My baby is 39

Wow, I feel old today, my youngest child, Dan, turned 39 today. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. It was a Saturday and it was his grandparents 23rd anniversary. I was also 23 years old. That tells a story, doesn't it. This son has given me a run for my money, I'll tell you. If there was trouble to find, he found it, from the time he was walking, no, before. He would be tooling around in the little walker and when I heard a screech, I had better run, because he was about to hit either his older brother or the dog. He always let out a warning sound, like some alarm system that was built in. His dad died when he was 10 and from then on, no warning sound, but plenty of trouble. He now has 3 sons and 4 step children and one of the sons is giving him the same treatment he gave me. I can only pray that perhaps the grandson can learn from some of his dad's experience, but something tells me, he will have to go through it himself. Life rolls on, doesn't it.  Happy Birthday Dan, Mom loves you.

Little cutie

This is my great niece and her quilt from "Auntie". I had forgotten to take a picture so my niece sent this yesterday. I told her that if I had sent a gunny sack it would have looked good with that little darling under it. Isn't she just the cutest thing? We sure think so and she has two older sisters who are just as cute. She lives too far away, (Montana) for us to see very often, that's the bad part of this equation. Carline

TA DA! Finished top

I'm free at last, this quilt has kept me tied to the sewing machine (s) for 24 days. I've been a woman possessed! I just couldn't leave this quilt alone. I haven't done much else besides go to my job and church. My Bernina went bonkers during this quilt, started breaking needles and thread so she had to go to the shop. I got out my Pfaff and dusted it off and finished tonight. We didn't even have dinner because HRH had a late lunch and he knew there was cherry pie coming out of the oven. I am really happy with the end result of the top. I will get a back made this week and send it to a LA quilter.  I do have to say that I did walk the dog and do laundry, so I'm not a total slob but the rest of the world just kind of had to wait. I also got half the blocks made for a square in a block flannel quilt that I was doing as a leader/ender project. So hopefully, I won't neglect my blog as badly as I have been doing. Thanks Bonnie Hunter for the wonderful pattern. The picture isn't great and the quilt came together perfect as far as being square. Each side was equal to the 1/4th inch.  That doesn't always happen.

I forgot to do this last week because, well, last week was the week from you know where. but I was tagged by Amy of Not always with thread and I'm supposed to pick a picture from the fourth folder and choose the fourth picture, then explain the picture and tag 4 more blogs. I pick Calamity jane'scottage.com

warmpiewarmhome.blogspot.com  , mountainwoman@heart.blogspot.com and Ree@Pioneerwoman.com. 

This picture is a picture of (believe it or not) Maggie's 1st birthday  party with some friends who also had a standard poodle pup. We had hats, SEE MAGGIE , treats and a birthday cake made out of, you got it. Alpo! I really hate to admit that at my age ( a tender 39) I do things this silly, but now you know! Maggie's birthday is Dec 6 if anyone wants to put it on their calendar for next year. It is the social occaision of the year! She'll be 3 then.

Carline

Home stretch with help

Sunday evening I finished all the blocks and got time to lay my Double Delight out. Well, let me tell you, this wasn't the piece of cake I thought it would be, thanks to the quality control inspector. This cat has a mind of her own and it wasn't going to do any good to try to get her off that quilt. She gave her approval, big time! I like the way this turned out, I never would have put those colors together but it works. Thanks again to Bonnie Hunter for the pattern. How to quilt this one is another puzzle. There are so many pieces (I'll have to count them) that hand quilting is out for sure. I am making a flannel quilt for grandson #1 who graduates in May from high school in Montana. He loves all things having to do with hunting and nature so I'm using the group of flannels with deer, bear, fish, etc on them. I have the day off and just finished my Monday a.m. conference call so the day is mine.

Carline

Steps 3 and 4
Slow and steady, I'm getting this quilt finished. I'm sure I'm behind most of the other mystery makers, but I can only do about 6 blocks at a time before my back is aching. This is going to be a great quilt though. Thanks to Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville for the design. I have half of the brown/blue blocks and a third of the pink ones done. 

I come home from work and after dinner, I hit the sewing machine. 

I have been listening to 50's and 60's music as I sew and boy does that take me back. My older sisters and brothers listened to the 50's and so I got familiar with that as well as my 60's music, what fun! Makes sewing go smoother. Remember the sad songs like Tell Laura I love her and the silly ones like Blue, Navy Blue and Sha, Na Na! Great lyrics! LOL.

