New Technologies and Doggies

I'm still learning about my blog. I've been trying to update things on it and get it to look like I really picture it looking. So far, it's not there yet. Maybe it never will be. It really may be like a scrap quilt project (which I love!) in that you can tweak it and refine it and change it as long as you don't decide it's finished.

One of the problems is that I'm not computer literate. I don't know how to do these things. I mean I just learned how to add links to my posts this week and all that I need to be able to do that is basically right here on the composition page! I didn't even know that much. I'm learning though. VERY slowly.

Yesterday I did some of my volunteer time at the SPCA of TX in Dallas. I walked the doggies outside to the runs so that they could have some exercise and fresh air. It was a beautiful day! I loved every minute of it. I even got to spend some time with "Marshmallow" brushing him. Oh what a sweetie he was! I wanted to bring all of the adult dogs home yesterday. They were all such good boys and girls. So sweet and friendly. I hated to leave them.

I did have one little incident though. One sweet little fella (who shall remain "nameless" to protect my pride and his reputation) was much stronger than I thought he'd be! We got on that ramp to head out and he wanted to sniff the grass just around the corner from where we were. He could get a slight whiff of it through the rails on the ramp and he pulled -- HARD. Totally surprised me that a dog that small could pull me into the rail and get away from me! My German Shepherd dogs are a minimum of twice his weight and general size, so I was completely caught off guard. That won't happen again, believe you me! Thankfully, he was more interested in sniffing that spot than running away. I was able to catch him even after I tumbled into the rail and hit just about everything on my body with it while saying a colorful word or two! Nameless and I proceeded to the runs and he had a good old time. I held on tight when it was time to bring him in. He's a great dog. I checked the website this evening and it looked like Nameless and Marshmallow had both been adopted! Talk about happy! *I was mistaken, Nameless is still there and he weighs only 37 lbs! He's a strong little fella!

As I was leaving yesterday, I dropped my cell phone. Now this was not the first time, but it was the last time. I killed it. Broke the LCD thingy that lets you see who you're calling and who's calling you. So, I had to go get a new cell phone. I hate getting new cell phones. I would much rather be able to get the exact same one I just killed, but NO! they don't make those any longer. They're obsolete! How can it be obsolete? I was just using it! So, now even though the sales woman told me over and over that "this phone is just like your old one, only better", I'm going a little nuts trying to use it! I came close to throwing it through the window last night. It will probably take me a year to learn how to use it without accidentally downloading things that I didn't want to even be able to download in the first place.

One World One Heart

When I checked in on Jude's blog Spirit Cloth the other day, I came across a wonderful blog event that she was participating in! One World One Heart is a blog give away event started by Lisa Swifka to introduce bloggers to each other. This is the third year that she has hosted the event and from what I can see, each year it's gotten bigger and better! I thought about it for about 4 hours before I decided that I just had to participate. I had already started reading many of the 600+ blogs that are participating while I mulled it over and I decided that I wanted to be a part of it too!





Unfortunately I can't make one of my pineapple miniature quilts in time to give it away by the deadline, so my give away will be an Anglican rosary that I made. It's made with rose quartz for the 4 sets of Weeks beads, turquoise for the Invitatory Bead and the Cruciform Beads, and a Swarovski Aurora Borialis Clear Crystal Greek Cross (it looks kind of turquoise in the picture, but it is clear). I also used AB Clear Crystal beads and sterling silver for spacers between the quartz. The rosary is strung on soft flex wire and it's long enough to wear as a necklace if you would like to use it as one, instead of a rosary, by just slipping it over your head. Of course, you can always wear it as a necklace and use it as a rosary also.



I will try to post a picture of this being worn to show you how long it is in the next day or two.



Now, there isn't much time left to enter my drawing. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment to this blog posting (only this posting) with your email address, if you don't have an active blog of your own. If you do have a blog, your name should link me back to you so that I can reach you if you win. If you have any doubts, just go ahead and leave your email address. It's that simple. You do not have to have a blog to win my contest. It's open to anyone, anywhere! Dead line for the comments is Feb. 11, at 10:00 PM Central time. The drawing will be held on Feb. 12th and I'll post the winner here and make contact with them. If for some reason I cannot make contact with the winner by 10 PM Central time on the 16th, I'll draw a new name the next morning.



