Organizing and clean up

Well its about that time for us to clean up after the Holidays and try to do a little re-organizing. Keith asked me to do him a favor and organize my books and patterns because he was a little upset when he picked up some books to ask me what I thought about them and I said "I love them they are at home" He was looking for gifts and I was ruining them all. So in an effort to make things easier on the both of us we are going to figure out a way to organize my books and patterns as well as re-fold and organize the stash.

They always say to start small right? Well tonight I am starting with this shelf. It had some books and things on it and it will soon have fabric folded in the hopes that I can get together a stash report and be more productive this year.


Well I think I have finally folded one of the stacks that was sitting in our "Super Spare" room (the room where everything gets thrown until it finds a home). I put it neatly on the shelf that showed above. It now looks like this..

and my stash is already up to 36.5 yards. Not quite as much as Jill, but I haven't even begun to fold rubbermaid containers or count the numerous fat quarters that I have all packed up in totes.

I decided to go back and fold a bit more before showering and heading to bed and I managed to fold and count 39 more yards of fabric bringing my stash counted and folded so far to 75.5 yards. If our goal is to use more than we buy this year I guess I had better start making some plans to figure out some fast quilts, placemats, tablerunners and wall hangings. My total count of panels that we're intended for wall hangings tree skirts etc so far are 6 but there alot more that I have yet to fold.

I am headed to bed but I will keep you posted as to my progress tomorrow. Mom will be here and the boys (Dad and Keith) will be out in the garage so I can see twice as much getting folded if we just spend an hour tomorrow.

Embroidery Machine Madness

A few days ago I joined a site called Designs by sick. They have great emb designs and have created so many ideas for me. How many of us have gone out and bought those cute little embroidered hand towels for the bathrooms or for the kitchen for the holidays? Now I can make them.

I was sitting at work today thinking about all the things that I could make and there are patterns for Sucker/ lollypop covers and the first thing that popped into my head was to make a sucker bouquet.. how cute would that be? Then I got to thinking .. I always joke with Keith that I am going to decorate the bathroom with finding nemo.. low and behold I found a tropical fish design set that would be perfect.. a couple hand towels, the edging on a shower curtian maybe a toilet tissue cover or kleenex box cover, and a little wall hanging or something.. viola bathroom make over.. add to it an inexpensive basic toothbrush holder and soap dish.. and that would make a great house warming gift.

I don't know there are just so many possibilities its unreal. you know all the hand embroidered redwork and blue work? I learned how to do all that but I can now order the designs from this web site to make quick centers for quilt blocks etc. I know its cheating but hey! When your short on time and need a gift whose going to complain?

Secret Pal

Well I know that my secret pal is no longer a secret!! Jill has posted on her blog about all the super awesome things that she made and sent to me. I couldn't have recieved a better christmas present from a quilty friend. I came down with the bronchitis icky's and am still trying to get over it so her goodies are pretty late considering. Keith has come up with some other goodies to add to the mix and I think that we are actually going to have to get another box so that we can fit them all in.

The fabric has been pulled for several goodies.. some has been cut and others waiting to be cut in circles. (we had to find the right size circle template.. smiles) .. there are other things that I'm hoping she will be on pins and needles waiting for (hint.. hint). Then of course there will be some sugar and spice and everything nice thrown in there.. maybe a little cream too if she has been a good girl.

I'm hoping that the extra time off that I am getting for the new years holiday will give me the time to complete the things left to finish and then get them in the mail the Saterday after new years. I think that mom and dad will be up this weekend too so there will be some one to help me cut and wrap some things.

But I'm still thinking about those goodies and can't wait until she recieves them. I hope that she enjoys them as much as I loved the ones that she sent me.

Christmas has passed... New Years Goals

Well Christmas has passed and the new year is fast approaching. Many of my blog friends have decided to set "Goals" rather than make resolutions this year. I think that I am also going to follow that guideline and maybe change it up a little. I have alot of things that I want to do in the coming year but have no idea how the upcoming surgery is going to effect things so I figured that I would start with a few goals and then go from there.

Goals:
1. To update my blog at a minimum of once a week.. but try for more. If you only knew how many post have been sitting in my account as a draft. I have wanted to update things but always wait until I can add my pictures and never do.

