Progress

I realize that I am no different than anyone else.  I tend to underestimate the time it takes to do something, whether it be cleaning the kitchen or piecing a quilt, so when I manage to get done what I've set out to do I call it PROGRESS!

Friday was Jonathan's day off and I had a very full day on Thursday working on my Bricks & Mortar and enjoying Liz's company so when I ended up in bed all afternoon I thought I would really get nothing done, however, I surprised myself.  Around 6:00 P.M. after having a quick snack, I decided to treat the day as I normally would.  I made coffee and settled down with my hand piecing....

I didn't expect to get a whole lot done but I was excited because I was now working from the left hand corner bottom up and I knew I would be able to get some rows done because a lot of the blocks that are going into those rows are already pieced....

The first thing I had to do was a lone block for my Row # 14....

Block # 85 - Square Dance - 17 pieces

Luckily it was a block with only 17 pieces so it went together pretty quickly.  Once it was done I was able to start work on Row #14.

            One  block ready                                      Two blocks ready

The row is ready to go on

Row 14 is now attached to Row 15

I was on a roll and I literally couldn't stop.  My mind was racing ahead to the next row and the balance of the blocks I still had to piece.  I had to sit back and take a breath here, I am almost there....with these two rows together I have 5 rows to go, of course because the quilt is on point, they get bigger as you go.  The next row is 5 blocks, then 7, then 9, then 11 and finally 13.  Of those 45 blocks I still have to piece about 20 so I really needed to rethink my strategy.  I decided to start piecing Row #13 and then do a random block.

 First block in Row #13

Block # 73 - Rainbow Flowers - 10 pieces

I probably would have kept going but I couldn't see anymore!  I definitely got far more done than I had anticipated for one evening's work.  Gee, if I had done this when I started this quilt, nearly 4 years ago, it would have been done in a month....never look back!

I started this quilt January 19th, 2010.  Honestly, I am pleased as to my progress, there was a time when I thought I would never be able to finish it.  During my first chemotherapy I had developed neuropathy in both my feet and my hands and was unable to do any hand piecing at all.  My feet have really never come back to normal but luckily my hands did not betray me.....

I went to bed Friday night quite pleased with myself and hoping that Saturday would be as productive.  Unfortunately, I was so pleased with myself that I couldn't sleep so I started reading and read until around 5:00 A.M..  Of course I did sleep most of the day on Friday so that was definitely a factor.  I was woken at 6:00 A.M. by what I call the - CAA RANT!!!  

When Jonathan works, he is on call from 6:00 A.M. until 11:00 P.M..  He doesn't usually get his first call until 7:00 or 8:00 A.M. and on weekends it's sometimes later.  He wakes at 5:57 A.M., signs in, then rolls over and goes back to sleep until he gets his first call. Needless to say, he got his first call at exactly 6:00 A.M.!!!  Hence the CAA RANT - for about 15 minutes, until he left the house, all I could hear was the banging and swearing and carrying on about "the idiot" who had the nerve to call at 6:00 A.M. to have his/her battery recharged....etc.... and how he's quitting this job and getting a real job, etc....

I have learned over the past 9 months to just lay quietly pretending to be asleep during these rants.  They don't happen often but it definitely sets his tone for the day.  Basically, stay the hell out of his way....

I rolled over and went back to sleep when he left.  I heard him come back around 8:00 A.M. and decided to continue my feigned sleep rather than try to interact.  Once he left again - I got busy.

This was going to be a math day!  I have to say I really hate math days!  I needed to figure out if I had enough fabric to do the outside border on my Bricks & Mortar.  This is the fabric I had left over after I made the quilt top and the first border.  Remember, I only had one block - 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" left of the beige fabric once I finished my first border.

 Fabrics left after the quilt top was completed.

I had made some cutting mistakes when I made the top so I had a number of strips which were a little too short for a 4-1/2" keyboard border.  My first decision after measuring the mis-cuts was to cut the border pieces at 4".  Having said that I had to now make sure I had enough fabric to make the 4" x 2-1/2" blocks.  Luckily I had the large piece of blue flannel which would probably stretch but I really wanted to use that for the binding so I really wasn't sure.  After about an hour of figuring, I began to cut.....this is what was left over....

Left over fabric after cutting my strips

For those of you who save scraps, forget it, look in my garbage!!!!  I was thrilled to just be able to get enough strips to do the border....

