Peace in the New Year

 

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On 01/01/2016, Dondi Murdock said ...

Has your doctor talked with you about medications to help you with pain or muscle stiffness? I've been taking several for twenty years to help me cope with my fibromyalgia. I've been able to teach, travel, do housework, get my Master's degree, etc. I took sleeping meds for about 18 years but have discontinued that now that I am considered to be a senior citizen. I do have nights when I don't sleep too well, but at least I can take a nap now that I am retired. I do hate to think of you in pain! I realize that everything goes through the liver; however, my stomach can only process ibuprofen every now and then. I just want you to have the most pain free life you can.

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On 01/01/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Happy New Year to you, too, sweet friend! May this new year find you feeling much better in every way, whether with use of "better living through chemistry" or a miracle of some sort. May that be true for all who suffer, too.

Big hugs!
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Pic Pac

I never heard of pic pac sauce until my sister had it Sunday when she and I and my nephew Jed took my other sister to Carrabbas's to celebrate her birthday. It looked good, so I tasted my sister's dish. It was good. So as soon as I got home, I googled and found a recipe. The real name of the dish is Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu. It's a very simple recipe, which you can find by searching Picchi Pacchiu or Pic Pac Sauce with your favorite search engine. Yum yum!

 

 

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On 12/31/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

Oh! I thought you were going to write about the grocery store. :) That does look yummy. Wish the internet had "scratch and sniff"!

We made vegetable-beef soup yesterday and had it with cornbread for supper last night. That was good, too, and the house smelled wonderful.

I'm off to find the PicPac sauce recipe.

Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

Hugs!
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Why I Never Sell My Quilt

I'm frequently asked.

"How much would you charge to make me a quilt?"

I do give away a lot of them though.

 

 

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On 12/30/2015, Debra said ...

Yes, same here!

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On 12/30/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

I've made a few quilts on commission and must explain what is involved in making the top, keep track of the hours of cutting and piecing, and then there's the long-arm quilting charge. It adds up and most folks are astonished.

It's more fun to give the quilts away. Love the picture!

Hugs!

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On 12/30/2015, -e said ...

Dearest Susan~ I should send this to my daughter-in-law who asked if I would make a baby quilt for a neighbor (whom she barely knows) for $$s. I was so careful how I answered, but she did get it that quilts were made ONLY for family and friends I dearly LOVE! Homemade does not mean frugal these days of high-priced fabric and "quilted by check." Being OLD, time and effort are at a premium too. So... I just had to laugh at your post, AND I will keep this to myself as a private joke. Thanks. eaw
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Merry Christmas Day

Now all I have to do is cook for Christmas Dinner this afternoon. The house is a mess, but we're just going to have to deal with it. Peace to all.

 

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On 12/25/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

Merry Christmas day to you, too!

I hope all enjoyed the Christmas dinner you fixed and that there were many helpful hands to help with the clean-up.

We've had a couple of exhausting days but lots of fun, too. DS1's fiancee even made a Courthouse Steps block that will become the center of a modern 63" quilt using strips cut 1.5". We're both thrilled!

Holly hugs!

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On 12/26/2015, Debra said ...

I hope your Christmas was a good one. I finished all my Christmas gift projects on time and am looking forward to a nice, easy weekend. Happy New Year!

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On 12/26/2015, Dolores Tanner said ...

Peace be with you too!!
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My Christmas Cards

This photo was not taken last week or two weeks ago or even yesterday. It was taken a few minutes ago. This is the state that my cards are still in. I just can't get it all done. I just can't.

I cooked all day yesterday. So last night, in the middle of the night, I awoke with such pain in my back, hips, and legs that for a while, I thought I was going to have to go to the emergency room. I got up and took a prescription strength dose of ibuprofen and got back in bed to read and finally went to sleep. The pain is better today, but still there.

I'm going to my sister Joanne's house today for a Christmas Eve lunch. Then I'm coming home and maybe work on those cards. There's a movie that I want to see. But I think I'd rather wait till after the holidays when I don't feel the wolves nipping at my butt. The movie is Quintan Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight," a snowy western that looks like it will be cold, violent, and intriguing. I love modern westerns--and Tarantino films.

I have friends who consider the entire 12 days, through January 5, as Christmas. So maybe if I get my cards out by then, they'll still count.

