Thankful Sunday...

I'm always amazed at how quickly the week flies by, aren't you? Seems like only yesterday we we're starting another week and here we are again with a brand new one.

Today I'm thankful for:
-for the box of material I received in the mail this week from my dear friend Heather. So many pretty flannels to use for backing of quilts and some georgous cotton pieces. Heather has supported me almost since day one in my Quilts for the North project. I met her years ago on the internet and in real life a couple years ago. Her friendship means the world to me has does her support. Thanks Heather, you are the best friend a girl could have.

-for being able to work a full week at the library. Enough money to buy the remainder of our paint for our home. Yahoo!!

-for the $45.00 mistake the government made on my checks. They seen the mistake and on Friday deposited the $45.00 into our bank account. Got to give them credit when they find an error they made and correct it quickly.

-for games on C's computer. Her and B have had so much fun playing them. I'm thankful she is working so hard learning to type the right way. That girl works so hard, it's amazing!!

-for a fun visit with friends on Sat. afternoon. Instead of baking bread and doing laundry I decided it could wait and we went visiting instead. A whole lot more fun!!

-that J seems to be getting things together of late. Diligent prayer is certainly helping. Thank you to those who have prayed...it's working.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday.

Thursday in the Library...

Barbara Delinsky's new book Not My Daughter is probably one of my favorites by her. Three girls make a pact to get pregnant. Fingers start pointing to one of the girl's mom who is principal of the local high school. The emotional ties between mothers and daughters is stretched to breaking in the emotional story of love and foregiveness.

I really enjoyed this book. It's so refreshing to read a book by an author who chooses not to use any foul language (she does not write inspirational books). I love reading, yet if I start a book and it has foul language in it, no matter how good the storyline is I won't finish it. There are just too many good books out there to be bothered to take the time to read a book with violence and bad language.

To find out more about Barbara and see a list of her books, you can go here.

Tuesday's blocks...

Today I have 6 blocks that I worked on this past week. I'm not sure why however blogger posted my picture the wrong way. You'll also notice I'm using a lot of the same material. It's material I have on hand along with scrappy pieces. I like to do a number of them in the same colors so that when I put them together in a quilt, they match so much better. I love sampler quilts. I also love making these blocks...it really gives you wonderful practise for cutting accurately and putting each piece together.

The first block is titled Another Star. Again an easy block to do however you need to have accurate cutting.

This block is Around the corner. Again, you need accurate cutting. That's one thing you need to do when you are doing triangles....always cut accurately.

This one is Art Square. I don't like this one. Although very easy to do, the centre block is too large in my opinion. I tried to find some material I could fussy cut that size and didn't have any. I would like to see the centre smaller in this block.

This one is At the Depot. A fun block to do.

This one is Aunt Eliza's Star. Again for me the centre is too large.

This is Aunt Nancy's Favorite. I really like this block although you need really accurate cutting.

I also thought I would give a tip of the week, things that I have learnt over the almost 30 years of quilting.

Today's tip: Always use a 1/4 inch seam allowance unless the pattern tells you otherwise. If you don't you won't get an accurate block. If you don't have a 1/4 inch seam allowance on your sewing machine, you can make a line where it should be. You can also purchase a 1/4 inch seam allowance foot.

Thankful Sunday...

Another Sunday has arrived, the last one of January. It's been a very cold week here with a huge blizzard on Monday. The roads were even closed.

Today I'm thankful for:
-for the incredible beauty that surrounds me. Although there is bareness in the prairies at this time, there is something about the beauty outside. I'm thankful for the snow drifts, ripples and waves in the fields and banks along the road that the blizzard caused on Monday. For the snow still on the tips of the evergreens that haven't blown off. I love seeing the bales of hay still in the field partially covered with snow.

-for the sun that has been shining since Tues. even though our temps our cold. Driving the roads, you can see the glistening of the ice that has formed on the snow now that the sun is shining.

-for the good deal C found on the purchase of a computer for herself. She was thrilled. I'm so thankful she saved enough to pay for it herself.

-that the 2 year planning meeting for M went really well on Friday. There were no surprises. We also found out that M is doing most of what he did while at home. The honeymoon period is over. They have also decided to get a behavioral specialist to work with M. We totally support this because there are already some who don't want to work with him. Anything to help M achieve all he is meant to achieve we will support.

-for the wonderful supper we had at Montana's on Friday night. The waitresses even sang happy birthday to M. He grinned from ear to ear when they placed his free dessert in front of him.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday. Hugs to everyone.

Thursday in the Libary...

Judith Miller is another author that I really enjoy. Judith has often authored with Tracie Peterson. One of my favorite series by her is Freedom's Path.

The Carousel Painter is a stand alone book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Carrie loves painting carousel horses, yet can she stand alone against those who don't want her working in the factory. When a expensive necklace disappears from where she's been staying, she is caught up in a search to find out who stole the necklace.

If you want to read more about the book or the author, you can visit her here. I'm sure you'll enjoy her books and those she has co-authored with Tracie Peterson.