The One with Random Photos...

It is a sunny Sunday afternoon here in Canon City.  57 degrees.  Gotta love the weather here.

Yeah.  So.  Here are some random photos...

Last month, me Mum came over to help peel apples.
I froze 13 pints of applesauce.  Yum.

This is an Ellen DeGeneres print from JoAnn Fabrics...made into an 18" pillow cover.

This is the 'will the real pineapple quilt please stand up' quilt.  I love it!

The backing...those bitty pineapples, though. ~grin~

Had lunch with Brenis Thompson one day...and, course, had to go to the LQS!

One area of my craft room.

Brenis posted this on FaceBook.  It totally cracked me up!!

Every once in awhile, I send sister Jill a photo similar to this. 
Just to tease.  She loves this quilt but it's staying with me.

Me Mum's birthday was the other day. 
We three daughters had a small party for her.
Pizza and long johns.  Yum!

1998...Allegra is in CCU post-op (her PDA surgery).

Well, that's about it.  Hope your Sunday is wonderful!!

"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 One About Allegra...

Today is the 8th anniversary of the death of Allegra.  

She was truly one in a million.

Allegra was my joy.

And, I miss her.

Always and forever...

"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

Allegra

Yesterday would have been Allegra's 13th birthday.  She died almost 18 months ago.  Gosh, how I miss her still.  I can now finally talk about her without a catch in my voice...without tears...most of the time, anyway.  As a tribute to Allegra, I am repeating the verse I wrote and posted over a year ago because it holds true to this day.  If you'd like, you may read that post in its entirety here.

Without You

My breaths are filled with sadness.
My pillows are tear-soaked.
The house seems so much larger.
The days so much more quiet.

There is a huge hole in my heart.
An emptiness that cannot be filled.

It's as if part of me went with you. 
Because...
I feel no nudges from your petite collie nose.

I see no expectant looks or wagging tail.

I hear no welcome home bark, no story of your day.
I have no tiny feet to trim, no beautiful long coat to groom.
I miss your warm body across my feet as I awaken.

The sun no longer shines just for you.

Oh, how I miss you, my baby girl, my Princess, my woo-woo girl. 

DQS9 & a Parting Gift...

Here is what I've done so far with my doll quilt swap quilt.  I'm thinking it looks okay.  Except for the mistake I made.  I am going to leave it, though...don't think it takes anything away from it.  Plus, I'm being lazy.

 

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Dr. Sophie Petersen, the neurologist who treated Allegra last fall, is leaving the VMTH.  I am very sad.  Not that I know her well, but because now I won't get the chance to know her.  She is moving closer to her family...cannot fault that reasoning.

For those of you who don't know anything about Allegra, she was my little collie girl...diagnosed with a lower brainstem lesion last fall.  She was euthanized on Halloween.  I was so impressed with how Dr. Petersen was with her...so very kind, soft-spoken and gentle.  She took her time examining Allegra every single time I showed up at work with her.  She was always willing to answer my questions and was generous with her time & explanations.  

If you're interested in reading more of what went on with Allegra, just enter her name in the search bar...or go to 'what I write about' in the sidebar and click on her name.

Dr. Petersen's last day is this Friday and I wanted to give her something to show my deep appreciation.  So, I made a table runner for her.  I had always intended to make her something...but you know how that goes. 

This table runner measures 15 3/4 x 32 1/2 inches.  I quilted with straight lines, one on each side of each seam.  Most of the fabrics are from the Iced Mocha line...one of my absolute faves...

Back to work tomorrow, but only for 3 days. 

All Kinds of Stuff!

I tried to post this yesterday, but my internet was down for several hours.  Cuz of the rain.  When it rains, (it pours) satellite speed internet sometimes does not work!  What a major pain.


This may be long...depends on how carried away I get. 


First things first.  I had a flat tire on the way home from work on Friday.  I was not overjoyed.  Not one little iota.  However!  It could have been a lot worse, and the fact that it wasn't was truly a 'praise God' moment!  My tire was a bit low the other day, so I put air in it.  When I left work on Friday, I noticed it was a bit low again.  Shoot.  It's the last remaining tire that came with my car...the other 3 have been replaced.  I made a note to self to call the tire store when I got home.   I ran a few errands on my way home...one of them being to stop at the bank to get some cash because I ran out of checks and am waiting for them to arrive in the mail.  On my way to Hobby Lobby, I stopped and put some air into the tire.  When I left Hobby Lobby, my tire blew.  ohdear...what to do?!?  I called John (the same John who unlocked my car for me a few weeks ago) and he said he would call someone (being a service garage, they don't do roadside service) and took down my location and phone number.  He called me back a few minutes later to let me know that a tow truck was on its way.  Luckily, I had enough cash to pay him.  Holy Schmoly...It took less than 5 minutes for that tire to be changed...thinking the guy must be from some nascar pit crew, he did it so fast!  {grin}


