Oh, Bother...

I am getting a new favorite quilt quilted on the frame in the studio, but as you can see, I've run into a little problem:

The batting, that seemed quite big/wide enough, Just. Isn't. This is a piece of leftover batting that someone must have taken the scissors to while I wasn't looking (I'm SURE that was what happened). I have just a little bit left to go, so I guess tomorrow, I will be hunched over it, whip-stitching a bit more batting onto it - bleck!

And, while I'm on the subject of complaining - why is it when I go to work every afternoon, I look at the family room and with that sunshine coming in it looks so inviting!!! I just want to lay down on that sun-warmed couch and take a little snooze! But, alas, it's off to work with me!

And, yes, as you can see, we finally got some snow - hooray!

Ruminations

Hopped down to Hurricane for a relaxing weekend, we hadn't been there since before the holidays, so it was great to head down. The weather was beautiful. We took a 7 mile hike (low, rolling hills - or I wouldn't have made it!), the only one more tired than me was our dog! We got back to the condo and treated ourselves to this:

Yep, 4 each, we don't mess around! We went out to a nice (big) Mexican lunch, then back for a much needed NAP! I have recently gone back to the gym and started a little weight-lifting again and had done a "lower body" workout, so even before the hike, I was pretty sore. When we got to the restaurant, I was moving VERY slowly, because whenever I moved, I hurt. Then, I had this amazing light-bulb moment! I'll bet this is what it feels like to be (really) OLD! We have a few older gentlemen at our church and they move like I was moving all the time! I am trying not to be nervous about this discovery - I figure I've got 20-30 years before I feel like that all the time! (Maybe if I don't think about it, it won't happen?).

Anyway, we had a great weekend - visited a fun quilting store and even though I had already spent my paycheck, I took my sugar-daddy with me (Mr. Handsome), so I came home with some delicious fabric! I did manage to get this quilt all bound while we were watching movies:

The name of it is: "Perfectly Square, An Oxymoron", if you really look at it, you can see what a brilliant name that is - I'll wait.

Hope your January is going great! I am super excited to be working on fun quilting projects - "just for fun" - no holiday deadlines! Toodles!

Why Grandparenting is Important

Yesterday, Brooke and her family left for the long drive back to Missouri. Babygirl was beside herself, crying and being very sad. The younger ones gave good hugs but weren't really upset - they were more interested in the movie being shown in the car. For Babygirl, it's back to the grind of first grade...

Our house is back to quiet today (after a quick visit from "Little Man" this morning) and it makes me reflect on the importance of this whole grandparenting thing. I think that kids need grandparents because it is great when a grown up thinks they are just perfect and wonderful. Their parents are pretty busy worrying about feeding them some sort of healthy food, fashioning them into upstanding citizens and keeping the fighting and noise to a minimum.

Grandparents are just amazed at the adorable-ness of them. (We know in the back of our mind that our own children were adorable too - but we were so busy then). Grandparents love their grandchildren forever and ever, no matter what. We take the time to do things with them that we didn't have the time (or the mental capacity) to do with our own children.

We need granchildren too - it makes us feel needed, special and important. They remind us that the world is a wonderful, amazing place, when we see it through their eyes. They remind us that relationships are so worth working on. I am so glad that Mr. Handsome and I have made it through those rough years together so we can enjoy our children and grandchildren together, because I don't think anyone else would be so crazy about them. Their little faces light up when they see us - what a joy!

They remind to relax and help us to remember what is really important. (Them)

They are such a blessing in our lives and we are forever grateful for each one of them. I know not everyone is able to have a relationship with their grandchildren, so it makes me appreciate them even more. (And my fabulous children too). Happy New Year! (You weren't expecting resolutions, were you- blech!)

On the other hand, our dogs' nerve are shot from having such a houseful for two weeks, she barks now whenever anyone comes over or makes a loud noise from the other room, etc.