The dog days of summer are here

Sitting under a fan and thinking if I was the Liz:  I would be upside down,,,inside out w/ my belly exposed having the fan blowing directly on me.   Spent the morning running errands and then came home and tore yards of fabric.  Did I say yards?  Bolts of fabric is more correct.  Just clean kitchen sink area and have my face mask all ready.  Going to dye fabric.  I love dyeing fabric.  Last class I took:  the teacher uses these huge tubs to dye her fabric.  I'm just not strong enough to lift and stack:  lift and stack - yards of fabric and water.  Going to try buckets today.  It has been a process.  First 12 yards : then one yard and now 2 yards.  2 yards don't meet my needs anymore.  Going to try 4 yard cuts today.  If that doesn't work:  I will have to dye 6 yards at a time.  Oh my!!!  that will be labor intensive.  Good thing we are having sandwiches tonite and spaghetti tomorrow.  The kitchen will be a mess the next 4 days.  The dog days are here.

And, this to shall pass.

Haven't been near Little Miller in 4 days.  Too busy buying a car and looking at quilt sites online.  Stealing ideas.   Today woke up and stuck in a DVD Workshop about Machine Quilting.  Then took all my photos:  now w/ new camera:  sorts by date.  Spent morning renaming and putting on my little green backup hard-drive.  Lord!!!  Hope I don't lose it.  Need George to show me how to down load some photos to edit in PhotoShop,  (do I hear copyright police banging on my door again).  Corgi dog crate cover done.  Now to work on some quiltlets.  The Workshop lady:  also works in a series.  Ummmmm!!!  I guess that's how you get better and better.  Last series was Puppy Time.  I'm going to do kitties and butterflies:  And, it still feels like summer vacation w/out the pressure to finish anything.......like, dishes, like getting dressed, like laundry, like oh!  I can finish reading, I can start a series, I can!!!  Photos tomorrow.

working for joy

Priorities.  Mucked-out the bathroom ; waiting for paint to dry.  Great Lunch and now working on cat beds and crate covers.  I created my own design w/ help of another vendor.  Added one step.  Putting personal photo on the top of cover.  This one will be a lovely pink with a Corgi on it.  I just love the Corgis.  God couldn't make up his mind when he made them.  Legs to short , ears to big and just tooo much fun to love.  They were bred to herd cattle.  When cows kick : they kick straight out.  Corgi's are just too short to get wollopped by a cow.  Cute, cute , cute.

Day 10 of joy and happiness

SumMMer VAcatION!!!  Just so lazy.  Playing in my quilt books.  I wish the people that wrote these books would come to North Texas and teach classes.  It is so much easier to take a class AnD then come Home and play in the book.  I should get stock in "Interweave".  I buy my books used or on sale from Interweave.  Right now Interweave.com has all their books on sale.  Big sale prices!.  Now is the time to stock up.  So do books make me happy?  or is it the librarian in me that makes books make me happy?  or is it the teacher in me that makes me want to learn things from books that make me happy?

Still feels like summer vacation

Making plans to head west in late July.  Still feels like summer vacation   Think I would have enough sense to head north during the dog days of summer.  Tweeking all my fiber art as I rearrange my sewing studio.  Or is it art studio or is it "our" garage.  Either way I'm under no pressure to finish.  Won't finish much today either.  It's $5 movie day.  Haven't been to the movies in a long time.  Went with the girls a few months ago and before that:  can't remember.  I used to go a lot when the movies were 99 cents.  Then me and George went a lot when they were $1.99.  I guess I should be happy with a $5 movie.  Just watched a special about College Tuition.  No wonder it is so expensive.  Universities used to be subsidized by our State Governments.  As states pulled funds fees doubled and tripled. Ummm I wonder how to fix this?  Maybe more people should work?  Maybe I should go to work and pay my fair share of taxes??  Maybe I should dig out an UFO and quit trying to rearrange my studio. 

quadary has been solved

Woke up and decided to drive to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma to see the baby buffalo.  Work on quilting later after I put my studio back together.  Going to start in one corner :  Ugh!!  And work around the room.  Hope it doesn't take 3 days this time.  YOu  would think I would have learned.  But, darn it!  Every time I clean :  I can't find anything.  I think:  Remember that piece you cut for the puppy quilt that you tossed over by the bookcase last week -  that would shadow perfect right here.  So if I put it where it belongs I will never find it because all the "belongings" will be on top of it.  One hour , one corner, one cleaning.  And then, here I come baby buf

