Cookie Exchange

Today was the cookie exchange for the Silver Thimble Quilt Club group. I am so excited that we are getting back together. It was great to see everyone today, and to exchange cookies. Becky, Gretchen, Karen, and Cindi were there among others. I think we all enjoyed just having a moment to ourselves. Pat gave us all of the info on our new quilt group that will start meeting again in January. Pat had some wonderful quilts to show for the next quarter. Of course I signed up for two of them. Pat is a wonderful designer. If you aren't familiar with her work you should checkout her website http://www.silverthimblequilt.com/. Since I signed up for two more projects I need to get busy on some of the ones I have started.

The Night Before Christmas

I have the best job in the entire world. Where else can you dress in your night shirt for an entire week. I have been reading The Night Before Christmas to many of our classes this week. I have been surprised a the number of children who have never heard it before. Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas.

Back Home!!

Made it back home last night. My mom was dismissed from the hospital on Thursday, got her home and settled in. Friday was spent doing things for her around the house. My original plan was to come back today, but decided to come home Saturday. I have a ton of things to get caught up on. But things haven't gone to as planned today, I had the unexpected task of defrosting and cleaning out the freezer. My husband killed the fourth deer of the year on Saturday, and there wasn't room for it in our freezer. There is now!! I also had to go picked up two quilts that I had quilted, one was a Christmas present, that means that I have to get the binding on and get it in the mail this week. Once I get the binding on I will post a photo, it is the Sassy Sixteen pattern for my brother's girlfriend. She has been hoping that I will make something for her. I hope she likes it. I have only met her a couple of times, and wasn't sure of her colors or tastes. Hope the rest of you aren't as behind as I am.

Getting that Christmas spirit back

My job is perfect for me. I love books, and working in an elementary school media center gives me a chance to share some of my favorite books with children. Several years ago I discovered Olivia, by Ian Falconer. I simply fell in love with Olivia. I have made two Olivia quilts, several Olivia pillowcases, and makeup bags out of Olivia fabric. The latest in the Olivia series is Olivia helps with Christmas, (It actually came out last year), this is one of my favorites. I was able to share it with several students before I left for Mississippi last week. I was lucky enough to even find the plush toy that went with it. The students at school loved it. Many of them have even started calling me the pig lady. Olivia has even inspired me to make some gingerbread cookies.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!!

My mom had her surgery on Monday for ovarian cancer. The doctors "feel confident" that they got it all, but we won't know for sure for another week, we will find out then if she has to have chemo or any other type of treatment. I have taken time off from work to be with her this week. We are hoping that she will be able to go home on Friday. After getting her home and settled with her sister I hope to be able to head back to Atlanta and work. I have come to the conclusion that sitting in a hospital room is definitely not the place to be this close to Christmas. (not that there is ever a good time to be in a hospital room) Doctor just left, we can go home first thing in the morning. Yeah!!

Early end of year reflection

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. "

I first saw this quote a week ago in Reader's Digest, then again a couple of days ago on Pat Sloan's blog, with everything that has been going on in my life this year I am definitely trying to life my life as though everything is a miracle. I have always tried to look on the positive side of things but sometimes that is difficult. This has been a difficult year for me. I had surgery in June, my dad died in September, and my mom is having surgery next week for ovarian cancer. Luckily I have the time that I can take off to be with her. The surgery will be next Monday at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN. I plan on leaving this Saturday, and will have to see how things go after the surgery. Hopefully I will be able to come back the following week, but I will have to play it by ear. My mom is in her late 70's, and it is major surgery. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. With everything I have to do this week I don't know how much blogging I will be able to get done. I really don't know what my computer access will be while I am with her. I think that most hospitals and hotels now have wireless access or computers that you can use. I hope so!