Archive for December, 2008
It’s a long story
My family probably won’t believe it until it happens but Keith and I have been trying to plan a trip to Ireland for the last 10 years. Lots of trips dreamed about, two trips actually ticketed and canceled, and my standing joke is that if Keith wants to stay married then I want my honeymoon by our 20th anniversary.
Yes, I tell him that the first one didn’t count because he messed up the dates and instead of jetting off to Antigua while my brother watched Chris & Adam, we had a long weekend outside of Jacksonville with the boys (ages 4&5, in the same room of course) as we drove back from Florida where we got married to Virginia where we were living at the time.
So, with a maiden name of McLaughlin and grandparents who were born and raised in Ireland, it’s always been a dream of mine to visit and that’s the trip I chose as my *real* honeymoon.
This week, Keith booked the tickets for April. We’ll go the week before our 20th anniversary (he’s cutting it kind of close isn’t he??) They say 3rd time’s the charm so I’m crossing my fingers that this trip will go off as planned. We don’t have any great plans for seeing the entire island but will spend most of our time in Dublin and maybe do a day excursion somewhere close.
Now it’s time to pull out the 5 or 6 travel books on Ireland I’ve collected over the last several years and start to plan.
Look what Santa brought!
San (Gypsy Quilter) had emailed that she had some Quilt of Valor tops for Alycia’s project and we decided she’d send them here for quilting first. A package arrived today with 5 tops, fabric for backings, bindings, some extra blocks, and even a couple gifts for me!
Can you see the chicken?? I didn’t get the best photo of it did I…but it’s really cute!
And she obviously has a sense of humor too – this is how the package came addressed! Thanks San!
Online friends
Cecile is a reader of my blog who wrote one day and offered to send me some books. Since that time we’ve written back and forth and she’s sent other goodies including this cute little top for me to quilt and donate. She’ll be in the Minneapolis area visiting family during the holidays and we’re hoping to actually meet in person!
This was quilted with Happy Times pantograph from Lorien quilting and I finished up the binding this morning.
Aren’t you glad to see a little quilting content here for a change?
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My 10 to Quilt goals have been great for my productivity and I’ve decided that I’ll choose at least 6 months during 2009 where I focus on a goal to quilt 10 tops during the month. I’ll start in January!
A little too Merry
Too much partying last night and I’m lucky to even be sitting up. I’ll catch up on some of my blog reading but will skim and look at photos as suggested in several comments.
Doesn’t the city look festive? The photo was taken last night as we walked to the restaurant the party was held at.
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Google Reader
Ok, at 830+ plus blog posts in my google reader – it’s obvious I’m way behind. What do you do when you so far behind???
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Catch up day
Keith’s having a Christmas party at a local restaurant tonight and as usual, after being gone I have some catching up to do. I doubt I’ll get back to any quilting today but if I do have some time before leaving I’ll work on some binding.
In the meantime, there’s my journal page for the day to create, laundry, brushing Chesty, and going through mail and paying some bills. I did keep up with my Christmas Journal while I was gone and you can view the pages by clicking on the link above.
I also managed to open the *fun* mail last night. I got postcards from Vicki (tree), Mom (poinsettias), and Barbara sent a fabric card. I love them all!
Home
I’m home safe and sound….after a 70 degree day in Newport News yesterday, I was greeted with 1 degree weather and snow upon my arrival at MSP airport.
An extended cab ride and I’m finally home only to find out that Keith has a business dinner tonight and won’t be here until late but Chesty was glad to see me.
