Wednesday, February 11, 2015

My life as it is

So much has been going on in my life (maybe I should say “indirectly” in my life) that I’m not sure where to start… How about some pictures?…

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My BFF had asked me quite a while back that if I wanted a project she would love for me to make her a bed-size quilt.  Both she and her DH had already received their cuddle quilts… These blocks that are the Hidden Wells block, were ones I started about a year ago and were intended to go to my brother-in-law to give as a wedding gift.  Don’t know how it happened, but I ended up with 2 different size blocks from the same strip sets, sewn on the same machine, cut using the same rulers… I showed these blocks to my friend and she loved the fabrics.  I told her buy the sashing and border fabric and I’ll make the blocks into a quilt – so she did and I did… This was a plan-as-you-go quilt.  She loves it and that’s all that matters Smile

These next quilts are all QFC quilts.  They are going to a police department in WA to help comfort children when there is a crisis in their lives..

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The Baltimore Album style quilt is a combination of applique and fabric paint.  When I first saw this quilt, I was not sure how it would work out.  I was worried about it being stiff from the paint, but it really wasn’t.  All the quilts with embroidery were made by Mickey M. and the ones without embroidery were made by Barb J.  Both ladies are from the Quilters for Comfort group.  The quilt with the yellow crazy blocks?  That picture just does not do that quilt justice.  It’s a gorgeous quilt!  I did all over spirals in the quilting and it just added so much texture.  I think it’s one of my most favorite quilts to date.

Okay, so pictures out of the way and if you’re not interested in what’s going on at a personal level, you might not want to read any further….

If you’ve followed me a while, you know I had a sister-in-law with many health issues.   Yes, I wrote “had”… She passed away on Feb. 1st.  I think she’s been very tired and ready to go for the past year.  She passed peacefully in her sleep and I believe that is always a blessing.   My hubby (her brother) will miss her as they were closest in their family of 6 siblings but he takes solace in knowing he was there for her whenever she needed him while she lived.

My sister’s future father-in-law passed away this past Friday.  He had been diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer and they knew his time was near.  I believe that has been the delay in setting a date for their wedding.

My dear friends that spent 8 months in Seattle while he underwent a stem cell transplant for leukemia?  While he’s considered cured of the disease but has something else going on and the doctors have yet to figure out what it is.  He went into ‘respit’ care at the Tucson VA to give her time to heal after he unintentionally pushed her and she broke her wrist, requiring surgery.  His planned 12 day stay ended up being a month.  They will be going back to Seattle for the oncology team there to try and figure out why the downward spiral.  I worry about them both so much.

And then…. another good friend who was in (what she thought) was a committed relationship of 6 years got a text from her ‘significant other’ , while she was out of town caring for an elderly friend who just got out of the hospital, that he no longer lived here…. What a snake-in-the-grass!  Left her in a financial mess as well as an emotional mess…. DH & I have been trying to help her through this difficult time.  She’s having to move in with one of her sons until she can get herself turned around.  At 66 years of age, a person should not have to go through something like this… Well at any age….

And lastly (I think) my friends who received the quilt in the first picture, he underwent knee replacement yesterday and, praise God, is doing amazingly well.  They anticipate he will be released this afternoon.  Modern medicine has come a long way!

Through all this I have thanked God for my simple life.  When I see what so many of my friends are going through, I feel my life is truly blessed….

 

Katie