I'm still here!!..... I finally found the time to dig out my patriotic wallhanging that I like to hang on the front door during this time of year. Decided to take a picture of it and that's when I discovered the yellow spot on it. But thought, I'll hang it and photograph it anyway, then will see if the stain will come out later. The blue with stars I used in this has faded really bad, anyway. I guess the front door with the morning sun shining on it was a bad choice of places to hang it. Oh well, live and learn. I still love this one. One day, I'll make another and NOT hang it on the front door!
All is going well in my world. I worked a lot of hours last week, so there wasn't much time for blogging. This week, I'm only supposed to work 4 days, then I'm off all next week!!! YEAAAA. I'm finally getting used to the new schedule, then will have to start all over again! hehe
I went into the sewing room to sew yesterday, but it was such a mess, I worked on cleaning a little and by the time I did that, I had lost the mood to sew. This ever happen to anyone else? The room STILL needs more work. Hopefully I can do that this Friday, so I'll be free to sew all next week!
DD is doing well. She told me yesterday they had to go buy her some maternity clothes as her jeans "just don't fit any more". I told her that happens! hehe She is FINALLY going to come down and tell her Grandma this coming weekend for Grandma's birthday. It has been really hard not mentioning anything about it to her the last month. I think everyone else in the county knows! I asked dd if she'd have to tell her or if it'd be obvious when she walked in. She's afraid it's going to be pretty obvious! Am working on a fun way to Spring it on mother in law! Friday is her 79th bday and we are having a little celebration Saturday for her. She's been going thru a really rough time, so I can't wait for her to hear this wonderful news. Maybe it'll cheer her up! I know it has the rest of us who are already in the know!
Well, I'd better get my shoes and socks on and be ready to head out the door when dh is ready. Hope you all have a great week. I'll try to pop in and read your blogs during the evenings. I'm still trying to catch up with all of you!

Oh Baby!...... Well, between the new job and our camping trip this weekend, I have done absolutely nothing quilty, so I'm showing you the latest picture of my grandbaby! It just amazes me how you can tell it's a baby already, even though it's only 1 1/2" long!

The new job is going well. I have been one tired pup in the evenings, so haven't been here to do much other than read a few of your blogs. The first day on the job, I really didn't like it, but the 2nd day, I got moved to a different job and I really like it. It's basically doing the same thing I was doing at my last job. The girls I work with have accepted me into thier "family" and made me feel welcome, so that really helps, too. I worked 10 hours Mon and Tue, then 11 on Wed and Thur. Friday, we didn't have to work, but the girls told me not to get used to that, they work a LOT of Fridays. Tomorrow, dh goes back to work, so I'll be riding with him. Definitely need to get some hand work ready to take with me.

The kids camped with us this weekend and even though she's only 10 weeks, dd is already showing. Sure, if you didn't know she was pg, you'd think she just had a little pot belly, but there is definitely something there. It bothers her because she says, "The baby is only 1 1/2" long, so this(pointing at her belly) CAN'T be baby." lol.......we explained to her how there is a lot more to a pg. womans belly than JUST BABY! The friend of ours who was also camping with us has 5 kids, so I think she helped make dd feel better.

We got rained on the biggest part of the camping trip. We rented canoes Saturday and took a float trip(We own our own canoe, but since the other 2 couples had to rent one, we decided it would be cheaper to rent one, than to haul ours all the way up there, then pay some one to haul us back to the truck). It rained on us most of the day. We had invested in some 87 cent plastic ponchos and dd had one of those on pretty early in the day because she didn't want to get pneumonia. I was the next one to "wuss" out and put one on. Rain, I don't mind, but I hated being cold. We still had a good time, though. It was quite an adventure! Our tent collapsed while we were on the river, so EVERYTHING was wet. I had to run into town and throw it all in the dryer at the laundry mat, then run to WM and buy new pillows. Then, in the night, our air bed bit the dust(think the baffles broke. DH went and slept in his truck, I slept on a sleeping bag on the ground(well in the tent) Never a dull moment with this bunch. Makes life interesting, I guess!

