Where has December and 2010 Gone?

It is hard for me to believe that it is already December 29th.  Where has this year gone?  When you are young everyone is always telling you to slow down and enjoy your time because as you age time passes faster.  I guess I never really believed it until the past 10 years.  It is amazing how fast time passes now.  It seems like only yesterday that Roger and I married and it is almost 22 years now.  This is the time of year to reflect on your goals and reset those that you did not meet.  I feel blessed to have completed many of the goals we set for this year.
--We completed Roger's Garage
--We purchased the lift for the garage
--I was able to attend a national quilt show and take classes on longarm quilting (thanks to my wonderful husband and my birthday present)
--We are on our way to being debt free in 34 more months (what a blessing that will be to complete)
--We are blessed to still be able to help our parents each month.
--Mom and I have gotten to spend a lot of time quilting this year.  How amazing it is to see her patiently piecing away on her quilts.  How special it is to be able to spend time with her doing what we love.
--I am also blessed to have a wonderful quilt bee that always makes me laugh....laughter is great for the soul!!
--We are also blessed with wonderful children and precious grand children.....who in my opinion are growing up way too fast.  That is really when you realize how fast time is passing when you blink and see your oldest grand child turn 17!
--Precious friends who we have lost this year are still precious in our memories.
--New friends who we meet on our journies through the year become a light in your life.
--Blessings of a wonderful husband who is always there for you no matter how horrible your day has been, he can always remind you how special you are.  What a truly blessed woman I am.
--Oh yeah, I am thankful for the patience to cut out all of those tiny pieces needed for the Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery quilt Bonnie Hunter is doing.  Mom is having a great time, just wait until she see's all those quarter square triangles she is getting.   He He He!!!
I wish for each of you a wonderful, blessed new year which gives you the time you need to pursue the passions of your heart!!
Happy New Year to everyone and many more years of Happy Quilting,
Shelia

She Really Hates The Cold Weather

My female cat, sissy (her real name is Cleopatra) really hates the cold weather.  It's 28 degrees outside and here she is hugging the heater vent. 

Even though she has a fur coat she will sit on the heater vent for hours.  Then she is off to bed to sleep on her quilt.  What a girl.

I finished cutting out part 6 of the mystery.  688 quarter square triangles (mine and mom's).  I'm taking my pieces with me to Florida tomorrow.  I hope to sew some while we are visiting Roger's mom.  Getting my car project ready to roll and everything else I hope to work on.

Hope you have a great day quilting.
Shelia

I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Wow, it has been 47 years since it snowed here on Christmas Day. 
Here is my side yard with snow, it's kinda dark already since it is 7:20 p.m. when I got home from work.  You can see the leland trees covered in snow and my sitting bench.  Beautiful.

 Next picture is of the parking lot at work as I was leaving.

Sue, one of my bee girls, sent me an e-mail with the following story.  I thought it was cute and wanted to share. 

 Quilter's Night Before Christmas Story

by Author Unknown

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

The only one sleeping was Quilter's dear spouse.

The Log Cabin stockings were almost completed,

"Just a few stitches left," our sweet quilter repeated,

"Then I can hang them and head off to finish

the pillows I'm making, fulfilling Mom's wish

For something 'quilty' to put on her couch",

as she pricked her poor finger, our quilter yelled, "Ouch!"

When from out in the kitchen there arose such a crashing,

she sprang from her work, and she dropped all her sashing.

Away to the doorway she flew like a plane,

wondering just what was happening and who she could blame.

When what to her wondering eyes should appear,

but Old Mrs Claus and her bag of quilt-gear....

With her elves bearing gifts, through the kitchen she came,

she directed and pointed and called them by name.

"Now Elna, now Pfaff, now Bernina and Viking,

the Andover and Blue Hill should be just to her liking.

To the sewing room - there, it's just back of the hall,

now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

"My Dear," said The Claus (as she liked to be called),

"There really is no need to worry at all.

Your projects will all be completed this night,

I'm terribly sorry we gave you a fright.

Sit down. Have some tea. It's relaxing, you'll see.

My friends and I've come a long way to help Thee."

She thought she was dreaming, our Dear Quilter did,

In fact she quite feared that she'd near flipped her lid!

But the flash of the needles and twist of the thread

soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.

They spoke no more words, but went straight to their sewing.

How the work went so quickly she had no way of knowing.

The stitches, how tiny! The corners, how straight!

This Claus-woman's talent was awfully great.

They finished the pillows, then started a quilt.

Before they all knew it, the whole thing was built!..

Now old Mrs. Claus, she knew quilters real well,

and she knew they'd need help on this night most of all

So she said to our quilter, "Just move over, dear,

I've brought my own needle. We'll get done, never fear.

I told dear old Santa about what quilters do.

How they plan all these projects but have other work too.