What a quandary

Three shows back to back.  Lost my shirt in Abilene.  A client told me hospital windows had been knocked out.  Makes my problem w/ dents seem so minor.  Finished show number 3 today.  My oh My.  Never can tell what clients want.  I'm almost out of cards, pillows, quilts and business cards.  I'm going to have to get busy.  Starting crate covers tomorrow.  I created my own design.  Can be any color using my hand-dyes.  Got lots of great photos of dogs.  Can't wait to make doggie quilts.  Can't wait to make kitty quilt-lets.  Great having support from George.  Dishes down.  Having homemade stew tonite.  Helped me load and unload.  Brought me and my neighbor vendors lunch.  They were from West Virginia and Arizona.  Gave me lots of tips and the lady from Oklahoma City who helped me create my Crate Covers was there.  Photos to follow next week.

Chapter 6

New windshield has no stickers.  In the Great State of Texas you get window stickers for car inspection and registration.  So, my car is illegal to drive.  Can't get registered w/out inspection : can't pass inspection w/ busted headlight or tail light.  What's a girl to do?  Called insurance company ; they called glass company ; who left voice message on technicians phone.  While dreaming about cats and quilts :  dogs went nuts to the sound of a door bell this morning.  The tech brought me back my stickers.  Now for a large glass of coke and a long sit at my sewing machine and I will be right with the world again.  Yippppeeeeee.  oh happy day

Another happy day

Windshields have been repaired.  Side windows have been repaired and I have a clean ironing board.  Too Happy.  Too Happy.  Now to wait for the insurance adjuster.  Weather stripping.  Paint Job and dents will all need to be replaced or fixed.  Tail light and the thingy that holds hood to windshield need to be replaced.  Oh my!!  Good thing I am retired.  Or am I.  Starting a quilt group at George's church today.  Making 10 kits so they all make the same thing and have quality fabric.  Once they can sew straight:  we will be making baby quilts for the ambulences around town.  Every time they pick up a child:  he will receive a quilt.  At least momma will have something to snuggle w/ when she feels so helpless.  Have a happy day.  I have to wait an hour before I can drive my car so I need to cut fabric.  And more fabric for today's ladies

Is this Happiness? or does life just happen.

Went to Quilt show in Abilene, Texas.  Had a great time.  Lots of ideas to steal.  It's amazing how people come out of the woodwork when you get in trouble.  So, I guess that is true happiness.  Had a freak storm come through Abilene on Thursday.  At least I was parked and not driving.  Lost my front windshield, blew out my rear windshield and scratches on my side windows.  Hope "they" don't total my car.  She's good for 30,000 more even though I'm at 171,000 miles.   Baseball size hail.  Yup!!  not golf ball but baseball size hail.  Dents all over my car.  Front end tore up.  One of the cats can curl up comfortably in the dents. Headlight out and tail light broken.  But, I'm safe and unharmed.  A gentleman staying next to me:  swept the broken glass out of my car and when I went to buy  duck tape :  this couple of 37 years of marriage helped me tape plastic to my rear window.  I had George come pick me up.  I wanted him to follow me home just in case I lost the front windshield in the middle of no where and had to get towed.  So:  Happiness:  is I wasn't robbed or mugged and I home safe and now I get to pay all the deductibles.....

Day 2 of Pure Happiness

 Woke up to a stress free day.  Just couldn't get organized.  Then I heard this tap tap tap on door.  Paula.  Yikes!!  Cleaned Linen closet, Cleaned bed room closet.  Sorted through boxes of fabric.  Went to mail box and discovered.............I don't have to do anything.  I'm on summer vacation!!

  Wait I will be on summer vacation in the fall too.

                                                                                                                              Hand painted storm

                                                                       Sun print

                                                    I hate you mocking bird

Did you know how the Nazi's indoctrined many of the S.S. boys.  Reading a book and found out today:  They grabbed male teen boys and sent them to S.S. training.  Every boy was given a dog to train and bond with.  Then the boys and dogs were lined-up.  Dogs were shot by boy.  If he showed no weakness they were put into S.S.  Others sent home abused and humiliated until old enough to join military.

