Reader or listener or neither?

I am curious. I have always been curious. When I was a child I was told it was nosey to ask so many questions. I just like to hear what other people think. I don't usually change my way of thinking if someone has a different opinion but I still like to know.

Like do you like to read? What do you read? Books? Magazines? Bible? Poems? Fiction? Mysteries?

Would you rather read these things or listen to them on tape/CD?

Do you listen to music? What kind do you like? Classical? Country? Rock? Gospel? Show tunes?

I like to read, but I am a very slow reader. I read about the same speed that I talk and that is slow. I like to listen to books on CD so I can do other things while I listen. Like sewing, I like to either have a book or music going it seems to keep me from being so ADD and I stay on task better. I don't know why it just does.

If I am driving a long distance and I am alone in the car I MUST have a book, otherwise all I think about is how much farther I have to go and how tired I am of sitting in the car and all the idiot drivers that must have got their drivers licenses from the local K-mart.

If I am just running errands I listen to music. The very first thing I do when I start the engine is turn on the A/C then the radio. When my children were growing up the number one rule if they were allowed to sit in the front seat was DO NOT touch my radio! My two boys never had a problem with that rule, but for some reason my daughter never seemed to understand that one (or a lot of others for that matter).

I just finished a book by David Baldacci called Total Control. I had never heard of him until we moved to Florida. One day when I was looking through the local library I noticed several books on CD by him so I grabbed one to try. I love a mystery. I love to try and figure out who is doing the bad stuff and why before the end of the book. I have now listened to three of his books and he writes in such a way I NEVER figure it out before the end. I will be getting more of his books.

I do not like gore. I don't like a book where a woman is abused a child is hurt or there is graphic descriptions of death. I think that is why one of my favorite authors is Agatha Christie. I just love Miss Marple. I also like Lillian Jackson Braun, she wrote "The Cat Who..." books.

I love music. My favorite is country. I was raised with country and still love to listen to all the songs I grew up on. Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton etc.

I listened to rock music as a teen, but it didn't stick. I didn't like all the "noise". It seemed like everyone one just wanted to play louder and faster than the next one so I didn't carry it to my adult days. I do like some older Pop/Rock stuff like Chicago, and Billy Joel, you know the stuff you hear all the words (I am a slow hearer too, I guess).

I can listen all day to George Strait.

I listen to southern gospel music too. I like older stuff like the Cathedrals, pre 2006 Gaither Vocal Band, Greater Vision.

I like quiet too. First thing in the morning, I like to open the window and sit with my beverage of choice (Coke or Milk Coffee) and listen to the sounds God is giving me. Before we moved here all I could hear was cars as they zipped by. Now I live is a very quiet neighborhood with lots of bird. I love to see and hear the Sandhill Cranes as they pass by. I like to hear the breeze go through the palm trees. Then the pool filter starts and I hear the gurgling of the water as it passes over the water fall from the spa to the pool.

Sandhill Crane on my driveway

What do you like? I'm curious.

Off to the doctor's office..I'll take a book.

Diane

Suffering from insomnia?

No suffering here! I embraced it this time. I am a very slow sewer so getting a whole top pieced in one night is unheard of. But if you have insomnia and a book on the iPod it is amazing what you can get done. I finally forced myself to bed when I saw the sunrise this morning. I slept for a couple of hours and now I have a picture to show.
There are 20 blocks and it is 48"X60". I think it needs to be bigger.
Insomnia is not something you can plan for so I have no idea if I will get more made today but we will see.

Diane

what have I been doing?

Just a small view of what I have done today. I am so excited! I think I am going to love it.

More later,
Diane

What is a quilter to do?

Last night while I was rummaging around looking for some long lost dish towels that I know I own but haven't seen since I unpacked them after the move here, I found a large brown Rubbermaid container. Now I thought this container was full of old needlework type stuff like crochet, plastic canvas needlepoint, embroidery etc. What I found was this...

A whole box of hand dyed fabric! Another whole box! What in the world? I thought I had already unpacked and folded every piece of fabric I owned. Apparently not.

I immediately emailed my sister in law (sister in crime is more like it) to get advise as to what to do with all of this. I told her I had issues and needed help. Her reply was " I am not surprised anyone in this family has issues". Now how is that for love? Honestly she was right. LOL

After a bit of back and forth emails I decided on a couple of possible patterns that would work and so I started cutting.

