PHOTOS FINALLY

Yay!  Finally got some photos posted!  The first one is for my Mom's cousin.  She is 80 and think she will be surprised when she receives it.  

The little girls are for a niece who is having a baby girl.  The free motion quilting went great for awhile before it decided to quit cooperating.  The quilt was actually twice this size when I started but decided to quit while I was ahead and took off the bottom half where the quilting was just not working.  She can use it as a quilt or a wall hanging at this point.  

The third quilt is a wall hanging from a panel that is hanging in my living room.  I love all the little details.  

   

I HAVE TO GO COLD TURKEY!

I even wrote myself a sticky note to slap on my computer when I am finished with this post.  I do have to check my email once a week for updates on the bulletins for the church that I do weekly. Other than that, I have to stop checking some forums and Facebook.  I could spend all day on them jumping from one conversation to another and watching videos that yes, are funny, are informative, insightful, etc. but they are not getting me to where I want to be.

I have gotten a lot of my summer projects finished such as the basement, some outside extra work, going through all the files, going through all the clothes, and caught up on my reading.  I have enough stuff in a pile for the flea market in September to make that worthwhile.  I even have completed a few quilty projects but not enough.   The last photo I posted was in March.  Geesh!  Now, I am having a problem with my photos - something is not working to send them from my phone to the thumbdrive so that does need some work on someday but for the time being, at least I am getting the photos taken on my phone.

If you don't see me around, I will be concentrating on the quilty projects.  I have 3 full weeks until school starts up again.  I'd like to see what I can get accomplished in that time period.

I'll be back with an update.  Sometimes we just have to make some changes in our life where we look out for ourselves.

TaDa,
   Trish

THE WORD "PLAN"

I found that I only like the word "PLAN" when I actually follow through with the plans.  Haha!
I do believe it means - to change.  After all, when you are done doing something, things have changed!

I am still checking FaceBook, my 3 forums, and email everyday after school.  You would think life changing things are posted that are directed to me, but find they are not.  I really NEED to work on this area a bit more.

I did go through, clean out papers, and set up file folders for 2 of the 3 kids - so that's a start!
The file cabinets will be moved upstairs in June.  I decided to wait until Katie goes back to her base the end of May and put them in her bedroom.  Why should I have to keep trekking to the downstairs bedroom to utilize them when  I     LIVE     HERE.

I did bypass a great sale at the local library because of these 2 stacks of books that I am going through.  The next sale is in 3 months, I can wait for that.

Next week will be busy.  Have a wonderful 'auction' at my Guild on Tuesday evening where you take what you don't want anymore and put it on a sale table.  A paper bag gets put in front of everything and people put in a ticket with their name on it.  If their name gets called, they get the item.  You get a yards worth of tickets for $5.00.  The money goes towards the Guilds functions.  I have a few things to take - always one of our favorite meetings.

I also have to get Katie's room ready for her visit home.  I think she is coming on the 16th for 2 weeks.  I like to have the carpet vacuumed and her bed made so it's all ready for her.  I always felt at home when my Mom did that for me.

Thinking of doing a yard sale on the 16th (the day Katie's come home) but there's a few if's with that.  I don't want to do it by myself and my sister isn't sure she can come by with her stuff.  It would be at my Dad's - more cars would come by in his neighborhood but that means a sleepover at his house - which is always fun but exhausting with working the same day of the sleepover.  Hmmmmm.  It would probably be an easier decision if I had things ready for it, but I don't.  Maybe I will just work on getting things ready for one and plan for one in September at a flea market and hope for terrific weather.

I am so glad there are not more than 24 hours in a day.  I think God gave us just so many because there has to be a limit to how much we can do and how long we can keep going before we rest.

Ooooh!  I finally was able to pull up a debt calculator and figured out that I will have 2 major bills paid off approximately 6 months before I retire from the school.  That's another thing - I am aiming for December 2020 for my retirement.  I need a short-timers calendar!  I haven't used one of those since I was active duty and I crossed every single day off when I was overseas.  I don't know if they make them anymore, I should check into that.  I could cross off 30 days every time I made a payment, haha!