2. Plan a "Date night" or "Together" night for Keith and I at least once a week. Just time for us to sit down and do something together. We have some puzzles and things that we are looking forward to doing together.

3. Re-organize my sewing room. Keith has decided that he is going to help me and we are going to clean up and re-organize things and its not going to be the dumping ground to hide other things.

4. Finally learn to use my Quilting frame. I bought one coming back from deployment, it sat in a box and then in the closet for ever because I didn't have the space for it when I moved in with Keith because of room mates.. Well now its in the sewing room and has become a table for STUFF! Keith is determined to help me learn. That and he says my quilt addiction has got to start making us some money so that he can retire.

5. My last goal but is actually #1 on my list of To Do's is to have as speedy a recovery from this surgery as I can. I promise to do all the things that the therapist tells me to do and work really hard to get the functions of my arm and hand back.

I don't think that these are to far out of my realm of things that I can accomplish.

Bronchitis ickys!!

Well I am home sick with Bronchitis! Yeah thought it wash a cold but when things kept getting worse , I guess vitamin C, ornage juice and tylenol doesn't cure bronchitis. Then to top it all off the lady in the ER said that I had the begining stages of Pneumonia.... WHAT?!?!??! How in the world did I get that? Haven't I had enough to deal with this month? I told medical I just needed to get rid of it so that the navy could do my surgery in January. Two cough medicines, an antibiotic, and an inhaler later I was on my way home. Told to stay home and rest for 3 days. I was supposed to go in and work Thursday and the command decided not to work! Yeah so I can rest and try to make it to my brothers for Christmas if I feel up to it. My family will be happy to hear that.


I wish that I could say that I have gotten alot done while being home but up until today I have had so many coughing fits that I just didn't feel like doing anything. Hopefully Christmas and the weekend following will be a little different and I will get some sewing done. I have a whole list of things that I need to get sewn for my secret santa that thank goodness understands that things are going to be late. I feel horrible but will add a few extras just because she had to wait.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I'm sorry to be writing you this letter so late but this cold is kickin my butt. I have been drinking lots of water and orange juice like a good girl and hope that all the vitamin C will soon take care of it.

I'm writing to let you know that I really REALLY would like the the fat quarter bundle Blessings by Brannock and Patek from The Fat Quarter Shop. As you know this has been a very trying year for me. I have been very patient through the trials and the tribulations of Navy Medical and the many appointments that I have had. It was recently decided that the Navy is going to do a second nerve surgery on my arm. I think that this Fat Quarter bundle says it all! It would forever be a reminder to count my blessings and to remember the blessings that I have already received.


I would be really grateful if you would bring me the Blessings Fat Quarter Bundle as I think it would be just the ticket to a speedy (well as fast as it can heal) recovery. I could spread the bundle out where I could see the beautiful colors and feel the wonderful fabric. I think that this would be just the inspiration that I would need to get through the trials of therapy and even be therapy in itself! Hmm... imagine that Fabric Therapy. You know they were teaching some people over at the therapy clinic to sew when I was there earlier this year!

I know just what I would like to make with the fat quarters too!! This year I want to set a goal to make a Dear Jane Quilt or one that is similar in design and Blessings would be just perfect. I'm sure that my quilty friends will be the blessings that I need and promise to help me through therapy and cheer for me.



Smiles,





P.S. Mom if your reading this, this is a blog "Challange" and not something that you should secretly pass on to Keith. Although I wouldn't mind if you did.. Smiles

Oh Christmas tree Oh Christmas tree!

I just thought that I would show you a picture of our first christmas tree together.

Its not the best picture but its ours. There were a lot of ornaments added as the month went on because I was giving Keith special ornaments for his 12 days of Christmas. Here is a view of our winter village. We each picked some pieces and when things went on sale the collection grew.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

14 Days until Christmas!!

I can't believe that there are only 14 days until christmas. Sunday I will start Keiths "12 Days of Christmas" goodies.. He is excited about it but a little upset when he realized that I was planning it. I told him that just because I was planning something doesn't mean that he has to do the same. But he feels like he is not creative and that bothers him.

I think he will feel better once he realizes that it was nothing too extravagant.. most of them are christmas ornaments that I searched for through out the stores and some had to revert to ebay for. Mark Martin doesn't have christmas ornaments this year so I had to do some searching.

