From Bad to Worse to Ahhhh, Friday

This has been a looong week. Monday started out great! Got the family off to work and school and realized just how much I like being at home (no babysitting for me for two weeks).

And then TUESDAY!!! Discovered that my son is flunking 3 of 5 classes and has a C and D in the remaining 2. The C is acceptable.  So, once again he lost the use of the computer and his Xbox.  He seems to think the best way to fill his down time now is to pester his sister.  UGH!!! "Calgon, take me away!"

Wednesday found us with two dentist appointments.  My husband went in the morning only to come home with the "happy news" that he needs a root canal--now this wouldn't thrill me (there goes Daughter's car), but I was furious because, once again, he couldn't be bothered to go in for his regular cleanings for THE PAST THREE YEARS!!!! Who does that?  The last time he neglected the cleanings he ended up in agony and also needed a root canal.  Then Daughter had a cleaning in the afternoon-she's really good about flossing and brushing-she has a cavity.

On the up side, I've lost 7.5 pounds since Ash Wed!! Yay, for me!!!  And I got Son's room cleaned-not a small task!! Must be time for some quilting.

WHAT???

Where in the world does the media get their information?!?!?  The national news media is making it sound as if Fargo/Moorhead is in the same boat (pardon the pun) as we were last year as far as the flood.  WE ARE NOT! The predicted crest is 2.84 feet lower than last year and we were very prepared.  Both cities began preparing (last year, actually), but about 3 weeks ago we began to pre-fill sandbags.  As of this morning they are no longer asking for volunteers to fill or place sandbags. We are ready.

I was hoping to get at least one picture up here of the last quilty thing I did, but just haven't gotten the camera out yet.

My daughter and I have been going through boxes that have yet to be unpacked---16 months after moving.  It's amazing how many things we have not even missed in that time.  We have filled 4 large boxes to take to the Salvation Army.  YAY!! I love clearing the clutter.  Funny, I didn't used to be that way. I was a "pack rat" as my mom used to say. I guess the thought of having to move all that STUFF again is more than I can bear.

Now it's time to snuggle up with my hubby and watch the movie Fireproof.

Again?!?!? REALLY?????

And so here we are again....fighting the Red River of the North.  The river is rising about 1 inch per hour.  Predicted crest is 38 feet on saturday.  It came so fast again.  But if we beat 40+ feet last year we can easily beat 38.  Weather outlook for the next week is favorable-no precip and dropping back below freezing for a few days. Yay! ( Who would think I'd be happy to drop below freezing in March?!?)  I truly am ready for spring, but patience is a virtue and in this case, it will help the cities of Fargo/Moorhead win the battle once again.
 I am worn out from the stress and waiting for this event to happen-still wondering why the media started hyping the flood so many weeks ago.  Our city leaders have done an amazing job at planning and preparation. 
 Ahh, that feels better to get this off my mind!

Whew!!

Whew!! This Lent, I am truly taking to heart the notion of almsgiving.  I sorted through my fabric and decided I could part with almost half of it. You know, the pieces that I liked when I bought them and now don't like at all.  Anyway, over the past few weeks I have turned that fabric into four quilt tops that I will give to my mother-in-law, who will take them to her church where they will be finished and sent off to an organization that sends them where they are needed (right now most are going to Chile and Haitti).  Funny thing is, now that those ugly fabrics have been turned into tops......I like them!!!

It's been fun making tops for someone I don't know, but whom I know needs the warmth and comfort that the quilt will bring.  AND....in between sewing and ironing, I've been working on an Irish Chain.  Just got my copy of Bonnie Hunter's new book Adventures with Leaders and Enders. LOVE IT!!! Can't believe how many twosies I got done today!

Obsessed

Lately, I have been obsessed with quilts.  I wake up thinking about them, no wait, I dream about them in my sleep first, then I wake up thinking about them.  The housekeeping has gone by the wayside....who needs clean dishes to eat off of when I can spend my time working on yet another quilt. 

I have three waiting to be quilted...finally got one in the frame.  Two are waiting patiently as I handpiece one and hand applique the other (those have been in the piecing process for several years now). I have a quilt on my wall that is goint to go to my mother-in-laws church quilting group.  And, NOW.....I am thinking about finally starting my Dear Jane quilt.  250 blocks. 5000+ pieces. Jane took the entire Civil War to complete hers.  And, I, like Jane will handpiece and hand quilt mine. YIKES!!! I have truly lost my mind!

Laundry.....

Oh, how I wish the laundry would miraculously gather, sort, wash, fold and best of all put itself away.  And if I could add anything to any of those loads, I would have to add the dishes, oh and the bathtub.  Maybe, I could even throw the dog in there once a month, but I suppose all that fur would clog the machine. 

Imagine if we had to still carry and heat our water and then spend hours scrubbing it all by hand.....I still remember when we moved into our first house and the washer and dryer were delivered....I kissed the washing machine. Yep, I did.  I was so happy not to have to haul the laundry and two kids down the hall in our apt. building just to get some clean clothes.  The joy of leaving my wet clothes in the washing machine until I could get back to them to throw them in the dryer was unbelievable.

Yep, guess I really do have it made ;-)

A snow storm makes me feel.....

So, the one minute writing prompt, asks what I feel in a rain or snow storm.  A rain storm is still apt to cause me anxiety.....I will never forget the image of a little child sized chair floating around in our old basement. 

A snow storm, on the other hand, makes me want to curl up with a handmade quilt in front of a fire and just BE.  Unfortunately, we don't have the fire place (hope to have a gas one soon, which isn't really the same as a woodburning one, but it will do). We do have lots of quilts though.  So many, in fact the I am beginning to think maybe I had better start giving them away.  The joy of the process is simply too strong to give it up.

I completed this mini top during the SuperBowl----yes, I do not watch the SuperBowl.  I may turn this one into a tote bag-useful and I get to show off one of my creations. As you can see by the second photo, the blocks are really small.