Random Musings

Earlier this fall everything had to come out of my sewing room while we replaced the floors. I took that as an opportunity to clean and sort. I like the layout of the room a lot better, but I didn't get rid of enough stuff so that everything has its spot. That's why you see a lot of things sitting in the floor - there's nowhere else for it to go! Far left: my quilting/sewing machine, cutting table (piled with stuff and batting, backings, and one tub of fabric stored underneath), the white container holds sewing notions and quilts of valor fabric and patterns, china cabinet with completed quilts, projects in process shelving.  Not show is 2nd shelving, my serger, and a  HUGE wooden storage cabinet. Maybe in a few months I'll have 360 pictures of a cleaner room! Maybe. This is project pile #2. All the containers inside the cubbies have been started  to the point pieces have been cut out or actual piecing has begun. The storage containers on top of the shelves a...

While this isn't what I often refer to as the "Big bird" or the "Grandpa Heron", it it as tall as the geese. (Can you tell who got a camera with a zoom lens for Christmas?) I didn't have time to change to action shots to get it diving for the fish.

Sunday afternoon, Dec 22 - Late afternoon Bobby came home from his Mom's with a fever. We were thinking kidney stone, and I started mentally preparing myself for Christmas at Rex Hospital. Two hours later, I crawl in the bed beside him with the realization this is no kidney stone we're facing. 10 hours later, after me being up every single hour, he's no longer physically sick but is still running a fever. Thankfully it's the only time in our marriage we've both been sick at the same time. Being a care giver and that ill simply does not work.  I spend over half of my birthday between the bathroom and the couch, but fever free. About 4pm I finally feel well and  his temp is almost gone. I start packing, though we're still on the fence about going anywhere. Christmas Eve we travel...no fever and illness for either one of us. Before departing, I realize the septic tank is overflowing. En route to AL I get a phone call from the credit union asking about purchases...

A few weeks ago Mom's cardiologist told her he would like to schedule an arteriogram. Her nuclear stress test showed some new irregularities that he was concerned about. I know that arteriograms are routine procedures. But routine heart procedures, like any other physical procedure, can always go wrong. And with Mom's health status, it wasn't something I felt comfortable staying home during when we could be there with a few minor inconveniences. So we shifted our schedules as much as we could. My mother-in-law had an appointment that couldn't be rescheduled Tuesday morning, so we left about 12:30 Tuesday afternoon. We made it to Irondale, AL about 9:30pm Alabama time (10:30 NC time) where stayed in a hotel. With Bobby's disability, bedtime is never as simple as simply crawling in the bed. It was about 11:45 before I turned off the last lamp. Our alarm went off at 4:30am, and by 6:10am we were on our way to the hospital in downtown Birmingham. We got there in tim...

Guess what came in the mail today?!!!

Last month one of the local quilt shops I frequent (Bernina World of Sewing) had a demo class on their sergers.  Of course, it was leading into their Christmas sale, but one of the perks of taking the class was a few feet for free. I was thinking I wanted to purchase one of the cheaper models, but after trying out the machine and seeing what it could do and then playing on the other models, I decided paying the extra money would be worth it. But would I use it enough to justify the purchase? Even though I've spent a fair amount of time at the Bernina store, I've never owned a Bernina before. What amazed me was how well everything was packaged. I mean, the contents of these boxes all fit into the little clear bin next to the iron (which was part of the package deal). There was only one food that wouldn't fit that has stayed in its box.   I was able to purchase the thread for it at JoAnns during their week of Black Friday sales, but I've not ...