Now I'm going to go see what all of you have been up to. Then I'd better go spend some time with dh. Today is our 23rd weddng anniversary. We celebrated with a pizza! Were both to tired to mess with getting dressed and going out for dinner. Will try to find time to pos at least one night this week. Maybe I'll have some pictures of some of the hand work I get done waiting for him! Hope you all have a great week.

What I got for my birthday... I got some fantastic news on my birthday a couple of weeks ago. As soon as I got it, I came here to share with you all, but then realized I couldn't do that on the off chance my mom or dad read my blog. My daughter and son in law are making us grandparents! It was the best birthday I could ever imagine! It started with my showing her the picture of the twins, then she said she had a picture to scan and send me, too. and what you see below is that picture!

Isn't that awesome? I know some of you are already grandma's and know what excitement I'm going thru! I have waited for this day ever since the day I had my kids! lol. DH and I decided at a young age we wanted to have our kids while we were young enough to enjoy when we had grandkids! She isn't due til January, so I have 7 months to prepare! Everyone keeps asking if I have THE quilt started yet, but I won't start it yet. I'll probably make a "generic" one, then when we find out what it is and she reveals the theme she's doing the nursery in, I'll make one to fit that! Anyway, just wanted to share now that it is out in the open!

I start my new job tomorrow. A little apprehensive of that, but excited, too. Wish me luck!

Block # 5. The last one I have sewn. I did go pick up block #6, but haven't had a chance to sew it yet. Maybe Sunday. I'll try to get some different quilt pictures loaded.
Been a crazy week for me, and will only get crazier! My very good friend(the one with the longarm) has a son getting hitched tomorrow. I've been over helping them with wedding stuff a little this week. They have 5 kids, and this is the first wedding in the family and it's like a zoo over there! I know Mary can't wait til this is all over! She's made 4 bridesmaids dresses, the wedding gown, the flower girl and the ring bearer's outfits(going to be a Renaissance wedding), and today she was FINALLY making herself something to wear! I'm going over tonight to help make corsages. I'm going to get permission to show you all some of the pictures. I'm a shutterbug and take lots of pictures at events like this. Usually have a set of prints made up as a late wedding gift, too.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Block 4. Well, I take all of these pictures with the same camera, but for some reason, to me they look different colors. I'm still no expert with the digi camera! Anywhoo.......we had a great visit with the inlaws yesterday. DH got the weeds knocked down for his dad and we came home with a couple of small antique items that were just collecting dust in Dad's shed!

Today after work, I am going to the QS to get my block # 6. While I am there, I am going to pick up some of the gold fabric they use in these blocks and I'm going to do some hand applique on them rather than use those 4 huge printed blocks for the centers. I have to do something to make it MINE! I guess that's why the Quilt Mavericks blog ring captures my attn. I try to read thru the ring every few days! When I started this project, I loved the whole quilt, but the more I have looked at it, while I still love the quilt, I just feel the need to do something different than everyone else who is doing this. I'm thinking Baltimore Album style appliques, but who knows what I'll come up with! I have snips and scraps leftover from each block, and am hoping there is enough there to do whatever I decide. Will play in EQ5 to decide for sure. Actually, I think I just had a great idea pop into my head, but I'm not sharing til it's on fabric! hehe.

Ok, guess I need to go hit the shower. I really should be getting myself ready for work really early this week in preperation for next week, but why bother. I'll do it when I have to! Hope everyone has a glorious week!

