Visitors...

We've had visitors this week...coming to say good-bye to Tag. And, to say good-bye to me. 

Kristen worked with me in CCU at the Vet School...she has known Tag all of his life.  She is a very special friend...

Paul, Rachel and Devin came for lunch today.  I will not see Rachel and Devin again before I move, but Paul will be here to help load the truck on the 14th (ohmygosh...that is just 9 days from now!). 

Here are some photos...

Contemplative...

  

Of course, he did...he had to poop.  Thank you, Devin, for doing poop patrol.

Paul is Tag's favorite brother.

Tag is taking a little break with his warthog

A bit blurry, but a good photo of Devin with Tag.

Goofy face on Rachel, but I love this photo, anyway.

As I am typing this, I look up to see the brown boy watching me.

Time is quickly passing...the days are numbered.  



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The Countdown Continues...

Can you believe it?  There are just 11 days more until 'load the truck and leave Wisconsin' Day!  whew!  I still have much to do, but I am slowly checking off items on my list.  Today's to-do list includes packing up the sewing and work tables. Naomi Janome has already donned her cover and is sitting in a box.  I am hoping that I'll be set up in my new apartment, ready to sew, within 3 weeks.  

In the meantime, I have more packing to do.  There are still some people to see before I go...and, I need to take a drive up the highway to say good-bye to family and friends.  

Tag hasn't wanted to lay in the big easy chair with me much...course, it's been warm.  But, today, with the air conditioning on, he wanted to come up.  So, what you see here is exactly what is happening...he is all snuggled in, right up tight to my leg and sleeping soundly...while I am checking out emails and blogs.  

I am working on the big project...slowly but surely it is getting done.

And, I will have another very special project to show you before I move.  


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Books for Sale...Wet Feet...

In the midst of packing, it occurred to me that I have more quilting and rug hooking books than I will ever use.  So, with the motto of declutter/destash/simplify in mind for my new apartment, I have started to list those I no longer need on eBay.  Check them out here.

I'll be adding to the list as the day/week goes on.  Keep checking my eBay page for new additions.

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I took this photo during my morning walkie with Tag...

a friend mentioned that I should print and frame it.

I think that is an awesome idea...don't you?

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The chocolate puppy and his warthog.

And boxes waiting to be filled...

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Hope your week goes well for you!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

So Much to Do, Yet...

It is almost time...just 15 days until 'load truck and leave Wisconsin' day.  I have so much to do, yet.  Luckily, I should be able to get it all done with a minimum of stress.  HA!  No, really, I think it's all manageable.  One of the most important of things on my list was to spend a bit of time with the Princess Kaylynn.  That happened yesterday.  (Kaylynn and her family live about an hour from here, so our usual manner of getting her here and back is to meet about halfway.  I love that Kaylynn's Mom has been so helpful with our visits.)  We met at our usual exit off the interstate...Kaylynn and I ate lunch together at the self-proclaimed 'largest Culver's in the world',  

It was a great time...eating and chatting about school (Kaylynn's going to be in the 5th grade!?!), summer vacation, my move, and many other things.  Of course, the time went by all too fast.  I will see her when I come back to visit friends/family in Wisconsin...and we will FaceTime.  AND, her Mom is perfectly willing to allow her to fly to visit me.  

She is getting to be such a little lady...and such a sweetheart.  

    
I have a big sewing project to start and finish this week.  The very last one on my list of things I really needed to get done before the move.   I'll tell you all about it and show photos in my next post.

In the meantime, have a great Sunday!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Lotsa Photos...

Since Tag's diagnosis of osteosarcoma, I have been taking a daily photo of him and posting it on Instagram.  Today was photo #48. I thought that those of you not on Instagram might want to see some of my faves...

Tag is hanging in there.  He is sleeping more than ever...I think he's bored with me.  Or, he is more painful than I think he is.  It could simply be that he is old and needs more sleep.  Yup, that's the one I'm going with.    

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I'm meeting Princess Kaylynn for lunch today. 