So, what, you're asking, did I praise God for?  The circumstances of going to the bank to get cash, and the fact that I was not yet out on the highway.  Though I wasn't thrilled about the entire thing, I have much to be thankful for.  And, that's not all!  While on the way home, I said outloud, "ohplease, God, let there be a fun package in the mail today!"  When I pulled up to the mailbox and opened it, I smiled and thanked God...cuz there was a package in the mailbox!  Not either of the ones I am waiting for, but one, nonetheless!  Now, I know that God did not 'zap' a package into the mailbox upon hearing my prayer...but the circumstances of the day, the happenings... were all part of the plan.  His plan.  It amazes me!  I am so blessed.
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Okay.  The package.  It was in care of me, but addressed:

I was grinning as I opened the package.  

The first thing I opened was this card.  See...for Tag!  From Miles, Riley & Jonesy...Joanne's cats.  {grin}  Joanne is a longtime online buddy...she loves Tag (don't you all?) and, because I have been receiving some fun packages in the mail, her cats felt that it was his turn.  Check out Joanne's blog here.

In the package...ohmygosh...2 generous 1/2 yard cuts of fabric & two tennis balls!  What a lucky boy.  All for Tag E. Butt!


Now really.  Take a look at that fabric...isn't that the most adorable fabric you've ever seen?  I sure think so!

I knew immediately how to use the fabric, too!  Tag has never had his own 'special' crate pad.  I put blankets in there for him.  Allegra had a really cute puppy (not collies, though) fleece pad.  I still have it, but I have not passed it on to Tag.  Cuz it was Allegra's.  But, now he will have his own!!!  YAY!  


Course, I had to get right on it, so here's how it looks now...

I was going to showcase the chocolate puppies, but after playing around with it for an hour, I changed my mind...it would have wasted too much fabric.  Instead, I figured out what size blocks would use the most fabric and would also give me what I needed for the size pad I wanted.  As you can see, there are lots of yellow, black and chocolate lab pups...and one golden retriever pup (the one laying on the green pillow).  Thank you so much, Joanne, Miles, Riley & Jonesy!   
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I finished the remaining 4 blocks of my postage stamp quilt.  There are 1296 squares in this quilt...

Once I have it sewn together, it should measure about 70" square.
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I watched the movie, Dear John, yesterday.  Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name, it is definitely a chick flick.  Good, though. 

edited to add:  Click on the link to see what the movie is all about:  "Dear John"
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Last, but certainly not least...I am participating in 'doll quilt swap 9'!!!  

This will be my 3rd dqs and I am so happy that I made it in.  In previous swaps, there was just a general sign-up with a certain number allowed.  Once that number was reached, the sign-up was closed.  This time, a lottery draw was put in place...5 days for sign-ups and then the draw.  We will find out next week who our partners are.  It's always so much fun to find out who you'll be making a quilt for.  This is a secret swap.  You know who you're giving to...once you find out, you stalk her/him, figure out what might be appropriate and then go for it!  But, you don't know who you will receive from - until the quilt arrives in the mail.  We have until the first part of September, so that gives us plenty of time to plan and execute a doll quilt.

No more stuff to write about (yeah, sure).
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PS  I had been home for a long while (on Friday) when John from the service station called to see if everything worked out and if I got home okay.  How nice was that!  Will have to bake some cookies or something for him. 

A Few Things...

First, I want to thank you all so much for your feedback.

I appreciate you so very much!

I guess I'll leave things alone.

I rather like the look of my blog right now.

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I had to (read HAD to) go to 2 quilt shops today.

Not one, but TWO!

It was tough, but I managed.

{grin}

I picked up this fabric...

see the Eiffel Tower?

see the Statue of Liberty?

The fabric is called 'gnomesome traveler'...

it's crackin' me up!

I have a plan.

Don't you worry.

I picked up this dotted fabric for the binding of the Blush baby quilt.

It's gonna look darling!

And, this is the second day that I worked 
on my Postage Stamp quilt.

These are NOT 1" finished squares, though.

Do you think I'm nuts?

Okay, so don't answer that.

I'm cheating...these will be 2" finished squares.

(By the way, those strips in the photo are just laying there.

They're not sewn together...don't want you to think that I cannot match seams!)

There is a lot of sewing and cutting with this quilt.

But, I can already tell that it'll be worth it in the end.

AND, today I cut my first binding on the bias!  

YAY!

It's for my large whirlygig quilt.

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Allegra would have been 12 years old today.

There are no words that would come close
to conveying how I feel...how much I miss her.

Missing Allegra.

I am not sinking into the depths of despair, but I do have large moments of time that I could so easily be there.  I miss my little collie girl so very much.  To look at me, or to talk with me, one would think I was doing just fine.  Yet, several times during the days & nights, my eyes fill with tears, I cry silently...or break down completely & sob.  

