Author: Wanda

I still haven’t warmed up. So I spent today snuggled up in a blanket watching the Olympics and playing computer games. I should have done laundry. I should have cleaned the house. I should have gone into my sewing room and finished one of the quilt tops I have started. But I didn’t. Sometimes it feels good to do nothing doesn’t it? Tomorrow is another day…

I had this posted on my facebook page today. I thought it was too cute. Kasey is my favorite NASCAR driver. I thought I would share it here.

Just as I was about to post to my blog on Wednesday we lost power. We had very cold weather and an ice storm that put 21,000 people without power. It came back on today at 11:50. I was in the car charging my cell phone when Gary came out of the house to tell me the power had just came on.

Gary and I engaged in conversation. It’s amazing how much you can say to each other when there are no distractions. Then I read. I have several books on my tablet. Well I read until the battery drained. Then I got my nook and read it until I had no battery. The last thing with juice in it was my i-touch, I then used up that battery. I have several movies on the laptop, so we watched Disney movies until the laptop died. Finally last night we had no computer, no phone, no laptop, no nook, no tablet…we had exhausted topics of conversation. After all we have been together for over 40 years, so I went to bed. Gary decided to sit up a bit longer. Bandit, our Toy Fox Terrier snuggled up with me in the bed. It was nice to have the warmth he provided.

Anyway, while I was in bed I began to realize how much we take for granted in this life and how blessed we really are. God has given us the ability to have so many things. The ability to invent so many things that make our life better, safer, and more comfortable. I wonder how many times we remember that everything comes from God and how often we remember to say thank you. How often do we use these gifts to help others? How many times do we just turn and look the other way? While I was thinking about all this, St. Therese of Lisieux came to mind. She is the saint of the Little Way. Following her Little Way we can give thanks to God and help our neighbor while doing the everyday tasks of our life and offering it up to God.

I have always been Catholic. Always loved God. But I admit that I didn’t always put God first. Even with all the blessings He has given me through my life. I haven’t always acted like a Christian. I often have been short tempered, judgmental and selfish. Now that I am older, I see that I have wasted a good bit of my spiritual life. I have become enthralled by my faith. I am learning so much that I never knew and I thank God for this.

“I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbours’ defects–not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.”
Thérèse de Lisieux
What a world this would be if we could all be charitable in this way.

As a blogger I must admit that I am a bit of a  failure.  I missed all of 2013!  So once again I am recommitting myself to this endeavor.  I thought I would spruce the ole blog up a bit.  I have been searching for a new look but I have not found anything I like better.  It’s simple and it’s me.

2013 was a blur.  It started with illness and ended with a knee replacement.  I didn’t do much quilting.  My youngest daughter turned 30 and became engaged in August and will be married this August.  She’ll receive her Masters this spring from UNC Wilmington.  My son turned 32 and he and his wife are land lovers now.  They have given up life on a cruise ship and they are making Florida their home.  My oldest turned 41and is settling in to life in the south.  I am so happy to have the grandchildren living so close.  I was blessed to have all of the kids here for Thanksgiving.  It was the first time in years.  Christmas was also wonderful.

Today my grandson Andrew is 10 years old!  How the time flies.  He had his party yesterday.  I guess the days of having kids parties at home are a thing of the past.  We spent three hours at an indoor arcade/party place.  The kids had a good time.

 My daughter Kelly, Andrew’s mom made his cake.  She’s getting really good at cake decorating.

I spent the weekend getting caught up with Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt.  Here are Part 2 and 3.

I got busy today and finished Part 1 of Bonnie’s Mystery Quilt.  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html
 I am all ready to do Part 2 tomorrow.

After ignoring my blog for months, I have finally decided to get with it.  It seems I am so busy all the time and I can’t for the life of me figure out what I am so busy doing.  I haven’t done much sewing or quilting for that matter and for sure I haven’t slaved away doing house work.  I think I just need to get myself more organized.

I am participating in Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt “Easy Street”.  Bonnie is the Queen of scrap quilts.  I was lucky enough to attend one of her workshops through my guild Brunswick Quilters.  While she was here she finished a quilt and named it Stars Over Shallotte.   I have started all of her mystery quilts but have not finished them.  Seems life keeps getting in the way.  But, I am determined to finish this one and on time.

I have chosen homespun fabric for my quilt.  I usually just follow what the designer does with color, but I am stepping outside my little box and picking my own fabrics this time.  Hopefully I haven’t made a mistake.  🙂

As usual I am behind.  The second clue was posted already and I am just beginning.  My dear husband Gary will do all of my cutting.  I am so lucky that he likes to do it since I am not very good at cutting.  And I think he is afraid I’ll cut myself with the rotary cutter.

I am off to get my fabric cut and to start my first step.  Oh yeah, I need my easy angle ruler and my companion angle too.  I love how Bonnie always uses the same tools when she does her mysteries.

I cannot believe that it is September 14th. I should because I turned 61 on the 12th.

It seems like it should still be June. My daughter and het family moved down here to NC from PA the 3rd week of June. I have been so busy with the kids and helping them get settled.

The 21st of July we went to PA for my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday party. The trip was very eventful and long. We hit a pot hole in the rain in Virginia. We blew a tire. By the Grace of God no one got hurt and it happened right near an exit where there was a Pep Boys. It took about 2 hours to get new tires. On the road again and the car started vibrating badly. Well we drove over 200 miles till we reached Mother’s house. We had the car fixed and we needed 2 more new tires, new front brakes because when we hit the pot hole the right brake pad broke into 3 pieces and a front end alignment. Have I mentioned how much I love Virginia?

