Remember This?

Remember this Pinwheel quilt from last May? In June my
friend took it with her back to Nebraska to machine quilt
it for me.
















When she returned in July it was too hot to bind it and
I put it away thinking I would get to it in the fall when
the temperatures cooled down.  Well, you know the
saying, "out of sight, out of mind?"  That's exactly what
happened until today when I was sorting through
some projects and realized this had never been finished.

Although today was not terribly cold, it seemed like a
good day to pull it out and sew the binding on.  And,
that's exactly what I did  Yeah! One more unfinished
project FINISHED!

 









When my friend came on Wednesday she brought me a
a wonderful surprise..actually more than one.  But this I just
had to share.  (The picture does not do it justice.
There is no blue, just black and white)

And when  I opened it...she had stitched this...
Karen's  Huswif Needlecase from her First Friday
Freebie Patterns.  I LOVE it!

It has sat next to me today as I have sewed on the
quilt binding and done a little stitching. 

Now I think I'll give my little fingers a much needed
rest.
Nola

Show and Tell!

Yesterday was a disappointing day.  My friend and I had
planned a trip to our favorite quilt shop, but it turned out to
be a snowy day.  We received about 4 inches of fresh snow
and as a result very icy and slick roads.  So, our outing was
put off until today.

When I awoke to a blanket of fog, I thought "No, it can't
be. We can't put this off again!"  Luckily by the time I
arrived home from work it had lifted enough to be safe to
travel and for her to drive down the canyon.  Although she
did get into some areas of thick fog, for the most part it was
good.  And once we headed out, there was no problem.
In fact, on our way home we were favored with sunshine
and partially clear blue skies.

We were so happy to find Moda's "Sunkissed" for our
Birdie BOM stitchery ( http://littlemissshabby.blogspot.com )

and fell in love with all the beautiful fabrics and colors in this
line and knew immediately that we wanted our quilt out of
this fabric.  The gray for the background is just perfect!
Now to get that first block sewn and stitched.

Of course, one cannot just walk in there and not come
away with more projects:

Found this stitchery for a St. Patrick's Day Pillow and
some awesome green fabric...

...And some pink fabric to use in a stitchery for my
Granddaughter's special  birthday coming up in May.
(Sorry  pictures do not do justice to the  greens and
pinks)

And last of all two Valentine Stitchery patterns
that may or may not get done this year:

Guess it's a good thing I just completed a couple of
projects so I could replace the empty spots in  my sewing
room!

Nola

Getting Excited for Valentines!

I'm Thinking Valentines!  Love the festive look the pinks and
reds give my home.  So nice to have fun cheery colors around
as everything looked pretty dismal when Christmas was taken
down.

Today I was able to complete this little "Lonely Hearts Club"
table topper by Sandy Gervais.  Had purchased the pattern
and charm pack last year and never got it made up. I like how
it turned out and it was so easy using the charm pack.

Now I can cross one more purchased and unfinished
project off my list.  Does this mean when I go visit my
favorite quilt shop tomorrow with my friend that I can
buy another project to replace this one?  Need I answer
that!

Getting excited about Valentines!

Nola

Sunday Sewing

I do not normally sew with my sewing machine on Sunday, but
this morning I did as I wanted to finish a little project so I could
do some hand stitching on it this evening.

Because I was in a hurry, I sewed two rows together upside
down and had to unpick them.  Thought to myself, "this is what
I get for sewing on Sunday."  As I sat there with my sharp
little blue seam ripper plucking out stitches, into my head
popped a saying of my mother's.  When we were little we
were not allowed to sew on Sunday.  Mother always told us
that if we sewed on Sunday that "when we got to Heaven we
would have to unpick all our stitches with our nose." 

Now how that was possible I do not know, but it stuck with
me and I always worried about having to unpick stitches
with my nose when I could hardly get them out with a seam
ripper, pin, or whatever.

Through the years mother became less rigid and we were
allowed to do handwork, but could not use the sewing
machine.  To this day I can sit and do handwork, but using
my machine brings on the guilt.

If the saying holds true, I best get my nose "sharpened" before
I leave this mortal existence.  Just wish I could chat with
mother for a short time and see if she is finding it difficult
to "unpick her stitches with her nose!"

Being careful what I sew....

Nola

Quick and Easy!

I love anything that is quick and easy and turns out cute!  So
when my local quilt shop offered the pattern and kits for
seasonal hot pads last year, I purchased them each month
thinking they would make great gifts.

