Friday, August 15, 2014

A BUSY WEEK!

Well talk about a quick week, here we are to late Friday afternoon ALREADY! I spent most of my week running to appointments it seems, but it is nice to get that all out of the way for another year.  Got my teeth cleaned and examined on Monday, a crown (at least the temporary anyway) put on Wednesday, and ran to the doc's on Thursday to go over my yearly blood work and get my blood pressure checked etc.  I HATE the docs, I can't lie, but I did get ALL good reports so guess that was good anyway.  My cholesterol was the lowest it's been in several years, my blood sugars are "mostly" totally in control, (just my fasting sugar is a little high once in a while) and my blood pressure was GREAT!!  YAY!!  I have been dieting the last two months....HATE that too, but it is what it is.  I have lost 15 pounds (which is only a drip in a very large bucket, but I will take it!).  I was concerned that I might be developing diabetes to add to my list of health annoyances, (do to the occasional slightly elevated fasting reading) which was what got me to be begin seriously watching what I eat in the first place, but I am happy to report I am NOT diabetic. WHEW....Mom developed that in her later years, so I am watching mine a little closer as I have followed in her footsteps with most of my medical issues.  I am very sure that continued dieting will only help in this department, and most of my others as well.  My doc was thrilled with me, and encouraged me of course to keep it up.  I have what I refer to as "the light switch on" so I am running with it.  I have fought my weight most of my adult life.  Well since I was in my mid forties anyway (just seems longer, lol) and I am either "in the mode" or I am not.  I have NO idea what makes me "in the mode" or I have a feeling I could make a million dollars.  I can't always logically talk myself into watching what I eat, no matter what is staring me in the face, and sometimes I just resign myself to what it is.  And then other times it is easy to "get a grip" and eat the way I KNOW how to do.  Doesn't matter what diet I am following.  I am either on or I am off.  Sigh....I WANT to eat healthy and feel good, but then again on the other hand, oh how I love to eat.  The hard part is that until 6 years or so ago I was an exercise nut.  There really was no stopping me.  But now with my knees everything is soo difficult I can't do much at all, short of get around to what I HAVE to do.  Now I am going to replace my knees.  I know many of you are probably wondering whatever happened to that plan.  But I have told myself I am going to get under a certain weight before I do.  Not that the doc said I have to, but because it makes sense to me.  I am not planning on losing ALL the weight I have to, but I do plan on getting to a reasonable number.  I have NO idea why I just told you all of this, but I am encouraged with my good report, and plan on dieting away for quite a while.  Enough about that.....

In between my appointment running this week I have worked on both of my quilts.  I have got all the squares done for the one for me, but I have not settled into how I want to lay them out yet.  Let me show you...

THE COLORING IS TERRIBLE IN THIS PIC!  THIS IS NOT ALL OF THE SQUARES.  I STILL NEED TO COME UP WITH FABRIC FOR THE BORDERS BUT FIGURED I CAN GET ALL THE BLOCKS ASSEMBLED BEFORE I WORRY ABOUT THAT.  GUESS THERE ISN'T REALLY ANY OTHER WAY TO LAY THESE OUT, BUT IT IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT TO MIX ALL THE COLORS.  IT IS A SCRAPPY LOOK, WHICH I LIKE, BUT I AM JUST NOT SURE ABOUT THIS YET.  MAY BE TOO MANY.  DIANE WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK, AND I AM WAITING FOR HER OPINION.
Meanwhile the fabric for the other quilt got here and I got busy with that again.  This quilt is for a wedding present for a wedding in Oct., so I really need to finish this up soon so I can get it to the quilters so I can get it back, so I can bind it and have it ready in time.  Melody's husband Mike's sister is the one getting married. Mike and Melody and Sam are ALL in the wedding (can't wait to see Sam as a ring bearer!) and my son is marrying them.  Hubby and I will be working Luke no doubt, haha.  There has been NUMEROUS problems with this quilt.  First of all I don't know Brooke all that well.  You would think I would as much as we have all been together, but it is very much just kind of a "group" acquaintance, you know what I mean?  I mean I guess I have never really had private or individual conversations with her, and I just don't know her likes etc. very well.  I have really NO idea WHY I even decided to make her a quilt in the first place.  Might have been a little out of my mind at the time, lol.  I don't even know if she even really LIKES quilts.  I know she is often telling Melody how much she loves the things I make for her, and how lucky she is, so I guess I thought maybe she would.  But then I have never seen her house, don't know her "feel", and have had to "guess" the whole thing. Melody told me the colors in her house and that's about all the help I had there.  Sooo I picked out what I thought was a more modern design (as that's what I thought her house sounded like) and the bottom line is I was probably not quite ready to make such a thing.  All the half square triangles have given me HOURS of trouble, and the whole thing has been kind of a pain, lol.  You might wonder why not just forget the whole thing and give her cash like most people will do?  Well, I guess you could say I am stubborn.  I BOUGHT the fabric (and it is NOT something I would ever have going for me) and what would I do with it?  I don't want it wasted.  Plus, I WANT to give her something a little more personal.  Sooo I guess I press on, praying she likes it and it doesn't just end of in a cupboard somewhere with the story behind it being...a quilt "someone" made for us when we got married, lol.  I can't even decide what SIZE I want it to be.  Right now, it is 3 blocks across, and 4 blocks down, and I am thinking it might be better as a square 4 across and 4 down.  Then there is the borders.  The fabric I bought "may" be too busy for such a design, and it might be better with no border at all.  I am dwelling on it all, again waiting for Diane to see it and offer an opinion. Melody is pointless.  She has no opinions in these matters, lol.  And honestly, it almost has to be seen to have an opinion.  A picture it is hard to tell.  Let me show you....