Be sure to check out the other blogs also. There are some amazing people out there, doing some amazing things. All of the ones listed on the One World One Heart link have giveaways going. Lisa, the organizer of the event is #25 on the list of participants. Be sure you check her blog and give away out too.

One little note, don't be alarmed if your comment doesn't show up right away. I may be away from my computer from time to time and not able to publish the comments. I'll get to them as quickly as possible. I'm also keeping track of them to make sure they all get listed, so not to worry.

2/11/09 - Today is the last day! I'll put a post at the end of the comments section to close the event at 10:00 PM central time. No postings after my post will be considered for the drawing. I'll be drawing the name in the morning and contacting the winner, hopefully before I leave the house. :) The earliest I can mail will be Friday because I'll be away from the house tomorrow.

Good luck!!!

Kid Jokes?

One of the truly fun things my grandkids and I have done when we are talking on Skype together is to tell jokes. Well, I'm not a great joke teller. I have a lousy memory and most of the jokes sent to me are not appropriate for kids. So, I'm looking for kid jokes! The kids in question range in age from 5 - 8 in age. If you can help, please leave me a joke in the comment section. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Sew Fun

I've been sewing a bit today and this week. I made a friendship heart block for a quilting friend who just had knee replacement surgery. This is it.

I'm finishing up the plans on the pineapple miniature quilt I'm making for the Quilt Celebration mini auction coming up. Quilt Celebration (the Quilter's Guild of Dallas' quilt show) takes place March 13 - 15 this year. The live auction will be on Saturday the 14th at 1:30 PM. Ronald McDonald House of Dallas will be the beneficiary of the profits of the auction. A very worthy cause and a place that is dear to the hearts of many of the Guild members. I've made the blocks and today I toyed with the border plans. Here is what I think I'll probably go with. It reminds me of grapes and pears and the large border fabric reminds me of turtles. I'll think of a name that combines the three somehow. Here is what it looks like before I sew it all together. I'll also post a photo of it once I have it quilted.

I also recently started hand quilting what I call the "Jude Hill way" on my Black Cat quilt. I don't know what I'll end up doing with it when it's done. I may keep it or donate it to the auction as well. That is if it's done in time

Checking In and Catching Up

I've meant to post at least three other times this month and haven't gotten to it. It's been a great month. I had a birthday early in the month. I turned 49. My sweet husband pointed out that I was starting my 50th year! I hadn't thought of that! Doesn't matter. I'm just grateful to be here.

One of my gifts was a little camera for my computer and for my son's computer. I down-loaded Skype and as of the 17th of this month, I get to see my grandchildren (while talking to them on the computer!) for the first time since July of 2007! I've loved every minute of it! The kids are so fun. I would never have even realized I could do this if it weren't for one of my quilting friends, Micki. After I told my husband about it, he had the unmitigated gall to tell me he had heard about Skype in the past! To make matters more deadly for the menfolk in my family, my son already had it! Neither of them had ever mentioned it to me, even though I was constantly upset over not seeing the kids! Lucky for them, I don't follow through on my murderous feelings. They both continue to draw breath.

I ordered another of my gifts last night. I've wanted a personalized license plate since I first stared to drive! Well, yesterday, I ordered one! AND it's got a quilt related personalization! I'm plum tickled and I can't wait to get it!

I enjoyed watching the Inauguration. A very historic moment that I was glad that I lived to see. I wish Marianne had. She was a big Obama supporter.

I've done a lot of reading this month. I read all eight of the books in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. The first book is Dead Until Dark. Then I read the most recent book in the Stephanie Plum series. It's a "between the numbers" book, entitled Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. I couldn't read any of these books fast enough and I loved every word of all of them. They were funny and a pure delight to me. I can't wait for the next in each series. Right now, I'm reading Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish.

I've been sewing again and really enjoying it. I've sewn about a million half square triangles (with the help of half square triangle papers) in white on white fabric with 30's reproduction fabrics for a swap. I've also made some churn dash blocks for a birthday swap. We mail the blocks with a card for each participants birthday. Last but not least, I've made a couple of heart blocks for friends who have had surgery.

