The Annual Vacation Coming to a Close

Every year, I take a vacation for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's. This started when my kids were in elementary school so I could spend time with them during the holidays. I had no pretense that we would use the time to travel to visit far away relatives. Any travel would include driving in extremely dangerous road conditions to which I would not subject my precious and precocious cargo. And forget flying with four children - could not afford it anyway. No, we spent the days quietly at home with just each other for company. We'd break in all our new Christmas presents. And with four active and curious children, sometimes we'd just break our Christmas presents. (That's how we knew whether a gift was a good idea or not.) I later came to really love Legos.

My husband's family never came to visit during the holidays. To them, the road only goes one way. My brothers did not have children when mine were young so they did not really understand the magic of sharing the holiday with little kids. I find it ironic that now my oldest brother is 51, he has a 5 year old. (Yup, you read that right.) Yikes! Glad that's him and not me... Anyway, I always felt just a little sorry for my kids that their cousins were not closer so they could grow up together. On the other hand, I had no cousins my age and my brothers and I grew up very similarly to how my kids are growing up. I never felt like I missed out on anything so I guess my kids will be okay, too. At any rate, they are almost all grown now and we have lots of really rich memories of our Christmases at home.

The kids now range from 15 1/2 to 22. Christmas is a little different. They aren't all here for the entire holiday, one not here at all. The ones that are at home have friends they want to hang out with. I'm getting a lot of time to myself. This is not a melancholy as it might seem at first blush. I am actually enjoying it immensely.

I've been able to spend a lot more time in the sewing room than I have in the last several months. Even though every day I made myself do chores (Aaaack!) before I could reward myself with some sewing time, I have been able to do some quality quilting. I machine quilted the belated Christmas present for my friend, Marietta, using the machine quilting in sections technique. My next task is to attach and quilt the borders, then bind and label it. This technique has it's pros and cons. While it's easier to do the machine quilting without wrestling a queen-sized wad of fabric and batting, it's a pain in the ass to join the sections together afterwards. This is the second quilt I've done in this method and I have to say, I'm not sold. The upshot of using this method is that you have to hand sew the back together. Since I have never been one to really enjoy hand sewing, have I said it's a pain in the ass, yet? Oh, I have. Oh well, it can't be stressed enough.

However, let it also be said that all that hand sewing has left me plenty of time to plan my next three projects in my head. My sister in law sent me some really cute fabric she used in my niece's new bedroom, pink with little cartoon animals on it. I'm going to make her a Yellow Brick Road quilt with it. Then, I have been gathering homespuns for a star quilt pattern by the Buggy Barn. Thirdly, my son's girlfriend is graduating from high school in June and I have a green and white quilt planned for her because green is her favorite color. The best part is that most of it was already my in stash. She just received word that she has been awarded the same Air Force ROTC scholarship my son received last year. She will attend the same University where he is and plans to study nursing. She says she wants to be a flight nurse. We are really proud of her, she's a very bright girl.

With luck, these next three projects will take me into the next couple of months. I'm looking forward to the MLK holiday. My friends and I have already designated this as a quilting day so for sure I'll be working on one of the aforementioned projects. (I'd better be well finished with the Christmas gift by then!)

But on Monday, it's back to reality when the annual vacation comes to an end and I have to return to my more mundane, work-a-day routine. Will I continue to take these annual vacations when the kids are all grown and gone? After this last one, I'd say definitely YES!

Happy New Year. May health, happiness, peace, and prosperity find you in the next year.

Christmas is over...Thank God!

I can't believe I haven't posted since July! Too much to do, not enough time. With that said, a body would think I have been quilting my brains out. Alas, not so. Somehow, I thought that with three of my four progeny out the door I would have more time. HA! What WAS I thinking?

Sadly, I can't really even account for my time. I did get a new laminate floor in the living/dining rooms. This did disrupt our routine for a good week but it was completely and totally worth it. Got rid of a stinky old carpet that should probably have been categorized as an historical oddity. And smelly to boot. You know it's time to get rid of it when you can't even clean it anymore.

Our annual quilt show came and went in October. I didn't even have anything to show. That's how poor my quilting efforts have been. Not that I don't have lots of projects lined up. If they were airplanes readying for takeoff, the airport would be shut down. Not to mention all the UFO's already parked on the runway...

I did make a couple of sample quilts and taught a class at my friend Lydia's shop, Homespun Quilts. It was a New York Beauty from Phillips Fiber Art that was really fun to do. You can't tell from the picture but the points are three dimensional. Easier than it looks. Great book, I recommend it if you want a project that is a bit different and a little challenging.

We had three of the four kids home for Christmas. They all found it a bit weird their brother, Tom, was not with us. He flew to Spokane WA to spend the holiday with his new in-laws. We really missed him but that's what happens when kids run off and get married!

