My Hobby

The art of quilting came to me by chance or maybe just by getting my mother off my back to "just try it."

Try it I did after a couple years of her pursuading me to at least attempt it. Frankly, I didn't have time. I agreed to make what she sent me just to get her off my back. The kids were keeping me busy enough as it was, how would I find the time to sit down and sew a million little pieces together? Hell, I didn't even own a sewing machine. Didn't want one! She upgraded her Bernina and thus, I inherited her not so old other Bernina. I took a day that was less chaotic and set out to create a lap quilt. Not far into it, as I was seeing something beautiful come together right before my eyes that I was making, I got hooked. Thanks Ma!

Over the years I have accumulated a walk- in closet lined with shelves that hold enough fabric to have a mini store. More fabric than I could use in my lifetime but it gives me so much to choose from when I come upon a pattern I want to make.

I do get commissioned to make quilts for others but it is not a steady business for me. Mostly because I haven't pushed my desire to make it full time work quite yet. That time is coming and that's what I'm most excited about.

Someone once asked me how many quilts I make in a year. You know, that really varies and I can't say I set out with a set number in my head that I want to accomplish. Each quilt takes more time than the other and I'm personally more about quality, not quantity. Depending upon the size of the quilt and the design, some go out to be professionally quilted. Some I do myself here on my machine. It depends on my time. Not to say there aren't smaller projects thrown into the mix of wall hangings, table runners, etc. that I do in between quilts. There is always the need for me to be working on something and that hasn't really been happening for me for the last 6 months.

Unfortunately, I have four quilt tops hanging in my studio that have been put on hold for now. I never like to have projects unfinished, it kills me. lol My plan is to take a couple with me to finish while I am away from my home.

My time here is coming to a close and I will be heading out soon. Mom's chemo started again and it's already hit her like a ton of bricks. You never know how a round will affect a person and I had her cycles pretty much figured out. Two days after chemo and getting sick has not been the norm for her. Chemo is a vicious bastard.

Quilting~ Try it, you might just love it~

Wow, another post. Maybe this is just making up for the months that dear K took the brunt of carrying this on for us all. You're the best!

Decisions were made recently for my mother to move in with my family but unfortunately we are stuck in limbo for at least another few months. The transition will happen and treatments will continue but for right now, a stipulation was put on her by a physician and what it boils down to is money. Won't go into details about that but will just say it's they don't want to lose the money they stand to make. I'll give this physician a few more months but then I have to put on all halts and make the transition without any roadblocks stopping me because quite frankly, things will be better when she is permanently here with us. I can't go months, years doing what I'm doing. Not physically and not mentally. My best interest lies with my mother and I know in my heart what's best. It's just a matter of getting it done.

With that being said, what my husband and I did this weekend was move her belongings to our house. It couldn't have been done any other time without killing me in the process. We've moved our children's rooms around leaving the roomiest space for my mother. Creating an in-law suite basically. She has her living room set up and her bedroom set up. She's good to go when she comes. Boxes still need to be gone through and stored. That is what I'm tending to today.

It's become an emotional task. Holding all the pictures that were displayed throughout my parents home. Pictures of dad that when I was at mom's house and walked by them, I would run my finger over him. Telling him how much I love and miss him. I'd ask him to watch over mom and help us keep her safe. I know he's here with us in spirit. Guiding us and helping her get through this mean beast that she's been dealt with. The worst was going through a bin of their jewelry chests. Coming upon dad's wedding ring that was cut off his finger. I'm assuming on his second to last trip to the hospital. Placed in a tiny zip lock bag by most presumably, a hospital employee. Tears flowed as I took the ring out of the bag. Wishing... possibly that if I rubbed it, life would go back to normal. Back before any of this ever happened. Life is never normal though. Is there really such a thing? Not for me, not for anyone. We deal with issues dealt us and muster through them with the best ability and move on. Not to say it's always the best outcome but no one ever said life was fair.

Back to the task at hand I go~

Privacy

I wish the media hounds would leave the Travolta family alone to let them mourn the loss of their son. Why do they always have to try and find wrongdoing when something like this happens? They obviously wanted privacy even way back when their son was born and tried to keep things normal for the family and out of the limelight of Hollywood.

Go focus on the dysfunction that runs rampant in Hollywood. Not that us normal folk really even care.

We're five days into the new year already. Damn, where is the time going?

I've been able to stay at home for a few weeks now, but heading back to enjoying life here at home is about to come to a halt. Haven't picked what day I am heading back out, but I'm taking one day at a time hoping the possibility of staying here the rest of the week will happen.