If I get out of work at a decent time today I am going to try to go to a neighboring towns walmart to look for something as we went to ours and the christmas stuff is slim pickings. Keith said last night I guess we will have to shop earlier next year then.. LOL I guess so if they are not going to re-stock. They were stocking some Christmas stuff right after Halloween stuff went out and Halloween was slim pickings the first week of October.

I haven't decided what of the 12 things that I am going to give him on Sunday.. I'm kinda thinking that I will just put them out and tell him that they bigger ones are for the last couple of days and that he can pick as long as he doesn't peek at them. I think that sounds like a good idea that way even I don't know what he is going to get that day because I won't know what bag or box he will choose.

Well I am going to go ahead and post this and start making my to do list for today and the rest of the weekend.. want to be as productive as possible.

Colder Weather = Comfort Food

I know food has nothing to do with Quilting or other crafts but in my head it does... Come in the warm house smell the great food.. and settle in for a warm day of crafting and comfort in the house.


Today has been alot warmer than the last couple days. Yesterday when I came in to work the thermometer on my truck read 25 degrees.. The little kid in me was hoping for a snow day from work but it didn't happen.


On days like that all I want to do is go home turn the heat on cook some soup and find something creative to do. Perhaps one of my favorite (and Keiths too) is the Broccoli Cheese Soup at Panera Bread... and you know what I found us all a recipe! So here it is.. Panera Breads Broccoli Cheese Soup ... There are quite a few versions of it this one had high rankings but I know what ingrediants I'm putting on the grocery list this week.


How many out there are still doing christmas shopping? Or frantically working on Christmas projects to give as gifts? Does dinner (or lunch) get put on the back burner because your busy doing other things? My plan this weekend is to try to work some crockpot recipes in the am (or the night prior) so that Keith can go and do what ever shopping he has left and I can work on projects that I desperately need to get finished.. I have a feeling I will be burning the midnight oil finishing up my secret santa gifts.. not that I don't have the list going its the motivation after work that is killing me.

So its going to be a crockpot weekend so that Keith can shop and I can sew and dinner will be ready when we are ready to eat. Saterday is looking like Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Sunday may be a soup or some chili and cornbread. I'm sure that I will change my mind 100 times but the pot roast sounds so good that it is going to happen.

What will be on the list of sewing this weekend... Well I have some super secret stuff that the children will soon hang by the chimney with care.... and no christmas is complete with out santa's mode of transportation..

Christmas Traditions!!

What are your Christmas traditions? When I was a kid Mom would always buy lots of ingredients to make Christmas cookies, fudge and well pretty much what ever new recipies we would find. One year she made Orange creme fudge, and I think I remember Rasberry and Blackberry fudge as well. (Don't tell Keith if I get to those they will be a suprise).

We would put out cookies for Santa and Mom or Dad would read the christmas stories that she had pulled out of various magazines that year or the ones that she had saved from the previous years. Christmas eve we would get to open one present that mom and Dad choose for us and it was usually a brand new pair of Pajamas... I loved my pajamas probably because I am always cold but I love them. From what Keith said his family would do the same and well the new Pajamas didn't go over so well with him. But then again hes a boy and well what boy is ever excited to recieve clothes on any holiday?

Lets get back to those cookies though because that was the real purpose of this post. Depending on how my watch and other projects on my to do list go this weekend will decide if I get to the baking that I have promised Keith and Mom that I would get to for Christmas eve at Ryans and for special goodies at the house.

I happened to see a comercial for Betty Crocker Christmas cookies and remembered that the best cookies came out of Mom's Betty Crocker cook book. So I started surfing the Betty Crocker site and found some fantastic cookies, brownies, etc.

Super Easy Christmas Tree Brownies



Candy Cane Cookies



Spiral Snowman



These are just a few that I have seen that are fast and easy. Most of the new recipies use the betty crocker mixes rather than baking from scratch. Some of my favorites are Snickerdoodles with the red and green sprinkles on them and Chocolate Krinkles those are awesome. Gingersnaps those are the best to dip in milk.. smiles. I'm not sure if the recipe that I linked to is the same as Mom's recipe but it sounded similar.

Well that is about all for the recipes and holiday fun today.

More Holiday Helpers!!