Framed Orphan block

Dresden Plate multi-generational quilt

This is a "multi-generational quilt. My great grandmother made the "plates" and they were "discovered" in a cedar chest when my grandmother passed away. My mother brought them home, put them on blocks, embroidered them with a feather stitch, put them together and hand quilted it in beautiful tiny stitches. She, unfortunately used what I think was too bright colors, pinks and turquoise, not typical for the time the blocks were made. It was probably something she had on hand as she was very frugal out of need not social conscience. I came along and found the quilt unbound so I put the binding on it and am enjoying it in my collection. The back is white, as I loved to see the stitches and encouraged mom to use that on any quilt where she asked my input. I think I love this quilt so much because of the fact that it brings together family that really were not together when they were taking on the project. It is too bad my great grandmother never saw the finished product, but I like to think she is in heaven discussing it with Mom and knowing how much it is loved. I had one left over block and I had it matted and framed. If any of you have orphan blocks, this is a great way to showcase them.

Quiltville Mystery Steps 1 and 2

Well, I finally finished the first two steps of the Double Delight Mystery from Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville. It has a gazillion pieces in it, actually only 1200 in the first two steps. I have never done so many square in a square blocks in my life. They finish at 3.5" and are so darned cute. The way Bonnie has us do them, they come out so perfect, I can't believe it. On to the next step, and I peeked...it ISN"T square in a square. This is my first mystery and I am having so much fun. I dropped another quilt in the middle, just pushed it over and jumped in with both feet. I am determined to have Christmas gifts finished early this next year and this quilt will probably be one of them. Even if it's just for me!
Carline

Plaid cats

This is a quilt I made from plaid squares given to me by my friend Elizabeth for my 50th birthday, a few years back, well more than a few, but who's counting. She gave me a basket with 50 pieces of plaid fabric, each one different. What a great gift for a quilter, huh? I loved them. I made this quilt for HRH because at the time we had 2 "well behaved" cats who were not allowed on the furniture unless they were on a lap with a quilt on it. They actually minded too and only sat on our laps when we had a quilt on us. HRH (DH) always complained because he wanted a "cat" quilt. So this was my brainchild. The back is the "stealth" cats heads, so named because they kind of hide one in the other. I also added 3 mice. I'm not sure if they are blind or not. Anyway, those cats are no longer with us and now we have Heidi who is more like a grandchild than our child. She doesn't mind anyone, anyhow. She gets into everything. She doesn't have "bathroom" accidents in the house and asks to go out when she needs to. Doesn't get on the kitchen counter, but is into EVERYTHING else, especially my quilt stuff, She shuffles my cut quilt pieces all over the place when I turn my back on her, she jumps up and grabs the dogs tail when it is wagged then runs like crazy. I call these attacks, drive-bys. You know, like drive by shootings. No rhyme or reason. Gotta love those kitties though.

Smart Man

Subject: FW: Why math is taught in school


This is why math is taught in school.
I was riding to work yesterday when I observed a female driver cut right in front of a pickup truck, causing him to have to drive onto the shoulder to avoid hitting her.
This evidently angered the driver enough that he hung his arm out his window and "flipped" the woman off.
"Man, that guy is stupid," I thought to myself. I ALWAYS smile nicely and wave in a sheepish manner whenever a female does anything to me in traffic, and here's why..........
I drive 48 miles each way every day to work. That's 96 miles each day. Of these, 16 miles each way is bumper-to-bumper. Most of the bumper-to-bumper is on an 8 lane highway. There are 7 cars every 40 feet for 32 miles. That works out to be 982 cars every mile, or 31,424 cars.
Even though the rest of the 32 miles is not bumper to bumper, figure I pass at least another 4000 cars. That brings the number to something like 36,000 cars that I pass everyday.
Statistically, half of these are driven by females.
That's 18,000 women drivers! In any given group of females, 1 in 28 has PMS. That's 642. According to Cosmopolitan, 70% describe their love life as dissatisfying or unrewarding. That's 449.
According to the National Institute of Health, 22% of all females have seriously considered suicide or homicide. That's 98.
And 34% describe men as their biggest problem. That's 33.
According to the National Rifle Association, 5% of all females carry weapons, and this number is increasing.
That means that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I drive past at least one female that has a lousy love life, thinks men are her biggest problem, has seriously considered suicide or homicide, has PMS, and is armed.
Flip one off? ... I think not.

