Where the wind blows......

Well, here she is......A-1....the first block of my Dear Jane quilt.  As you can see, I haven't squared her up yet, but I'm happy to have finally gotten started.

We had a rough few days last week with "the boy"--he's been failing two of his classes. He's a smart kid, just doesn't turn in the homework that he actually does.  One of his teachers told us his only problem is that he is unorganized.  Well, guess what, he's not alone.  I've been doing some reading and boys are simply not wired to multi-task.  Boys in middle school have to be able to do that.  So, we will begin to help him learn how to be organized.  Oh, boy!!! This will not be an easy task for me as I am not the most organized person around.  Maybe unorganized is not the right term for me...more like unscheduled.  I think I could use a secretary or boss who tells me when to do what....as a stay-at-home mom with no kids home during the day, I am my own boss.  No schedule here...just go where the wind blows me.  And the wind is now blowing me to my studio.......

One more time....

Let's try this again. I had an entry written, picture up and then picture disappeared and so did my entry!!!

Yesterday, I found a new-to-me quilt shop.  I was THRILLED to discover they carry the Kaffe Fassett line of fabrics.  I have a couple of his quilt books and they are phenomenal.  He uses so many patterns and

colors!  I picked up these:

They have more pink and green than is showing up here-took this with my phone(I won't be so lazy in the future), but I like them. I found a small bag that will use three of them-not sure where the rest will go.

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.