Christmas

What a beautiful Christmas I had.  My youngest daughter had all of us to her home for Christmas dinner this year.  She served up a wonderful Prime Rib dinner that was cooked to perfection.  The kids had a blast opening all their presents and then spending the afternoon playing together.  One of my favorite gifts was a photo book made up on Shutterfly by my daughter Christine with pictures of all my grandchildren at different times of the year.  Photos of a day at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum with the kids climbing all the trees, a day at the beach, halloween pics, picking apples at the local orchard and pictures of the kids at Christine & Jim's wedding.  It bought back all the moments of those days spent together.  The only negative of the day was that Jim couldn't be with us as he was home with a stomach virus.  We missed him.

We got hit with quite a blizzard on the 26th.  12" of snow and very high winds.  The conditions during the storm were scary.  That wind was howling outside my house and at times sounded like a freight train coming through.  I heard things banging around outside all night.  My poor husband was out in it most of the storm plowing snow.  His truck broke down twice and he had to work on it out in the storm as the truck doesn't fit in the garage.  He was exhausted and very cold when he came in for the night yesterday (the 27th).  Fortunately he has today off so he can rest up.

I spent two days sewing while the storm raged outside.  I am still working on the block of the month (Civil War Tribute Quilt) that I am doing.  This months block consists of 8 blocks with lots of tiny little triangle pieces.  It is taking me forever to complete these 8 blocks.  I have so many bom's I am working on that I really need to catch up on.  How I wish I could retire and stay home and sew!

Reflecting

Just sitting here at work (another boring day) and thinking about how important my quilting hobby has become to me.  It isn't just a hobby anymore.  It has been the catalyst for new friendships that have become so very important to me.  It is also my way of de-stressing in this oh so stressful world we live in.  When I sit at my sewing machine I tune out the world.  I use that time to pray, to reflect on my day, to make plans and just to relax. 

I am working on many projects at once these days.  I want to do quilts for all three of my daughters this year.  I have the top done on one...two more to go.  I want them to be extra special so am choosing patterns carefully and taking my time.

I plan on posting some pictures of the quilts that I have made...just have to have the time.

November begins

Since I last posted we have had a death in our family.  My husband's younger brother  (49) Steven who has been in the hospital for 2 1/2 years with a traumatic brain injury contract pneumonia.  His Mom called us and said we should come to Florida as they didn't expect him to make it.  Off we went the next morning and spent the next 5 days at Hospice House by Steven's side.  It was terribly hard on my husband to watch his baby brother dying.  My heart broke for him as I had already been through that 9 years ago when my brother passed away after a long illness.  I knew his pain you see.  My husband tried so very hard to be strong for his mom and sister while there in Florida through it all.  He succeeded in doing so until we were back in NY and he was putzing around his own garage all by himself...then he fell apart and had himself a good cry.  We are very glad to be home.

I have been working on several projects in my quilting room.  I have a bunch to send out to the "quilter".  I really do have to learn to quilt the pieces together after the top is made.  

Busy Week

Busy week?  Should have said busy month!  In October I have signed up for 3 classes per week at the local quilt shop.  I love all the quilts we are making, but hope I haven't bit off more than I can chew.  I love being with all the other ladies and sewing the night away.  Two more weeks till our quilt retreat we booked up at Hunter Mountain...cannot wait for that!  Going to the Friday night free sew tonight and will work on my Star Dance quilt we started last night at class.  It is made with 30's fabrics and I absolutely love it.  I think I will make it bigger than called for in the pattern...or maybe not...LOL.

Roz tells me she is not signing up for any more classes for a while....will miss her at them!  We need to get back to sewing at my house on Saturdays again.  Things keep getting in the way.  Life keeps happening and screwing up our quilting plans! 

