Thanksgiving

Quote: "We need to be grateful for many things that did not happen." Langenhoven

Every Thanksgiving most of us think or talk about all the things we are thankful for in the past year. I saw this quote today and thought how true it is for most of us. I thought back to when I would travel between Utah and Minnesota several times a year when I was in college. How careless we all were in our over crowded car without seat belts and how blessed to not have anything but minor discomforts during those trips. Look at the news and how many have accidents or are stranded at airports because of various reasons. I know that I, for one, drove too fast over snowy and icy roads several times and was so fortunate not to have to step on the brakes as we would have skidded and crashed for sure. I look at all the sicknesses that so many children have to go through in their young lives and none of mine ever had a serious illness. Look at the children, mothers and fathers who die much too young. The worst thing I ever had when young was a divorce and a child who had trouble being in control. Big deal! In the larger scheme of things, I was so incredible blessed not just by what I had or was able to do for myself and my family but for all the terrible things that could have happened. but did not.

I love the Thanksgiving holiday. I thought I had expressed this sentiment to everyone I know but apparently I missed telling my children. I do love this time of year because I really try to be aware of all my blessings all the time but I take time during November to really focus on the blessings that I may over look. Look at the billions of people who have been born through out the world and I was born to a LDS family in Minnesota, not in Africa, Asia, Mexico, or the projects of huge cities in America. I worked to graduate from college, but at least I was able to do it! I always wanted children and had no trouble or miscarriages with my pregnancies. I have amazing good health for a person my age. My health woes are extremely minor - few meds and no joint replacements or heart troubles. How cool is that! Almost all my friends my age have these problems so I am amazed and incredibly grateful.

My heart is full! My life is full and I am happy!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010.

Joy in the Journey

One of the series of classes that I went to during Education Week was on finding joy in the journey, now. It was taught by Randal Wright, a funny guy from Texas. I had never heard of him but he entertained me because he would say the funniest things or tell a funny story in the most sober and straightforward manner - it really cracked me up.

An interesting point he brought out was how we periodically need to be reminded of who we are. In the daily rush of life we sometimes forget that except on Sundays and then depending on our church responsibilities often not even then. I have been reminded of that a lot recently with the news reports about the mosque in New York and the crazy guy who wants to burn the Quran, and the other hate mongers spouting their various brands of hatred. I am even saddened by the number of LDS followers who claim to believe in the church and its leaders but spout hatred all the same towards those of other faiths. If we believe what the church leaders and the scriptures tell us we have no need to fear but we do need to live our beliefs and not spread our hatred and fear of those of other religions. We as LDS should be above that. But, the point is, I felt that being at Education Week was reminding me of who I am and should be. I resolved to try to be more diligent at following the principles that I profess to believe in. I, like many others, need to continue to strive to be better in action and not just in theory. I have been so remiss in doing those things I should to let the Savior know that I know who I am and that I value that knowledge. I have been trying since Ed. Week to do better and in some ways I have, although I have far to go and so far this past month I have been consciously enjoying the journey.

I have to admit though, that as I have thought about it, I find it easier to enjoy the present moments now that I don't have as many other things and people competing for my attention. My stress levels are down and being aware of the present is easier when there isn't so much competition for my attention. I love the scripture about there being a time for everything. This is my reflective time, I guess. I hope I am able to go to Ed. Week again next year.

Day One of Education Week

Wow - It has really been a long time since I have posted. I have been busy this summer though. I signed up to be a hostess for BYU Education Week this week. I used to go before I was teaching, and it is always the first week teachers have to be back in the classroom so it has been 18 years since I last went. The only bad thing, I think, is they expect you to dress, in their words, in business dress, then they say wear skirts or dresses. Puleeese! That hasn't been business dress since the seventies. But as a hostess I can go to any class free any day. So I am trying it - as trying as it is to wear skirts and dresses for 6 days in a row, counting church!

First day I was hostess all afternoon so I only went to the three classes I was hosting and they were fun. They were on organization, which I am pretty good on and already knew some of her ideas. However, when she said to get rid of half your stuff I knew she wasn't talking to me. At least not yet. The only reason I am going to get rid of most of my stuff is that it is cheaper that shipping it and replacing it when I move.

Some of her tidbits that I liked:

1.) The brain is for thinking; writing is for remembering. (I thought that was just my excuse to be lazy.)

