Just a quick hello

Just stopping in to say hello. Long and stressful day today and just got home from work. Looks like most people are finally getting some of their tax papers, so my days are getting busier. Although many are surprised by the new changes in the tax code when it comes to health care, and they end up not getting as much back or owing this year. I am already counting the days until April 15th. I keep thinking there are so many other things I would rather do... may time to retire? Started a new quilt for a friend about 2 weeks ago and it is sitting staring at me... would much rather be doing that I think... Oh well better try and get some sleep another long day tomorrow. Just wanted to keep in touch. Looking forward to being more active on here soon.

Hi Diana, so glad you stopped by again, we really are thrilled to meet you and looking forward to becoming friends. We need to find you one of those tape tickers to count down to April 15th. Hope all the coming days go fast and are over before you know it, long stressful days are not good for anyone. So, what is the new quilt for your friend like, what kind of colours and design are you using?  Hope you get a good sound nights sleep and that tomorrow isnt as stressful. Tax year here ends June 30th and the school year starts late January or early Feb and ends in December so like the seasons we are at totally different times to the states.

Its a lovely summers evening here, 9pm and still as could be, the sky is starting to darken some, soft salmon pinks above the plateau near us, the mts are that beautiful deep indigo smokey blue, the bats are starting to come out, its 64f still (18c). I was hoping to do some hand sewing tonight but Im too tired, spent half the day cleaning the bathroom from head to foot or is that ceiling to floor? Been working a room at a time, restoring the house to cleanliness after the 6 week summer school break. Have a good day tomorrow.

Hello DL.  I'm glad you dropped in.  Your tax season must be like my DD's retail at Christmas.  She's headed to Key West to recuperate.  I, of course, would just head to the sewing room. 

I hope to see your work, take care of you.

Welcome Diana...I leave all the tax papers to hubby that way if its wrong its HIS fault.      They never have been so I'm not too worried.  But I'm sure it can be VERY stressful.  Not a job for me! 

I would love to see some of your work as well.  What do you enjoy doing the most?   I love to paper piece, applique, and I'm trying to learn machine quilting.

Have a fantastic day.

Hi Diana, hope you have a great time sewing after the 15th.. my DD is accountant so I understand the stress...

Definitely not my cup of tea. Hope it doesn't get any worse for you. Don't forget some of this , a little of this , definitely some of this , and maybe even a touch of this .
And maybe one of these for really bad days ?

Welcome DL! Post some pics of the quilt! Luckily my DH does the taxes....YAY!

DL, glad to see you back here for a chat. I would imagine the worst of tax season is yet to come since so many people put it off until the last minute. I finished our taxes last night--federal--state--city and they are all neatly filed away. We have to pay a bit to the state, since DH retired last year and we underestimated the amount of state tax we'd need to have withheld. It's always a good feeling to get them finished and out of the way for another year.

My day was boring (except for talking with Memaw)--housework, laundry, cooking and a quick trip to the grocery store. We're going to go see DGS play basketball tomorrow and I always take a few treats for the DGC. This time it's the Cuties oranges and sugar-free bubble gum. No sweets for them anymore since DGD had a not-so-perfect report from the dentist. And I definitely am not going to take cookies for the others when she can't have them.

I'm heading home tomorrow as soon as DD and GS get home from boxcar derby.  2 whole hrs. of a book on CD.......  I may stop at a couple of stores, not sure yet.  Depends on time.    I'll chat with everyone when I get back home sometime tomorrow.

Jill,  please be careful heading down to see your grand children tomorrow.

Welcome DL! After you survive tax season, we would certainly like to hear more from you.

Hi Diana

Thought Id post a quick note, let you know we are thinking of you and looking forward to when you can join us and settle in for a 8 days since you posted, so thats one week down, getting closer to April, hang in there!

What a week...... I could really use a vacation right about now... so many things going on and none of them have anything to do with quilting or any of my other crafts. Week didn't start off on a good note, got a phone call from my dad that my sister has taken a turn for the worse. Guess I should give a little back ground, a year ago my sister Denise was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and a month later my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer, well I loss my mom this past August, and the prognosis on my sister is looking pretty grim. She was admitted into the hospital with pneumonia and an infection that just seems to be getting worse. I live over a 1000 miles away from her so rely only on phone calls from family and as of yesterday she was still hanging on. Wish there was something I could do, but being so far away and having to watch my DH also keeps me pretty busy. Which was the second thing that happened this week, his blood tests didn't come back as well as we were expecting so back to having ultra sounds and watching him more closely to make sure his cancer isn't back. OK enough on all the bad stuff... there were some good things that happened also, we did manage to get the decks on the house finished and are finishing up the painting in order to list the house for sale on Tuesday, in addition to booking a cruise for September, fall cruise to Canada. Guess I do have a vacation to look forward to...Also so looking forward to moving back to Ohio and being closer to my daughter and the grandsons. Those boys sure put a smile on my face just thinking about them. I will try and get some pictures of some past quilts that I did along with some of the other crafts that I do up on here soon. Well just stopped in for a quick hello and seems I wrote a book...so I better get off as I have a busy day tomorrow at work, not an open appointment available. Hope everyone is doing well, and I'll stop back by soon.

