New Projects For 2011 and my MFU's

McCalls Quilting has a BOM quilt that I am going to make!  There I made the commitment and I expect my blogging friends to hold me accountable.  It is called "America The Beautiful."  The magazine shows two color scheme suggestions.  I am going to make it in the  "Country colors" choice. I am sure I have enough fabric in my stash to complete it! 

We are expecting Grandchild #5 in March or earlier.  DIL-2 has developed some complications. Her doctor told her last week that she may be going on bed rest and to expect the baby early.  Since things may become difficult later this spring I need to finish both a grandbaby boy (John Deere Quilt) and  baby girl blanket.  If she goes on bed rest we have have Tatum with us.  I would take her to daycare in the morning and pick her up after school.  

So far,  We only have one special  wedding coming in 2011 that will need a Christmas Tree Skirt.  I have selected from my Christmas Stash and purchased some John Deere Christmas fabric to make a skirt for Chris and Kari's wedding in September. It will be traditional on the top and could be reversed to be a John Deere tree skirt. 

I was making my list of UFO's and thinking about finishing them when I really wanted to be starting something new.  Last summer sometime I was chatting with a blogging friend about quilting as a way of relaxation.  I had been feeling guilty because I wasn't accomplishing as much as others.   Early this morning  (2:16 a.m.) I was blog reading and  read Kelly from Charming Chatter's blog.  She is starting a new group called "MUF's Girls".   It fits me--so I'm in with the other MUF girls.   

Some of my MFU's include: 

1.  BOM by Amy--I was doing great until school started when all my quilting came to an abrupt halt.  I did finish Christmas gifts.  Now I would like to pull out my blocks and finish the quilt.

2.  Pokey Little Puppy needs to be sandwiched and quilted.

3.  Confetti Girls quilt--needs to be sandwiched and quilted.

4.  Half of the "on point" lap quilt is still hanging on the design wall upstairs.

5.  Two "Quilts for Kids" that need the binding sewn on and mailed.

However I will not feel guilty about them!  They are merely fermenting on the shelf!  

It was a Wonderful Christmas

Spending time with family is one of the special parts of Christmas.  After Christmas Eve service we had a light supper at my mom's apartment.    We tried to take a picture of all four of our grandkids.  It was past bedtime and not the best time for a picture!  It is easy to tell that Conner and Kasey are the oldest in their families--They could smile no matter what is happening around them!

Christmas morning we went to DS-1's to watch Kasey and Cole open gifts.  This was the first year they have ever been home on Christmas morning.  Usually they have headed to DIL-1's family 3 1/2 hours away  early Christmas morning.

Sunday after church was the day for celebrating at our home.  My traditional dinner is not several "fancy" choices. We have Swedish meatballs in gravy, mashed potatoes,  home canned applesauce,  homemade rolls,  homemade strawberry jam, our own frozen corn,  and cookie salad followed by apple pie.  For something new this year I made a Caramel Chocolate Trifle- OHHHHH! It was easy and really did look like the picture!!!

Since it was Cole's first Christmas he wasn't sure what was happening. He liked the wrappings and the tree! Grandpa had a great time helping Tatum with her gifts.  Conner being a good big brother was more than willing to help

 

The end of a perfect day.

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Merry Christmas

 

Tonight at Christmas Eve Candlelight  Communion service we will have our DSs, DsIL, grandkids, and my mother.  During the service,  I will be reading Gloria Gaither's  "Ordinary Baby Extraordinary Gift" for the Children's sermon.  The outstanding  illustrations will be on power point for all the congregation to follow the story.  This story is based on the Gaither's song, "Ordinary Baby."  After the service we will all go to Grandma's/ Great Grandma's for a light supper. 

Just before dusk DH will light the same lantern he has lit for 29 years to hang in honor and memory of our precious son, Travis.  The light will be shining in the dark  when we arrive home tonight and burn until during the night on Christmas Day.  I am so thankful for the four years of Christmas memories he was with us. 

