TEXAS STORM IS COMING AND I'M READY FOR IT!

We usually hear of storms coming from the north, but this one is a Texas storm so we know it's going to be big.

I'm ready for it.  I have gloves for quilting which I found for under $4.00 at Fabricland.  They are Fons and Porter, don't know how good they will be, but the others I have cost around $10.00.  I couldn't resist them, and they are yellow, so much brighter than the photo you see.

I also have these fat quarters that came in the mail last week.  One never knows how long the post will take to send our goodies so Cathy sent these out from US and they only took about 5 days to get here.


Barb sent me these fabulous prints before she left Samoa to move to the cold cold climate of North America once again. 

The shock of her poor body from one extreme to the other I am sure.  So these are ready for the storm too.

I was in Fabricland looking for accent colour to add to these beauties when a woman asked me about these fabrics, so I told her Samoa, and she actually had been there!  Small, small world.

Can't believe I actually managed to get the photos uploaded, on the blog and without the frustrations of one that doesn't know much about computers.  I'm taking the computer courses offered at the seniors centre next fall.  Never mind the quilting courses, computer education is a must!

My blog is looking different because....I can't tell you because I don't know what.  I just wanted my photos to be on the right like they used to be, so design blog wasn't helpful.

I am still //// all over the place when typing... the geeky guy better get here soon!
Batten down the hatches people...I've got the snowblower filled with gas, and the Aussies are awaiting a tropical storm...it's going to be a few busy days in blogland.

NEW COMPUTER!

I bought a new computer on the weekend.  Acer, pretty basic.  I'm like the dog and can't see how to work it for the life of me!

The keys are in different places, so I keep doing this...\\\\ because the capitalizing icon is to the left of that \\\.  I also have a caluclator on this thing, so the keyboard is over a bit from my last one.

But, let me tell you...\\\\\\\I bought it at Future Shop in Oshawa, about 15 minutes drive from my home.  Chris, the salesperson was wonderful in dealing with a woman who basically blogs, emails, and seaches for quilting stuff.

I am having fun with it till the geeky guy named Bob  comes over to put the photos in pictures, the favourites in their spot, the emails entered.  Can't wait.

So to Chris at Future Shop, thanks, and Acer for giving me a large screen, wahoo!

MY GIRL....FAVOURITE THINGS FRIDAY

I have one daughter.  Only one, so she has all the responsibilities that those with two or more share.  Daughters are for life.  Daughters are our memories keeper.  Daughters are so like us that it gets scary.  Daughters also are so different.   Daughters are sometimes the people we wish we were more like them.

This is mine.. Kelly is a July baby..  She is a cancer...if you look up cancer people, she is it.  She has been a great goal setter for her family.  Her life is family.  Her children know the sacrifices she has made so that they may achieve their dreams.

She is the most loving aunt, and both Tory and Alex will attest to this.  She is the best step daughter anyone could ask for, my sweetie will attest to this.  She is the best daughter, I attest to this.

Thank you for being my daughter.

SPRING FLING QUILT...ALMOST FINISHED!

I have never done a quilt that I will be so glad to have finished and put away, or give away or anything to take it out of my face....this is the one.

It's not that it wasn't fun at the beginning to make, it's not that it isn't pretty, it's not the size, which is queen, it's the time that it's taken to just do it!  It's been since last April when I got the issue of All People Quilt that I saw this and just had to do it!  Well, I've almost done it!

I'm sick and tired of looking at it.  Does that ever happen to you to a project that you've done, and felt the same way?  I start a project and finish it, then move on.  With this one, I've had to take a break, mind you I did send it out to be basted.

I also had a hip replaced, and 6 weeks of therapy.  But that's not the point.   I'm sick of doing this one, that's all.  I just can't imagine a hand quilter making a queen size quilt and not getting sick and tired  of the project.

AND....I still have the geese to outline, the binding to put on, which thank goodness it's done as Helen (my private teacher lol) made it  last summer on one of those glorious afternoons at the cottage.

So while this is a bit of a rant...I'm almost done!  I'm almost done, and if I click my slippers maybe it will finish itself.

Did I sound like the sucky puppy?

MY FAVOURITE THINGS FRIDAY....DOING NOTHING.

I tell you that there are days when I just don't feel like doing anything.  I wake up sometimes with lots of ambition, but once the coffee has been brewed and drunk...I'm done for the day!

Today, I just wanted to do what the leopard was doing....so I did.  Well almost because being Florence Nightingale has taken up a bit of my days, and my poor sweetie is huffing and puffing at his therapy in the hopes that he survives my care....it's ok though as Sewlmate Sister Ruth has given me the lecture of a lifetime to be NICE...I am being nice....it's hard on me but the endeavour will win me points later on.

I did work on the quilt that I started last summer, Eleanor Burns' Spring Fling or something like that. I just want to be done with it and move on.

