Piper's Quilt

I know I had commented quite a while ago that Piper's quilt was done, but technically it wasn't.  I did not have the binding sewn on until this last week.  I finished it over the holiday break.

I used a striped binding cut on the bias because that is how I roll.  I have an obsession with striped bindings.

This is the front........

This is the back........

And while I must say I am getting irritated with not being able to rotate pictures in here......you can still see it.

The back is minky and this is a super warm quilt (yes I have used it).

Piper loves it.  While she is not the type of kid to drag a blankie around, she does like to snuggle with it when we are on the couch, and gets mad when anyone else wants to use it (unless she is lying with them).

So now, it IS done.  OFFICIALLY!

Always,

Gentrie

Resolutions.....

Happy New Year!!  It is now 2015, and while I am not one to make New Year's Resolutions, this year I have.

My resolution is to work on some form of quilting at least 3 nights a week for an hour.  I figure at least this way I can MAYBE get something accomplished in the quilting department.

While I have large projects I need to get finished I also have some little ones I want to do first just so I can jazz myself up and feel like I am getting somewhere.

On a completely side note.  I actually used my digital camera (not my phone) to take the photos in this post.  When I opened the files to find the photos, holy crap!  Hailey had used the camera for a field trip this last year, and while I had known she had taken it to use I just now looked at the hundreds of photos she took!  Wow!  I am wondering how much of the field trip she actually looked at form NOT behind the lense.  I guess she didn't want to miss anything.

While some were completely random (50%), some were pretty cool......

So anyway, back to my resolution.....

The first thing I want to make is Christmas stockings for the girls.  I got this easy-peasy pattern at my  local quilt shop.

 I have this piece that I believe was originally supposed to be a backing for a Christmas quilt and for whatever reason fell out of love with it.  (I'm still not overly impressed with it.)  It is a few years old.......but I am thinking about adding the last row and using it to make a stocking with.

It's a snowball block, very simple and scrappy.  I thought very cute for a stocking though, especially if I set the pattern on it at an angle.


Thoughts????

Always,

Gentrie

Aaaah Christmas

I have been so stressed out this year.  Taking care of elderly parents, one with failing health and one on the downward slide of dementia. Work stress, where did all the assholes come from?  A one year old at 40.....an 11 year old at 40.....

It's called life, and fortunately I got a couple days to step back from it all and just hide.  I am a Cancer the Crab, and at times I do need to withdraw into my shell.

Christmas happened and it was quiet and low key.  I wish Sydney and the Grandbaby could have been here.  I understand not wanting to travel 12 hours with a one year old.  You know it's not like when I grew up and we didn't have car seats or even wore seatbelts.  We got to move, if only a little, and could curl up (laying down) and go to seep if we wanted.  Now, being strapped down in one position for that long.......well I would loose it too....

So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends and family out there!!!!!

Hugs to all, and to all a good life!

Sorry, I would rotate this picture if I could figure out how in this program!!!!

Always,

Gentrie

A New........Something?

Have you all been in this position?  Sitting here at newly 40 wondering what am I doing?  Do I need this stress?  Is this where I stall out?

I've been reviewing my life lately, and while I see I have climbed the ladder in my field (not easy for a woman). I find myself feeling a bit, hmmm. what would be the word, maybe unfulfilled.  Not in my family life, I feel very full there and fortunate to have the family we have, if not a bit overwhelmed at times.  Although, in my individuality, that encompasses my work and hobbies and such, am I in a rut?  Is there no where else for me to go?  Have I peaked?  Well, I certainly hope not, and reach out to no not at all.

I have been reviewing lately and want to move on to the new chapter.  that is what the big 4-0 is, isn't it?  The beginning of the next chapter?  With a 10 year old and 10 month old at home, where can I go?  Right now my life seems devoted to children and babysitting parents.  Can I break away from this cycle, even just a little?  I certainly hope so, and while I have no answers to any of these brilliant questions right now.........meh, maybe soon?

Sydney and Mark Hanging.....

I have 3 amazing daughters and 1 amazing grandchild.  Even though I do not hardly get to see the grandchild and her mother, technology is amazing these days.  Enabling us so much more connection and communication than ever before.

Piper (purple) & Lynlee (Auntie & niece)

Hailey

So here's to wishing I could find that stay at home job that would support my family and allow me to live on the mountain home place I drive by in Lewistown all the time thinking someday........

Always.....
Gentrie

Medication, Education and Spring

Spring is here, finally!!  We have been soooo waiting for this spring.  For some reason this last winter seemed to last forever.  I think it was just so much colder.  Or maybe it was just me, lamenting the ever more hateful cold weather as I get older.

I have been trying to slip in a little spring cleaning here and there.  What I realized is that when we moved I did a lot of that and there is not much left to weed out.

The next step will be the storage unit once we have the porch built.  A lot of that can move over.  Since they raise the rental rates on their storage units every 6 months I am anxious to get out of there!  Typical for this area.

Piper got the nasty flu bug a couple weeks ago and we survived.  She lost 2lbs in 4 days and got dehydrated, but we made it.

I hate it when little ones get sick, they can't even tell you what is wrong, they just feel miserable.

Hailey has been grounded for having a failing grade in Science.  I have even taken her out of soccer until she can get the grade up.  Her attitude tonight was, "I don't care, I can just be grounded."

The point is she is supposed to care.  She is supposed to care that she is failing and she is supposed to care that she is grounded so she'll want to be ungrounded.  I can tell her teacher is frustrated with her because she won't help her out anymore either.  It shows in Hailey, she won't even ask for help anymore because she knows her teacher won't.

Hailey forgot her Science book at school and ran back to grab it before getting on the bus, the teacher told her she was too late and could not get it.  I am frustrated with her teacher.

Hailey has issues focusing, not bad, but more than some kids.  Not at a needs medication level, although that is what the school has been pushing.  Medicate, medicate, medicate.  How about teaching her how to deal with it and manage it herself?  Cause you know what she'll probably be like this her whole life.  Medication isn't ALWAYS the answer people. 

Does anyone else have issues with this?  How do you cope?

She has a lazy teacher this year also, who does not want to work with her at all.  Last year her teacher was awesome and Hailey did great with her, all A's and B's.  Yeah, we had to get on her sometimes when she would slack off, but don't you with any kid?

Blessings.....

Gentrie