Hand-quilting Class...

Quote for the Day:

"My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and 

I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can."   

~Cary Grant

Saturday was my first time teaching a hand-quilting class at Classic Quilt Shop in Clarksburg.   I had 4 students (the classroom will only accommodate a maximum of 6 students).  I had a great time and I'm hoping the ladies did, too!  :)

Only 1 of the 4 students was an actual new hand-quilter...the other three wanted advice and help learning certain techniques to help them in their quilting.  I'm hoping that I was able to help!  :)

This is Barbara...she was the only "newbie" to hand quilting.  She found she couldn't use a thimble, so here she is just using her bare fingers to quilt.  She did GREAT!
 

Next was Mary...she wanted to learn how to quilt away from herself using Ted's Thumb Thimble, which is what I use.  I let her use mine and she practiced with it for 2+ hours!  She did well and is going to buy one of the Ted's thimbles for herself to use at home.

Next was Diana...she HAD the Ted's Thumb Thimble, but hadn't figured out how to use it.  I showed her how to use it and away she went with it!  She worked the entire time with just the thumb thimble, like Mary did, and walked away from the class pleased with her ability to use it by the end of the class!  :)

And last, but not even close to be 'least', we had Susan who, instead of bringing a preprinted piece of fabric to practice on, brought an original marked piece of fabric.  Her last name begins with "H", hence the letter in the middle!  :)  She, too, was a proficient hand-quilter, but wanted to learn more about preparing and using a hoop instead of a frame.

We talked and laughed and visited and had a good time!  I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and agreed to teach this class.  If the interest arises again, I will teach it again, too.


Last Friday, the Elegant Lady rose bush that we had ordered from Jackson & Perkins arrived in the mail and today while Andy was home for lunch, he planted it over her grave site in the back yard.  Her grave is along the chain link fence that separates our yard from the neighbor's yard.

When we had to put Lady to sleep in March, the vet's office gave this package to us...

...and inside was this...

Very sweet and thoughtful!  We would like to find a larger rock, approximately 12" X 12" to attach it to, paint her name on, and place under the rose bush.  We will be keeping our eyes open to see what we can find...

On Sunday, Andy & I went with friends to see the movie "The Hunger Games".  I had never read the book, but my friend had.  I had only seen the previews and knew a little about the premise of the story.  All I can say is that it was EXCELLENT!!!  I will also tell you that it definitely left itself open for sequels.  :(   In fact, when the movie seemed to be at a the end but it also seemed like there was going to be sudden plot twist, I turned to my friend and said "it ain't over, yet"...and I had no sooner said the words then the credits started to roll, obviously leaving an opening for a sequel.  

Anyway, if you get the chance to see it, I highly recommend it!  :)

Loretta

There Are No Words....

Lady has been progressively getting worse with each day.  Watching her was like watching someone with Alzheimers.  She was getting more and more confused and was getting "lost" in the house and basement the last couple of days and seemed to have lost almost all vision and hearing.

Last evening, she started throwing up and it continued this morning.  She lost control of her hind quarters while on the stairs yesterday and today and rolled down the stairs. 
 
Since awaking this morning, she was unable to lay down or even sit...she wandered about the house aimlessly, walking into things and getting lost under chairs and tables.  She walked in circles a lot. 

After 4 hours of this, I took her to the vet.  After an examination and review of the original symptoms from 2.5 weeks ago and hearing about her worsening neurological symptoms, circling, etc., the vet felt that the most likely explanation was a brain tumor.  (The possibility of this was mentioned at the original visit as a "possible" reason for the blown pupil.)
 
Andy, I, and the vet all agreed that Lady seemed like she was suffering today so we made the decision to put her to sleep and had it done right away.  We have brought her body home and Andy will bury her in the back yard later this evening.
 
Lady died peacefully in my arms with both Andy & myself there to comfort her.  She is no longer suffering.  We will always remember her for the joy she brought to our lives.  She was a sweet, faithful, and loving companion for 12.5 years.

R.I.P. 

Lady

August 9, 1999 - March 7, 2012

You will be missed.

Love,

Mom

Loretta

Poor Lady...

Quote for the Day:

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you 

more than you love yourself. "
- Josh Billings 

If you've followed my blog for any length of time you, no doubt, have heard me talk about our faithful companion Boston Terrier, Lady.

 about 4 human years old...