Barb sent me a lovely jelly roll when I was on the mend and I bought some fabric, I have a top done that I had to do because the above noted quilt was driving me crazy!  Queen size quilts are hard to manoeuvre on a sewing machine, so I had to do something to not go crazy.

So that's why today, I did nothing and now I feel guilty.  Happy?

BEST KNEE REPLACEMENT EXERCISES!

THIS IS WHAT I CALL CROCHETING!

I found this photo from a bunch sent to me last week.  Now this is crocheting at its best, don't you think?

Where do people come up with this stuff?  I crochet....but would never ever go out and do a tree!

So  thought I'd give you a chuckle for the day. 

The web is an incredible source of infor-

mation and we use it for our uses and then some of the ridiculous.  This could all be photo generated, but it's still a fun shoot.

Last week there seemed to be so many postings of flowers, butterfles, and such that I think we are in the "wishing for spring" thinking...specially those of us here in the wintery climates.

I found this butterfly photo to show that this is the mother of all butterflies....maybe it's a moth too.  I really can't tell, but it's a beauty isn't it?

We are two days away from my sweetie having knee replacement, so I shan't be writing about pain and suffering.  Needless to say, he knows what's coming, I know what's coming and you that know anyone that's had knee surgery knows....I am going to really really try to be a good nurse.   It's not my forte, but the guy looked after me so well that the least I can do is ensure that he's up and about as fast as can be....after all my sweetie is the one who does the vacuuming.

Just kidding of the above.  Really, he's not looking forward to this, other than the morphine which he cannot stay on for the rest of his life!  He will recover as I have, without a hobble and feel like he can conquer the world!  I do.

For those of you having parents or grandparents still living from World War Two, I just read that Richard Winters, Easy Company, aka, Band of Brothers has passed away at the age of 92.  He was a leader that his men "would follow into hell".  And for some, they did.  It's because of men like him that we are here today.

FAVOURITE THINGS FRIDAY

I'm happy that we are back in the groove of the New Year.

My favourite thing for this day is just looking forward to the weekend. I'm retired so it shouldn't matter should it? But it does.

It means family and friends who aren't are available through the week have time for sharing our lives even for a couple of days.

I look forward to the surprises that happen on the weekends...friends dropping by, an impromptu meeting for brunch, simple pleasures. That's what Fridays are about.

FROM THE NECK DOWN....SHE SAID

When a granddaughter who is a

natural at sewing asks to come

and hang out for the day....well

this is what results.

Tory came with an old bag that had seen better days so we decided to just try and copy one to the best of creativity that we had going that day.

There was a rule as I wanted to take the photo of her success which is lined in green and pink dots...using up the dots you know!

Don't take a photo of my head she said as she hadn't done her

hair! Do you remember those days? So that's why her head is cut off!

This is Tory with hair done and make up on!

Next time the bag will be quilted as she has a real flair for handling the sewing machine.

I am using Google Chrome, which has changed almost everything on my computer so there is a difference to my blog today.

Canada is in mourning today due to the Russians beating us last night 5-3 when we had a 3 nothing lead! OMG... you

should have heard all the programs this morning regarding the loss. Sad lesson for the young men who gave their all.

We are getting snow! It's looking so lovely out....till the salt trucks go by and the people start shoveling and of course the dogs run through the snow in the back yard.

I LOVE THIS! AND I WON A GIVEAWAY!

First, I won a giveaway! What a way to start the new year...thank you Deb at Quilt Gal, who actually doesn't live very far away....only about an hour!
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I received those wierd looking things for Christmas from my son and his lovely. The best salad tongs ever! I had seen them for the first time about two weeks
before Christmas and I got a pair as
a gift! What a surprise! I just love them
as they actually have a lip so as to hang
over the salad bowl.
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I have a book to pass on. I received it last year, read it, and now it's ready to move to another home. Paulette of Sweet P Quilting, sent it to me last year. She won it and sent it to me on a giveaway.
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It's an easy read about a quilter....what else, but the story was really sweet. So if you want it, I shall mail it, you read it and then forward it to another quilter to read...sign your name to it too in the cover.
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We are all back to normal aren't we? The decorations of the season are almost all put away, the children are back to school, all is quiet on the home fronts in the daytime.
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We had our last get together of family for the holiday season last night. Roast pork, apple sauce of course, company potatoes, carrots, peas and chocolate cake for dessert. Only a bit of potatoes left, that's it...no more decadent food left either.
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They ate it all!

COMPUTER COVERS

Happy New Year everyone!

