Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
-Judy Garland

Picture this. I'm in the grocery store (I find myself there quite often). I put a 10 pound bag of dog food in my shopping cart. I go to the check out and I pick the bag up to hoist it onto the belt for checkout. It was tilted on its side so I kinda picked it up from the side of the bag. Upon picking the bag up (this would be the hoisting part) THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE BAG....KIBBLE...flew out of the bag and covered the belt..the floor the place where the check out girl was standing.. I'm telling you the darn thing EXPLODED! I was standing there with a deflated sack of Beniful dog food and my mouth wide open! Have you ever spilled a tiny cup of water? It feels like there was 10 gallons in the tiny cup. Well this is how my Great Dog Food Caper felt! I asked the girl if she would like for me to move to another check out.. I think she really wanted me to move to Iraq! What could I do..clean it up? Scoop up dog food and put it in my purse/CLUTCH??? The funny part of this is that I actually thought to myself. "Pat you gotta start carrying your camera...this is good blog stuff...." Oh well. I went to the check right next door and said to the girl. "Aren't cha glad I didn't get in your line first...oh...I need another bag of dog food." They sent someone to fetch it for me!

The newly weds left yesterday..sniff sniff...I miss them already. I think I want to go back to the days when families lived together. Well maybe not because then I would be living in a cave and I don't know where I would plug in my sewing machine.

I stuck in a couple more wedding photos. Remember the part where I said I wouldn't bore you with more wedding stuff...I LIED! I will try to do better in the future...OFF TO THE GROCERY STORE. (I called ahead and told them I was coming)

Pat

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. -Thomas Jefferson

We had a lovely day yesterday. I wanted to share with you the morning beverage (if you are a non drinker...so sorry) We drank RAZMOSSAS as we opened our gifts. It is a family favorite...very fruity and refreshing.. Here is the recipe:

RAZMOSSAS

1 can (lg.) concentrated lemonade
4 cups Cranberry Juice
1 cup Raspberry Liqueur

Mix above and freeze. It will not totally freeze because of the alcohol. Add Asti or Champagne to taste. This mixture would use about 2 bottles of Champagne (I am partial to Asti).

Dip the rim of your glasses in either Cranberry Juice or Liqueur and then into sugar..I do this the night before...You can also drop a few raspberries in the glasses as you serve your drinks.

Here are some pictures of the slushy stuff and a glass (with most of the sugar gone!)

The kids are at the mall and I am home cooking chili waiting for them to come show me their Christmas haul from the sales. Several years ago we started hiding money for them to find on Christmas morning. This year we hid money for both girls and Russ!!! That was fun. I realized they were better off finding clothes and stuff they really like and they love getting $$$$ and hitting the mall early on the day after Christmas.. During the money hunt they could not find one of the $100 dollar bills!! YIPEES..now....as they say.... "A sure sign of Alzheimers setting in is when you can hide your own Easter eggs Dang, Andy and I could NOT REMEMBER ALL THE HIDING PLACES. We finially located it (thank goodness it was one that HE had hidden teehee). I just got a call and they are joyfully spending at the sales. I am joyfully blogging...Heck I'm happy as a clam, I'm not a Mall kinda girl..I hate to shop.(well you know..unless it is a quilt shop)

They all want to go see "Marley and Me" this afternoon....normally I don't go to movies on opening weekend but where my family goes....SO GO I. Oh well, a big bag of popcorn and a movie then home for Chili and a rousing game of "CLUE" seems to be on the ticket for today...

Home your holiday weekend continues to be fun!
Pat
PS. I'm seriously considering KEEPING UP with stash busting in '09. I read Judy Laquidara's blog regularly so I may have to do the stash busting thing...you know...it's like a 12 step program for faboholics..........and I'm deep in addiction. I'll report back on this new years resolution!

Love makes our house a home.
-author unknown

The wedding pictures are finally in from the photographer. There are so many wonderful pictures I don't know which ones are my favorites. I thought I would share a few and then I won't do it again...I promise!!

Special Merry Christmas wishes go out to all my friends in blog land. I have enjoyed sharing my quilting life and other things with you all...I'm looking forward to '09 and meeting lots more blog friends!!!