My strips cut and ready to go (I had to cut 4 more blue because I miscalculated - so much for my math skills!)

Then came the fun part - seriously!  I had to lay each side out so that the same colour did not butt up against the same colour and that the ends were not blue because I was using the blue for the cornerstones of the border.  That took forever and ever!  Jonathan came home in the middle of this process for a break.  When I work, I take over the living room and dining room and there's barely a place to sit down.  In his state of mind, having had such a "good" start to his day, I was very surprised when his only comment was - "at least you are being productive!"  The "creative" process took quite awhile as I had to have many breaks, but, I was determined to get this quilt top done....  

I love it - the outside border really makes the quilt!

I wish I had that fabulous design wall to hang the quilt on so you could really see it but suffice it to say, even without the design wall I LOVE THIS QUILT!!!!  All the mistakes, all the hours to figure out the borders, all of it was worth the final product.  I even have the binding strips cut and ready to go.  Not only that, I've already decided on the quilting design so I'm set.  All I need now is backing and batting.  I have chosen the quilting thread and used a Zip-Loc bag to store the thread, extra fabric (blue only) and binding strips and it is all now in my "shopping bag".

My "shopping bag"

What is my "shopping bag"?  It's where I store the projects which require something to move from UFO to complete.  Currently it holds Bricks & Mortar for which I need batting and backing and it also holds Island Chain which needs batting.  Once I have these items then the quilts can be completed.  Looking forward to a shopping spree some time soon.

Since I'm writing this blog on Sunday - today I can start completing my next project which has been waiting quietly in my project bag.  I also have a "secret project" which I need to start working on using those fabulous Kaffe Fassett fabrics and Shot Cottons I have so I may even start on that today....we'll see how things go...

My current plan is to have another "productive" day, the only problem is that if I don't clean the kitchen it is going to implode.  Oh well - I will somehow work it out.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Patience!

Yesterday was Jonathan's day off so I spent a little time playing computer games and then decided to get out of his way and headed for my private haven and my hand quilting.  Wasn't sure I'd get anything done but I surprised myself -

Block 72 - Railroad - 28 pieces

I also managed to complete Row # 15, the lower left hand corner of the quilt top.  I will now work up from that point - I'm getting excited here, I have 6 more rows to complete the quilt top and only about 20 blocks that haven't been pieced....getting there....

Bottom left hand corner - Row # 15

Today started out very early, around 5:55 A.M. when I had to wake Jonathan for work because he couldn't charge his phone last night.  Worked out well because it's about the time I need to take a pill.  Back to bed until around 10:30 and then realized today is the day I get to machine quilt!!!  YEAH!

As soon as I did my crossword and had my brunch I set everything up, including the big ironing board.  I pulled out Bricks and Mortar and saw another mistake.  No problem, I can fix it - so I start unsewing.  Well, I only managed to totally mess it up and spent the first hour just fixing what I messed up......patience, another new "buzz" word for 2014!  Don't think I didn't contemplate, yet again, giving up on this quilt but determination is the name of the game.....

By 2:00 P.M. I had put on two more rows -

2 rows on - up to 4 rows, only two more to go

Liz called to say she was going to come over with some hand sewing.  Now, I have to say I was more than excited.....  I know that's weird, but you have to understand - First, I am home alone most of the time and I really do love company, but more importantly, Second - When Liz and I get together it's usually to go to a doctor's appointment, or chemo or out to run errands, we don't often get to just sit & sew and enjoy each others company.  I was really looking forward to this visit.  She came around 3:15 P.M. and stayed for about 3 hours while I got the last two rows together and added them to the quilt....

 Quilt center done - now the borders......

Liz was all packed up and just getting ready to leave so I got a quick pic

Liz had just been so supportive the past 7 months (longer when you include the store hours she put in), always there to take me to appointments and sit with me through the tough stuff....good news, bad news, all of it.  It was so nice to sit like two normal girlfriends and just chat and sew....what a treat!  I hope we do it more often- I really enjoyed this afternoon.

Now, back to the quilt!  She left me at an extremely crucial (appropriate) moment.  Here's the problem.  This is what happens when you return to those U.F.O.'s, the "oops" moment. I know I am not the only one who has this problem.  

The first border is pieced in 2-1/2" squares of which I needed 114.  I wasn't sure I had enough fabric!?!?!  Sure didn't look like it!  Turns out, after I worked it out mathematically (took 20 minutes) I would be able to squeak out 115 squares.  Of course I had to do quite a bit of fudging the blocks to make it work properly and the darker squares met up at the corners but by 8:00 P.M. I had the top and bottom border on.

