Seasons Greetings!

It's been a busy busy month so far. Making bandannas, cleaning, baking, card making, watching my grandson play hockey, listening to my granddaughter playing band at school concerts, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, getting the flu, etc., etc., etc. and still trying to keeping up with everyday chores. And there is so much to do yet! I'm sending the husband to finish the shopping. I won't worry about what doesn't get done because Christmas is not just about gifts... It's about celebrating with family and friends the birth of Christ, thus CHRISTmas! Who care if I have a dust bunny or two hanging around, they might be my new pets. (good excuse!) I really don't want anything for Christmas....maybe a helping hand or two or three in the kitchen for food preparation and clean up so that I can put up my feet and relax. Ok, maybe one thing.... a new pair of jeans would be nice and a nice top to go with them or a gift certificate to my favorite quilt shop. See, I'm easy to shop for...ha ha ha.

I do hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember drive sober, I fully support SADD & MADD.

It's been awhile!

Excuse me but it has been awhile since my last post, I must apologize. I'm sorry.

There was a big scrapbooking crop over the weekend before this past one. A quilt I donated for a prize brought in $396.00! I also recieved 101 fat quarters to make bandannas! Thank-you ladies!

Since then, I pulled out a quilt top I started about 10 years ago and finally finished it. I'm not sure where that one is going to end up. I'm sure it will end up someplace where it's loved.

I'm just trying to finish all my UFOs (unfinished objects) and then I can start with a fresh slate.

And it's time to start with Christmas preparations with cookie baking, some gifts to be made and some bought, hanging the boughs and lights up outside (perhaps this weekend when it's warmer), card making and just really enjoy this Christmas without my daughter lying on the couch sick like last year. I may even tune into some Christmas music! Which will be a surprise because I can't stand the music on the account I worked retail for 15 years+ because the stores started it right after Halloween and played steady till the end of January. Really folks I didn't need to hear it for 3 months straight.

The snow has blanketed the ground here and some more shovelling is in order. I don't mind winter without the wind. I want to get out there and cross-country ski, I enjoy the peace and it gets me out.

Have a wonderful day and I'll make sure I post sooner. Take care of you since there is only one of you.

Finally it's over!

Today feels like Amanda is over her cancer! She got the all clear from her oncologist! I felt relieved. Her pain from radiation is subsiding and her new skin is starting to show it's new pink color. Thank-you God and the doctors and to Amanda for putting up such a huge long battle for allowing me to walk this path with her. Time to celebrate life, share the knowledge of what we have learned, to share this experience and help others along the way.

Last two days we had a storm blow in with rain, ice, snow and strong winds. Today the winds calmed down, the sun peeked out and melted some of the ice, that is what it feels like for me after this cancer. Almost a year in a storm just to see the sun shine again.

I just got 40 fat quarters of beautiful fabric to make more bandannas! Thank-you! I must post off another card to let them know how much this means to me and to Amanda.

Keep the faith and the hope.

Now what???

Amanda has finished her last radiation treatment this past Monday! Hurray! I imagine a year of your life with medical treatments being a priority, then your done and now where does one start getting back into a routine. I don't think that any one can just pick up from last year. The changes in ones' body, the experience of fighting cancer and the personality change as well. It kind of reminds me of after holidays, the meal is finished, the presents have been opened, the tree taken down, everything packed away. Now what??? Just take time to heal.

I received some Thank-you cards in the mail from receipients from the bandannas I sent off. I want to say Thank-you back for taking the time to send a note.

I am just trying to make this Halloween a bit more fun for my grandchildren this year. I made them cute seasonal joke books (Q: What kind of instrument does a skeleton play? A: tromBONE) with pun on words and a 'broom' bag filled with special goodies. Made my grandaughter a Star Trek shirt yesterday, she thinks it's perfect and that is fine with me.

I am slowly getting back into quilting (winter project) along with making one to auction/sell tickets to fundraise Walk for the Cure next year, binding quilts for Serendipity ( a group of women who make quilts for kids in need) through the local guild here.

I plan to make Christmas a little extra special this year for my family, last year seemed it just came and went with really no special effort on my behalf. I want to bake cookies, play Christmas carols, light touring, attend the tree festival, go and listen to chiors sing with the family.

Blessings to you from me!

Thankful Gifts

Another Thanksgiving has past, we remembered what we are thankful for and blessing those less fortunate than us. With turkey and a few trimmings left over, perhaps making a homemade soup is on the agenda this week. Gifts of fabric came in the mail this past week, I am grateful for them, cards of Thanks will be posted later today along with a couple of requests for bandannas which I am happy to oblidge to send. I woke up to loud meows of my cat (who selfishly thinks I'm the only one that can tend to her needs), the scent of fresh brewed coffee and a cool, crispy, frosty morning. The leaves have changed and fallen and I raked them up in a pile for the grand kids to come along a take a jump, they are just getting too old for that now for they did not take no interest. I will get them bagged and use them for mulching my shrubs. The crop behind our property was combined over the weekend, hope the harvest went well and no injuries. The land and the trees has changed once again, just sitting in a dormant stage waiting for something new , constantly changing and so we must do so too. Gifts are always put in our lives, it's what we do with them that counts. Many blessings!

Bandanna Bandits

The team Bandanna Bandits, who ran/walked this past Sunday CIBC Run For The Cure did an amazing job of fund raising. Way to go Bandits!

Thanksgiving is coming up this weekend and normally once everyone is seated we start one by one giving thanks for what we are grateful for and then have grace. I thought about not having this ritual and just give thanks. Amanda had a really tough year, I'm not sure what she has been thankful for, not her port, not chemo, not surgery, not radiation, the driving, and not all those appointments. But I know I am thankful that they found the tumors, they removed the tumors, the medications, the treatments so that the cancer doesn't come back, the most caring people, the friends & family and the good that came out of it and the good things yet to come. I am thankful she is here to share a turkey dinner with us cancer free.

Give Thanks and Happy Thankgiving and God Bless!

How to make Amandas' Bandanna

This is easy peasy for anyone who wants to make them for charity or someone in need. These are very simular to the buffs on 'Survivor' Take a 20 inch square of cotton fabric. Why cotton you ask. Cotton is soft, breatheable and comes in many colors and prints, check out your local quilting fabric store. Batik fabrics are so beautiful, 100% cotton but not soft because of the over dyes and wax to acheive the look. Blends and synthetics do not breathe, they may irritate the skin and cause a rash, polyester is plastic. There are cheap cottons on the market and will not soften because of the thread count, think of sheets and pillow cases. You can tell just by the feel of the fabric how softer it will be after washing. Check for metallic, shimmery threads, you don't want to use that kind of fabric, they may break and be 'pokey'. Always wash before wearing, some of the dyes and sizing in the fabric may also irritate sensitive skin. Now on with the 20 inch square, I surge the edges with a three thread overlock stitch, using cotton thread and no wooly nylon. To wear the bandanna, fold it in a large triangle and tie in the back of your head. Yes, I am giving permission for anyone to make these and calling them 'Amandas' Bandannas'. Ask your local fabric store to put up a poster for unwanted fat quarters or fabric from other quilters. Periwinkle Quilts here are very suportive and the ladies have been generous with my project. I do not charge for this service and no one is turned down in need of bandannas. I do accept donations of fabric and have had cash given for fabric and postage. I have made for the cancer clinic here and have sent off . I also want to give to the 'Look Good, Feel Better' program. So I bid you Happy Making!