Sat down this afternoon and made this one is just a couple
of hours.

Because it worked up so quickly, think I'll rummage through
my stash and see if I can come up with enough red's or
pink's to make a few more.

Make it a great weekend!

Nola

Busy Couple of Days!

Time seems like it is flying by again.  January is usually a slow
month for me, but not this year.  Here it is 3/4 of the way over
and I'm still not organized for the New Year like I had planned
to be.  My son did help me today get my spread sheet set
up for the year and I got my tax information all transferred.
Now I just need to get my paper file for the year completed and
then I should be good to go with the finance records for the
year.

I've also been cutting 6-1/2 inch squares again trying to get
those baskets emptied out.

The "blue" basket is now about 3/4 empty!  Today I gave
345 squares to a friend in my old neighborhood.  She and a
group of ladies make humanitarian quilts.  They get together
every Monday to quilt.  It felt so good to find a home for
more of this fabric and such a blessing to know that it will
benefit someone who could really use a warm quilt.

Last evening we all met here for FHE.  After dinner we
decorated Valentine cookies for our dessert.

We were able visit via web cam with my son and
daughter in law to thank them for the wonderful goodies
they had sent.  So grateful for technology that allows us
to be close even when we are so far away.

Can you stand one more picture?  As  I was filing some
papers tonight I glanced out my window and was once again
favored by a gorgeous fiery red sky as the sun slowly sank
below the horizon.

And a  few minutes later I was rewarded with this breath-
taking view:

It is so fun that I can look out a front window and see this
sunset and quickly scoot to a back (east) window and see the
reflection on the snow-covered mountains.

Well, it's time for dinner and then think I'll do a little
stitching.

Enjoy!

Nola

With My Little Eye...

 ...I spy---

---My little crocus' and a spring pansey poking their little heads
up through their protective leaf covering.

They give me hope that spring can't be too far away!

Smiling today,

Nola

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Outside my window...The sun is slowly lowering on the horizon, but

still strong enough to reflect off my neighbor's house.  The sky is

mostly blue but some heavy storm clouds are still lingering over

the mountains.  They are beginning to take on a pink cast.

Woke to rain this morning.  Weatherman said we would probably

get snow later on, but it must have passed us by because by

mid-morning it was all over.  However, there has been a cool breeze 

blowing which is nice because it along with the rain has cleared out 

the inversion.  It has been wonderful seeing the bright sunshine.

I am thinking...What a wonderful couple of days I've had 

with my grandson's.  They have been off school for two days.

Monday we all went to see the movie, "Tangled".  Loved it!

Then yesterday, Ian spent the day with me.  We went out

to lunch, stopped at the craft store and picked up a small

project to work on,

watched "Toy Story 1", played games, and shared dinner together

before taking him back home.

I am thankful for...packages that are unexpected.  Yesterday

a package arrived from my son and daughter in law.  It was

filled with yummy cookies and candy from New Zealand.

Ian couldn't wait to open it and do a test taste.  Yummy!

From the kitchen...The tantalizing smell of soup simmering

on the stove.

I am wearing...What I always wear, levi's, white t-shirt,

long sleeved blue shirt, and fuzzy socks.

I am creating...Memories with my grandchildren.  I hope

that down the road when I am gone they will remember

the fun times we spent together and know how much

their grandmother loved them.

I am going...To finish binding the last side of my "butterfly"

quilt.  Then when the family comes over tomorrow evening,

the kids can wrap up in it or play on the floor with it.

I am reading..."The Seventeen Second Miracle" by Jason F.

Wright.

I am hoping...To get back to walking.  It has been so cold

and the inversion so bad, that I haven't been out and I really

miss it. Riding my stationary bike just isn't the same.

I am hearing...  Pandora Radio

Around the house...  Cuddle quilt laying across the sofa

waiting to be finished, yummy cookies and candy sitting on

the counter tempting me.

One of my favorite things...Hearing my 9-month old grandson

starting to laugh and seeing his face light up when he

recognizes me.  Love that great big grin!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Birthday lunch for my neighbor tomorrow

Emergency preparedness class in the evening

FHE here...I'm in charge of dinner.  What to fix,

what to fix!

Tomorrow and Saturday work

Baste table topper and begin quilting it

Sunday Church

 Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My table topper all pieced

Make it a great day!

Nola

Doing Good!

Both my sister and I had visits with our respective doctors today
...her with her cardiologist and me with my oncologist and I'm
happy to report we are both doing well tonight.