We had a white Christmas for the first time ever on this part of the Oregon Coast. It snowed all the way down to sea level. That's right kiddies, snow on the beach! Pretty but strange. Christmas morning we had big, fluffy flakes just like in the movies. The white stuff covered everything for a little over a week before the rains came on Saturday and melted it all away. It was fun while it lasted. I'm a little too old for snow angels but believe you me, I thought about it. The only thing that held me back was I'd have had to have someone hoist my old butt out of the snow with a crane. What don't you want to see on the front page of the newspaper?

I took the tree down yesterday, I just can't stand having it up for weeks at a time. (One month is 1/12th of a year, BTW) We don't have that much room, for one thing. And I'll be vacuuming up pine needles for the next three months as it is. Don't get me wrong, I love the Christmas tree. I have the funkiest collection of ornaments that don't really go together. But more precious are the ornaments my kids made in grade school, many of them with their pictures in them. So cute. We just have an, ummm, efficient living space. (That's code for small.)

Well, I am in the middle of a quilt for my really good friend, Marietta, who is always there for me and my family. I have it about 1/2 quilted. I hope to have it all done by New Years. I'll try to post pictures if they allow me anywhere near a camera...

:)

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

Q: What do you get when you stick four women in a car and turn them loose?

A: You get a really good time!

Four of us went to Central Oregon to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show which is the largest outdoor quilt show in the entire world. This is the 4th time I've been there and it's no joke. Sisters, Oregon is a very small town just outside Bend, Oregon. The normal population is 1,400 people on 364 days of the year. On the day of the show, the population is 20,000+.

It's a 5 hour drive from where we are on the coast and probably a 40 degree temperature difference. Yikes! We aren't used to being in 90 degree heat. The moss starts drying out between our toes. We were lucky to find a hotel room within a 40 mile radius because people make their reservation for the next year when they check out. It's crazy, I tell you!

The downtown district in Sisters is about 8 blocks long. At about 10:30 AM, I stood at one end and looked down the length of the street and saw nothing but a sea of people. Most of the quilts are displayed outside in front of the businesses and in any large open space in town. They hang about 1200 quilts every year from all over the world. This year I saw quilts from Tokyo, Japan and Rwanda. In years past, I've seen quilts from Australia and Holland (of all places).

How did this shindig get started, you ask? This is the brainchild of Jean Wells, owner of the Stitchin' Post quilt shop in Sisters and author of many wonderful quilting books. This was the 33rd year of the show. I'm sure when she had her first show in 1975, she had no idea what she had wrought.

Well, the four of us had a fabulous time. We started walking the town at 8:30 AM and by 2:30 PM we were pretty sure we had seen the entire show. At that point, it's really overwhelming. It's hard to imagine 1200 quilts all in one place.

My favorite was a collection of Amish quilts exhibited by a man who commissions and collects them. They were exquisitely perfect in every aspect. The colors were amazing and the hand-quilting was breathtaking.

Many of them were for sale. One was a fish wall hanging that was hand painted and machine quilted. The price, $7,000.00. I can't show you a picture for copywrite reasons but you can see it on the quilt show website.

I'm now inspired to get some quilting done. I've started a quilted tote bag for my daughter that will be fun and quick to finish. Then, it's on to bigger and better things...

I sense a vacation on the horizon...

After all the hubbub and folderall of the last two months, I am ready for a vacation!

I just packed off all the high maintenance menfolk yesterday for a whole week! Yahoo!! They are by this time safely in Florida, en route to Islamorada for manly bonding and scuba diving. Yes, I am actually savoring the sound of silence in my house.

My youngest, now 15, was actually worried about me being all alone. How cute.

Connor: What are you going to do with us gone, Mom?
Me: Not to worry your pretty little head. I'll have no lack of things to do. I might actually get some of them done since I won't have to chase you people around!
Connor: Very funny, Mom.

Have I mentioned how high maintenance they all are?

Oh, you want a "for instance?" I'll give you one.

Why is it the cleanest place in the house is the inside of the laundry hamper? Not because the laundry is DONE, no sireee. Apparently, it is too difficult to lift up the lid to put the clothing IN! As a result, Mt Laundry is piled high atop, cascading over, and puddling on the floor where the cat can sleep in it.

I even ask them about once a week why they can't seem to get the clothes inside because it does perplex me so. I get a variety of answers, most of them flip. Even making them come back and fix it doesn't deter them the next time, even though you'd think it would. It's like the 8-track tape that doesn't stop, an endless loop.

Tonight, I went to the grocery store and bought my very own pint of ice cream, English Toffee Temptation. Doesn't that sound delightful? And it will be in the freezer tomorrow, too, because there will be no little ghosts that go oink in the night and make the ice cream mysteriously disappear. At least not for a week.

