Happy Halloweeen

Hope every is having a nice Halloween. The Wacky Pac Quilters are having our annual "Opening Deer Season" quilting retreat. We've been doing this for about 4-5 years and we always have sew much fun. We laugh till we pee!

OH MY GOSH! Is that a rat on my sewing machine?????? Yep, it is, but it's not real. Molly gave us all little treat bags full of candy and inside was this little rubber rat. It was really funny. I put mine up on my sewing machine. Every now and then, while sewing and I glance, that thing would scare me to death!

I gave everybody a little treat bag as well and inside were these most-becoming glasses!!!!! We had a blast playing around in these crazy glasses. Here are six of the nine Wackies: front row -- Jerri and Molly. Back row -- Annie, Rhonda, Kathy, and Kathleen.

Thursday Night Retreating!

The Wacky Pack Quilters are together at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center in Elkhart, Texas. It is our first night -- Thursday. We are having a blast. Here are a few pictures. Be sure to stay tuned throughout the weekend.

Here is a picture of the food tables; you KNOW we have to have FOOD, FOOD. We didn't do lunch -- we ate JUNK FOOD! Then for supper, Molly fixed a delicious meal of tacos and corn salad. We do not have food provided so we are doing "microwave and crock pot" meals!

Molly is being very studious and working on Americana blocks for our February swap.

Annale continues to work on the blue/yellow quilt. It is going to be beautiful!

Jerri is also working on her Americana blocks as well. Hers are the most beautiful *hehehehehe* -- private joke!

Kathleen takes a break from all that "figerin' (figuring) working on borders for her quilt.


And then, there is crazy Rhonda. She is working on her string blocks so she can get this top put together this weekend.

That's all for now, folks! Ya'll come back now ya hear!

It's a Give Away!

Home Sweet Home, Noble is having a give away for her 100th post. Go over and sign up (even tho I"M GOING TO WIN *hehehehe*), and visit her blog. You can win dahlin' pincushions.....

or some cute little tags........

or some recipe cards and gingerbread jar toppers.

Weekend Fun and Preparing for Retreat

My weekend began when I picked up my granddaughter for the weekend. My DH is out of town and she decided we needed to have a "girl weekend." Here she is in her cheerleading uniform. She is sew cute, but then I am very partial.

On Saturday, we HAD to go to the movies to see High School Musical III. The move just came out this weekend. It was a very cute show. She LOVED IT. It did bring lots of memories back to me of my high school days. It is hard to believe that I've been out of high school for 38 years. My goodness, someone must be getting old!

After the movie and a bit of shopping, it was time to come home. We went to the quilting studio and got lots done. Camryn played school while I spent time getting ready for the upcoming annual Wacky Pack Opening Weekend of Deer Season Retreat. Here is a basket of treats (or tricks) for the Wackies.



Then I spent time cutting MORE 2-inch strips for the 4-patch exchange that the Wacky Pack Quilters are doing. I've made several sets of 4-patches, but now I have all the strips cut and in this handy little box to take to retreat.

Then I made this cute little Christmas apron. The picture really doesn't do it justice. One of the Wacky Quilters will have the opportunity to take this apron home from the retreat. How do they win it, you ask???? I haven't decided yet!

Then I finished putting the final border on the Spring Fling Round Robin II quilt top. This is just a "sneak peek". I can't show the final picture yet until it has reached its owner. It has left Fairfield and headed on to the quilter to finish and send to the final recipient.


I still have more to do to get ready for retreat. I can't wait. We always have sew much fun when we are all together. I hope the week goes by fast!

Helen's Having a Give-Away

Helen has announced five new patterns and she is having a give away. Go over and comment and maybe you'll win one!

A Dr. Visit, A Sweet Gift, and Some Stitcheries

Today, I had a visit at my Oncologist. It was a great appointment. The bloodwork looks good and I don't have to go back for ONE YEAR and I don't have to have another colonoscopy for FIVE YEARS! As we say in Texas "YEE HAW". I believe, without a doubt, that this is God working in my life. As the graphic above says "God will make a day." He always does. I'm so grateful and blessed.


Thru quilting, I met the neatest lady, Monica the Button Counter. She is so talented, witty, and just plain fun to be around. She decided to do something with all the old koozies she had stored in a box. She covered a koozie that is perfect for a quilter. The pictures aren't that great, but here they are. It is MUCH cuter in person. See the photo below. It says "Kathy's Cool, Little Padded Can". I appreciate her referring to my "can" as little -- LOL.

Another lady I met thru quilting is Rosie. She is a prolific stitcher. I purchased the following pattern from her and have been working on it off/on the past couple of years. When going out of town last weekend, I took it with me to work on and it renewed my desire to do stitcheries. It is near completion. I have been drooling over the "Nice People Nice Things" blog. The quilt that Helen created the pattern and it is great. I love the lettering and all the little pictures. I ordered the patterns and then, of course, I needed embroidery thread. The thread I have is from long ago cross-stitch days. I ordered Prescenia threads from my friend, Rosie. Everything came today -- YEA! It was like Christmas! Now to get some background fabrics cut and get started. This will be a great "take along" project.

