Big News

I was told my Dad is supposed to go home tomorrow! After several months in one nursing home, therapy facility, mental ward (yep, not a fun story) and back to the nursing home he is supposed to go home tomorrow. I am not holding my breath since every time I am told one thing something different happens, but I am hopeful.
I leave here Tuesday morning. I will stop in Mobile to rest then on to Houston.

While in Houston I hope to get to enjoy the quilt show. I have my camera ready and I am pretty excited. I am going to try and get my Linda to go with me. We always have fun no matter where we are so this will be no different. I have no list to buy from. I have nothing I am looking for. I would like to see the quilts. Connect with vendor acquaintances and eat at Ninfa's. What more could you want in one day?

Maybe after I return from Houston I will visit my sewing room. I know I will have pictures to share.

Later,
Diane

Snap out of it!

I don't know if I am alone, but I found myself in a strange state of mind when it came to my quilting. I found myself reading blogs, A LOT. Not working on any of my projects. Constantly reading Keepsake and Connecting Threads catalogs. Scanning the Sew It's For Sale and Quilters Flea Market on yahoo. Buying fabric or patterns and stacking them in my room and walking back out, shutting the door behind me. One day it dawned on me I was constantly looking for something to buy but not using anything and it didn't even bother me.
All of this happened about the same time everything started falling apart with my dad. So I decided until I worked on something to completion (it doesn't have to be big just finished) I will not look at any more online stores, Flea Market emails or catalogs. No more shopping in local stores and maybe even sell a few things I no longer need.

I have sold a few things. Thank you to those who bought them! I have stayed out of quilt shops and fabric stores. (I KNOW they feel the difference in their tills). I have even stopped reading blogs since reading what others were doing only made me think about buying that doo-dad or fabric.

I can report I am beginning to feel and see a difference. I am having no desire to look at what I can purchase. I looked at a couple of blogs today and found them enjoyable without feeling the need to buy. I am even thinking about a project I want to work on, and it's a UFO so mores the better!

I am headed to Houston to check on my parents and with a little cooperation from the husband I am going to be there during the International Quilt Festival. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking. "She is gonna break the bank!" I really don't think so. I won't lie and say I won't buy anything, but I think I realize I need nothing. I am sure I will buy something though.
This will be the first time since I closed my business that I have been to the show ans the first time in about 8 years that I have been as just a quilter and not a business owner. I think I will enjoy it.

Now, after I have said all of the above...I don't want anyone to think I am so strong, or determined or disciplined. Nope I have been depressed! When I get depressed I become a blob. A slug. A couch potato!
Tonight I went for a good walk with Ray and the dogs. I have cleaned rooms I haven't touched in a month.I even cooked a very good dinner. Mostly we have eaten easy fast meals or salad or cereal for supper.  Maybe it means I am snapping out of it. I hope so!

Still here

I'm still here, I haven't fallen off the earth, just wish I had.
Too much has happened. Too many things to whine about, you really don't want to hear.

I have only thought about the Texas flag quilt. Well to be honest I have tried to draw it up in EQ...forget it I will need to read the manual and who wants to do that? Not me today!

I have pulled piles of fabric but that is as far as it went.

I haven't even unpacked from the retreat in August!

Or put my machine back to working order!

The only fun thing I have done is I started playing around with a necklace for my daughter.

This is one of the eight scallops that go on the front of the necklace. It measures about 1 1/4" across. MAYBE I will get it made for her birthday. No promises.

When I get stressed I do two things I close myself off from other people and I get the WANTS.

I have all but stopped blogging, talking on the phone and not much email. If it wasn't for my SIL and her sweet daughter Hannah I wouldn't be doing the emails. My Linda calls to keep me talking but other people I tend to ignore.

The WANTS have been rampant. I want a new light for sewing. Why? I don't know! It isn't like I'm doing any! I found this one on clearance for $79! Regular price...$279!

this is a table lamp, I actually have the floor one in this model

I wanted a new bed spread and pillows...why? I don't know I don't even like making my bed!

I'll have to take a picture later of what I bought...did you get the Tuesady Morning flyer? The red comforter on the front!

**PERSONAL...stop reading if you don't care to know about...**

For those who have asked about my dad. It is getting worse, but better too. He has been moved twice since I spoke with you last. He can only have visitors two times a week for two hours a visit. My sister said he is a lot more pleasant, less paranoid and agitated. With their financial state I don't know how long he will be here, if he can (physically and emotionally) go home or if they do send him home if he will just go back to how he was. Being so far away causes a lot of the information to get garbled in the translation. Kind of like when we played gossip in elementary school. The first person heard the teacher has on a red dress with yellow flowers and the last person heard the red car got a flat tire.
I have a sister, a niece, and my mom that I am getting information from and none of the three say the same things. My plans are to go in about 3 weeks and stay for about 2 weeks. Maybe in that time I will be able to understand more.

Later,
Diane