Growing and Growing

Fabric freak here couldn't resist some Amy Butler specials at MQG
"Eternal Sunshine"  Sateen



Twelve year old Evan making pancakes.

Lynsey showing off  her fabric collection.
She has made a spot for herself!!

The story:  When Lynsey was five, she had this flannel shirt that she loved.

Grandma put it into the Goodwill, cuz, it was way too small.

Grandma fished it out of the Goodwill bag when Missy complained.

Three years later, Lynsey helped me make her doll a shirt from that very shirt of hers.

We put the pattern over the buttons and Voila..

Lynsey learned right sides together, how to sew a straight line, how fun sewing can be!!!

She was home from school that day with a bit of reaction to her flu shot.

She used her time to sew with me and to watch American Girl videos on how to make things for your doll.

Dylan and Grandma researched 2nd grade reading books on Amazon.

He picked out a few and has been reading ever since..

 Evan loves the cute little Mickey Mouse waffle iron.

He surprised us this morning with breakfast!!

They are growing up..and oh, so helpful.

Grandma  is growing too, unfortunately I think it may be the candy corn.

I must say that I am surprised at the homework.
All homework is online and it is way difficult.
Poor kids with no computers.  The library has computers but limit the time.
Today I found out that all report cards are online too.
I just figured out Power School...kind of...ugh!!

I have to figure out now, how to install Spelling City
and Xtra math and Compass Learning.
TBTG Raz Kids was installed last year.

Also, just realized that I can no longer stand on a stool safely to change a light bulb or to fix the strings that pull the lights on.
 I cannot fix a broken screen on the porch.
But I can walk!!!

Evan is grounded for his grades.
While he was sleeping, I saw his remote for his X-box and took it.
Today he had the last laugh...Grandma took the remote for the race car.!!!
He thought that was  hilarious.
Poor Grandma O'Quilts...trying so hard to get with the times..

More Quilty finishes from vacation....

Zippy purses...I made 25 of them!!!
tute from the Empty Nester

The can lid grippers for Dylan to sew for holiday presents,

 Some grocery bag holders for Lynsey to sew.

 My sister's Bento Box for her neighbor with Lupus.

Utube tute from Fons and Porter

 MP finished her top of 5 years in the making...mostly my scraps.
Way to go MP

 
 Even we took a sewing break...of course it was for eating!!!!

Drenna made a bag as gift

She embroidered the crown

She is a whiz on the embroidery gifting.

Muggs' specialty..aprons..

Sherry our group's creative brain designed this awesome casserole carrier
We do not have the tute yet, It can be passed around the table without getting burned..

Somehow missing is Terri's jewelry bags and hand applique
This is it...all but the awesome sunset and the sound of friends laughing.
We had the best time ever.
xoxoxox

So Much to Tell You...and so Little Time

Back from 4 day vacation at Oak Island!!!

Thank you Muggs for the best ever.

Tonight I have time to show the blocks I made from UFO's

Disappearing nine- patch favorite pattern..so easy.

 I usually spend time with this sort of top, rearranging to suit.

This time..what I see is what I get.  I do not think it  matters 

how many purples or blues are back to back.

Below..lunch break..with tables at both ends...we have 8 sewing machines!!!!

The hummmm  of happiness...

More tomorrow...

The two baby quilts I made from the jelly roll top I did

in the nursing home 2016 while recovering from my knee operation.

 Tonight at Charlotte MQG I donated them to the church bazaar.

They give us free rent for our meetings.

Thank you Terri for quilting them.

Now it is bed time.

I am soooo much better.

I am so happy.

9 weeks and 3 days and barely a hipped up whine tonight!!..

xxoo

Just Plain Stuff

You go Lynsey...You are Grandma's  doll...strong girl..no wimp here..!!!
You know you can be pretty on the inside and outside.
 and....
Still be a leader..
Lynsey was just accepted by lottery to Girls on the Run!!!!

Just sayin'...The kids found the candy corn...

Today was my first day at the pool in 9 months...

I can drive...so I drove and drove and went to the grocery store for the first time in 2 months.