My sister met with her doctor for an angiogram as she has still
been having chest pain.  Four more stents were implanted (she
now has 7) and we are hopeful that this will ease the pain and
allow the heart to work as it should.

I'm good to go for another four months.  A small lump I was
concerned about turned out to be a small cyst.  Everything
else came out great.  And the exciting news I got is that if
everything is still good at my next visit in May, we will extend
my visits to every six months.  Yeah!

We have much to be grateful for this day.

While cleaning out a couple of drawers this weekend I found
this cartoon of "Hagar, The Horrible" in a file folder and thought
I'd share it. (click on picture to enlarge)

Guess if I'm not going to waste this year, I best get planning
as the days are quickly slipping by.  But, I'm afraid my
good intentions may go by the wayside like Hagar's.

Have a happy day!

Nola

Today is Stephen's Birthday...

I just finished visiting with my dear friend whose son would
have been 33 years old today.  Stephen passed away 14 years
ago this past November.

He and a group of his friends left after high school graduation
for a boating trip to Lake Powell.  The last day of their trip
they decided to take one last dive in to Lake Powell.  When
Stephen didn't resurface his friends searched for him and
found he was seriously injured.  Help was called for and a
boat sailing nearby came to their rescue.  On board was a
doctor and a nurse who recognized the distress he was in.

Stephen was life flighted to Provo, then Ogden and finally
ended up in Salt Lake.  He was paralyzed from the neck
down.  Stephen touched many lives during his six months
of  hospitalization.  His courage, determination, faith and
testimony was amazing.  No one came away from visiting
with him without feeling uplifted.  He never complained and
was always positive through all the procedures he endured.

His last words to me were "take care of my mother" a
promise that has been easy to keep because of the bond
we share. 

I can't begin to imagine what it is like to lose a child.
It is something we all hope we will never have to face.
Yet, my dear friend has weathered this loss with a
strength that is amazing.  Her faith and testimony carry her
through the difficult days.  She has been and is an
inspiration to me and to all those around her. 

Today I express my love and admiration for all who
have lost a child.  Although I can never completely
understand your pain and loss, I do feel and try to
understand the depth of your loss.

As I told my friend, Heavenly Father understands your
loss and He is always there to comfort you.  Thank you
for your strength, courage and determination to go
forward in faith.

Nola

Sprucing Up The Living Room!

We had snow last evening and when I woke this morning everything
was so pretty and clean-looking that it made me want to clean.  So,
after snow blowing the drive and sidewalks, sewing a few more
flying geese blocks for my table topper, decided it was time to dig
in.

By then, the sun was shining in the window and it gave me the lift
I needed to get busy.  Moved all the furniture around in the living
room, mopped the baseboards, wiped down the walls, vaccumed
the rug and furniture, and polished the all the accent pieces.

It looks and smells clean and fresh!  Will have to wait another day
to do the curtains when my daughter can help me.  Windows, too,
must wait as we are going to get  more storm, possibly in the form
of rain, next week.

At Christmas I received a package in the mail from my friend,
Barb.  (You can find her wonderful blog here:)
http://sweetheartsinlife.blogspot.com
And, this is what was inside:  This beautiful crocheted
doily she had made.  I LOVE doilies and have them all around
my home.  Isn't it beautiful!

I had the perfect table for it and couldn't wait until
Christmas was taken down and put away so I could
use it.

I desperately needed some bright and cherry flowers
to break up the grayness of the outdoors.  So I dug
out this arrangement and it is just perfect.  When I
get my Valentines box out I will add a few more things
to the table, but for now I just want to enjoy this
beautiful doily.  Thank you so much, Barb.

Loving the sunshine!

Nola

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

 FOR TODAY...Thursday, January 13, 2011

Outside my window...It is a dreary, gray day.  The inversion
is back and the air is heavy.  However, one good thing about
the day is the temperature is in the mid-30's.  Can't believe
we are having a heat wave!  Supposed to get a storm this
evening so maybe it will helps clear the air and we can see
the blue sky once again.

I am thinking...How nice it was to to to lunch today with
6 old and dear friends and how much fun it was to laugh
and set aside the cares of the day.  We all worked together
35 years ago.

I am thankful for...My son's safe return from his trip
out of state.

From the learning rooms...I don't always know the whole
story and it's best not to be so quick to judge another's
actions for I do not know for sure how I would act if
I were in their shoes.

From the kitchen...The wonderful, enticing smell of
chocolate brownies baking for FHE tonight.

