Time change...

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour before bed tonight. 

I sure hope I remember and show up to church on time this year!

Sam's Diet Update #2...

I weighed Sam again on November 2nd.  She had gained .4 lbs.  Of course, so had David and myself.  It was not a good day on the scales for any of us.  So Sam is 18.1 lbs, David is almost 20 lbs and I'm not disclosing my weight.  Ever.

Sam

I decided a radical change was necessary.  Also I'm tired of getting up 2-3 times a night to feed her a piddling amount of food only to have her gain weight.  And as much as I keep insisting David is not fat, just all muscle, I don't think he can continue to gain half a pound a month without turning into a blubber ball like Sam.

So as of 4 days ago, I've moved all of them to a twice a day feeding schedule.  No more feeding Sam 5 or 6 times a day!  No more all you can eat buffet for the other 3 cats!  No more getting up in the middle of the night to cater to them! 

They each get a separate food bowl with a measured amount of food once in the morning and at night.  So far, they're so discombobulated that they're eating practically nothing.  Although for the first time yesterday morning every one of them showed up for breakfast and chowed down.  I know it'll take a while for them to understand that this is how it's going to be from now on.  They obviously preferred the old way of things.

And as for my Samsomnia, it's a million times worse right now.  She spends hours trying to get me out of bed and I just have to push her away and roll over.  Again.  And again.  And again. And again.  I think you get the picture.

So for now, Sam's stats are...

• Starting Weight - 17.9 lbs
• Target Weight - less than 14 lbs
• Last Weigh-in - 17.7 lbs
• Current Weight - 18.1 lbs
• Net loss - Gained .4 lbs

By golly, her next weigh-in is going to be better, even if it kills me (and her)!

Until later...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

Philippians 4:13

Stash Report Week #44...

October 29th - November 4th, 2010

This week saw a little more activity in the stash department.  I knew in advance that I needed to buy backings for a couple of quilts.  First, I went out with my friend LeeAnn so she could pick out a backing for the Twisted Rope quilt I'm making her.   It's a king sized quilt made out of mostly Civil War fabrics, so we had a challenge finding 11 yards of any fabric that would work.  We went to 3 different quilts stores before she found the perfect backing at Plain and Simple Quilt Shop.  The fabric she picked is part of the Summer's End line for Kansas Troubles.

Summer's End by Kansas Troubles

The store didn't have enough either, but because it's such a new line I was able to order the rest of what we need at Hancock's of Paducah.  So for this week, I got 3.75 yards and next week I'll add the rest when it comes in.

While at Plain and Simple, I found these charm packs of Lumiere de Noel.  This line of fabric is even more gorgeous in person.  I see a Schnibbles in my future using these.  There are 1.5 yards between the 2 of them.

Lumiere de Noel

I also bought a backing for a charity quilt at JoAnn's.  I was trying to wait until I could use my 50% coupon before purchasing it, but I need to have the quilt done by November 20th, so I couldn't wait any longer.  I bought 5 yards of this one.

Charity Backing

And aside from some large rickrack that's all that  I bought.  Isn't this just the cutest?

So that's a grand total of 10.25 yards in this week.

And as for what I used, it certainly wasn't as much as I bought.  I sent my mom the next Winter Wonderland block and that was a quarter yard.  I had hoped to finish quilting one of the charity quilts.  I'm using a simple loop pattern but I'm not quite done with it.  So for this week, I can only count a measly quarter yard.

So...
Purchased-this-week: 10.25 yards
Used-this-week: .25 yards
Purchased-to-date: 238.50 yards
Used-to-date: 386.50 yards
Net used: 148 yards

And just because, here's another picture of Sam on her happy medicine.  Check out her eyes...

Until later...

"In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent."  

Psalm 4:4 (NIV)

And my package arrived...

I just finished sharing the wool project and towels I mailed out to Carolyn and what should appear on my doorstep today, but my package from Lynn.  To be honest, when I saw it on the stoop I couldn't figure out what it would be.  Until I looked at the name.

I have to say that this package coming today was an example of God's perfect timing.  I was really struggling today.  It's cold and wet and I'm hurting.  I've been very depressed and couldn't seem to snap out of my funk.  But Lynn's package was like a spot of sunshine.  When I opened it and read her letter, I could see how much thought she put into making things just for me.  She knows my faith is a strong part of who I am and she made me this cute little candle mat.

It's on my table right now.  She also included a candle holder and flameless candle.  It's another perfect provision because I can't use anything with an open flame around my cats.  Jack is a budding pyromaniac and is seduced by fire.  It's too dangerous to let her near one.  But this candle has an on/off switch and is perfectly safe for them.  I've had it on all afternoon and have caught each cat exploring it.  I tried to get pictures of them with it, but they were a little spooked and ran off.  Lynn also included several other goodies in my package...

She included a Christmas ornament which was also perfect timing.  After having skipped it the last several years, I've been talking to Mr. Quilting Bug about putting a tree up this year.  And I've been looking in the stores for new ornaments to go on it.  This will definitely be one of them.  She also included a quilting magazine and a chocolate bar.  The chocolate bar is dark chocolate with caramel in the middle.  It's delicious.  I have to confess that I've already eaten half of it.

