March Free Motion Quilting Challenge

Here it is the last day of the month and I finally get around to working on my SewCalGal's Free Motion Quilting Challenge for March.  Things have been busy around here and I'm off to visit some family for a couple of days.  I'm leaving the dh to administer the dog's medicine for a couple of days.  They'll be fine.  They just lay around all day anyway while he's at work. 

I really liked this month's challenge because it was on the easier side for me.  However, I'm still trying to master the art of a curved line.  I found it difficult to do the flowers on the smaller quilt sandwiches I used.  I also found it a little hard for me to figure out where to start and finish the flowers so I was set up correctly to move onto the next flower.  

The last flower on this round was my best one.  This was the second set of flowers so this is the better of the two practices.  I'll continue on and hope to see improvement.  How are you doing in the challenge?
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Surprise Return to WalMart

It's been a while since we've been to our local WalMart.  It wasn't that fun for me anymore when they removed the fabric and craft area.  Today I went over to WalMart and saw some odds and end of fabrics at the end of their small craft aisle area.  I looked at the different pieces and didn't like them.  Then I turned to the right and there it was... I heard the music in my head.  The fabric was back.  They had 3 rows of fabric, sewing machines, notions and interfacing among other items.

Now I know it's not the best quality fabric, but, it works well in a pinch for charity quilts and pillow cases.  So, head to your local super WalMart that used to have a fabric area and see if your fabric area is back!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

99 Cents, Really?

I happened to stop by my local Tuesday Mornings to check out their craft section.  The whole time I keep saying to myself... "Trish, you do not need anymore fabric or crafts"  you are trying to streamline your stuff.  Then I saw it, and I blinked a few times at the prices.  I found two very large packets of 5" squares of fabric for 99 cents each.  That's right .99 each.   I even asked the sales girl if it was right and not a mistake.  She said it was correct.  There were only two packages left and I took them both.  They each have 100 squares of fabric in each package.  I am hoping I can make two blankets out of the squares.  One packet is browns, blacks, and tans in various animal prints and the other has teals and browns in various geometric patterns.  I have found the best fabric at Tuesday Mornings and Big Lots.

Here's hoping you all find the same bargains during your days browsing.  I'd love to hear about the bargains you find out there!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

There's No Place Like Home

Yes Dorothy, you are so correct.  There is no place like home.   Mandy came home last night.  She is doing much better.  Thank you so much for all your notes!  Although her bark sounds so scratchy which makes you feel bad because you know she was barking at the vets :-(    Shockingly, her sister did not seem phased that she was home.  I'd swear she was enjoying being in the house all by herself just lounging around.

The Meds

Thankfully DH is completed with his meds from his minor surgery last week.  Now I only have the dogs medicine to coordinate.  Mandy has 3 prescriptions and Moo has 1. 

The Rebellion Look

We never laughed so hard when Mandy came home.  They shaved both front legs in the middle to put the IVs.  It looks sooo funny because her fur is long on top and bottom and shaved tiny chicken legs in the middle.  Poor thing.  Mom and Dad laughing at her.  How insulting.  But sorry, it's so darn cute.  I got one photo with her leg visible.  She is overdue for her spring shave but we are going to give her a couple days rest first. 

She is definitely tired, I found her sleeping in the dirty clothes this morning.  I went downstairs to put a load into the washer and when I came upstairs, I could not find her.  She was deep in the sheets I had on the couch ready for washing.

Now, hopefully I'll be able to get back to sewing this weekend.  I hope you all have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

This Too Shall Pass

I just got hubby back on his feet after his extraction and back to work.  Only two more weeks of oxygen therapy because of the radiation he had and then the treatment will be done.  Not before, some of the tooth beside the extraction broke.  Luckily, he has a dentist apt tomorrow.  This too shall pass....

Then, Sunday morning when DH went to work early in the morning, the smaller of our two dogs was sick.  Nothing out the ordinary.  They are both Yorkshire Terriers and she is 6 pounds and her sister is 10 pounds.  After she was sick, she laid on the couch all day and did not move.  I thought that was very odd.  She was also having problems moving her hind legs.  Sometimes, their patellas come dislodged and then go back in.  Yesterday, she continued to lay and not move, not eat, not drink.  Poor precious baby.  She's and her sister will be 10 in May.  That's poor baby on the right.  Sissy is close by.