Quilting tomorrow at the church with a friend of mine.  We get together once a month and sew the day away.  I have a binding to do on one small quilt and a baby quilt to quilt and bind.  I should be busy.  I won't have to look at the dishes, housework, or washing.  Just sew.

Until later -
    Tada ~    Trish  

NOT SURE IF ANYONE IS READING THIS

except me so I think I am going to add when I start and finish my 'home' projects to keep myself accountable (to myself!  haha!.)  I do think I have the settings right for people to read this stuff, I'm not sure.  I have gone over and over it and don't know what to change if it isn't right so it is what it is I suppose.  Or maybe I just don't post enough or my blog isn't colorful enough for people to check in. Oh well, I try.  

I started the dreaded paper project today.  I cleaned out 2 filing cabinets and threw a lot of old stuff away while sorting through folder upon folder.  I have a separate plastic bin for each of the kids which now needs sorted and set up into files for them.  My work folder has been sorted through and threw a lot of that stuff out too.   I also have all the Army paperwork stuff from hubbys and my service years to go through and try to make some sense of it all.  I don't have an 'office' area and really no place to put that type of area - hmmm, maybe I can use one of my kids old bedrooms which is in the basement, but it's a separate room and I would be able to keep file cabinets in there.  Ooooh!  That would get a 4 drawer cabinet and 3 other smaller cabinets out of the 'common area' of the basement.

As much as I would love to finish the paper project before I start another project, I am going to spend 2 evenings this coming week and do the kitchen cupboards.  Clutter on the countertops is driving me nuts and that has to be done before our family picnic at the end of May anyways, so I may as well hop to it.  Where DOES all that stuff come from that seems to creep into the kitchen anyways?

The next week will be my bedroom closet.  There are clothes in there that need to be purged.  That should only take me one evening to finish.  It will be nice to cross it off the list.  Plus, I need to dig out my shorts and tank tops for the season.

The basement clutter will wait until my summer vacation.  I wanted that done before the picnic but really - who is going to see that anyways?  

I LOVE plans, don't you?  I am not really the type to fly by the seat of my pants.  I find if I'm not organized, I fret about it.  So, here's to no more fretting!

Also, if I work really hard the month of May in the evenings on this stuff, I will have more time to quilt once school lets out.  There are lots of projects planned in that department too - just look 'over there' on my sidebar.

Tada for now,
      Trish

RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT JUST FOR NEW YEARS

I have a new goal.  I will only check my Facebook, 3 quilt forums, and my email once a week starting the month of May.  I am spending too much time on them and think I will make more of a dent in my lists if I try that.  Especially with my summer vacation from school coming and I will have all day to not sit on my fanny and while away my time.  I have a Didn't Start and a Started and Will Finish list that will not get completed if I keep doing what I am doing.  I also have a basement to clean out (there's not a lot down there according to some people but to me, I need it more organized) and my on- going paper project to finish.  The papers!  We have Army papers for hubby and I, my 3 kids, and of course all the other paper crap we need to keep.  I do have files already set up, but it seems to get out of hand and needs a better way of thinking.  Thank goodness we don't own a business or I would have that to do too.

I did get some of my Spring cleaning finished, but that seems like a never ending chore.  25 days until Summer vacation and I am looking forward to it as much as the kiddos in school are.  I do like the lazy days to sit on my front porch catching up on my reading.   Right now I have 2 stacks to be either read or donated back to the library.  I also have a stack of VFW, Legion, and other similar magazines that came in the mail over the past few months to read.

Looking forward to keeping the flower beds de-weeded unlike last year when I worked for 6 of the     10 weeks I had off.  Also have some cupboards to comb through in the kitchen and bedroom closets to lighten - gather more things for a sale at a flea market in September.  I didn't take much last time and it was fun to sit there and make a few bucks.  On one hand I like to fill the vehicle and donate all to the local Goodwill - satisfaction there I help someone else out and that it is gone so that I don't have to deal with it anymore but why not try to make a few bucks off my unwanted things.