This is stacks of 2 1/2" strips which I am hoping to make either scrappy trips around the world or scrappy bargello both from Bonnie Hunter's website. I probably have enough strips cut to make both in very large sizes but we will see.

As my husband says, I am blessed beyond measure. I have lots of fabric, a sister in law who can help me with decisions and Bonnie Hunter scrap quilter extraordinaire who is very giving with her talents.

Tomorrow my husband has to go out of town for an unexpected meeting, so I will have two days to sew without having to look at the clock. WOO HOO!

Diane

A useful bit of advice...read your prescription bottle!

I just thought I would remind everyone to do what I forgot to do this week.

In my everyday life I go through it some would think with my eyes closed and taking my day as it comes. I have always been a very trusting person who believes if you say something you are correct and if you do something I trust it was done right, or at least you meant for it to be that way.

The only time I am really picky is in the medicine/medical treatment arena. I have given birth to three premature children and I personally have many surgeries,medical emergencies, and health issues. I tend to ask and re-ask for instructions and read and re-read directions so I get it right and don't cause more problems.

I failed this week and it could have been a very horrible outcome. I don't know what I was thinking, but I failed. Thursday my husband went to the dentist to get a tooth pulled. He called me right before he left his office to see if I would go with his as he HATES going to the dentist. This is the only time my husband shows he is nervous so I said of course! We met along the way and I got in his truck and rode with him to the dental office. After it was over with he drove me back to my truck and I followed him to our neighborhood, thinking I would get the prescription from him and take it in. He decided to take it himself so I just turned and went home and he turned to the pharmacy. He got home in about 20 minutes and sat down, which I am sure all he wanted for the next many hours. I got him a glass of water and handed him his prescription bottle which I looked at and read the instructions (take 5-6 times a day) and looked at his name "Ray" and went on about my business.

To make a long story a bit shorter after about 6 hours he asked if he could have another pill, he wasn't sure it would help any as it didn't do much for the pain before but he had a really bad headache. I got him some more water and got the bottle and looked at the label. I read his name RAY, but the last name was wrong WHAT? STOP!!!!!!!!!!!! I then read ever single word and nothing on the bottle was correct. NOTHING.

We googled the medication name and called poison control and the pharmacy. He had taken a medication for Parkinson's disease.

After a while we confirmed there was going to be no danger to Ray after the medication flushed from his system, but then anger sat in thinking about what COULD had happened. There are so many bad things that could have happened.

So the moral of the story is, do not get complacent, read and check everything. Don't trust it is correct. Even compare the pill in the bottle to the description of the pill on the label and if there isn't a description on the label you can google it and find it on the Internet. I have heard of pharmacies making mistakes but I thought "it won't happen to me or mine" it only happens to someone else. Well this time it was my husband.

Take care,

Diane

It has been one of those days...

I woke up in a cold house all snuggled up under a quilt made for me by my friends. I had an wonderful rest and was ready for a wonderful day. I quickly showered and dressed and packed my lunch. I left in plenty of time to get to work. I got on the freeway and went less than a half mile when all three lanes stopped dead still. We would ease up a few feet then stop again. After about 20 minutes I admitted to myself I was not going to make it to work in time so I called and told them I would be late.
After and hour I finally made it a mile and a half, just to have police directing everyone off the freeway. To anyone else this would be no big deal. Normally you would go another route to your destination. My problem is, I don't know any other route to any destination yet! I was completely and utterly at a loss. I stopped and bought a map. That helped, but only a little. By that point I was a basket case. There were ten thousand cars, trucks and 18 wheelers and they all knew where to go and I didn't. So I started driving where I thought I should go. I was correct, but you know how it is once you start doubting your ability it is hard to be confident in your decisions.
After 2 1/2 hours I finally arrived at work. It is a 25 minute drive on the freeway! But I had to go about 28 miles through constant red lights with every other vehicle that had to exit the freeway.
This day has been very stressful! My jaw hurts from clenching it, my back hurts from being tense, I am exhausted and would love to just dissolve in a puddle and cry, but I won't. There are people out in the world with real problems.
I will be thankful for:
Cells phones
Maps
Police
Nice men in cars who help when you ask questions at red lights
Fast food joints that let you use the facilities without buying something
Nice truck drivers who let you in front of them when you realize at the last minute you need to turn left at the light.
My husband who will help me find my way and not make fun of me when I freak out

I don't know what caused the problems today but I hope no one was hurt.

Later
Diane

this is it so far...