I am wearing...Among other things the fun new necklace
I recently purchased.  It is made of various metals with
a small heart charm and stamped in each of three circles
are the words, "love, laugh and quilt". I love it!  Found it here:
http://onestitchoff.blogspot.com

I am creating...A new table topper (see previous post)

A thought I am sharing..."The gospel sounds good sitting in
a pew on Sunday, but living it come Monday Morning is
hard."  ...from the book, "Monday Morning Faith" by
Lori Copeland

I am going...To be with two of my children and grandchildren
tonight.  I always look forward to Thursday evenings and
of course, any other time we can be together.

I am reading...Still reading "Defined By Christ"

I am hoping...That things will go well for my sister on
Monday.  She is having an angiogram.  And I'm hoping
my visit with my oncologist will be positive.

I am hearing...The clock chime the hour and the buzzer
going off telling me the brownies are  done.

Around the house...Butterfly quilt on the frame waiting to be
finished, dishes from the brownies waiting to be washed,
a load of laundry needing to go in the dryer.

One of my favorite things...Snail mail and a hand written
letter.  Seems like the majority of mail we get these days
comes in the form of junk mail.   How fun it used to be to
go to the mail and find a letter written just to you.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Well, there isn't much left of the week but:
1.Need to get fabric in the mail to Tonya for her Linus
Project
2.  Work on and hopefully complete cuddle quilt and
table topper.
3.  Tend grandchildren on Saturday while parents go
to lunch.
4. Church on Sunday

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My friend Georgia and myself dressed in our p.j.'s for
our high school pep club iniation.  Those were the good
old days!

Have a wonderful day,

Nola

Turning Something Old Into Something New

When one of our local fabric shops closed a few, well quite a
few years ago, I purchased some country blue floral print
fabric and a cream print to go with it. Wasn't sure what I
was going to use it for, just knew I loved it and if I didn't
purchase it, it would be gone forever.

It has sat in a drawer all these years waiting for just the
right pattern to strike my fancy and I finally found just
the perfect block or topper to make.

Was browsing through the February issue of "American
Patchwork & Quilting" magazine I saw this adorable
table topper and quilt made using various blue fabric.
It seemed to speak to me and I knew it would be perfect
for this fabric.  I didn't need several blues, just this one.

I pulled out my fabric and was thrilled to see that I
had more than enough and got to work cutting out the
pieces. It didn't take long to stitch up the center block.

Then this afternoon I sewed 30 of these small flying geese
and will finish the other 40 plus on Friday since I have
to work tomorrow, them am going to lunch with friends and
have FHE in the evening with my family.

(Sorry this picture didn't turn out so good)
And, if I'm lucky it will be all sewn together this weekend.
However, I am still tying my butterfly quilt...it's about
half way completed, so I need to spend time on it also.

It has been fun seeing this come together and even more
fun to know I'm using up more of my stash.  Now I
have an empty container....hmmm, guess I'll just have
to go shopping for something new to fill it with!

Have a Happy Day!

Nola

Remembering and Writing!

Several years ago I started keeping a notebook in which I
wrote down thoughts about my life from early childhood to
the present.  These were and are to be the basis for the
stories I would use to write my personal history. Even took
a writing class to motivate me and help find different ways
to make my history interesting to my posterity.

It has become a hit and miss thing with me.  I get really
fired up and work diligently for a time and then I get
sidetracked by other good things.  Have decided that
I will take some time each week, select a thought or
experience and write about it adding pictures, etc., if
available.

Today's topic was Mumbly-Peg.  We would play this
game at recess when I was in elementary school. I loved
playing this until one day as I flipped my pocket knife
the pointed blade hit my friend in the face almost putting her
eye out.  I remember how frightened I was, both of us crying
and blood spurting down her face.  I was sure I had blinded
her.  Thankfully, the blade only knicked the skin near her eye.
She did end up with a scar, but no damage to her eye.

We were taken to the office and strongly counseled about
the danger of pocket knives, but I don't recall being
forbidden to keep playing mumbly-peg or having to turn
over my pocket knife or being dismissed from school.

 As I wrote this I couldn't help but think how times have
changed.  Carrying a pocket knife today would be grounds
for dismissal from school and if found on your person the
school would probably go into lock down, police and
parents called in, etc., etc. and you would probably be
taken to jail.

Such a different time we live in.  I'm glad I grew up in
the era I did when a pocket knife was not considered a
weapon.

Thinking and remembering...

 Nola