How Many Parts Will It Take to Catch Up...Part Two.

Wow, would you look at this...here I am again...so soon!  Woohoo!

Now, just where was I?

OH!  I made one final pineapple block...

The small square in the center is from yardage that Joanne (see the fabric here) gave me years ago...I had made Tag a quilted pad with it.  This little square was about all I had left.  The Chocolate Puppy. Tag.  

Okay, now let's move on... to more family news.  Two of my nephews (hmmm, I guess they are my only nephews) had babies within the last few months.  And, both of those nephews are in service to our country!  Proud of them!

Here is Baby Alex...

And, here is Baby Jackson...

How precious, hey?  

Before the scrappy log cabin blocks and the scrappy pineapple blocks, I made this quilt.  Dana of Old Red Barn Co generously shared how she made her quilt like this.  I love it...and it's what got me on the scrappy quilt-making path.  

I bought some succulents...love these babies! 

I have shopped online and I have shopped at my LQS...and I have gotten gobs of fabric!  Some of it to finish up WIPs and some to start new projects with.  Ohboy.  

Someday, I hope to have this all used up (she said, laughing hysterically!).

Well, I think that's all the most important stuff.  ~grin~

Perhaps, now that things are settling down, I'll be able to get back into the habit of writing a blog post at least once a week.  My hope, anyway.

I am on Instagram...kelonie is my user name.  I always post photos there.

Bye for now.  See ya soon!




"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

Hello There!!

Well, hello there!  I have been absent for way too long!  Gosh, I just didn't realize how long it had been, and once I did...well, it became longer because I knew it would take a bit of time to sit down and catch you all up on what's going on around here.

Not that there is much that is exciting...if anything, at all.  Just busy.  And, more busy.

Things are going well with Mum being here...and looking more positive.  Back in late October, she had abdominal surgery.  Went to the ER with a distended abdomen...found air in her abdomen, which was leaking through a very thin wall in a small portion of her colon.  Removed and resected.  Good deal.  She did well...very little pain afterwards.  At this time, she is experiencing a bit of progression with her Parkinson's Disease, but she is stronger than she has been since she moved here and we're determined to build on that.

Jill and I had lunch with Brenis in November.  We met about halfway between here and Aurora...ate at 3 Margaritas restaurant and spent a few hours chatting and laughing and exchanging gifts. Brenis' birthday was in June...you wonder why she was getting her birthday gifts in November?  Well, the thing is, we had been trying to get together (as in, trying for her to come and stay a few days) since before her birthday.  Not sure why she brought gifts for me, but who am I to say no to gifts of fabric and a 24" Omnigard ruler??  LOVE it!!!

Brenis

Brenis did some quilting for me.  Fabulous quilting!  You may have noticed that the list of flimsies (on my sidebar) has gotten shorter. That's because I have gotten 5 quilts finished this fall.  YAY!!!  I showed you both the HST String and the Anna Maria Horner patchwork quilts here.   Bren quilted the Kashmir Filmstrip quilt, the Lotta Jansdotter patchwork quilt, and a baby girl granny square quilt. I need to launder them and will get some good photos, so you should be seeing them very soon.

I have been working on Christmas gifts.  Cannot show you much of anything...except for some extra things I made.

This Patchwork Christmas Tree Pillow was so fun and easy to do. Sherri, over at A Quilting Life blog, shared it here.  I did not do the patchwork border, so my pillow cover measures 12".

I was planning on turning this next piece into a pillow cover, but left it as a mini mat, instead.  Jennie, over at the Clover and Violet blog, offered this free Pixelated Present quilt block pattern...find it here.   I didn't do the pixelated part, but I think it is dang cute as is. I made it to measure 12", I think.  

Also, I made this mini quilted zipper pouch.  I found the tutorial here.  I plan to make more.  Cuz how could I not?  And, besides, this one is mine...you may have recognized that it is made with Kashmir III fabric.  (it's okay if you did not know that.)  It measures 4" wide by 2.75" high by 2" deep.  Love that big metal zipper on the little pouch, don't you?  This has got to be one of the most adorable little zipper pouches ever.  EVER.

I made a 16" pillow cover and fabric basket for sister Julie's birthday.  Fabric is from the Purebred collection by Erin Michael.  Love it!!

Then, just because I could, I made some cloth napkins.

2 odd remnants of fabric.  Playing around with decorative stitches on the blue one.

These are from the Blossom fabric collection by Urban Chiks.  2009?

2 different pairs.

Lots more sewing for Christmas going on, but nothing else I can show you.


And, here are a few random photos...

Me Mum on Thanksgiving Day.

Pumpkin French Toast.  YUMMY!!

Ran across this...it is exactly how I feel about Tag.

"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

One Year Ago...

1. Today is the one year anniversary of Tag's death.
2. Already.
3. 
   
4. It is so very difficult for me to believe
5. I have been without him for this long.
6. 
   
7. Yet, here I am.
8. Without him.  

I have had several dogs throughout my lifetime...and all of them have been special to me.  In their own way.  But, don't you know...that brown boy grabbed hold of a larger place in my heart than any other...and certainly more than I ever could have imagined.  