Top and bottom borders

It was the side borders I really had to fudge, that took awhile, a little unsewing and resewing and voila - sides were on......

All four borders on - Yahoo!

Tomorrow Jonathan is off so I can relax and forget the mathematics because the outside border is also pieced and I really think that I am going to be short for sure.  However, after all is said in done, I really love this quilt!  I really like the pattern and did not expect it to turn out this nicely.....I even have a quilting plan!  I love it when that happens.  This will all have to wait until Saturday when I go back to figuring out if I have enough fabric to do the outside border....we can only hope....I can't wait to complete this quilt because I have another one waiting in the wings (my project bag) that I am really antsy to get to.

Tomorrow I will get to work on the Farmer's Wife and hopefully get a few more blocks done as well as a couple of rows.  I am definitely on a roll here and am extremely excited about the progress.  It's been such a long time since I've been able to say that....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Determination....

I'm thinking that is going to be my "buzz" word for 2014!  Yesterday I was expecting my friend Linda to drop by so I persevered all morning getting the living room back into a living space.  Just clearing the top of the coffee table when Jonathan takes over the house on his days off is a challenge in itself.  I refuse to take photos of this as it is more than embarrassing, however I totally managed to do it.....

Linda called to say that a dental emergency had waylaid her and she wouldn't be coming but we made plans for another day.  Today my other friend Linda came by to raid the thread baskets - now I only have a few thousand spools left!  She also brought some Show & Share, her beige on beige quilt which is absolutely stunning.....

Linda's Beige on Beige

She also brought her picture album of all the quilts and other quilted stuff she's made and it was fabulous to see!  Sandy (Lindal - Scrappy Gal Quilt Company) will be more than happy to get this quilt to quilt.

We had a great visit and I was able to set up my little hand quilting station so I began stitching Row 8 to my Farmer's Wife.

Everything all there and ready to go

While we chatted, I stitched.  Linda is Dana's mom, Dana is one of Jonathan's best friends and that's initially how we met.  Dana and Fiona (his girlfriend) came by the store last spring and I showed them the quilt I was working on.  They really liked it and I decided that it would be theirs.  Today I gave it to Linda to take to them.  It's one of my favourites and Sandy Lindal quilted it for me so it's been on the Cock A Doodle blog for sure, but here it is again.  My basket of quilts seems to be receding.....

Urban Pods - with the Quick Curve Ruler

Dana is a talent on his own.  Linda had me check out his phenomenal Facebook Page - Dana TheJeweler. You really need to check this page out - it has all of his jewelry designs (well I'm sure not all, but a lot).  He is extremely talented and if you ever need a custom jewelry piece made, you need to see this guy.  At the very least you need to check out his Facebook Page.

   

After Linda left I made lunch, a real meal - tuna fish sandwich and pickles on the side.  Sat down at the computer, played some computer games and ate lunch.

Looking good enough to eat...and I did!

Then I really got down to it!  I finally set up my machine for stitching.  Had to change the light bulb in the dining room too!  That took a bit of energy but well worth it.

Sonia - ready and raring to go....

I have also lost my pressing space in the process of storing boxes (soon I hope to have my storage locker?!?!) so I set up a temporary cutting/pressing space - I knew I bought that
cutting/pressing mat for a reason.....

 Cutting space

Pressing space

Now I have resewn all of my blocks, found another mistake on the other set of blocks, fixed that one and we were on our way.  After all is said and done I got the first two rows together.....YEAH!!!!

 First two rows together and I love it....

This is the pattern so you can see why I couldn't compromise

Tomorrow will not be a sewing day (machine) as it's Jonathan's day off.  I may get something done in the morning before he gets up but that would require me getting up early so we'll see how that goes.

Jonathan worked both today and yesterday in this cold and actually came home at one point today to say - he was getting his paycheck and getting on a bus to Florida to live on the street!!!!  Should I remind him he has a cousin living down there who would be more than happy to give him shelter????  Maybe not, because that would leave me out in the cold - not at all what I really want.  I'm selfish that way.....Chances are he'll enjoy his day off and go back to work on Thursday.

Hope to get loads done tomorrow too - I appear to be on a roll!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Happy, happy, happy!!!