I guess it has been a couple years but a while ago I set out to do the 12 days of Christmas gifts and it ended up being so much more. Here is the link to my previous post 12 days of Christmas part 1 and then to the post following it Part 2. Keep in mind that some of the links may be dead ends but alot of them still work. If you see something that you like and the link doesn't work let me know and I will do a search for some other great projects that are similar.

I know that there are alot of people out there that do other things like crochet and Knit so I figured what is the harm in posting about those things as well. I know that this blog is titled Quilting Adventures but it wasn't always that way .. I Changed it a while back and have no idea why. I actually crochet and learned to do it at about age 5, what can I say I wanted to know what mommy was doing. After joining the navy I rarely crochet and even less now due to the nerve in my arm. I actually tried to crochet a project a couple weeks back and failed miserably had to ask mom to do it for me.

I personally would like to set a goal to crochet, knit or cross stitch, plastic canvas, or quilt 5 small ornaments for our Christmas tree this year. I think that is a safe goal.. anyone what to join me? I have a few ornaments in mind some that I already posted about and then others that I saw and will post about now.



This blog has alot of neat things. The lady has decided to take a break but alot of her patterns are for sale on ravelry. She has some cute patterns for Christmas ornaments starting here.





Here is a Christmas light ornament.. very cute

and a couple of reindeer's here and here.

I hope that you will join me if you have time to play and make a few ornaments whether they go on your tree or get used as package toppers I think it will be fun and those 5 before christmas shouldn't be to hard to achieve.

Holiday Helpers!!

Are you looking for some creative gifts to give to people? Maybe a creative something to take to the guilds secret santa exchange?

This Link has ideas for making gift baskets not just for your favorite sewer but for others in the family as well.


How about a wine gift basket? That is what I am going to put together for my brother and sister-in-law. Here is a pattern for a bottle cover/ bag could be used for wine or apple cider. I myself am going to modify the pattern a bit and make the bags smaller and use them to wrap some Marinades to put in my husbands stocking because he loves to grill.

Do you have some one that is going to be at your house for the holidays and doesn't have a stocking to hang up for Christmas morning? Here is a quick and easy stocking pattern that could be used for unexpected guests or maybe an exchange that you could fill with sewing goodies and notions.

Here is a few quick ornaments that you can make to give to neighbors, attach to packages, give as teachers gifts or maybe use as a project to spend time with your kids.

Stocking Ornament

Star Ornament
Yo Yo Wreath Ornament.. I personally would use a darker green fabric that has the hollyberrys printed on it but if you don't mind sewing on the beads I'm sure it will look awesome.

Well that concludes this segment of Holiday Helpers we'll see what I can find through out today and this after noon. If I find some good things to share with everyone I might get some thing posted this evening but that all depends on what couple time Keith and I decide to do. Yesterday we go home had a fish tank emergency and then after dinner I was pretty much done. Fell asleep on the couch and Keith woke me up to tell me the new Kitty unrolled the toilet paper and then to tell me that it was time to go to bed.

200th Post gone!! No give away... :-(

Well since I was a dunce and missed the 200th post (Its been one of those days believe me.. smiles), I am going to wait until my 250th post and will host a small give away. Yeah I know your thinking to your self you hardly post but I am going to set myself a few minutes every night when I get home from work to talk about what I did the day before. Like yesterday for example I came home ate dinner and then let Keiths new kitty out of isolation to let her roam a little.

I didn't tell you about the new kitty did I? well its about that time for me to be cleaning up to get out of here and head home.. We lost Keith's 3 year old angel fish this morning and well there was one other shocker for this morning but it was my fault I was stupid and don't feel like posting about it today so maybe another time. I think I am going to go to the pet store this afternoon and get a new filter for Keiths tank as he is not fond of the one that we have now, pick up some kitty christmas presents and then head home to cook dinner and relax. Have had a headache all day and the fumes from the work that the contractors are doing in our building hasn't helped that at all.

So heads up be watching for that post 250.. who knows what the give away will be but I'm looking and planning.. might be right after christmas or so.. I still have yet to post Keiths 12 days of Christmas.. those to a lot of thought and not much planning so I'm hoping that he will enjoy them.

