“What doesn’t break you…. only makes you stronger…” It’s written on the gift tag for the bag I’m mailing Chelsey today. It was a request from my daughter. She had seen a gift bag I had made earlier and she wanted it twice the size and bought ruffle fabric and a button for me to create it.
I’ve been trying to get it made since New Year’s Day. Well, yesterday afternoon I made it and she’ll have it for your trip to visit an Aunt for Spring break. It’s not a great picture (taken in a hurry) but you get the idea.

Thank you for your notes and prayers. Some burdens are too heavy to handle alone and I appreciate every one of them. Our family is definitely going through “Character defining moments”. Please keep us in your thoughts.

Friday night we went to a dinner theatre to raise money for the Women’s Shelter in town. The play was a good Cause and a fun evening for everyone. Saturday night we had supper with Friends. Quiet and Comfortable are the two best words to describe it. One of those nights you have so much fun you want a “do over”. She’s a new Quilter so it was fun chatting with her. I made a lunch bag in about fifteen minutes and brought muffins for dessert. I brought a copy of the free pattern also. It’s fun to share.

Saturday for lunch we made a pot of Italian Potato Soup. I’m an incredibly picky eater. I think it goes back to the way I grew up. Food was expensive, so eating out and at home—you never wasted it, so I was never very adventuresome. Don and I made this together and it was delicious, I’m totally addicted to it. I’m even bringing to work for lunch today.

This is not an original idea,
but saw it and fell in love with it. I want to get better with the camera and search for items to practice on. So I set up my latest animal feeder off the porch. I don’t care if I get pictures of birds, squirrels, or chipmunks.
I just love the idea of them perching on a graniteware soup ladle. Now to only catch them in the act….

Time to head off to work. Our days are getting longer; it’s almost daylight on clear mornings now. We are officially on the downhill size of winter.

Gratitudes:
Homemade Soup
Crisp clear mornings
I guess times in our lives to see what we’re really made of

Baskets of life---Here’s my Valentine’s Day gift . The BOM project is from Country Loft. I debated on whether to take on this project because it was so similar to last year’s project. I just enjoyed it and thought I could always give it away or pass one on to my kids. They’ve been on “quilt demand” here lately. Never really asked for one before. I just know what quilts mean to me and wanted them to have an appreciation and respect for them. That doesn’t me that I don’t want the quilts to be used. It’s just that there’s a difference between use and abuse. But it’s like Judy once wrote and I’ll never forget the words, “ When I create a quilt for someone else, I make it and give it away. I let it go and never think about it again; it’s theirs now.” And she’s right.

Work days have been good days. Another example of getting out of something what you put into it. We’ve got a snow storm predicted starting tonight. I’m hoping it holds out until I get home and run Ransom. The weatherman says snowfall could total 7-8 inches. It’s that time of year, it’s supposed to be snowing.

Gratitudes:
Chocolate chips
Pancakes for Breakfast—Ransom got the leftovers
Phone calls from old friends

They were great therapy for me this weekend. They are exactly 12 ½ inches square, consisting of 45 pieces each. These blocks will be on their way to Australia for quilts for the fire victims this past week.
The best way to get your mind off of your problems is to focus of something else. Here’s my weekend detour. When I decided to make blocks I left the computer and went to my book shelf instead.
It was a great opportunity to realize how many books and patterns I do have ---that I’ve never been applied to fabric. To me, the blocks just say "hope". And I guess that is what we want for all those people losing things in the disaster last week. Not everything was lost--- they still have hope.

I used my scrap basket for the fabric. It’s amazing how fabric in the basket seems to multiply even when you don’t add to it.

Ransom and I continue to enjoy the winter. I thought I’d point out a few of my favorite things. I don’t have flowers or garden vegetables but I have bark from the birch trees that I do love.
It “ravels” itself into the neatest curly streamers. I never get tired of looking at the trees …even without leaves. On our trail home there is a mushroom-like fungus on a birch tree.
It stands there as a mark that I’m on the right way home. It’s frozen solid and I count on it being there marking our route.

Several asked how the girls liked their gifts. I think they loved them. Neither left them behind. I don’t think it’s a birthday either will forget.
President’s day tomorrow… no mail, I guess my blocks will go out on Tuesday…. Everyone have a good week.

They were sitting on the shelf on the close out bay in the department store-- four of them. I just couldn’t leave them sitting there. None of the matching pieces were left.
They sat all alone – four of them that no one else wanted---Discounted from $20.00 to $3.00 a piece. I can just picture them with yellow and red napkins. Food just has to taste better on stoneware trimmed in plaid. I can just imagine dinner on the porch when spring arrives – If and when spring arrives.