Next sewing things on the horizon are a mini or two for the Quilt Celebration auction which is coming up. The most important project is a memorial quilt for the parents of a baby who did not survive. They've been waiting way too long for this quilt. I've had a hard time working on it. It makes me very sad every time I pull it out. I wish I had never told them I'd do it, but I did and I will.

The Closer comes back on tonight. I love that show. I'm going to work on my cat mini while I watch. Generally, I'm a happy woman.

Quotes

I love quotes! I can't remember a time when I didn't. So finding the little box to add to my blog that had quotes that were updated regularly was a thrill for me. This morning, just for fun, I clicked on the links it had in the box for author quotes and random quotes. I thought it would just change the quote in the box to the one of those that it wasn't at the moment. No, it took me to a different page and listed several! One in particular gave me a grin because it made me think of my friend Sandy. I think she'd love this one ---"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." Will Rogers

I like this picture

I'm updating and changing my blog look today. May not finish because I'm looking through my files of pictures now to see if I have anything to use as my banner on the blog page. I've seen so many beautiful banners and mine is so plain. I don't know where anyone finds the great ones I've seen, so I'm assuming they made them from their own artwork.

Anyway, I came across this great photo of Marianne at the 2007 Quilter's Guild of Dallas Quilt Celebration (quilt show). I had forgotten all about this picture. I like it. Sure am glad I found it. It's still hard for me to believe she's gone, but the pain is a bit less now. I talk to her and I'm sure she (and anyone who may be listening) thinks I'm crazy. She's on my mind today because I got information about the Texas Rangers baseball season mini plan tickets. Marianne was my baseball game buddy. I plan to try to get opening day tickets, if I'm really lucky I may be able to. Otherwise, I'll watch the games on TV and quilt.

Bravo for Johnson & Johnson

Richard is healing so well. He's down to one Band-Aid a day now. We were out of big ones and I asked him to buy some more when he went to the store. He came home with a box of extra large sheer comfort-flex. I looked at the box and was just amazed and thrilled. It has braille on the box! Isn't that wonderful? I've never seen braille on any kind of consumer packaging before. It had actually never occurred to me. My two biggest fears in life are losing my sight and my mind. Of course I know I can adjust, with a lot of help and education, to losing my sight. I've even seen quilts in museums made by the blind and believe me, they are better than the quilts I make! One thing I had never thought of though was grocery shopping and how difficult it would be just to do that thing I already hate and take for granted. So, three cheers to Johnson & Johnson for putting braille on their Band-Aid brand bandage packages. I hope I see it on more consumer goods in the future.

Cutie on a Nine Patch

This is my grandson, JT when he was 4 months old. He's on the quilt I made for him. I almost kept it, I liked it so much. I may make one for myself one day. You just never know. I love nine patches. Probably my favorite old block and I love reproduction fabrics -- the blue and shirtings together are another favorite combination. We had given him the little duck outfit he's wearing too.



Come to think of it, the first quilt I gave all three of my grandchildren was a nine patch. CV's was eaten by an Italian washing machine. She's on her quilt holding a bunny before it was damaged. I have the quilt and am supposed to repair it. It will never be the same of course. The repair will have an "honest" patch (meaning I'm not trying to hide that it was repaired in any way) since I don't have all the fabrics to replace all of the little nine patches that were damaged. (Guess I'll put that on my list of things to do.) I don't think CV even remembers her quilt. She was pretty young when it was damaged.
CL's is a black and white nine patch with a red alternate squares. The only picture I could find of it doesn't show it well and has JT in the picture instead of CL.

Happy New Year ~ 2009!

January first! I always love this day and I always try to do things that make me happy and that I really enjoy. Somewhere, ages ago, I heard that whatever you do this day is what your year will be filled with.

Therefore, I have not washed dishes or washed clothes or scrubbed the toilet or even thought about bills. I have not argued with my hubby or gotten angry with anyone over anything. I have not started any major cleaning projects that could not possibly be finished today. I would hate for that to be my fate all year!

I have watched TV (sorry, I've always loved to watch TV and I've decided not to be ashamed of it any longer), I've sewed (!) on a swap that is due at the end of the month, I've taken pictures and I've used the computer. I've also talked to family on the phone, but not to nearly as many of them as I would like to. I've eaten cookies. I've made mental plans for cleaning, so that I can start on all of that tomorrow.