You are facing some real trials. For what it is worth, you have our sympathy.

Well said Marynel, Diana Im sorry to hear of your family trials, one loved one is such a shocking blow, three would be crushing. You sound like a strong woman who works hard not to get ground down, keep it up. I hope your sister is resting comfortably, Im sorry about the loss of your mum and also sorry to hear you now have the worry about your hubby again. I hope his scans come back fine and that his blood results were caused by something more simple than cancer being back in his system.

Your cruise sounds awesome, Im drooling at the thought of autumn in Canada, it must be so pretty. Congrats on gettiing closer to having the house ready to sell, hope it goes fast and you get back to grandsons and daughter way faster than you could imagine or hope for. Hang in there with work and dont ever forget, all your gentle, friendly quilting supplies and projects are right there waiting for you when you have time again. Plus, of course, you have all of us here to look forward to, we will chew your ear off with chatter. Take care of you in all this too, wishing you the best for the next few weeks

Cancer is such an evil disease. My prayers are with you and your family. Hang in there and keep hold of the wonderful things that are in your future! Come vent here anytime! We have your back....at least virtually!

So sorry to hear all you are going thru.  We're here for you anytime.

I'm extending my thoughts and prayers for you in this trying time. We have a number of Ohio quilters here who will welcome you back "home." I'm also hoping to sell my house this year and moving closer to DS/DIL/DGC. Like Gimpy said, take care of yourself. I also have a DH who needs a lot of care and if we aren't taking care of ourselves we can't help them.

Just sending hugs.

Hump day, almost another week gone and a another week closer to April 15th. Hang in there!!!

Boy, this has been a rough week.  First off thank you all for your hugs, concerns, prayers and support.  My sister passed on Wednesday, and although heartbreaking it seemed to be a huge relief.  She is no longer suffering as she had been the past year, and cancer takes such a toll on all of the family. While I don't exactly know yet what the plans are in California, but knowing my family there probably won't be a service, just cremated and buried in the family plot.  So I will plan on going out in the summer or fall and visit my dad and the cemetery at that time.   At times it hits me and I miss both my sister and mom so very much, but it seems that life just keeps moving on.   Which is such a good thing, as the first of many changes in my DH and my live are now starting to take place.  We signed the contract to put this place up for sale and the sign and lockbox are now in place.  Crossing fingers everything goes smoothly and as planned.  Now just to get through tax season.  We did manage to go to the Quiltcon in Austin on Sunday and look around.  My DH thinks that I should get a longarm machine, "to make things easier for me".   So we are starting to look around at 18" machines.  It would only be used for me. not professionally, so going any bigger I'm not so sure about.  I think we narrowed it down to 3 brandnames, Tin Lizzie, Gammil, and HQ.   Will probably not get one until we move and are able to set things up, as right now I just do not have the time to even touch any machine.   :(    Does anyone have any opinions on any of these?   Really trying to stay under the 10K range.   Well going to get off and get my day in gear, but will leave you with a picture of a baby quilt that I did a few months back for my great niece Jaycee. I did find this picture on my laptop, need to get some of the other pictures off of my desk top.   Will check back in a few days. Sorry if it seems as if I write a book, will try and do better when tax season is over.  Until then have a great day and make lots of memories.  Diana

Diana I have a Gammill machine and though mine is computerized it is the same body as the hand driven machines. I've had mine for 6 years and find it very reliable and well made. I've heard HQs are very well made too. Don't know much about Tin Lizzies. Good luck with the house selling and the machine search.

Thanks for catching us up. Hang in, tax season will be over in a blink and then we'll be having nice weather and see some green grass. Hope the house sells soon for you and you find just what you are looking for.

Thanks for popping in with the update. So sorry to hear of your sister, but it sounds like a relief for her, but that doesn't make the hurt go away for you. Hugs and prayers.

Good luck, both with the house sale (just went through that!) and the machine search. Love the quilt..did you embroider it before or after layering? Pretty pretty font!

22 days to go and you are home free Diana, been thinking of you and wondering how you are coping with all the work. So sorry to hear of the loss of your sister but understand the relief that she is no longer suffering. Have you had any interest in your house? Have you gone any further in choosing a long arm machine? Love the quilt you made for Jaycee, its very pretty. Good luck with work, we are looking forward to getting to know you better when the tax season is over and done with for the year