Okay, so I'm a procrastinator...

First, to my brother: Yes, procrastinator is spelled right! (That's an inside joke and I'm only gently hinting that he can't spell). That's okay though. He is a thoughtful, prolific blogger (AmeriDan in my blog list). I guess I have to poke fun at him for spelling, because he pokes fun at me for forgetting to actually blog on my blog.

Hmmm... what to update first? Sewing room? It was beautiful while it lasted. And it is much easier to clean now, than before. However, at the moment, it's in the "yes, I'm working on four projects at the same time" mode. So, it ain't what you'd call "tidy." However -- it is still functional and I can work on four projects at the same time!

I'm working on my Dear Hannah quilt again. I hate when I'm distracted from that because once you drift away from anything, it's hard to drift back. But! I'm also working on a Round Robin we did on the Dear Jane website, a queen-sized Harvest Home quilt block of the month at my quilt guild (Piecemakers in Oxford, MS) My friend at work Beth and I are working on a graduation quilt for one of our best friend/co-workers' daughter, who, although we never gave her permission to get past 7-years-old, has managed in the past few years to grow into a wonderful, talented, sweet and level-headed high school senior. Jessica should still be holding my hand when we walk to the Post Office, but since she has her own new car this year would probably laugh at me for 1. trying to hold her hand, 2. walking anwhere. When it's finished, hopefully, I'll post a photo. It's going to be gorgeous! And extra-long since our drop-dead gorgeous Jess is 6 ft. tall.

I'm also working on another quilt, but I can't talk it about. It's a secret for a friend and I can't even say which friend... :)

I also made a Levi quilt! A dear friend's daughter had a baby, named him Levi. So, Levi had to have a Levi quilt. I'm going to attempt to post a photo.

Meanwhile, like all the rest of us in the world -- I work (to make money to quilt). I come home, do the dinner bit and try to sew the rest of the night unless life interrupts me. But all is well. Paducah is coming! My boon traveling companion and the other half of my brain Jane and I are leaving Wed., April 23 for the mecca of quilting -- Paducah, Kentucky! I wish I had time to rest up for the trip. Unfortunately, the real world keeps sticking it's head into my life. Oh well.

I have a "thought" printed out on my computer desk -- "All these days passing, I didn't know they were life itself." Fortunately for me, I love my life...

I also read a great tagline a few minutes on a blog advertisement -- Great minds like a think! I love that! It's so me! :)

Duh!

After several people asked, it finally occurred to me that I could add a link to The South Reporter. The "SR" is a small, weekly newspaper in rural Mississippi -- Holly Springs to be exact. Holly Springs is a beautiful little town, with 64 (trust me, they've been counted!) antebellum (pre-Civil War) homes. We have the requisite beautiful old courthouse on the square and three antebellum churches with Pilcher organs. Massive pipe organs! Absolutely fantastic sounding, they are all antebellum (of course) and lovingly and "religiously" taken care of.

All the babbling above is leading up to the fact that I work at the SR; write a column and do about a 1,000 other things, along with Barry Burleson, the editor; Barbara Taylor, production manager and all around wonderful person; Beth Breithaupt, ad salesperson and the kindest person I know; Sue Watson is the most conscientous news reporter around and Fred Dee, or Mr. Freddie, ad salesman, is a true "grumpy old man." We often laugh and say "scratch Mr. Freddie's surface and underneath that grumpy old man exterior, you'll find an even grumpier old man!" But, he's our grumpy old man, and we all love him dearly.

If you'd like to read my column (Close To Nowhere) it's in the editorial (or opinion?) section. I'm very proud of both the print and the online editions of "my" newspaper!

Over achiever?

I have achieved "floor!" My "new" sewing room actually has one! Most of my fabric is folded neatly on the new shelves. I've even made a baby quilt (just a drag-around with stippling -- one of the 2-hr. kind) But I actually found my sewing machine, thread AND scissors! I won't even mention what all I still can't find because I haven't unpacked the boxes with my sewing desk drawers "stuff."

I just wish someone could tell me how I have more stuff now than I did when I packed it all. I had everything in the much smaller room and except for a few stray bolts of fabric, it all fit. I have boxes that I don't recognize. And I have enough batting to never have to buy anymore ever again.

I think some of the stuff in here is related to clothes hangers -- they multiply in the dark!

Meredith is very excited (11 yr. old granddaughter). She has her corner set up with her mother's sewing machine (she likes it better than hers, so she "borrowed" it) She has a thread rack on the wall, along with a light and horse calendar and some sort of note pad. She's working on her very own shelves that are so far still a mess, but she's really having fun sorting her fabric and gadgets, etc.

I'm somewhat awestruck at the way my stuff is edging it's way over to her shelves though. Not only does my stuff reproduce in the night, it's learning to migrate. Just amazing!

Maybe tomorrow I can find my camera again and take her picture in her corner. Although, by tomorrow, it may be her room and my corner... :)

Barbies are up!

I'm very aware of the new Bratz craze. I have two granddaughters, 11 and 9. But Bratz will NEVER replace Barbie! I have a small collection of Barbies. About 20 assorted and then my Wizard of Oz collection. I also have a Wizard of Oz collection of Beanie Babies. And my sister Jackie, gave me a "Tin Man" for my birthday! He's made of cans and has an oil funnel for a hat and he is so cute! He's supposed to be an outside Tin Man, but I have him inside, where he really belongs!

As I've worked on my sewing room I keep finding things I'd forgotten I had. I have some great fabric! And some wonderful books and magazines. I spent way too much time last night looking at some of my Martha Pullen Sew Beautiful books. I love christening gowns as much as I do my quilts!

I finally managed to get a space clear enough near the wall to hang shelves and put my Wizard of Oz collection back up. I've missed them. Most of my Barbies are on my bookcase and didn't have to be put up, but my Oz collection was on a quilt rack that I'm moving. So... Glenda, Dorothy and friends were packed for a week or so. I really missed them!

Now, they're hanging next to the Tin Man and about half of my fabric is neatly refolded and put on new shelves. ALL my quilting books, including my Martha Pullen books, fit on one of the bottom shelves of my new wire shelves. Whew, that was a sentence!

I have achieved partial floor! Now, if I could just find my scissors....

My second post -- I'm moving up in the world. :) I've posted a photo of me, it's old, but it's the only one I have that I like. :)

At the moment, my life is revolving around major catastrophes -- I'm redoing my sewing room. I'm taking everything that was crammed into an 11ish x 11ish room and moving it to a 22ish x 22ish space -- formerly known as our bedroom. And it was all Pop's idea. I think he's trying to kill me. :)

The smaller room is now a quite cozy and attractive bedroom. Photos of that will follow as soon as I make one curtain and a table cover.

The larger room is still a disaster area, but I can see small patches of floor here and there and I have tossed out approximately 10 boxes. That must mean that I've surely unpacked and put away the contents? Photos of the disaster area are posted here somewhere...

Why I'm blogging

I've never blogged before, but since my brother has his own blog (political), I'm pretty sure I can do it. Even though I'm sorta apolitical.

My blog will be about many things -- my family, my work, cooking and recipes and especially about quilting/sewing and assorted gadgets, etc. I am a grandmother and will frequently discuss my grandchildren. I'd really like to hear about yours also.

I really like to talk and I really like to hear about others as well. I tend to be non-argumentative, so this should be a nice, probably boring blog about kids, dogs, cats and fabric.

As time goes on, I'll add photos of myself, my grandchildren and my quilts. Bear with me as I learn this new way to waste even more time. :) And please, join me...