Haven’t sewn a stitch this week. Serious family problems. No need in dragging anyone down with the details. But the reason I type this much is to hold up the looking glass and say--- no family is perfect. In fact, families are built on a foundation of imperfections. But it’s the heart of that family that cements them together despite imperfections. I hope above anything else, I’ve never given anyone the illusion of perfection. I do hope people realize happiness can be found in rising above the catastrophes.

Warming temperatures into the 40 degree range have melted much of our snow. Ransom and I still trudge through the woods daily --- it’s great therapy. I guess we have gotten our January thaw in February. Temps are supposed to drop back to the 20’s this weekend, the normal range for this time of year.



I have a weekend ahead – Needle and thread calling me.
Remember to count your blessings. I try to every day.

The girls will be home tomorrow. I picked up items to make them a birthday cake yesterday, so I’ll probably tackle that tonight along with wrapping their gifts I made.

The first gift if a three ring binder cover.
Not an original idea, Kim had created one a couple of years ago and emailed me a set of instructions.
It was a Thimbleberries Club project. We have a little Thimbleberries, Fig tree Quilts, Kansas Trouble quilters, along with a few others to make up the strings. I have always like the Heartstring quilts but never truly appreciated them until this project. Sewing the strings one at a time is INCREDIBLY labor intensive—not to mention ironing each down after the seam. I really liked how they turned out. But for the time---it just seems like the project would be bigger…..

I had pulled a couple of different patterns for other projects, but read about Mary finding this Terry Atkinson design.
So after a trip to the dollar store for pens and paper, I whipped these to up. Totally fun, quick, and easy.
The Pattern said use interfacing as a liner. I knew the kind of lugging around and use – Hopefully—these babies would get so I lined it with Peltex, the stiff interfacing used in fabric postcards. I really like’em. I may have to make one for myself.

I had wanted to create something with ruffles, but there will be another holiday coming up. Tomorrow the weekend will be at my doorstep. I can’t wait. Sleeping late – 6:30 am for me--- Snowshoeing with Ransom and of course quilting….

Monday Morning----Early. But I’m already dressed for work and started a pot of stew and put on a load of laundry. Amazing the power of caffeine in a strong pot of coffee.

I did some sewing this weekend but still have handwork to finish. In my last post I mentioned that Chelsey’s birthday is this week and in our house, you don’t have birth days—you have birth festivals. She’s bringing a friend home this weekend who also has a birthday but lives too far from home to travel. I was fretting that I didn’t want Chelsey to open all the presents and this poor girl sit back and watch. A friend I work with reminded me it wasn’t about money—it was about thought and getting clever. So I went home and flung open the fabric cabinet doors. While I don’t have fabrics that are really Chelsey’s type—I think I came up with some compromises and have worked this weekend on gifts for both girls. Pictures will come soon.

The remainder of this post is type for memories…..not quilting.

My Sunday school class was outstanding yesterday. We started out reviewing last week’s lesson. Jesus walking on water with Peter. I had a pail of water and we played a guessing game whether things from Don’s tools would float—nails, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches –no….wood blocks, crayons, pencils yes--- We ended with a kid, shoes and socks off stepping into the water… I had them totally captivated and drove the point home on miracles. Miracles for a four year old isn’t an easy concept to grasp. This week’s lesson was Jesus feeding the five thousand with fives loaves of bread and two fish. We held an indoor picnic (complete with red and white cloth of the floor and my burgundy graniteware) of goldfish crackers for fish and oyster crackers for bread. It may have been twenty degrees outside but it was warm in that classroom and we had a ball. Not every week does the lesson just “click” but I felt like at the end of class those kids would not forget today’s adventure…. Man, I love teaching that class…..

Gratitudes:

Homemade stew of supper tonight
Don’s willingness to share his junk
Goldfish crackers

I wanted to type a few lines. We had a great time shopping over the weekend. I have to take some photos. I did complete my gift bags and they’re going in the mail today. The Stitchery is by Gail Pan. While I'm not doing the quilt project, her pieces can be used many other ways.
Valentine chocolate for my folks and tea bags left over from a Sunday School project fill the bag. It’s not an original idea, but tons of fun for the kids to make Mom a gift.

While my stitches aren’t perfect, they’re improving. This piece gave me plenty of opportunity to work on the French knots.

I friends sent me a yard of Boyd’s bear fabric. I didn’t even know they had a line of fabric. I have an entire Christmas tree that gets filled with Boyd’s bear ornaments. I immediately went to cutting and made my Sunday School class cards that will be popped in the mailbox today.
Everyone loves mail and the bible verse “Love Bears All Things…” (1 Cor 13:7) could not be passed up.