Being here has been wonderful. Of course it hasn't come without a little turmoil and resistence and people thinking I'm the village idiot. I think perhaps it's the other way around because my plan was best despite meaning we had to give up our weekend, not to mention still haven't finished trying to figure out where everything is going to go. Their part in what took place was so minor I couldn't understand what all the complaining was about. A major change but for the best and hopefully within a few months time our origininal plan from over a year ago will truly happen.

New Year's resolutions are something I never make. It's comical how so many people hit the gym or start out with an at home exercise plan yet it fails for them every year because they aren't motivated enough to stick with it. My new year will continue on as it has in the past in regards to my health. I will continue to run daily as it's become even more of a mental release for me.

So anyway, just a rambling post and to wish everyone the best in 2009~

Hollywood brilliance

More Hollywood brilliance.

It seems that Hollywood has its hands in everything. Every time I turn on the news I am met with some Hollywood know-nothing-who-thinks-he-knows-everything telling me how I should vote, what I should support, how I should feel. These directionless fools think we CARE what they think. Anything to get their faces plastered on a tv screen or in newsprint somewhere. It would be funny if it wasn't so shameless and dangerous.

Here's a newsflash for Hollywood types who think their audiences are comprised of followers waiting in the wings for direction from them: Stick to your talents of singing or acting and leave the THINKING/DOING to those of us who have working brain cells and can do more than "perform." Thank you!

2009

New Year’s Toast

Here’s to the new year...

May it bring more joy and success

And less grief and regret.
To our dreams...

May we never stop believing in them

And taking the actions that will make them a reality.
To our friends, loved ones, associates (or colleagues)...

May we take the time to let them know

How much it means to us

To have them in our lives.
Let us encourage more and criticize less,

Give more and need less.

And whenever we can,

Let us create harmony and peace.
To new beginnings...

Let us start fresh, right now,

To make this the very best year ever.
A very Happy New Year to all of us!

By Joanna Fuchs

Serious question

(President-elect Barack Hussein Obama romping on the beach thinking he's hot)

Am I the only person who doesn't find this body hot or sexy or in great shape? Please tell me I'm not.

Merry Christmas ya'll!

Merry Christmas

A few days ago it was 71 degrees here, but today, we're officially winterized with temperatures in the 30's. I hate the cold but I have to admit that breaking into a sweat while puttering around the house was a bit annoying in late December. I've spent the past two weeks painting the inside of my house and it looks fabulous. I'm good at meticulous jobs that involve lots of patience. I found it oddly peaceful to take each room and make it like new again. It kind of reminded me of cutting grass (when I used to do that when I was a teenager--not so much now since my husband loves his lawn work). You can see the progress as you move along so it feels like you are getting positive feedback from the get-go.

Everyone is home for the holidays and it feels so good to have everyone close again. My son just missed a major snowstorm which probably would have stranded him up North for a while so we're so thankful for that. My parents lost their power for EIGHT days during that terrible ice storm a week and a half ago. The power finally came back on and then they were then hit with this recent snowstorm. They have a generator which they used in various parts of their house to keep things going and have a wood stove where they cooked and whatnot. I honestly don't know how they do it. I'd be sitting on the beach in FL if I were them, and to hell with winter. Why deal with that if you don't have to? I'll never understand New Englanders. I guess having the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Bruins to watch makes all the miserable weather worth enduring because I can't figure out what else it might be.

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping but I'm sure I'll still find myself out on Christmas Eve picking up a few things here and there. It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't have some last minute shopping to do!

What makes me happiest during this season is having the hearts of everyone in my family all beating under this one roof for however long we're blessed to be here together. It's sappy and cliche, but there is no greater gift than family. If you have a good one, you have everything.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you get what you wish for.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the thought that Christmas is just 10 days away. Where oh where has the time gone?

So many things I am not doing this year, simply because time has gotten away from me in a huge way. I arrived home on Friday and will be here for a couple weeks. The longest stretch in 5 months. Best case scenario would be for me to be home until after New Year's but that's too far ahead for me to call at this time. I literally take one day at a time anymore and I cherish (sometimes as hard as it is) each day.

Normally my Christmas cards go out by the first week of December. Sorry to say they won't be making it out at all unless I bust my ass to do them like tomorrow. No sweat, those who know me know what's going on and would be extremely forgiving it they didn't get a card in the mail.

Life for us changed on August 1st. It is the day my mom was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Wow. It hasn't even been three years since dad passed away from colon cancer. Sort of sucks the joy of the holiday season right out of ya. But as always we will plug on.

Many thanks to my dear husband who literally has taken over maintaining THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD. He does it all and I couldn't be more thankful. Many thanks to my dear friends who have been beside me hearing me out on all my frustrations (and there are MANY) and tears. I love you girls!

We'll have nice Christmas, just the four of us. It may be a scramble mamble to get it all done, but it will all get done. Minus the cards most likely, that is~