"Fall Harvest"

This fall stitchery seemed to "speak" to me when I
saw it at my local quilt shop the beginning of October
and I knew it had to come home with me.  They even
carried the suggested fabrics which doesn't seem to
happen very often or by the time I decide to make it,
the fabric is gone.  I have had such fun stitching this
and attempting to paper piece the mini quilt.  It has
been quite some time since I have paper pieced, but
think it turned out quite well.

The pattern is called "Fall Harvest" and is by Kathy Schmitz.

A Little Stitching

Wow!  I can't believe it has been a month since I last
posted.  It has been a crazy month trying to get all
the repairs done to my home and the trees trimmed
 from the windstorm.  Finally, they are completed!

I love my trees new look and I believe my trees are
happy also having had a trim.  Reminds me of how I
feel after getting a hair cut---like a new woman!
Think my trees feel the same way.  Hopefully, now
when the wind blows we won't have tree limbs
breaking off.  Oh, I'm sure there will be some branches
but praying not the big damaging limbs.  I am so glad
I had an arborist come.

Silver Leaf Maple in front yard

Ash in backyard

Then just when I  thought things were settling down, I got
a severe bacterial infection in my finger known as
"paronychia".  Never had anything so painful and develop
so quickly.   After being on an antibiotic for a week, it
is much better and am hoping I can now get some yard
work done.

As far as quilting or stitching, it all came to an abrupt
halt when my kids and the windstorm all came.  But,
I did manage to complete this little project that I found
on line.  Sorry don't recall who pinned it.

Thinking life may be beginning to get back to a little more
normal, but probably shouldn't count on it.  Will be
working extra in October while my counterpart takes a
much needed vacation, so don't know what I will feel
like working on.  Need to find something new and
exciting that I just can't live without!

And the Wind Came....

Friday evening the 7th,  we got hit with a micro burst and
heavy,heavy rain.  It actually seemed more like a small
tornado the way the clouds were rolling and twisting. 
Normally, we get extreme East Canyon Winds that do a
lot of damage.  So, it was very unusual to sustain the
damage our neighborhood did from a West Wind.

Although, it only lasted a short time, it was quite
scary.  Thankfully, we did not sustain severe damage
or flooding.  But, our beautiful Silver Leaf Maple tree
in the front yard took the brunt of the wind once again.

This limb actually blew over my roof and landed in
the backyard.  One limb pierced my patio roof.  It
was like someone had thrown a javelin through it.
Fortunately, my son had just cut the limb that extended
out to the patio or I think this limb would have hit it
and bounced back into the windows.

Saturday, my neighbors and friends, along with the
youth in our ward, came and sawed up the limbs and
hauled everything away.  They spent most of the
day going from house to house seeing what needed to
be taken care of.

Now, I'm just waiting to meet with tree people and
the patio installers as well as the insurance adjuster.
Hopefully, we can get everything back in order.
Can't believe we did not sustain roof damage when
the limb came over and no broken windows.  Some
bent pipes, rain gutters pulled off, but that can all
be replaced.

So grateful to all those who spent their time helping
me. 

Finally, A Little Sewing

It seems as if it has been months since I sat down to
my sewing machine.  Having family here for three
months has thrown a kink in my projects.  They
are living in my basement and that is where I have
my sewing machine, supplies, etc

Because they are night people, I find myself avoiding
my sewing room so that I don't disturb them during
the day.  I am a morning person and love to get started
on projects early in the day.

When my son and DIL first came, I thought it was only
going to be a short visit before they moved on to Oregon.
It has turned into three months and they may be
here a few more weeks.

With the thought of them being here for a longer
period of time, I decided that I needed to get busy
doing some sewing projects I had planned for the
summer. So, in the last few days I have been
able to cut and sew a couple of rows for a small
project.

It doesn't look like much, but to me, it is a big
accomplishment and feels so good to be sewing
once again.  I have also been working on a couple
of stitching projects.

Another project I've been working on is retyping a
book my mother put together for me many, many
years ago of my trip to New York and participation
in the Hill Cummorah Pageant  with a group of
students from Brigham Young University.  The pages are
turning yellow and everything needs to be transferred
to acid free paper.  Pictures were glued down and
will need to be scanned and reprinted.  This is going
to take some time, but I am anxious to preserve it.