Haven't seen much of my family lately.  With all the grands back in school they are all busy with homework, dinner, baths, etc. during the week that leaves just the weekends and everyone seems to be going in different directions.  Maybe this weekend with the country fair we can get together.  Hope so...I miss them.  I think I will start the two girls on their "quilting lessons" in November.  Will just make a small lap quilt for each of them to have with just 4 patches or something easy like that.  They are 9 and 6 and very excited about doing this.  Just want to get all these October projects out of the way first.  My sewing room is in a shambles with all these projects going at once.

Well..off to work...........

BUM DAY

I am sitting here at work today pretty bummed out.  I have dealt daily for 18 years with the insurance company for our policies and as of today that relationship is ending.  My boss has chosen to go with another company.  I know that it is the economy and finances in these hard times; but after all these years I have made many friends there and I will miss them.  Too many things are changing for me.  I am not one who likes big changes and does not do goodbyes very well.   

I am very grateful for my quilting passion!  It gives me personal satisfaction and many new friends.  I am off to a class tonight making a wall hanging for Halloween.  I so enjoy the company of other women who love quilting as I do.

Boring Day

Wow...we are sooooo slow at work.  If we don't win some bids soon I may be out of a job.  18 years I am working here and I have never seen it get this bad.  This whole economy thing and politics is destroying our country. 

On a happier note...I finished my grandson's t-shirt quilt top.  He is thrilled with it.  Only 11 years old and had 8 tshirts from various sports teams already!  I need to get started on projects for my three daughters.  Of course they all want queen or king size quilts for their beds, not just lap size for lounging with.  That will be taking me a bit longer.  One thing I need to do is stop signing up for classes at the local quilt shop and get busy doing those 3 quilts and using up some of my stash at home.  I have kits to make dozens of quilts just waiting to be worked on.  I just love being with all the other women quilters so much that I keep signing up for classes.

Haven't been feeling great lately.  Not sure what is going on.  I have fibromyalgia so most of what I am feeling is probably from that, but could be thyroid as well.  Very very tired all the time.  I get B12 shots every month as it is so I don't get it.  Going for bloodwork so will soon know.

T Shirt Quilt

Last week I was scheduled to take a class at the local quilt shop on how to make a tshirt quilt.  It ended up that the class got cancelled due to lack of enrollment.  Well, I had already promised my grandson that I would make him a quilt out of his tshirts from his basketball and baseball teams.  He is 10 years old and was excited about it.  I had bought the fabric I would need and other supplies.  I took out the pattern and attempted it on my own.  To my surprise I was able to create the quilt all by myself.  I am going to quilt this one myself I think so he will get it in a couple of weeks.  Can't wait to see his face! 

Have another class Wednesday using a special Hexagon tool to make a runner.  I love the classes because you meet new people and keep in touch with quilting friends made during the last year.

A day in Jen's world can be pretty boring most of the time.  I am married with three daughters who have given me 5 of the most wonderful grandkids anyone could ever want.  I am so proud of my daughters and who they have become.  We moms worry always about the kind of people they will become...well I needn't have worried.  They are all terrific women in their own right, wonderful moms and caring individuals.  Maybe I don't tell them that enough.  My husband is a hard working man who will help anyone who asks and some that don't.  He is not the most sociable person I know; but he has a good heart.

I am a Christian who loves her Lord and believes in the power of prayer.  I have seen faith in action and know how powerful it is.

I have in the last year discovered a passion for quilting.  I remember as a child seeing my Grandma sewing these little squares together to make "blankets" and wishing I knew how to do it.  Then a year ago I signed up for a class at our local quilting store for beginners and I was hooked!  I absolutely love piecing together fabric and ending up with a beautiful quilt to pass on to someone.  I now have my "sewing cave" that is my sanctuary.  Like my husband has his garage...I have my "sewing cave"!  I have made a wonderful new friend I met at that first class...Roz.  She is such fun to be with and shares my passion for quilting.  We have gone on weekend retreats together and meet at each others homes to sew together.  It has been so long since I had a friend to share things with other than my sisters.  I was feeling kind of lost at the time I signed up for that quilting class and now so much has changed.  I guess I was going through that whole empty nest thing and didn't even realize it.    Amazing how much difference a year can make!