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!

Howie and Zack are Ready...and a Little Progress

Howie and Zack are ready for Christmas...the groomer came today and gave the boys their baths, clipped their nails and decked them out in their holiday bandannas. They really are not big fans of bandannas so we had to click this picture really fast. Hmm, I wonder if they'll stay this clean until Christmas.

The front yard is ready too...we have 3 camellia bushes out front and they are all full of these beautiful flowers. They start to open Thanksgiving weekend and bloom all the way through New Year's. We've been in this house 5 years in January...the first 3 years we were here these bushes never got a single flower...at the end of the 3rd year I said "If these don't bloom next year, I'm done with them and we're pulling them out, and putting in something that will bloom." Well, I think they understood every word I said...last year they were very pretty, this year they are full of flowers and tons of buds just ready to pop out. Oh I'm so glad I gave them another year! We just love them.

I finished the Sadie Quilt BOM on Sunday and I was singing and dancing. Oh, I am in love with this quilt. There sure are a lot of pieces, lots of seams and tons of thread in this quilt. It's a Lori Smith pattern and it went together perfectly. Her directions could not have been better.

Andy has what he thinks will be his last appointment with the knee surgeon tomorrow. He's doing great...he's back going to the gym again and feeling good. I think I better head back to the gym too...hmmm!

December Charming Girls

Somehow I just can't believe that I'm writing and talking about what I'm doing in December...where in the world did this year go? I truly feel like I was just hanging the new 2009 calendar...and it's time to get ready to hang the 2010 one. I need to learn to sew faster if the years are going to go by faster.

I have 4 things I want to get done this month for my Charming Girls goal:

I want to get the binding on my Designer Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop...it's made from Peace on Earth fabric so it's the perfect Christmas quilt. Sorry for the old photo...it's all quilted now...I'll take a new pic with the binding on.

I want to finish the top of the Sadie Quilt by Lori Smith...this is one of the BOM's I've been doing this year and the border kit came so that's all I have to do and it will be done...YIPPEE!

I want to get a few Tuffets made for "A Year in Schnibbles"

And lastly I want to get last month's Picnic Schnibble done.

I better get myself upstairs and start getting busy here...the month will be over before we blink!

A Wonderful Visit...Now the House is So Quiet

Oh what a wonderful visit...We had the best time...the kids arrived Tuesday evening (the best birthday gift I could have gotten), Hampton's birthday was Wednesday. I made his favorite acorn shaped muffinsfor breakfast...oh we had to have candles. Josh and Katie took him out to Disney for the day and we kept Camden...everyone had a blast. Birthday dinner Wednesday night. He loved his cheeseburgers, french fries and carrots...and after dinner out came the cake...this little boy lives and breathes Thomas the Train...so what better than a Thomas cake. I don't think I've ever seen anyone enjoy a cake quite as much as he did. Oh my goodness we laughed and laughed.

Thursday was very fun, nothing better than family home for the holiday. Mom had the best time...she loved her time with Camden... Friday we just hung out all day, played outside a lot. Saturday the kids took Hampton out to the big toy store at Disney and we got Camden to ourselves again...Andy spent a lot of time on the floor with "his little girl"...when they weren't on the floor they were having serious talks...she had lots to tell him.

I didn't get much time on my laptop while they were here...Hampton loved getting on the Thomas the Train website...he is amazing on that computer. He was sitting in my lap and we were "arrowing down" the page and then double clicking on the pictures of the trains, to go to their page. I kept going up to the back arrow to go back to the previous page. He said "Mamie I have a trick...watch!" He pressed the backspace key and sure enough we were back on the previous page...OMG! Now most of you probably already knew that, but I had no clue. Amazing! Can't wait to see what he teaches me next visit.

They left Sunday morning. Hampton was coming down with Josh's cold on Saturday...yes, I came down with it Monday afternoon and Andy got it Monday night. We're both dragging around here, sore throat, sneezing, blowing noses and coughing...but I wouldn't trade the time we had with the kids for anything.

A Schnibble is Done

I'm very happy to report that a Schnibble is done...not the right Schnibble but a Schnibble none the less...LOL! I wanted to do a table topper for Katie and Josh for Christmas and I just couldn't figure out what to do...a friend of mine got the "Caroler" charm pack and decided to use the Miss Rosie pattern "State Fair"...well, I had a lightbulb moment...that was it...Katie and Josh would just love it. So I got busy...it was really pretty quick and went together perfectly...even with that piano key border...PERFECT! Thank you Carrie for another wonderful pattern.

I'm busy cleaning and baking, grocery shopping and wrapping birthday gifts...this is a busy place...the kids will be here Tuesday evening, I'm picking mom up Tuesday afternoon and she'll be with us the whole time the kids are here. She's beside herself with excitement. We got everything for Hampton's birthday celebration...he LOVES Thomas the Train and all of his friends, so we're having a Thomas birthday...complete with a cake in the shape of Thomas. I called the other day and talked to Katie, I asked her to check with Hampton and find out what he wanted for his birthday dinner...he could have anything he wanted. She called back a bit later, Hampton had given it much thought and he would like...cheeseburgers, french fries and carrots. So that's what we'll be having on Wednesday...oh and they have to be Grandy's cheeseburgers...LOL!

Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving...we have so much to be thankful for!

The Winner Is!

Mr. Quilt Holder mixed up the basket...reached in and pulled out...
...drucillastitches...YIPPEE! Please e-mail (goodhomequiltco@aol.com) me your mailing address and I'll get it right in the mail to you. This sure was fun...I look forward to doing it again.

October Schnibble is DONE!

OK...I know it's not October any more...but I did get it done...this one was a doozie...I really had to think and pay attention to get this little one together correctly. I really do like it a lot and it will be great on my kitchen table for Christmas. I used Glace fabric by MODA and 3 Sisters.

I'll be back tomorrow with the winner of the Harvest Home scraps...remember you have until 8:00 tomorrow morning before Mr. Quilt Holder draws the winner.

I'll also have my November Charming Girl goals ready tomorrow...see you in the morning.

Would You Like Some Harvest Home?

I spent some time cleaning up my sewing room today...getting ready for November's projects. I have a good bit of Harvest Home by Blackbird Designs, left over from my Simply Sophisticated BOM...I was amazed at how much I had left...there's plenty to do a table runner or maybe even a Schnibble...so if you'd like it...leave me a comment and let me know... Make sure there's an e-mail address connected to your comment to I can contact you...I'll have Mr. Quilt Holder draw a name from the basket on Friday morning at 8 a.m. That way I can get it in the mail before the weekend. Thanks for helping me make room!

I'm Singing, I'm Dancing...Can You Tell I'm Happy?

I said at the beginning of the month that I would be one very happy girl if I completed all of my October goals for Charming Girl's...and I am overjoyed to announce that I DID!!!!!!!!! I got them all done! What a great sewing month...and I feel like a weight has been lifted...all those bits and pieces of things are done...moving on to new things...YIPPEE! So here they are in no particular order...

The binding is on the Spools quilt and the Zig Zag Quilt...the Zig Zag is all ready to be given as a Christmas gift.

Sadie's Sampler is all caught up...there's one more set of blocks to come and then the border and that one will be done.

Belle Meade blocks are all caught up. I'm loving these blocks. This has truly been an out of the box experience for me...there are pieces of fabric in these monthly kits that I never would have chosen, but I'm using them and they're wonderful.

Antietam is all caught up...I think I may start putting some of these together...these are the strangest blocks I've ever made...I've never seen construction quite like this...it's going to make putting them together easy...but they sure look funny.

The Designer BOM from Fat Quarter Shop is done for this month and I sure am having fun with this one...love the Glace fabrics.

And I'm really dancing over this one...Simply Sophisticated is all put together and my wonderful Quilt Holder is doing his job.

So that's it...October goals DONE...on to November...oh did I tell you Hampton and Camden are coming in November???? LOL!

My Heart Melted...

I opened an e-mail from Katie this morning and this is what I found...oh my goodness...my heart melted and the tears flowed. We haven't seen them since the end of August and they have grown up. I talked to Hampton this morning on the phone and told him that I had gotten the new pictures. I said "You've grown so much since I saw you that last time...you promised me you wouldn't grow until I saw you again." He laughed and said that he'd try not to grow any more. I think it's going to be a long time until Thanksgiving.

I'm a Very Lucky Girl!

I am a very, very lucky girl...the mailman brought me the most wonderful little quilt...I remember when I saw these little quilts on Darlene's blog, that they were the most wonderful little quilts. I never dreamed I would be lucky enough to get one. I love it on top of this little cupboard...thank you so much Darlene.

Ever Faithful Friend

I've been sewing like a wild woman, but don't have pictures taken...I've just about finished my Charming Girls list...I'm finishing the last goal and that's to get the Simply Sophisticated BOM put together.

But the real purpose of this post is to update you on Andy and share a picture of him doing his exercises with his Ever Faithful Friend and Helper...Zack. He just can't do his exercises without Zack being right next to him. This set, he has to lie on the floor with his foot up the wall, he has to bring his foot down the wall, bending his knee...
He has some that he has to do lying on the bed...Zack is right next to the bed. He has some he does in a chair...Zack is right next to the chair. It's so sweet. Andy has to do the exercises 3 times a day and Zack is with him every minute.

Andy's is doing great...he has 4 more therapy sessions and then we go back to see the doctor. It will be 7 weeks on Tuesday...that's hard to believe...and he just doing great. He has excellent range of motion, he just has to continue to work on strength. He's really looking forward to the day that he can walk the dogs with no discomfort...we're getting there. He walked the dogs, both of them at the same time, for the first time last Monday when I had Mom out doing her errands. He was very proud of himself...I wasn't sure how I felt about him doing that with no one else around, but he made up his mind he was going to do it and that was that.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend.

October Charming Girls

I've set my goals for Charming Girls...October is going to be to finish up and catch up month for me. September was very busy and my BOM's got behind so I'm catching up on...