One tradition we have had for many years is to have a birthday cake with candles to celebrate Christ's birth.  We will even sing Happy Birthday.  DS-2 and DIL-2 will  then drive to her parents to spend Christmas Day and will attend church at DIL-2's father's church.  He is a pastor.

 For the first time since they have been married DS-1 and DIL-1 will be here for Christmas Day.  We are going over for breakfast on Christmas Day to watch Princess Kasey and Cole open their gifts.  On Sunday after church everyone will come to our house for our Christmas celebration. 

I am still here!

 Like everyone else I have been busy with Christmas preparations. I have missed reading your postings and learning what is happening in your worlds.

Tuesday  was our elementary Christmas Program.  As Amy of Amy's Passions wrote about living in a small town.  We still have a "Christmas Program" not a "Holiday Program" where each grade sings two or three songs.  The students perform  a mixture of holiday, Santa, and true Christmas songs.  The gym is full of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and plenty of younger siblings.  The fifth graders who started playing instruments this fall put on their first performance with all the proud parents not hearing the squeaks and squawks.  Last night was my small group Christmas gathering-I will post about our project later, and tonight I have to sell tickets at the high school wrestling match. (All teachers have to work at least 5 events.)

On Wednesday nights I  am part of  a small group through my church.  This fall we studied Jennifer Rothchild's book "Self Talk Soul Talk." .  The church is over crowded and there are not  enough places on campus on Wednesday nights.  This fall our group meet at Pastor Chopper and Andrea's home.  Every week Andrea has her house ready for 15-20 women to meet in her living room,  use the dining/ kitchen  area for our snacks and hot tea or hot chocolate.  She has a first grader and a 4 year old.  I made her this runner in appreciation for having her home open to us.

I finished the tree skirt as a gift for my Para educator at school.  It was a joint gift for her birthday and Christmas.  Last year I used the same fabrics to make a runner for her.

I finished a table topper that is being sent  to my Secret Santa.  Yes, I know I am late.  That seems to be what is happening in my life lately.  I hope she will forgive me and enjoy it. It will go in the mail on Friday noon. 







There is still  a great deal of Christmas shopping and preparations.  The Midwest snowstorm hit us last weekend.  We didn't receive the amount that Mpls and St. Paul received but enough that everything was closed including malls, walmart, etc.  Even the highways were closed to traffic and all snowplows pulled on Saturday.

 

A Little Potpourri aka A Little Bit of Rambling!

Thanksgiving is over and Advent begins today, I now will officially begin planning for Christmas. A friend on facebook sent this video.  It is fun watching to discover who are the planted singers and who are the persons that joined in the singing!

This morning I did a Children's Story/ Sermon during the worship service as part of the Advent message.  It was a chapter from the book,  "One Wintry Night" by Ruth Graham.  There were about 25  children from ages 4-9 sitting on the platform in front of me.  I was just ready to start the story when one little girl said, "I've got gum."  The congregation started laughing.  I ask her if she would like to take care of the gum and I would wait for her.  She jumped up and ran down the aisle and out the door to throw it away.  I talked with the other kids while she ran back up on the platform. I asked if she was ready and she replied, "Ready." 

Monday night is the second class of the Machine Quilting class I am taking in Rice Lake.  It is based on the book, "Foolproof Machine Quilting." It is different than I had expected-but I did learn new things two weeks ago.  It is sewing using the walking foot around templates that are cut from paper .  There were about 20 women there.  Only a couple have ever used the free motion method of quilting.  They are afraid to try it.  They only do "stitch in the ditch" or take their things to a long arm quilter.  Tomorrow night we take our machines to practice what we were taught last time.

I have many questions regarding information we were given.
1.We were told to use only "high quality thread"  not to use Coats & Clark.  2.  They don't pin at all.  Only use an adhesive spray for basting.  3. Strongly suggested using "Best Press" on all fabrics.  4. Use only 75/11 quilting needle.   I am giving all of their suggestions a try tomorrow night.