Any way Mother’s party was lovely and we got to see family we hadn’t seen in a long time.

A week later we were on our way home and when we hit Virginia it was raining again. I swear Virginia should be called the Rainy State.

By the time we got home the boys had already started school. They are going to a Charter School and will be going all year long.

My son got home from the Alaskan cruise out of Seattle. He’s been staying with us until his place is ready.

My son-in-law wound up in the hospital for severe vertigo and an elevated . blood pressure. Thank God he was only in for one day. He’s doing fine now.

I haven’t been to a guild meeting since i don’t remember when. Haven’t swarm a stitch either. I finally loaded a quilt onto my longarm and got it 3/4 of the way done yesterday. I’ll finish it in the morning. It feels great to be quilting again.

As I mentioned the 12th was my birthday. My husband and kids got me (us) a new tv. It’s a 47 inch flat screen. It’s great to be able to see detail. I love it. I have been blessed with thevmost wonderful family.

The weather has finally changed and we are no longer having so much rain.
I am finally sleeping at night thanks to the new meds from my rheumatologist.
Which brings me to what I’m doing now. I’m in bed ready to go to sleep. Good Night and God Bless.

Tomorrow makes 2 weeks that my good friend Sue has been here with me.  We have been sewing and quilting and just having a lot of fun.  Sue’s newest granddaughter was Christened last Sunday and she is also celebrating  her other three granddaughters birthdays tomorrow with a trip to the ice cream place for a treat and to give them their birthday gifts.  She made all three girls the most beautiful quilts.  With the new baby, everyone made a switch to make room, so gradma Sue made their quilts.  The oldest Adrienne just turned 13.  She has the most beautiful oriental quilt in an Irish Chain pattern.  I am totally jealous.  I have already told Sue that I want one from Santa.  You can imagine what she said…Fat Chance!  Ha ha.  The two younger girls are getting quilts with purple and pint and made out of the same pattern, but with two different focal fabric.  One is bunnies and one is butterflies.  They are just as beautiful!  I did the quilting with my long-arm.  Tomorrow we will be taking pictures of the quilts and I will post them so that ya’ll can see what a very talented friend I have.  Besides making the quilts, we have also done a few other projects and have had a lot of laughs.  Even hubby Gary joins in on our crazy humor.  And he just loves cutting fabric for us and un-sewing the few times it is necessary.  At least he is helpful when he crashes our little sewing parties.

I am entering three small quilts in the Quilters By the Sea Quilt Show and I have them just about finished.  I have two hand quilted and they only need their labels and binding now.  I have the third one almost quilted and have to bind that one too.  I have to turn them in on the 13 of June.

Well I finally had to bite the bullet and see the orthopedic doctor today for another shot in the knee.  I really can’t complain too much as I had the last one October 18 last year.  I got my money’s worth out of that shot wouldn’t you say.  He was hoping I would get 4 months out of it.  So I am hoping this will last me as long.

Tuesday is my guilds Tea.  I am decorating one table and the theme I have chosen is “A Country Tea”.  Mostly because I have a lot of cow things I can use for it.  Even a lot of cow fabric.  Sue and I will work on that when we get back to the house on Saturday and the rest of Sunday during the Pocono Race.  You got it, I am a NASCAR fan.  Specifically a Kasey Kahne fan.  He’s just too cute and usually has great commercials.  He’s a very talented driver and this is one of his favorite tracks and he usually does well.  He won the Cocoa Cola 600 last weekend.  It’s funny Sue isn’t a NASCAR fan, but she knows when she is here she has to suffer through it.  Each time she is hear and she roots for Kasey he wins.  So I fully expect that Kasey will win at Pocono this Sunday.  I can thank my son for getting me into car racing.  I also had a friend who owned a dirt race car in Pennsylvania.  That was fun to watch too.  But when Bud was young Rusty Wallace had his Miller :Lite Dodge at the beer distributor near where my daughter worked and my son became a Rusty Wallace fan. I always supported all the kids activities and that’s what got me into it.  My husband has always been a NASCAR fan and he was a big time Richard Petty fan.  However that took a back seat to other things when we got married.  Needless to say we do spend our Sundays glued to the TV during race season.

I almost forgot my new guest room curtains are hanging and they look great.  Sue did a wonderful job!

I spent yesterday at my daughter Samantha’s for a picnic.  My friend Sue was with us.  We stopped at JoAnn’s on the way into town first.  They had one of those 1.00 dollar sales for patterns.   I got some clothes patterns for myself and some doll clothes patterns too.  Gotta keep Alannah in doll clothes. 🙂

Today Sue and I sewed.  She’s spending a couple of weeks here with us.  I just love when Sue comes to visit. We just have the best time laughing and sewing.  We make all kinds of things.  This trip she’s going to help me make new curtains for the guest room.  And she’s making new quilts for her granddaughters.  Then we’re making clothes.  I need some new things.  I got a pattern for a summer dress I can’t wait to make.  Good times for sure.

I can’t wait for the kids to move down here.  This is the last holiday I’ll have to spend without my grandchildren.  I am so very excited.  It will be so much fun to have them here and be able to do things with them all the time.  I feel so bad for my son-in-law’s grandparents who will really feel the loss of not having them around any more, but I am so very happy for me.