Day 1 of 365 days of happiness.

Had a  great time in quilt class.  Getting ready for Quilt Show coming up this weekend.  Taking wool, hand-dyed and patterns.  Should work on web page:  but! Oh!  I don't have to worry about having time.  Cleaning a little.  Quilting a little.  Had a steak sandwich today.  No bread.  No salt.  Added pasta salad and lettuce tomato.  Should have gone to the store.  but Oh!  Can go tomorrow.  Who goes to grocery stores in the early afternoon?   Day one of happiness.  Let's see how long it will take to stop feeling like summer vacation. ummmm?

                                                                 started new quilt today:  all hand dyed by me

                                        David's  :  look at top right pink leaf.  All I got done

                                ripped out flower:  never even opened hummer.  Darn flower

                                                                     girafffe's have long tongues

                                                                Day 1 of pure happiness.

                                                                     too happy

what a flippin' let down.

  What was I thinking?  After 33 summer vacations.......my body and mind have to adjust.  It was just another day driving to work.  Turning in my keys was bitter sweet.  Same key chain for 11 years.  George got me from Seattle.  Parts missing and no longer said Seattle and a round thingy from an old purse I tossed years ago.  My keys were color coded.  Easy to turn in at security:  but they were laughing so hard at my t-shirt "retired"  I couldn't even tear up.  What a relief to turn in keys that cost $200 to replace.  Got a great gift from my Library Assistant.  15 years and first time ever! to have an assistant.  The summer cold from hell!  Day 2.  I don't think I can find enough tissue in Texas to stop my runny nose.  So no hugs or kisses except from the brave and bold.  They will remember me in 10 days.  No one will want to be my partner in quilt class tomorrow.  How long will it take to realize I have money, I have insurance and I don't have to ever work again?  Will it be when I wake up tommorrow?  Will it be when librarians return to work Aug 10th?  Will it be when I do my first $5 movie on a Tues afternoon?  I feel like summer vacation. But, Lord!!!! it feels good.

                                                                            dog show and booth

                                                      to kill a mocking bird

                                                    paint class

my last nite as a contract employee.

What is it going to feel like:  driving into the sun tomorrow morning before 7 am to work.   I never have to again.  What is it going to feel like turning my keys in after caring for them for 7 years?  I tried to imagine today and could not.I never thought a girl from Arizona would cross the Atlantic 6 times.  Never thought a girl from AZ would cross the equator 9 times.  Never had a job more than 2 years until Montana.  Texas feels like home.  7 years.  What is like to be a free agent?  Will I sleep tonite?  Will I cry on my way to work tomorrow.  Will I skip to the parking lot at 3:00.  Had a retirement party at work today.  What a darn surprize it was.

                                                            soon to be a quilt

                                                        a lily from Lang. Arts Dept.  surviving the drought

                                                                        My Lizzie

                                                                   Texas Sky

                                                                  Painted waterfall from Mickey's class

                                                                painted sunset

GEEZ! no photos again tonite

No time.  Awards assembly this evening.  Photos tomorrow.  Have to pack for David Taylor's class.  No more shows :  no more 2x/month.  Hey I'm retired.  1/month.  Classes w/ Quilters.  Again one per month.  I'm a runnin' out of money.  I wish my guild would get beyond beginning piecing.  They make lovely quilts but don't meet my needs.  Best advice:  take classes.  continue learning and growing.  Think like a 14 year old and you will be young forever.

driving

The class was a success.  Photos to follow.  I will never ever have to drive home alone at nite.  From now on I drive daylight hours only.  Won't have to kill myself to be home to get up and go to work.  Over the past several years the darker it gets the slower I go.  I just don't feel safe doing 75 on a single lane out in the country.  Scared I'm going to hit a dog, coyote, cow , deer, moose or bear.  I killed an endangered species 25 yrs ago in AZ and never have gotten over it.  The older I get the less I can see the lines going around curves and darn it!!!!  It's just plain boring.  Photos to follow.  check back soon