Giveaway

Hey Cara at the Quilt Nook is having an awesome giveaway for her Blogaversary! Stop by and check it out!!!

10 pounds!

Yep, that's right, 10 pounds of pop tabs!

Lots of tabs!!

This is the inside of a full target bag. Our 4-H club collects them as a community service project each year and then we donate them. This year they are going to the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Family Room sponsered by the Ronald McDonald House. The family room is exactly that, a family room. It has TV's, games, couches, a small kitchenette, washers and showers in the back. The purpose of it is for families to go here with their sick children (or me :)) to get out of the hospital room, relax, shower, eat...you get the picture. Because my family has used the family room we are giving back to them. The money from the pop tabs goes to help stock simple food such as PB&J, cereal etc and to help buy birthday cakes for the kids in the hospital on their birthday.

The fish tank outside the family room

The water wall

One of my favorite old churches by the clinic

Today I had a pacemaker check up at the clinic. I have to go once a year for a check on it and the rest of the year I can send it in via a little machine they supply. I got an all clear from the tech, he said things look really good. My heart was in A Fib 1648 times in the last 3 months (since my last check) which I think is ALOT, but he says everything looks great. The shortest episodes are 1 to 2 beats and the longest lasted 27 minutes. Wonder if that is what I felt last week? LOL. I can't normally feel it so we don't really worry about it. That is the pacemakers job! He did say that things are improving with my rhythm, and that I have 6 years left on my battery! I can actually say that if I were for sale "batteries are included".


Then I came home, picked up J from track, had some dinner, then went to ride. Rich and T have baseball practice so I am home alone and they should be home shortly. But do you have any idea how hard it is to take a picture with your cell phone of your cat on your lap on your horse??

My ride went pretty good and then I came up and have been reading some random blog I found...And now off to do some blog reading! Have a great day!

Nothing Like Colorado!

Yesterday was a strange day. It was windy and rainy one minute and then sunny the next. But as the day wore on it just got nasty. We ended up having a really windy night and got a little bit of snow. Nothing like the got in Colorado, but snow this close to April - just not cool! Hopefully my flowers that are starting to come up will survive!

Snow in the garden

Snowflakes on the patio stairs

Rich and I spent the day yesterday being together and kinda lazy. We didn't do much at all. He made breakfast and I did the dishes. The kids did their homework and we read books. I actually finished the book I started on Saturday night. I read The Last To Know by Wendy Corsi Staub. I vhae never read her before, but I am glad I picked it up. It was really good and I had no idea who did it! I thought I did, but I was wrong!

It was nice to spend the day with Rich just hanging out, no pressure, no where to go and no committments! Today is the start of a busy week for us, so I am trying to get somethings done around the house (like cleaning and laundry). We have something going on every night this week and I am sure we will be done by the weekend when we have something planned every day next weekend! And of course I want to get some quilting done. I have started working on my PIF projects and would like to get those done! And a quick trip to JoAnn's for some material for my stacked coins that I want to make with the fabric from the show at the IX center!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Academic Challenge

Today T competed in the Academic Challenge competition for Jr High in our county. There were 9 teams there, including ours. Our team has 21 7th and 8th graders on it and each student was able to compete in 1 full round. There were 7 rounds with 1 bye round per school. T had basketball during most of the practices and we required him to attend basketball (we paid for that!) versus Ac Challenge. So he only went to about 5 practices. His coach for ac chall was very grateful for those he could attend, understood why he couldn't and the coach did play T even though he didn't have to. So we were pleased with that and happy! I would like to see T continue this in high school. He is certainly smart enough and seems to really enjoy it. He smoked the other teams/kids when he played! (and T does not have a shirt due to not attending the practices, he wasn't there when they were ordered).

Doing a math problem

The entire team

In other news, yesterday was a day of errands so very little got done. And then today was the competition and we got home about 2:30. My parents lives less than 3 minutes away from where it was held so we stopped there on our way home. I have spent the rest of the afternoon rocking to my iPod and sewing. What you may ask, well that is a surprise. It is a gift for ???

But here is a sneak peak!

When Rich gets home from the other barn we are going to make pizza for dinner and then hang out for the rest of the day. Tomorrow we are supposed to get rain and maybe snow so we will be hanging out inside if that happens! This week is a meeting, baseball practice 2 days, first track meet on Wednesday, Hippology Thursday, and then a fund raiser for high school baseball on Friday. Saturday we have Horsebowl competition! It will be a busy week during the evenings this week!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!!!

I'm Back!

Well, it was a short trip for us. We didn't really want to take any of the classes (none interested us) nor did any of the shows on the stages. So we looked at the vendors, alot were clothes/sewing. We were more interested in quilting fabric and such so it was short. But we did get some great stuff!!!

I E> Batiks!

Jelly Roll

Green! My favorite!

Cool Chicken wall hanging!

Batik shop - I'm in heaven!!

Now what to make first?? And am I ever going to get something finished!! LOL!

I'm off!!!

