Random Thoughts....

> I participated in my first quilting class this past weekend....I was very disappointed!  The class was called "Magical Miniatures". The photo in the catalog was a mini block next to a dime.  What we made were 3inch blocks....that's not miniature in my book.  I did learn a few tricks, so that was good.

>I am crooked. Yep, I went to physical therapy today for my shoulder and the PT told me I was crooked-my hips go one way and my shoulders go the other.  We are working on straightening me out.

>I love my labels.  Wife, mom, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, friend and now teacher.  Couldn't begin to pick a favorite. Teacher is new and frightening--I am co-teaching my daughters 11th grade religion class. YIKES!!!

>I didn't realize how big a part of my life quilting had become until I couldn't do it. Filling the void is hard.

>Did anyone watch Sister Wives Sunday night on TLC? Makes me think how nice it would be to go back to the time when extended families were closer in proximity--sometimes the help of a "sister wife" would be nice. I am not sure, however, if I could live with my parents......

I've come a long way, baby.....

Since I can't sew because of my shoulder, I reorganized my sewing room. I came across this:

This is what got me started quilting.  Each little hexagon measures a very uneven 1 1/4 inches. I hand pieced these....my seams are less than a quarter of an inch and my stitches are HUGE!!!!  Not knowing any better, I sewed this baby up like I was making a pillow case and then started to hand quilt.

 It's hard to see, but my stitches are TINY, barely catching one thread of the backing in some spots, and knots all over the place....I even dragged my thread over the top of the backing !!!  Yep, I've learned alot over the last 20+ years.

Back in the Swing of Things....finally

Wow! I can't believe it's been a month since I last blogged.  The kids started their third week of school today and I finally feel like I am back into my "school" routine....can't say that for The Boy. He really hates getting up in the morning.....it's too bad that school administrators don't heed the research that says teens sleep/wake schedules are different than adults.....teens really are night owls.  I guess I could homeschool and beat the system that way, but I don't think I would make a very good teacher for him.

I've been battling shoulder pain and haven't done much in the quilting department.  I am able to work for a few minutes and then my shoulder starts to hurt. Two years ago I was told I had bursitis and went through physical therapy. I haven't been pain free since then.....perhaps, if I actually did what I was supposed to do CONSISTENTLY, I would be in better shape.  I am trying hard not to overuse the shoulder and have started doing the exercises again.  I don't think there is life without quilting, so I will be good!

The Girl has her first date! YIKES! She met this boy over the summer while working on a play and he asked her to go to homecoming with her.  I'm not sure if I should laugh and be happy for her or cry for myself.  Right now, I'm very excited for her.  Let's hope that feeling holds.....

Home Again

We arrived home on Sunday evening...we made record time-12 1/2 hours and only one spot of road construction where we had to slow down to 45.

I can't believe how disoriented I felt our first few days back...we were gone for 17 days. Couldn't even remember where the coffee mugs were .

The Girl and I headed to the high school yesterday to alter her schedule...she' decided not to take AP English. I'm glad she knows her own limits.  She's a straight A student--she puts all the pressure for good grades on herself, so when she decided AP would be too much I was happy to OK the change.

Mom didn't finish her log cabin quilt while I was there, but she now knows enough to do that on her own. She even asked me to show her how to hand piece. I also got her started using Bonnie Hunter's leaders and enders. 

Time to head out the door for my morning walk.

Progress

We are making progress. The Girl finished the center of the baby quilt....now I need to put a border on it.That will wait until I get home. It may be several weeks as my machine is in the shop awaiting a new light socket, which is backordered.

She wasn't crazy about having her picture taken.

Here's the top before she sewed the blocks together.

Mom has been doing much better. She has been taking her meds and I think she may have caught the quilting bug. YAY!!!  She is 1/4 of the way done with her blocks.

Blogging is better than FaceBook

You ladies are great!!!!  Funny, I am on Face Book, with people who are my "friends", but I would never get the same sort of support from them that I do from you.  Thank you.  Must be a quilter thing.

Anyway, today was a little better than yesterday. We made some progress. Mom picked out a pattern and fabric. She even started cutting strips. She did get frustrated and yelled at me....either because she didn't understand or I didn't explain very well.  I've been quilting for so long that I forget how far I've come.....I'm self-taught, so my teaching technique may not be the best.

And, yes, she is on medication, but her new psychologist said she should be able to get off the meds...so she has taken it upon her self to start decreasing her dose. I don't think she's ready for that yet, nor should she be doing it on her own. 

I hate to admit this, but alot of the time I really don't like her. She's VERY judgemental and opinionated. She has to comment on EVERYTHING- from the way people drive to the local news stories. 

I came to the realization earlier this year that I do not need her approval and so I try to ignore those comments, but it's hard when they happen so frequently.

On a more positive note, The Girl has made great progress with her baby quilt. She completed 12 blocks today.  I was able to snap a picture (she really didn't want me to)...I will try to get some up later....not sure where I packed the camera cord. I'm really proud of her. I don't think she's caught the quilting bug yet, but maybe she will someday. I am proud to be her mom. She is smart and funny and more importantly, she is kind and caring.

I've probably rambled long enough....thanks again for "listening".

Frustrated

FRUSTRATED!!!! I came IN to visit my parents and teach my mom quilting....she didn't get dressed until noon and is now sitting watching soaps!!!! I have to keep telling myself this is part of depression, but I am still frustrated by the wasted time.  At least I've got The Girl working on a baby quilt for the youth director at our church who had a baby girl a week ago today.

Please pray for patience and calmness for me....any advice is welcome.