A little sewing going on

I have got a little sewing accomplished, not very much, but it is better than none.

I sure like the fabric I have for the background, but I am running out quickly. I found a couple of fat quarters on the clearance table a while back and have been waiting for the perfect project. Well I think I found the project. I really like this, it is from an old book by Sally Schneider and the pattern is called Confetti.

I found out this morning I am going to Mobile the first of February. I am excited! I will get to see my two older children and I will get to sew with my friends as there will be a Linus group meeting that week.

I work tomorrow and Wednesday so I may not get much sewing done, but I hope to have the top made before I make it to Mobile, just for show and tell.

Saturday night I got a phone call as I was driving home from the grocery store. I normally don't answer a call that doesn't show the name of the caller but I did that night. It was my friends calling from the retreat! I answered to the sounds of a pig snorting! It was Joanne letting me hear her new toy. Then everyone yelled into the phone. I almost cried!

When I moved to Mobile these ladies burrowed into my heart and I love and miss them so much! I can't wait to see them! YIPPEE!

Later

Diane

Stash use report #3

I have fabric use to report! I am so excited! Finally I can put some numbers up.

Fabric Bought : 0
Fabric Used : 2 2/3 yard

Woo Hoo! :)

Not big but it is a use.

OH MY! I almost forgot...I sent fabric to a friend in Mobile. She is making a quilt that calls for Civil War reproductions and a lot of them, and she is new to CW. I sent her a pretty large stack of 8.5" squares and larger pieces. I know it was a lot but because I didn't count them before I mailed them (I have got to get better at this) I am going to estimate it at 2 yards.

Edited amounts:
Fabric bought : 0
Fabric used 4 2/3 yards

even better!

Unbelievable...

Remember I had my doubts about the new doctor and her ability to see me "on time" as the nurse told me she would. Well let me tell you not only did she see me on time, she also spent almost 30 full minutes taking a history and asking about my health issues. I have NEVER had a doctor spend so much time with me. Usually you have to sprint through your list of maladies hoping the doctor hears them all before they run back out of the room, that is after you have waited half naked in a freezing room for 45 minutes after waiting 30 minutes in the waiting room.
Will wonders never cease! I am impressed!

While at the doctor, I was told due to my family history I needed to go have another colonoscopy. She arranged an appointment with a doctor downstairs and then sent me off for blood work. The only real down side to the whole visit was they don't do blood work in the office. I had to drive to another lab facility. Now there I did have to wait and hour, but I was still so impressed with the doctor it kind of didn't matter.

After I left the lab I drove to a quilt shop that I had noticed. I went in and looked around noticing they were VERY busy. I was impressed with just how busy. Finally the owner of the shop walked over to me and asked if she could help me. I told her I was fine and didn't want to stop her from waiting on her customers. Chatting over the next few minutes I told her I just closed my business and missed working at the quilt shop in Mobile. She asked me if I wanted a job, and before I even thought I said YES!

Unbelievable...I go to the doctor and come home with a job!

My first day is tomorrow so I will let you know what I think when I get home.

Diane

Love it!

This is my new favorite tool. I bought it when I went to the retreat in December and today was the first time I played around with it. I LOVE IT!
I printed some triangle sheets to make 2.5" finished HST and I was able to get 12 per page. This was great since I was going for the very scrappy look. Each size triangle will print a different number on a sheet of printer paper.
I can get 12 HSTs made in a couple minutes and they are accurate. I usually take two squares one inch larger than I want my HST to finish and sew them on either side of the diagonally line on the back. This is fine and I have done this for years, but it does mean a lot of squaring up. I have perfectionist tendencies so I want my HSTs to be the size they are suppose to be, not a smidge bigger or smaller. I have created many back aches to achieve this too!
Now no more back aches, no more squaring up, no more oops too small. I am so happy!
Plus because I have the ability to print here at home I don't have to worry about not having the correct size triangle papers by other manufacturers on hand.
TOO much fun!
Today even though I was on the phone all day trying to find a new doctor (don't you just hate looking for new doctors and dentist?) I was able to get 48 HST made, all pressed and setting aside waiting for more to join them.