I woke up this morning realizing that I had messed up my medication and forgotten to take my long acting pain pill at 3:00 A.M. like I was supposed to.....okay, no biggie, I will switch it and take the 12 hour at 9:00 A.M., much easier, and then 9:00 P.M.!!!  It worked like a charm.  I think it was a good mess-up!  Of course, what that meant was that I was in pain which for today was not going to be a good thing....

I hopped onto Facebook to see what was happening and waited patiently to hear from Christina as to when she would be picking me up!  Pain or no pain I was going to Sit & Bitch....I guess it was about 11:00 or so by the time we left my house and headed up to Gail's!  I was so excited (and Christina is an exceptionally good driver so I was in good hands).

Arrival - unloading - big hugs (that's the best part) and then straight into Show & Share!!!
We settled in the den and the show began - these girls are just so inspiring and motivating!!!

First - Gail 

 An adorable kit - a Christmas Quilt (not sure if it was ready for this year but pretty darn close to!)

This one is for Halloween (next year I'm guessing!)

Next is Cathie - 

 Penguins, penguins, cute little penguins for Claire (Cathie's daughter)

Check out the quilting on the back - more penguins!  The back is Minkie and so soft and it was quilted by Cathy Petrie who never disappoints.

Gail's quilts above were also quilted by Cathy Petrie, the Halloween quilt has candy corn inside candy corn, always a great theme to go with the quilt, just beautiful quilting.

Now Ann -

A Trip Around The World which in two weeks will be off to her 85 year old aunt in England.

She's going to quilt it herself.

Oh wait a minute, back to Cathie -

 A table runner done with Batik charm squares - easy and stunning!

Stars, and stars and more stars!  Ten years in the making but a Christmas runner 

(for next year) - just has to be quilted.....

Now Christina -

 A very cool Halloween quilt (for next year) she put the "bats" binding on this afternoon

Then me, okay, forgot to get pictures!  But I showed off my Farmer's Wife blocks, the quilt top half done (almost) with the piece I posted yesterday with 10 blocks along with the three blocks to be added.  Next time I'll take a picture or if Jonathan's feeling generous, he'll hold it up for me sooner.

After Show & Share, lunch was in order and it was wonderful as usual, individual quiches (Gail) with a lovely salad (Cathie) and delicious cupcakes (Christina)!  The kitchen overlooks the back yard which was still decked out in Christmas decorations and I tried to take a pic (yes I should have opened the back door!)

 Gail and Dennis do such a great job of decorating, the whole house feels festive!  I love that feeling - it just makes you feel that there is a holiday in the house!  Even the wall hanging in the kitchen gets changed....

It's the Christmas Gingerbread Bakery - so cute!  (not sure what the discussion was about but looks serious....)

After lunch, I needed a bit of a lie down (on the couch), the pain was beginning to bare it's fangs again and I had a good hour wait for my "pill".  I decided to pop it a little early and was up and running in about half the time as normal.

Batteries recharged and off to start piecing.  I was going to finish putting together my Bricks and Mortar quilt. The blocks were all done, it was just a matter of placing them correctly to achieve the pattern - no biggie!  UNTIL - I looked at it and realized that I had made a mistake on one of the blocks.....

On the couch - are the blocks done right.  On the arm are the blocks done wrong

The beige squares are supposed to form a step pattern through the center

This is how the block is supposed to look

Needless to say, when I make a mistake, I make it all the way.... Because I was chain piecing these blocks when I put them together, all 15 blocks were done the same - WRONG!  It is so great to be with friends - Cathie, Ann and Gail helped me unstitch so that I could get them done right.  Didn't get a lot of stitching done today but spending time with friends definitely makes up for that....

I am now determined more than ever to get my sewing machine set up at home so that I can get these righted and put together properly.  There's still another project in this bag I have been toting around that I really want to do and had it not been for the patience of my friends I would've put this one back in the box for LATER!!!

What a fabulous day, and they even listened to me vent about the pain and the doctors and all the other bad stuff - I love you guys!!!!  Before Christina and I took off I had to get a picture of the outside of the Christmas house.....so gorgeous (and there's a lot you can't see because it's buried under ice and snow).

So inviting....you just want to open those presents under the tree!

When I got home, around 7:30 P.M. it didn't take long for me to go lie down.  Since I am determined to keep my blogging record going (4 blogs in 4 days) I am now working on Vancouver time - like time shift on the TV except with the computer.  Sometimes it works - we'll see if I can make it work this time!  You figure out what time it really is - I had a really good sleep....