I have two  projects that must be completed. Hopefully tonight I will finish the "Charming Girls" Christmas Secret Santa exchange.  It is supposed to be in the mail by Wednesday.

Have a great week,

Thanksgiving Greetings

 

Happy Thanksgiving wishes to my friends.

I count the friends I have made through blogging as a special blessing in my like.

Have a special day!

  

Fall In Wisconsin

It started snowing during the night and has continued throughout the day. We have about six inches of heavy wet snow blanketing everything.    Somehow no matter when it comes we are not quite ready for winter.  We have about 200 acres of corn yet to combine.   The guys worked last night on corn.  Combining 12 rows along  fields next to the roads so when the snowplows came through today they wouldn't be throwing the wet snow onto the corn.

While DH was combining last night, I worked on sewing together another Christmas tree skirt for a gift.  This was a new pattern.  I wasn't sure about it--but I like it.  I am changing it a little. I just finished quilting it.  Now-once again-comes the hard part-to cut out the center. I hope to do the handwork tonight.


Another Christmas project I have been working on is a runner for a gal at church.  I haven't decided what color to go with for the binding.  I was thinking of the green or black---Then I thought maybe I should use the same print as the red.  That would draw more attention to the pinwheel center.  Any suggestions?

I need to decide on the gift for my Charming Girls Secret Santa Gift Exchange.

It is going to be a busy week.  Late last summer I registered for a class at WITC in Rice Lake.  It is taught by the gal at Busy Bobbin  quilt shop.  The class is on two Monday nights teaching Machine Quilting.  The book she will be using is  "Foolproof Machine Quilting."  It will be the second quilting class I have taken. 

Tuesday and Thursday nights are parent teacher conferences.   Wednesday night is my night for a small group Bible Study through my church.  We are studying the book, "Self Talk Soul Talk" by Jennifer Rothschild.  

Have a great weekend.

                   

WOW! I was speechless and emotional.

I went through a wide range of emotions when I opened a package I received in the mail on Tuesday. WOW!  I became an online member of the "Charming Girls Quilt Club" in July after being encouraged by my blogging friend, Sheila.  There are a variety of things to participate in with the Charming Girls. One activity is a Secret Santa Christmas Swap.  I thought--why not it may be a way to meet more blogging friends.

 In my package I found a pillow and two machine embroidered /quilted pillow wraps.  They are both absolutely beautiful.  In all honesty,  I was speechless and then I cried (and my tears don't come easily).  Just to think that someone I have never met  would send me such beautiful gifts.  Vicki also enclosed an elegant handmade card and a very nice personal letter. 

She is a very talented gal.  I immediately emailed to thank her and received an great email back.  I know if we could be closer we would be good friends.  We decided this is the next best thing and I am looking forward to our friendship.

I have met so many great gals in a variety of ages,  careers, and hobbies through blogging.  I am honored to call you friends.

Now comes my dilemma.  There is no way I could even begin to create a gift this beautiful for my Secret Santa gift recipient.  So I hope when I put it in the mail--she will know that it is made in friendship and love.

I Voted

       I stopped at our small town hall to vote after school. (It is an old one room school house converted into the town hall. There is no running water and the bathroom is a little building out behind the building).  Usually I am somewhere between number 75 and 125 when I vote at 4:00.  This year I was number 209. The three election clerks said it has been steady all day and the "rush" had not started yet.  

I am thankful I live in a country that offers me the privilege of voting and having it count.  I have become tired of the continual mailings for the past two to three weeks and the continual radio ads where one is reporting that the other candidate is lying about them.   However, this is also a privilege. 

I am thankful for the men and women who have served to protect my right to vote.  Daily I pray for those serving today and for their families at home. 

