Hat, With No Cat!

This little hat, 

For a tiny girly head,

Is better than a cat, 

That, like mine, is dead. (Okay, sick rhyme, but I've been missing my gato, who drowned a year ago this month. I had her for nine years.... too bad she didn't have nine lines...darn it!!! And, I must say that Superman, who does not miss her {she followed me around, not him} is not crying at all...)

My best friend of 24 years (thank You, Lord!) has a daughter, 

Who is having twins, 

Which I am very excited about!

And I bought her ('bought her' is supposed to rhyme with 'daughter' {work with me now},

Nothing, 

but made Cecelia (Baby A, who has a hole in her heart and will have to have surgery soon after birth.. join me in praying for her, wanna {let me know}????), 

This head for her head, 

I'm glad Mighty God, 

Is ahead, 

Of her...

And knows the plans He has for her!!!!

So, Dr. Suess I am not, but the sweet shower was such fun...

And now my post is done.

P.S. Her mom, one of my BFFs (remember, I am totally blessed with two), made the other twin a coordinating hat (we took the class together).

The End.

Leave me a comment; they make me feel loved!!!  :)

Ta Da!

 

My first-ever pinwheel quilt all finished and ready to hand over to my Aunt, who is giving it to a special baby.

Yakking to you right now would be my first delightful choice, but there is much homemaking to be done!

So... x o 

A Quilt Shopping We Will Go!!!

After writing today's post (below), I hopped  over to PinkPincushion to look at this month's Schnibble's Parade... AND GUESS WHAT????

i WON A PRIZE! a GREAT PRIZE - TWO CHARM PACKS of Nature's Notepad by April Cornel for Moda, AND A SUNDAY BEST PATTERN FROM

BEAR PAWS QUILTS

aM i The most blessed gal ever -yes!!!!

Thank you!!!

(okay, now you can read today's other post...  lol)

While Superman was working today, I was playing! I do so love this arrangement, though I bet he'd like to fly around  my world for a bit and have me in his!!!

With laptop connected to the long blue cord, Google and Mapquest lined out my day's itinerary of visiting Quilt Shops in Sacramento. I had three of them picked out, and couldn't get down to my car fast enough. I jogged down the stairs (do you believe that????), hopped into my car, and veered out of there on two wheels.

Okay, not really.

But that's how fast I wanted to go!

Outside, the weather picked up on my mood and the happy birds were whistling under the warmth of the February sunshine. I rolled my car windows down, even, as the sun's beams were shining right on me... kinda lighting the way to the first quilt shop.

I skipped to the front door, opened it, and oooo-lalalalaa---- wonderful! Fabrics, fat quarters, twigs, patterns, embroidery everything, and two of the nicest gals ever, who are lucky enough to work in such a place!

This is where I went.   http://www.bearpawsandhollyhocks.com/   Though Daughter Dearest gave me a mini camera to take on trips, I left it in the hotel room. Phooooey!!! It does you know good to have a great camera and forget to include it in your itinerary!

Thus, you'll never know what a quilter's paradise this little shop was; the outside photo does the inside no justice, in my opinion.

Anyhoo, this was the only quilt shop I got to visit today, since Superman called and we needed to be on our way to his next destination, but it was all I wished for! 

This past Monday I took the most fun class ever at my favorite hometown quilt shop, and the second I put the must-have flower it, I will snap a photo and post it. You have just got to see this!

Oh, and my first-ever pinwheel quilt I told you about? IT'S COMPLETED! Yes, yes, a picture will soon be ready for you to see!

Till then.... rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice!!!

Beautiful Schnibbles!

Look!!! I did it!

January, with its barrage of tax-paper gathering (for the accountant), bathrooms flooding (sewer plugged up... called the plumber), garage flooding (replaced water heater), kitchen faucet quit working (hello again plumber), two cards full of fraudulent charges (on phone one whole morning canceling credit cards), and just the general busyness of life and work, had me wondering if I was going to have to fly the white flag with accomplishing my Schnibbles quilt this month.  