I do not often speak of TagEButt...reason being that it has been almost impossible to do so without crying.  Until just recently.  

I really thought that it would be easier to leave him behind. To have this new apartment in this new location be a place that he had never been.  Wow. My imagination just didn't leave that alone.  Not.  At. All. For many months after moving here, I saw him in every single spot that one would imagine him being. On the new chair ottomans (after shoving the numerous pillows out of his way, of course).  In the new corner behind my chair. Squeezed under the new dining table. Under the light table in the sewing room.  Those flashes of seeing him here only made me miss him more.

For a very long time after last September 7, I knew that I would never have another dog.  The pain was that sharp...the grief that deep.  Proven again..."grief is the price we pay for love".  (click here)

A sort of chronological progress....

*On the day Tag died, I could only write:

My laughter.

My heart.

My always.

*In December, I wrote:

I have said this before...upon the loss of another of my dogs..."Grief is the price we pay for love."  It remains true today.

I think it does not help one little bit that I am dogless...with no dog by my side.  Before, there was always another one there to help me get through the pain and the loss.

Would I give up the 13 years of being with Tag to not feel what I feel now...grief so great that it feels as if I am wrapped in it?  No. Absolutely not.  The time I had with Tag was priceless.  He was the best spur of the 'yes, I'll take him' moment ever.  Ever.  And, once I am able to tuck him deep within my heart...to always be there with me, I'll be able to smile instead of cry with thoughts of him.

As it is now...it is difficult to breathe.  With almost every thought I have of him, I am on the verge of crying. Not just 'tears in my eyes' crying, but sobbing that completely overwhelms me.  I miss him with every breath I take...

*In March, I wrote:

Tango was my calm.

Cruiser was my love.

Allegra was my joy.

Tag...well, Tag was my laughter.

And, my heart. 

Which continues to weep.

It is only recently that I have begun to think that I might have another dog.  To consider what breed would be acceptable. Of course, no pets are allowed here, so I would need to move.  But, the fact that I see that day coming has given me hope that my heart is healing.  That I am almost ready to tuck Tag deep within.  To open my heart again.  To be able to just breathe...

"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

To Honor All the Chocolate Labs I Have Loved...

I received a gift in the mail today.

For me.  From me.

Commissioned by me.

A mug mat with a friendship star block.

And the head of a brown dog.

Made by Donna

(who was first mentioned here).

A machine embroidered headstudy 

of a Chocolate Labrador.

Not (just) Tag.

All of the brown dogs I have loved...

Dutch, Tucker, Jigs, and Tag.

The workmanship on this is excellent.

Superb, really.

Donna worked very hard to ensure

that everything was perfect.

She did an outstanding job.

I love this.

I love her.

I am blessed.

"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

A Few Things...

It has been 3 weeks since I last posted.  Wow.  I remember when I used to write a post almost every single day!  Time changes things, I guess.  

I am enjoying the winter here in Colorado...it is very different than in Wisconsin.  Very little snow and cold here in Canon City (because we're in a banana belt), which is a welcome change.  I am happy with that.

I have not said anything about Tag...mostly because I cannot speak or write about him without crying.  I miss my brown boy so very much.  And, that's all I have to say about that right now.  

I have been reading a lot lately.  I have always been a voracious reader, but I had a few years when I barely even looked at books, let alone concentrated long enough to read one. Not sure what that was all about, but I am happy to report that I have finished 13 books thus far this year.  They are, in fact, all by the same author.  I received a book - won in a giveaway I didn't remember entering - by Robert Crais (rhymes with grace) and enjoyed it so much that I went back and started at the beginning.  I am working my way through the list and have read almost all of his books.

If I'm not reading, I am usually sewing or playing cards with sister Jill.  

So, what have I made lately that I have not shown you?  

Kleenex Cozies

More Kleenex Cozies

Still More Kleenex Cozies

Fabric Tray - bottom measures 3" square

The tutorial for this fabric tray can be found here.  

  
And, one more pillow cover with black.  I love this canvas duck text fabric...HAD to make a pillow cover with it.  

I have placed an order for a custom item (no, not a pillow cover) and when that arrives, I will have color in the living room...I might have to make more pillow covers.  ~grin~

There are a few other items I finished, but they have not yet been received.  I will show them to you once the recipients have them in hand.

In the meantime, stay warm and have a good month.  




"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

Three Days...

Grieving for Tag.  ohboy.  ~sigh~  I'm gonna tell you...it is tough being without him.
  

I will be okay. Eventually.

Having things to keep busy with helps keep my mind occupied. The perfect distraction...there are just 3 more days until 'load the truck and leave Wisconsin' day!  I have a lot packed, but there is much more to do.  

I spent Wednesday and Thursday of this week in Eau Claire visiting family and friends.  It was a nice time...although, as always, it was not nearly enough time.

Keep an eye on Facebook to see how my trip is going and (hopefully) photos of what I've seen along the way to my new home in Colorado.

"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

Time to Say Good-bye...

It is done.

TagEButt

February 8, 2002 - September 7, 2015

My laughter.
My heart.
My always.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

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?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The chocolate puppy and his warthog.

And boxes waiting to be filled...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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.    

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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