I also had a 12 days of Christmas gifts post that I thought I had typed out but apparently I only have it in email. Looking for some last minute gifts? Some Blog give aways? Or maybe some last minute things to make your holiday brighter? Stay tuned those will be posted here in the next couple days as well.

And Secret Pal if your reading watch for those teasers that I promised. Smiles!!



22 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Where did November go?

Well I have no idea where my november went and if you have looked at my blog I just finally pushed all the posts that were sitting as drafts out on my blog with out pictures because well lets just face it I write them tell my self that I need to add said pictures and then never do. I had 6 or 8 posts that needed to be published and now they are out there. The latest weekend post was actually from the begining of November but pretty much says what I have planned for this weekend. Anyone that has been around and known me for a while knows that last february I was placed in a Limited Duty status for the navy. Taking me away from my normal job working on aircraft and putting me at a desk were my arm was supposed to get better through all the therapy and what not.

Well the latest on that is that I have finially been able to stop making the drive back and forth to San Diego. A few weeks ago they sent me for an EMG study where they shocked the crap out of the nerve in my arm to test the conductivity and reaction time... It didn't go so well and I had a follow up with the Orthopedic Surgeon last week. He has taken responsibility for my case file and now most of my appointments will be here local. I was hoping that they would be able to fix things with out another surgery on the nerve that has already been worked on but that isn't the case this time. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday January 13 and they have given me 30 days convalescent leave from work after surgery to start the recovery process. Pending the out come of this surgery will decide if the navy seperates me from Active duty.

My hopes for the new year.. to have some relief from the nerve pain that I have had a gain the motivation to sew back. (crossing my fingers)

This Weekend!!

Ok as many times as I have said it before and it never happens I am setting some goals for this weekend.. Keith has decided that he is going to work on the yard and wash cars and what not so I am going to do something that will help to organize my sewing room.. Yeah its a mess, for as organized as I had gotten it before mom came to help .. we crammed a bunch of things in there before Keith git home to get them out of the way.

So this weekend I am going to write my list and actually post it to my blog to maintain some sort of accountability for things. I am going to fix my blog and actually publish the posts that have been sitting waiting on pictures or for me to finish writing them, and I am going to fix my 100 blocks in 100 days thats on the side of my blog.

The group that was working on the 100 blocks has since disbanded so I have some other goals that I am going to keep track of instead. I have an up coming Christmas swap that I am going to be working on for a secret friend.. well not really secret we know about the swap but all the goodies are secret and I am going to put out some teasers.. smiles. Also there was one other friend that had signed up for the swap but due to prior commitments we didn't get enough participants and I want to send her a little suprise .. just because.. I hope that it will make her smile.. I might even have a family member mail it from some where so that it really is a suprise.

So I am off to make my list and start getting it typed to put on the blog.

Nancy Halvosen

How many of you out there are like me and LOVE Nancy Halvorsen's designs? I love them and everything about them, the colors the fabric designs as well as her patterns. I love it all. A few years ago I bought the Peppermint & Hollyberries book and that stared it all. I currently have all the FQs to make the reindeer quilt (shown on the back of the book) and have had them since I purchased the book but have yet to do anything with it. Then along came Star of Wonder, 12 Days of Christmas, and this year I believe in Santa.. all books that I have purchased and yet to do projects out of.



Keith has also looked through the books and pointed out the things that he liked and well, they have in turn been added to the infamous list of "THINGS/ PROJECTS TO DO". It seems as though things are always added to the list and very rarely do things get finished to take off the list. Maybe that will have to be my new years resolution.. Its going to be that or Keith has threatened to send me to fabric buyers anonymous. Ha ha ha.. who's coming with me? It will be like a sewing bee or something like that.. a guild maybe?

Oh and did I mention that there is a new book out? Called "Sew Necessary"? All sorts of things to organize your sewing space.. and yes I will have to purchase that one too!

How many of you out there have started the Christmas Count down? Have started working on christmas projects? I would like to say that I have done the second and am trying to ignore the first but that is not happening for either of them!! With the upcoming Doctors appointment and the possibility of another surgery possibly just before or just after christmas in my head Christmas is too close!! and needs to be pushed back a couple of months.