I am so awake, I may even continue un-sewing....

Have a great day everyone - I sure did!

Jo-Ann 

Falling!!!

Thought it would work if I "publicized" my Things To Do list on my blog and to be honest, it has partially, but I also have to take into account the kinda day it's going to be and that is truly unpredictable.

I woke up this morning in pain and the meds just refused to kick in so the energy level is not the best.  With good intentions I wandered into the kitchen and since I have a self-cleaning oven, I turned it on.  (NOT)  It's been awhile since I used a self-cleaning oven, what can I say.... About two hours after I turned it on (I had gone to lie down) I came into the kitchen and found the oven was still cold.  Okay, so maybe there's something new here - it doesn't heat up!  Well everything was set so I sat down at the computer (I can see the stove from the computer) and just kept glancing over every now and then - until I had a EUREKA MOMENT!!!!  - duh, did you set the timer dummy!!!!  Nope!  Needless to say - 4 hours later, the oven is now clean.  It dawned on me that there are buttons on the stove that I know nothing about.....

Have not gotten to that freezer yet (there's still time) and the dishes are hidden behind a wall so I'm ignoring them for now but I may get a BURST of energy later...I'm saving my real energy for tomorrow's Sit & Bitch, so there!

I can, however report, that with Jonathan hogging the TV yesterday I settled down to some serious stitching.

 There are now 10 blocks done on Row 8.

 Block #76 - Sawtooth - 22 pieces

 Block #111 - Wrench - 17 pieces

Plus I have completed 2 more blocks.  These two blocks plus Block #58 completed previously make up the balance of Row 8.  I wish I could say I will get those attached tonight but the plan is to watch Blue Bloods and head for bed.  Need to conserve my energy for tomorrow.  Tomorrow I will be doing machine piecing for a long awaited change.  Don't even have to pack because I never unpacked from my last trip to Neilson Park where Etobicoke Quilter's Guild has their weekly Sit & Sew.  I'm working on two flannel quilts - may be able to take some pictures tomorrow.  I am really looking forward to seeing the girls and getting some sewing done as well....

Thought I'd share my last "read" with you all.  This book was a surprise for me.  It's been hanging around the house for awhile and I did try to read it at one time but got bored and put it down.  I usually don't pick a book up again if I can't read it the first time but I was desperate for something so....the story line is pretty good and once you get past all the technical jargon, the writer was in the Air Force, it's a pretty good book.  It is a great read for anyone (mostly men) who are into war toys and stuff like that....in the end I enjoyed it but I don't think I will go hunting for his other books.

 Dale Brown - Plan of Attack

This is getting scary - I've managed to blog 3 days in a row!!!  Like "Dear Diary"!  I've already picked up a book off the shelf at home to read but not sure how that's going to go.  I find when I have the need to be in bed, whether for pain reasons, to rest or it's just bedtime, I like to have a book close at hand even if I just get a couple of pages read.  I tried quilting books but that would perk me right up and motivate me to the extent I would jump out of bed and check my stash for fabrics, so it has to be serious reading material.  If this one gets good - I'll share it!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

I made it!

Reached the top of Everest last night!!!  The dishes are done and the fridge is clean.  I am very pleased with myself.  It must be the "New Year" energizer!  You know the one...it's the little voice in your head that tells you to "get 'er done"!  I stopped making resolutions years ago but I still have this urge to want to complete things that are on my mental lists (of which I have many).

 My load of dishes done - trust me there are more already!

My immaculately clean fridge (I think it's cleaner than when we moved in!)

I made the mistake of opening the freezer today and found that the door was stuck - ugh! There was a pint of sorbet on the door and it has leaked all along the bottom edge of the freezer and is now working like glue!  That is on my mental list for tomorrow - clean the freezer!  I like to do these jobs when Jonathan is off at work so I can work at my own pace with no interruptions.  I may even clean the oven and stove top tomorrow too.  My next Mount Everest, as it were!

Jonathan was off today so I try to make myself scarce!  In a two bedroom apartment we can really get on top of each other.  When he is home, I like to give him his space.  When he's working, he is on call from 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. and then he has to drive to the depot to restock his truck.  It's an extremely long day!  Sometimes he will go out on his days off but mostly, since everyone else is usually working, he hangs at home, playing video games and watching TV.  He deserves his space - so I try to oblige....