On Friday, the girls and I are heading to Sisters to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show sponsored by the fabulous Jean Wells and the Stitchin' Post quilt shop. I can hardly wait! Three glorious days of seeing beautiful quilts, shop-hopping, being served at restaurants, gabbing with friends, and no laundry.

And they actually think I'm going to be bored whist they are away...

Better Late than Never

My, my. It has been a long time since I've been here. I almost forgot I had a blog!

The last 3 months and especially the last 4 weeks have been frenetic and frantic. (How's that for a great alliteration!)

In early March, I took a Job Enhancement assignment that meant traveling to work in a larger office two hours away from home for three days a weeks. It was a managerial assignment and I think I did a pretty good job. The end result was a promotion at the end of May, still not in management but a step closer and a raise in pay. Sure put a lot of miles on the ol' car.

Then in May, our oldest daughter, Hilary, graduated from Pacific University with a degree in Biology. Atta' girl! A week later, we held an open house for her graduation/Venturing Silver Award. For those of you not familiar, the Silver award in Venture Scouting is the same as an Eagle in Boy Scouts.

The first weekend of June, our No 3 child, Sam, graduated from high school with honors. He has a full ride Air Force ROTC scholarship and will attend University of Portland in the fall. He plans to major in Civil Engineering.

No. 2 child, Tom, married his longtime girlfriend Amy one week later. He also graduated from the local community college the night before his wedding, receiving an Automotive Mechanic Certification. Then he and Daisy the dog moved out. They are both Amy's problem now.

The really, really great news...all three of them got jobs last week! Hilary is working for a company in Tigard, Oregon that tests x-ray equipment. She plans to work for two years, then apply to medical school. Tom is working at a Chevrolet dealership as a mechanic. Sam got a job doing auto-cad work for an engineering company for the summer. If they like his work, they will probably let him work during school breaks when the ROTC doesn't claim him!

That leaves No. 4, the 15 year old. I told him he needs to pick up the pace and get a job now. He gave me a look like, "What! Me work?" Then we happened to go into a fast food restaurant and there at the cash register is one of his classmates! What timing! So now he's looking for places to apply that are within foot commute from home since he also doesn't drive.

I guess we'll get there eventually. In the meantime, it's nice to be home.

SHQ Hot (News) Flash 10/22/07

Gentle Readers;

I think we can safely say our latest quilt show was a rousing success! The quilts went up in record time, the event was well attended, it came down in a flash, and good time was had by all.

In the Winner's Circle
Everyone voted and the winner's are: Fall Challenge, Betty; Two Fabric Challenge, Julia; Challenge Block, Sandi; and last but not least, Best of Show, Sandi again with her wonderful Monster Quilt! It's always so amazing to see the wonderful talent of our members. Good work, ladies and awards well deserved!

Dues are Due
It is October again and that can only mean -- dues are due! For a mere $12 for the entire year, you receive the companionship of 30 other people who have a lot in common with you, a spectacular show in the fall, and of course, this fabulous newsletter! Now really, where else can you find such a deal? Please turn your dues in to Debby by the one and only meeting in December, December 10th. If you don't, you run the risk of being out of touch and out of sorts. And remember, if you want to participate in the thrill-a-minute excitement of the Challenges in the future, you need to be a member in good standing.

Caution - Retreat Ahead
The highly anticipated and world renowned Retreat at the Comfort Suites is scheduled for November 3. You can arrive as early as you can haul your sorry self out of bed but most of us are arriving around 8:00 AM. There are only 12 spaces and, again, rumor has it a couple of the prepaid spots may be available. Drop an e-mail to Debby to check on availability. If you have paid and will not be able to make it, PLEASE let Debby know so someone else can have your spot.

Civil War Challenge
All you ladies that participated in the Civil War Challenge, it's almost that time! Your completed tops are due at the November 26 meeting. Remember, if you fail to meet the deadline, your $25 bucks goes to the kitty! You don't want to lose that cold, hard cash so "git to stitchin!" Aw heck, even if you don't make it, with all the fabric and patterns Nancy gave you, it was surely worth every cent. Nice job, Nancy. You're going to be a hard act to follow.

Have a Holly Jolly
As already referenced, we have only one meeting in December, our Christmas Party! This year it will be December 10th, place to be announced. Everyone brings a dish to share and a gift for Dirty Santa. The money limit on the gift is $10, I'm always amazed at the shopping ability of some of you gals. We'll plan more on this gala event at the November meetings so don't miss out!