I DON'T KNOW WHY I AM EVEN SHOWING YOU THIS AS THE LIGHTING IS HORRIBLE, AND THE QUILT NEEDS TO BE PRESSED, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA OF THE DESIGN I THINK

I HAVE LAID IT ON THE FLOOR HERE WITH THE DARK GREY FABRIC BESIDE IT I AM CONSIDERING FOR THE BORDERS????
Guess that's it for now.  Our grandson JD will spend the week-end with us, and I am soo looking forward to it.  He has been counting the days until his turn.  I am hoping he doesn't have it too built up? lol  Hope you all enjoy your week-ends.  Mine is going to be busy!  Blessings to you all!  Debbie

MISSING THESE CUTIES!







9 comments:

  1. That quilt is so interesting how it goes together to create such an interesting pattern. I think that the bride is going to be very pleased. I received a quilt for my wedding and I loved it. She will, too.

    I laughed to think that it would even be possible for your grandson to build up a visit with you too much. He is going to have a blast! What kid doesn't love the full attention of his grandparents?

    You have fun, too.

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  2. Debbie, both quilts looks great. On the first one, if you wanted to, you could break up the blocks by putting a square of fabric in between each block. But I like it this way too!
    Enjoy your weekend. Glad you had a good report with your Dr.
    xo Kris

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  3. Ah, yes, good Dr. reports are something to get excited about at our point in life for sure!

    Love the quilts and Mike's sister should consider herself extremely lucky that you are making her a quilt. You are definitely being very generous with your time.

    Happy weekend!

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  4. I am agreeing with Lea...you ARE very generous with your time and I know the bride will love her beautiful quilt!!

    It's good to have encouraging doctor visits. You must be doing something right!

    Enjoy your weekend with your grandson!

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  5. Love your quilting.
    So understand the weight. We were talking about this with friends the other night and the husband, (who is fine in weight) says, I don't understand why our metabolism has to slow down so much, we have to hardly eat anything and we still can't lose weight. Of course, must men just decide to lose weight and it comes off...women, well that is a different story. Now for me to get on my walking shoes and go exercise, I have gained so much weight this summer

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  6. You inspire me to find time to be even more creative than I am! Love the quilts.
    Congrats on your good doc report.
    And that picture of the little guys...precious. I am thinking Sam looks just like Mommy and Luke like Daddy in that picture. Adorable!
    Enjoy your weekend!

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  7. I'm a little too OCD to make a completely scrappy quilt! I would spend entirely too much time arranging and rearranging the blocks so there are not like fabrics together. At least your blocks are large enough with not so many pieces that it shouldn't be quite as difficult. Fingers crossed for you on the arrangement.

    I love the quilt you're making for Mike's sister! I think you're doing a fabulous job. I like the border fabric you're auditioning ... is that the one that you fear is too busy? Because I don't think it is. I really like it with that border!! I make plenty of quilts without borders, but I'm really kind of thinking that this quilt "needs" a border. But that's just my two cents worth. ha!

    Yay on the 15 lbs. down! Keep yup the good work, my friend!

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  8. Quilts are beautiful!!

    Hugs....

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  9. It's always relieving to get good reports from the doctors. I have to say I love the last photo of the boys; too cute.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!