New Beginnings in 2009

I haven't had this much excitement on New Year's Day in years. Nope, this is it! I emptied the old box of 330 feet of cling film wrap from Costco. I put the date on it when I opened it and it was May 9, 2003. I thought that stuff would never end, I've had relationships that didn't last that long. The last month was dicey as the box was so light and anticipation so high that when I would grab that stuff, I'd just pull it right off the shelf. NO more, We have lift off folks and on Jan 1st no less. 8 and 1/2 years! I had to run out to HRH's shop to tell him. I can forgo the resolutions now, I've had my excitement and now I'm going to go rest. And the best part....drum roll please. I have another one in the garage storage. TA DA! Who said I have a dull life?
Carline

I'm not dead, just buried!

I know I've been missing and don't worry, I'm not dead, just buried under "STUFF". Now some of the stuff is nice stuff, like this stack of quilts where you'll most likely find me, but the rest of the stuff is because, a) Christmas is over, b) New Years bring new fresh beginnings, c) we shampooed the carpet and moved everything off of it. d) I decided I wanted the furniture changed.
Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' too it. Moving the entertainment center (large) will give me a lot more room in the family room so that's why the move, but it also had a LOT of STUFF in it. Some things I haven't seen for years and probably don't need or want anymore. SO... I'm sorting out and cleaning out and in the middle of it all, I get a stomach bug and have to work as well, so there it sits until. HRH can get the cable lines moved (ripping up carpet and putting wires underneath), and help me sort HIS part of the stuff for the bone yard (what I call the trash). Well, you know HIS stuff is treasure and my stuff is junk. That's the way men think, right. So this is how the new year is going begin in our house. I hope to de-clutter this year. I'm tired of it and want to simplify a bit, no, a lot! NOT my stuff, you know, but his stuff and stuff not quilt related. SO I have a guard posted near this stack of antique and family quilts so they won't "go issapear" as my kids used to say. (that's disappear to you kidless ones)
Have a great New Year.
Carline

Merry Christmas

Well, we are still snowbound, I did work yesterday because my boss came to pick me up. I am scheduled to work the day after Christmas and the weekend, but boss man already told me that if the weather is still bad not to worry about it. He isn't working, so can't give me a ride.

I am battling depression and now I find out that my son and family (the only family close) won't be able to make it for our celebration tonight. So it's just HRH and me! The kids are completely snowed in and haven't had electricity for 5 days now, they also had two trees fall on their house. Luckily the trees hit the eaves and the deck and not the actual house so not as much damage. My son is busy cutting the mess up and getting it out of the way. Yes, OUR WHITE CHRISTMAS, is causing it's share of problems. So, long story short, I have to suck it up and realize that most people have more problems than I do.

We have to realize that the ultimate gift was the Gift of the Savior. I think of how much I love my children and grandchildren and then think that God loves us all more, much more than that and it rather puts things in perspective. The season is about Christ and not the trappings the world. I am thankful this season for all of my friends, the ones I see regularly and my cyber friends. I wish you all the best. Like I've said, we have already been given the best gift we could ever want or need. Jesus Christ.
Love to you all,
Carline

SNOWED IN!

Well, This is how my car looks so you can see, I have pretty much been snowbound the past 5 days, HRH put chains on his car and was able to get around some and he went to work today, but I've stayed home. I finished my Christmas gifts, made Pour and bake Ginger cake for the neighbors, homemade sweet/hot mustard and decorated it for other people I wanted a small gift for. I've found that so many people give cookies, cakes and candy so.. I make mustard. It's a recipe I've had for years and everyone loves it. It's different and now people expect it. One year at work I didn't make it and everyone said "Hey, we want our Christmas Mustard" so a tradition was born.
I thought I would cut our a flannel quilt today, but the counter where I cut my fabric was messed up with wrapping and baking stuff so I took a nap instead. FELT MIGHTY GOOD TOO!

