The Shack

I finished William P. Young's book, The Shack last night. I truly enjoyed it. It is most definitely a book that makes you think about things, especially God and how we view him. I am so glad that I read this book when I did. It is making me look at the death of my father in a whole new way. It is making me look at a lot of things in a new way. If you are looking for a "different" kind of book I would definitely recommend this one. If you live in the Atlanta, Snellville area the author is going to be at the Borders on 124 October the 9th. I am not sure of times, you could call that location and get more specific information.

Mind Expanding Book

Books and quilting are two of my passions. I have always loved books, and will

read almost any kind of book. After hearing several people at the school where I work discuss the bookThe Shack, I decided I had to read it. The very same day my husband, who never buys books, came home with it. He finished reading it on Tuesday night, and I started it last night. I am a little over half way through it. It is the kind of book that you don't want to put down. It is one of those books that you probably either really like, or really dislike. The Shack, has definitely made me think. It is an extremely religious book, not the kind of book that I usually read. I think that because of the recent death of my father I am more open to this kind of book. As soon as I finish I will give an update. If you have read it, what did you think.

New Quilt Sampler Magzine

I always look forward to the Shop Hop issue of Quilt Sampler. This is one magazine that I never get rid of. I keep them in hopes of someday visiting some of the shops listed. I have actually been lucky enough to visit a couple of the shops in the last few years. I got really excited when I saw this issue. Red is my favorite color and I love any quilt that has red and white as the featured colors. Yes, I was bad, I went online to the shop in Virginia and purchased not only the kit but the backing to go with it. It came yesterday! I can't wait to get started on it. I am trying to contain myself and finish two projects that I have started. Here is their website if you want to check out their shop.

http://wiki.allpeoplequilt.com/page/Quilter%27s+Corner?t=anon

Sewing/Relaxing Weekend

This has been the best weekend I have had in some time. Friday night was spent sewing at Stitch n' Sisters. I actually finished a top and left it to be quilted while at the shop. It was the pattern Sassy Sixteen. I had purchased fat quarters for it earlier in the summer. I needed something that I could finish fairly quickly, since it will be a Christmas present. I really enjoyed making it. I have some Civil War fabrics that I am thinking of doing from the same pattern. The pieces fit together perfectly.
On Saturday I spent the afternoon at Spa Sydell. My wonderful husband thought I needed a treat, so he purchased me an afternoon there. It was wonderful. I felt like a noodle when I left, a noodle with really soft skin and wonderful feeling hands. I didn't do any yard work this weekend because I didn't want to ruin my manicure.
Since I didn't want to do yard work, I spent the evening sewing. I had gotten a couple of months behind on my Good Book Club blocks. I did the blocks for August and September. My goal was to complete the year's worth of blocks without
purchasing any fabric. I had some scraps of a turquoise batik that I was using, but unfortunately I have used all that I had. I am going to have to try to locate a batik that is similar to it. I am pleased with the way the blocks are turning out.
After an afternoon of sewing, I watched part of the UGA game, Go Dawgs!!! Ended up switching over to Pride and Prejudice and staying up until almost 1:00 watching that. It was a good movie, one I had not seen before. I have never read that book, now I feel the need to read the book and compare the book to the movie.

Catching Up, Part II

Just when you think things are getting better, something else happens. I had just about recovered from my surgery and was getting back into the school groove when last 10 days ago my dad passed away. Joe and I always spend Labor Day in Mississippi with my family, while there my dad didn't feel well, we offered to take him to the emergency room. I knew then that he was really in pain. I am so thankful that I spent that day with him, even if it was in the emergency room. The ER doctor found an aortic aneurysm and he was rushed to another hospital for emergency surgery. He came through the surgery but it was just too much for him. He passed away a couple of days later.
It has been very difficult for me. My dad was 82, would have been 83 in three weeks. It has taken me the last week just to feel like I am caught up both at work and at home. I have been extremely busy which has helped a great deal. I don't think that I could stand being idle now.
I hope in the next few days to get back to sewing and doing some things for myself. I did go to to my friend Sharon's garage sale last week. I felt just like I was at a quilt shop. I managed to get some great buys. I bought two kits, one is for Wear Warm Clothes from County Threads, I have had my eye on that for a long time on their website. I guess patience pays off. It was a great buy.

Catching Up

Where does the time go? I can't believe that I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I have thought about it, jsut never made time to do it. It has been hard this year getting back in the school groove. The first couple of weeks I came home exhausted everyday and many afternoons took a nap. This last week I have had a cold. I think my immune system is still down from my surgery over the summer. Since I work in an elementary school, I will probably catch everything that is possible from the kids this year.



I have managed to do some sewing, not alot. I completed a pair of pants and a top that I had been working on for weeks. They were both very easy. The pants were from an Indygo Junction pattern. I love the way it fits. (I have an earlier post showing the pattern.) The top was a Very Easy Vogue pattern. I was anxious to finish them since the pants were a very lightweight black linen and the top was a white linen.



I also completed some pillow cases for the Conkerr Cancer program. This is a program that provides pillowcases for children with cancer. I was really excited to find out about this program. I have tons of extra fabric and it is for a great cause. The pillowcases can be dropped off at several of the local quilt shops. Check out the link below.
http://conkerrcancer.org/

I picked up two quilts from the quilter, they are ready for the binding. It is all cut and ready for me to sew on. One of the quilts is for my dear husband's birthday the other will be a donation quilt for Relay for Life. Every year the school I work at holds a silent auction. I am donating a lap quilt for it. I also have out my Firecrackers quilt to finish. It seems like there is always something to finish up.

Hope everyone has a reat Labor Day weekend.

Twenty Wishes

After reading my friend Becky's blog about the book Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber (which I read earlier int he summer, and really enjoyed) I started think about my own twenty wishes. I know that over the years, I have "wished for certain things", but for the life of me I can't remember most of them. I don't know if that means I really didn't want them, or if I decided they would never come true.

After think about this for the week, I have come to the conclusion that everybody needs wishes. I don't have 20 but I have a start on them.
I wish to:
1. To visit Alaska again, my DH and I went 6 years ago and have often talked about going back.
2. To rescue a puppy/dog from the pound and give it a home.
3. To get better at saying no. (and start putting myself first, at least for some things.)
4. To spend more time with my parents.
5. To move out of a 1960's brick ranch into a two story house with a huge porch.
6. To perfect my hand quilting stitch.
7. To hike the AT. (at least part of it)
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

My plan is to revist this list frequently, to make these wishes come true and add others as needed.