The idea is to bake goods and make a package to be sent to a service person. Not a bad idea given these folks are putting themselves in danger to protect us. Read about it, blog about it, participate if you feel you can. It will make your heart light.

love to you all, beddy bye time for me.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

OMG I won!

I can't believe it: I won a give away at The Apron Goddesses!! If you haven't gone to their site, click right over and read away, you will love these girls. I love them, but I'm partial to anything apron, right?

Have to help Lou with dinner, so I'll blog later. Right now, I am enjoying my good luck to have won a fantastic apron--one I didn't make myself!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I missed it?

here's a link to a great site of fabulous aprons....too many aprons, so little time!
Julie from Aprons by Julie

Go to Apron Goddesses to learn more.....

Friday, November 13, 2009

Angeling and Pay it Forward

I have never thought of myself as a weak person, but I must be a closet weakling. I had this grand idea of not getting into anymore swaps or such so I could devote my time to working on things that MIGHT make a little money if I ever got my butt in gear to sew them; aprons, coasters and mitts come to mind immediately.....

Then I saw a note about angeling a few swappers who had missed out on a very fun swap because their partners bailed, so I asked if I could help out. That's not that big a deal, I've got lots of stuff for it and I really liked the theme.

But, then I realized I never posted about my sign up for Tara's Pay it Forward. I won a spot as one of her three. And so my pay it forward means that the first three people who respond that they would like to play will receive a handcrafted gift from me and in turn, have to offer a pay it forward on their blogs making handcrafted things for three people and who agree to do the same and so on-you get the idea. You have 365 days to get the item to them, but most people don't take that long. Make sense?

So, now I'm off to watch original Saturday Night Lives with Lou, and I'll check later to see if anyone grabbed at the chance to pay it forward......

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

To the Veterans

I would like to take a moment to thank all the active service men and women who are at this time defending our country and the ideals it was founded on.

Thank you

I would also like to remember other veterans, some still with us and others not. To my brother, Barney, who served in Germany and then came home and took care of our mom after my dad died. To cousins Mark, Sherlene, Debbie, Shawn and Robbie, active and reserve Air Force. My father, Henry, my uncles Nate, Abe and David who served in World War II and rarely spoke of the horrors they witnessed, some being in on the liberation of the concentration camps and the liberation of Paris. I cannot imagine what families went through waiting for news, and my heart goes out to families today who wait for news.

I am glad that I live in a country where I can say what I think, when I think, where I think. And I am eternally grateful to the men and women who risk their lives and their families' anguish to preserve that right. May G-d bless you and keep you.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

What I'm working on


I've just finished up the November block for the Bee Balm, it's a wonky log cabin with really cool colors. I think I did it right, it's hard because I read about log cabin blocks in a few different books, and each said to do it differently. I tried to do it the way some of the other bee-ers did it. You decide:





I'd like to start some Chanukah fabric aprons, but I think I need to concentrate on Will's blanket to get it finished before he goes to school.:-) I may decide to rotary cut out one of my more basic patterns, then I can just whip them up.

It was an absolutely beautiful day today, I spent about a half hour raking leaves in the sunshine, then coming in and reading. We've been vegging out in front of the tv way too much, so I'm back in a book.

I also was approved for membership in the Baking GALS, and that will be a really neat thing to be doing.

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Right Stuff, er, blogspot....

I am definitely lame when it comes to knowing where I am in cyberspace. I originally posted this to our online quilting bee blog when it really belongs here.....


Yesterday between doctor appointments I finished up the Passionately Pink apron swap apron; well, to be honest, I started and finished it. October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, just got away from me with all the traveling we did and I couldn't seem to get to my sewing machine. Today I will box up the package and send it out. I made Mary's clothespin apron because my partner wanted something full and functional. I made it reversible. I made it out of pink print fabric from the stash-some I'd bought for Lill and never made into anything (sorry, Sweeta, I owe you...) It's very cute, I will post a picture after I get an email that she received it. Even though pink is not one of my favorite colors to wear, I would keep this one....

Today starts Tara's quilting retreat in Colorado. Amanda Jean from crazy mom quilts is leading it. I would have loved to go, but it just wasn't in the cards, or the flight plan. I am there in spirit, and this weekend I will start Lill's lap quilt so I am working on a quilting project.

Will's baby blanket continues to progress, I'm about a third to a half done. It's really very cute even if it doesn't look like the picture on the pattern slip. I'm hoping to finish it by next week so I can send it off.

Today the sun is shining, I'm feeling good, and the sky is the limit in terms of energy. There is something to be said for getting a good night's sleep.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

WIPs and UFOs

So, now that we are done with Halloween, I'm thinking it may be time to face the STACKS: all those works-in-progress and unfinished objects stacked around the dining room and sewing table in the blue room (just like the White House, we have a Blue Room, but it begs the question: do they have a Yellow Room like we do?).

And now I have incentive...Lou just let me know he will be doing a prospective student interview here at the house on Sunday. And I honestly thought I had until the week before Thanksgiving before I thought about cleaning and moving WIPs and UFOs. Well, I'll just rearrange my thoughts and start organizing earlier than expected.

I wanted to create a master list of things needing finishing, but then realized that the list is probably so LONG that I'd get discouraged and not pick up anything. I did make a list of about 8 items that are recently started and need finishing; I know I have tons more, but they're not needed in the near future.

I'm feeling really good right now and fairly strong, so I want to take advantage of these feelings and move ahead on the things I want to do rather than the things I have had to do. It's almost like the whole cancer adventure happened to a different me, except that I see the scars everyday when I look at my body. I am strong, I am healing, I am Plus 1.