A Day of Reflection

Today is a Day of Reflection for me. After a routine colonoscopy, I heard those dreaded words "You have cancer." I'll never forget it as long as I live. I was numb. All I could think about was my husband and how he was going to react. How did he react? (You see, prior associations with family/friends who was diagnosed with cancer died within months.) He said that "WE have cancer" not just me! He has been my rock thru it all. That was five years ago today. The prognosis wasn't real good. I had surgery where a section of my colon was removed. Today, I am cancer free. I have my regular appointment with my Oncologist this coming Thursday. If all is well (and I pray it will be), I will only have to go see him annually from this point forward. This is a major milestone! I am my own Hero. I know this sounds vain, but hey I kicked cancer's butt I have a right to celebrate!

I look at life differently now and do not take anything for granted. Life can change quicker than the blink of an eye. I'm so thankful and grateful to God as I know it was His healing powers that saved me. I often think "what if" they had told me I only had 5 years to live? What would I have missed?

I was around to see my husband retire after working for over 33 years at the power plant; my third grandchild was born; my youngest son got married and blessed me with a wonderful daughter-in-law; I retired from my 20+ year job as office manager; I have renewed relationships with some old friends; I have a wonderful group of quilting buddies -- the Wacky Pack that I LOVE to be with; I spent an entire month in Europe visiting several countries; I went on a quilting cruise in the Caribbean with the Wacky Pack Quilters; I did the 'zip-line thing' in Honduras and just "knew" I was going to die!; I've witnessed healing in sibling relationships in my DH's family; I watched my oldest son make a career change that required sacrifices on the part of his family and himself -- he is now a Fireman in Houston, TX, and found his calling. I have witnessed my youngest son graduating from Texas A&M and watched his career SOAR and him become so successful! I am so proud of both of my sons. I have started another career as the Director of Senior Services/Transit in Freestone County. It is a great job and one where I truly feel I make a difference in lives. As a result of this job, I have a new set of friends that I consider a true blessing in my life. I have won a couple of awards with my quilts. I have made quilts for both sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren plus other friends. I was so scared I wouldn't get this accomplished. I could go on and on, but I'll stop now. I am just so happy and proud on this 5th anniversary of a very life-changing event.

This 'n That in My Life

I haven't posted much this week, so I thought I would give you a little recap of what's been going on in my life the past week. Grab you a cup of good ole coffee or tea (or wine LOL) and enjoy your visit.

Last weekend, we went to the Hill Country to visit family. My older brother is retiring and in the process of moving to a ranch outside of Blanco. Here is a picture of the entrance to the "Rockin' Chair Ranch".

This is a view of the land. It has a number of hills. It is so peaceful and I LOVE being in the Hill Country.

Here is a picture of the windmill. Don't you just love windmills?
We drove the jeep to the highest point of the ranch and here is a view of the lake from the top of the mountain.
And look at these two little cuties, my grandsons. They had a great time exploring the place.


This is a picture of the old ranch house. It is currently under rennovation. I thought I had taken a picture of the wonderful rock fireplace on the inside, BUT, I guess I didn't.


This is the rock walkway to the front of the house and the screened porch.


Of course, we had to have some quilting pictures from this trip! Here is a picture of a double wedding ring quilt that belongs to my sister-in-law. Her grandmother was not a quilter, but she had this quilt made using my sister-in-laws old clothing. I fell in love with it.



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That "big boy" is loaded! Not with alcohol -- but loaded on the longarm. It is in the quilting process and is about one-half quilted! I will finish the quilting today and then make the binding. I plan to sit back tonight and watch moves while putting the binding on.




A close-up of one of the blocks.

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I had to go to Waco, TX, on Thursday for a meeting for work. Well, I just "had" to go by the quilt store and these are my purchases. Some Thimbleberries fabric that was 40% off (bought 4 yards -- thought it would be a good border fabric) and the red western fabric is going to be the borders for my western string quilt in the making. (Nope, it was NOT on sale.) Then I picked up some new tweezers and some fat quarters from the sale bin.

A Birthday Give Away

Nicole over at Back in the Day is celebrating her birthday with a give away -- great prim stuff. Go over and enter to win (although I'm going to be winning, at least you can give her birthday wishes!) LOL

*Sigh* uuuurrrrrggggg! -- Venting

Well, I'm a bit frustrated from the weekend. Actually, just from Sunday. You see, I attend a retreat every January and January 2009 will be our 10th year of retreating together. Each year, we come up with some type of swap or exchange for the following year. This January, we are exchanging blocks for an "Our Town" quilt. We put the names of different buildings in a basket and each person drew for their building. I drew a fire station. This is ironic because my son is a Houston, TX, fireman. Well, here I go, get out the ole graph paper and start designing. That required me to use a pencil, ruler, and my BRAIN (scares someof you, I know). I come up with a block, make a prototype. Now, all I need is a fire truck. I plan to cut out a fire truck and applique it in front of the station. The fabric I have has a really realistic fire truck, but not enough to use for all 14 blocks. I have some fabric with retro fire trucks, but I really didn't like those. After searching the internet, I have found some fabric that I think will work. Now I'm waiting for the fabric. I would post a picture of the block but there are 2 reasons I won't. #1 -- I want to wait until the protype block is complete. #2 -- I can't find the battery charger to my camera!!!!!

On Saturday, my buddies Kathleen and Molly and I went to our favorite quilt shop for a quick trip of shopping. I bought lots of different fabrics, but I can't take a picture (remember I misplaced the camera battery). BUT, go over to Molly's Place and you can read all about the trip.

Okay, I finished venting! I feel better and thank you for your time!