I Got a Ribbon!

I went to the Jefferson Quilt Show today.  And I was pleasantly surprised.  I received a 2nd place ribbon on my quilt.

 

 

Jim and I enjoyed the day in Jefferson.  The temperature warmed up to 70.  That made it pleasant for walking thru town.  We went thru a few antique shops.  I got several ideas for decorating at the house.  I told Jim we needed to just completely empty a room and set it back up with what we really want from what we have and then go shopping.  So many things we find that we like, our response is always, we don't have any room to put it in the house.  I seriously need an interior design helper.

 

I don't think I ever put up a picture of one of the quilt kits I cut out for the cruise.  Here is my selection of fabrics for one of the quilts.  Everyone who purchased a  kit will be making their's blue.  I decided to go red and I also will be making larger quilt blocks.

 



 

I am almost through cutting the second quilt kit.  It is a scrap quilt.  I will have to post a picture of it after the cruise.  Speaking of the cuise, Jim and I have been trying to figure out what excursions to take.  He wants to go sknorkeling.  I told him I would go do that.  I also know I want to go shopping in Cozumel.  Now to get some rest to make it at work this week.  It should be very busy.  Many people will be in the tax office to pay their taxes.

 



A Family Day

Today is my brothers twin girls 18th birthday.  It doesn't seem like 18 years has passed.  Looking on facebook, it seems that everyone's kids have grown up and are all becoming 18.  It was hard enough when my kids turned 18, but to see that all around me they are all growing up.  So many times we keep the "kids" as kids in our mind.  It will be a good day to get to see them and several other relatives today.  Almost like a family reunion.  I have a very estranged relationship with my brother.  I care for him and always hope that things get better for him, both spirtually and medically.  For whatever reason he has anger issues and it makes it difficult to be around him at times.  I hope that I get to see him today and that it will be a good day.

Jim and I spent some time yesterday to get the painting done outside.  The temp was to be above 50 so we painted the wood and across the front of the house where the gutters fell down due to rotted wood.  First part of next week the roofer is coming to install seamless gutters across the front of the house.  He says it will keep it from dripping on us like it used to.  It was not the best gutter system on the house when we bought it.  Now that our kids are older, we have a bit more income to use to fix up and repair things around the house that need it.

On the subject of kids.  Matthew says he is moving out.  He thinks he may move out by February 1st.  Although Jim and I are ready for him to move, we think he should strongly get a room mate.  He says he has one in mind, but does not know if it will work out.  It is not our choice...a female.  We will have to see how it goes.  I am going to sit down with him this week and go over a budget to make sure he has thougth of everything and if he can truely afford to be on his own.  We will continue to help provide car and medical insurance until he is 25.  Doing that helps the kids out tremendously.

I did not keep a close eye on my propane gas level.  It is down lower than I have ever seen it.  I am glad it is to be a warm day today, so I am leaving off the heater in my studio.  Tommorrow I have the day off and it is to be cold.  I will want the heat tommorrow.  I hope the gas people are working and didn't get the day off. 

I have been cutting out the second quilt for the cruise.  Oh my goodness!  Over 1500 pieces.  I am so bored of cutting this one. 516- 2" squares, 1032 - 2" x 5" rectangles.  I am so tired of cutting them.  The only thing that keeps changing is the fabric.  All the 2" squares are solid black.  The other pieces are a large variety of light and dark fabrics.  It is a lot of ironing, cutting and refolding many pieces of fabric to get the variety the quilt needs.  I do believe it will be awesome when it is done. 

Weigh-In Wednesday

Here we are at week two.  I was hoping that it would be different than what happens on Biggest Loser, but alas, week 2 got me!  I did not lose any weight.  I think the thing with week 2 is that you feel so good from week 1 you get a little lax.  I was not as strict on myself on what I ate the past week.  Yes, I did indulge in a few things.  Hopefully, food that I have not purchased will not show up to tempt me this week.  I did keep up the walking and therefore, I did lose some inches.  Measurements are:  Bust 44 3/4", waist 38, hips 45, thigh 24 7/8".  I lost 1 7/8" this past week.  I am not sure if I keep measuring in the same spot each week for the thighs.  I think after awhile it will be more of a habit and I will hit the same spot.  Since starting I have lost almost 4".  I feel good about that.  So I plan to do better this week.  If there is not a change in the weight, I need to find something else to add or do to make that happen.

