The size of things

I have had a questionable relationship with food.  My appetite has always been hearty to say the least.
I was always very active, so it was never an issue.  I ran, I worked, hey, I was YOUNG.

For many years, I didn't notice it, my metabolism seemed set high enough to burn off what I put into my body.  But as I got older, I began to get the extra weight around the middle, and Lord have mercy, I looked "matronly" even to myself.
I avoided mirrors.
My profession somewhat contributed to my gain of weight over the years.  As an RN for 30 years, I wore scrubs, and because I worked in a prison, I made sure they were as baggy and loose as I could get away with.  Let's just say it was easy to ignore those extra pounds.
 I would appease myself by telling myself that I was no where near as overweight as that enormous person I saw at the grocery store.
But does it matter, really?
I knew, and have known, for some time, that I needed to lose it.
Seven years ago, I did.  I went to Weight Watchers, and dropped 20 lbs.  I felt great, got into all my clothes for the first time in a long time, and was quite proud of myself.
But it has creeped back on, plus another 5.  My excuse, probably not a bad one, for the last 2+ years, was that I couldn't deal with the headache, AND a diet.  It was just too much to ask of myself.

There were times, when my headache was so bad, I sent DH out to buy a bag of Cheetos for me. A big bag.
It didn't help the headache, but it made me happy regardless.
I didn't share either, by the way.
Being a vegetarian does not mean that you will get thin...in fact, I find that I eat more carbs than I ever did, to make up for it.  Not good.  Not good at all.  Occasionally, I consider eating meat again, but I just can't get myself there either.

I have researched so many options.  The internet is full of diets, and plans, and theories. But since WW worked for me before, I see no reason why it won't work again.  The trick, for me, is not to think about it as a diet, but as a change in life style.  It is about being cognizant of what I put into my mouth.
My daughter said that she read someplace that exercise is just the tip of the iceberg, the bulk of the issue is what you eat.  I believe that.
I know that I don't want to get obsessed with some new fad that won't last.

Since I am not a meeting person, I joined WW online.  There's a free APP for my phone, and I can track what I eat, and find points values no matter where I am.  I have been doing it for three weeks, and I have lost 10 lbs.  It works.  And honestly, it really isn't that hard.  It is just MINDFULNESS about food.  
I still go out for pizza on Friday night.  I just PLAN for it.  No more willy nilly, eating whatever is in front of me.
Paying attention.  That's my game.
My 50th class reunion is this summer.  My lifelong friend and I have decided that we are going to look "mighty fine" for our age.  Not to impress anyone else, hell no.  Just to impress ourselves.
Just to feel really good about our weight, for once.
I am also tempted to buy (5) 5 lb bags of sugar, and put them somewhere  where I can see them often.
Because that is what I've been carrying around.  10 down, 15, maybe 20, to go.

What really clinched it was a photo that my daughter and I took while I was in Florida.  We were sending it to my son in law, to make him feel bad that he wasn't there, in the sun, drinking his favorite beer, Kalik from the Bahamas.

Against every fiber of my being, I would much rather ERASE it.........I am going to share this photo with you.......because in a few months, I am going to be sharing a photo of me WITHOUT that spare tire.
I PROMISE.
 Nothing like putting yourself out on a limb, eh????

 Yup, I am ok with getting older.  What point would there be NOT being ok with it?
And I don't mind the wrinkles, and the hair getting whiter by the day.   I put up with the achy joints, I know that's just part of the whole picture.
But the ghastly weight around my middle......well, I don't have to put up with that.  THAT, my friends, is up to ME.

I am on a mission.

I may be getting older, but I am also getting thinner, if it's the very last thing I ever do.

Stay tuned.

And no, I am not a big beer drinker.  I would never give up points for that.

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Realistically

Impending storm.     Wow, what a surprise!!!

Some things I have discovered/decided:

1.  I  hate spinning.   I have tried and tried to like it, but I just don't.  I can do it, pretty well actually, but it bores me to tears.  So I am going to sell my Louet S10 double treadle wheel.  It's a part of my downsizing efforts

2.  I love croissants.   I could eat them every day.   And I have decided that no matter how hard they look, I am going to make my own.

3.  I am going to buy a new furnace for the studio.   Then when I am gone for 3 months next year, I can just pay for oil, and not worry.  And pellets won't have to be carried from the barn.
I will also need to buy less pellets!!  My poor old house has had the same old furnace for about 40 years........it sounds like a VW bug when it takes off.

4. I am pretty much done with custom orders, unless they are easy, or wicked fun. Call me ornery.  I don't care.

5.   The only thing that matters is being happy, being ok with yourself, and being with the people that you love.  All the rest is bull**%*&&#!

6.  I will never arrive, I am always on the journey.  I need to remind myself of that, often.

 

Mostly, I am grateful.

You think I'm crazy?   (she's had a headache for over 2 years, and she's grateful?)

Yup, grateful to be here.  Grateful for the chance to go on living my life.  Grateful for my incredible family, and my fantastic friends.

 

I think, in fact, a little more gratitude is in order.

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Star Crossed ~ a pattern give-away!

How would you like to win a copy of this wonderful pattern? It's a first pattern published by my friend and fellow St Louis Modern Quilt Guild member, Krista Robbins. There are so many things I love about this quilt ~ fresh and modern, but based on traditional blocks. And I love to see quilts where the different blocks intermingle to create a brand new design. Did you notice that there are 4 different block designs? I didn't at first! Love that! And the pattern comes with multiple sizes!

And of course, it's done in one of my favorite color combinations ~ red, aqua and gray on a nice white background.

But if you know me, I rarely make a quilt just like the pattern and rarely use one line of fabric. So i immediately started thinking about what other three color combinations I could use for this quilt. That resulted in a bit of fabric play and here's what I came up with:

Navy, coral and aqua {one of my current favs}...

Spring green, pinky red and golden yellow...

Minty teal, orchid, and gray...

So here's the deal! As part of the blog hop, Krista has given me a PDF copy of the pattern to give away. Just leave a comment here and tell me what 3 colors you would make the quilt in. Just be sure that your email address is in your profile or leave it in the comment. And be sure to visit Krista at her blog Sew What's Cooking and find the other blogs on the hop here for more chances to win!

I'll announce a winner Friday morning April 4th. And on the slim chance that you don't win, the pattern can be purchased on Craftsy here! Good luck!

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No snow PICTURES.

Freezing rain this morning.
More snow tomorrow.
Reminding me not so subtly that I don't want to be here in March either.

So drinking my coffee, I am thinking of sunshine, think sharing some photos of that would make you a lot happier, and I know it will make me a lot happier.


While I overall did not care for Florida, I did love the sunshine.
So did my kids when they came to visit.

My grandsons are almost 14, and almost 17.  I can't believe how big they've grown.

My grandaughters are only a year apart, but one is tall, the other tiny.
They love each other so.

Daughter #1 and daughter #2, having fun at the beach.

 Someone is a drama queen.

Hmm, when your 10 year old daughter carries you piggyback, the world has shifted.

 Now there, wasn't that better than the frigid view out my window??

I long for spring, and just hope that we don't launch right into summer, without having a chance to warm up slowly.  Watching the earth do that is very special.

This morning I emailed a customer, and said NO to some custom rugs they wanted me to make.
I have been mulling it over for days.
Finally, I woke up and it was clear.
The order was too picky, it wasn't going to be fun, there wasn't enough money in the world to make it fun, and I don't want to do it.
Stop cheering, Lois.
Yes, you were right. 

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Sunshine! Pickles!

Refusing to think about the weather, keeping busy and keeping close the simple truth that spring will come.
Yes, it will.

The studio was sunny today, there is nothing like the morning sun streaming through those old windows with their wavy glass.
The floors and the looms are golden in the light, the colors of fabric and thread make me happy.

 

Lois and I worked on the Toika loom all day, working to get the black warp off it that we put on before my last surgery.  Ack.

We wove a 5' x 7' rug in shades of BLACK.  It was a good day's work.

 

 I think it turned out really nice.  
Now we will be putting an off white warp on, for some more BIG RUGS.  We are going to have a stash.

You know you live in the country when you get a note like this on your back door.   I put some xxx's over her phone number.
No need to call her.  Not sure why she left that.
She's borrowed the Havahart before, and she is pretty reliable about bringing it back.
I hope she catches her possum.

And I hope she brings pickles.

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Broken stuff.

This cupboard came from my little house in the country, where years ago, my number 1 daughter decided to force the door shut.  She didn't realize that something was pushing on the glass, and when she pushed, the glass broke.
The glass has been missing ever since.  I actually went and bought a piece for it, but before I could put it in, that got broken, too.
It seemed my old dish cupboard was destined to be in a state of disrepair.

But then I went south for 8 weeks, and while I was gone, Lois decided to get it fixed for me, as a birthday present.
 And yes, she is clever, but not that clever.  She did, however, persuade Claire, who is VERY clever,  to do it for her.