I enjoy having family here, but it does make it hard
for me to get things done. I also find working extra
days now doesn't help much.  Suppose these are
just excuses, but they sound good for me as to why
I'm not accomplishing much of anything!

I'm Still Here....I think!

I can't believe it has been two month since my kids arrived
to stay with me.  It has been a crazy time and I find that
I am not getting things done that I would like to.  Having
people here all the time is something that I am not used to
and although they are great house guests, our schedules
are very different.  I am a morning person and they are
night owls.  Joann loves to cook and is always baking
or making something which can be both good and bad.
But, I know that they will not be with me much longer
than the summer months, so I am trying enjoy every
minute.

My son Myq is now one step closer to obtaining his
PhD as he just completed his oral exam.  He was able
to do it through a University here that connected him
to his school in New Zealand.  He has a few revisions
to do on his thesis and then hopefully he'll be done.

Joann is still applying to schools here in the West and
hoping to be accepted to attend school in Oregon.

With them here and working more days, I don't seem
to make it to my sewing room.  But, I did complete
this table runner and now it graces my patio table.

'



Saw the pattern for these cute little flags on
http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com
and thought it would be fun to make some for
friends and myself since I have so many scraps
that need to be used up.

Well, guess I best get busy as much as I hate to,
but my house is calling to me and I need to get
my wash going so I have work clothes for tomorrow.

THEY'RE HERE!

Received the most wonderful surprise phone call
yesterday afternoon from my DIL.  When I
answered the phone and knew it was her, I asked
why she was calling on the phone instead of
Skype.  She answered because they couldn't get
internet service.  This sounded logical since they
had been on a bike tour in New Zealand and our
visits were few and far between.

AND, then all of a sudden, I just knew!  I said
screamed, "You're here!"  I knew they were coming,
just not when and they wanted to surprise me.  If
they could have connected up with the bike route
from the airport they would have cycled to my
house and knocked on the door.  But, this was so
much better.  My daughter and I were able to
buzz into the airport and pick them up.

Not sure how long they will be with me as they
need to get settled so Joann can begin her
schooling.  But, at least they will only be a
couple of states away now.

It has been 10 years since my son was home, and
the first time I got to meet Joann---other than on
Skype.  Needless to say, I am one happy Momma
and will cherish every minute I get to spend with
them!

A Privilege and A Honor

Today I had the honor and privilege to sign a  prayer flag,
as a cancer survivor, that will be carried by a dear family
friend to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa along with
his Mother's.  Colby Thackeray's Mother passed away from
cancer one year ago.  He has been working to help raise
funds that will go to help build a cancer center in Moshi,
Tanzania.  There are no cancer services available there.
His Mother's oncologist, Dr. Brandon Fisher,
founded this foundation and treated his Mother over 2 1/2 years.
You can read about it here:
 http://www.gofundme.com/radiatinghope

Signing the Prayer Flag

Grandkids adding to the flag

Completed Flag

Colby and myself

 











This was a very tender and emotional time for
all of us.  I had invited my daughter and grandkids
to come over as Kerri and Colby's wife are best
friends and have been since elementary school.
Colby said I couldn't cry or he would lose it, also.
So, I waited until he left.

Cancer is never far away and it is times like this
that my experience is brought to the forefront.
How grateful I am to be a survivor and to be
able to share in this healing process with Colby
and Rachelle.

Where Have I Been and .....

What have I been doing?  That is what I have
been asking myself lately.  It is almost the middle
of February and it seems like it was Christmas
just yesterday.

A good part of January was spent sorting,
cleaning and organizing my sewing room,
eliminating patterns that I have printed off
the computer and decided that I no longer
wanted.  I need to be more realistic
about collecting everything I see.  It did feel
good to downsize and re-organize.

While sorting through some Valentine fabric
I found some small scraps and thought I would
make me a new Mug Rug.

When it was all done, I chose not to use it for
that purpose after all.  So now it hangs on a little
metal stand.

Made these little "hearts in a hoop" for Valentine
gifts.  This one was done with variegated thread.

