Moving On

We've just barely launched into summer vacation (school has been out for 2 weeks) and we're already preparing for the first trip of the summer. We are flying out to Oregon to visit relatives and it should be quite a visit. My mom has organized a big family reunion weekend with my siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., etc. I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody.

Looking ahead to the trip also brings to my mind the baby quilt that I started, back when my newest nephew was a baby. Zane is now almost 2-1/2 years old, and the quilt is STILL not finished! This past weekend I decided that I had to finish it once and for all, and if I get my act together and work fast, I can deliver it in person. This weekend I was able to finish up the quilt top.

Here it is hanging on the line. I am very happy with the way it has turned out, and I didn't have any problems with the pattern, other than how long each star block took to put together. I love the result but I wouldn't make this quilt again because of how fiddly and time consuming those blocks were.

Now I need to put the backing, batting, and top together and baste. I am going to pin baste, and then machine quilt. I'm not sure just how I'm going to quilt it though. I'm leaning toward quilting some stars in the more open sections of the blocks and in the borders, and then random swirly stippling, similar to what the pattern in the magazine suggested. I may outline the stars, or quilt just inside the stars as well. I'll be sure to do LARGE swirls and stippling though, so it doesn't take me forever to finish. My batting is cotton but can be quilted up to 8 inches apart, so I've got a lot of leeway.

Last week we said goodbye to Aya, our exchange student from Japan. She's back in Japan and has sent us emails to let us know she's home safe. It was a very sad few days before we brought her to the hotel where the exchange student group gathered before going home. Hard as it was, I was glad to know that the reason  she was sad was because she had had a good year with us and didn't want to leave (though I know she was also anxious to get back to Japan and see her family and friends whom she hadn't seen in 10 months).

Here are the "sisters" saying a teary goodbye.

We've been trying to add some learning for the kids to the summer this year. They are both learning how to do their own laundry (yay!), though right now, I still need to lead them through it. Our plan was also to have them cook one dinner a week, but it's been difficult to put that one in motion. They also both have part-time jobs this summer, but there is still plenty of time left over for them to spend hours at the computer, texting with their friends, and sleeping until noon when they can get away with it. Today we're going to get out in the sunshine and go to the town craft fair.

Lots to do this week to prepare for the trip. I have hopes of getting a relaxing day or two visiting with my folks, in between the family reunion, meeting up with old friends and possibly even a college visit. I'm not holding my breath though.

Shelley in CT

Holiday Time!

First Night of Hanukkah

All my packages have been mailed, my husband is home on vacation this week, and the kids only have a couple more days of school before the holidays. The season has been hectic but I'm finally getting closer to a relaxation state. Lighting the candles is always nice and quiet, we sing the hebrew prayer, and there is only one present per kid to open each night, until we run out. That's for my husband's side.

The Christmas Tree

This is for my side. Notice the knitted ornament in the center front (there are three: one for each of the kids). We have ornaments from different trips one or more of us have taken as well as homemade ornaments, handmade ornaments others have given us, and special gift ornaments. This year when we were decorating the tree I was explaining to Aya, our Japanese exchange student, where all the different ornaments came from or who made them. My 15-year-old son was also listening carefully. Later that evening he commented about how amazed he was that there was an interesting story behind just about every Christmas tree ornament. A lovely evening all around.

We've made our fudge for the kids to bring to their teachers at school and now we need to make more for us and for friends. We made hanukkah cookies the other night too. We have since decorated them and youngest son brought some in to school for a cookies exchange. Yum!

I had been feeling the holiday stress over getting gifts bought and packages mailed in time. This year I sent boxes to Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Then I got tired and bought the last one online, and paid for gift wrapping and had it sent to California. Phew! I feel like I singlehandedly kept my local post office in business this month.

Earlier this month we also had central air put in (with heating upstairs to replace the electric heat) so the house was "under construction." Our contractors were very nice and polite and cleaned everything up every day, but "stuff" had to be moved and we lost a little closet space, and I'm still trying to reorganize in the aftermath. But it is done, the heat upstairs is wonderful, and we're glad we did it. As I slowly get more areas cleaned up I start to feel less stressed, and I'm getting ready to enjoy the holidays and having everybody home.

Speaking of having everybody home, the prodigal son (who'd been away at college) is home, so we now have four (4!) teenagers in the house! It may sound scary, but I'm really enjoying having them all here. The other three are still finishing up school, but we'll have a week and a half when everyone is on vacation and we will have some good family time: fires in the fireplace, movies, popcorn, hot chocolate, games, etc.

So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas,  Happy Hanukkah, and a Festive New Year! May we all achieve our goals in the New Year!

Shelley in CT