I am still here. All week I kept thinking I'd get something finished and post a picture....well, I haven't finished anything this week.  I have, however, finally starte my Dear Jane quilt.  I've got three of the four rows done on the first block.  I've never had as much trouble with a block as this one.  It's so simple, but three times I've had to rip and re-sew. UGH!!!!

I also started  a shade for my bedroom.  I was zipping along with the sewing, hung it (that took 1/2 a day) and then HATED  it.  So, off the wall it came and I am re-doing my Swedish shade and making it into a Roman shade. I've made five other Roman shades.....said I'd never do another after the last one. Never say Never-I guess.

Other than that, not much going on.

Unemployed again.....YAY!!!

Yep, I'm unemployed again an happy about it.  Since October, I had been babysitting a 2 year old a few hours a week while her mom went to school.  Her mom's class load increased and she decided it would be easier to put the little girl into full time daycare.  I am both sad and happy. 

Sad because I will miss spending time with her and because I have very strong feelings against daycare. My apologies if I offend anyone. I have been a stay-at-home mom since my oldest was born and firmly believe that the best person to raise a child is his/her mom.

Happy because now I will do a better job of keeping my house in order and will have more time to.....

finish this quilt.  The top has been sitting in my ready to quilt pile for over a year. This one gets hand quilted. It will be a slow process as my shoulder can only take 15-20 minutes at a time. This one is for my daughter who loves penguins as they remind her of my dad, whom she is very close to.

Now, I need to figure out how to make a little money selling my journal covers.......

Thoughts.....

1. Here is my latest charity quilt.  I would not rave over it....however, the ladies in my mother-in-laws quilting group (who will finish it) will.  I sent 4 other tops to them and they seemed to think that they were too nice to be used as charity quilts.  Well, why shouldn't people in need have something nice?!?!? They are, after all, humans just as we are.   How would they feel if someone gave them a quilt or anything else, for that matter, and it was a piece of junk? Would they be grateful or offended?  I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all deserve to be treated as humans--treated as brothers and sisters in Christ.

2. It's amazing to me all the means of communicating we have and yet, a person can still feel isolated and lonely.  Seems to me that we should feel more connected to each other with cell phones and FaceBook, yet do we truly connect with each other?

Just the thoughts that have been rolling around in my head this morning.

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!