Starting Over

Sometimes when I am bored I hit the “Next Blog” button on my blog. It starts out with sewing blogs and then morphs into all types of different blogs, from poetry to foreign philosophers on motorcycles.

Sometimes I hit blogs that have not been updated in months and even years.  Some people say goodbye, some change formats and some people just stop posting. Did they get bored? Change life circumstances? Or, as some have told me, get a life?

No, I am not stopping.  As I have stated before, I like my blog. I look at it as a diary and as a way to watch my family grow.  I also enjoy looking at past projects.  I still surprise myself sometimes.

But I did lose interest for a while.  In fact I even lost all interest in sewing.  The thought of going into my sewing room just depressed me.

You see, my friend Mimi died in April. She and I did lots of sewing-and shopping together. We had a couple projects that we were completing together. We laughed and cried together.  I taught her about quilting, she taught me about the Civil War. When I hurt my back, she called me every day. She never came to visit me without a bunch of flowers.  I once mentioned I thought kitty clocks were cute. She got me one for Christmas. She was a wonderful friend.

Mimi and me at the beach in VA. Mimi loved the beach.

John, her husband, has asked me to finish a few of her quilts. As I work on them, I hear her talking to me. It has helped me to start sewing again.

A friend from high school has started a purse challenge on Facebook. I thought that the challenge might kick me back into gear. Here are the beginnings of my purse.  It combines a couple of my favorite things, Japanese fabrics and beading.  I found the inspiration in one of my Japanese craft books.

I will keep you posted on my project.  I am not going anywhere.

Diane

An Apology to Marja

Instead of apologizing all the time, I should get off my butt and get moving!

In February, I participated in a Mug Rug Swap hosted by Quilting Bloggers (see my link at right).  I was paired up with Marja who blogs in Finland.(Please visit her blog- she makes all kinds of beautiful objects, including rag socks that are too cute!) I have neglected to thank her for her lovely little quilts.  I say little quilts because they are too nice to put mugs on!

I love them! Her quilting is perfect!The theme was the Olympics and Russia and Marja did a wonderful job interpreting the theme.  Than you so much! I have them on display in my kitchen. Hmmm, maybe I should redecorate my kitchen to better show them off…!

By the way, here are the mug rugs that I sent to Marja:

Marja, thanks again. I have enjoyed meeting you and I look forward to visiting your blog often!

Diane

Happy Birthday Paula!

This is a very personal post. My oldest and dearest friend Paula turns 60 years old today. Happy Birthday!

 We have known each other 44 years (come on, are we really that old??).  My family moved to Oneida, NY in November of my junior year in high school. Trust me-that is not a great time to change schools. When it got to lunch time I had to walk into the cafeteria all by myself. I decided to sit at the table where the people were laughing the loudest. Sandy, Bob, Tracee and Paula were sitting at that table.  We have been friends ever since.

I was pretty naïve at the time and they taught me things I had never imagined before-some good, some not so good. But Paula and I  always had fun.  We went to dances at the VFW, skipped out of lunch and drove to VVS, and we even dated brothers from Sherrill  I even took my 1st driving test on her car. She was sick as a dog and the guy made her stand outside in a snowstorm while I took –and failed- that test.
Paula ate dinner at my house and slept over all the time.  Her house was my second home ( Do you remember how your mom always laid out our vitamins every morning?)
I was very jealous when they all turned 18 before I did but she helped make my 18th-and 21st birthdays very memorable. On my 18th birthday, we went to a bar in Herkimer and I bought my first legal drink.  On my 21st birthday, we were arrested for walking in the road in Potsdam (Shocked? Luckily it was considered a traffic infraction. We paid a $5 fine).

In Herkimer we had a two bedroom apt. That was it, two bedrooms and a bathroom.  We had to stay friends-I had the hot plate in my room and she had the little refrigerator. Paula, remember when JJ would come over and do card tricks? We would laugh so hard!
After college we still lived near each other.  One time we drove to CT. because she had a job interview. Paula do you remember singing “One Less Bell to Answer” by the 5th Dimension in the car on the way home? God, we thought we were so clever!
Paula introduced me to my husband-we met on a blind date.  I can never thank her enough for that.

After I got married, Paula moved away, became a nurse, and got married.  We don’t see each other often but when we do we slip back into our friendship.  We talk, we laugh, we cry and we remember. We always go to our HS reunions together (Lord knows I could not walk in there alone!) She remembers everyone and is constantly reminding me of this or that.
Paula always sends me jokes and other information via e-mail. We are friends on Facebook. She was at my house this summer; I hoped she would accept a job nearby but things did not work out as I had hoped. But she knows-or I hope that she knows- that I am always there for her. Happy Birthday Paula! And by the way, I am SO glad that you turn 60 before I did!

 

Wilmington, NC

A couple of weeks ago I spent a wonderful week with my good friends Mimi and John in Wilmington.  They had come to NY for a wedding and I hitched a ride down with them. (I flew back to NY).

Our first stop was Gettysburg where young John works and teaches.  John gave us a great tour of the college.  Luckily we had time to view the battle ground. This was my best attempt at pictures:

I know it does not look like much but when you hear all the history…Well, it was very interesting.