But, look --- it is finished!

It's not a baby blanket, though that was the original intent. The colors were so cheery, I enlarged the borders and am using it as a square tablecloth! Yahoo!

So... each of these Schnibbles has taught me something, about life and sewing...

This quilt taught me that things do not have to be perfect. Being a mediocre quilter was really bugging me, but this time, sewing this one with its beautiful colors, I was quite content in accepting the many flaws in it.

IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE PERFECT -- in life and in sewing!!!

Do you hear me? It is okay! We do not have to be perfect. In our humanity we are going to fail. But it's okay. Though the righteous fall seven times, they get back up. 

Yep, that's what Proverbs 24:16 says.

If we make mistakes, fail, or fall, or sew a crummy stitch, it's okay. We can shed a few tears, wipe the dust off our bottoms, pour peroxide on the scrapes, or start a whole new quilt!!!

So, smile - we are acceptable in the Beloved (Jesus) - as is! (Just read Ephesians 1:6!!!)

Today....

One of my favorite blogs, SugarPieFarmhouse, posted a nice, long, cozy, encouraging piece of finery. Though we don't live in the times she speaks about, it is good to remember... and ponder... and choose a few to try again in this day and age. When apples are ripe they can be plucked and popped into a pie and bring blessings and delight to our families. Think of plucking something from her blog and baking it into your day today... you and your family will be blessed!

Here is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask about the ancient paths, ‘Which one is the good way?’ Take it, and you will find rest for your souls...” Jeremiah 6:16 (a & b)

Hurry, Spring!!!!

Sure, I know we need rain. It waters the plants, which give us shade and food and herbs and enjoyment, it keeps us supplied with water to drink. And I like all those things! Still, springtime is what I am wishing would hurry along... cheery sunny blue skies, flip-flops clickety-clacking, warmth to chase away my goosebumps. Aw, Spring... hurrrrrry!

The other day I saw that it is at least making a small appearance, teasing us that it is near....

In the meantime... I go into my sewing room, where the normal brightness from the window only lets in the gloomy gray of the winter sky, and I am cheered by the stack of DARLING fabric from my Secret Santa. You know, it is simply heartwarming to be loved, isn't it?!


My daughter fell in love with the fabric stack, too, and gave me that longing look for a quilt made using those "Amour" fabrics. So, I figured it all out and will do my best in the months to come. 


For me, though, with the fabrics not being used in Amy's quilt, I made a pillowcase. Yep, at night when I lay my head on my pillow, I can thank the Lord for secret friendships!

The pillowcase, as you can see, has hearts on it, which makes me think of February, with makes me think of Valentine's Day, which makes me think of spring, which makes me think of sunshine and fragrant blossoms, which makes me think of winter and it's gloomy days of rain, which, we need to water the plants so we have said blossoms that will soon perfume our air... in spring..... Hurry! 

I'd Rather Write Something Else!!!!!!

Ladies, pay attention!

Three times today, uno, dos, three, I got emails from friends in my hometown telling me scary stories of trouble at the grocery store. Don't laugh!

It's not high prices, it's not wilted veggies -- it's creepy men following my friends and other people's friends around the store, around their cars, and 1) stealing their groceries, 2) following them to their cars, and 3) saying fearsome things like, "We just want to have some fun," as they grab the car door.

My sister-in-law's friend threatened to use her pepper spray (gotta get me some... where?!!!) and the two men left her. She was lucky. She was blessed and protected by God!

I hated to share this with you, but the police said that this happens at least three times a day at every grocery store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shall I begin to carry a gun?! I just don't think a carrot in my pocket would work!

This is not the kind of news I like hearing... or sharing. But, we need to be aware so that we can be aware!!!

Sure makes you wanna eat leftovers, eh?!!!!!!!!!!!

(Pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, but a few, like New York, Michigan, and Massachusetts have certain restrictions on size and strength. Check it out with your local or state attorney's office, if you are interested, that is...)