Sadie's Sampler


Belle Meade



Antietam



Designer 2009



Then I'm going to put together my Simply Sophisticated BOM



And get binding on my Christmas ZigZag Quilt



And my Spools quilt



I sure hope I can get these all done...I'll feel so wonderful to get these caught up and finished. I also want to try and do the Charming GirlsQuilt Along...Half Pint...I'm going to need a baby quilt for April and this will be just perfect.

It's Finished

Well, it's not totally finished...but the top is finished and I am absolutely crazy about it. I can take absolutely no credit for picking the fabric...it was a kit that I bought last year from The Olde Green Cupboard in Jacksonville, FL...and the pattern is Gingersnap from Carrie Nelson's book It's a Dog's Life…I love the piano key border…lots of work but I think it makes the quilt.

On to October…I hope it doesn’t fly by quite as quickly as September did. I need to set my Charming Girl’s goals for this month. I think this month will be for some catching up on some things that didn’t get done in September…Hmmmm, BOM’s are stacking up.

My quilt holder is doing great…he’s completed his first week of physical therapy and is making marked progress with each visit. The therapist is thrilled! Thank you for all of your well wishes…you can’t imagine how much it has meant to us.

If September had 31 days...

I would have finished my Charming Girls goal for this month...but unfortunately it didn't and I had some bumps in the road this month with Andy's knee surgery so I didn't get my Gingersnap quilt done....BUT I'll have it done today. I'll be back later!

My Quilt Holder is BACK!

We're celebrating...my quilt holder is back!!!!!!!! I sure haven't gotten much sewing done these past 3 weeks, but we have him on his feet, walking without his cane and that's what matters. We went back to the surgeon today and she was just thrilled with his progress. They did an X-ray and the knee is in there perfectly...perfect fit...she measured his ability to bend it and was very, very pleased. He's going to start out patient physical therapy tomorrow to get stronger. She wants him to do some work on a stationary bike to really get it moving. He'll do the therapy for 2-3 weeks. Since the surgery was on his left knee, she released him today to drive again...OMG he nearly kissed her. He's not very good at being a passenger so that was all very hard for him. He's free...he's one happy man. Again, a big thank you for all of your comments and e-mails checking in on him.

Here he is...and here's my Schnibble for this month...I wasn't at all sure I was going to get this done, but I went upstairs today and didn't come down until I was done...It was lots of fun to do and it will be so cute on my kitchen table for Thanksgiving when the kids come.

I'm seeing more sewing in the days to come now that Andy is getting more and more back to normal...he's really enjoying doing things for himself again...and if he's happy...I'm happy!

Andy, Howie, Zack and Charming Girls

My three boys and the Charming Girls...I'll bet I got your attention...LOL!

Let me start with Andy...We've had a great day here...Andy is getting so much stronger it seems with each hour. He's cut back on the pain meds and is really feeling good today. I am encouraging him not to get too carried away though, don't want him to over do. He's done his exercises, been on the machine for coming up on 6 hours, has taken a shower and says he really feels good. Thank each and every one of you for all your notes and good wishes...he's read them all and just can't believe that so many people that don't even know him have been so sweet...I told him...that's the way we are in Blogland...I think he understands now why I love Blogland.

Howie and Zack celebrated their 7th birthday today...so they took a break from guarding dad to have a little birthday dinner...Zack didn't let the candle stop him from putting his head right in the bowl...Howie didn't think the candle was the least bit fun...he just wanted me to get it out of his bowl so he could eat. Trying to do this by myself this year was just not so easy...Andy usually puts down the bowls and I take the picture...next year we'll get a good picture again. Happy Birthday Boys!

I'm thrilled that I was one of the winners this month for Charming Girls Club...OMG, when I got the e-mail from Kelly telling me I was a winner I was doing the dance...what fun...I'm going to figure out my order tomorrow from Kelly's shop. Thank you Kelly for doing this for us.

Now for my Charming Girls project for this month...I was almost too late to join in the fun this month...by the skin of my teeth...I bought this kit last September at the Olde Green Cupboard up in Jacksonville. This is one of the projects I cut out when I knew that Andy was going to be needing me...it's called Gingersnap from It's A Dog's Life by Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie's Quilt Company...so when Andy doesn't need me you'll find me in the dining room sewing away.

The Boys are Standing Gaurd

Or as Andy says...Homeland Security. I am so happy to tell you that I got to bring Andy home yesterday afternoon. It's been a very busy 24 hours and this is the first chance I've had to sit down at the computer...I was actually very surprised that they were letting him go...I fully expected they would let him out today. I saw the doctor in the hall yesterday morning when I got there and she said "He's all your's"...I was thrilled and scared all at the same time. We got home about 4 and got him settled and into his Continuous Motion Machine...the boys would not move...as long as they were within 12 inches of the bed they were fine. They both started crying a bit, and he was trying to rest so I made them come out of the bedroom and here they are standing guard outside the bedroom...no one went in or out without them knowing it. We had a very good day today. The nurse came and she said everything looks great...we'll see her again Tuesday. The physical therapist came this afternoon... worked him and worked him. He was very pleased with his strength and movement.
I'm very happy to say that all is well here! Thank you all for your good wishes.