My daughter’s birthday is next week and she’s bringing home a friend who shares a birthday really close to it, but lives far from home. So while the piggy bank may be low, My fabric closet is full and I’ve got a couple of ideas for the birthday celebration next weekend. We’ll keep you posted.

Well, choosing fabrics for my project was as for as it went last night. I was exhausted. Today at the office I was faced with the constant battle of not wanting to be there. But the weekend is here now and I intend to make the most of it.
Here are my fabric choices for the stitchery project.
The green set is my favorite.
Take a closer look at the crème fabric.
It is flower names scrolled throughout the fabric. I’m completely in love with this piece. It was a fat quarter piece from a store closing in Green Bay. I wouldn’t call it beautiful, but there is just something about it that speaks to me.

We’re headed shopping in Marquette tomorrow. The weather has temps at 5 degrees max and 35 below for the wind chills. So we might as well shop until this artic front moves away.

Gratitudes
Homemade burgers for supper
old movies
My rusty old mailbox….who wants a new one?!?!?!

I’m sleepy this morning. Guess the caffeine just hasn’t kicked in yet. Don is working late the next few days so I’ll get some extra quilting time. I just have to be awake to enjoy it.

I’m working on this Gail Pan Block. I found it on line. She’s an Australian Quilt Designer. I wish over her Block of the month that reflects my Favorite Ecclesiastes bible verse. One of the days--- While I’m not going to do the Christmas Wish BOM project I’m using these blocks for Valentine Gifts for my Mom. Something small and simple…. The creativity of some people….She’s a real talented lady. I’ll keep you posted. It is going to become a gift bag.


I backed the piece with a thin batting. It helps my stitching. Gail has DMC numbers for the piece, but I just chose colors that looked similar. DMC floss purchases cannot be made in town. Besides, after the thread goes in the needle, no one knows the number used. The link is on my sidebar.

Gratitudes:
Warmer weather
Text messages from my daughter
Stealing chocolate chips from the bag in the cupboard, Sometimes you just need a quick fix.

January is flying by. Kids are back in school. Life is slowing down a little. We survived the dreadful cold with temperatures down to 17 below zero. A customer told me last week—“Hey, at –40 degrees Fahrenheit and –40 degrees Celsius the temperatures are the same…” “Great,” I thought, “Something to look forward to…”

Yesterday morning it was sunny and 10 degrees above zero. It is AMAZING how warm that can feel after the temps we had last week. I guess it just goes to show you--- it’s all about perspective…..

When the temps are above zero we been snowshoeing. Here’s Don and my feet on the trail.
We’ve got a 3-mile trek set up. Ransom loves it, but by the end of it--- he’s following our footsteps.
It’s quite an endeavor for him to heave the piles of snow. Yes—I’m a little envious of those gearing up for spring. I know I’ve got a good three months of winter ahead--- So I’m forced to find the good things in my own back yard.

My Sunday school kids and I made feeders for the birds last Sunday attached with paper heart bible verses.
We filled the oranges with homemade suet. I’d like to take credit for the clever idea, but I found it here.

Quilting. I’ve got the binding finished on a couple of quilts that I’ve talked about forever. A couple of weeks ago Chelsey was weeding out some old things and pulled out a quilt top she had pieced at about 12.
I can remember always going fabric shopping with her. She’d always ask to pick out a fat quarter or two. She’d pick the brightest, funniest pieces.
Lots of times they had frogs.
As a kid, she’d catch them by the dozen during summers in the U.P. I told her to leave it on my machine and I’d quilt it for her. It’s going in the mail today. She asked--- “What’ll I do with it?” My response—“I don’t know, it’s big enough for a lap quilt. It’s full of memories. It’ll keep you from getting homesick. You’ll have a piece of home with you…” I can’t wait till she gets it.

Other quilting. I finished my Seasons Block of the month from the Country Loft. I attached the borders.
It’s going to be the next to hit the quilting frame. I tried for an outdoor shot, but the snow is just too deep, I kept falling. Its colors fit the fireplace anyway. I recommend their BOM programs. Their packaging and patterns are great. It’s like getting a present every month. I’ve signed up for their program again this year.

While I haven’t posted often this month, I have been reading. I think quilters are being wise to the economy and not purchasing quite as much and being creative with what they have. There are tons of free BOM program on-line thanks to the graciousness of quilt designers everywhere.

The Christmas decorations are tucked away for another year. It’s always a little saddening to me, but the kids and I made it a family project so it didn’t take long and we’re on to a new year.
I just wasn’t ready to put away my ornament from Libby, so it is residing on my kitchen table for a while longer. I simple reminder of Quilts past—Quilts in the Future…. And it reminds me never to give up on my scraps.

