on my reading list

Last year seemed full, even though a lot of it was spent waiting...on doctors, on insurance, on sales reps, on chair repairs, on van mechanics. You would think I would have been able to squeeze a lot of reading in with all the waiting, but last year holds the record for the least amount of books I've read in the last 9 years.

This year I'm pushing myself to read some of the books on my dresser that I've kept putting off. My goal is a chapter a week in two different books. Here's what I'm working on now:



and



The first one is making me think more than I've thought since Systematic Theology class in college, and the second is a vivid reminder of how terrible war and bad public policies (in this case Southern policies) can truly destroy an economy.

I should finish Whosoever Will by the end of February. The history one will take much longer. And then I'll be more than ready for something fiction.

waiting on the word...

A few weeks ago my niece Ellen (niece #2 on my side) called my cell phone. It startled me. I almost never hear from her, so my heart was pounding and I was just certain something had happened either to my sister or brother-in-law. She chatted for a little bit, then asked about my quilting projects and if I had run out yet. I had a suspicion she was wanting a quilt, but still wasn't ready for what was to come. I laughingly told her about a woman I overheard in JoAnn's (a chain craft store) saying she had THREE projects going at one time! I looked at Bobby when I heard that and tried not to laugh. I told him I had so many projects going I didn't even want to count them all. He didn't laugh, but nodded and said "I believe it."  When I shared that story with Ellen, she laughed and said, "Well, you're going to push some aside and make time for one more. I'm going to need a baby quilt."

I'm not old enough (in my mind anyway) to be a great aunt, but I'm very excited for Ellen & Kevin, even if this wasn't on their agenda for 2018.  Here's the post she shared on Facebook:

So even though I won't know colors or a color scheme until March, I am tossing around ideas and thoughts in my head. And in the meantime, I am trying very hard to knock out some of my ongoing projects!

the month of excitement!

Last weekend while I was watching the booth for Quilts of Valor at a quilt show in Sanford, I took the time to map out my garden and look through the seed catalogue. I felt like a kid looking through the Sears Christmas edition. (Yeah, I know I'm dating myself there.)

Last year was the first year I didn't feel totally overwhelmed by the garden. A lot of that had to do with our summer helpers (thanks Josh and Jake, even though you don't read my blog!) who did a lot of the yardwork so I had more time to spend in the garden. Bobby even had them do some of the tilling, and when it came time to clean the garden and prep for winter, they donated their muscles to help pull stakes up out of the ground.

So I'm excited about this year. I may be biting off more than I can chew, but I'm excited about it anyway. And Saturday I sorted through the seed I'd saved and compared it to my list, and placed the order for what I didn't have and what I wanted to add/replace. Once I get a few tasks done outside, I'll be cheering for spring to hurry up!

quilt page update

Yes, the pics are under the heading that says December 2017, because that quilt was actually completed then. It's just taken me that long to take pictures and get them loaded!

Last weeks' freeze

January 2018, North Carolina has set a record for the number of days below freezing.

I was determined to break through the ice.
I wanted to know how deep it was.
This is after I pounded 1/2" away.
Two days later as it warmed up I pulled a 1" piece away from the edge.

Several cracks were deep in the ice near the pier posts.
This one appeared to be 3" deep.

My favorite shot.

Our geese walk on water. :)

Snow!

January

I don't know that I can call this month a whirlwind. Perhaps a month of change has been more appropriate. Our church changed schedules last Sunday. Despite the fact that our Pastor doesn't want to use the term "Sunday School", that is what we now essentially have at 8:45am, with our regular service starting at 10am, and no pm service. We're only two Sundays in, so I'm still not totally sure how I feel about it.

The end of December I had a bit of a wake-up call healthwise. We're making some lifestyle changes and I'll meet with the dr again the end of March. Some days are harder than others. I actually drank 99% unsweet tea today at lunch for the first time (on purpose), and thought it was good. I don't know if the changes in our eating habits have made a difference (or that I've quit taking my allergy meds), but I've actually had more energy and am sleeping way better than I was. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a life-long marathon and not a sprint.

I was really hoping to give up group leader responsibilities for Quilts of Valor this year, but that didn't happen. I was all convinced it was not going to usurp as much of my life this year as last, but then I got a call Monday night that a quilt show at a nearby town had a place reserved for QOV and no rep for it. Our group had tried to get vendor spots at previous shows and was told we'd have to pay.  And a volunteer group who's already forking out money for quilts and presentations doesn't exactly have money to throw out for quilt shows. This group was letting us have a spot for free. I actually had a "free" weekend (meaning I was planning to clean house), and couldn't see the point in telling someone from another state that not one person from NC was willing to man a table. So I pulled together flyers for our block drive and quilt requirements, put together an album of most of the quilts our group has done, grabbed a quilt and a card table...and I went. Two ladies from the Fayetteville group joined me Saturday, and I enjoyed having someone else to talk to as well as getting to learn more about how other groups do things.  Tonight I actually went on the group leaders website and saw someone submitted a request for a group presentation of 12 quilts for Vietnam Vets in our town...in 3 weeks. I think we may actually have enough quilts ready/almost ready that we can pull it off, but I'm not sure. It's not officially been assigned to our group, though I'm fairly certain it will be. So I feel as if my role has intensified instead of backing off.

Election work begins again in March. I'm still on the fence about how much longer I'll do this, but I'm committed through this year unless something drastically changes.

And in the midst of all of that, I'm trying really hard to keep the house clean and do more reading than I've done in the past. Hence I'm on the computer a little less, and that is part of the reason why my blog has been so neglected.

Oh...and I will be a great aunt in August. Seems like yesterday I was anxiously awaiting the phone call in China that my niece had safely arrived in this world, and now she's carrying her own child. Nieces and nephews having children are that gentle shove that time has passed me by while I was busy living life.

Hopefully I will find time to write and post pics this week, but I make no promises.