There was Edy's ice cream ....buy one...get one free..

So without  my candy corn...I was so pressured in the ice cream department.

Let me just say that eating salad and drinking water did not save my dear man.
My mother's doctor gave her a prescription for chocolate ice cream for her Parkinson's

And let me just say that Expresso Chip is outstanding..

So, there all you thin.... fat-shamers....live your life!!!

From the very, very expensive Singapore comes fabric at $30 a yard.  hmmmm

My girl enjoying her life...Singapore, the town..

Be proud of me my friends...in pain, but walking around anyway!!
Cutting fabric for the grocery bags..(Lynsey's holiday projecct}
So hoping the children learn that Christmas and holidays are about others too.
And, the reason for the season...

 And for Dylan's project...rubbery shelf liner traced around a plate.
Glued and sewn by 7 year old Dylan for his holiday presents.
A bottle or can gripper..opener!!!!

Muggs' gift to us:
A vacation at her beach house.
Eight women with eight sewing machines for four days.
So happy to have the house and animal sitter lined up..
Actually, just quite happy.
Thank you our dear Muggs.

ps...Did I tell you that I found an awesome new grief therapist.
Second round, next stage...sigh...
Grandma is workin..it!!

ps again....Debbie Hix   I cannot email you...can you please give me your email address..xoxo

Hello Irma, Goodbye Irma

Gotta show a little love with all the scary stuff in the world:
Stitch captures smiles..with his delightful...flower pen fun!

Here we are in Irma...only a wind and rain storm now...but...trees down all around and we live in the woods.  Any occasion for a sleep downstairs...fun night!!
  Even Zoe is excited on her sleeping pad.

 This is the real deal..without the flash.  Irma should be gone tomorrow by noon and...
School is on a 2 hours delay..
.Grandma, Stitch and Boo  will be sleeping in the recliner, snoring and supervising!!

No sewing tonight...maybe some ironing the bag holder fabric.

 I see that Montana is dissolving in flames, Oregon's beauty is in ashes, Houston has been forgotten as they float away, not a bit of news anymore about my Miami, not even the rest of Florida...or the Caribbean .Mexico's earthquake...Fickle news...reminding me of sickness and death...a note is enough at the time and long forgotten are the survivors and the dead...I remember when I volunteered for the Red Cross emergency team.  They were all about the local tragedies when there was a national big one...never mind plural....The money was depleted from local coffers..never enough to go around.

My girl is in Singapore while her man works there.  Can you believe she is remotely working my computer to save my photos to Prime...I have a picture of her on Facetime with me..doing it...I yearn to share the picture. But I do not dare...She looks poorly upon pictures of her on my blog....It is an amazing photo of our new world...can you imagine, my girl in a hotel, overlooking the South China sea and the Singapore river..talking to me and fixing remotely my computer....If only Grandma could see us now.

Trying to figure out how I can do small things with great love./.
Guess the holiday sewing will have to do..and snuggling and caring for my grands..
We are lucky to be in Charlotte this time. And lucky to be having fun on our sleepover..

Then of course, there is crazy me trying to be prepared for all kinds of weather things.  I ordered online little LED flashlights. They came today....all without batteries..
.Jeeze Louize..
And my hurricane radio...due in next week...crazy old Grandma O'Quilts!!

At least I can drive now...Wahoo....

An Orange Finish with a Blue Binding...

Tonight amid angst, I finished my friend's 70th birthday quilt.
Ok..Ok..It was a June birthday...but September is pretty close.
Now, I cannot send it...because Irma is paying a visit.
I used the blue binding..not so bad, I think.
Thank you Terri for the quilting!!!

 The grands are getting older.
They banded against poor Grandma.
They insisted that Granddaddy's old hospital room was now a bonus room
Definition of a bonus room???
A messy room with all their stuff and chairs and TV and computer..
Aren't I lucky that they let me keep my design wall and fabric in there!!
They may be right...after all 4 of us are living here.

 The O'Quilt family really, really loves their clutter and mess🙈

Tonight I accomplished 50% of my goals for the weekend.
Kids visiting cousins..me sewing..