I wrote down my thoughts.

Without You
My breaths are filled with sadness.
My pillows are tear-soaked.
The house seems so much larger.
The days so much more quiet.

There is a huge hole in my heart.
An emptiness that cannot be filled.

It's as if part of me went with you. 
Because...
I feel no nudges from your petite collie nose.

I see no expectant looks or wagging tail.

I hear no welcome home bark, no story of your day.
I have no tiny feet to trim, no beautiful long coat to groom.
I miss your warm body across my feet as I awaken.

The sun no longer shines just for you.

Oh, how I miss you, my baby girl, my Princess, my woo-woo girl.  

My Allegra.

What's in a Name?

Allegra's AKC registered name was Kelonie's A Heartbeat Away.

Kelonie is my kennel name...a combination of my Gram's first and last names.

Allegra comes from music...her breeder is a concert violinist, so it was very appropriate...allegro meaning quick/happy. The 'o' ending is male, the 'a' ending is female.

A Heartbeat Away...She was born with a heart defect which was surgically corrected when she was 3 months old. I thought this phrase was fitting because of her heart defect...it comes from Whitney Houston's song, 'One Moment in Time'. (For some reason, I cannot get a youtube video to load...but click here to listen to the song.)

The Sun Has Set...

on Allegra's life.

After not being able to get much food in her

& after watching her go through 3 neuro episodes this morning,

- each one worse than the one before -

I made the decision to euthanise Allegra.

It wasn't easy.

In fact, it was one of the most difficult things I've ever done.

I've been worrying and stressing

about this for the last several weeks.

Knowing it was coming...praying I'd be ready.

Didn't matter if I was or not.

Allegra very clearly let me know that it was time.

Thank you all so much for your support, caring,

prayers & good thoughts.

I haven't been very good at replying to your comments.

Please forgive me.

And know that you are much appreciated.

April 8, 1998 - October 31, 2009

Good Days, Bad Days...

Today is not a good day.

For Allegra.

For me.

I am hoping that we will have many more good days together.

I am so not ready to say goodbye.

But, I know her time is coming soon.

She will let me know when she's ready.

Allegra.

Allegra has had 3 neuro 'episodes' in the past 24 hours. Not true seizures, but ataxia (unsteady/uncoordinated movements & staggering gait), nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eyes) and circling. It's so difficult for me to watch her having these episodes...I cannot imagine what those people who have had no experience with this must go through. As a CVT and a former CCU technician, it absolutely tears me apart to watch her go through these episodes...definitely an entirely different thing when it is happening with your own dog.

I had been weaning her off the Prednisone because it didn't really seem to make much of a difference. But, she started having more problems with swallowing and wasn't able to eat much. Apparently, the Prednisone did do some good! I put her back on it last night and she ate a good supper tonight. That's encouraging.

Please keep her in your prayers.

Au. Then. Tic.

Ohmygosh...look what came in the mail today!!!

It's a 'just because I love you' gift from Brenis! She's such a good friend! I have lusted over this fabric since the first time I saw a photo of it in June. Saw some at the LQS when my sisters and I were there...resisted (ohman, it was difficult!) buying any. Now I have some...YAY! Thank you so much, Bren! I love you, too!! There's about a yard total...what shall I make with it??? My brain is coming up with many possibilities!

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You all never saw the apron I made for myself.

This is my 'sisters weekend' gift to myself.

(actually, I don't know why I didn't take photos of the other 3 like this!)

Allegra is doing well. Had a neuro exam today and Dr. Petersen was very pleased with how she is doing. Seems to have a gag reflex...or more of one (that was like nonexistent), anyway. Said she looks good. So.

But. Took urine in to be checked for bacteria. None showed. So, no UTI? However, it showed bilirubin and glucose. Glucose??? As in Diabetes??? Weird. I'll have some bloodwork done to see what that shows. 6 weeks ago, everything was completely normal.

So, prayers are still needed for my baby girl.

Today she is very happy and yappy. YAY!!

No way am I going to tell her to be quiet. Ya know?

Update on Allegra and More Small Projects...

Thank you so much for your prayers...they worked!
(but, don't stop, please.)
Allegra's fever is down,
I got 2 doses of antibiotics in her,
she ate some food (not a lot, but enough),
and she is resting very well.
Barking now, too. woohoo!!!
I need to give her a butt bath later.

So.

Thank you, friends...and Thank YOU, God.
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Since sitting and worrying about Allegra wasn't productive,

I got busy and worked on two more small projects.

When we were at Stitcher's Crossing last week,
Julie picked out some fabric.
"What are you going to do with those?", I asked.
She answered, "I'd like you to make kitty blankets for me, please."

And, yes, I did point out to her that those are dogs on that fat quarter.