Merry Christmas!!!
Pat

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for the friends who have given me a heart full of joy. - Charles R. Swindoll

I have loved beginning this blog with a quote. As I said when I began I have a huge collection of quotes and books with quotes that I have collected and referred to many, many many times. Now I can really use them and share them with my blog friends. The quote above is so appropriate to this weekend...I love it when the quote "fits" the topic..

This has been a busy weekend with quilting friends. On Saturday I RE-launched my Silver Thimble Club (formally Stitch N Sisters) which is now an independent group of quilters who share their passion for quilting and mix it with a TON OF FELLOWSHIP, laughter, tears, and love. I love this group of quilters and I simply can't imagine not having them in my life!... we welcome new members to our ranks any chance we get. We are a large group, I will hold 3 classes for the group on the third weekend of every month. Projects are offered and kitted up by local quilt shops. We will be doing my Pinwheel Parade pattern and my Wrapped in Comfort (body Pillow) during the first quarter of the year, with other projects from other designers coming in the future. I am thrilled with the turn out and even more thrilled with the response everyone gave at the cookie swap on Saturday. This group of people are the reason I began my design business, Stitch N Quilt and its owners are the people who encouraged me and gave me the support to strike out on my own as a designer. I'm so grateful to them ALL and I count my blessings every day that these women are in my life. We are going to plan road trips and field trips in the coming months. We will be supporting every quilt shop in the Atlanta area in a big WAY!!

Then there was our annual "Crow" Christmas brunch and gift exchange. We draw names every year and make a gift for a fellow Crow. The talent in this group of women is AMAZING and that is an understatement........Here are a few snap shots of the the day, the festivities and a FEW of the gift exchanges...I wish I could include all of them. We all sit together in my dining room at one table and talk and enjoy the fellowship of the day...we told stories and caught up with all the stuff that is going on in our busy lives. We have been together for 5 years and I'm sure we will be together for the rest of our lives, many more years to come. Our friendship began with the sewing and has grown deeper and richer. There is always the quilting but it is REALLY SO MUCH MORE! I love the way quilting brings people together and changes and enriches our lives in so many different ways. I witness the strength of this art form EVERY DAY.......AS Bonnie Hunter said.."I quilt, therefore I am."

With so many blessing to count I am grateful for my family and the life we share and for my friends old and new... What a wonderful weekend and a lovely beginning to CHRISTMAS WEEK.

Pat

Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in other belong to us as well.
-Volaire

Debbie and I went to visit Karen Taylor who is the owner of A Scarlet Thread in McDonough Georgia. We had the MOST enjoyable time getting to know this lady. She is so warm and friendly and her shop is THE BOMB!! There is definitely a light in her spirit that shines outward to everyone she meets. I feel like I made a new friend ... can't wait to see her again!! Her shop is eye candy from door to door and floor to ceiling. Huge classroom, wonderful displays...sewing machines (Baby Lock and HQ 16's). Here are a few pictures. Go visit her shop it is .2 mile off of I-75 at Jodeco Rd.

I'm so excited I'm about to bust! The Silver Thimble Quilt Club is meeting tomorrow for a cookie swap in our new home at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Grayson. We are having a cookie swap! I will be showing the projects for the first quarter of '09..(I will take pictures and post tomorrow!) Looks like we will have a great turnout and begin with a fresh start. It has been difficult for us to loose Stitch 'N Quilt but we hope Ladye and Joan will enjoy their retirement.....as for us....we quilt ON!!!

The committe woke me up this morning and we started baking at 4:15. So far I have baked 4 loaves of Poppy Seed Bread and ten zillion Peanut Butter Balls. Snowball cookies are next up to bat! Here is the recipe for Poppy Seed Bread. I got it from my friend Julie. I had one that was my mothers which is a Lemon Poppy Seed Bread but I think this recipe is EVEN BETTER than Mom's.

Poppy Seed Bread

3 cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/8 cups oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 T. poppy seed

Combine all. Pour into 2 loaf pans. Bake 45-50 min. @ 350 degrees Remove from oven and take a knife and go around the edges of the pans.

Glaze
1/2 tsp butter flavoring
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup sugar

Boil until sugar melts. Put loaves on cooling racks and pour glaze over. Freezes very well!

Don't cha LOVE HOLIDAY COOKING???

Pat

Constant use will not wear ragged the fabric of friendship.