2.) Disciplined patterns can help life run smoother. (I do this with only some things: I pay bills only on 1st and 25th of the month. When I had 4 little ones I spent 15 minutes cleaning per room each day- with a timer, no less! then moved on to better things.) She suggested starting a pattern even if it is only for a short session then lengthen the session once the patterns are set. Example: get up, pray, exercise, brush teeth, scripture reading, journal, clean up and dress.

3.) When people die and you have lots of their left overs, only keep what you will use - 10% max. Give the rest away. Take pictures before you give them away if they have a memory attached and journal or scrapbook about the meaning of the article. It takes less space and our thoughts are then included for others to know why we valued the item.

4.) We are only stewards over the things we have - we don't own them so we shouldn't clutter up our lives with excess things we don't use but only store. There are many other people who could use them and we shouldn't hoard.

Of course, she had scripture references to back her up (this is BYU Education Week) but I hadn't brought any thing to write on but her handout which SHE filled.

Last thought to add from this class that I forgot when I originally posted this:

There is a time in all our lives when we go from "Simultaneous" to "Sequential"

I found it so helpful to know that I am not the only one who can no longer do 5 or 6 things at the same time, and do them all well. Maybe I can do 2 but most often one at a time is the max if I want to do a good job.

Mission To Be Happy

Yesterday was a fun and happy day. I did everything I needed to do, things I wanted to do, and a little extra thrown in for good measure. I even had a "light bulb" moment. Wow! What a full day.

After getting ready for the day and taking my dad to breakfast I decided to spend the day going to the Quilter's Shop Hop. I knew I wouldn't go to all the stores since they go as far out as Tooele but I thought I could hit a few at least this first time going. I made it to 3 before I was spent out! It was so fun to see what the stores had and the displays of various quilts to ooh and aah over. The third and last quilt shop I went to was Mormon Handicraft. Nothing there I wanted but on the same floor of the store was the Repartee Gallery. Silly me decided to wander around and admire pretty pictures I could never afford. Found a beautiful one of angels for over $1000.00 and then . . . right next to it a lovely abstract Mother and Child. And I could afford it! SO I bought it!! Then went home and hung it up where I can look at it a lot!!! I love it!!!! (Too many exclamation points?) Anyway, after that I cut the grass, did a bit of weeding and watering and just felt good about my day. I had bought some quilting "stuff" but the highlight was the serendipitous discovery of the painting and my impulsive purchase.

So pleased with myself that I put in another 3 hours of yard work today after walking 3 miles and still felt the pleasure of yesterday when I came in and saw my picture on the wall. How easily I am pleased some days. LOL

I stole the title for this post from Michael McLean and his M2B:) book, blog, and CD. I am trying to consciously be in the present, enjoy it and be happy. I lean toward negativity and pessimism I think, so I was overflowing yesterday with Happy.

Don't we all need days like that now and again where there is just so much happy?

Graduation

On the national news today they were showing pictures of commencement speakers at various colleges across the U.S., talking with the graduates, and showing pictures of graduates and their friends and families congratulating each other. That brought me back to my graduations and that of my children who have graduated from high school and college. When I graduated from high school it was a three day event. I don't even remember why but I think we had a big senior dinner with parents one night in the high school cafeteria. It was a bit better than it sounds since we had only been in the high school six months and it was catered. The next night was convocation where we had boring speakers and a great choir presentation. The third night was graduation in the gym. The student speakers were heard here and then our names were read and we "walked." I remember my parents and my aunt and uncle where there and my aunt made me laugh on my way to my seat as we all walked into the gym. When my children graduated from high school we tried to make sure the whole family was in attendance also. Kurt even flew in from California for Alex's and maybe even Courtney's but I can't remember. He was still living here in town when Ryan graduated so it was no problem. Beth took her GED in California so there was no graduation to attend. All in all I think it was fun and successful for all.

Then came college. I don't think I really believed I was smart enough to graduate from college and if a dear friend hadn't almost forced me to take my senior seminar test I probably wouldn't have. Anyway, I didn't want to rent a cap and gown and do the procession but at that time you couldn't get your diploma at BYU unless you walked in the procession. That fact alone delayed my graduation by at least a year. Then I actually saw one on campus and it was rather moving so I felt okay with the whole process. Anyway, I rented my cap and gown and drove down to Provo from SLC, where I was working, for my graduation. All my friends had already graduated in the preceding years and were off working and my family didn't feel it was worth a trip to Utah so I went alone. I didn't think it would bother me until we were in the procession and I had no one to wave to or who was cheering my accomplishment. It was much worse after the ceremony. Everyone was being hugged and pictures were taken and I skulked away, got into my car and drove back to SLC. Alone. Therefore, when Ryan was graduating from college I wanted to attend. But he was allowed by the U of U to get his degree without walking through the ceremony. So I wasn't there to support him. So, the point of all this is that the graduations from college of my son and I were not as pictured on television and it still makes me a bit sad. And nostalgic for what might have been.