THRIFTING

Today Jim and I went to a couple of shops here looking for bargains and whatever they may have that we want.  He loves Hawaiian shirts.  He picked up a couple and some plaid shirts.  Less than a $1 a piece.  I have Pfatgraff (not sure of the spelling) Yorktowne pattern.  I found a plant pot there that could be used for anything, .25.  I also picked up a cute painted wooden basket.  Don't know what I will put in it yet.  And my favorite from the Good Samaritans was a set of 5 glasses.  They have fall leaves around it. I love them!  Also .25 each.

Then we went to a new place in town.  Basically an antique or knick/knack mall.  People rent spaces and set up shop in the building.  I found two great buys.  One was a potpourri container.  It is much darker than the picture suggest.  I think it may have been copper or at least copper colored, $10.  I am going to get some of the great smelling potpourri that they sell in Canton and we will hang it in the living room where the previous owners left a hook in the ceiling.  And the other item I found there was a corduroy jacket trimmed in velveteen and lace. Gorgeous!  $3.00.

I love shopping at thrift stores.  Jim and I both had a good time.  I also found an old dresser there I may go back to get.  I need to look around and see where I am going to place it.  I think I will use for linen chest.

Pictures are back now!

I changed my browser to Firefox.  We used to use it a few years ago.  Looks like I will be going back to it.  Above you see what I received from Slice Crafts.  It was a bag to hold the cutter, and all your accessories.  I also got a tool kit.  It is open in the package, it zips closed and has the same fabric as on the bag.  Then there were several scrapbooking/card making embellishements.  Now that I have my pictures back, I am going start up loading a few different pics of things I have found thrifting and my quilt I have cut so far.

Blogger Problem

I looked at getting a different blog, but I really like blogger.  So I decided not to do that just yet.  I thought, there has to be a forum and I finally found what I was lookimg for.  (Now if I can remember how I got there so I can go back.)  I checked into known issues and my issue was listed.  On January 4, 2013 several people are experiencing problems with the photo upload.They are working on the problem.  Hopefully they will find a solution soon.

The weekend is finally here!  I have one quilt kit cut for the cruise adn I am going to mark the stitching/cutting lines on the squares so that I won't have to do it on the cruise.  That will speed up the stitching consideraby.  I should be able to get another kit cut this weekend.

I haven't heard from either Jefferson or Dallas if my quilt was accepted in the show.  If if was accepted in Jefferson, I will have to ship it soon, so I am waiting everyday by the mailbox for the notice (one way or the other).

I am still keeping up with the exercising.  I feel pretty good.  I can tell that my clothes are fitting better. I just feel good.  Strange thing about exercise.  You don't want to do it, but after you start and get a bit of a habit, you want to do it.  So I look for things to add to it...I use the crosswalk arms some, I have started working with my weights, and I am even working up to jogging.  I keep going faster and faster.  What I used to feel like was fast is super slow now.  I jog for short bursts, and they will probably get longer as I go along.  I also read while I am walking. There is a book shelf and put my Kindle on it and read while I walk.  It really helps the time to pass more quickly.

Jim and I got our passports in the mail yesterday.  Hurray!  We can now leave the country and get back in.  We are so getting ready for the cruise.  The cruise is paid for.  We are now saving money for everything else.  We have looked at the different excursions that are listed and picked a few that seem interesting.  He doesn't want to pay ahead of time, but rather put in a reservation.  That way if it is raining or whatever, we don't lose our money for something we would not be able to do.  I don't know if it works like that or not.  In any case, if we just go shopping and looking around at each port, we are okay with that.  I am sure that there will be plenty to do between land and ship.  Now to get busy with the day.  It just started pouring rain here.  Where did that come from?  It was like 60-65 when I got up at 5:30.  My sister said it is suppossed to drop like crazy today and possible freezing percipitation by Monday.  Crazy weather.

Weigh-In Wednesday

I have worked out everyday since the first of the year on the treadmill.  I have also cut back on what I am eating.  Today is the first weigh-in since I started.  Today I weigh 192...I lost 4 lbs!  Not a lot, but it is a start.  I was not strict with myself on eating and I ate and drank some I should not have.  But I did walk a mile each day except Sunday.  My buns hurt so bad I decided I needed one break.  But I have noticed that I can walk the mile faster.  I have increased the speed I am able to walk and I have been increasing the time/distance that I walk.  Now for the measurements.  I really want to see the difference here.  Bust,  45; waist 39.5; hips, 45.75; thigh 24.25. No change on the top half.  I did lose 1/4" in the hips, and 1 3/4" in the thighs!  So I see I need to add some activiy for the top half.

I had hoped that changing the look of the blog would add the picture link back.  It didn't.

Have a great day.