After two weeks of celebrating the holidays with MFG's family and enjoying the warmer climes of coastal Mississippi, we arrived back to the bitter Kansas cold that we had happily left before Christmas.
Cold though the weather can sometimes get here, it does feel good to be home surrounded by all that is familiar, cooking in my own kitchen (where I know where everything is, what is stocked in the pantry and fridge, and can cook whatever I want, whenever I want), along with sleeping in my own bed.
At some point in the future we do plan to make Mississippi our home. A few years ago we purchased four and a half acres in a brand-spanking new development, and this is where we will build our dream home and live happily ever after. With the economy tanking, that "future" is being pushed further and further out. As I told MFG, by the time we are able to make the move we're going be too old to take care of all that land. I'm not sure why we need that much property anyway. Except that after living in condos and subdivisions where your neighbors are right in your back yard, having all that space is really very appealing.
As it is though this is how we spent a portion of our vacation:
Four and a half acres, Honey!
Not to worry... MFG didn't do all the work, or even most of it. While he was riding the tractor on the back half there was brush and fallen limbs to be removed from the front of the property that is visible from the street.
Only a handful of nice homes have been built in this subdivision so far. But there are other property owners just like us who come in periodically to clean and sit and dream...
But now that vacation is over, there is work to be done here at home. Although I don't make resolutions I do make plans. And my plan for 2009 is to finish some UFOs. Some of these have been around way too long and they need to be put out of my misery!! The oldest is this Ohio Star quilt:
It was the very first quilt I made (has it really been 15 years ago?? WOW!). Yep, learned a few things since then -- notice how the center of my stars stand out and the points disappear? And just too many other things to mention? I made this for my daughter when she was a teenager and apparently she thought since it was for her she could go ahead and use the darned thing. After a while it became so stained that I couldn't stand to look at it any more. I've toyed with the idea of removing all the quilting that has been done so far and putting new batting and a new back on it. But it's so close to being done that I'm even more tempted to just finish it and give it a good soaking. Any thoughts???
Then there's my second quilt -- a Triple Irish Chain. I made this one and started the hand quilting about a year after the Ohio Star.
But with a house fire, a marriage, and a move (or three), this poor quilt was also pushed to the back of the quilting closet.
Next came my Maple Leaf quilt.
Started sewing this one about 6 years ago and again got a little sidetracked. I finally finished the last of the blocks about a year ago. But it really looks like a good one for Siriporn to do her magic with on her long arm quilter. Maybe... still contemplating hand quilting though. Also, should I add another (wider) border? I'm thinking yes.
Then there is this quilt:
What was I thinking?! I don't really like blues that much!! But I saw a gal on Simply Quilts (again several years ago) do these blocks and thought how fun it might be to make. It's all squares and half square triangles, with endless layout possibilities. It's a pretty cool lap quilt... if I can just get past the blue and get it quilted. Maybe this would be a good one to practice machine quilting on (another of my plans: learn machine quilting)!
And finally the quilt I made for my precious granddaughter.
Two years is long enough! I need to finish it so that she can enjoy snuggling under it. While on our Christmas vacation I did make pretty good progress and got about a third of it quilted. So this one will be done soon and on its way to Oklahoma!
And while working on UFOs and taking care of life, I seriously need to do something about my sewing room. It has been horribly neglected lately! What do you think?
See that on the floor? Another quilt in progress (along with other stuff... good grief)!
One would assume that with there being a sewing machine in the room and the fact that, obviously, there are fabrics in same said room, someone must know how to sew, right? Then WHY are there no real curtains on that window?!!! One more thing to add to my 2009 plans.
1 comment:
I kinda like the blue quilt. It looks happy. Good luck on the sewing room! AMy:)
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