She knew that. Wants her cats to remember that DOGS RULE!!! {grin}

She did a good job selecting the fabrics, don't you think?

I put these together for her this afternoon.
Need to sandwich and quilt them.
The big piece of green in the above photo is the backing.
I'll bind one of them with the blue...
not sure about the other.
The fabric is about all used up.

Take a minute and really look at this next one.
Remember my wonky log cabin squares
when I was trying to be random and used
practically the same fabrics/colors in the same place?
Look here to refresh your memory.
I cut the strips for the kitty blanket
in random sizes, and thought I was placing them randomly.
However, if you start with the narrow orange strip
in the middle and go both ways,
you will see how I just can not do random!!!

That's all for this weekend.
Have a good week!

Allegra.

My baby girl is not feeling well today. She isn't eating, has a fever and possibly another UTI. She is sticking closer to me than she normally does (see, she's right across the hall from where I am sitting).Will take her in with me tomorrow...in the meantime, I'll start her on antibiotics and see if I can get her to eat some chicken.

She doesn't bark much when she doesn't feel well...and since she usually has so much to say about every little thing, it's very disturbing to me when she is quiet.

Please include her in your prayers today.

25 Hours With My Sisters...

Wow, I finally have some time to do this while my satellite speed internet is being cooperative. Finally.

I last wrote on Thursday night, when I made a quilt block for Julie.

The next day, Friday, Julie & I went to the vet school (where I work & where she used to work) so that she could visit with some friends.

We did a few errands and then came home to get
ready for the other two sisters.
Julie wanted some photos

taken with the pups.

Here's Tag, sitting nice & straight for her

(her hand - holding a stick - is just outside the shot).

I think she's whispering sweet nothings to Allegra.

Joyce & Jill finally arrived! YAY!!!

We had pizza for supper and then sat & gabbed.

(l to r: Julie, Jill, Joyce)

Each time we have our 'sisters weekend' we exchange gifts. Jill gave sister plaques, Julie gave each of us 3 jars of jam (oh, it's sooo yummy), Joyce gave each of us a votive candle, dishrag that she made + money. I made aprons for everyone. Julie's has a wine motif, Jill's has motorcycles, and Joyce's is black/cream with a pocket that matches the fabric of theplastic bag holder I made for her last Christmas. I think they all were very happy.

(I made one for myself...pizza slices!)

Mom and Aunt Bev sent gifts, too,
but I don't have good photos of them.

Thank you very much...the gifts are great!

I wanted to give Jill her Christmas/birthday gift so

that Julie and Joyce would have a chance to see it.

(yup, she's crying.)

We got our jammies on and were all set to watch a movie (he's just not that into you). Julie grabbed my 'practice' quilt, Jill grabbed a tan quilt that I usually have on the ottoman, and I had my star quilt that Brenis made for me last year. Joyce sat there in the middle...here's how it went. (Close, anyway.)

Joyce: don't I get a blanket?
me: oh. do you want one?
Joyce: well, yeah.
me: {sigh} I suppose I can get something. (walking toward the hallway) I think I have an old...

Joyce to sisters: I suppose I'll get an old army blanket or something...that'll itch.

I came down the hall with the black and white quilt (I know, you haven't seen it, yet...be patient!) and tossed it into her lap. She looked at it and asked if I had made it. Told her I did...she noticed the patch of purple on the back (her fave color) and we told her to look at the label. She did.

It read: "To Joyce, From Jacque. Heart, 2009."

She sobbed. Not kidding! See?

And, sobbed.

For 10 minutes!

She finally calmed down and looked it over.

I think she likes it. 

And, here it is...the black and white quilt I made for her.

I bought the fabric last spring and made it
in 4 days a few weeks ago.

It's Joyce's birthday/Christmas gift.

See the text pieces? They are verses from Psalms.

Here's the back. See the purple?

She LOVES purple, so I had to put a piece in there for her.

I didn't want to have any quilting in the text blocks,

so I just quilted it in straight lines on both sides of each horizontal seam.

After all the excitement died down, we settled down to watch the movie.

The pups got comfy, too.

We stayed up late, chatting and laughing and having a good time.

The next day, Saturday, I made breakfast for everyone.

We showered, etc., and went shopping at Gordman's

(a discount department store that is Julie's all time fave store!).

Joyce and I talked about the doll quilts she wants me to make...

so we ended up at Stitcher's Crossing to look for some fabric.

Went in with Joyce saying she wanted purples and pinks.

Here's what we ended up with.

They are gonna be so dang cute! {grin})

Julie bought some fabric for a quilted kitty blanket. More on that later.

We ate lunch here...

(left to right: Joyce, Julie, Me, Jill)

Salute! To the 4 J's!

Of course, time for them to leave came all too soon.

I love them & miss them very much.