Here it is almost midnight and Sundays are my very long days.  I best get to bed if  I am to function tomorrow for the duration.

No photos this time, how about a easy quote?   A stitch in time saves nine.  Nine what?  Is it nine?  Hmmm, maybe I will have to look that up.

TaDa,
      Trish  

MY LONGARM IS WORKING!

Finally, I guess I got tired of looking at the frame without a machine on it and said, "self, you will do this TODAY", and self did!  I got my Brother machine to work on the frame and while that might not sound like a big deal to you, it is to me.  I've had the frame for about 2 years so it is about time for me to have gotten off my procrastination mindset.  I made 2 passes on it and while I can only do about 4 to 5" from top to bottom before I have to roll it, I'll take it!  I am not taking orders at this time.  Haha!

Tomorrow, the 22nd of March, 21 years ago I was in the hospital having my youngest - my daughter.  It's hard to believe that she will be 21!  She has turned in to a fine young lady who is currently serving as a United States Marine.  So proud of her!  Since she just got to her new duty station a week ago, I don't even have her address yet to send her anything.  I suppose I need to ask her what it is and think of something she would like. 

I do believe we got our last snow for the year.  It was nice that we got a day off yesterday from school and it was a nice snow where it came down wet so even though it stuck to the grass and some of the roads, the temperatures today melted it all right off.  I still won't put away the snow shovels or boots until April 15th, just in case cause you never know what's going to come out of the sky in Pennsylvania in the month of April.  After that I can throw open the windows to get the fresh air in, the dust out and start doing my spring cleaning.  The heat goes off and the electric bill catches up to just about even for what we actually use each month before the air conditioner has to kick on once the really hot and humid days begin. 

We celebrated my dad's 89th birthday on March 18th where my 2 sisters and I took him out to dinner.  We had lots of laughs and good times and will remember that for many years to come.  I am so blessed I still have him and my 2 sisters all of whom are still in pretty great health.  He still lives in the house I grew up in which is another blessing I cherish.  If I am around when it comes time to sell it, it will be a sad day for sure.  He has been there for 57 years - something not a lot of folks can say.  They moved in there right before I was born. 

Off for another night of dreams.  I sure hope they are good ones. 
Tada ~  Trish

GETTING LOTS DONE

I sure seem to get lots done between times when I post.  These past few months have been busy with our Marine daughter finally completing her job training in Pensacola, Florida, she moved on to San Diego, California, to complete more job training and is now stationed at New River, North Carolina.  We were able to enjoy her for a few weeks at Christmas. 

Of course lots of quilty projects got completed too. 

A tiny tumbler wall hanging

6 Pocket Bags for work and sister Christmas gifts

Rail Fence for a friend while recouperating from breast cancer surgery

  

 

Sunflower 60 degree table runner

 

I did update the completed list for 2014.  Where that year went - if you know - please let me know.  Already the first 3 months of this year have passed and I am looking forward to the summer.  I am hoping to see a trip to see my daughter down in North Carolina.  Of course there will have to be some quilt shop stops on the way this time.  When I went to Florida and back last summer, we basically drove straight through.  I am also, still, working on getting my home sewing machine on my Grace frame.  Just yesterday I bought some plastic tubing for the leaders to go on the rails.  Hit a snafu with that so waiting for DH to help me.  I checked out the Block-Rock-It mid arm machine when I went to the Lancaster quilt show last week.  It will fit on my frame but since I am still trying hard to work on a few last debts, I just can't justify the expense at this time.  If I were to quilt and charge them to do quilts for others, I could go ahead with it but I don't plan on that.  Just want the machine for me and my own projects.  Oh, I'm sure it's lots of fun but not a good purchase at this time.  

 

Well, off here to write out a list of the recent projects to get hard copies made.  Trying to keep the photo album up to date.  Hope anyone who comes here is inspired to keep on quilting. 

 

Tada ~  Trish