Trevor's Mom

It was a sad day yesterday and still sad today. Jessica is my only daughter (20 yrs old) and Trevor is her boyfriend. They just celebrated their 2nd anniversary of dating. Trevor's mom passed away early yesterday morning. I had never met her myself but Jess loved her. She was a sick lady and although her passing is not a complete surprise it still rocked their world. Now Trevor and his dad are on their own. It deeply hurt Jessica to see Trevor so tore up. He was close to his mom and did a lot for her. My heart just breaks for this young fellow. I'm glad Jess and Trevor have each other to lean on. It's a good thing.
I am hopeful 2009 will be a much better year.

Finishes and Goals

I have a lot I want to accomplish in the new year. I am NOT calling it "new year's resolutions" because history shows that doesn't work for me. Blogging seems to work better for me. My plan for 2009 is to get at least one UFO FINISHED and one quilt top PIECED every month. I have at least 4 NEW quilts to make this year. I am hoping to get 10 UFO's completed as well. As I am still laid off I have time to get a lot done. I am hoping I will be back to work within a couple months. Otherwise, things will be changing drastically around here. I don't want to even think that will happen so I keep hoping and looking and networking and praying. In the mean time, I want to get lots done! This is the year I want to make most of my Christmas gifts. This is an aggressive list of goals for the first 6 months.

Before JAN 1, 2009

1. Finish binding and label Phyllis' quilt
2. Finish piecing 2007 LAC Mystery quilt, make backing and binding

GOALS FOR 2009

JAN 2009

1. New BQ quilt- Make top and binding (order backing)
2. Jessica's Log Cabin-make border, quilt, binding and label.
   
3. Bethany's graduation quilt-Make top and binding and label. (order or make backing)

FEB 2009

1. Lisa's DIC quilt-complete quilting and label
2. Sandy's quilt-complete border, quilting, binding and label
3. Au Sauble River quilt- complete piecing and make binding and get backing.

MARCH 2009

1. Mia's Graduation quilt-piece and quilt complete. Binding and label.
2. Bethany's Graduation quilt-quilted, binding and label.
3. Green and Yellow Cornerstone quilt-make border and quilt, binding and label.

APRIL 2009

1. Orange and Red Cornerstone quilt-make border and quilt, binding and label.
2. BQ quilt-quilted, binding and label.
3. Au Sable River quilt-quilted, binding and label.

MAY 2009

1. Christmas quilt #1-piece, quilt, bind and label.
2. 2007 LAC Mystery quilt-quilt, bind and label.

JUNE 2009

1. Christmas quilt#2-piece, quilt, bind and label.
   

Coasters and cookies

In order to save some money and still give a small gift to give to our family me and Mark decided to make a few things. Mark baked cookies for the first time. He baked for a couple days and had fun doing it. I made 13 sets of coasters. I gave one set away already and let Jess pick one out. The rest will go to the family. It is fun to have a little something to give.



We have a family party today and we are going to my sisters' house. My daughter has to work until 5:30 today. That sucks but that is retail for you! The part I don't like is she will be driving over to join us after she gets off work and our weather is horrid today. So not only will we be driving in treacherous conditions but we will have two vehicles over there to get home. It will be worth it to all be together though......I hope.
I have a quilt I made (quilted only, as I bought the top) for my sister and I am sewing down the binding on it now. This quilt is huge so it is taking a while. I may bring it with me. Although she will be surprised that I have it, it isn't a complete surprise and it isn't a Christmas gift.....what am I trying to say?
I don't know!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

My socks!

One of my favorite things at Christmas is the secret santa swap we do in my little sewing group. The gifts are all so much fun because they are all sewing/quilting related. We have the best time doing it. Our meeting and swap was last Tuesday but I just tried these on today.

I love my new socks! My secret santa gave them to me along with lots of other goodies. They are hand knitted. My first pair ever! Thank you Phyllis!

My great niece

Isn't she just a doll? I got to snuggle her this week. She was "cooing" and "talking" to me. I could just eat her up!

Her mommy and she came up from Florida to visit Grampa (my brother) and Gramma. Here is mamma and baby.

Her daddy is serving over in Iraq.
I think he will be home around May of 2009. I can't believe he is missing this little precious. Here he is with my brother and my father when he graduated from Boot camp. His name is Philip. He was named after my father which is a great source of pride for my dad. We are very proud of him.

Please come home safe Philip.

No tree this year

There is no Christmas tree here this year. Mark usually buys a beautiful tree and it is full and fragrant and festive! With me being laid off for such a long time we just can't do it this year. My dad loaned us his prelit tree that revolves and Mark put it up but the top lights didn't work (I suggested he just string another set up there, but NOOOOO!) And let's face it, it looked cheap and not at all like we are used to. I know lots of people have it worse and would be happy for even that tree so don't get me wrong. It's just not worth all the effort when it would just be a reminder of what he (we) really wants. So he just packed it back in the box and that is that. We will enjoy my sister's tree and decorations at her house on Christmas Eve and My MIL 'lil Charlie Brown tree on Christmas Day.
That is another sore point for us too. Me and Mark usually have the Christmas Eve party here and we love doing it. My sister was happy to do it this year and I'm glad. I was able to get presents for both Mark and Jess and the kids in the family so all is good. I am counting my blessings every day.
I just miss having a Christmas tree.

Snow and spinach pie

I was working in my sewing room all day, doing a little sewing and some quilting and just stuff I wanted to do. No housework today.


It is cold and windy and it has been snowing all day. I never set foot outside but my hubby was doing this today:
Hey Mark, how's the weather?
He came in and warmed up and he cooked one of my favorite things while I quilted



Wait. Let's take a closer look



IT IS Spinach Pie! I love that man!