Of course, off to the vets we go.  Blood work, urine test, etc... first high level of proteins in urine.  Not good.  Gave  her IV fluids and then we mentioned we sometimes get ticks in the yard but have not seen any in a while.  Did a Lyme test and sure enough, she has Lyme disease.  They gave her medicine and we went home.  By the way, we figure we would test her sister while we had them both there even though she was acting fine... Congratulations, both your dogs have Lyme disease. Ugh. $400+ visit later, we came home with some medicine for them both. 

She started doing better right after the medicine last night and today.  It was almost unbelievable. She was eating, drinking, moving, etc...  Then the vets called today.  Her blood work was back and her liver levels are very high among some other levels.    They wanted me to bring her down and they want to keep her until Friday.  Give fluids and antibiotics intravenously.  I said, "But, she's doing so much better."  But I knew it was for her best.  So, for the first time ever, the sisters are now separated.   Her sister is handling it better than I thought she would.  I can't imagine 3 days without my spoiled girl.  I have to keep telling myself, "this too shall pass".  There are times when expenses go awry and you just have to do things for the greater good.  I can always start selling some fabric :-)  By the way, here she was before she went to her "SPA Visit" for a couple days as I told her.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Tooth Be Told

I'll be back to crafting soon.  I've been playing nurse for DH who has been having dental issues.  For someone who has not had radiation to the head and neck area, it's not really a big deal.  For someone who has, you need to jump through hoops for a tooth to be removed. 

So, DH spent 4+ weeks preparing for the tooth to be removed and we are finally here.  He's resting comfortably.  Let's just hope it heals properly.  Again, those who have had treatment to the head/neck have much slower healing.  2 more weeks of post treatment for him and then we continue to wait for healing.  We keep telling ourselves remission is worth the side effects.

Here's a funny I saw today that made me laugh at loud:  It's the ultimate peep show.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Coupons, Cotton and Towels

COUPONS

I don't know why I'm always a month late buying my Joann's Spring/Summer coupons.  Maybe it's because I don't go out shopping much in February since it's so cold!  The sun was shinning yesterday so I stopped by Joann's while I was out on errands.  I found my favorite Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Fusion magazine.  My shop places it on top of the pattern cabinets.  I buy it just for the coupons on the back.  You get two 50% off and 4 40% off coupons.  I think it's getting harder to find items not on sale at Joann's to be able to use the coupons.  I find myself running around trying to find something not on sale because "I got a coupon I need to use :-)"

As I mentioned before, I use these at Michael's and other craft shops too!  They are great to put in your purse and have handy at all times.  The Fashion Fusion magazines are $2.99 each and the coupons are good from 2/19-6/16!  The downside are the exclusions printed on the coupons:  Can not be used on sale items and can not be used on:  "Accuquilt Go products, Provo Craft electronic machines, Cricut cartridges, Slice machine and cartridges, sewing machines and sewing machine department merchandise amount other smaller items.  I've used them on expensive markers at Michael's etc.  Be creative.

TOWELS

Also, I bought a bunch of misc sale items already on 40 & 50% off.  When I see all the decorative finger towels they have for the holidays I say, I can make that.  Then I say, forget that, I can buy it cheaper than making it unfortunately so I bought a few finger towels for my bathrooms.

COTTON

Maybe I was sleeping when there was a cotton shortage or something but I went in the back to pick up some more Warm and Natural Queen size batting packages with my coupon.  When I got there, I only saw one or two packages and the price said $44+ dollars.  It was on sale for 40% of but, I don't remember paying $25+ for queen batting with coupons.  I was not 100% sure it was the same as I usually buy, so I walked away.  When I did, I spied some clearance bamboo batting.  I always wanted to try this and they had craft size 35x45 packages on clearance for $4.97 instead of $17+ original price.  So, I bought two to try it out. 

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Favorite Orange Vision

I have been feeding the birds and squirrels some seeds and fruit lately.  The last week I've been wondering when I will see my first robin of the season.  Today, when running downstairs to do a load of laundry, I saw the familiar color orange off in the distance out the back door.  It can't be... I ran upstairs to get my camera thinking it would surely be gone by the time I reached back downstairs.

Nope, it didn't move much at all but stood around waiting for me to take a photo!  Look how nice!  Ignore the dead grass LOL.   It's spring, it's spring!  Soon it will be time to dress up the back porch and hang the outside curtains!  I love back porch living :-)

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~