12 human years old...

see how much white she has around her face and eyes now? 

She is always close by me, where ever I am.  If I'm showering, she lays outside the bathroom door to "protect" me.  :)  If I'm sewing, she's laying in her bed under my sewing table, etc.  In fact, she is always so close by that she frequently makes it into my blog pictures!

Since Christmas, we have noticed a definite decline in her health.  We've taken her to the vet and there were only 2 things that they were able to find...the pupil in her left eye is "blown" (permanently dilated and does not respond to light) and one of three liver enzymes is elevated.  We have started her on an antibiotic and a liver anti-oxidant to try and correct the liver enzyme.  We will have her blood retested at the end of the month of medication.  

 

She seems to have lost quite a bit of vision and hearing, but still seems to be quite active and happy.  We have noticed this past week that, on occasion, she doesn't seem to have complete control over her hind quarters and has, a few times, fallen on her butt.  :(  We are beginning to suspect that she may have had one or more small strokes.)

 

Years ago I had put a bed for her under my sewing table so she wouldn't lay on the rug by my rolling chair, but I had never put one in my quilting room for her.  Since she loves to be close by me, where ever I am, last night I took an old drawer from our kitchen demolition to make a bed for her in my quilting room.  :)

 

When I trim quilts in preparation for binding, I always save the batting in a grocery bag beside my cutting table.  These scraps make good pillow stuffing!  :)  I had an old cotton valance that I didn't want, so I cut the valance in half, then folded it in half.  After sewing up two of the three open sides, I took the old batting I'd been collecting, stuffed it inside and then sewed up the remaining end of the "pillow" for the drawer-turned-dog-bed!

 

Lady seems to approve!!!  :)  And that's all that matters.

 

We know the day is coming when we will have to let her cross the Rainbow Bridge, but that time has not come, yet.  Until then, we will take care of her, cuddle her and love her like the member of the family she has always been. 


Loretta

I'm Drinking Again...

Quote for the Day:

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can."
-Danny Kaye

Okay...I admit it...I have a drinking problem.  :(  In fact, today I was drinking and driving...

Yes...that's another McD's frozen strawberry lemonade...but I know I can quit anytime I want to.   ;)


When we lived in California, on Sunday mornings I would grab a cup of coffee and a granola bar and eat them while I drove to church with the kids.  One Sunday when Erin was about six she said, "Mom, don't you know you aren't supposed to 'eat and drink and drive'?"  I guess she had seen her share of "don't drink and drive" ads on TV and didn't realize they were talking about alcohol!  LOL


Ya know how I've said that Lady always has to be where I am?  Well...I thought I'd take some pictures to prove that point.  

When I am in the bathroom, I look out the door and see this...

I swear...it's like having young kids again.  I can't even go to the bathroom in peace!  LOL   Sometimes when I am in the bathroom, she will be laying on the carpet facing away from the bathroom door...usually facing towards the staircase leading downstairs...like she's guarding me.  :)

And here she is laying on the floor near my desk while I was on the computer...

When I'm in my quilting room, she'll lay on either of the two rugs in there and every so often she gets up and comes over for me to pet her...then she goes and lays back down again.

Now that the kids are grown she really has become my shadow!  :)


I went couponing today and Rite Aid and Walgreens.  I got the following at Rite Aid...

I got $48.39 worth of product, paid $24.20 out-of-pocket, got $3 back in +Up Rewards, $15.69 back in Rebates, and a coupon for $3 off of a $15 purchase...making my actual cost $2.51 for everything.

I did a little better at Walgreen's...

I got $50.97 worth of product, paid $14.92 out-of-pocket and got $19.00 back in Register Rewards...making the trip a $4.08 money-maker for me.  :)

We worked on cutting a couple pieces of paneling for the kitchen today, but the last one didn't fit right and will have to be recut.  :(   So we both got disappointed and quit for the day.  Besides, it was 100 degrees out this afternoon and we have to do the cutting outside, so we were both quite worn out from the heat.   

We've been at a standstill on the kitchen lately while we try to figure out exactly what we can do with the space between the chimney and the cabinets.  We keep tossing around suggestions, but haven't come to a complete meeting of the minds, yet.  

Loretta