Speaking of finding a doctor. You know to not even try the new doctor if the person who answers the phone has to keep putting you on hold. They are way too busy to take a new patient if they can't speak a full sentence before you go on hold again.
I called one doctor who was recommended by the one person I know in this town. This doctor is no longer taking new patients. POO!
I call another, this is the one who kept putting me on hold, cross that on off the list.
I call the third, the answering machine was caught in a loop and wouldn't let me "press one to make an appointment", it kept telling me "if this is a true emergency hang up and dial 911". Scratch!
So I called my husband who directed me to my insurance website to help me. I started at the bottom of the list and called a random name. I was shocked when they answered the phone. Then I was shocked even more when the person on the phone (receptionist?) actually spoke with me and had time for me to ask questions. The next shock was the biggest...I have an appointment TOMORROW! My goodness I almost wept! LOL
She gave me directions to the office and explained that I should be a couple minutes early to fill out papers, and then she said..."oh just so you know the Doctor works on schedule, you won't have to wait for her." I was pleased to hear that, but I have been around for a few years so I will wait until I see it to believe it.

I hope I don't get lost finding this place...
Diane

Sounds good

Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island...


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/od_afp/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat_20090113032028


Sign me up! I am not a strong swimmer, but heck I can take lessons, Not a problem!

Diane

28 finished...

Today I finally finished the blocks I have been working on. I have 28 blocks finished and thought at first I only needed 24. I laid them out and decided I may need 30 to make it look right. They finish at 8.5" so they are not really big. I can't decide if I want to sash them or leave them as I laid them out.

What do you think?

If I sash them it will make the finished top larger, but it will also make more work.

hmmmm what to do....

I think I will play around on EQ6 and see what I can do.

Later

Diane

Stash use report #2

I can't believe another week has come and gone. I have nothing new to report other than I have sewn finally. I tried to be part of the Quiltathon that Judy hosted this weekend. I say tried because weekends are so hard for me. My husband is home and we usually do lots of together stuff on the weekends. I got a little sewn last night but not enough.
I cooked again all day today so I haven't got to go sew yet today, but hope to in a bit.

My stash report is still:
None in
None out

I will count all I used in the Quiltathon weekend on next weeks report, so I will have something to show then. :)

Have a great week!
Diane

my quiltathon results so far...

Since it is 1:30 am and I am bleary eyed I don't have a picture, but I have been busy working on some album blocks. I have 2 completed, because I made them as testers. I have 24 blocks more than half way finished.
I didn't get into the sewing room until after 10:30 as I spent the day with my guys and then came home and cleaned the kitchen after tons of cooking yesterday.
I'll be back at it in the morning.
Goodnight!
Diane

Man what a transformation!

The picture above shows my patterns, books and magazines. In the white tub on top of the blue drawers holds just a few of my "kits". Some I have made and some I have bought. Behind that is my ironing and cutting area.

The above picture shows my sewing area. On the left is my strip drawers and tubs. I have some projects that I want to get finished quickly so they are there also.

WOW! Doesn't that look good?

The top two shelves show my Civil War fabrics and strips. The bottom shelf has my hand dyed fabrics and solids. On the far right are all of my dyes and my PFD fabrics.

In the process of all of this organizing I decided to count the UFOs I came across along with the quilt tops I have ready to quilt. I always estimated that I had about 30 tops, but I was floored to learn I had 41!

I then was even more shocked to learn I have 40 UFOs and 13 kits. YUCK! That is too much! It was nice to put my hands on all of my fabric again. It was eye opening.

I am SO A.D.D.!

Diane

It will get bad before it gets good...

At least that is how it always happens around my house. All the time I spent putting up and away to make room in here wasn't completely for nothing. I at least had things grouped together.

But youngest son and I tore that room completely apart to make room for the shelves. He toted the heavy boxes and I took the lighter ones. He is a good son.And I nearly killed him. Poor thing is laid out on the floor trying to get his heart rate back to near normal. Poor boy needs to lift weights! Get in shape! A few more sewing room rearrangements and he should be as strong as an ox!
Here is a sneak peek at the same corner he was just laying in. Looking good!

But EEWWWW! it still looks so BAD!

Stay tuned!

Diane

I know what I am doing tomorrow

This evening after dinner I talked Ray into going to Walmart and help me decide which shelves I wanted for my sewing room closet. I couldn't decide between two but after he looked at both and compared them he said the one pictured above was better and would hold more weight. I have no clue where he got the idea I had much fabric and how much it weighed. :)

Now I can't wait to have a beautiful and accessible stash closet.

