Summer Hiatus is over...

Well...summer has been very fun, I must say.  Lots of things going on and so many changes in my life.  Best thing first...I have lost 43 pounds!  My weight loss has been due to a number of things...people, really...I have been working with a nutritionist...see www.marianutrition.com for information on her.  She helped me discover that I am gluten intolerant and also helped me ditch sugar.  All very important changes in my life...I am off all of my medications except for the one for arthritis.  My friend, David, is a massage therapist and he has helped me get off the medications as well...my back is so much better and now he is helping me with my knees.  I will be off the arthritis medication as well...shortly.  I can walk and sleep without pain meds...he is truly a Magic Man...then, an acupuncturist, Dona.  Dona is doing wonderful things for me as well.  She has been working on weight loss, edema, pain management, and so much more.  I am so grateful for these people!

My sister is home again and feeling much better.  She will have to have surgery again in about a year to remove an ostomy bag and reconnect her digestive system.  She is getting around better and better.  So nice to have her back from the brink.

I have really let my quilting slide.  It was too hot to work in my sewing room...and I was having much fun outside with my friends.  This summer was so much fun.  I hope the fall and winter are as well.

Happy 4th of July!

Well...busy is an understatement...and this week I get to go to a quilt retreat!  I will be busy picking things together to work on at the retreat...my Dear Jane group retreats to the College of St. Benedicts in St. Joseph every year in July...looking forward to spending time with them.

 And, of course, I have been behind in my Civil War blocks....I have all but this week's block done.  Aren't they pretty?

Behinder and behinder....

It must be summer....I seem to be a busy Diva these days!  Went to the MN Quilt show yesterday and it was wonderful!  I have pictures out on Picasa..if you want to see them, let me know, I will send you the link.  I am 3 weeks behind in the Civil War Block of the Week with one more coming out tomorrow...sigh!  I have a Dear Jane workday tomorrow so I will use that time to cut out the pieces.  More later...one quick thing...my sister is back in the hospital...please pray for her recovery!  I will have more info later.

Oh my! What a fun weekend!

And it isn't even over yet!  I am going to have to do this update in installments...too much to tell!

My friend David's birthday...which included walking tacos in the garden and a trip to Cirque Du Soleil

A trip to my favorite quilt shop, followed by a visit to my friend Dona for acupuncture

A day in the garden and some "spending quality time with a friend in a place where you can buy stuff"...I hate shopping so he tried to disguise it...I was not fooled, mind you....

Steaks on the grill and much fun quilting...but so very behind!

So....more to come on all of this fun stuff...in the meantime...I hope you all enjoy your Memorial Day. 

Catching Up - Civil War Blocks

I finished the last two week's blocks just now...and they turned out quite well!  I am going to love this quilt!

 This one is Underground Railroad

This one is New England Block.

Busy Diva!

I have been remiss in posting...and very busy!  Lots to do in the spring, I guess...not so much related to quilting, I am afraid.

My weight loss journey continues...I hit a rough patch there for a bit...was trying to get off medications and took the wrong one off first...now we have that figured out, I am off of two of the three and aiming to get rid of that last one.  Exercise and weight loss have really made a difference in how I feel.  It is amazing!  The other parts of that amazing feeling equation, which made the exercise and weight loss possible are David, Maria and Dona.  Massage, Nutritional guidance and Acupuncture have made such a difference for me!  THANK YOU!  I have been so lucky to have these people enter my life at this time...

So now today, I have to catch up on my Civil War Blocks...I have last week's block to do as well...and I am determined to make a dent in the mess in my sewing room.  I have a Pile-its License that needs to be revoked.  The piles are starting to tumble over.  I am going to lose a dog if I am not careful.

However, there will be a diversion today.  I am so excited for next Friday!  My friend David's birthday will be a big event, ending in a trip to the Cirque d' Soleil...how fun is that?  I already got my hair cut, and some new clothes...need to find some makeup and the proper hardware to go under those new clothes, if you catch my drift....so Katherine and I are headed to Mauled in America this afternoon.  Oh...and shoes...I don't have any fun shoes...I will have to post a picture of the "new" me....it should be very fun and outrageous!

Quilt blocks will happen later tonight and I will post pictures...Have a great weekend!

A beautiful, sunny day!

AND, better still...a vacation day in the middle of the week!  As luck would have it, this is the only sunny day we are expecting for the week so I took advantage!  Went to JoAnn's quilt shop, determined which of the new Carolina line I needed to have (all...no surprise) and signed up for the bus to the Minnesota Quilt show in June...then I went for a lovely bike ride.  What a great day!

As promised, here is the picture of the Missouri Star block...love the fabrics!

I am going to just love this quilt...and I cannot believe that we are 19 weeks into it already!