Block 3. Well, here is block 3. I only have 2 more done to show you so I guess I need to get in the sewing room, huh? Maybe I can get to the QS this week to pick up my June block.
We had the yardsale finally yesterday. I have to say, it was a bid success. Got rid of a lot of stuff and made a little bit of $$ along the way. Also, got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in quite a while. It actually was a lot of work, but was fun, too.
Thank you to all of you who have shown me such great support in the job decision I made this past week. I'm a little nervous that I made the right decision because of all the time I've taken off recently to help dh's parents. I won't be able to take off as easily now, so I hope that issue doesn't create problems. But, as dh said, now with me making so much more $$, we can afford for him to take off to take them to the Dr. sometimes now. Before, it was just plain stupid for him to take off when he made so much more than me. Now he'll still be making more, but not the huge difference it has been in the past. It'll all work out, I'm sure!
Well, speaking of his parents, today we are going to visit his dad and stepmom. Dd and her dh are supposed to meet us there, so looking forward to a good time. Hopefully, ds is going to join us, too. But for now, I need to go get ready b4 dh is ready to leave without me! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Block #2... Here it looks a little dark, not sure why. Now that it is June, I can go buy block #6! I think I'm going to buy some of the gold to work on "my" version of those big pre printed blocks. Still haven't decided for sure on a design, but I will before long. Along with my Cathedral windows, I'll need something to work on before work in the mornings. DH will have to drop me off about 45 minutes before it is actually time for me to be at work, so I intend to take hand sewing and my book and sit in the cafeteria and do that til time for me to go to work. Makes more sense to do that than to drive seperate every day. I will drive myself probably 2 days a week, but ride with him some, too, to save gas.

Yes, I took the new job. When I told my immediate supervisor, he was very supportive. In fact, he said he'd heard this new place I'm going paid very well and had been considering going up there himself. I ran into the company owner(it's a really small company) yesterday and when I told him, he got smart alecky and said "You'll be making about $40 per week more, you'll spend that in gas since you'll be driving 25 miles each way(now I drive 3) I said, "NO, my husband already works up there, so it won't cost me anything.And besides, that's STARTING pay..I'll be making a LOT more within 6 months." He didn't know what to say about that. I told him I'd asked for a raise the month before and if Joe(his son who is taking over the company slowly) had given it to me, I would have never went to the interview. He said, "I thought we'd taken care of that." NOPE....so I'm outta there. I had thought that if they came to me with an offer, even though I KNOW they can't touch what I'm going to make at the new job, I may consider staying, but now, there is no way. I may regret it, but you never know til you try, right? And over $600 per month increase in pay is hard to turn down.

I guess I'm just naive, but I found the whole drug test hilarious. I had to go to the new place yesterday to discuss the job again(found out I'll be starting at 30 cents per hour MORE than I'd originally been told :) ) and was told I had to go take a drug test. I said, "Hmm........I THINK the aleeve I took on Saturday will have worn off by now." She just laughed. Then filled out the paper and told me where the "Employment Drug Screening" place was. Right off, I found that funny. I don't know why. I also find it sad that it's come to this. Anyway, when I went there, after the lady filled out the paperwork, she went into the bathroom, sprayed blue stuff in the bowl, taped the flusher down, taped the faucet down and told me to pee in this cup. "when you are done, let me know and we'll flush and I'll untape the faucet so you can wash." THEN had to leave my purse outside the door..I was a little uncomfortable with that, but since it was just her there, I didn't throw a fit. I didn't have much in it, anyway. After I did what I had to do, I didn't want to touch the door handle to open the door! I said, "this is disgusting" She laughed and said, she knew and she cleans the door knob after every person. I SURE HOPE SO! DH and I are handwashers big time. Anyway, sorry for sharing such a story, but it's what I did yesterday and since it was my first time, I just found the whole thing a joke. I know it's not a joke and I know of people who miss out on jobs because they can't pass the drug test. They don't do that where I work now, because if they did, they'd lose over half their employees. Sad, huh? I think so. I start my new job June 12.

Thank you to all of you well wishers on my previous post! I knew I'd find a lot of support out there! Quilters are such a supportive group! I love that I've found this whole new group to get to know!