Super-Size?

So, in my fabulous sewing studio (also known as 'the basement'), my great hubby hooked me up with a flat screen TV on the wall, I have a DVD player AND a "Roku" - a streaming video something-or-other. So, now I can watch "Netflix" right in my sewing room and I have been watching "Super-Size Me" about a guy who goes on a 3 meals a day from McDonald's for 30 days diet. I know this movie came out YEARS ago and I am hopelessly behind the times, but it is quite an eye-opener! Not necessarily about McDonald's per se, but just a good reminder about all fast food, etc. How too much fat and calories can really drag your body down. (Getting old drags it down enough!!) I know I have to face the fact that when I go out to eat, I eat more than I do at home - more fats, bigger portions, etc. - I don't even really eat fast food - all my kids are grown, so it's not such a go-to thing anymore, but it's so easy to overeat in society today. All of the commercials on TV are about food, it seems - although maybe that's just how it appears to me, with my preoccupation with food anyway. Mind you, the show is kind of gross - they filmed a gastric bypass surgery, etc. (I kept my eyes on my sewing project during that for sure)
So, I am keeping an eye on MY portions and keeping up on my goal for this year - hit the gym twice a week. Not that I didn't eat buckets of M & M this past weekend...(sigh)

Some Quilty News at Last...

I haven't posted in a long time - so until I find some brains and thoughts, here is what I'm working on for a birthday next month:
Toodles and happy quilting!

Being Busy (And complaining about it, as usual)

I started working part time this past July. I work in the afternoons, processing commissions for my husband's real estate company, just down the street. I told him I could work from 2 - 6 p.m. It has mostly been about 2 p.m. to 4:30 or 5 p.m. It has worked out great, the afternoons have always been slow around here with the kids all gone, etc. I haven't had to give up any quilting bees, the guild meetings, etc. I would get home and still have time to make a nice dinner - and I may have mentioned that one of the conditions of going back to work for Mr. Handsome was that he would do the dishes on the nights I worked. (He has wanted me to work at "The Company" for the 7 years that he's owned it with his sister). Well, now that it is January, it has really picked up in the accounting office of which I am the sole occupant. I knew it would get a little busier, but I am getting a little more behind every day! Since I am taking the last week of the month off (Disneyland, here we come - grandchildren included!!!), I am feeling even more "behind". I have been getting home after 6, too tired to cook, practically too tired to eat! I made the mistake of needing to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work one day - it was a madhouse - and then for sure I was too tired to cook the stuff I had gone specifically to buy for dinner! Ergh!
I am hoping to go in on Saturday and "catch up", when no one knows I am in there and hopefully I'll be able to get lots done...
P.S. I don't want to hear about "going in early", I have that time all booked up with the rest of my life.
P.S.S. I am awed and amazed at all of the people who work full time and for those of you with families at home too - I am not worthy!!!

Christmas Projects

So, now that it's Christmas Eve, I can show the Christmas Quilting I've been working on:

First - the quilt I made for Greg and Rose:

The quilt my hubby made for our son, Jeff: (Now he's made a quilt for each of the kids)

The baby quilt for Doug and Tricia (new baby boy arrives in February!!!):

And finally, my favorite project:

New Christmas Stockings!!!

I love how these turned out, but they took a LONG TIME. So, kids, they are not to leave the premises - EVER.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Family Quilt Night

Every Thursday night for the past few months, we have been having "Family Quilt Night". My daughters-in-law, Tricia and Becca, My niece-in-law, MC and Tricia's sister, Aly have all attended. We have a good time and are all getting lots done! Aly and MC are on their 2nd quilts, Tricia is on her 3rd and Becca got her curtains sewn for her new house. I am getting projects done too. I keep hearing from other family members that they would like to come, but I haven't seen them yet. (I know Brooke is missing them, living in Missouri - we miss her too!) We will be taking a couple of weeks off for Christmas, then back to work! I am sure glad that my studio is big enough for all of us!
We usually work from about 7 - 9:30 or 10, but we've been working late to get all of the Christmas stuff done... It is very fun to teach these girls to quilt - they are all excellent students - A+!

On Sunday night, we had our "close by kids" come over to decorate Gingerbread Houses (Okay - they are really 'graham cracker houses" -but, whatever). Someone gave me a great idea - glue gun those little suckers together BEFORE the party!(My husband always asks why I need to buy SO MANY graham crackers - because they break!!)

Anyway - worked out great:

(Shane is here too - but he is hiding, as usual) Doug really got into the fine detail work on his house: And - I've managed to finish a quilting project (or 3 - but 2 are Christmas gifts - can't show them yet). This is my row quilt that our bee made this year -

I had to take off the last row and put it on the back, so it would fit on my table as a cute topper:

When I got out the Christmas stuff this year, I realized that I had given all of my kids their stockings last year, because I told them I would be making them new stockings this year!! I guess I have a little bit of sewing to do in the next two weeks! (It seemed like a good idea at the time)

Embracing my Inner Granny

I have decided I am too old to wear high heels. I bought some cute high-heeled boots this season and wore them a time or two, but when I looked at them in my closet to possibly wear again, my feet just wanted to curl up and my back started getting achy. So, I gave them to my (young) friend (sigh of relief). Then I hemmed my pants. I also have no desire to wear anything that would entail sucking in my stomach - bleck! Better to go with camouflage. I still will get dressed, thinking I'm "all that" and then I'll catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and realize I'm a kind of lumpy, middle-aged lady - oh well. I go to bed early now, because I don't want to wake up miserable in the morning - I know, pretty mature. I eat fairly healthy, I can no longer eat pop-tarts, coco puffs, etc. they make me feel nauseous - I used to eat them for days at a time. I complain about the high price of items in the grocery store - just like an "old person".

My mom used to complain that her mom drove her crazy, etc. My mom does things that bug me sometimes, but now that I am getting older, I realize that I will do things (and probably already do) that will bug my kids, BUT, I don't care!! (Bahahahaha) It is a great relief to realize that I don't have to work hard any more to be "hip", because I just won't be and it's OKAY! I don't have to pretend to like things because they're 'cool', etc. I enjoy quilting, gardening, jigsaw puzzles, reading, knitting, etc. and I used to think all of those things were pretty "granny-ish" and I didn't want to advertise these pastimes, but it is okay, I'm fine and being a granny is fabulous!!