Whatcha Been Doing?

Several folks have called and written

 and asked "Whatcha Doing?"

I've been invited to a "sew in" B-Day bash soon

 and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to

work on a quilt I started YEARS ago.

I used to sew all the time and then life, 

issues and other interests got in the way

 and I stopped quilting entirely.

I love the fabrics in this quilt..very much

my old primitive favorites but it will still

go quite nicely in my blue and brown bedroom.

It requires 96 blocks and I am at 64 as of today.

Every block is random and includes plaids and checks

in browns, beiges, blues and a touch of yellows.

I opened the basket where the blocks and strips

 were stored and just 

threw them out on the chair and desk

 and started sewing.

I'll see how far I get before the sew in and

then an entire day there just may "get er' done"

Sew a side, trim/turn, sew a side, trim/turn

and so on.

A Log Cabin

I just toss them to the floor as they are completed.

Funny they look crooked here but they're not. I did 

not cut the strips with anything but abandon 

so the plaids and checks do not always run straight.

I wanted it that way, to appear primitive and I 

will most likely overdye it when finished also.

 I was thinking I will add a solid border with some appliques 

perhaps because I love doing those also.

I miss doing needlecraft.

Maybe this will resurrect my first love.

Needle and thread

A painters pallet of fabrics

It is all connected

In other news I shared a lovely day on Monday

with a photographer Tracey Perry, 

who shot my home for a Holiday Book 

to hopefully be published next year.

It is a major undertaking and I will keep 

you posted as I proceed.

I am thrilled to be able to get 

Christmas taken down, and do some more purging

and a thorough cleaning of the house.

I have NEVER had it up this long before,

it has made me a little antsy.

Because of my organized box system

it will come down lickety split.

WOOT!

So that's my story

What's yours?

Empty Nest

A few years back Hannah left this for me

 to find one morning after she had 

returned to NYC.

It made me laugh.

It made me cry.

It hangs on the wall next to my desk.

Now it occasionally makes me misty.

DD is all packed and ready to leave early tomorrow.

One of her best buds is here cramming in some more 

best bud time and I can hear the chatter upstairs

 as I sit herepast midnight not wanting to sleep 

and miss a second of the sounds.

We did not get to do a lot of the things we had planned due

to the plague that descended upon my house last week.

All three of us in pj's an entire week, sick as could be.

The Beau has recovered and departed for LA, 

DD has a light cough and of course, 

I am still hacking away.

Bonding time with a twist. 

The poor Beau saw me sans makeup, 

washed hair or even clean clothes one day and vice-versa. 

We all sacked out in the family room 

amid piles of quilts, pillows, soups and Vicks.

I became "MOM" to him also.

I feel greedy wanting more time with the kids. 

I had kid company almost a full month 

and that has not happened in 5 years.

 I'm trying not to count the months till

the next visit, but it creeps into my mind.

I'm already planning a run to see

 Dearest Son and his love

ASAP. Thank Heaven he lives closer.

We managed several visits this year.

Each one more precious than the last.

The kids think if I were busier or "involved" that I would

miss them less. I know they are wrong.

Although I am thrilled for their lives far away, 

and always support their choices, 

I lived my entire adult life far from any family

 and I know it sucked. 

In a reverse way of course, missing my parents, 

but it still sucked.

I'm not the whiny "oh woe is me Mom"

 or a clingy Mom to them but 

I do miss them always, every day.

Having close, loving relationships

with your children is such a blessing,

but it also deepens the distance,

intensifies the longing for a mama 

away from her children.

I have weeks of work ahead so I will knuckle down

and tend to my chores and work on my projects

and bless Skype and telephones and emails.

Long ago when folks sailed to other countries

 or wagoned their way across this country 

and left loved ones behind,

often forever,

the sound of breaking hearts 

must have been a deafening roar.

An empty nest is a sad one.

With A Cough, A Sneeze And A Whimper

Darling Daughter's Beau Blake

had some friends come to stay with us last week.

They both arrived sick.

Then they shared.

 DD and BB helped me 

at work for the past two days.

Hard, physical, dusty work.

(DD finally sitting at end of today)

Now tonight DD and Beau

have fevers, chills, and a box of kleenex 

has already bit the dust.

Coughing, sneezing and whimpering are

taking place in my family room.
Soups, hot teas and ginger ales are flowing.

My chickadees will be going to bed early.

Poor Birdies

The Mama in me is happy I can nurse them. 

The practical in me thinks..

Aw hell, when will I get it?

Happy New Year My Friends

update:

Annie's husband Ron is now home and awaiting test results,

and a plan of action for a healthy outcome.

Annie and I thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers.

I told her you guys were the best!

Z