Lynn's package arriving today was so awesome.  It gave me a lift when I really needed one.  Thank you so much Lynn!

Until later...

"You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you." 

1 Peter 2:9 (GW)

Wool table mat...

How do you send packages?  Do you wrap it up, address it and bring it to the post office?  That's what I used to do.  But now that the post office has the Priority Mail flat rate packages, that's how I mail most of mine.  I can calculate the postage online, pay for it and print out the mailing label.  I can even schedule my postal carrier to come pick it up from my house.  And because the postage is cheaper online than at the post office, in many cases I find it cheaper to ship Priority Mail than regular parcel post.

You may be wondering why I'm raving about this.  Believe me, I'm not a paid spokesperson for them.  It's just that another great benefit of doing it online is they'll send you an email when your package has been delivered.  And that brings me to this post.  I recently mailed the latest Twelve of Us package to Carolyn and I just received confirmation that she's gotten it.  So I'm free to share it's contents here.

Wool Table Mat and Embroidered Towels

The last project for this group was a CQ block.  I went on and on about the one I made here.  Seriously though, that project felt like it took forever!  The challenge this time was to make a Wool or Wool Felt Project.  It could be anything you wanted - a candle mat, table mat, small wall hanging, etc. - as long as it was made out of wool.  Having worked on a few quilts that used a lot of wool, I was really looking forward to this one.  And it was a relief to make something that didn't take much time.  I made this table mat out of dark blue wool because I know that Carolyn is really into blue.

It measures about 13.5" x 12".  I blanket-stitched around each piece of sunflower and every berry and then added the tendrils using a stem stitch.  Finally, I cut another piece of blue wool the same size and attached it to the back - again using a blanket-stitch.  Here's a closeup of my stitching...

Closeup of Blanket-Stitching

I had an entirely different idea in mind when I first heard about the project.  I even bought a pattern and some wool in July at the Quilt Odyssey show.  It was going to have a black background.  But when I learned that everything in Carolyn's house is blue or blue and yellow, I had to change gears.  I didn't want to make her something that she would never use.  Then I remembered a quilt that I made last year.  It's called 'Garden Gatherings' by Lisa Bongean.

Garden Gatherings by Lisa Bongean

See the Sunflower block in the upper left hand corner?  I used the same pattern for Carolyn's just with a blue background.  BTW - I have yet to quilt this quilt.  But I still really like it and would love to finish it someday.

I also embroidered 3 towels for Carolyn's kitchen.  Her kitchen is decorated with Blue Willow so I hope they fit right in.

I heard through the grapevine that my wool present is on its way to me right now.  I'll be sure to share pictures when it arrives.  And then I'll have to find a nice spot for it where I can admire it, but it will be no danger to Mr. Quilting Bug as he's very allergic to wool.

Another duo picture with Gabriel and Jack.  It's a little hard to see, but Jack is rubbing her head against Gabriel.  

Jack rubbing against Gabriel

I've seriously never met a cat that likes to be petted more than Jack.

Until later...

"We are sure that He (God) hears us if we ask Him for anything that's according to His will."

John 5:14 (GNT)

Mom's October Package...

Now that my dear mom has received her package for October, I can share it's contents here.  Although to be honest, I've already shown several pieces of it.

Mom's October Package

In the upper left is the pillow I embroidered for her.  The star and berries are small pieces of wool outlined with a blanket stitch.  And in the upper right is November's Camelot Snowman wall hanging.  When she got her package, she confessed she forgot to hang up the one for October.  So she went straight from September to November, but (God willing) October will come around again next year.

Between the pillow and the calendar block is the next Winter Wonderland block.  She's embroidering hers in a deep blue but this is the same one I did in black.

Winter Wonderland Block 3

It's a fairly large one, but goes quick when you do it while watching/listening to TV.  It'd be great if we both finish all of our blocks at about the same time.  Then I figure we can get together to assemble them.  Still a lot left to do on it though.

As usual, I also included the next block for the Imperial Splendor BOM she's doing.  It's block #10 and I actually sent her 2 of them - because I accidentally bought it twice.  Early senior moment I figure.  She can always make both of them and include one on the back as the label.  And finally, I included the new Love of Quilting magazine and a book detailing how to make memory quilts from t-shirts, photos, etc.  She's expressed an interest in doing this and the book should give her the information she needs.

So that does it for October.  Only 2 more packages to go and I think I know the quilts I'd like to include.  Assuming of course that I finish them in time.  Busy, busy, busy...

I managed to get this picture of David and Gabriel lying together at the back door.  I think they were both resting after a vigorous bout of squirrel watching.  It's unusual for them to lay so close together.

David and Gabriel

Until later...

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Jack's profile...

Name: Jack
Age: 10
Sex: Female
Species: Feline
Type: Tabby
Likes: Temptations, having her head and back scratched, lying in the sun and having her picture taken.
Dislikes:  Having her belly touched, her siblings and the vacuum cleaner.  (Her dream is to be an only pet.)
Add'l Info:  Sam is her twin sister.

Until later...

"I know that your love will last for all time, that your faithfulness is as permanent as the sky" 

Psalm 89:2 (TEV)