My Son called from South of us in Oregon to say he had no power and hasn't had for a while. He has a wood stove in the basement and his teenage daughter was making fudge. He had to go outside with a chainsaw and cut down a tree that was getting heavy with ice and in danger of falling on the house. So, the weather is causing all sorts of problems around here and chances are the kids will not be able to make it here for Christmas dinner and the opening of gifts. We may have to postpone that till the first weekend in January. I am supposed to work the day after Christmas and the weekend. We shall see how the roads are. You people in the Mid-West and East can have this stuff or send us your road crews. We don't have the knowhow or resources to deal with this. The news said that the last time we had this much snow was 1968 40 years ago.
Merry Christmas to you all!

Holiday Traditions

I am speaking in church on Sunday and started thinking of the true meaning of Christmas and how far we have gotten away from it over the years (society, not just me). Our past few Christmases we have spent by ourselves since our kids don't live close. The years before we indulged overly spoiled grandchildren who could care less about who gave the gift or even the thought that went into it. One year I spent about 6 months making a porcelain doll for our granddaughter, I made all the clothes as well and had a lovely quilt to go with her. Our GD pulled her out of the package by the arm (she was 7 years old, not 3 or 4) and tossed it aside and ripped into the next package. My heart sank and DH was so mad he wanted to take the doll back home with us, having watched me make it and the excitement I expressed as each step was finished. Then and there, I decided to make less of gifts and more of the meaning of Christmas. Christ is the meaning and he was our Gift from our Father in Heaven, our gift to him is our love to fellow man and obedience to the principals he taught.
A tradition I had as a child was Christmas Eve Candle light service at church, where there was no sermon, just singing carols and then during the last song which was always Silent Night, we lighted individual candles and the overhead lights were turned out. It was magical. I still miss that tradition as the church I belong to now doesn't do that.
What are your traditions?
I am still interested in traditions and how they came about in your families and what they mean to you. I am also asking co-workers for theirs and will post them later. The whole subject of traditions is interesting...more later, after I get feedback.
Carline

Maggie's first day alone

Well, today was the first day I had to work and HRH did too, so Maggie was in charge at home. We didn't even have time to take her for a walk so both of us were worried about her all day. I was afraid of coming home to a mess although she is so good and hasn't had an accident except when she was a wee pup and they were very few. Then I thought about doddling a bit and letting HRH get home first so he could clean it up...but I didn't and then envisioned how a dog would look trying to stand with her legs crossed. Anyway, we were pleasantly surprised. She ran straight for the door after greeting us with a "baby" (her stuffed toys). What a trooper, 9 hours alone and no accidents. She got an extra cookie for that one. I swear, I should have had dogs all along and not kids, No, just kidding. Maggie is such a love though. My Puppy Love. I tell her that all the time, ya think she understands. The other dog owners at the park always marvel at how well she minds and one lady said "It's because you two love her so much and show her", "you never use one of those shock collars on her or yell at her". So nice to have our parenting skills admired. Never happened with the 2 legged ones.
We are putting in a dog door for her as soon as the weather gets warm enough to have a big hole in the wall for an extended period of time.
After re-reading this, I thought...maybe we should have gotten those shock dog collars for the kids! The sweetness didn't work with them at least when they turned 14 or so. They were always sweet when they were little, and usually well behaved too.

and this shredder doesn't have to be turned off to keep the dogs ears safe, well maybe not!

Goin' Green

Now some of you may remember in the dark ages when we all decided to GO GREEN, I can't remember what we called it then. Remember when we were advised to only flush, well, you know, when there was something to really flush. The new ALMOST FLUSH toilets came out about then too, 1.6 gallons of water (the first time, you always have to flush twice now). I did my part and sorted glass by color, recycled paper at work, you know the drill. Well then all of our appliances started being what we may as well call disposable. They didn't last till you got the warrantee registration card sent in, Really! Which leads to this. I bought a paper shredder when we moved into town and couldn't burn out papers outdoors in a "burn barrel" any longer, so in order to avoid identity theft (who would want my identity anyway?) I would shred all of my papers, this lasted 1 month until the shredder died. We then put a paper sack beside the desk, when it is full of "papers" HRH takes it to his shop and builds a fire in the little pot bellied stove. But wait, we have the newest shredder now... Called Heidi, shreds a lot. This cat wont leave the papers alone, she chews them, bites them, fights with them, We have our own GREEN SHREDDER and it only costs pennies a day for cat treats and she even hunts mice (fast food) so we have an environmentally sound shredder/critter eliminator. Who knew we were so out to save the earth, one cat at a time. Bless her heart, maybe tomorrow she will get two treats and a bowl of milk too.