My sister and I are heading to the IX Center to the Sewing Expo! I'm just waiting on her to get to my house. I, too, have my meager supply of cash, no checkbook or debit card. I know what I want to get but certainly can't afford so I will dream. But new fabric is always nice!

Last night was a 4-H meeting, and we had K-9 officers come speak about their dogs and how they train them. Dummy me forgot my camera so the neighbor is supposed to email me some. I'll post those when I get them.

Stay dry and enjoy the day!

What should I make?

I love this fabric, and I have been wanting to make a "mostly" black and white quilt, but I don't know what block to make using this material. Nor do I know if I want to make a certain fabric a background, or if I want to mix and match...I just don't know. I was thinking of the Churn Dash block using the more colored for the background of them all. Or Card Trick blocks....I just don't know. So, I am asking for ideas. These aren't great pictures, but you get the idea. Let me know what you think!

All the material

Close-up of three

Close-up of three

And I had to change one of my books for my Book Awards Challenge because I can't find the book by William Faulkner that I had picked. So I put the Oscar Wao book on hold at the library. I should have it by the weekend. I am reading a book by Jonathan Kellerman right now, Obsession, that is okay. Its not stellar, but its good.

And I almost have the lego xbox game beat. I am not sure how long it will take me to finish it up, but I am sure I will get it done soon! Then what? I will have to find a new game! LOL!

Not much else happening. Riding and trying to find a job still. I keep looking, but so far not much. Hopefully soon!

Have a great monday night!

Girls Night Out

Last night I went out with some of my girlfriends. Several of these girls I have not seen in years! We all used to work together at a daycare here in Medina. I worked there while I was putting myself through my last two years of college. We all (but one) worked in the kidnergarten/after-school program. When we worked the summer camp we spent our days at the pool, bowling, or playing hide-n-seek tag at the playground. Those summers were a blast, got as tan as you possibly could, and just hung out. Plus we got paid to do things like play tag and Red Rover!

Amy and Diane

It was great to see all my girlfriends again and it was like we had never been apart! Here's some pictures from the night (they were all drinking, I was the DD):

Kristie and Jess (Columbia on the side)

Back row: Kristie, Me, Diane

Front: Jess, Columbia, Amy

I have also been able to get out and ride some more. It was a little cold the other day, but I have already been out today and hope to continue to do so this week.

And I have gotten some sewing done. I have been making blocks for what I hope to be my first Q4H quilt. I have had this fabric laying around for several years with no real purpose for it so I am making it into blocks. They are all kinda funky and I am just going with whatever works at the time. Kinda Improv....

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

65 and sunny!

And I love it!

I was able to get out and ride yesterday and today! It was wonderful! Tee didn't think so as much as I did, but oh well. My goal is to be able to go on a trail ride at the end of April (for my birthday!). Hopefully I will be able to continue to ride every day and it won't rain, but you never know around here.

CC always hangs out by me when I ride. Today he was being a wild man and I snapped this picture right before he jumped on with me. Yes, he rides, but he only likes smooth rides. Right before this his butt was in the air and his head was looking through the other side of the fence.

We have also been doing a few things around the yard, we had some shingles that blew off the roof during the storms this winter so Rich fixed those. I cleaned out some of my flower beds and we are going to get rid of our manure pile this weekend.

Monday night was Book Club and we finished our last Jane Austen (I'm not a fan, sorry!). Next month we are reading Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier. It is supposed to be really good, we shall see. I am reading Johnny Tremain right now, and just finished up The Madonnas Of Leningrad by Debra Dean (excellent read, 5 stars!). I have several books here from the library waiting too so I need to get reading.

I have been getting some sewing done also. Here are 6 more Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Blocks. Ignore the pieces of paper, they are just so I know which block it is!

Card Trick (My favorite so far)

Steps to the Alter (another favorite)

Hope everyone is getting the beautiful weather we are! Its supposed to get back to the 50s by the weekend, but I'll take that over snow anyday!!!

Signs of Spring

Today is a beautiful sunny day, as was yesterday. Its about 55 degrees today and hopefully will stay this nice throughout the week! I want it to get warm and stay warm. I haven't cleaned out my flowerbeds yet, in fear that we will get another snow!

My horse is loving being outside, as you can tell he is nice and dirty!

My Kylie Kitty

Yesterday we cleaned up the barn and house, then Rich went to a poker tournament to support the baseball and the kids all had plans. T went to the movies with his girlfriend, J went to the rec center with his friends and I went to dinner at the local "real" mexican resteraunt with my friend Krissi! It was so delicious and filling! The resteraunt is owned by Mexicans and make authentic Mexican dishes.

Today Rich went to the other barn with J and I went for a 2 mile walk, after that I made these blocks for my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.

I received this lovely package in the mail yesterday. It came from Dionne and has the greatest fabric in it! I love love love it and a turtle keychain and shell necklace, all from her Hawaii trip! Thank you so much Dionne! I love it!!

Rich wants to play in a poker tournament so I guess my blog reading will have to wait till later. Between him and the kids homework I haven't gotten on all day! Guess I will go kill some lego guys! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!!