That left me with only one thing to do!  Sleep or stitch - I chose to do both!  First I slept and then I stitched.  Progression on my Farmer's Wife commences again.  After completing the block below I have only 24 more blocks - it's so exciting!

 Block #101 - Wedding Ring - 41 pieces

Added 2 more blocks to Row 8 - 6 more to add and the row is done

I will add this row to my growing quilt top and then I will begin the second half of the quilt.  Originally I was going to just keep adding rows but today I realized that it will be much easier to make two large halves and then sew them together - duh!  It really was a "eureka" moment.  It suddenly dawned on me that when I am machine piecing I usually make two large halves and then  sew them together.  It definitely makes it less bulky to do it that way so why, oh why, would I try to do the hand piecing differently.....

I'm actually beginning to wonder what I will do once I complete The Farmer's Wife piecing.  What will be my next "hand piecing" project.  After working on this for so long I can't imagine being without a hand project.  I have a couple of UFO's to choose from and Sandy basted my flannel quilt so that I could "big stitch" it so there is no lack of stuff to do. Okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves here - slow down, you still have 24 blocks to complete and the sashings, etc. to do.......

I am inspired - off to do some more hand piecing.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Happy New Year!

2014 has arrived!  At our house it arrived very quietly.  Jonathan was working last night and also today so he was home for the countdown.  Although he was invited to a number of parties and celebrations, he chose to do the responsible thing and stay home where we were both busy playing computer games.....boring, quiet but nice!

The past two weeks have been very trying for both of us.  The power outage was, for us, a tough situation.  Jonathan was working so had the opportunity to warm up in the truck while he was out. I, on the other hand spent 66 hours layering clothing and hiding under my quilts to keep warm.  All I wanted for Christmas was heat and light and at around 8:00 P.M. on Christmas eve my prayers were answered.....Jonathan happened to be home as he had brought me some dinner and to say he was thrilled would be an understatement.  It took about 4 hours before I was willing to take my hat off - thanks Barb for that great knitted hat, it really kept me warm.  Liz, was also my life saver bringing over hot foods and coffee.  They were out 64 hours but were able to snag a generator.  I am still cleaning out the fridge and freezer - so sad to have lost so much food, etc.  Luckily we had not really done a big shopping for the holidays yet so the real loss was what was in the freezer.

I did manage to get some hand piecing done on my Farmer's Wife -

 Block # 99 - W.C.T.U. - 31 pieces

I also managed to get started on row 8 which has 13 blocks.  I am now working on finished row 8 which once attached to the quilt top will put me over half way done.  I only have 25 more blocks to complete.  I started this quilt in January 2010 so it's been 4 years in the making but honestly, I am thrilled that I have come this far.

Unfortunately I am still battling pain and so my schedule has been turned upside down in the sense that I find myself resting/sleeping a large amount of the time.  In addition, my TV in the bedroom gave out (the on button is broken) and when we moved Jonathan's TV into the bedroom we lost a key piece to hooking up the antennae.  Since I usually sit and watch TV and stitch, this has really put a crimp in my progress.  I am not thrilled by this and it means I have to adapt to the circumstances.

Gillian and I were trying to plan an evening - dinner at her place but I just couldn't make myself move last Friday so we put it off until Monday and I literally forced myself to leave the house (I hadn't been out since the 17th when I went for my CT scan).  What a great decision!  It was a wonderful evening with leftovers and Turkey soup that was absolutely delicious.  Then we sat and talked quilting and went through some of her stash to choose some patterns for her "scraps" as well as some absolutely gorgeous fabrics she had stashed away.  I can't wait to see those quilts finished.  I know she was busy working on something last night.  

I am looking forward to a "Stitch'n'Bitch" on Saturday with friends and really can't wait to get out of the house again.  I have to monitor the pain and keep the "pills" close at hand but otherwise it should be a great day!

At this point I honestly have to push myself to get things done.  It's not just the pain, it's the energy.  In my mind I make a list and if I get anything done I feel I've accomplished something.  My goal today is to get the fridge shelves cleaned, as well as the drawers and inside of the fridge.  That and a load of dishes washed and I will feel like I've climbed Mount Everest.  Amazing how the little things become so big!!!!

I am still trying to get a locker for storage so that I can make the house look habitable again.  It really does look like a warehouse in here with all the boxes.  It is very depressing to try to work around the clutter.  Hopefully this will come to pass in the New Year.

I want to wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year and hope that everything you wish for this year comes to pass!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann