My Apt

Well May 1 has come and gone and the apt wasn't ready. Went yesterday to check on it, and it is finally done. Just waiting for the electrical company to reconnect wiring to the building and replace the meters.


Looks nice everything inside is nice and new looking. There was not a lot of damage from the fire, but all electrical wiring had to be replaced due to the heat in the attic, entire roof had to be replaced (building is 4000 sq ft) all walls had to be painted, outside eaves cleaned (remove smoke stain) and painted, kitchen cabinets in my apt had to be replaced and all flooring replaced. Not happy with choice of floor covering chosen, but since I am renting can't be all that choosy. I like the space for the rent and that outweighs not liking tile and/or carpet color landlady picked. They elected to redo the other side (it is a duplex) with new flooring too. The insurance adjuster only required repainting.

It is like new, clean and 2000 sq feet - plenty of room to have a sewing room where I can start a project, close the door when I want to stop and it all be right where I left off when I want to start again. Something I've wanted for years and never had.


Granddaughter's baby is doing great. She is really filling out and the best baby. She is sleeping more between feedings at night. Doesn't cry unless hungry or needs clean diaper. She loves her swing and has a couple of jumper type seats but is a little young for them yet. For a Mom that didn't have a job during pregnancy due to not being able to get one due to the fact she was pregnant this kid has a ton of things. Clothes, beds, etc. Momma shoped thrift stores etc and it seems she was always at the right spot at the right time to find lots of good bargains. She found a double stroller like new for $30 and I got it for her. Her middle son is 4 and because he is a livewire he burns all he eats. She thought when they went shopping she could put him in the stroller too. Not sure that will work as I'm sure he will want to walk like his older brother who is almost 6.


Saying prayers that electricity gets connected sooooon so I can move back home.

Home

I'm told repairs to my apartment are almost finished, hopefully I'll be able to move back 1st of May.


I believe and lots say/or believe things happen for a reason. Some recent events makes this a realization of truth to me.


My granddaughter went into labor one evening and had I not been here and she had been alone with her 2 young sons (5 & 3) she'd had some problems. As it was I was able to get her to the hospital in time and bring boys home and stay with them. Had there not been a fire in my apartment I doubt I'd have been here. Although this granddaughter has spent a major protion of her life with me and we are very close, I might not have been here had it not been that I had to move out of my apt.


Last Tuesday her little girl was two weeks old and tried to stop breathing. After a battery of tests and 4 days in the hospital it has been determined she choked on spit-up, but those signs were not evident when we found her. After a nightmarish hour or so, and her trying to turn blue at least 4 times, and me thinking no matter what we do we are going to loose her - we got her to the hospital. Events like this make you want to live right around the corner from the local ER Room, definitely not 11 miles out of town as she does.


Momma and baby girl came home today and she is a very healthy baby and has gained a pound since birth. She has always been a very precious bundle of joy since her birth, only now she is more blessed and cherished.

New Year New Home

Didn't last long. Jan 30th there was a fire that started in some boxes at the back of my apartment. I'd placed some empty cardboard boxes near the garbage can to flatten. I heard a noise about 8 ish and went to see. Opened the back door to flames leaping as high as the door and all the way across. Needless to say I quickly shut it. Flames began to creep in above the door and ran to sink filled a couple of large glasses with water and tossed on the flames. Then raced to the phone and called 911.

Response time of local volunteer fire department was quick and the fire was extinguished rapidly and contained to one small room at the back of the apt. What I had there in the way of fabric and fat quarters were wet but I salvaged them all. The kits and patterns were in plastic boxes and most survived staying dry. A couple did get wet but I was able to dry them out and save them.

In reality I lost nothing of value and I was not hurt. There was no one at home in the other apartment.

I'm now staying with my granddaughter once again and waiting for the repairs to be finished so I can move back.

Latest project, top is together, now to add borders (outer one is pieced and ready to attach), sandwich and quilt.

Off Topic

Well we have a new President, time will tell where this administration will take us. I only pray that he can with the help of Congress turn our economy around. To many people without jobs, or not making enough to make ends meet.

Now to the fun things in life - family and hobbies.

I've decided to try and have a reunion of my Mother's side of the family in October. Last night I sat and went through my data base back to my Great Grandparents on her side and came up with 120+ descendants that I know of, and I'm sure there are others I've missed in my research.

No I don't think I have room for that many people at my house, but if they all decide to come I'll find a place that does. A couple of years ago we had a first one and had a nice turnout and I got to meet family I'd never known. It was great, hoping to meet more that I've not met before and see those I met before.

Just took a look at my "new" sewing room - a bedroom I will turn into a sewing room. My first room totally devoted to my sewing hobby. There is quite a bit to do there, think I have decided on furniture placement but that always seems to never work as first planned. Also, need to purchase a table for cutting and once that is in the room may determine other furniture arrangement. Right now need to get all the fabric in there, then sort by colors, and by yardage. Putting all fat quarters together, yardage together and bits and pieces (including 4" - 6" squares) in another. Then all it BOM and kits. I have them in individual plastic containers now and will most likely keep them there - only with a better labeling system.

I need to put a support brace under middle of closet pole in my bedroom so I can finish sorting out my clothes and hang what I'm keeping and get rid of the rest. Then I can move my little rocker (sewing chair) in here, my daylight lamp and the plastic box (large) to house the zip-lock baggies of projects (UFO's and others). Will house all the hand projects here so that I have a place to sit and stitch and can watch TV, keeping the clutter out of other rooms. The lid of the plastic bin will work well as a table to arrange tools, threads etc on while working on a project. It has a bit of a lip which will help keep things from rolling to floor.

The unpacking of boxes is moving along. Yes, I'd like to snap my fingers and have it all done - ain't happening. So I do it as I can. I did take a couple of days to totally rest and now it is time to hit the grindstone and get more unpacked.

Off to find the bottom of some boxes.

New Year, New Home

Well after helping my Granddaughter with her 2 small boys (she is single Mom), I'm in a new place of my own. It is much larger than any of the apartments/houses I've had in the last 13 years since my divorce. Other than one house which had a rent I couldn't afford on just my retiremet it is the one I like best. It has lots of room, lots of storage, a nice kitchen and 2 full baths. The town is small which is OK, since I don't do the night scene or a lot of shopping.

I have had sme things either in storage or if I had them in the house with me some never were unpacked over the past several years. I now am unpacking everything. Since some of the times I moved friends helped me pack and they packed everything in site - so now I have things that should not have been packed to cull and trash or get rid of. I'm also downsizing my huge wardrobe and removing things I don't wear and some that I won't wear again . I also find some things I used in other places I don't want to use any more won't work in the cabinets here (like cabinet organizers) that I need to find someone that wants them. I belong to a group of Freecyclers on the internet for this locale and will advertise there and what I can't give away will go to the dumpster.

I have one quilt top almost finished. I have the top together, the border pieced and just need to add a small border strip, then the pieced outside border and quilt. Now I'm debating what fabric I want to use for a backing the top is a collection of squares and 4 rectangles of photos of animals, birds and/or fish. It is assembled with autumn fabric strips to even out the rows, so I'm leaning to an over all print of "autumn leaves", camouflage print or a moda type fabric. Hopefully that decision won't take long as I'd like to get this one finished. I gave him the top for Christmas with the promise to finish it soon.

I've decided to work on the quilts I want to make for family in groups. Done the one for my EX he is oldest and he got his first. Then will work on the ones for my 4 children (next oldest) and when they are finished work on 11 for grandchildren then the ones for great grandchldren. I now have 6 greatgrandchildren, with new one due inn April, but that list is still growing. Somewhere in the mix I'd like to make a couple for myself and I've found several while surfing I'd like to make tooooo.

Already August

Where has this year gone?? A lot has happened but seems days are flying by way to fast. I remember as a child and young teenager I thought Christmas would never arrive and now before I know what happened it will be Christmas again.



Last year I announced to family that there would be no more presents from me that I wanted to make each a quilt and would be putting money I'd spend on presents into their quilts until I got them finished. So this year I have been buying block of the month (BOM) kits for blocks for quilts for 3 of my 4 children, and several grand and great grand children. I have selected a special quilt for each child, and grandchild a total of 22. Since the ones for children and grandchildren are art quilts I've decided to make the children a pieced bedsize quilt as their quilts aren't large enough to cover the bed. For the other quilts I've selected to make that I can't find as BOM kits I'm collecting fabrics.



I've found some good purchases on EBay and have been able to get a good amount of the fabric for these quilts. I have all the patterns, and now most of the fabric. I plan to move into my own place again first of Sept and will then be able to go through my fabrics, pick what to use where and make a shopping list with fabric I have swatches to get rest of fabric I need to finish these.


Have a large stash of Brazilian Embroidery projects I want to finish and a good number of Counted Cross-stitch pieces.


I have moved several times since I retired in 2000, most by choice a few not and now I want to find a place and stay put. I think I have found that place in the one I'm fixing to rent. It is a nice large place with very reasonable rent. Room enough for family to visit even to have them all for holidays, and room for some to sleep over. Lots of nice closet space to organize and store things. Will have to see how "Stay Put" it will be.



I'd thought about trying to buy a place, but then I'd be responsible for repairs, and on fixed income those unexpected repair bills can be expensive. So put that idea aside.

Here is some of the latter purchases I found on EBay. I like autumn colors in the fall but really not my colors, I lean more to reds, blues, pinks, purples. But maybe it is the combination of fabrics but I really liked these.