Goings On...

I took today off.

A friend was going to stop by...

visit with me &

drop off 2 of her collie girls

to stay here for a few days.

Well, as we all know,

plans change.

She's not coming.

So, here I am with a day off and nothing to do.

Yeah, right.

Actually, I had no plans to work on anything specific.

I was planning to finish a long overdue rughooking pattern order.

(And, I did that...YAY for me!)

But, other than dishes and maybe laundry...I had no plans.

So.  

I was bored.

Okay, I was not bored.

Just looking for something to do.

Something I didn't have already started.

Or in my head.

Something new.

I looked through my fabric.

I found something to work on.

(big surprise...BIG!)

 

Except, I made a mistake in measuring...

you know the old adage...

measure twice, cut once? 

huh.  Apparently, I did not do that.

I needed fabric for the backing,

but now I need to get a little more.

Guess I won't be finishing this today. 

Just so ya know, this is much more beautiful in person.

(aren't we all?)

Before I go...I must include this photo.

This is one of the collie girls who was going to stay.

I took this photo last summer, when she was 8 weeks old.

She is now just over one year old...

What an adorable puppy face she had!

Her name is Alyss.

That's all for now!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jog...

I'm home! After 4 days of travel/fun to see my sister, Jill (in Wausau), and me Mum and BFF's Janer and Cindy (in Eau Claire), I am back home!!! Much as I love seeing my family/friends, it is good to be home!

I have much to share...a ton of photos, exciting things...will probably do this in a few different posts...don't want you to get all tired out!

I consider this to be the most important thing that occurred while I was on vacation...I've been thinking of donating baby quilts and/or coverlets to the neo-natal unit in a hospital close by, but wanted to do it on my own...not through a guild. I have procrastinated and not talked with anyone. Then, one day, me Mum was talking about the stocking caps she knits for the newborns at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire (I was born there) and I asked her to talk with her volunteer leader about what I wanted to do. She did and set up a meeting for us. On Friday, I met with Jaci, who was immensely pleased to meet me and to hear what I had to offer. I took my mini-quilt to show as an example of my work...and Jaci kept it! ~grin~ So, that's cool, hey?

What happened next, though, took my breath away...she asked me if I would be willing to sew kimono/bonnet sets for the stillborns. I tried really hard to not burst into tears, and said, "yes, I would love to." How sad. But. How gratifying. I'm not sure if the kimono/bonnet sets will be used as burial gowns, or just to put on the babies so their families are able to hold them and say their goodbyes. Jaci will find out what exactly is needed, the sizing, etc. and will send me a packet. I am so excited to be able to use my skills in this way, I just cannot even begin to explain. Apparently, this is a much-needed service that no one is providing...I will be honored. Once again, I am reminded of how God leads us in the direction He has planned for us.

I got to spend a few hours with some fantastic dogs...Collies! Allegra's breeder has been a very good friend of mine since Allegra came to live with me...but I don't see Cindy often. While in Eau Claire, I took time to visit her. Janer went with...and I think she might have been a bit overwhelmed with all the dogs...but, we had a GREAT time! 2 puppies, several adults. I didn't get photos of all the adult girls, but here are some of the photos that I did get during our time there...

Janer and I visited The Calico Shoppe...you guessed it, a quilt shop. ohman...so glad I had just a limited amount of money to spend. I saw so many fabrics I've not seen before! Picked up a few patterns for future gift-giving ideas and this charm pack...

Okay, this is taking a long time. Will continue later...and just wait til you see what I got in the mail!!! woohoo!!!!