I have binding to attach today as I Finished machine quilting My Saltboxes in the Corner Quilt.

Tomorrow I turn back into a pumpkin as I head back to work. I always dream of getting more done, but I couldn’t have asked for a better week off. I had balance – a little of everything: quilting, reading, time outside, and inside, time with my college kids who have one more week home.

After church today, I’ve got a couple of project Chelsey has asked for--- I’ll take pictures--- and I am crossing my fingers that maybe I can get another quilt on the frame so that I can quilt a little each night this week.

Gratitudes—
My gingham silverware
My washer and dryer—who wants to deal with laundry when it’s 20 degrees
Definitely Cashews

Happy New Year! I sit back early this morning and think about the coming year filled with tons of opportunities. I’ve sat here and thought about 2008 and the many changes as both our kids flew the nest off to college. I guess in the coming year I’m hoping for quiet confidence and contentment for both myself and my adult kids.

We had tons of fun last night with friends bringing in the New Year. We’ve all been married about the same number of years. Our kids grew up together and so kids popped in and out throughout the evening for food and visits. I am usually working so I’m stretching it to bring a dish to things like this. But in honor of my week home I did something I’d always wanted to do. I made a hostess gift to bring.
I pulled fabric from my shelves made a journal cover and gift bag to take. The party was at the home of a new quilter so it was a great conversation piece throughout the night.
She’s really not the plaid - homespun kind of person I am. It was a tough call to pick out fabric. I opted for the black and white and was real pleased with how it turned out.

It always feels good to give quilted things away….

I hope the New Year brings that sense of contentment and the faith to see life’s happenings as opportunities for good things.

I try to remember that “Life isn’t necessarily about the cards in your hand--- you can’t help that---- It’s how you play them that makes the difference…..”

Deal me in for 2009…….

We’re pretty much Mug People at our house. There are tons of cups and saucers, but we generally gravitate to the mugs. I really don’t know why --- maybe the dirty dish count--- but the coffee mugs are usually the first choice.

When I was a little girl, before the day when tea came in a multitude of varieties in pretty boxes. I guess they may have existed. But there definitely was no money for things like that. Every fall my Mom would make a mixture she called Spice Tea. We would have cups in the afternoon together, always in a cup and saucer. I remember feeling so grown up.

A couple of months ago I was feeling nostalgic. I hadn’t had spice tea I know in 25 years. But I made up a batch and have had afternoon tea everyday and smiled and thought of my Mom. It's even gotten me through tough days at work. I called and told my Mom about it and she laughed and said she hadn’t thought about it in years.

I guess there are some things little girls just don’t forget.

Spice Tea
1 cup instant tea
2 cup Tang
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Cloves
1 cup Sugar.

Mix all ingredients. Store in a covered container. When ready to serve, place One tablespoon in one cup boiling water. Enjoy.

In all the hurry of Christmas coupled with the “tonsil” episode I forgot to get a snapshot of the gift I made for my friend at the office. Here’s the pattern.
It has whole cloves for button and grapevine curls for arms. Lots of fun to make. With the red and the heart on the snowman I thought it would suit her front door through Valentine’s day. The scarf is tacked on with the button and tucks just like the picture.

The weather has turned our house to a version of the North Pole. It rained throughout the day yesterday and froze with a couple of inches fresh snow to top it off. Great snow shoe weather if you have to find a bright spot. Good for quilting too.

I was packing up my cookie cutters to take back to my Sunday school class for ‘play dough’ lessons.
I’d like to say they were the neat red handle antique ones, but truthfully they are Rubbermaid. Beside cookies, they make great quilting stencils so don’t put them on the back shelf without thinking of the possibilities.

Tomorrow I begin a new adventure of my own. My work has shut down the offices for a week due to “economic” stress. I could get on a tall soap box about the entire thing but have decided to use it as an opportunity of pretend. What would my life be like day to day without that job? There won’t be late sleeping in but an afternoon nap will definitely be appropriate. There won’t be dirty dishes in the sink and hopefully the laundry stays caught up. There are fantasies of losing 10 pounds but realistically I’ll settle for not gaining any weight from having a refrigerator close by. I definitely will be low on excuses for being in a bad mood….

Gratitudes---
That guy on the snowplow having to brave the bad weather first.
Don helping stretch my quilt—I have got to learn that on my own—eventually.
My 3 four year olds in Sunday School saying prayers of thankfulness For Santa--- Yes we pray for Santa in our class.