Change of Command
Effective with January, we will need a whole new slate of officers. Every position is up for grabs except for Treasurer which has been filled by Debby who stepped up with enthusiasm. We'll need a new President, Quilt Show Chairman, Publicity Chair, and any thing else you'd like to contribute your time and talent towards. We've had a Program Chairman, Block of the Month, and Secret Pals in the past, all fun programs which suffered for lack of leadership and participation. If you have any new ideas you've seen at other guilds or some you just thunk up yourself, bring it up. Maybe it will sound like fun to a lot of us!. None of these things takes a great investment of time but all are things that can make our guild more fun and attractive to new members. Please consider volunteering your time to the group, you won't regret it.

The World is Ending, or Starting, or Something
Now what you've all been waiting for, today's installment of --- Bit O'Trivia! On this date in 4004 BC, the universe was created, or so thought James Ussher, Anglican Archbishop of Armagh. Ironically, on the same day in 1844, William Miller predicted the world would end causing his followers, the Millerites, to sell all their property and put off planting crops in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. Of course, the day after became known in history as the Great Disappointment, as you can imagine.

All I can say is "Thank Goodness!" I have too many UFO's for the world to end just now.

Until next time...

emi

SHQ Hot (News) Flash 10/08/2007

Well, gals, this it IT! The last meeting before the show. I kinda feel like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, "Hey, kids! Let's put on a show!" If that doesn't date me, nothing will.

The Big Show

Joni gave us our final instructions tonight. The show is October 20th from 12 Noon to 4 PM, for those who are unsure. The poles will be transported from Marcia's basement to the school the night before. If you'd like to help, be at Marcia's at 5 PM or the school at 6 PM.

On Saturday, 10/20/07, be at Lewis & Clark Elementary at 8:00 AM (yes, that's in the morning) with your quilts and two dozen cookies for the refreshment table. Remember, don't bring any gooey stuff you don't want to see on your quilt later. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to hang quilts.

If you are bringing items for the Boutique, please have it already priced and clearly marked with your name. Please bring any useless items from your personal sewing cache you don't think you will use any more for the Sewing Room Sale. The money from this sale goes to support our door prize habit, challenge fabric, and anything else we want to pamper ourselves with. Dig deep and be generous. One quilters junk is another quilters treasure.

Speaking of names, if you still need a name tag, please send an email to Debby with the correct spelling of your name and she will make sure she has it for you for the show. I emphasize CORRECT because when I type too fast, my name comes out Clakr. It happens.

Attached to this email is the registration form for the quilts you wish to enter. Please fill one out for each quilt you are entering, print it out and bring it with you! If you are unable to download the attachment, we will have forms at available at the show but it will save you a lot of time if you do it ahead.

We voted to authorize Ashley to put a small ad in the newspaper on Friday and it should also appear in the Coast Weekend on Thursday.

Constance was present to report we have been granted matching funds through Thrivent and it will probably be about $350. Since this information is not printed on the tickets, we will need to make sure it is advertised at the show.

If you purchased the Challenge fabrics from Ellen last summer, for goodness sakes, don't forget to make and bring your Challenge Block! Make sure your name is on the back and no one sees it but Ellen prior to the show. Attendees of the show will vote on the best block and, voile, you, too can be in charge of the Challenge the next year!

Lastly, tell everyone you know to come to the quilt show.

Open House
Traditionally, the very next meeting after the quilt show is an open house where potential new members can check us out. Please be in attendance at this meeting because we will also have the wrap-up from the show (and we find out how much $$ we made for our charity). We will have coffee and cookies to welcome our visitors. Please bring show and tell or a Work In Progress (WIP) . This is our chance to show everyone how FRIENDLY and CHARMING we are!

Civil War Challenge
Nancy has only one packet of Civil War fabrics and patterns left to be handed out. If it's yours, please contact her or drop her an email. The deadline for your finished top is the second meeting in November and the minimum finished size is a 4x7 set of 12 inch blocks. Should be a really good "show and tell" that meeting!

Comfort Suites Retreat
All the available spaces for the retreat on November 3 at the Comfort Suites have been taken but if you are a-feared you missed out, do not yet despair! It is rumored that not all paid participants will be able to make it as planned. If you are still interested in participating, drop Debby an email. If you are one who must give up your slot, please let Debby know as far in advance as possible so another may take your place.

Hot Potato
Laurie made with her own two hands (and her sewing machine) the Amazing Microwave Potato Bag. It piqued our interest so much that she may make some to sell at the Boutique. We know it's amazing because Marcia was overheard to exclaim, "This is AMAZING!" Now, if you weren't at the meeting and don't know what we're talking about, you now have to wait until the show to find out. See what you get for missing?

And now, for that moment you have all been awaiting with bated (baited?) breath, today's installment of Bit O"Trivia! On this very day in 1944 was the radio debut of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" which went on to make radio and TV history. Then a mere 60 years later on the very same day was the unforgettable "Martha Goes to Jail." Ooops, sorry, that wasn't a show, Martha Stewart really DID go to jail! So hard to tell the difference sometimes. Darn that reality TV!

emi