Wow 9 months!

Life sure is demanding.  Last November my daughter got engaged and my life was set aside so this new Wedding-planning life could become the all-encompassing, diva-beast I've heard stories about.  It did not disappoint.

She was married on May 30th, took a month to honeymoon and move to VA and slowly my little forgotten, boring life is resurfacing.  Ahhhh, how lovely to be learning about me again...oh yes, I love to quilt! I'd almost forgotten...and look, there's a new big empty room batting it's eyelashes at me saying "come inside, rest....bring your sewing machine".   Be still my heart.

Oh, all-in-all, I lost a total of 40lbs. I still need to lose another 20-30 but it's not on my priority list. Recuperate, regenerate, stabilize and breathe are on my to-do list right now.

Enough for now...I'm going to pour some tea.

Cute!

Another 10

Down another 10 lbs, and I'd like to lose 10 more for Christmas.
Went to Lancaster this past weekend on a mystery quilt retreat, here's the result:
My Quilt "Road to Freedom"

30lbs down, oodles left to go

It is now the end of July and I'm down 30lbs but the carbs have crept back into my diet.  It just seems like I have no control over what jumps into my mouth! I continue to refuse bagels or pasta but whole wheat bread seems so "healthy" and they just talk their way in.  For the most part sugars are cooperating and staying in packages, stores, and shelves where they belong.  I'm ramping up with exercise now...a little recumbant biking at work...walking the dogs when it's not too hot out, swimming still eludes me...I guess cause having to go through the "bathing suit wiggle" (getting that spandex puppy on!!!) and off!! (Even worse when it's wet!) does not thrill me. Throw my allergies into the mix and I'm happy just to get to work and then back home.   Ah yes, good times. BUT... Even though this seems a little whiney I'm thrilled to have taken off some weight and feel much better for doing so.  I will continue to battle those carbs and march forward to victory!
Now, as for quilting!  My latest....
Square in a square

Ok so here it is... June 5th...and I'm trying so hard to lose some weight. I've pretty much given up all carbs...no potatoes, breads, rice, bagels...etc...and no sweets. A few months ago I developed arthritis in my knee and that has limited my mobility. I just hate saying that.  But it really helps me to keep my weight goals in mind, if I can lose weight there will be less pressure on my joints. So this arthritis has given me an excuse to not walk and I'm now trying to figure out how to exercise without walking.  My first choice is swimming...and I love to swim...but I have to hold off on that for a few months (I had a hernia operation and am still healing). So I think I will try and use the recumbent bike at the gym...I'll let you know how that goes!
In the meantime...here's a quilt top that I just finished...and LOVE! It's called Swoon.

The picture really doesn't do this quilt justice. It is such a rich fabric..with gold specs. I don't remember the line, but it has an oriental feel to it...or Italian! LOL Either way, my Mother loves it and that's what's important.

Road Trip!

I'm headed west! My only goal is to visit Missouri Star Quilt Co everything else will be gravy. I'm leaving NY later today after my lesson on a long arm machine at LQS. What a way to start this trek! 

To my surprise both my husband and daughter(20) want to tag along. Did I mention this was a quilt Mecca? Still, I'm thrilled to have them and happy that they wanted to come despite the mission.

I'm bringing with me a quilt top that I'm particularly fond of and will drop it off at MSQC for Jennie Doan to quilt. Jennie is a celebrity because of her YouTube quilt tutorials, with her carefree, and lets get-it-done attitude...more for a non-perfect world...she has inspired me.  I'm not even sure how good she is at quilting!  LOL. I did call in advance and asked if she would be around later this week, to my disappointment she will not but will leave an autographed picture for me. 

And so it begins...a cup of coffee...a blog entry...clouds should be clearing up later...I'm ready to journey into tornado country and recharge my life batteries!