Getting Older

1. We are all growing older with each passing day. When young I knew many who were upset as they neared or achieved the "dreaded" decade birthdays starting with number thirty. Those birthdays never bothered me but I thought number fifty might. Nope! It didn't bother me either. Then I reached sixty and it took me three years to adjust. I have been trying to figure out why for the past seven years. I finally think I have found it. With sixty I decided I WAS old. My hair was white, my body was over weight and flabby, my energy was markedly down and my enthusiasm for life seemed limited. However, the last few months I have noticed that I am no longer upset with being old. I am accepting that I will never again be as I was and I appreciate that I am as healthy and active as I am. Many of my friends and former relatives are younger than I and are doing much poorer in the aging process. They have had parts repaired and replaced, are suffering the same physical declines, and are looking and feeling much worse than I. For all this I thank my genes and the few efforts I have been putting into creating a healthier environment for myself.

2. Another thing I noticed is that I try to live in the here and now. I had lunch with a friend from high school yesterday and as we talked all she seemed to want to talk about were her children and grandchildren. Now I have no trouble with that but other than health problems she had done nothing but work for the last thirty plus years and had no plans or goals for the future she could focus on. Her children were doing things and she was not, so the past and their lives were all we had to chat about. My dad goes to breakfast each morning and watches tv the rest of the day so all he has to talk about is the past. I understand that as he is 88 and has mobility issues, but not at 67. I seldom want to talk about the past and writing a personal history is totally out of the cards. Give me the present and plans and goals for the future to talk about. When I am in my 90s maybe I will have no future to look forward to but not at this stage in life.

3. Old age seems to be a leveling out time. We all get unattractive, physically limited in one way or another, and slow down mentally. We no longer compete with others in accomplishments. We do what we do and are happy for that. I feel like I can't go into debt because I won't be able to get a job to pay the debt so I am happy for what I already have rather than wanting more. I have never been one to "compete with the Joneses" but tried to have my kids be somewhat comparable to others in their social group. Now I don't even have to do that. I am responsible for only me. That feels kind of good. I am happier in general now than I have been for at least the last ten years. I don't look back much further than that.

Personal Strengths

I was watching a show on TV today and they have the theme this month of focusing on our strengths. It made me stop and think and I have been thinking all day. What strengths do I have? Do I have any? If asked to list our faults or weaknesses many of us could rattle any number of them off without a moment's thought - I know I surely can. But strengths? So I got out a paper and pen and thought and jotted. I think I need to make a poster to remind me of them, because I find I spend a lot of time thinking about my weaknesses rather than strengths and that makes me a negative person. I do not want to be a negative person. I have lived with negativity for the first nineteen years of my life. Now for the positive!

Strengths:

(in no particular order)

1. I am independent.

2. I have integrity

3. I have a love of learning

4. I am strong willed

5. I am determined

6. I am organized

7. I deal and cope well with life situations

I am still considering if I want to add specifics to this list of strengths. I think I will let it rest at this time while it percolates in my mind at least a few more days.

Not Again!

This morning my wonderful daughter-in-law, Jill, passed away from colon cancer. She leaves behind my son, Ryan, and their sweet 7 year old, Nathan. We are all devastated. She had fought a long, hard battle for four years with this disease. Ryan was told a few days ago she had only two or three weeks left but her poor body just couldn't take it anymore. Jill fought this cancer with everything she had and still kept her sense of humor about it. After sitting with her in January and watching what she went through with the chemo treatments, I was in awe of her strength. It does make me sad that she left us thinking that "this" earth life was all there was. I believe her father, her nana, and hopefully my mother were on the other side to welcome her with open arms. In January, I asked her to do me a favor after she died and visit Ryan in some form or another to assure him that she was on the other side of the veil waiting for him. If she discovers that if she was right it was obvious that she couldn't let me know. She was afraid if she visited Ryan and the house was a mess she would have to haunt him. We had a good laugh over that conversation.

