Nov. 28, 2008 - So Thankful!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.   I love spending time with my family.  I was sad to not have my two sisters there, too (they with their husband's/boyfriend's families), but spending time with my mother, husband, sons, brother, "Uncle Ted", father in law, brother in law, brother"s girlfriend and her kids was fantastic.  And, to top it off, the food was incredible, as usual.  My family has been working as a team at Thanksgiving for so long, that it almost seems easy to get all those dishes prepared and ready at the same time.

At the table, once we all settle down with full plates, we usually go around and tell everyone what we are thankful for.  We can take more than one turn, and there is no particular order, you just chime in when you feel moved to do so.  "Uncle Ted" started us off with being thankful for being so fully welcomed into our family, as partially evidenced by being included in the receiving rotation of my father's t-shirt quilt.  My father died in a car accident during Memorial Day weekend, 2005, just 3 weeks before my youngest son was born.  I asked for, and received, all of his shirts and ties.  It took me a while to actually cut into them, but I eventually made this quilt from his t-shirts:

As you can tell from the t-shirts my father owned, he was an activist, and educator, a fisherman, and a baseball player, and he meant a lot to us.  We still miss him.  He and "uncle Ted" were best friends for over 30 years.  So when I finished the quilt last December, I wrapped it up and gave it to my mother with the understanding that she could keep it for a few months, and then it had to go to someone else in the family to enjoy for a few months.  Next it went to my twin sister in Massachusetts.  Then it went to Uncle Ted in Maine.  My plan was to give it to my younger sister in Philadelphia this Thanksgiving, but since she didn't come, I mailed it out to her on Wednesday.  Hopefully she'll get it today or tomorrow.  Then, in a few months, I hope to have it here with me for a while.

When it was my turn to say what I was thankful for, I skipped over the usual "family, friends, health" and mentioned how thankful I am to recognize that I have choices in life.  I know that there are a lot of desperate and depressed people out there who feel like they are stuck in their lives.  My sentiments couldn't be any further from that.  I feel blessed with the life I have, even with all its frustrations, and I know that if I want to change it, it is in my power to do so.  That is a very liberating and powerful feeling.  I hope all of you feel that way as well.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov. 25, 2008 - Bye, bye sewing room

Nov. 23, 2008 - Starting over

I'm just sick over the loss of the blog.  I was able to find my October 2006 through February 2008 entries, but I've probably blogged more in the last 6 months than I did in the two years previous.  Spilled milk and all that.  I'm starting over.  I really value this community, and I hope that those of you who are trying to figure out whether or not to stay do decide to stay, or at least visit regularly.

So what have I been doing during this period of no connectivity?  Making progress on my Christmas presents, of course!  I have finished one of the Farmhouse Kitchen placemats (set of two only) that I am making for my sister in Philadelphia.  I stitched in the ditch, as one of you suggested, and then added a diamond in the middle of the circle.  This was my first attempt at machine quilting (start small, right?) and I used an invisible thread.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  I think I might actually try to quilt something larger sometime soon!

I've also gotten a bit more done on her Dresden Plate quilt.  It seems she's been pretty down lately, so hopefully this bright quilt will lift her spirits.  For those of you who can't remember back to May 2007 when I actually finished piecing the top and started quilting it, here it is:

If I want to get these gifts done, however, I should sign off now.  I hope to see you all back on here soon!