Merry Christmas, everyone.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, filled will love, fun, and good food.

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On 12/24/2015, Linda Enneking said ...

I don't think there is anything wrong with extending the Christmas season. The late cards might be more appreciated than those received very early. At least that is what I tell myself when I am late getting my cards out. Merry Christmas.

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On 12/24/2015, Dolores Tanner said ...

Merry, Merry Christmas to you too!! Mat you get your hearts desire!!

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On 12/24/2015, Joy said ...

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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On 12/24/2015, Gretchen said ...

Bless your heart! I hope you are feeling better soon. Since all the stores start Christmas in October, you can just extend it as long as needed to get your cards out. I am planning on seeing Hateful Eight sometime in the next week too.

Merry Christmas to you and your fur babies!

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On 12/25/2015, Jenny said ...

Wishing you the merriest of Christmases! Thank you for sharing your quilts and home and family with me throughout the year. Your site has lifted me up on any days. Blessings to you at this holiday time and throughout the year.

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On 12/25/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

I'm there with you and have most of my Christmas cards still to write and send. Perhaps they'll be New Year's cards this year.

The kids are here and we baked all day yesterday so I am still exhausted as that's the way it is with lupus. One night's sleep is seldom enough. Still, the breakfast casserole is ready for the oven having spent last night in the fridge and there are two kinds of cookies to enjoy.

Wishing you a happy day of feeling good, resting, and celebrating the joys of the season with family. Merry Christmas, my friend, and may the New Year bring you much better health!

Hugs!

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On 12/26/2015, Emily said ...

I'm certainly doing 'happy new year' cards this year. I posted three Christmas cards, it was all I could manage this year.
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What a Mess!

My new sofa, part of my Christmas present to me, is being delivered this morning. So I had to make room for it. So when Jesse got home from work, we moved everything to the other side of the room. Everything except the red sofa. My plan was for me and Jesse to put it in the bedroom, where I already had a space cleared for it. Trouble is, it has to. Be lifted and turned to make it through the doorways. And, of course, I couldn't, as hard as I tried, lift my end.

So here it sits, in the doorway. Jesse handed me $30 and told me to get the guys who deliver the new sofa to move it. Then he went to bed.

So here I sit, waiting for my new sofa, with the entire downstairs of the house in chaos. It's always something.

 

 

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On 12/19/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

Bless your weary and frustrated heart, my friend! By the time the guys who deliver your lovely new couch have gone, things will look much better. I imagine Sophie, Skipper, Taco, and Bella are highly entertained by the chaos of the temporary disarray.

I love your arrangement that can be seen beyond the couch in the doorway!

Hugs!

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On 12/19/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

Oh, I meant to add that one unwelcome hiccup is that when I clicked to enlarge your second photo, I was taken to a Verizon site and not the photo. Odd.

More hugs!
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Block One

Only 47 more blocks to go to have enough for my County Girl Sampler Quilt (which, by the way, will not be the final title of this quilt; I just haven't come up with one yet). The quilt is made of 6-inch blocks. Not having a lot of experience with small blocks, I'm not real good at it. I had to pull out several seams and restitch them before I was happy with this block. I hope I get better with practice.

The book also gives instructions for 12-inch blocks. But if I made them all 12 inches, I'd have a humongous quilt.

I still don't have the ornaments on my tree. Anna is here cleaning today, so I don't want to get in her way. Yeah, that's the reason. Yeah, that's it.

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On 12/17/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

What a cute block and I love both the bee and the other fabrics! This quilt will certainly be a delight to work on while the outdoors is dreary with winter weather.

Of course, we're forecast to have a 70*F. Christmas day so what's up with that??

Our tree just got its ornaments on Monday, a bit more on Tuesday, more yesterday, and about 9 more today. Your wish to stay out of Anna's way works for me, too!

Hugs!
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Oh Come, Let Us Adore Him

It will likely come as no surprise that I didn't get the quilt block made. So here is a photo of my nativity. Joanne gave me the crèche and figures many Christmasses ago, I bought the lambs at a gift shop in North Georgia, the bunny came from some yard sale or thrift store, and my mama made the large crocheted doily under the nativity. I don't remember where the small doily came from. Oh and the angel behind the standing lamb is a little porcelain figurine I bought at a thrift store. It's actually a little box that opens.