She made my son and grandson so happy. Ryan and Jill just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in the hospital a few days ago. While sick these last few years she organized many things for Nathan to help with his memories as he gets older. She spent the last few weeks organizing her best friend's wedding. Her friend Jo and fiancee Carl, flew in from England to be with Jill and were married a week ago before Jill's last entrance on Monday into the hospital. She was a dear friend to so many and will be so missed by us all.

April 12, 2010 7:00 P.M.

Mom hugged her pillow and curled around it and peacefully died tonight.

Nearing Death

I went to the funeral of a neighbor today and when I got home I had a message from the care center where my mother is residing. They said she is not doing well and that she needed to go to the hospital or on hospice. Dad and I went over there and visited and agreed on hospice. Yesterday when dad was there she was doing great. Last night they had called me that she was throwing up. I advised them they could check on her and if it got worse call me and I would take her to the hospital. I thought she might have a little bug or touch of food poisoning. But no one else at the care center was sick. No call. Until today at 11:30. Which I got at 1:30. She won't wake up and her lungs are filling with fluid and her breathing is ragged. While I was at the care center I met with the nurse and the social worker and signed a bunch more papers for hospice. They are quite sure this is the end of her life. Perhaps as long as two weeks but they doubt it. I know that she would welcome death if she was in her right mind. She always said she would prefer death to living with Alzheimer's but still it is emotional to say good-bye. It is funny how we have been prepared for her to die for the last year at least and now that the time has come so have the tears. I don't want her to stay. Her quality of life is negative but it is still emotional. I will spend some time each day now at the care center with her. Feelings about my parents are mixed and confusing but none the less, they are my parents and I do love them in my own twisted way. But I certainly don't want them to suffer and I know she is getting kind and proper care where she is. Tomorrow I also have a meeting to get my dad on a veteran's aid program. Perhaps he can get some more money each month and help me pay off the second mortgage I had to take out to make room for them to stay here. Tomorrow is a busy day.

ONE GOOD THING: I don't have to go to work and I have time to do all that needs doing.

A New and Better Me?

Last year I caught a few episodes on a cable channel of a show called "Ruby". She weighed about 700 pounds when she started the show a few years ago I guess, and nows weighs about 340 pounds. I saw it the other week and her counselor told her to change five things in her life to help her to get below her current goal of 300 pounds. I thought about that after the show, and decided that I should do that to see if I can get myself below 200 pounds, which has been my goal for years now. (Since I gained weight after my hysterectomy.) Anyway, my goals: 1. No more soda 2. Cut way down on treats 3. cut down on fast food 4. increase my exercise. It took a couple more weeks before I could think what my fifth one would be. Tah Da! 5. Keep my hands busy when tempted to snack. I figured if I put my five changes on here I might feel accountable. But then again, maybe not, we'll see. LOL To keep my hands busy I will try to get on the computer more often, quilt more, clean more, crochet more, and of course now that the weather is nicer, more yard work. Hopefully that will solve my weight goal by my birthday and then I will spend that day shopping and buying new clothes. ALL DAY! I am going to put post-its all around to keep reminding me also. I have to catch another episode of "Ruby" to see if she reached her goal also. But, I have not had a soda since the last day of March and I have cut down on treats and fast food. That even helped my budget! The exercise has been harder since I was going to increase my walking but the weather was crappy. So I bought a jump rope and I am going to try that. Just bringing back my youth!

Crafty Me

I am back to quilting now that the cute visitors have gone home. I wouldn't normally do this today but I want to try to post pictures that Courtney showed me how to do three days ago. I am afraid if I wait any longer the knowledge will have evaporated, if it hasn't already. I finished this month's squares yesterday so I will post the pictures of those plus the first 2 groups that I did. In January we did four identical squares but the next two months there was only fabric for three. Anyway, here are the pictures of the squares that the instructor assured me would all be part of the same quilt when we finish at the end of the year. (We'll see. I don't understand how it will all go together and she isn't telling. I think she isn't sure either.) The wall hangings I will post when I get March's done next week. I can only do a project a week or I get obsessive!

Aaaarg! I have tried twice and the picture's not posting so now have to call Court! Poor Court.

So now Courtney helped me but the pictures are in reverse order. I did the bottom one first and the top one last. She gave me some helps for next time. That will probably be next week.

