Orchids

Check it out!  This was an orchid that I bought last year during the spring.  I bought it when it was in bud and it later bloomed for several months in my office.  I since moved offices to one with a northern exposure and this little guy put up a bud several weeks ago and is in full bloom now.  The bud process was very stressful because the window is right above the heater in my office and I'm constantly adding water to make sure it doesn't dry out.  Well, it was budding when I was stuck at home for 4 days due to snow.  I had to figure out who did make it to the office and beg them to water my plant for me.  She made it and I expect her to remain blooming through a nice chunk of session.  I really like how she has stripes and polka dots.  Classy, just like me.  

Say it isn't so!

I bought my sewing machine several years ago with the intent of learning how to quilt.  Well, I started this year so all is well with the world.  I bought the fancy machine that doesn't need oil - the only maintenance it needs is to be cleaned by a professional on a yearly basis.  Since it has been at least three years without a cleaning and since I just finished a slightly big project filled with material that is guaranteed to pill off and fall into a motor, I decided to bring my machine in for a cleaning.  By the way, every time I go to JoAnn Fabrics to talk to someone in the sewing machine department they look at me like I'm some sort of leper and should be handled with care.  Seriously, I walked in with my boxed machine and I got a, "Um, Hi, um .... what can I help you with?"  Except said with the tone you would tell the guy on the street that you don't have spare change.  Is it because I'm clearly not a sewing grandmother?  I'm starting to get a complex.  

At any rate, I convinced them that I was there to get my sewing machine taken care of and not to start a meth lab between notions and embroidery thread.  The verdict?  Two weeks with no sewing machine!  Two weeks!  This sucks.  This is almost as bad as when my ipod died and I had to listen to the radio.  

Curtains!

Check it out!  Actual curtains in my bedroom that I made myself.  Very little blood was lost during the production of these curtains and I think they turned out well.  I also learned just how hard it is to finish something that is warm and soft when you have cats in the house.  That's right, they are defeating my attempts to finish my quilt.  There are two cats sleeping on it on the dining room table right now.  Part of it is inserted into the sewing machine so if they change position, I can leap into action.  

The Beginner Quilt

I finally finished it! I took a introductory quilting class in October and have been working on and off on this since then. I have to say, the process is incredibly addicting. I really like picking out fabrics and colors and trying to figure out which patterns go together. I haven't completely finished this (even though I just said that I did) because I still have to quilt the darned thing. I'm going to rent a machine at Bayside Quilting for a couple of hours so I can get it done properly. I don't know how I am going to quilt it just yet, but I will probably be keeping it simple. I have picked up several pattern books and am looking into what my next project will be so I guess you all will have to put up with updates on my next project for the next several months. Of course, session hours start next week so the chances of completing a quilt or even starting one any time soon are very slim. Yikes, session hours. I still don't know how I managed to be lucky enough not to have tried to fly back this Christmas. Not that I wouldn't have enjoyed being stuck in the Minneapolis airport, I just really preferred being stuck in my home over Christmas. I guess what I'm saying is that quilting is the perfect project for when you are stuck in your home during 20 degree weather for several days at a time. You Wisconsin people should try it.....

Happy New Year!

It is the first day of 2009 and all is well here. 2008 had its rough spots but overall was a pretty good year. I'm so happy that the family came to visit me during the summer and that I got to show off my home and town for them. I hope you all can come again during the 2009 summer.

I lost Grover, which is still very hard for me. Maybe it sounds weird, but it is a little comforting to know that he was probably eaten by a cougar. At least with that scenario I don't have to worry about him being hit by a car and being in pain. I'm fairly sure a cougar would have finished the job quickly. Be that as it may, I miss him terribly even though he was a grumpy little guy who loved me but seemed to despise everyone else. I mean, he was the one who slept on my head at night, so there is much to miss.

2008 brought Sammy into the house. I've mentioned him below so I won't go on and on about him. However, he is a real treat and I'm glad to have him. I met him through Feline Friends and I am very happy and honored to be a member of their board of directors. I'm going to be taking a larger role in their fundraiser activities which should keep me busy in this coming year.

I went on lots of hikes this past year. Some easy and some very challenging. Every one of them was fun and I hope to repeat them and go on new ones this year. I also got to see a bear for the first time last year. That was a blast, but I probably don't need to repeat that experience any time soon.

I'm learning to quilt and just finished piecing my first one. I'll write about that later. But, I'm glad that I'm learning how to do new things. This coming year I hope to do more quilts and learn something new - or at least keep trying to learn new things.

Finally, I want to send my love to my family and friends. We helped each other through another year. Let's all have a good 2009!