Today is April 22, 2020.  Day 42 of social distancing due to COVID19 pandemic.  I took this picture of the what the sky looked like on the first day I was on voluntary quarantine. 

On March 17 I drove back from Nashville, TN to East End, AR.  The social distancing was beginning and I wanted to get back to my family in Arkansas. The 16th was my Aunt Mary's 94th birthday.  She is my birth mother's sister and I wanted to spend her birthday with her despite the warnings.  But on Tuesday I knew I had to head home before it got worse.  

It has been interesting to be on social distancing because I am a very active person who enjoys family, people and traveling.  All of that has come to an abrupt halt not only for me but for so many.  There are so many things we cannot do now, so I am focusing my energy on what I can do.

1.  Read my Bible more

2. Be with my husband more (he does not travel with me)

3. Cook more (ugh!!) not my favorite thing to do but necessary during these times.

4. Quilting more

5. Reading more

6. Just sitting outside and enjoying nature more.

And most of all thankful for each day that God blesses me and my family with.  May all of you be safe also.

Catching up.

A lot has been going on a lot this past year.  Gianni is now 14, still playing softball and I am still traveling with her as much as possible.  Will who is now 11, almost 12 has a little brother Malaki that is 1 (almost 2).
I am still quilting, trying to do a lots more of that.
I may need to do some updates more often.  Post some pictures of recent quilts.  Maybe post some pictures of  trips I have taken this year with Gianni and with friends.  Life is good and I am truly blessed.

Arkansas in February

Welcome to Arkansas and February.  We have had this off and on for a while.  It has given me more time to be in my quilting room since thankfully we have not lost power.  My dear husband Bill bought me a Go Accuquilt with dies for Christmas and it has been fun to work with.  Our Saline County Quild is doing a Mystery Quilt and the first instructions - 528 two inch half square triangles.  The Go Cutter has really made that simple.  In fact I think I made about 50 extra. 
Today is Sunday and we are snowed in today, although the roads are pretty clear our porch is not, nor is our uphill driveway. 
Back to my sewing room.  Will try to post some quilty pictures next post.
Oh that beautiful Carolina Lily on the right bottom picture is not one I made, but WON.  It was out guilds donation quilt 2013 and I was the lucky winner.  Yeah me!!!!
Till next time -

I am a winner!!!!!!

My intent this morning was to do a post on my recent trip to QuiltWeek in Paducah, but this morning I got an email from www.ginghamgirls.biz/blog that I won the recent copy of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks magazine. Okay it does pay to enter blog hops.  I can't wait til it gets here. It goes on sale May   7th. Check it out.

QA or Let's Find a Reason to Get Together

The first Monday of every month some

of our members meet at the Benton library.  We call this group Quilters Annonymous.  No it is not

a 12 step program to give up quilting.  It is another excuse to get together.  Do we need an excuse?

Above is Gwen, Jill and Pat working on the pincushions below.  Well actually Jill was just watching.  Gwen taught these at one of our guild's Saturday Workshops.

 Below is Cheri showing her finished teacup pincushion.  They are awesomely cute and Gwen says easy to make.

At our QA it gives us an opportunity to also bring our quilt problems and hopefully someone there can give us answers and/or opinions. 
It is a fun time for all.

Quilt Retreat - Let's Get Back Into Quilting

 See this beautiful house, well it will fool you.  It is a house built just for quilters who want to get away from it all and quilt, rest, visit, eat, etc.  You can see below that there are several very comfortable quilting stations. 

 The wonderful lady (Fay) in blue below is who invited me.  We went in November, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  There were 32 ladies here. It was a perfect time for me to go as my holiday had been soooo stressful.  She ask, I said yes, didn't even ask my dear husband if I could afford to go. 

We got there on Sunday and left on Thursday.  My love of quilting was totally restored and my goal is to keep that up.  I may even show you some finished projects later, yes I have finished a few and working on more.  I am so "happy, happy, happy!!!

How You Change!

I began this blog at age 60, almost 3 years ago. Well I am  not 60 anymore (which is a good thing) and what my goals were then are not what they are now.
Of course spending time with my grandchildren won't change and both still want to spend time with me. Of course this means lots of sports. Gianni is still really into softball. Will is a fantastic basketball player and he is considering playing baseball again this year. Okay so you know where I will be spending my time come March. Love it!!!!
When I started this blog I thought that I wanted to delve into Mixed Media but not so much now. I am returning to my love of quilting. After today future blogs will be how I am progressing into getting back to what makes me feel good QUILTING.

These two (cousins) are what make life worthwhile.
 Next blog will have some quilts I have been working on and no grand kid pictures.
One funny thing about this picture is it was taken here in Arkansas in November. Notice the short sleeves. One day it is so cold, the next day hot. We are looking forward to storms tonight and temps in the high 70's - in January.