My girl has just taken a 10 hour flight from Portland to Tokyo.

Then transiting to a 7 hour flight to Singapore. to be with her man who is working there for a month.

She will spend two weeks with him..💘💘
I am just saying....

💙💚It is only 5 hours to Charlotte to be with Mommy

Sigh...

Then there is Irma and friends..
Gives me such anxiety
I had better get with the serenity prayer!!
I am as ready as I can be.
.It will probably be rain and winds when/ if it comes here.
Will just have to wait and see.

Another Grief Post....same age stuff..

Labor Day Love

Quilting first...I cut and made blue binding for this quilt.

Now I do not think I like it after all  my work.

What do you all think?

There is blue in the quilt...does this overpower it instead of enhance it??

Maybe it does not even matter and I am overthinking it.

Labor Day visitation...We  had a great time.
Daddy stayed 3 and a half hours...He fixed things and loved on his children..

Daddy is 50% Cuban...Kids are 25% Cuban
We are from Miami after all.

Kids helping daddy cook the burgers.

Eight year old Lynsey loves "Bake It" on U-Tube!!!
Today she frosted her cake all by herself... Look how proud!

We all love Daddy..hoping always for the best!!

Today I decided to teach the grands...the Marcarena...I told them that Grandma was going to buy  them a CD and we were all going to learn it.
They told me that they all knew it and that I did not have to buy it, it was on U-Tube
Then they showed me.
Poor Grandma...so out of touch.

And young and beautiful Cara on her new quilt!!

Some days, like yesterday, I do not think I can function any more without Mr. O'Quilts...
Then, the next day...I am still here!!.
My hip is getting better.
Off all the heavy pain meds and back on the vino tinto..
Over did it of course on the cane so back on the walker!!

My sister took the younger children for the night last  night.
Today she came and fixed Labor Day dinner...
On the way out...she told me that next time I cry about having no family support.
I am to remember I have her....a sister who cares.
xoxoxox for my sister!!!!
Dae and her man brought dinner for tomorrow and Wednesday.
Soooo nice..
 For those of us trying to "help", one of my favorite clips from
On Being
And, then....
Ten things I learned as a widow

The Survivor

Sitting outside today in the beautiful Carolina fall...here long before its time..

I felt that I had been through Hell and come out the other side..a survivor!

All with help from my friends.

Including Ms Zoe, who misunderstood the command...

or maybe she just liked the quilt vibe!

Last night a call from a new friend, Carol, in Florida....whose husband died of ALS and who had the hip surgery last March.  She cheered me on and gave me hope.

Nine quilts quilted as a gift from my friend Terri..Nine??? Crazy me.

I feel well enough today to cut the binding for this one,  for a June birthday that I never addressed.

 This morning I got out of bed and used the cane.
I am amazed.
I have not used Tramadol all day, just the switch to my old standby, Naproxen.
I just might live after all.

 The outside cutting station..heavenly.

Finished...88 tissue covers for the holidays...Dear friend Muggs
already found the tissues for me at the $$ store at Oak Island.

My next project will be the bag holders for the pantry..
Grocery bag holder
Here is a tute ..I did not use this one cuz I already have it in my head.
And I use fabric scraps.

Thanks to my friend MP...my Cotton and Steel quilt delivered to Ireland to a 12 year old niece surviving Sudden Death Syndrome...She is doing well now with a pacemaker..
Oh..how she deserves a Cotton and Steel quilt.
 That fabric line is for strong girls and women...survivors!!!!.

And life goes on...Funny how the sun just shines a lot brighter when pain is at bay.
Trying not to over do ...but I think I will try to do a small drive around the corner to my Saturday night meeting.
xoxoxo

I see that there is a workshop in Chapel Hill in October giving me 6.5 credits toward my license renewal.  It is for caregivers of ALS...nurses, CNAs, social workers, Hospice Workers..
.My old self thinks it would be interesting.
 My new self does not think I can handle it.
 I have so changed..Sorry self, I am such a wimp.