I have no sewing that I can show you.  I did work on a secret project this past week, though.  Coming soon.  

Next up on my list is to repair an antique quilt.   

Just 16 days until 'load the truck and leave Wisconsin day'!  

Have a great weekend!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Forward Ho!...

Packing is not fun.  Just sayin'.  Unfortunately, it's something that needs to be done.  It really doesn't take all that long to pack a few boxes...it's mostly the going through things and deciding what I no longer want that is the most dreaded and time-consuming part of it.  But, I am making progress. There is only so much one can do until just a few weeks before moving day.  I have a list and am working my way through it.    

Canon (pronounced canyon) City, Colorado, here I come...I have a place to live!  Baby sister, Jill, helped so much...she found a nice two bedroom apartment for me that is within 1/2 mile of her house! I am so excited...two bedrooms means having a sewing room!  I have really missed having a separate room to contain my mess use just for sewing.  I am very much looking forward to that. My bedroom will be my bedroom and my living area will be just that. So different than having Naomi Janome and fabrics and all of the paraphernalia needed for whatever project I am working on covering the dining table.  Ya know?

I have continued to get some sewing done.  A former coworker asked me if I had time before the big move to sew 2 Halloween treat bags for her.  I could not say no.  In years past, I made these  and these for her.  Here are the two I made for her this year...

14x14x4 with fusible fleece and quilted

Only one more project that needs to be done before I move.  And, I have another special project that I am working into my schedule. Plenty of time.  
          
Tag is holding his own.  He continues to look forward to his walkies, is eating well...sleeps a lot, though.  I count each day with him as a gift.







"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Eyelet and Seersucker...

This weekend is all about packing.  Not the most exciting thing to be doing, but it will feel good to get a bunch of boxes packed and ready to go.  Moving day is in 30 days!  

Lindy (my almost birthday twin) commissioned me to make a ringbearer pillow for her daughter's wedding. The wedding is in Virginia...Issa is wearing eyelet and Jack, the groom, is wearing a blue seersucker suit.  Lindy gave me her thoughts on it and this is what I came up with.  It was a fun project to work on.

Off to get some boxes packed!  

Have a great day!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Linen Love...and More...

The majority of my sewing life has been spent sewing articles of clothing.  Yet, I still receive a huge amount of satisfaction when something I've made turns out to be exactly how I envisioned it on the person it was made for.  Ya know?

I saw a pattern for a tunic top over at Purl Soho and knew it would be a perfect top for my friend, Kim.  She agreed.  It was quick and easy, and I love top-stitching, so it was a fun sewing experience for me.

Details:
One yard of handkerchief linen in the color driftwood (purchased here).  
Free pattern at Purl Soho found here.
Cording.
Ivory cotton thread.

I have only worked with the medium weight linens, so working with this lighter weight linen was a new experience for me.  A very pleasant one, as it was a dream to work with!

The tunic top fits Kim perfectly!

photobombed by Tahoe!

I have a few ideas for some modifications...we shall see how they work out when next I make one of these. Though the measurements are given for only 5 sizes, it would be super easy to adjust them to make any size needed.

This is one of the two projects I mentioned in my previous post that needed to be done.  The other project is finished, but I am waiting for it to be delivered before I show it.  

I actually made a few small things this week.  Sometimes, simple straight sewing is just what I need to be doing.  A lot of that going on around here, lately.  But, that's okay.

Here are a few more zippy pouches and kleenex cozies (I know...not too exciting!)

I made these ~5x6, so a cell phone could easily fit into them.

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Tag continues to hold his own.  Nothing new.

Have a good day!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

When You Have Nothing to Do...

It was one of those days.  I had many things I could do, but nothing that I really wanted to do.  Ya know?  So, I did nothing.  Well, until I thought I might go crazy if I really did nothing all day...so I sewed a few zippy pouches.  Nothing fancy...just some simple sewing.

fronts

backs

I really should start paying attention to what I am doing with the hang tabs.  Sometimes, they are on the right and sometimes on the left.  Same with the zippers.  Actually, that's where it all begins.  I put the hang tabs on the same side as the zipper tab, so it all depends on which way I pick up my fabric and place it on the zipper.  Seems like an easy fix...if I remember.  