J's hermit crabs

Spelling Bee and Guitars

Well, we only made it to round two of the spelling bee. He misspelled corporal but whatever. He still made it and by the third round there were only 10 kids out of 43 left. All in all, it was a neat opportunity for him and he enjoyed it so that was all that we asked!

T

T and the girlfriend

And his quilt is done!!! yeah, I am so excited! I don't know if I like it. I certainly don't love it. I would have liked the sashing/border to be black, but this is what he wanted so this is what he got. He likes it, and that is all that matters!

The back

The backing fabric

The front (notice all the books on the headboard?)

And tomorrow I can start something new!

Tonight T and I went grocery shopping while Rich and J went to the other barn. Then T did chores and cleaned his room while I did a few things and finished up his binding.

Tomorrow I have an appointment in the morning, they have an ortho appointment, then I am going to clean while they clean stalls, Rich is going to a poker tournament for the youth baseball league while I be the taxi for the boy. And Sunday Rich and J are going to the other barn while T and I stay home and hang out! I should have a lot of time to sew this weekend! YEAH! I am excited to move onto something else!

Thanks everyone, for wishing T luck. He is better at history/geography than spelling, but he is still a good kid! And thanks for all the "can't wait to see comments!"

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Booking Through Thursday

What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers?

None, I hate when books are made into movies. They leave out to many details and it never looks the same in my head. The only movie/book I like is "Gone with the Wind". That movie/book are wonderful!!

Or, What book do you think should NEVER be made into a movie?

All, no books should be made into movies - see above!

There you have it, my BTT answer.

In other news, T's quilt is coming along. I should be finished quilting it tomorrow. It would have been done yesterday or today but I can't quilt while they do their doing their homework. It's 3/4 of the way quilted...its just been one of those weeks!

T's quilt on the machine

J reading

Tonight T is in the county spelling bee. If he wins we get to go to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Spelling Bee - WOO HOO!! So wish us luck!!

Have a good night!

New Obsession

The boys got an Xbox 360 for Christmas and it came with 2 free games, Kung Fu Panda and Indiana Jones Lego. I love the Indiana Jones game. I have been steadily working at getting all the treasures and guys and everything you can! Rich and the boys are laughing at me because I have never played a video game with this much intensity. I have about half the game beat and am diligently working on the other half, which would explain why no sewing is getting done around here!

Today I plan on getting started on quilting T's guitar quilt. In fact I am going to - No more Indaina Jones till I get his quilt done. I hate this part of quilting so that is why I tend to procrastinate. But I need to do this and get it done!

Also, I joined Robyn at daisyquilts in an adventure. She started Quilts 4 Hearts, an organization that donates quilts to children in need of open heart surgeries. She works with a mission group called Hearts of Hope who help children with heart disease in poverty stricken countries get the medical care and surgeries they need. Many of you know that I have congenital heart disease and this I just have to do. There was no question about it. And I am proud to announce that in working with Robyn I will be the contact for the United States/Canada. Please check out the website and consider donating to this great cause!

And its raining here again. I am off to do a small bit of blog reading and the to quilt the guitars.
Stay dry and warm!

First Thunderstorm

Yep, that's it here. It is storming. Has been raining all day and just started really thundering. No lightning yet!

I am staying in where it is warm and dry. I've been busy working on T's guitar quilt, hopefully by the middle of the week it will be done. I'm getting ready to pin baste it and mark it now!

Stay Dry!!

Happenings...

..unfortunately, nothing quilty!

I am still working on getting the sashings and border on the guitar quilt, otherwise, nothing....

We have been busy around here the last few days. Thursday I did some sewing and cleaning. It was also about 60 so J and I went for a 2 mile walk. It was so nice!!!

Dreary brown...

Sam, J found him in the garage

J playing in puddles

Then yesterday we were all home so I cleaned the house while the boys did stalls. Rich decided to take on 2 training horses. He was a horse trainer before he had kids and it wouldn't support them anymore. Then he wanted J to make his own name and not be known as Rich's kid so he hasn't really done any training (other than ours & dads) since about 8 years ago. He picked up these two horses from a lady that he has known a LONG time (she is as old as my grandma) and he has worked with her many times in the past. She just wants these horses finished for her granddaughters so it won't be too hard!

So then Rich decides he wants to get a new girth and new saddle pad. So we go to the local tack shops, we get girths, but no saddle pad. Both offered to order it, but Rich being Rich had to go and look and feel. So we went to Big Dee's tack. It was awesome! I loved it! If only it were closer to home, I would get a job there! Big Dee's originally started out as the tack shop for Northfield Park at the track and has grown since then. So we picked up two neoprene saddle pads while we were there and of course looked at everything we (I) possibly could!

Today I went to a couple of places that are hiring. Hopefully something will come up. And then when Rich gets home we are going to head over to the barn where the two horses are (they have an indoor, we don't) and he is going to ride. Then we will come home, have dinner and hang out.

Tomorrow I plan on sewing ALL day, except when we go to the other barn and that is it!

Have a happy weekend!