End of Insurance Treadmill..Merry Christmas!

Sorry that I've been absent. It is the end of the year and my medical insurance is going to go "poof" so I'm trying to get as much done this year as I can, so I've been on a treadmill (walking in place and getting nowhere). Couple that with the fact that my annual dental insurance year is coming to a close and I still have money that hasn't been spent because I am a chicken and hate, hate, hate, going to the dentist....so am having as much stuff done there as well. Periodontal work, oral surgery, cavities filled.....etc. etc. etc.

So, let's just say that I'm going to continue to be flakey in bloggerland for a week or so more, and leave it at that.

Recap the past week:
Monday ~ Dr. appointment to get medical clearance for Oral Surgery on 12/31.
Tuesday ~ Periodontist in Greensboro....whole day gone **poof**
Wednesday ~ Thank God for the Quilty Girlz.....yeah! We had our potluck luncheon and usual day at the quiltshop and I love them more and more each week. Mailed Xmas Cards (better late than never, don't you think?)
Thursday ~ Final shopping....I'm not going near a store 'til after the 26th
Friday and Saturday ~ no tellin what I was up to, all I will admit to is that I got to the noon 12 step meeting both days! (my story, and I'm stickin to it!)
Today ~ Drove my friend Melissa to Charlotte to catch a plane so she could be home for Xmas and got lost on the way home, which happens every time I go to the airport. Keeps me on my toes...LOL

Still, I'm grateful that while I'm busy and have a plate full, I'm not crazy with all the holiday madness that I see others going through. It's not about stuff, it's about people....and I'm sooo lucky to have good solid friends, a dog who loves me beyond all understanding, and peace in my heart. What more could a woman ask for?


Wishing you all the very Merriest Christmas with Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

(I got this card from Barack Obama last year for Xmas, and didn't get one this year...maybe he's busy or something? LOL)

The Seamstress

May Britt from the Abyquilt blog had the most wonderful little story (The Seamstress) on her blog today. Go check it out!

Be back later....

How Did it Get to Be Sunday Already?

I cannot for the life of me explain where time got to this week. It's not like I have a stack of completed projects to account for it, but I know I wasn't just laying on the couch eating bon-bons. I had Dr. and Dental appointments and I had my lovely Wednesday with the Quilty Girlz, but what about all the other hours?

One evening I walked down the road to take a picture of the house up on the hill above me...it's soooo lovely with all the lights ablaze!


No lights on my house.
And, no tree this year. I'm just not "feelin" it. I do have a Christmas Ornament hanging from one of the knobs on one of the kitchen cabinets, though, so does that count?

So that you won't think Chrismas isn't welcome at my house....here's a photo of last year's tree...LOL.

Pajama day today, while I play with my new sewing machine and make some little tissue holders.

It's cold out, and the wind is at frenzy speed.....no snow though. I'm glad I'll be staying in.

Hope your Sunday is shaping up wonderfully.

Web Rings, Great News, and Miracles.....

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 66. What is your score? Get it here.

Nancy from Patchwork Penguin had this little scrabble generator on her blog and since I'm a "me too, me too" kinda gurl .... well, you see.

She started up a web ring for the mid-Atlantic states and I'm eligible to join because I live in one of those states, but darned if I know what a web-ring is or how to join. Guess I'll email her.

Burning Questions of the Day ~~~~

What is a web ring?
Do you belong to one?
What are the advantages to belonging to one?

On another note ~~~Great News!~~~I got a new sewing machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a Janome 6125 Quilter's Companion and I got it for two reasons.....
* Needle up/down feature
* Speed control
I bought it from Todd at the Quilt Shop here in Boone after watching her and a bunch of the quilty girlz sew on theirs for the past year. She recently became
a sales rep for Janome and I was ready.

My Pfaff, which is a wonderful machine is only 18 months old, but it lacked the two features I realized I really needed, given the amount of sewing I do and the limits to that sewing without those features. I'm going to sell my Pfaff. I'll miss the built in dual feed feature and will have to get used to using an even feed foot on the Janome.

The Miracle???
I bought the machine with just enough money in my checking account to cover it, and 3 more weeks to go in the month. I had groceries and gas money, but it was going to be tight. I balanced the check book that night and discovered that I'd made a big error. I had deducted a deposit in my check register instead of adding it....the correction covered the cost of my new sewing machine. Does it get any better than that???

And this particular bit of madness is all Deb's Fault!!!

Oh yes, she of Red Shoe Ramblings fame can take credit for linking me to this absolutely hilarious video.

I think that the next time you get caught up in Customer Service Hell where you are talking to someone who obviously is living in Mumbay, India you will not be able to talk to them without mentally linking to this video. And feel free to respond to anything they say to you that is totally impossible to understand with this comment, "“My loony bun is fine Benny Lava.”

Who knows, it just might work!

This was Nancy Rose's fault!!

She had this posted on her blog today and the answer to the question, "what kind of crappy Christmas gift are you?" was that she was a Fruitcake!!! LOL Totally accurate, given that she survives on such a small amount of sleep who wouldn't be a fruitcake? Anyway, I'm a sucker, so I ran right over to the site and my result.....taa daaaaaaaaaa!

You Are a Christmas Sweater!

Over the top, colorful, and totally flashy.
You're not afraid to be a little tacky.

That's about right on the money too

Pay It Forward.....

Lucy Byrd wrote about this on her blog as follows:

"Here's how it goes:I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So, if you're one of the first 3 people to comment, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog and share the crafty love!

I do need to be able to get a hold of you somehow. If I can't get you for some reason I will choose the next person. You need to post here and then Post this Exchange on your blog and I will contact you."

Okay so I responded (I was first) and now I'm joining her by posting this on my blog, so if you are among the first three to comment here and follow through on your blog, etc, etc, etc.....well you get it, right?

Make sure that I can get in touch with you.

Sorry to have been absent...

but I have been caught up in trying to finish some little projects, procrastinating on others, and generally have been absorbed.

Yesterday I spent the whole day at the Quilt Shop with the girls, and I'm not sure if I got much accomplished, but I spent the day laughing and had a ball. If you aren't able to get together with others to work on your projects, I think you're missing something special.

I don't remember the conversations around my grandmother's quilt frame when "The Ladies Aid Society" convened to work on quilts. I sat under the frame with my dollies and only saw a sea of substantion legs. I came out from under only long enough to thread needles. I imagine, though, that those women really looked forward to those times when they could share with their friends the joys and sorrows of their lives on the farm.

I didn't come to be curious about quilting until many years later when my sister, Jill, showed me her work and talked about making quilts. I could see her face come alive and her work was really lovely ~ I thought maybe one day I'd try one. LOL One. LOL Betcha can't make just one!

My friend Barb, who works at the Quilt Shop is leaving in a few days to visit family and friends and she has more on her plate that needs finishing (Christmas Gifts to take along) than I think any one human can do. I'm going to be helping her, so think of me as one of Santa's Elves. Like this....only not blonde, not with long hair, not skinny........well, you get the idea.

Have a great day!

A picture's worth a thousand words....

and you gotta see this one for yourself.....click and enjoy!

(one might think I have waaaaaay too much time on my hands, but it's not the case...LOL)