Grandchildren

It was so fun to have the Brown family visiting for the past week. We hung out, ate, played games, went shopping, went to the planetarium (with Kaven also) and the dinosaur museum. They are on the way home as I type this. I wish all the grandkids lived closer so I could keep up with the changes and activities in their lives. When I went to visit Ryan's family in January, I couldn't believe how much Nathan had changed in both looks and behavior. He is getting so grown up looking and acting each and every year. Of course this is to be expected but when I only see the kids once or twice a year it is really obvious. We always have so much fun but I am tired out afterward because we really try to pack a lot into the few days we have together and this ole body hasn't the energy it once had. Though I can fake it and push myself for a week or so before I need my "big rest". LOL! I love each one of them so much and they are so fun to be with in their own individual way. Next year Sarah will be able to go on a mini trip with me and that will be exciting. Kaven has been on one to Colorado once and to Washington once since he is here it is so much easier to arrange. But next year is Sarah's time for sure! Aaron had a great time on my computer keyboard and left some scribbles so every time I type now I will think of him. I hope I remember most of what Courtney showed me on blogging to make this work better for me.

Went walking this morning in the terrible wind and it was by far the hardest walk I have ever done. I was fighting the wind the whole time. Now I will quilt a bit this afternoon to relax. Fun-fun. Today was the last soda I am going to drink for the next month and I am going to cut waaaay down on sugar intake. I am limiting my "treats" to only Sundays. One treat per Sunday so I don't feel deprived. I will not diet but I do need to make healthier choices. On May 1 I will see if it has made any difference. I have been told just quiting my diet sodas will make me feel better. We'll see.

Learning Curve

Today Courtney showed me how to do stuff to make my blog look better. She also taught me how to add pictures, like this:

Courtney rocks!

Blessings

I was so excited to wake up yesterday to March 1, the first day of spring in my book. I could hardly get to sleep the night before because my mind was running wild with all the things I would be able to do now that spring was finally here and no more freezing days and nights. Spring is the re-birthing of the earth and everything fresh, new and beautiful. It makes my heart sing every year and makes my so happy for all my blessings. Spring and Thanksgiving holiday are my signature blessing times. There is so much sadness in the world (e.g. Haiti, Chile, the wars, etc.) that I don't want to forget that I have so many blessings that I should not even spend a full day upset over my taxes (have to pay almost $2000.00 this year extra!) So today I heard a new mantra that I think I will try to remember and have it a part of my life. "Bless and Release" Accept those things that upset us and we can't do anything about, remember the bigger blessings, and release those negative feelings into the cosmos. At least that is what I got from the statement. So I have. I am so blessed to have my own home and be able to help my parents through their difficulties. I am blessed to have the money in the bank that I had saved to fix my yard that will now go to taxes. What if I hadn't saved any? I am blessed to have children who are an asset to their families and their community. I am blessed to have terrific health so I don't have to spend lots of money on health care and medicines. I am so blessed to believe in a Heavenly Father who loves me and wants the best for me. I am blessed to have friends who go to lunch, plays, movies, classes and other activities when I need company or help. I am blessed to be able to walk in the park and appreciate nature around me. I am blessed to have the faith that sustains me when I get depressed and upset over events that I don't understand. I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to work at good jobs whenever I have needed to work and not be unemployed so that I can be retired now if I so desire. I am grateful I was able to get the education I wanted. These are just a few of the many blessings that rise to my mind and fingertips as I type this. I have nothing but gratitude in my heart today the second day of SPRING!

Kids and Pets

There are somethings missing in my DNA. The shopping gene for one. I have commented on that before. But, also, the pet gene. I have found that after trying numerous times and stages in my life that I am not a good pet owner. I have had cats, dogs, birds, and fish and just the thought of anything else fills me with terror. I mostly benignly neglect them. I feed them, take them to the groomer, to the vet, and clean up after them but I resent it and do not play with them. They just annoy me! However, when my friends or relatives have pets I like them! So I have kept trying to get a different pet to see if I can change. Well, I can't and I will no longer try. I will be glad when Sadie dies and then I will not get another pet.

I have decided I like other people's pets! That way I feel no responsibility for them and can give them only the attention I want. It is just the opposite of children. I like my own children (Really love them and the grandkids!) but not other people's. I tolerate the children of others the way I do the pets of my own. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt them but with very few exceptions I couldn't care less about them. Not to say I don't appreciate when they are cute or smart or that I am not sad when they are hurt but I don't want to get involved emotionally. Cold hearted? perhaps so. Which is really weird because I was always in demand as a babysitter when young because the kids loved having me come over. I think in general I love my kids and other people's pets.

