Ode to Liz!

I have been writing this blog addition for more than a week in my mind!  My body however, has not been co-operating so I could not get to the computer to actually compose it....takes a while for me to recuperate from my infrequent outings.

Liz has been my strength for the past 9 months!  I don't know how else to say it!  She has been by my side, egging me on, making me smile on my bad days and has made most of my good days happen.  She is amazing!  If you know her than you already know that about her.  It is not only me - it is everyone who's life she touches.  

She makes me want to keep on keeping on, even when I am at the lowest of my lows. She puts up with my complaining and bitching and she always finds a way to make me smile. Sometimes it's just a word and sometimes it's a package of Oreo's but is always.  If I don't call the doctor when I'm supposed to, then she does. 

Needless to say, when my 60th Birthday was approaching, it was Liz who insisted that we celebrate.  Yes, I know it's a slight milestone in one's life but I wasn't so sure I wanted to do anything.  She suggested, and then insisted, that we have something and so a party was planned.  It was an afternoon affair, at her home (where else?!?!) with most of my favourite people in attendance....and it was a complete success!  Suffice it to say - it was one of my best days and certainly one of my best memories.  It was such a success that it took me days to recuperate.....and every moment was worth it!!!!

The table was set with all my favourites - a beautiful watermelon carved by Gillian and filled with loads of fresh fruit.  A chocolate cake and my absolute favourite - a white cake with lemon filling and coconut icing......

She put out the best China and did a gorgeous floral arrangement

My favourite - pink roses

I gave strict instructions that there were to be no gifts, this was just a get together with my dearest friends.  There was a lovely box at the front door for cards and needless to say my friends know how to hide gifts in cards.....why am I not surprised!  It may take some time before I get around to writing out all the Thank You notes so I will say thank you here and know that you are all in my thoughts.....

I even let Liz take a few pictures of me - something I truly hate as I am not at my best even on my best days and that was definitely one of my better days.  It was definitely not a "good hair" day!!! 

 About to get rid of some hot air....blowing out the candles

 I almost made the two cakes at once......a lot of hot air

But, I finally had to blow out the 60 on it's own....

It was an amazing day and I enjoyed every moment of it!  When Liz drove me home that evening, admittedly, I went straight to bed and slept for 3 days but every moment with friends was worth every moment I needed to rest......

I even brought Show & Share - it was wonderful showing of The Farmers Wife, especially to the people who have been following the piecing of each and every block.  I began this quilt January 19th, 2010 and I completed the top on February 7th, 2014....it also has two borders already on - the other two to be added (today I hope!)....and luckily there were two people tall enough to hold it up - thank you Cindy and Linda.....

 I am thrilled to be able to show this off.....

This is definitely my "heirloom" quilt....

I had hoped to have the borders and backing done so I could just give it to Sandy that Sunday but I just didn't have enough energy to get it done.  It wasn't an issue at all because she was on her way to Costa Rica for vacation within the next two days so I would have had to wait for it anyway but I can't wait to have it ready to quilt.  I am really looking forward to quilting it by hand.....

This quilt was really a labour of love!  Every block I pieced, every fabric I chose, it was all thought out carefully and I hope that once it is quilted I will have done the original quilt justice.  My hand quilting is not the best but I will try very hard to make it something I can be proud of along with the label which will be very informative.......

In closing - I want to say - Thank You to everyone for coming on Sunday - it was so fabulous to see all of you!  Thank you for all the thoughtful cards and gifts and know that it was one of the best days I've had in a very, very long time.  Mostly - I would like to thank Liz for being Liz - you are the best, ever!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Lists

Yes, I make lists!  I am one of those people who is guilty of making "To Do" lists.  I love lists.  No, I hate lists.  There are definitely pros and cons to lists.  The pro is - you know what needs to be done and when you want to do it.  The con is - if you don't get it done you have to leave it on the list and you feel like you've failed.  For a while I stopped the lists.  I was able to just go about my day, getting things done or not getting things done, but then my yearly calendar ended.  I do like to have a calendar to refer to so I went online and found a blank calendar page I liked and printed it out.  Well that did it - WOW - I thought - I could copy out two pages for each month, one for my quilting and one for my random day calendar.  I could make a list of all the stuff I wanted to get done and of course the calendar page came with a side bar for Things To Do.....I'm sunk now because I can actually set goals for each month - this is bad, really bad!  

In my case, one of the cons is I try to over-achieve, get more done on the list than is actually on the list....when I don't, I feel like I did nothing all day....What can I say, I have high expectations of myself.

So February started out with my list - based on Jonathan's work schedule I know which days I'm "hand" sewing or "machine" sewing.  

The Blitz!
I had 8 blocks to complete as of January 31st - so Saturday I started!  First, I chose all the fabrics for the 8 blocks and then I marked them with the templates and finally I cut them all.  In addition I managed to piece 3 blocks.....

 Block # 82 - Spider Legs - 37 pieces

 Block #110 - Wood Lily - 57 pieces

Block #96 - Tulip - 14 pieces

I also began piecing the last three rows, 11, 10 and 9.  As I completed the blocks needed for the rows I added it to the rows.

Rows 9, 10 and 11 started.

I probably would have kept going but enough was enough and I had Sunday to work on my hand piecing as well.  Sunday turned out to be pretty productive as well and I was way ahead on my list (over-achiever!).  Sunday I pieced another 2 blocks and managed to complete Row 9.

 Block #94 - Tall Pine Tree - 20 pieces

 Block # 104 - Wild Geese - 32 pieces

Row # 9 completed.

Yesterday was a whole other story.  Jonathan was working so I could machine piece.  I did start working on my backing for the panel quilt but really didn't get much done and today was the same - so much for lists!!!  Weird - I just couldn't get my heart into it - too much fiddling and measuring, etc....I guess, but I did get it started.

Last night I stopped early to watch TV in the bedroom so I could get back to my Farmer's Wife - now I am obsessed..... I got another block done and Row 10 is also completed....

 Block #77 - Seasons - 9 pieces

Row 10 completed.

I have one block left to piece - 1 row left to complete and 3 rows to add on to the rest of the quilt top, then the borders and backing and off to Sandy to be basted.  I am now completely obsessed with completing this project......

So much for lists - this was not supposed to be done until some time near the end of next week.  Now if I can only move this motivation onto those backings I have to do I will really be way ahead of the game!  We'll see what I get done tonight - the night is still young.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann