Screeching in Under the Wire

Well here I am as usual...out of breath, just in the nick of time...my January Schnibble is done...I used Sandy Gervais' Valentine fabric...this is really pretty far out of my box...but it was lots of fun. I'm looking forward to tomorrow to see what the February Schnibble is going to be.

Charming Girls and a Little More

Have I said lately how much I love The Charming Girls...since joining I've set realistic goals and have reached those goals...it is very exciting...keeping me very focused and on track. I've always been a goal setter and list maker, but I was always bad about not putting a "to be done" date on...so unless it had it's own deadline, like a baby quilt or a special gift, I could very easily just push it to the back burner and move on...I have gotten so much more done since joining Charming Girls...it makes me very happy! Thank you very much Kelly for this wonderful group. I've completed my January goals and just in the nick of time...I'm leaving Sunday for the retreat with some friends and I needed Moose Munch to all cut out, I'm hoping to get it all sewn while I'm there. I hope I have lots to show when I get back. I also got the baby quilt all cut, and since I got it cut I've gotten all the pinwheels sewn together and I hae it all laid out on my design floor. When I get back that will be my project.

I got 12 pillowcases done for Jackie's Hole in the Wall Gang project. I found a bunch of kid fabrics and just had so much fun doing these. This picture shows what I got done last Wednesday (my charity sewing day) and today I got them all finished up. My camera is acting up (I really need a new one) so I don't have a picture of the 12 finished ones. I'm really enjoying having a day a week to sew for someone else.

I got this month's Designer BOM block done...this one was very fun, very easy and went together very quickly.

I'll leave you with a picture of my boys today. The groomer was here today...they're pooped. My mom gave them this huge bed for Christmas and they LOVE it. They love to sleep together, and they used to squeeze together on one of their beds...now they have the "Duplex" as we call it.

No Snow Here, But We Had Sleet

There were parts of Florida that got snow today but not here...we got lots of sleet though. When we went out at 6:30 this morning to walk the dogs it started...I had lots of little ice pellets in the creases of my jacket by the time we got home...the boys had lots on them too...they couldn't figure out what in the world was going on...they kept looking up at the sky trying to see what was hitting them. It lasted until around 11...I looked out the window of my sewing room this afternoon and I saw these ice pellets that had collected on my neighbors roof. Another neighbor said I missed it...she said the whole thing was full earlier. Stayed there all day, since it never really got above freezing all day. Tonight is supposed to be worse but there's no moisture in the air, and the clouds have all cleared. They're saying it will be 26 tonight which will break the 40 year old record of 27. They're also worried that it will stay that cold for an extended number of hours...that is very bad...the citrus and the strawberries are in big danger.

I completed one Charming Girls goal today...I got the 6 Tuffets done for the retreat gifts. These are just so fun to do. I filled them with crushed walnut shells and backed them with wool. I like to put the wool on the back because the pin cushion doesn't seem to slide off the arm of the couch or chair like when I put cotton on the back.

Tomorrow I plan on getting a baby quilt cut out. Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

They're Calling for Snow and Sleet

Yes you read that right...and yes I do live in Florida. Now it's certainly not going to be a significant amount of snow, we'll probably have to be standing out in the middle of the yard when the flurries come, but it's snow none the less. I've lived here for 43 years and can't think of too many times that the weatherman has "Snow and sleet in the forecast for tomorrow"...crazy, crazy!

We had the most wonderful visit in Birmingham with the kids...very relaxed, never had to be anywhere at any special time, just lots of good time with the children. Mom had the best time...Little Miss Camden liked mom the best...she wanted mom to play with her and feed her...she liked Grandy almost as much...they had lots of staring contests...she loved sitting with him...look at that static in her hair, what a hoot. She would sit with me if her Nana and Grandy weren't available...Hampton was another story...he and I spent lots of time playing games, doing jigsaw puzzles, reading books, and playing with Thomas and his friends...oh he loves those trains...he's developed quite a sense of humor and had us laughing all the time. Couldn't have been more fun and I can't wait to get back there.