These fabrics are scraps from the Bella collection by Lotta Jansdotter.  I love her fabrics!  I made a patchwork quilt with two of her lines - Echo and Bella - back here.  Course, it is still just a flimsy...still in my wip pile...waiting to be finished.

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Tag is holding his own.  Nothing new to say, really.  He's such a goofy boy, though...and cracks me up on a regular basis.  I take a photo of him every day.  And, then I put it on Instagram (I am kelonie, and you can find the collection of photos here #tagebutt).

Have a great week!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

1 and 2...

I finished a few things last week and realized this morning that I had not shown them to you.  How could that be?  ~grin~

1.  Rail fence quilt top I made using the jelly roll of Allspice Tapestry by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree I received from Cathy.  I finished it last Monday...was pretty much a 4-day project. At any rate, it is now sitting in my to-be-quilted pile.  

2.  Dog blanket for Curly Sue, the beagle I take care of once a day. It measures about 24 inches.  I had never made her a blanket, so thought it'd be a fun thing to do before I move.  It's really bright, isn't it?  I was given the fabric and wanted to put it to good use.  I think it's quite fun.

I think I did pretty good with my randomness!

pieced back and scrappy binding!  

I have two projects that I need to start and finish this week.  Both of them are brand new to me.  But not difficult.  Wish me luck!  


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

My Big News...

I hadn't mentioned this previously, but I had planned to go to Eau Claire this weekend.  However, you know how life is...it happens. I ended up staying home because Tag had a few bad days.  He is fine. For now.  I increased his Tramadol again because he was feeling too much pain.  He tries to be my stoic brown boy, but a few little things told me that the pain was too much for him.  He is doing well on the increased dosage...let us hope that it helps for a good while, yet.  He's still eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, enjoying his little walks, and generally being himself.

So.  To move on.  I have some big news to share...I can tell you all now because I shared the news with me Mum and sister, Julie, yesterday.  Finally.  With all that me Mum (who has Parkinson's Disease) has going on, I had really wanted to tell her in person. That was the primary purpose for my visit to Eau Claire this weekend.  But, I just couldn't put if off any longer, so I FaceTimed 
with them yesterday and gave them the news.  (Sisters Joyce and Jill have known for a bit...and have encouraged and supported me in this.) 
      
In six weeks, I am embarking upon a new adventure.,,a new chapter in my life...a long-thought out step in my life's plan...

I am moving to Colorado!  My sisters and I have talked about this for years...that we would all move to Colorado when we retired. You may remember that my baby sister, Jill, is already out there. She jumped the gun and moved out there before she retired.  But, that's all good for her.

I dislike the winter season here so much...and dread it more every year.  Where I am moving, the winters are nothing in comparison. And, the humidity is much, much less than it is here in Wisconsin. Canon (pronounced canyon) City is my destination.  Here and here are links if you wish to get a look at that area.   

It took me a very long time to decide that it would be okay to leave my sons and grandchildren.  And, of course, my friends.  There are so many emotions that I am dealing with throughout this entire process...but, the overriding one is excitement.  There is a little thing called technology...and oh, how I love it!  With FaceTime, I will be able to have 'face-to-face' conversations with many members of my family and several of my friends.

There is so much to do in the next 6 weeks.  I have slowly been going through my belongings, and this apartment is filling up with packed boxes.  (I so want to live a more simplistic and decluttered life.)  I have the moving truck reserved.  Jill, who is in charge of finding a place for me to live, has a line on a suitable apartment. Things are starting to move at a faster pace...gathering momentum toward to my next adventure...     

What about Tag.  Yes, what about him.  I was planning, of course, that he would be with me on this new adventure.  It looks now like that won't be happening.  I am very emotional about this, and not at all ready to lay that all out here.     

Well, that is it.  My big news.  

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11