 

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On 12/15/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

How lovely! Your creche is all the more precious because of the memories attached to the pieces and the story they portray.

Today I've put ornaments on our Christmas tree that came from my parents and grandparents and DH's parents. A few of the ornaments may be even older, but I don't know the story behind them. Those links to Christmas Past and our departed family members add deeply down joy to me this Christmas season.

Hugs

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On 12/16/2015, Stephani in N. TX said ...

Loved your blog about your creche. Seems a creche is usual in my husband's Polish family. I have a lovely set of Nativity figures I did in my ceramics years, done in a lovely glaze that looks like the one on Yadro figures. I love it. However, since it's still less than a year since my husband passed away, I have downtoned my Christmas activities this year. It was pleasant to be reminded about setting up a creche at Christmas and I am sure by next year I will be ready again. Love your blog and just wanted to say so, and also a Merry Christmas to you.
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Getting Ready for Santa

My favorite block from my "Sew Many Santas" sampler quilt
that I made in the early 90s

I can't believe what slow progress I make these days. I have never taken this long to get my Christmas decorations out and up. I did get my little tree set up this morning. But there it sits, no ornaments yet. They're still in boxes on the dining table.

I have all my Christmas quilts out and up and about. I have my vintage Christmas tablecloth on my dining table and a small Santa quilt on the coffee table. Oh, yeah, I set up my nativity that my sister Joanne gave me, hung the front door wreath, and dressed Bentley Bear in his Santa hat and plaid scarf and set him on the front porch. That's about it. And that's probably going to be it for this year.

For some reason, Typepad want let me post more than one photo today. And I don't have the strength nor ambition to try to figure out why. I plan to use what little strength I have left in me to make a quilt block. If I succeed, maybe I'll post a photo of it tomorrow--if Typepad will let me.

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On 12/14/2015, Claire said ...

Missed you today at guild but you saved yourself plates of goodies and calories! Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and thanks for sending out all the cards & good wishes to our members.
Claire G

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On 12/14/2015, Kathy said ...

Love, love, love that Santa block! We're foregoing decorations this year since I'm having my shoulder replaced on Friday. It will join my replaced knees and one hip. It's going to be a bionic Christmas for sure. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy new year. I've been following your blog for a long time and enjoy all you're able to do even when you don't feel well.

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On 12/15/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

What a charming Santa block you made for your sampler quilt! Belated applause!!

It sounds to me that your home is wonderfully festive from the things you've already done. There is no hurry for those ornaments to be put on the tree.

I'm with you on fading quickly when trying to get the decorations up. Yesterday the tree went up and by the time the lights were on, I was utterly exhausted and in tears. Today I'm putting the ornaments on but even that isn't the joy it usually is. Phooey!

Then there is the hiccup that we have far too many ornaments and decorations ...

Big hugs!

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On 12/15/2015, Joanne said ...

Love your Santa block. I finally got my little tree set up, a couple of quilts in the living room, and candles on the mantel. And of course the old Father Christmas that I made about thirty years ago. But that's all the decorating I plan for this year.

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On 12/16/2015, Melinda said ...

I put up my little 3 foot tree today and a few other decorations - nothing like I used to do. I am happy with my cutback decorating.
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Fab Doggie Fabric

 

A few days ago, I was out and about running errands and buying groceries. Because I was in the vicinity of Hancock Fabrics, I took the opportunity to duck in and try to find a backing for my owl quilt. I wasn't able to find anything that suited me, but I did find the absolute perfect fabric to back my next project, the Lori Holt sampler. It's the doggie fabric in the photo above. Since the fabrics I have picked out for the blocks have lots of blues, reds, and whites, the colors in this sweet fabric will fit right in. And everyone knows I like little dogs (or big dogs, for that matter) and Mary Engelbreit. (In case you hadn't guessed, this is a Mary Engelbreit design by VIP for Cranston Fabrics.)

I have almost managed to get my living room and dining room straightened back up from the mess I had made earlier in the week making room for Christmas decoration. As it turned out, I really haven't put out that many decorations. I have a spot for my tree, but haven't put it up yet. I'm going to use my three-feet-tall one. I'm just not up for everything involved in putting up a big tree. 