Diane

First stashbusting post for 2009

I am sad to say I haven't been in the sewing room yet this year. To type this depresses me! LOL I hope to remedy this tomorrow, when my sweet husband goes back to work and if my son leaves me alone.
I have tomorrow's dinner half made already and I have all of my laundry finished so I hope no one calls and I wake up with lots of energy.

Fabric added this week: 0
Fabric added year to date: 0

Fabric used this week: 0
Fabric used year to date: 0

What a poor start, but it can only go up from here!

Diane

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be direct and clear
• * Listen to me carefully
• * Don't judge me for my anxiety
• * Work things through with me
• * Reassure me that everything is OK between us
• * Laugh and make jokes with me
• * Gently push me toward new experiences
• * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

• * being committed and faithful to family and friends
• * being responsible and hardworking
• * being compassionate toward others
• * having intellect and wit
• * being a nonconformist
• * confronting danger bravely
• * being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

• * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
• * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
• * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
• * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
• * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
• * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

• * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
• * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
• * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
• * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
• * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

• * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
• * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
• * worry more than most that their children will get hurt
• * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Now if I just looked that good! LOL

Home and Stashbusting!

We left Arkansas Friday morning around 10am and I assumed we would do like we did on the way to Arkansas and stop about Atlanta and spend the night and finish the last 560 miles today. Anyone who knows my husband knows he can get, for lack of a better word, homesick. When Atlanta came and went last night I didn't think too much about it since we were all wide awake and going strong. I figured we would drive another hour or two and then stop for the night. When I saw the state line welcoming me to Florida I knew I would be home in my bed in about 4.5 hours. We drove into our drive at 4:30 am. If you didn't do the math that is 17 hours with the time change. I am not too surprised since once Ray decided as we left the Boston area that he was ready to be home and so we drove home; STRAIGHT HOME.

I can say this, it was SO nice to be home in MY bed!

I like visiting, but I LOVE coming home.

Now that I am home I have decided I will join Judy's Stashbusting in 2009. I am not sure how good I will be at this since I am so ADD I usually forget I am working on something until someone asks me about it. I am hoping the I will be more productive since I will need to check in each week.

Things I want to accomplish this year:

1. Get a very special quilt top, Red, White and Blue Stew finished and mailed to my SIL

2. Make at least 12 quilt tops for Linus

3. Make a quilt for my daughter and my youngest son.

4. Keep track of my purchases for a true idea of what I spend.

5. Learn new techniques such as machine quilting and machine applique.

6. Concentrate on using some of my hand dyed fabrics.

I have a pretty big stash, and I love it. I am pretty good about not going overboard in buying, at least I think I am. I guess I'll know the truth soon enough.

Diane

I'm glad I'm not superstitious!

Happy New Year!

All of my life my mom would write on the calendar the weather for the last six days of the year and the first six days of the new year, saying each day represented a month of the new year and you could tell the weather for the upcoming year.
We were NEVER allowed to wash clothes on New Years day, no matter what! If you did you were responsible for "washing someones life away".
Everyone in the family had to eat black eyed peas no matter how much you gagged or puked. It was suppose to bring health and wealth.
The biggest one was to always be careful about what you did on the first day of the year as that was what you would do for the remainder of the year.

My mom would wake up and put on her pot of peas, and spend the day between cleaning and resting as she wanted to have a healthy wealthy year with lost of rest and most of all a clean house.

Well, I am and always have been the rebel child in my family. First of all I do not believe in superstition or accidents. I believe everything happens for a reason and in God's perfect time.

Just to make my mother crazy (yep I admit it) I would always do at least one load of laundry and usually do it while on the phone with her wishing her a Happy New Year. (I am so bad!)
I might make peas but hardly ever Black eyed since none of my kids liked them. But usually I didn't make any at all.
I try to spend my day sewing and since IF this superstition thing turns out to be true I want to make sure I get to sew a lot in the coming year. But after almost 20 years of being a quilter, I am here to tell you I never get to sew as much as I would like and NEVER everyday and usually not more than once or twice a week. I really have to work on that!

I like the idea of a resolution but I know myself and I can't keep one.(I'm lazy) If I could I would try to become a more compassionate person and pay more attention to my friends. I would try to study my Bible more and be a better witness. I would try to be a better wife and a better mother.

This year so far I have not done laundry, but the day isn't over yet.
I haven't eaten peas, and don't plan on it.
I have been sick and nauseated all day so I seriously hope the superstition thing doesn't kick in.

We start heading home tomorrow, so maybe I can sew before the week is completely over.

Diane
2009!