I wonder how many people here in B’ville are aware of this.  There are monuments for the militia that fought here. I took pictures of all four sides.

And of course along the way we did some shopping!

Trader Joe’s in VA.  Rochester finally has a Trader Joe’s. I talked my sisters-in-law into a road trip next week.

This next picture will seem strange but it brought the teacher out in me.  Do you remember learning about Fibonacci’s number?  I don’t remember exactly but it has to do with patterns in nature.  Look at this cauliflower.  Isn’t it amazing?

G Street Fabrics in VA. A real fabric store with actual gorgeous fabrics!

When we got to Wilmington, Mimi-and John – and I kept busy. 

Katie, do you remember the plant you gave Mimi? Well it is thriving!

I put bindings on three quilts for Mimi…

…including this house warming gift I made for them.

We also organized all of Mimi’s fabric.  I thought I took a picture. Dang! (because everyone loves pictures of organized closets!

More pictures in my next post!

Happenings

Two interesting things occurred last weekend.

The fun thing was my fortieth (Yes, that is 40th!) high school reunion.  I was a little apprehensive about going but I had a great time.  I thought we all looked pretty good after all these years.

  

Below is my very, very best friend Paula and her husband, Richard. I met her my very first day. I was new at school (as a junior) and that dreaded time came I had to choose a seat to eat my lunch.  I looked around the cafeteria-her table was laughing the loudest so I sat there.  It was one of my best decisions!

The second thing that happened was not so great.  A storm blew through on Saturday and our neighbor’s tree fell down on our pool fence.

(That is Buddy doing some investigating)

Luckily my husband and Dave were able to fix the fence so things are back to normal.

Mimi’s Surprise

Mimi is my very good best friend.  She only started quilting in 2007 when I talked her into making a yellow brick road quilt.  She has visited several quilt stores and built quite a stash since that fateful day.

Anyway, Mimi is moving from Virginia to North Carolina.  She and her husband are both retiring this year.  While in VA, Mimi became part of a group of quilters who met at their local library.  Upon learning of her departure they did what most quilters do: they made her a quilt.

My only complaint is that I was not a part of the surprise…

You Will Love This!

This is so sweet!

Katie’s friend, Nicole, works at Wegman’s Grocery Store. Her boyfriend, Brandon, a distributor for Pepsi, decided to pop the question. 

Nicole had to work at 7:00 am this morning, so very early today, Brandon did this:

She said yes!

Go Giants!

I don’t like football; I don’t follow football; I don’t care who wins today (OK it would be nice if NY won since I am from NY…); But I do love this picture of my little friend Amanda:

Also, I am going to MD to see my family so here is my Monday Movie post.  Only it isn’t Monday and it isn’t a movie…

I just discovered this website and I love it.  This women does amazing thing with fabric and she shares a LOT of tips and ideas.  Please go check it out!

http://www.redpepperquilts.com

What Time Is It?

Time to show you my new clock!

Isn’t it too cute?  Mimi got this for me for Christmas. I finally got a picture of it the other day.  I love the way its eyes and tail move!

My Job is Done!

Next week Mimi and I are meeting in Lancaster, PA.  We will do a little shopping, some sewing and lots of talking.  When my husband and I visited Mimi and John this past summer, Mimi gave me a top to quilt for her.  I posted about it here.

I finished the quilting this past weekend.  While I was quilting it I thought that it was a yellow brick road quilt but I don’t think it is.  Have you been holding out on me, Mimi?  What pattern did you use??

Anyway it is done.  Here is a close-up of the quilting.

Now I can bring it when we get together and Mimi can practice putting on bindings.  I think we both did a great job!

Memory Jogger

Last night I was talking to my friend Mimi and I told her that her quilt was on the frame and I would be bringing it when we get together next month in Lancaster.  And she asked me, “What quilt?”  She had no memory of giving this quilt for me to machine quilt.

THIS quilt, Mimi!

If you still don’t remember it, it is OK.  I will keep it!

Mimi’s Quilt

My very best friend Mimi took a beginning quilt class last year and completed a wall hanging.  (She finally realized that I could not teach her all she needed to know!) She chose red hat colors (red and purple) and left the quilt for me to quilt and bind for her.  And now almost a year later it is completed and back in Virginia!

I did a stipple in the background and then added straight line quilting to the blocks and border.  I also sent Mimi some buttons if she wanted to add them to the flowers (She does)

Here is a close-up of the quilting.

I think she did a great job.  Enjoy your quilt Mimi!

Good Friends

As promised here are just a few of the many pictures I have to post:

This first picture is of my very good friend Mimi and her family. Her son John just graduated summa cum laude from Gettysburg College. He is working at Harper's Ferry this summer and will be going to grad school in Washington,DC in the fall.






The next two pictures are of my good friend Betty's first grandchild Katelyn. I have known the family for many years. Katelyn's mom, Lora was just 8 years old when we first met! The first picture is Katelyn with her godparents (Lora's brother and his wife). The next picture is just Katelyn. We all agree she looks just like her Grampa!