Keith and I have purchased several of the ceramic houses and shops from the Lemax 2009 Christmas Village. If you have a chance check them out they are super neat. We purchased christmas lights to put up on the house.. that can be programed to flash different sequences (sort of) that is another story for later. We have a couple new ornaments one for our first year being married and on with an eagle and the flag. Then there is the christmas shopping... I have purchased a few things for him, some special 12 Days of Christmas goodies that I will post here when I figure everything out and can get pictures (he won't know he still doesn't know how to get to my blog) some other odds and ends and then one other thing that I put on layaway at sears for 2 reasons... 1 so that I knew that I had it and it wouldn't be sold out before Christmas and 2. so that I could take advantage of the 30 day return policy incase he wants something different. I didn't want to buy it now and then have something be wrong with it and not be able to return it.


So anyway today when I get home from work will be yet another non creative day. Unless you consider baking breads for the Divisional potluck tomorrow being creative. I still have banana and zuchinni breads to mix and bake and Keith is going to make ziti for me to take in the crockpot.

Update on Doctors and other things.

Well where to start?? We are finally getting some where with the doctors and my arm pain. Tuesday I had an appointment with the neurologist here in town and she performed an EMG nerve conduction study on my arm. This is nothing new it was actually the 4th time that they have done it twice before the surgery once last year when i returned from deployment and then a couple days ago. The last one was more indept than any of the other procedures that I have had done and they found out that the nerve that the doctors have already moved once is either still being pinched or pinched again by scar tissue. Either way we have some answers.

We are not sure yet if they are going to decide to do surgery.. I have some more follow up appointments.. and if they do we have no idea when but assume that it will be sooner rather than later because of the chance of further damage.

So in light of that I have started to get my special christmas things together because I know what happened the last time I had surgery. The last time I had surgery in October and still had a removable cast in January. I have put together gifts for the "12 Days of Christmas" for Keith and think I am still missing a few. Most of them are just special ornaments and then I will have to fill in the missing days but I think it will be fun.

Keith still hasn't figured out how to find my blog so I will be able to post them here to show everyone and share.. it will be fun!

Advent Calendar....

Taking a poll.. do you have an advent calendar that counts down to christmas? What do you put in the pockets? As a kid my mom made one that had pockets on the bottom and a big green christmas tree on the top. Each pocket had and ornament that we would velcro to the tree and the last two were always Santa and his Reindeer.

I currently have quite a few advent calendar panels and a bunch of them have pockets to fill. Just curious as to what to put in them.. I have ornaments and small candies but would really like to put other things in there other than candy.

Looking for mantle banners?

Has any one seen the holiday mantle banners? I vaugly remember seeing patterns for holiday banners that you drap across the mantle that had santa's or something on them that I'm guessing that they tucked under the things that you have sitting on your mantle.. has anyone seen these?? Or remember them?? If you could point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it. Keith has talked about making this Christmas special and I want to make sure that I get some things done to make them that way.

I know that I won't get to them this year but I can put the banner patterns on my wish list of books to buy. And things to complete in the years to come. I did find one in a Nancy Halvorsen book that is a santas head but I'm looking for some more as well. I would really like some snowmen or snowflakes or something .. I think that I could take the basic idea from the one that I have and adapt it to what I want but I still want other ideas.

Projects in progress and upcoming Thanksgiving

While Keith was deployed I kept looking at the Twilight Frost tree skirt in the connecting threads catalog. Finally I wrote him and sent him a picture and asked him what he thought. He told me that he liked it and so that was that I had to have it. It arrived in the mail while mom was staying with me but because we were busy getting things ready for Keith it was put away. I recently pulled it out, seperated all the fabric and it has all been cut and prepared to sew together. Can you believe that the hard part is done and yet I still haven't sewn anything.. How frustrating. There are peices currently up on my make shift design wall and I hope that after the commad potluck I will have the time to sit and sew.


I have come up with so many christmas ideas for Keith some of them that aren't going to work out this year and then others that I have been putting things away for, for a while now. This weekend I hope to be able to organize and figure out what I have left to get so that I won't have to worry about it.

We were working on planning our menu for Thanksgiving but have decided to order a Turkey meal from Omaha Steaks. Its already been ordered and we recieved it. There should be enough for us to have a nice meal and then to have sandwiches the next couple of days. There were a few side dishes that didn't come with the meal that we are going to cook. I might try to make some rolls with the bread machine I'm not sure yet though.