My kitchen is still a little disheveled. I'm rearranging a few things in order to make room for a little dinette set that I ordered from Wayfair. The one I had was actually too big for my kitchen; my niece needed a set for her new townhouse; so I gave her mine. The dinette and a new sofa are my Christmas gifts to me this year. I purchased a sofa right after Vann died, but it has not held up well. It has faded in spots, the back has got out of shape, plus it's the most uncomfortable sofa I've ever known, I think. Good thing I didn't pay a lot for it.

Today I'm doing laundry. Although I've managed to keep Jesse in clean clothes, I have let my own pile up. Jesse told me yesterday that I was going to have to let him start doing his own laundry so he would have experience if such a time came that I could no longer do it. (Is he implying that old age is creeping up on me?)  I think I'll take him up on that, and let him do mine as well.

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On 12/11/2015, Joanne said ...

Good deal with Jesse and the washing machine--teach him how to use ALL of those household appliances, and how to make beds and scrub floors, etc. Love the doggie print.

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On 12/11/2015, Debbie Price said ...

I love the fabric!! You cannot go wrong with Henry the doggie. He is adorable :) I have a Mary Englebreit book of crochet and Henry is in it as a magnet and also a stuffed toy. I could look at Mary Englebreit things all day long!

We have a small tree up this year also. Laura told me we were to do it simple this year and we did. Just enough to know it's the season of happiness :)

I don't know if I said or not, but I really liked the owl quilt. Is it a wall hanging one or is it for a bed? I have also been meaning to ask if you have read the books in the A Someday's Quilt Mystery Series. They are by Clare O'Donohue. While they are mysteries, they are mostly about quilts and are a nice read.

Hope you are have a nice weekend.

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On 12/12/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

What a perfect fabric you found for backing on your next project and I recognized the designs as being by ME! Love her cards, calendars, delightful colors, upbeat attitude and everything else.

I'm hemming and hawing about what size Christmas tree to put up. The short version is just the top three sections of our taller tree and it goes on a table, but it's just too high to please me. It's not easy to swap tables, either.

Excellent lessons for Jesse to learn and practice should also include cooking. He may need to start with a cookbook about cooking for two - you two, himself plus a leftover, or him and a sweetie someday.

Our weather is spring-like, flowers are in bloom (hawthorn, violets, roses), and it feels so odd.

My Christmas sewing is finished!!!! Now to the joy (?) of straightening up the house, vacuuming, dusting, and then decorating. Wish I could wiggle my nose and it be done.

Hugs!
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Santa Came Early...

..for Taco and Bella, that is. Their three-year-old condo had become so worn and ratty that Santa decided they needed a new one. He delivered it yesterday, and Jesse assembled it. The kitties love their new digs. They were climbing and jumping all over it before Jesse to get it together. Bella, however, refused to pose for a picture, and Taco wouldn't cooperate very well either.

 

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On 12/10/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

What a delightful kitty kondo and I know just how much it will be over-frolicked in the months to come. DH built a more humble version for our two cats years ago and it also is tatty after all of this time. Ours has a couple of those sonotubes meant for concrete posts that DH imagined the cats would enjoy crawling in and out of. Instead, the cats just bounce on them and have never been inside tho both ends are open. Live and learn!

Do you know where Santa found this one?

Binding and hanging triangles are made for the Scottie panel!! Onward ...

Hugs!
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I'll Be Back

I promise. There just seems to be so much to do right now that there's no time for blogging or sewing or anything fun. Then there's the fact that I have to nurse the various pains and fatigue in between short spurts of doing chores. Presently I have managed to completely trash my living room, dining room, and kitchen in a clumsy effort to get things ready for Christmas. And today I have to go grocery shopping. Pray for me.

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On 12/09/2015, Barbara Anne said ...

Oh, sweet friend, I wish I could come help for a day and between us, laughter, and resting, we might be able to get a bit of decorating finished.

Our tree is still not up but if I get this little Scottie panel finished today or at least ready for binding, I may take time to get the tree up tomorrow but when the decorations would go on it would remain to be seen.

You're in my prayers.

Hugs!

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On 12/10/2015, Pat said ...

Do hope you have many good days to enjoy Christmas. Praying for you.
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