So he taught me his magic for doing things fast.

There, that pillow's done. Now this is the last."

They tidied their thread snips, and picked up the scraps

and chased our dear quilters six cats from their laps.

They left behind gingerbread (just to be nice)

and the whole house smelled sweetly of Christmas and spice.

As they scurried away with their thimbles still gleaming

dear Mrs. Claus paused, her cap ribbons streaming.

"Merry Christmas, my dear, now just have a ball!

Relax and enjoy.  Happy Quilting to all!"

Merry Christmas everyone,
Shelia

Merry Christmas Everyone

Roger and I pray that each of you will have a safe and very Merry Christmas.  We are blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family in our lives.  God bless each of you.  Blessings that the New Year will bring you much happiness and lots of quilting time.
Happy Quilting,
Shelia & Roger

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring........oh but wait.....yes it's me stirring.  And what am I doing.......cutting out 688 quarter square triangles for the Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery quilt.  Oh my!!  Yes another mystery part has been revealed and it involves a large amount of tiny  triangles to be cut.  These triangles are being cut from 1-inch strips.  This is really going to be an intricate quilt and I can't wait to see how miss Bonnie is going to have us put these together.  Mom continues to diligently work on piecing her parts.
I Hope that you will be able to settle down for a long winter's nap tonight.  We've had weather predictions of a white Christmas tomorrow.......it hasn't snowed on Christmas Day here since I was 3 years old........who knows!!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night,
Shelia

Look What's On It's Way To My House!

Cute as a button and she is on her way to my house now. 

Yes!!  My own little Featherweight machine.  YIPPIE!!

I have gotten 200 of my 600 half-square triangles pieced for the mystery quilt.  They are cute, but very little critters.
Hope that you have a great day quilting,
Shelia

A Completed Project

Friday night when the bee girls came over, Deb brought a project to share with us.  It is for an organizer.  She told us the directions.....which of course I had to write down and draw out my pattern....she cut my pieces out while I was transcribing what she was telling us.  Sunday evening I got my organizer pieced and it looks great.
Susan made hers while Deb was giving out the directions......miss over achiever....hehehehe!  But here are the pictures of my finished project.  You insert it into a plastic coffee container...ie., Folgers or Maxwell House.

The organizer has pockets on the inside and outside.  I think it is nifty for your sewing table.  As you can see I have already started loading things into the pockets.  Thanks Deb for a great project. 
Sue also brought us a project and I hope to be able to piece one sometime this week. 
Hope you have a great week quilting,
Shelia

Only Six Days Until Christmas!

Wow times sure does fly. I can't believe that it is only six days until Christmas. Both of my ER's where I work are doing Christmas Stockings this year.   They all look very festive hanging on the nurses station's.

 

My Bee Girls came over on Friday night and we had a blast.  This is Suzanne and Susan we were the last three and sewing and laughed until after midnight.  I sure needed the stress relief.  We also watched Jeff Dunham's Christmas CD, it was hilarious! 

Remember that mom and I are doing Bonnie Hunter's Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery quilt.  I spent most of the evening and afternoon cutting out 2-inch strips of red and neutrals to make the 1200 (no typo) half-square triangle blocks needed for mom and I.  We each need 600 blocks.  Boy it is sure a good thing that Bonnie waited until clue number 5 to have us do these 600 blocks, otherwise I think I would have said.........no way!!

So far I have over 600 cut out, hopefully today I can complete the cutting process and so some piecing later.

Here is a close up of my stocking that is hanging at the Greer ER.  One little girl walked by the nurses station the other day while I was working and said to her mother..."Boy Santa really is coming here, look at all of the stockings he has to fill". 



Update from my ER visit.  Things are better now.  No further bleeding and I have a follow up with a gastroenterologist in January.  Hope you have a safe and festive week. 

Don't forget to work some quilting into your hussle and bussle.

Happy Quilting,

Shelia

Crazy Week

This has definately been a crazy week for us.  We started out the week doing some repairs at my mom and dad's house.  Faucet's leaking in the kitchen & bath.  Roger was able to replace both faucets for them.  It is wonderful having a husband who can fix anything.
Busy work week but I didn't anticipate becoming a patient in my own ER.  But God's blessing abound and I am doing much better now.  He reminds us often what is most important.  I am truly a blessed woman.  Thanks to my ER team for taking wonderful care of me during my stay.  You are the BEST!!
Mom and I are doing the mystery with Bonnie Hunter so we are still working on part 2 and part 3 just posted.  This should turn out to be a wonderful quilt.....you know how I like pink and brown!
I can't believe that it is December already.....times sure flies as we get older.  Today we are having my cousin Teresa and her family over to watch the SEC Championship game.  This should be a wonderful afternoon.
Many blessings to all,
Shelia