I wasn't going to blog this morning, but
having had a request from a grand-
daughter who is going back to university
in the next couple of days and since she has a new "notebook" computer, it needed a cover.
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When I picked up the notebook, she also presented me with the laptop that needs
a cover too since she is travelling to Florida this winter.
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I tell you, since learning to sew straight
lines due to the quilting thing...known
as an addiction in this house...I made
both of these with my walking foot.
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Basically, I measured the width and length, added about 1 1/2" to each side of the width, doubled the length, added about 10" for good measure , cut some bindings to finish the project.
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Easy to do. I quilted the fabric, then added the binding to the short end (at the pocket) then sewed down one side of the envelope. I then inserted the computer, marked the other side so it was snug, but not too snug to insert computers and sewed this. I put the binding on, sewed by machine...I know, I know, but she's leaving tomorrow, so it had to be finished.
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I used little round velcro glue ons to make the closures, but put a few stitches to the velco to secure them as I didn't know if they would stick for good.
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It took about an hour to make each from start to finish. A great gift idea and I may make her some more in different colours as a change up.
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We had chinese food for New Years' eve, played our favourite games, but try as we might, we had to leave Bob and Mary before midnight as we were so tired from our day of travelling for my sweetie's pre op which is about an hour and a half from our house. Then back home, and New Year celebrations....just too much for us!
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So a new year begins. New project ideas will come forth from all of us, some new blog friends will come into our lives to make us just a bit more grateful that we have all connected. I'm happy!
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PS...the fabric is from Liz Claiborne...you know me I don't remember who is who, but this was from a favourite designer for me, so I remembered her name.

APRONS, THE HIT OF THE DAY!

About four days before Christmas, my friend Mary, where we spent the day,suggested that her daughter Michelle would just love an apron!

We looked a aprons at the stores, we decided that we wanted more funky styles and would make them for the
girls, Kelly, Michelle, and Carolyn who
is my son Martin's significant other!

As you can see, the girls loved the gifts.
They thought we had bought them! Imagine!
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Anyway, as I made the aprons, I started to experiment with the pattern, finally making two that are completely reversable and just so cute!
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We used retro sheets that Mary found
last summer, some of the little stash
I had and made three . The first one I
just didn't like the look of it so it was
discarded and used as a template of
what I didn't want.
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We sadly have no photo of Carolyn (who was deathly ill with the flu) whose apple pie would have completed her June Cleaver look, but we got Courtney to pose for the photo op in the orange apron. Note please the last, the very last of the orange dots!
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I tell you this was such fun to do, Mary picked out the fabrics, I sewed with gusto to say the least, but the best part was the girls' reactions.
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They love them!

I was reading on Jane's blog that she is redoing her sewing area, well that's what I've been doing too! I made a new ironing board cover. Mine must be about 25 yrs old, but it was like a hot pad and I loved it! I kept it underneath the new one that I made from a sheet...again a goodwill find. My little corner in the basement looks ready for projects.

Happy New Year everyone...you certainly have been a godsend this year, specially with my recovery from surgery. My leg is still a bit longer than I'd like, but I'm walking pain free!

Thank you all!

HALLELUIAH CHORUS AT THE MALL...MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

This isthe most popular you tube ever! Since November 2010 this video has had over 25 million its.
Merry Christmas and enjoy this wonderful surprise!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I've never downloaded a video, but this was Christmas Lights at the most extreme.

Enjoy the holidays, see you in the new year.

FAVOURITE THINGS FRIDAY....FLUFF FOR FRIDAY!

What does one do when recouping from a hip replacement when the therapy is finished for the day, the eyes don't want to read another word, and the fingers say "enough knitting already"?

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I got hooked on Sex and the City. Since we had PVR, I just taped episodes to watch when I had my coffee in the mornings when my mind needed to escape from what I was putting my body through.

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I never watched the show when it was on air...don't know why but I didn't. I got hooked in October after coming home. Now you can imagine how many

episodes I watched as there were two a day through

the week, and I realized that on Sunday....at midnight

no less they aired 7 shows in a row which accounted

for my dilemna of what happened between Friday

and Monday when I'd look at the show and think that

I'd missed something.

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Now, I think I never watched the show because for the life of me I don't know how Sara J P ever became a star, but this was it! She was Carrie and even though she's not a beauty she pulled this off in spades!

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I loved her character and all her friends made girlfriends a capital "G". Everytime I've had lunch with girlfriends we were like these four women who had lunch and discussed what we all know is "girl

talk"....right? We don't repeat it, we just listen.

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Then there were the men! Chris Noth

was "Big" and he was bigger than life and when they met...one could feel the magic between them from the get go!

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He was a mature guy, had lots of money

and he and Carrie just had it and the tension between them was always there.

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Jason Lewis should be a major major star! He is

a real hunk! Wishing I was younger sometimes, but wow who but "Smith" would make Samantha faithful? I had to look up his name when I first saw him...and he's straight too! Not that it would matter, he's so georgous!

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Anyway girls, I'm better, walking without a cane even although I must remember my posture! Walk straight! So, my Sex and the City days are over, I've seen what must be four years in the past seven weeks!

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I've also watched Band of Brothers over again. Yeah yeah, my interests are from one spectrum to the other, but I'm happy to be moving around, and actually went shopping with Courtney who is back from university for a couple of weeks. She was the one who reminded me of the walking straight excercise!

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It's Friday...almost Christmas.