New Mystery

Another month is over for all intents and purposes and once again I haven't finished a single project. I don't care for this new trend that is developing. It's not like I don't have a dozen or more projects that could be finished with just a day or two or three of additional work.

So why, then, did I start another NEW project? Because my good friend, Cynthia, at Iowa Star Quilts has begun another mystery quilt called "Dinah's Delight". Step One is posted here. As usual it's scrappy, just what I love and a generous (60 X 75") lap or sofa size. So I couldn't resist. Here is my step one...12 Aunt Dinah blocks. I'm guessing they won't be set side by side like this though. Now to patiently wait for step two!

And remember the dark version of "Remembering Grandma" that I started piecing a couple months ago? I actually had all of the blocks done and set together before we left for Iowa. But I just added the plain outer border this week. It's 11" wide and the same fabric as the block background. I plan to add applique...I've yet to decide exactly what.

Doesn't this look entirely different than the original?

Happy Thanksgiving

My Christmas cacti have been blooming for a few weeks now. Long ago they all became more likely to bloom for Thanksgiving than Christmas. And two or three (I have four) bloom in the summer as well.

This one puts on the biggest show by far. For some reason it only has blooms on one side this time, but it looks like more buds are forming on the other side. Maybe I needed to rotate it more.

And this white variety is fairly young but so pretty when it blooms.

We had to cancel our planned trip to Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with Mike and Lindy as I still don't feel strong enough for that long of a trip. But we will drive a couple hours to Springfield, MO tomorrow to spend the day at the home of our youngest granddaughter, Caitlin, and her husband, Luke. Son Mark and his wife, Stephanie will be there as well and perhaps granddaughter, Ashley, and her sons Jeramiah and Maison.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it's all about being thankful for family and our many blessings. Wishing the same to those who celebrate the day.

Now Where Was I?????????????

It seems like forever since I've posted anything. I'm feeling a little stronger each day, but it sure is an uphill battle. I can't believe how hard the H1N1 hit me. It not only robbed me of physical strength, but it seems to have taken my emotional and mental strength as well. I'm having a difficult time finding enthusiasm for much of anything.

So....we went to Iowa for my family reunion. I've never heard the final count, but I believe we had over 150 people attend. This picture of my mom, sister, cousin and I was taken shortly before we left for the day. About 4 hours later I was riding in an ambulance!

After returning home to Kansas on the 3rd of November, I've spent most of my time in bed or in the recliner.

Last week I did find enough energy to quilt this cute little baby quilt for my friend, Cindy. She had given it to me for quilting just before we left for Iowa and she was hoping to have it to give as a baby shower gift this week. So I didn't want to disappoint her, even though I knew she'd understand.

It was small, so I was able to finish it in a few hours. It's really cute...would love to own it! Cindy does a marvelous job of piecing and applique.

When I left for Iowa I only had about five more blocks to hand quilt on my Dutch Treat to reach the halfway point. I not only fully expected to finish those during our trip, but I added two more rows so I'd have plenty to keep me busy.

We all know how those plans turned out.......................

I've done some hand quilting in short bursts in the last week and today I finished those five blocks. I can now say my Dutch Treat is half quilted! Of course that doesn't count the border, what ever that turns out to be.

Close up of some of the quilted blocks. Wish I could get a picture that really shows the quilting.

I've received a couple of really cute siggies in the last couple weeks as well

This from Nicola in Germany

And this from Erna in Germany as well.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

Honoring Those Who Serve

My thanks today and always to those who currently serve and those who have served.

Hanging In

Just a quick post to assure you I am still among the living. Yesterday was the first day I saw a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I am still amazed at just how much this stuff takes out of a person, at least this adult with compromised lungs.

I don't know when I'll have something of interest to post and/or feel like doing so, but eventually I'll be back. Thanks to all my friends for their prayers and healing thoughts. They truly are appreciated.

This Interlude Brought to You by H1N1

We're home as of last night, but don't expect to see a lot of me on here for awhile. I enjoyed the reunion Saturday but it quickly went downhill from the time we got back to Jeff & Deb's place about 4:30. Will spare you the details, and just say they include an ambulance ride to Marshalltown, IA hospital where I stayed for 2 1/2 days after being diagnozed with H1N1. We drove home yesterday..left about noon and not home until 8:00 and every one of the 375 miles or so was awful. I've never been so sick, run such high fevers and high pulse rate. It's nasty stuff and coupled with my severe COPD, well, let's just say it hasn't been good. I obviously carried it up there from Kansas and since I wasn't doing any coughing or sneezing I'm praying I didn't infect anyone at the reunion or any other time. And I'm really praying Tom doesn't get it yet.

When we got home we discovered our DSL modem/router had died while we were gone so had to locate a new one (Tom made a trip to Joplin today) and since I was feeling some better today we got it installed so we could end our 8 days without Internet holiday. Have just done a few perfunctory things..that's all I'm up to sitting up for, but felt I needed to check on financial things since we do everything online and it's really freaky when you don't have Internet access.

So...I'll be back when I'm better, but that may still take awhile