Unfinished business

There is where ever you go some unfinished business. Quilters and sewers alike have unfinished projects that we like to call UFO's. I know I have at least 40 UFO's to complete, I have made a deal with myself to get some of them done in my spare time. Currently I'm working on two baby quilts, a rug, two Christmas projects, two Halloween projects, and a full size quilt. I will plead the fifth on the rest of them for now.
But unfinished business isn't always about quilting, when someone you love suddenly dies, there is unfinished business, like not being able to say good-bye. I've had two neighbors move away recently,
I hate good-byes, most of the time they are so final. I'll never see these neighbors again, anytime soon
I'm sure.
The sudden loss of a job is unfinished business, no time for good-byes or to take care of work not yet done, there is always a list left undone, that to do list you meant to work on, now it won't get done.
And in my house the laundry never gets finished, there is always dusting to do, cats to pet, dogs to wash, where does the time go.
I put in some time in the garden this weekend, caught up on the laundry and wrote two chapters of my novel, but its not done, so there is more unfinished business. I'm making great progress on the full size quilt for my aunt so that is good news but its still a UFO in my book.
There will always be UFO's because that is life as we know it, I still have more birthdays to celebrate and grandchildren to love, my job to go to and people to see. If only I could reverse the unfinished business of good-byes, like my Mom and Dad and people I loved and miss. Because good-bye is so final and I wasn't ready to let you go.
For now though, I want to take a few stitches in the baby quilt UFO, before the new little one arrives.

Always a Quilter, but a Caregiver first

Most of my friends and family know that I love to quilt, ask me anytime and I'll tell you what I'm currently working on or what my next project is. Honestly that is a long list, as a quilter there are many UFO's in my sewing room. For those people who aren't quilters or Star Trek fans, a UFO is also knwn as an unfinished project.
I'll be the first to admit, I have many. Ideas come and go, I always have a project for wherever I go,
to stitch or plan or quilt, you know how it goes, if you're a quilter. Okay so when I'm not quilting or stitching, my full time job is being a Caregiver. I love my job, so much so that most days it doesn't really feel like a job at all.
Many times while working I'm asked what my latest quilt is, I'm happy to show and tell. So I was quite surprised recently when one of my consumers needed me more than usual, but she said she hated to bother me, because she knew that I was busy quilting. I'm never to busy to care for you, I love my quilting but Caregiving comes first, the quilt can wait. So for the past few days, the needle and thread have moved slower than usual. That is okay.
My consumer is on the mend, she'll be back to her old self very soon, with all the TLC she is getting, along with lots of bed rest she will be smiling again. The days are long when someone you love is ill,
but its what we do.  And I'll keep doing it, the smiles are my reward for a long day.

Smiles are all the rage lately, the quilts I make are very often gifts of appreciation to the ones I love. And two very dear friends have been the receivers lately, they were totally surprised and so overjoyed at being the receiver. My heart smiles too, I love to make people happy. And so tomorrow its back to a big day of stitching and quilting. Bring on the sunshine.

Just a little quilting before the day is done.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone,
This has been a really great weekend so far, lots of garden time,  a little sleeping in which certainly does wonders for the body and mind. When I work a lot of hours in one week and also make time for the things I love, I need sleep.
The 2013 Cameo Quilt show is now over, it was awesome, amazing and so much fun. As chairman of the Boutique, that was not always fun. There was lots of work to be done, more meetings than one could imagine but it all got done which led to a successful show.
Now I can get back to my own work, life and all that matters. I've worked on several quilting projects these past few days. I've been hand quilting a full size quilt for an Aunt, I hope it will be done before to much longer.  I'm crazy quilting a contest entry for a magazine contest which is very time confusing but yet turning out beautiful, so far.
I'm putting together fabrics for a Quilt of Valor for someone who I just met that will be truly amazing and also working on a little surprise for another great lady that I just met. Although this sounds like a lot of work, it isn't because if it felt like work I wouldn't enjoy it so much. Of course this too all depends on the cooperation I get from my pet family. Most of the time when I sit down to stitch I'm greeted by one of those much loved pets, and they don't take no for an answer. My Tillie, a long haired gray and white cat is more persistent than any car salesman you'd ever want to meet. So pushy I tell you. Then there is my Skippy,  a lovable mix of Schnauzer and Yorkie, but oh so sweet. He will
actually let me know if I've sat for longer than he feels necessary. And then there's my birds, Bailey, Cooper, Corky and then some.
Life happens, life goes on and the quilting continues. There's work, gardening and laundry to do, people to see and of course the two and four legged friends of mine. Stay tuned.

Memory Walk for Mom

Today many of my family members and friends got together for the first annual walk for Mom. This walk has been in the works since earlier in the year when  my niece expressed an interest in doing a walk in honor of  Mom.
Since I do a lot of 5ks and marathons she knew I could figure it out. And so today marked the first Mom walk.
It was a great day, we even had the newest addition to the family, baby Victor. We had the Livestrong wristbands, a sign for Mom and  the inspiration to do the walk. As this was a Livestrong event we even managed to raise a little money.
Next year we hope for more people to come out for this worthwhile event and join us in remembering our Mom, our grandma and most of all our hero. Thanks to everyone who came out, and a big Thanks to my niece for suggesting we do this walk for "Grandma."
Livestrong events are for everyone who wants to become involved, and a great support system for those who may be fighting cancer. God bless everyone.

Memories of Mom-Theresa

Mom, not a day goes by when you are not thought of, in a good way, in a loving way. Until you've walked in my shoes, its hard to know how I'm feeling. The day I lost my Mom was the worst day I've lived in a very long time. Losing someone you love is so final, there isn't always time to take care of everything that needs to be done or say the things you want to say.
Life goes on for those you left behind, some days it feels so empty without you, where to turn, who will listen to my thoughts, feel my pain, my grief, the loneliness from day to day. There are the grandchildren who will know you only through stories they hear and glimpses of your past. For those who you left behind, we miss you and love you still and always. You're in our hearts forever and always. We carry on, in your absence but
know how much you were loved and still are. If you are blessed to have your parents in your lives today, please honor and love them.