October Retreat

I did make it to the retreat. I made some progress on my new quilt "Navajo Tears". I have 50% of the HST squared. I started putting together the individual blocks and putting the HST in a random order around the center square. I will continue to work on this after DH falls asleep each evening. This will be his Christmas present.

DH requested that I make a quilt for his mother. It is designed with a cross in the center and several blocks that will complement the cross. I picked up the fabric Friday afternoon after lunch at the retreat. Tonight I plan on printing out the instructions for the various blocks. I will work on this when DH is awake.

I have completed the 2nd Baby quilt for Alaska in the Trip Around the World pattern. I will be turning in all the quilts and tops for Alaska tonight at the guild meeting. I will be renewing my membership for the guild this evening as well. I don't know if I can be absent from home for the hours of the meetings, but want to continue my membership regardless. Of all the neighborhood groups that I have been involved in, I hope to continue to attend one of them. The others will have to wait until I am no longer a care-giver on a daily basis. I will no longer be able to leave DH alone in the evening.

My neighbor across the street is keeping and eye on DH while I am at work. I believe that adult day care will be necessary in the near future. DH is getting less and less able to be left alone for long periods of time.

Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Back again with a fire in my belly ("Working Girl")

The 2nd Alaska Baby Quilt "Trip Around the World" is in the process of having the binding stitched on by hand. I hope to have this finished prior to the end of the day on Thursday. The Alaska baby quilts will be handed over to Jerry at our Guild meeting.

From here on my baby quilts and other donation quilts that I purchase the fabric for or from fabric that has been given to me will be donated to the Linus Project here in Cincinnati. I have several ideas for quilts for the Linus Project and cannot wait to get started.

Packing is progressing for my quilt retreat this weekend. Since DH has pulled out of his deep depression and I have made arrangements for individuals to check on him while I am away and the retreat is only 20 minutes away from the house I feel confident that all will go well while I am getting some respite. For those of you who are not care-givers respite is a chance for the care-giver to replenish soul, mind and body while knowing that the person they are responsible for is being taken care of by responsible other people. My daughter is coming over to the house Friday evening. I still have to set up the visiting nurse to visit on Saturday and I am good to go.

Have a great day, Karen

Dear Husband

I will not be blogging for a while. My husband has gotten much worse and I will be trying to get him into the hospital today.

Please pray for us, Karen

Love of Quilting

My newest issue of Fon's and Porters' Love of Quilting arrived yesterday with two extra inserts. They are full of ideas and directions for new techniques. I marked the projects I want to put into my list of future projects.

It was good to have a bright light during a day of difficulties.

Have a good day, Karen

HAPPY DANCE

Our power was restored yesterday at 7:00 in the evening. We still have power this morning. This weekend will be general pickup after the storm both inside and outside of the house. I really need to run the vacuum!

I found the perfect pattern for a lap quilt for DH in an old issue of Quilt. It is a Navajo block and will work perfectly with my stash of red fabric and a package of six 1/2 yard fabrics that I picked up about 6 months ago. I am not certain when I will start it, but soon.

After all the restoration of normalcy in our home (from the storm and its aftermath) I am going to get the treadle machine out of storage and into the living room. It will be a statement of my love of sewing and once I learn how to use it again it will become my sewing machine for special projects and for power outages. I will never be without a sewing machine again!

Have a great day, Karen

Another Day Without Power

I got a shower for the first time since Monday morning by the grace of my daughter. Teresa and her husband invited us over for showers, laundry and supper last night. What a blessing!

No quilting news because we spent the entire evening with them. I love my grandson. He is so full of joy and happiness.

Today when I get home if we still don't have power I am going to try and dig out my treadle sewing machine and see if it still works. I want to quilt during my down time.

My employer has rewarded all employees who showed up at work on Monday after the terrible wind storm. We are all getting an additional 1/2 day of vacation for the 2008 year. I am going to cherish mine. You better believe it!

DH is worse. Weekly visits from home nursing. On oxygen 24/7/365. Don't' know where this will lead. God never gives us anything we cannot already handle. We don't know the strength within us until we are challenged.

Have a great day, Karen

Alzheimer's Day

Sunday is national Alzheimer's Day. Pray for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

Thank you, Karen