-Dorothey Parker

I am enjoying this holiday season so much. I decided that with so much doom and gloom this year that THIS holiday should be extra happy! I have been to 3 holiday gatherings and enjoyed the visits with lots of old and new friends. I have two more parties left to go, one of which is the annual gathering of "The Crows" we always have such a good time, I just can't wait!

I also decided to spend more time at home and less time running around like a crazy person and boy is the at home time good, good, good. I love to cook so I'm trying new recipes and planning some menus for my family. The craziest thing I have decided to do ( and why I picked the holidays to take this project on...) is to clean out some drawers and closets. I have been on a organizational frenzie! Go figure...during the holidays...Usually I do this in the Spring!!! I took 9 bags of clothing to a charity organization. I have labeled and tagged everything. Sewing room is next on my hit list. I must be nesting or something! The funny thing is that I wasn't THAT unorganized to begin with...Maybe I should seek professional help for this need to organize.

I'm almost finished with my book "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" and I really am liking the book. Here is the next book my book club is reading. I'm looking forward to this one as well. This is a true story and I've been told the book is very uplifting and inspirational. PERFECT! I'm thinkin' a good read at holiday time!!!!!

Melissa, Mary H. and I were judges at the Grayson Quilt Guild on Moday night. That was BIG FUN. Debbie and I did a guild talk there a couple of months ago. They are a warm and fun group with lots of great things going on. And boy can this group COOK! They announced their raffle quilt winner...dang it was not me..but I'm thrilled for the person who won. I took my camera...and when I got there I realized I left the memory card in my computer. (this is what leads me to that organization thing mentioned above)...Now I really need to focus on boosting the memory bank........This may be a more difficult issue!

OK so I'm off to the sewing room. I hope I remember what I was going to sew when I get there!

P

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving. Make every day a holiday and celebrate just living. -Amanda Bradley
Friends gathered yesterday at Stitch 'N Quilt shop to enjoy each other and celebrate the retirement of the shop owners Ladye and Joan. For me, it was a roller coaster of emotions. So much fun to get together and laugh, reflect, yak, etc etc. and so difficult to say goodbye to the shop in which we have loved and laughed and experienced every other emotion. It was a lovely send off!

I want you to meet a special person! Her name is Sandy. Now.... to say Sandy is a quilter is an
UNDERSTATEMENT She cranks out more quilts that just about anyone on planet QUILT, and she does this with precision and excellence. (and I could go on and on!) She brought her first quilt to show yesterday. We are calling Ami Simms to see if it can be included in her second book "How NOT to Make a Prize Winning Quilt" Here she is demonstrating How NOT to square up a block! I'm sure this block gave birth to the commonly used quilting term WONKY! It was so funny.

Then there is the quilt. See how flat it lays? Notice the ball fring on the outside. I wish you could have seen it. She was laughing and demostrating her sewing skills. But the best is the picture of the back of the quilt..and her firm grasp of the 1/4" seam allowance. Yes that is the SEAM ALLOWANCE BEING HELD UP .........I'm telling you this was the hit of the day!!!! Like I said Sandy is one of the best quilters I know and she enjoyed showing her first quilt. We all should look at the first projects we made! What fun.. Thanks to Sandy for letting us laugh with her!

I am so excited to be launching my Silver Thimble Club which will be meeting at a local church. With the closing of Stitch N Quilt we all wanted to stay together as we have in the past and I have found a new home for us. This is a very good thing! The response to the club has been outstanding and I can't wait to get going and do some different things with the group. My heart is in this club and that is putting it mildly. We will meet independently from the shops in the area and give our support to all the quilt shops in and around Atlanta. I think this is going to be a very good venture for us all! Come join us! Cookie Swap is this Saturday at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Grayson. 1 o'clock.

Melissa and I are judging a quilt show tonight. I can't wait. I've never done this before so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm glad its a low key thing...as I certainly am not a professional judge...nor will I ever be! I love doing new things...so here I go.

Pat

The fastest way to reach new heights: Just grab some string and fly those kites
-author unknown

What a fun evening we had last night. Jeannine, Mary Carol, Jan and Pat four chicks at the Neil Diamond concert. So! we go out to dinner prior to the concert, we sit down and look at the menu and out come the reading glasses! What is wrong with this picture? We had our sparkles on...and we can't see! Oh well off to see Neil. We were comforted by the group that was at the Gwinnett Arena. YES folks....probably the majority of the people there would have needed reading glasses as well!! But we all rocked out and Neil put on a great show. Jeannine and I picked out two of his back up singers and decided which ones we thought WE WERE! I'm the one in the middle...Jeannine is the one on the left...WHAT FUN!!!! oh how I wish I could sing cuz I would sooooo jump on that stage and dance!