Halloween 2009

Well our plans of watching movies for Halloween didn't pan out we were too busy back and forth to the door for Trick or Treaters and watching all the little kids so excited to be dressed up to pay any attention to the movie at all. So we have "Monsters Vs. Aliens" to watch for another time when we have some relaxing time together.

Keith and I decided that this time instead of ordering pizza that we were going to make our own, with the premade pizza crust of course but we got to top them with everything that we wanted and didn't have to wait for the delivery guy or go pick it up.

As far as our candy went well .... In the begining Keith was being the nice guy on the corner and handing out handfuls of candy. I'm sure that the neighborhood parents were thrilled and that one day they will get us back for it. Soon we realised that there was going to be a shortage of candy and I made the run to the grocery store to get more. As I was pulling up to the grocery store the bag boys tackled some guy that I am assuming was shop lifting.. so I decided to be quick and get the heck out of there.

Over all we had alot of fun we carved our pumpkins.. I brought some of those cotton spider webs home and Keith hung them in our doorway, and to make things more festive Keith turned on the stereo in the Garage with creepy halloween music because XM/Sirus had a special channel just for that purpose parties and Haunted houses.

Update on Projects and Posts to come....

Well there isn't much to update on the projects that I have been working one. I have yet to finish the blocks for Keiths coming home quilt.. but that is going to be my project for tonight. Mom and Dad are here and we are going to do the lawn one last time before Keith gets home. He gets home Wednesday can you tell that I am excited?

I know that its not time for new years resolutions yet but I have some goals for the month of november.. I want to organize my quilt room.. maybe not completely but I want to make it a little easier to find some things. Then I want to make my list of UFO's and TO DO LATER projects and get those on a list on my blog.. maybe if I have a list that I can look at it will motivate me to get things done.

100 Blocks in 100 Days

Well the Prolific online Quilters have started a challange.. 100 quilt blocks in 100 Days. Just something to get us sewing. I would like to say that I am doing well but.. I'm not. So far I have a meesly 2 blocks on my counter and hope to add at least 7 more this weekend if not more.

I do have a couple thoughts though.. I have been trying to change some things here and there in our house and really haven't gotten all that I wanted to get accomplished. I recently embelished a kitchen towel for a friend and have started bathroom towels for my brother. I think that it would be awesome to embelish a few towels for the bathroom for the holidays.. I always thing about the kitchen stuff and never the bathroom.. so that was just put on the list for projects to think about. They don't count as blocks but I haven't gotten my patterns for the blocks I really want to go crazy on.

When I finish the above mentioned 7 blocks that I need to finish for Keiths quilt then I can start digging through my UFOs and start working on those blocks. I have alot of motivation while I'm sitting here but most days that motivation is gone before I ever make it home.

My goal tonight 3 blocks! If I can get 3 today and another 4 tomorrow that would be awesome. Stay tuned to see what I complete this weekend. I have the weekend to my self no yard work, no duty, and minimal cleaning.

Getting caught up..

Well this week I feel like I have gotten nothing accomplished. Nothing new in the house nothing new sewn. Well that is not completely true.. I finished 2 blocks for a coming home quilt for Keith and then a Halloween towel for my Halloween swap partner. I will wait to post pictures about it when I know that she has received it. I don't think that she reads this but I don't know so I will leave some of it to be a suprise.

I did put together a shelf unit for our closet but have yet to get things organized on it and in looking at things think that I am going to go get another shelf before they are no longer on sale. I should be getting out of work by about 1030 or 11 today since I am only here to help out duty section not to actually stand duty.

I have my list of things that I need to get done before I can settle in for the night and flip on the tv and fight with lilly about eating my thread. Which reminds me I need to stop and get some more. I am currently debating if I want to drive to Fresno or to Visalia today.. I really don't want to make the drive but there are things that I need.

Here are the latest blocks.. Just a few more to go and they will be off to Jill to quilt for me since I didn't get a chance to even learn how to use my frame. Soon though.. Keith will be home and I won't have to worry about re-arranging the house.. LOL

I got to sew!!