My School Day Family

Since I often talk or complain or vent about my school day. I thought I would share some pictures of my  some  of my great students.  That is the best thing I have going this year, they are almost always great cooperative kids!  My classroom is considered a Cross Categorical Resource room.  I work with students who have been diagnosed with one or more of the disabilities:  SLD (Specific Learning Disability),  ADHD/ ADD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity/ Attention Deficit Disorder), Mild CD (Cognitive Disability formerly referred to as mentally retarded),  Sp/L (Speech Language),  OHI (other health impaired), and EBD (Emotional Behavior Disability).  Three years ago the district hired a full time elementary EBD teacher so that has helped. She has the severe EBD students with her. 


Each student has an IEP which is an Individualized Education Program.  Depending on their need and area of disability they may receive language arts (reading, written language, spelling) and/ or math instruction as an alternate curriculum in my room.  We also provide support for their general education class such as science or social studies.  Often we will read tests orally to the students when the tests are measuring their academic knowledge not their ability to read or write.  We will also scribe the answers dictated to us by the students.  I have one SLD student who is an auditory learner.  He is able to get B's on tests when we are able to provide the accommodation of reading his tests/worksheets to him. My CD student is unable to participate in gen. ed academics so she receives her science and social studies in my room also.

The students are in grades 3-6.  However, their abilities range from PrePrimer to 3rd grade reading levels.  Math levels will also range from primer to 4th grade levels.   It isn't often that we are able to take the time for fun days.  There is so much to try to teach.  Currently there are seven reading levels,  five math levels,  six spelling levels, and written language is worked in at the spelling levels.

We are working on the State WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts) mandatory testing.  It is so frustrating for the students.  Even though a student may be in 5th grade and their reading level is at 2nd grade they are still required to take the 5th grade test.

This morning we knew we would be having most of the students in our classroom from 8:30 to 9:30. So my educational aide brought in a pumpkin for everyone that her husband had grown.  It is great listening to the student talking together, laughing, just being relaxed and not under the pressure of "learning". They don't realize that social skills is part of learning. 

I hope this insight shows that "most" of the time I do like my job.  When I am able to spend time actually teaching and not attending IEP meetings and completing the mountains of required paperwork.  My rewards are not measured with huge gains--but when a student is able to open a book, read to me without errors and they are actually enjoying what they are doing that is my reward. 

So when there are times when I am venting or complaining remember I really do like my students and my job.  There are just times I become frustrated.  That is one reason I learned to quilt and a reason I so very much appreciate my blogging friends.

After looking again at the picture--It has been "Red Ribbon Week" at school.  Everyone was to wear red today.

Finally Two Finished Projects

School is settling into a  very busy routine.  I didn't receive any additional help.  Two of my sixth grade students are spending an hour a day at the Junior High Sped classroom. We are using it as a transition for next year.  It is working well and occupies one hour of the day were they would be sitting in my room doing seatwork.  My  students are not having all their needs met and I am pulled in too many directions.  When the end of the day arrives I am exhausted.   I haven't been able to spend nearly the time I would like to with my projects. 

However, I have managed to complete two projects. In August when I posted  pictures of my summer projects on facebook,  one of my cousins made the comment asking if her name was on any of the runners or toppers.  I thought--if I had a chance I would make one for Julie.  When our local orchards were out of apples I called Julie because there are several orchards in their area about 85 miles south of us.    She went to the orchard and picked up 2 1/2 bushels for me.  I finished the table topper and added a label for her.  DH met Julie's son at WITC in Rice Lake to pick up the apples and sent the topper home with him.

Saturday afternoon I have a baby shower.  The new dad is a fan of the University of Michigan, Minnesota Twins, and the Minnesota Vikings.  I tried finding Minn. Twins fabric and it is not available any longer. I was able to find U of Michigan fabric.      I couldn't bring myself to sew a Vikings quilt!  (GO PACKERS- The season is 1/2 way to being totally successful-The Packers beat the Vikings!!!)  This way when "Jax Thomas" arrives in a few weeks he will be able to cuddle with his dad and his quilt to watch the Wolverines together!

Have you ever wondered????

One more of the little differences between men and women!  I don't know about your house but, when I am putting quilting colors together all DH sees is the colors on the right!
Happy Saturday!