Stashbusting and finishing UFO's

Can't get photos on tonight - but will post anyway.

I finally got hungry enough to buy the makings for spaghetti on Saturday, and had a feast Saturday and Sunday evening [and have enough in the freezer to last several weeks].

On to my New Years Resolution [other than gaining 10 pounds and reading trashy novels! although. . . ]. I'm going to copy another Stashbuster who is going to keep 3 bobbins wound at all times. I'll wind all my empty bobbins tonight [for my Husky machine] and tomorrow [for my Bernina] and that should last a few minutes.

I will join the Stashbuster "No-buy" Program for 2008. It actually started November 1st, but runs through October 31, 2008. The "buy-in" is 12 5" charm squares and a charm square for each yard purchased during the year. There are lots of "allowable" purchases, so I'll see if I can get through a few months without any purchases.

Stashuster is also having a NYE [New Years Eve] challenge making a Sudoku quilt. I've got my fq's cut up and labeled, and my sashing and cornerstones all cut up. I'll go to Sandy's on the 31st and 'sew my heart out'. You can see a photo of my fabric at http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/stashbuster/photos I'm #18 in the 4.0 NewYear Eve Sudoku project album. [Since I can' get photos here, you need to go there to find the colors.]

I'm also joining UFO challenge 2008. You have to finish 1 UFO per quarter [should be doable], and if you get to the top of the list [a random list of names] you have to finish one that week. I'll save my quillow for that week - it just needs to have the opening sewed closed. Their 'buy in' is 2 fat quarters and 50 cents. There is a quarterly drawing for those who have finished projects, and a quarterly penalty if you don't finish a UFO that quarter.

Chico and I have been to 6 weeks of dog training, and he's doing sooooo much better than his owner. He can sit for 1 minute without moving his butt - he can sit while I drop treats and keep his butt on the ground until I feed him a treat from my hand. The only problem with that one is when the treat drops on my shoe and falls right between his paws - than all bets are off. I'm really proud of him.

Christmas morning

Well - I went prepared to spend Christmas eve and Christmas morning in Temecula - except I took extra batteries and left the camera at home!

Darn.

We had a great eve dinner [rib roast - I even got to bring some home for me!]

And had a great breakfast and fun morning opening presents.

I left early [about 11:00] to come home to take a nap, take the dogs for a walk and to have another large dinner at Sandy's [rib roast - different seasonings].

Great time at both!

And I'll get the camera there next time.

Hope the year stays healthy - and more money comes in than goes out.

Christmas at Westminster Gardens

You're getting all the Holiday stuff in one fell swoop

A small group of us decorated Packard Hall [our meeting hall, and, until the 19th, our dining room]. My contribution was to climb the ladder [with 2 others] and hang decorations from the ceiling tiles.

I also helped Lily set up the above scene in the Hall [actually, she designed and I did what she said].

There was a fantastic Christmas dinner with an even more fantastic bell choir - along with a tree lighting. There are 2 large trees and one tiny one [all living on our grounds].

I even bought a sweater and white shirt to wear to the dinner [of course, you are missing the ribbon tassels I hung on my tennis shoes].

And! I want you to know I actually decorated [well, my version, anyway]. I hung our guild centerpiece on the front screen door. The woman who made it was told by her husband that she should absolutely NOT bring it home. Of course, that means I have to find a place to put it until next year.

I hung decorations and my Christmas cards on my StashBox quilt that is hanging in the kitchen. I also draped the string table runner [in Christmas fabrics, of course] over one side of it.

There was caroling last night, and our row of homes was visited by the group [not all were]. Chico and Little Bit actually behaved while the singing was going on [although Chico would give a small bark about every 2 minutes].

The boys are official - this is a notice to emergency personnel that 2 dogs live here! I actually have it haning in my kitchen window right now, since the wreath is hanging on the front door.

No photos today, but a desperate plea for a home for a Jack Russell terrier.

The nurse at Westminster has a grandson who was bitten by his pet dog [he and the dog both had the same ball in their mouths and were tugging at it].

Dad wants to euthanize the dog, but he would probably be just fine with older kids.

"Jack" is a little older than 3 years and has papers and is a male.

I checked out rescue groups and it looks like they don't take the animals to foster, but just post photos and info on their web sites. The nurse currently has taken possession of the dog, but can't keep him.

If you know of anyone with older kids who wants a dog, let me know.

Thanks from both of us

Monday sewing

Well, we went through the tubs and found fabric. We even had Sophia helping make choices [we figured out that if she sat on it, it must be good].

Here is one of the choices for fabric [without Sophia! - we got smart and put the fabrics up on the table].

and, here we are, hard at work.

The directions were incredibly easy! We each got a top done and picked out more fabric for our 2nd one. Both got the center of the 2nd top done, and Sandy finished hers after I left Monday night [mine's still in my carrier].

The top one is Sandy's, and the bottom one is mine

These are the centers of our 2nd toppers.

Mine is on the left and Sandy's is below.

We have grandiose [sp?] delusions of making one for each season [or even for each month???]

New Project?

These blocks are for our guilds Block of the Month for the September exchange.

The directions were incredibly awful, but these come out to a 12-1/2" unfinished block [which is what the chairperson wants].

Hated the directions, but loved the block [and these are 'real' triangles, you know, the kind that draws a line diagonally and sews 1/4" from the line on each side to make 2 blocks].

Loved the block so much that I went out and bought some tan/yellow background and I already have a lot of autumn fabrics, so will make a quilt top.

It is so hot here that I am trying to convince the dogs that we really don't need to go any further than the grass right off the front porch. They weren't happy, but they came in really well.

Two of the ladies at lunch were saying that they don't like air conditioning [???] but use their fans when possible. That's not my choice, but I'm trying hard not to let it get to cold for Chico.

I went back to the storage unit to try to find more fabrics for Sandy's and my Halloween project for tomorrow. I have several bolts in the car and found a small tub full of lime green [possible to use for our stars]. I'm excited to see what we come up with tomorrow.

Hula Night

The "Gardens" had a Luau on Wednesday night [that's typically Chef's Surprise in the dining room] and I invited Sandy and her daughter Debra to attend with me.

Food was great and the gals had a chance to see me in my new element. Next 'soiree' I plan to invite a whole tables worth of folks.

Am I glad that no photos were taken [by folks I know, that is] because I 'volunteered' with a group of other residents [who also don't know how to say no] to learn the hula [bend your knees and move your hips]. We were up on stage with the paid entertainment.

When I went to lunch the next day, I had several folks come by and comment on my 'dancing' ability. I figured I might as well make a fool of myself early in my residencey, figuring that I can't get any worse [please, no testimonials from my 'friends'].

About quilts - if you check out Mehitabel's Musings you can see the charity quilts with binding. I found bindings in our binding box that Marie carries around. Ethel [another Tuesday night regular] gave me a quilt top and back and binding she had finished from a JoAnn's block of the month from many years ago. We'll add that one to our collection and see if we can't get it quilted for the end of the year.

On Friday, Esther [one of our residents] had a tea which included me and 2 other ladies. She likes to get to know the new residents, and she loves to have small get-togethers [not formal - I wore a real blouse and felt quite comfortable with the group]. It's nice to meet that way, since I usually meet people on our walks [the dogs and mine, that is] and by the time I get home I can't remember names.

Sandy and I are going to make a small 'table topper' this Monday that is in the latest Fons and Porter magazine. She e-mailed me and asked me to bring over some Halloween fabric for the project. I found 2 tubs easily in the storage unit [frightening] and may take some of the larger pieces to cut into fat quarters and sell on e-bay [after all, if we're going to be long arm quilting, I'm going to need money for that project]. We'll have photos of those some time next week, I hope.