Here are the quilting treasures I received from my Mom and my Sister in law. I had been wishing over the quilt books for some time. Can't wait to snuggle up and read them cover to cover. We braved the weather--- totally stupid thing to do--- and went people watching in Green Bay yesterday and checked out the after Christmas sales. Eric and I both got new coats and Chelsey got some money for Christmas so she set out to maximize the return on the cash.

It was a fun day - and we played those silly car games on the way down...You remember-- My name is ADAM my wife's name is AVA. I'm from ALABAMA with and ARM full of APPLES--- Through the alphabet. We were all together and that is all that mattered.

We dropped Chelsey and a friend at the mall and Don and Eric took me to a quilt shop. I asked if they wanted to go in and Don's response was something like this---"I'm going toteach Eric the art form of Napping in the car while you shop..." I just laughed. I could have spent a million, but considering the treasures I had already received I settled for quilt backings for the quilts I plan on machine quilting this week. $4.00/yard-- was a great deal.

Plans for today--- a little "family" house cleaning, after all it's everyone's mess. We've got plans at a friends for New Year's Celebrating so we are having our Chinese cooking tradition today. Winter storm watches are in effect so we're staying close to home.

It didn't get completed in time for Christmas 2008, but I'm not even upset. It's a piece by Lisa Bongean. I had wished over the kit for a couple of years-- for some reason it 'talked' to me--- and found the pattern in Marquette on Clearance. The little heart is supposed to be punchneedle work, but I don't know how. I kind of like the crazy quilted heart. It already has memories attached--- I worked on it while Chelsey was having her tonsils removed. A minor surgery, but that doesn't keep mothers from worrying.

I also kind of look that this piece as a "never quit" kind of piece. I'll get it stretched and it will be ready next season. I'm not going to give up stitching just because I have this time table or calendar date keeping me from completing the project on time. I still had a lot of fun doing it. I spent $3.50 on a pattern and got hours of entertainment just using threads and scraps around the house.

Gratitudes---
A sunny day - Temps over 20 degrees
family time
Twinkle lights lining the fireplace at night

A quick note before the holiday begins... I must work a half of a day--- anyone can do that.... Chelsey is on the mend, and Eric is relieved classes are over. The snow in about ten inches deep in the woods so it feel like Christmas to us.

Merry Christmas from My Porch to Yours--- May Everyone take time to remember the Good Things in their Lives... Their Faith, Their Family, and Their Friends....
God Bless.......

I have had so many good intentions for posting but life has been so busy. It’s the good kind of busy so no complaints. My front porch is decorated for the holidays. I completed this wall quilt.
It was easy and fun—the red bird was my favorite part. The Santa mugs are out for Santa’s coffee break.
Don and I went to Christmas parties last Thursday and Friday. Stayed out way too late, but had so much fun. Saturday night we had 5 couples over till the wee hours of the morning. I think the remainder of the Christmas season will be spent relaxing.

The trees are trimmed.
My tree sort of turned into a birdhouse Christmas tree this year.
I have collected abandoned birds nests for several years and now have 8 that are gently tucked into the tree each year.
Dried flowers and pinecones along with Chelsey’s collection of Barbie ornaments trim the tree.


I got an email from Thimbleberries.com and it had this gift bag pattern that I whipped up Sunday night.
It’s for my mom. I filled it with note cards, thank you notes and blank cards along with stamps, and pens as a Christmas gift. She’s a faithful letter writer. I hope she likes it.

Melissa had the cutest sign and I fell in love with it. She gave me directions for purchasing it so now I have my own.

The first year we were married Don was out of work--- a lot of the time. It’s why we ended up in Michigan. That first Christmas we lived in a duplex that had a complex of 4 apartments filled with little old ladies next to it. He made succor trees for each of the ladies.
I laughed at the layers of paint that are building up. Christmas holds a lot of traditions for me and no matter how old, that tree is one of them.

The fireplace is lit up.
I decided to hang the stockings from my quilt ladder this year. With the ‘Snow Drifted Inn”—sign at the top.



Chelsey got her tonsils taken out yesterday so I wasn’t at work. She was at the hospital at 8 am. They took her to surgery at 10:30 am. I was bringing her home for 2 pm. It’s a lot different than when I was a kid. I got up several times during the night checking on her. She, of course, was sound asleep. I got her up before I went to work let her shower. Talked to her about her medicine. Retrieved everything from the basement to keep her from going up and down stairs. I left for work with one of the worst guilt complexes I’ve had in a long time. I can promise you, Don never felt that. I went home and got her lunch sat down for a few minutes of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and made my way back to work. She’s fine. Resting, even folded a load of laundry. She’s 18 after all. But that doesn’t change it for Moms. Sometimes it’s just tough. But we press on….