My time has also been spent working on Relief Society
assignments for my church.  In January I was asked
to chairman the Stake Relief Society Birthday luncheon
for 350 ladies, March 7.  I have a wonderful committee and
things are moving along very nicely.  But, all that
has to be done is never far from my mind.

Then I am on the Relief Society Committee for my
ward and our February evening meeting theme
was "Staying on the Path."  We had three workshops
and a little treat for the ladies at the end which I
made:  "Deeelicious Popcorn"

It is to die for!  You can not eat just a little!  It is a
caramel/cinnamon popcorn that has drizzled melted
chocolate and vanilla melts over it. And since it
was February, I put the popcorn in these cute little
Valentine bags.

It is time once again for "Grandma's Valentine Party"
and I've been busy shopping for inexpensive prizes,
searching the web for new game ideas and wrapping
all the prizes.  Everyone gets a prize for each game--
win or lose.  The prizes are put in bags for each
person and when a game is completed they can
reach in their sack and pick a wrapped prize.

The grandchildren love receiving an invitation so I
made heart shaped envelopes with the information
on the inside, added a little chocolate and will deliver
these Thursday.

I have also been working on my personal history
once again.  Took a much need break from writing
in the fall.  Just too much to do with the holidays,
fall yard work, etc.  I have started writing about my
childhood pets.  I was blessed to have some amazing,
caring, loving, loyal, and protective pets.

This is me and my first dog, Spotty, a Border Collie.
We were inseparable and he was very protective
of me.  He literally saved me from falling into a
ditch by my grandparents home that was filled
with irrigation water.

We have had such a mild winter--very little snow.
Temperatures have been above normal and I'm
having a hard time staying in doors to work.
But, I must get back at it!

Can Anyone Help Me?

Back in 2010-2011 a free snowflake BOM was offered
by Gabi.  I stitched a couple and then, for some reason,
put them away.

 
















They are one of the projects I have pulled out to work
on and complete, if possible, in the next few months. 
However, I do not have the instructions showing how
to assemble the quilt.

I have gone back to her website and was able to find
a picture of the finished quilt, but no instructions.  So,
I was hoping that someone out in blogland may have
copied these and has instructions that they would share
with me.  I have left her a message on her blog and
perhaps she will respond, but in the meantime, if
anyone has them and would share, I'd appreciate it.

Happy New Year!

I'm excited to begin a New Year with new possibilities,
projects and challenges.  I've already pulled out some
unfinished projects and am working on them.  Some
have been sitting around for a few years.  There are
also a few that I really don't care for anymore and I
think they will be finding new homes.

Although I do not make resolutions, I am setting a goal
to work on already purchased projects and complete
them.  But, knowing me, I will be continually picking
up new items to work on and eventually old projects will
once again be set to the side.  How many times have I
said this in the past that I wasn't gong to get new things
until old things were completed?  Well, what's a girl to
do when there are so many wonderful things calling to
me?

Christmas was a wonderful time for me and my family.
but went oh so quickly.  Thought I'd share a couple of
gifts I received from Di and Miss Gracie  and
Karen:

From Di:

This sweet little friendship mug rug sits on the little table
next to me where I stitch and constantly reminds me
how blessed I am to have hers and others friendships.
Thank you again, Di.

From Karen:

Six lovely hexagon coasters and a delightful, scrappy
hexagon table topper.  I can't imagine the hours of
work that went into the making of these.
Thank you, Karen

For Di and other friends I made these little needle
keepers using the pattern from Amy.
 http://nanacompany.typepad.com/

   

These were such fun to do that I think I'll make a few
more to give as gifts throughout the year to my quilting
and sewing friends.

This little stitchery reminded me of Karen and her
love of birds, flowers and the outdoors.

For a few friends at work I knit scarves.  I have a
tendency to wake up very early and so I would sit in
bed and knit...great therapy.

Other friends received mug cozies and cups filled
with a few of my favorite things:  hot chocolate and
hot cider mixes and a bag of cookies for dunking.

Couldn't resist this sweet stitchery for another friend,
JoAnn, to hang on her little quilt stand.

It was so much fun making these gifts.  As I worked
on these, sweet thoughts and feelings of those they
were going to really brought the Christmas Spirit
home to me.