So at long last, my cupboard is whole again.   This is the kind of birthday gift that I love.   Unexpected, appreciated, one of a kind, thoughtful.
Thanks, Lois, and thank you Claire.
Fantastic job!!!

 

My granddaughter broke her foot in gym.

I just wanted to show you the tiniest ever pair of crutches.

You can't see it, but she has a cast from her knee down.

 

 I have been watching my littlest grandbaby, who is as sweet as she can be, and also the lightest sleeper I have ever known.
Good grief.
Nothing like a tiny little person to make you feel like you have to be at least 100.

I am trying to get my groove back.  It's not easy.  The weather is totally depressing.  And even though this newest storm is supposed to miss us, my HEAD can feel it barreling down on the east.  There has to be a better way of predicting low pressure systems.

A little silk from Michael at Georgia Yarn
I am loving it.

 

And here it is in a different colorway.

I highly recommend Georgia Yarn....great products, friendly and fast service, good prices.

Off to work.  L and the Toika for big rug weaving are waiting on me.

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Making a Kaleidoscope

Thank you for all the love for my Kaleidoscope quilt! It's always been a favorite design!

Several of you have commented or emailed me about the pattern. I made a Kaleidoscope quilt years ago and just pulled out the ruler I had to make my Lattie Da version.

The ruler can be found here. I have pretty sketchy notes, but it looks like I cut my strips 6 3/4". Then I used the wedge ruler and cut my wedges flipping the ruler up and down along the strip. You need 8 wedges for each block. For the corners, I cut 5" squares and cut them once diagonally. These are oversized and trimmed after sewing to the block. I was aiming for a 12" finished block. It turned out 11 3/8" square. You can adjust the size by adjusting the width of your strips. Just remember to adjust the size of the corner triangles up or down also.

There are lots of variations of the design depending on how you color and rotate your blocks. I found tons of examples on Pinterest and Flickr for ideas.

Hope that little bit helps you make your own!!

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Kaleidoscope! A finished quilt...

Here it is March and I have my first big finished quilt for the year! It's a Kaleidoscope in Lottie Da and True Colors by Heather Bailey. I'm a big fan of Heather's fabric - Pop Garden is one of my favorite all time fabric lines. It's been a while since she released a new line and I was thrilled to see Lottie Da hit the market.

The orchid threw me a bit. I'm not usually a purple lover, but I think this color gives it a bright, Springy, fresh look.

The quilting took a while. I wanted to emphasize the curved illusion created by a Kaleidoscope design. I quilted in the ditch from edge to edge along the triangles and again about an inch away tapering to the centers. A figure eight pattern filled in the empty space between the straight lines. This required many trips through the centers where the triangle points come together. I was a bit worried that there might be too much of a thread build-up there, but it turned out fine. Yay for Aurifil 50!

I decided to go with the orchid chevron for the binding.

Pretty happy with this one!!!

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Little of this

Sitting looking out the window with my cuppa tea, where I have spent so much time the past two and a half years.   Waiting/hoping/praying for my headache to "dial down", so I can get on with my day.

If nothing else, my plans for NEXT winter are becoming clearer.

Heat to my neck, just me and my lap top.....anything else would require me to move my head, and that is not something I want to do right now.

So........

Let me share a couple of things with you.......that I was introduced to on my travels south.

One, was the BUTTER BELL.   Oh, my, I love this thing, because there is nothing worse than butter that is hard as a rock.

Every couple of days, you change the water.......about an inch or so.

Here's what mine looks like.

Here's what mine looks like when DH has a go at it.  

PLEASE, someone save me!

Another find worth mentioning is usually the only reason I ever go to Red Lobster.

They are super simple, and absolutely the bomb.  Unfortunately, I found them in Walmart, not my favorite place.  I'm sure other grocery stores will have them soon.


One more thing, that I have not acquired yet, but will.

Tomodachi.

The sharpest, coolest knives, EVER.

You can get all this stuff on Amazon, by the way.


Some other things I loved in the south.............field peas........pecans..........fresh, fresh fruit.......a strange sandwich made with a croissant, egg, cheese, then dipped and finished like french toast....they called it a "crusher".  It looked nothing like a croissant, and BEGGED for syrup.

But mostly, I am missing the blue skies, the warmth, the sun, the lack of a headache. 
And you just can't find that on Amazon.

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Perfect Union...

Almost wordless today...

Pattern, Perfect Union, in the Feb. issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. Fabric: mostly Rapture from Art Gallery Fabrics.

I'm thinking maybe it will bring Spring!

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