I am super excited! Just before Keith left he made a comment to me about he wondered if my friends would make him a welcome home from deployment quilt like they made me last year. As always he had that cute little boy grin. Well it just didn't feel right to ask one of my quilting groups to help me out and I hadn't been sewing much at all not because I didn't want to but because I didn't feel up to it. Sewing is something that I love and with all the issues with my arm some days it just felt like a chore and I didn't want to associate the two.

Anyway I have been talking to my friend Jill alot more the last couple months than I have in the last year or so. Together we decided to put together a quilt for Keith a block sampler like mine but different so that we could both curl up on the couch together with our own quilts when he gets back.

I just want to send out a great big hug and thank you again to all the ladies that helped to put together my quilt. Quilts really do make things better. There is not a day that goes by that I dont look at or lay with the quilt and think about the love that went into my quilt. Alot of days when I get home from work and don't feel well I curl up with it and a few minutes later Lillybeth is curled up with me.. smiles.

Ok back to my sewing... This weekend I pulled out my Carol Doak "Learn to paper piece" DVD and decided that I was going to learn to paper piece. To top it off I am a glutten for punishment.. I couldn't pick an easy block to learn on I picked one that had like 500 pieces to it. (okay not really but it had alot). I finished it about midnight last night and you know what? I really liked it! Here are a couple pictures of the blocks that I finished this weekend. Hoping to finish more tonight.

Here are the 2 blocks that my mom made. Yes your seeing those right they are both cross stitch and I think that they look fantastic. (The first one is actually cream fabric not yellow but I couldn't get my camera to take a good picture.) They will both get borders before being added to the quilt.

Thats all for now!! :-)

What a week..

Well I think enough has happened this week to last me the rest of the month. First was Keiths fish.. then yesterday it was a hot chocolate/ coffee fiasco translated the carpet in my truck needs to be cleeaned.. and then last night....

My desktop computer died... I think its the power supply but haven't decided if I want to replace it again. The computer is old and I probably need a new one but I have no I dea what I am going to do to try to fix or better yet to get my information and files off the computer.

Then last night I had trouble sleeping (a normal thing now adays) and really really didn't want to get up and go to work this morning. It actually felt like a chore to get in the shower pain and all.

Needless to say it has been a rough week or so and I am looking forward to going home today and taking a nap.. possibly just going to bed for the evening.

Poor Poor Fishy....

Well today I had to send the 2nd of Keiths fish into the fishy after life. The first one I didn't even notice was gone until I went to clean the tank... Ok let me back up a little.. I noticed something was different but couldn't figure out what was missing and figured that I was just feeling guilty for not cleaning it. Keith asked friday if I had cleaned it and I admitted that i hadn't.. when I looked in the tank after talking to him I noticed that one of the other fish was sick.

I'm pretty stupid when it comes to fish so I looked it up on the internet to figure out what the fish had and then how to make it better.. the reported cause for the fish ickys was a dirty tank! My first thought OMG I'm killing his fish!!. So I preceeded to clean the tank and I found some things that we already had to medicate the fish that was sick. easy enough right? Yeah or so I thought... Its really hard to clean a tank while trying to watch a curious Lilly thats hissing at the fish bucket on the floor.. comical I wish some one was here to see it other than me.

Anyway after cleaning the tank I thought good now maybe the sick fish will get better... Mmm ... not so much it spazzed out swimming full speed face first into the glass and the rocks and then upside down.. I freaked out... It layed in the rocks and I thought for sure it was dead.. I went to get the net to scoop him out and he was swimming again .. NORMAL.. this went on the spastic tendencies and then today he finally gave up.. I know that it sounds wrong.. I should have flushed him before but I continued to medicate the tank in the hopes that it would cure him.

The rest of the fish are doing fine.. begging for food as I walk past the tank and then teasing Lilly.. She sits on the floor staring into the tank but hisses at them when they are close enough for her to touch.. What a goober.

Sunday projects... BOM

Well I didn't accomplish any thing spectacular, But i did get some sewing done. I had some fat quarters that I wanted to make into a Yellow Brick Road quilt that I ironed last night. It took me almost all day to get them cut into the strips required (I had to keep taking breaks) About 5 or so I decided to go find something that I could just sew.. some charms or something. I found a bag full of Block of the month blocks and decided to play with those. I completed 3 months worth and have decided that I have been up late enough and I am headed to bed.. Good night everyone!!