I finished my Winter Wonderland red work. What a fun project. Here is a not so great picture I took just before I finished it...I'm going to start another hand work project right away. I think it is going to be the house quilt by Black Bird Designs I mentioned months ago on the blog. It is something I think about often and on my MUST DO l so I guess I should make it a New Years resolution for '09. On second thought.... I'll just put it on the list of life accomplishments......it stands a better chance on that list.

What do women do the morning after a concert??? They quilt OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pat

Where are those Gingerbread recipes people?? Come on I know you are out there!!!

Nobody has ever measured how much a heart can hold -Zelda Fitzgerald

Deck the Halls and Fa La La La LAAA. We decorate our home on the weekend after Thanksgiving which is always fun. This year the kids and the new SIL helped so much!! I snapped a few pictures along the way to share with my bloggin' friends. MERRY MERRY.

I'm going to make Gingerbread men this weekend as soon as Mary Beth comes home for Christmas break. I can't wait to have her home for a few weeks. She will be starting her nursing program next semester so she probably won't get home as much as she ususally does. So I'll just have to go see her and take her out to dinner. I'm thinking we could eat at Paula Dean's in Savannah.........yummmm yummmm! Good plan!

I have a large collection of these antique glass baskets that I use year round with seasonal decorations. I love to put them on the table and fill with candies etc. In some of the baskets I put the little battery operated tea lights...so pretty. This is partially done. I'll take another picture when I have the "Crow" Christmas brunch... Then we can eat the centerpiece!!! MORE FUN!!!

Guess where I'm going tonight..?? You guessed it I'm going to a Neil Diamond concert at the Gwinnett Areana.. So Jan, Mary Carol, Jeanine and I are wearing our diamonds (real and fake) and taking off for the concert. Good girl fun! I probably know all the words to the songs...and that as my daughters would say "Is just wrong on so many levels" but who cares right????? I'll take my camera and get back to you on this one.!!!

Good news I finished my red work Winter Wonderland block. I will post a picture tomorrow of it. I love love love handwork...so relaxing. I'm enjoying the quiet and down time I have had the past few days. I didn't realize how much I needed it!

Working on a football schedule for all you bloggers....stay tuned.

Pat
PS. If anyone has a tried and true gingerbread man recipe I'd love to try something new! post away!

How beautiful a day can be when friendship touches it.
-Author unknown

Saturday...so many things to do around the house, we are in the middle of holiday time I believe! HMMM should we (Deb and I) stay home and get things done...HECK NO we are barrelin' down the road as usual! Once again I'm in the car with Debbie on my way to Sweet Home. I needed to build some kits with Melissa and Becky and Gretch, Karin and Kristi were planning on havin a little mini sewing day! So sounds like a party HUH? Well, in walks Leslie, then Pat, Reva, Christine and Sarah...next thing you know we have takin over the shop and its PARTY TIME! We took a class photo just to prove this quilt shop IS the place where "Everybody Knows Your Name" or in my case....WHERE EVERYBODY HAS YOUR NUMBER (scarey huh?) and yes that is me peeking out of the Christmas Trees. So if I'm ever in need of a laugh..I'll just go park myself at Melissa's. She really should not have named that shop Sweet Home because we ALL JUST CALL IT MELISSA'S.

With Silver Thimble Quilt Club beginning a new chapter in our sewing lives in January, excitement builds over our new home. We will be making my body pillow "Wrapped in Comfort" and "Pinwheel Parade" during the first quarter in '09.. Can't wait, we should be off and running soon, people are emailing me daily to join this outstanding group of quilters. Melissa will offer the kits on her web site in '09 for her internet based Silver Thimble Quilt Club as well...I want to get Mary Ellen and the Little Quilts gang involved...so things are really on the MOVE! I'm so excited and so honored to be continuing the club after the closing of Stitch N Quilt. We will be continuing the memory making on a regular basis again! I love these women and all the rest who are part of our club...there are simply no words. (A lack of words is sayin' a lot for me!)

Later (I'm still not being productive today) Oh well we are going out to dinner with friends tonight..I'll be productive tomorrow.

P