When we got back, and I had a chance to get caught up on blogs I read about a wonderful group on Emily's blog ...Cancer Is Sew Done...a virtual quilting bee...they are asking for blocks, they provide the pattern on their site, sew whatever you want and they put the quilts together and the quilts are auctioned. I did 4 blocks to send them on Wednesday...I've decided that every Wednesday is going to be my day to sew for charity...there are so many people in need and my family and I are so blessed to have good health...I feel like I want to give back.

Before I went away I played Holly Jolly Blog Bingo on The Quilt Shoppe's blog...I won this wonderful little MODA box...squares of 3 Sister's Aster Manor and
Holly Taylor's Migration. What a wonderful prize...thank you so much.

I'm heading to bed so I can get up nice and early in the morning to watch for the snow...I have my camera ready...if it happens I'll be back with pictures tomorrow.

December is Just About Over

Well December has just about come and gone and I'm happy to say that I got my last 2 Charming Girls goals finished. I got a couple of Tuffets done and finished my Picnic top...I am just in love with these Schnibble patterns. They are so fun!

My January goals are...1. Make 6 more Tuffets for gifts...I'm going on a retreat the end of January and these will be wonderful. 2. Cut out a baby quilt 3. Cut out a project to take to work on at the retreat.

This will be my last post for 2009...I'm picking mom up tomorrow and we are leaving Thursday morning at 6:30 for Birmingham... I can't wait to get there. We'll be back next week...wishing all of you a wonderful, happy, healthy, safe New Year...now if we can just figure out how to slow down 2010...I think 2009 was the fastest year of my life.

We Love UPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPS did not disappoint...we just LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!! You guessed it...we just got a call from Katie and Josh...the train arrived on their front porch a few minutes ago. UPS has made my Christmas...there is no better feeling for a grandma or a Mamie in my case. I made Josh promise to make sure he had that camera ready to go when Hampton finds that Santa present. He said he would...so as soon as I get it I'll post it. Thank you all for your good thoughts and all those fingers and toes crossed. Blogland is the BEST!

Kelly asked us to tell a favorite Christmas memory...well I have to tell you this S.C. Ruffey Train adventure will probably go down in the books as a great memory...but my very favorite one was when Josh was just Hampton's age and he said we had to put carrots out for Santa's reindeer along with Santa's cookies. So a large bunch of carrots was placed on a plate. After Josh went to bed Andy and I ate the cookies, left some crumbs behind...drank the glass of milk and broke most of the carrots off and chewed on the ends...the carrots were very gnawed on. Christmas morning Josh nearly exploded with excitement...we thought he was excited about Santa...well, he was but he was more excited that the reindeer were in his house and they ate the carrots he left out. Every year after that we had to leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The joy of Christmas through the eyes of a child...my favorite thing.

Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ready or Not...

Well, I thought I was ready...that's what I get for thinking...About 2 weeks ago Katie called and said that they had taken Hampton and Camden to see Santa and that Hampton had told Santa that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was SC Ruffey...Yes, it's one of Thomas the Train's friends and it's RETIRED! Recently retired, but retired none the less. So what does Mamie do? Go online...I spent about 2 hours online and finally found one...it cost almost twice what it cost when they were available everywhere and the shipping was more than that...but it was for Hampton and that's all he wanted from Santa. I put in the comment section that it was very important that they not send it to the billing address, that I needed them to send it to the shipping address, which was Katie and Josh's address...I explained how very important this was, they were going to make a little boy's Christmas...their response was "No problem"...yes you know where this is going. I came home from my day with mom yesterday and what was in my stack of mail...the train. So this morning I was at UPS the moment the opened and spent another small fortune to overnight this little train to Hampton so it would get there for Christmas. Fingers crossed...please UPS come through for me!

I've been getting a little sewing done...finished another Charming Girls goal for December. I got the binding on last year's Designer BOM from The Fat Quarter Shop. I absolutely love this quilt...the fabrics are wonderful and it's a great size...perfect for snuggling on the couch.

I also got this month's Designer BOM block done...this was a fun one and this Glace fabric is so pretty. This is going to be one gorgeous quilt. Here's my Cindy Lou Who Schnibble from a couple of months ago made from Glace...I got the binding on just in the knick of time.

Last pic for today...this is the picture that the kids used for their Christmas card...Katie's been smocking up a storm.

My wish for all of you is a very Merry Christmas! Take time to enjoy the day!