Getting Old?

There must be something wrong with me. I have good intentions and then life interrupts and I forget my intentions. The saying is "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions." That said I guess I know where I am headed. I keep forgetting to blog.

My intention for blogging is to record what it is like being old and getting older. (Hence, the name Silverthreads, for thoughts from my head of silver hair!) With my grandmother and mother having suffered from Alzheimer's I think maybe I can tell if I start to get it if I keep writing and notice how "weird" I start to get. But if I don't remember to write and get bogged in life than I will go crazy and not even know it. LOL Nothing exceptional has happened but I do want to note one thing I have noticed about getting sick. I seldom get sick. I don't even get colds very often and that was true even when I was teaching school with sick kids in the room. However, last week my dad got the quick flu. By the end of the week I had it too. It hit hard very early Friday morning and I spend most of about 4-5 hours in the bathroom. Even considered making a bed on the floor in there. Anyway, spend the day in bed until night when I showered and dressed and went to a viewing. Felt pretty good just nauseous. Today is Monday and the nausea of the weekend is gone but after showering and starting my Monday run of chores was wiped out. Note to old self: Being sick takes more out of you and takes longer to recoup. I am used to bouncing right back! Maybe not so much anymore - I will continue to monitor this. (Maybe I am just lazy?)

Shopping

is terrible for me. I think I want "something" and when I go to buy it: I think of something else I could use the money for, do I really want it, do I really need it, how long can I do without it. I am missing the shopping gene! I went to a furniture store to look at lamps, for a chair I really liked that I saw on tv in one of their ads , and a glass sofa table yesterday and came home with the ideas and the money still in the bank. They didn't have the chair. I couldn't choose between two lamps and between two tables. Now I will let the ideas simmer while I go about my business for a couple more weeks. However, I saw a wall unit for a flat screen tv that I really liked and would consider buying if I planned on staying in my house very long. I want to wait until I move to buy what would fit in the new place before I spend money on big items. Obviously that was an easy decision. I really need a shopping buddy who has no qualms about spending money when I think I want to spend and help me make decisions. I wish my girls were available! I think maybe I have too many choices and am too afraid of making the wrong one. Although I have always loved the bed and sofa purchases I make, so who knows!

Another Beginning

Wow! Keeping my brain active so I don't get the "old timers" is a lot of work. Started a blog 2 days ago and messed it up so I couldn't add to it but had to start over. Not happy with the looks of this so far but it will get better. Journaling was always hard because writing made my hands hurt so bad after a short paragraph that this is more comfortable. Anyway, I got on the computer to write last night because I couldn't sleep and instead of writing I was just frustrated in trying to figure out what I did wrong and how to fix it. Never did so I went back to bed and stewed and started again this morning. Once again not perfect but it is a start. Maybe I will have brilliant thoughts in the future but today they are not "happy" thoughts. I will persist at least for the next 12 months. I have opinions on everything and I figured if I blogged I wouldn't annoy my children and friends with them so much. Once they are expressed they no longer percolate in my head becoming steamed.

Beginnings

This is my try at blogging. I tried Facebook and found it not working for what I think I want to do. This is the next step. This first year of full retirement I decided to start several new hobbies and blogging is one of them. Last night I started the first of the new hobbies, quilting. I took my first quilting class. Beginning Cutting. How funny is that? I thought I learned to cut when I was a preschooler but let me tell you that is NOT how to cut when quilting. Besides paying for being taught I had to buy the proper cutting materials that I had not previously purchased. About 30 years ago I first decided to quilt and bought a cutter and a cutting board. They were still unused, in fact the cutter was in its original unopened wrapper. The class laughed at that but thought it admirable that I could even find the cutter - I laughed at that. I took my sewing machine in to have it serviced last Saturday so haven't finished my first trial quilt block because I was too slow at class to finish but will finish it when I get my machine back. Next week is the first of 12 monthly class for strip quilting. I will make a wall hanging or table runner each month. (Hopefully) If that goes well I will try a full sized pieced quilt this fall.

I hope to add a tidbit each day for this first year. I have never been good or consistent at journaling but this is a bit different so we'll see. On Facebook I tried my positive thinking effort at One Good Thing each day but that just didn't fit that format so I will try it again here starting today.

ONE GOOD THING: I love having the time to do what I want without major interruption, like starting this blog today.