Heat Wave & something old - something new

The temperature is above single digits-for now. I got the itch to start something new yesterday. Cabin fever or something like that. Almost finished tying James's quilt and wow did I cut that back close. If it were being hand or machine quilted I think I would have had to take it apart and re-do. It just makes it by a hair.

I am bound and determined to use some of the fabric in my unwieldy stash. I'm not doing that crazy fabric diet because quilting and fabric are my joyful art and I can't imagine why anyone would swear off fabric. I think it must be a sort of Catholic thing because my friend thinks it's a great idea and she's one of the long suffering. She's the one who can't say the word NO, like when she allowed her MIL put that beautiful miniature masterpiece in the coffin when her FIL died last fall. I'm still thinking of ways to bribe the cemetery workers with regard to retrieval. Don't get me wrong and don't slam me regarding the Catholic remark-I'm married to one, albeit one who has drifted some from the flock. It's just that I get so mad sometimes when people spend their lives bitching and complaining about what they have to do because they can't manage to eek out the words "NO-I'm sorry I can't this time." These said friends are left with the moaning and groaning about how hard life is. I have a hard time saying no too but I'm finally at a place where I've decided to be good to myself first. I'm not saying that helping others is a bad thing, I do quite a bit of that myself, but my friend goes so far that it infringes on her personal life and relationships because, I think, someone once told her that she wasn't worthy or deserving of happiness. I feel particularly bad lately since all of this has affected our friendship in some ways. There are days when I really just want to connect and have a few laughs like we used to(no one can make me laugh like her) then I get there & she's almost the most bitter person I have ever met. I think much of this may have something to do with menopause and so I am quiet and try to be comforting having been there and done that. It gets exhausting sometimes as well as depressing-I hope she comes back to us soon. Have you ever met one of those people who asks you for advice-you give it and they NEVER, EVER follow any of it? So why ask? If all you want is a "Poor Baby" I can do that too and it requires less effort all around. Everyone is entitled to "Poor Baby" moments.

OK, I'll quit bitchin' at you all now if you're even still there....you are there aren't you????? Hey come back!!!

The houses are two I made around the same time I made the donation quilt and from the same material . I wish I had so much more of that stuff. It was such a pleasing color palette to work with-very Provence-like I loved it. I found them while I was looking for scraps in the closet. While I was doodling away time in there I came across a number of fat quarters I tucked away to use in a nine-patch something someday. They are also that same type of palette. So while I was making Chili yesterday I got them out and made some blocks. Cute, no?? Just doodling around avoiding confronting my artistic demons. That's my cross to bear. Ugh!

Stay warm and come back, I promise not to yell next time. Really..

Warm weather dreams & reality

These are some of the things that remind me of the seasons to come. Warmer ones...and could they be soon?Please??

I found these mangoes at the grocery the other day. They taste like summer to me. I know they're an acquired taste to some people but I grew up in a house with direct access to unusual food. Consequentially, I've never met a food that I don't like-except Brussels sprouts(they don't like me) and beef liver-ick. Yesterday just got away from me so I didn't have a WIP to show. Work on James's quilt is coming along nicely. I'm getting sore fingers from all the tying but that's almost done. After that, I'll bind it and throw it over my very cold son who is, sadly, working outside in 15 degree weather. He's an ice cube when he gets home. Even in layers and some heat inside the building-it's a long, cold day.

I am managing to get a lot of house work done-amazing what you can do when you have little alternative. It's a bit of a hibernation.

Lots of Jasmine tea on the menu today. Some sort of soup as well-probably chicken corn chowder. Hope you are all staying warm-more tomorrow.

Things to do when it's 9 degrees

My last post got Roger thinking about our Honeymoon in Hawaii and the state of the pictures. He thought they weren't as bad as I remembered. So we went on a search. While we had out the album, James mentioned that scanning the pictures into the computer might be a good thing for Dad to do.

This is an unfortunate shot of me when I was going through my permed and colored hair phase. Things have changed a little in 23 years. Here I am on the north shore of Oahu. I forgot how big glasses were then.

For this shot, we had to trade services with another couple who had no one to take their picture either. This is one of the pics that faded. This place is on the volcano Haleakala on Maui in a protea garden. It was a breathtaking place and this was in February. We get a kick out of this one because Roger says it's when we had matching bellies. He tells how I gave birth to mine but he's still carrying his.

That's enough reminiscing today. I just thought maybe you might like something warm and fuzzy to look at. It's up to 10 degrees out right now. We're looking at a high of 17 today. Shudddderrrr.

I have my son's quilt sandwiched together and am working on it. I'll post a picture later or tomorrow. Other than that there is a major clean-up going on here. Not much else one can do on these frigid days. Early spring cleaning-but for what year? Every time I try to get started on something artistic-I'm faced with a mess of stuff and no room to work. It's time! Not to mention the dust Bunnies which have become so large that I am naming them. It was good to throw out a bunch of stuff this past weekend. I had bits and pieces of stuff that were around for years in plastic bags. Nothing that anyone would want and many things I wondered out loud at what the hell I was thinking when I bought some of that stuff. We used to have a fabric store near us that had dollar a yard fabric and it was worth every penny. UGH! When I first started it was all I could afford and I didn't know any better. Why I saved strips as small as 1/2 in. I will never know. It's great to purge!

Deb Geyer sent me an e-mail that my quilt is on the way to me to put the binding on. Can't wait to see it. I should look for something to bind it with. Talk to you later. Stay warm

Dreams to Remember

This is a picture of a Hawaiian grotto. I'm not sure which one-the place is covered with them. Somewhere around 23 years ago, Roger and I trampled trough vines and undergrowth trying to get to a place just like this-we were on our honeymoon in Hawaii.
Memories fade and rearrange themselves in little packages in our minds but this one stays fresh for me. Most of the pictures we took did not age well. It was a time when putting your film through those electronic checkpoints did something funny to the film. Had wwe known we would have developed it in Hawaii. As it is-many or most of the pictures are a little pale and misty looking. We'll have to go back and take them again. At least that's what we always say.
Im not sure if that trip will ever happen, and frankly, there are so many places I want to see that maybe another trip to Hawaii will wait a long time. It doesn't matter-I have the most important part right here in my head and heart. Last night at dinner, we were kidding around with James and his girlfriend, Dani about our long-ago trip. The conversation was funny and now that my son is 22 1/2 he can figure out that he was around for the trip. I'm a fortunate woman. With great memories. My life has been a trip. Great things come to those that open their eyes, minds and heart to loves possibilities. All good things come in time and with faith. Happy Anniversary Honey!