Sunday, April 14, 2013

Finally, a substantial post :)

Yes folks, there are quilting related photos in this post.  Can you believe it?!?!?  :D
My mother-in-law sequestered me into quilting a couple of tops; one for a customer of hers, and one for a family member.  This earth-toned one has such beautiful colors!  The customer left all design aspects to my MIL.  I love the framework that MIL came up with.
I quilted it with an Edge-2-Edge feather pantograph, but I left the center photo section untouched.  It has a poofy effect now that I'm not a big fan of, but the decision of quilting/not-quilting over the picture wasn't mine to make.  Overall, it still turned out alright.
Total quilting time and machine binding sewn on:  About 7 hours on and off during this past week.

This little thing was a smaller wall-hanging that a cousin of my husband asked my MIL to make, and for me to quilt.  I again used the E2E overall feather pantograph in a taupe color.  I loaded and quilted it today in just under 3 hours.  Pretty quick.  Nice-n-small.

THEN, I decided to actually shower up for the day :) LOL
I know I'm not the only one who goes for one (both?) days of the weekend without "looking human."  BUT, there is an article being written about the QOV program; my name was shared with the writer of the article by the Wisconsin QOV representative.  Last weekend, there was a presentation in a local city where two of my quilts were given to local QOV recipients.  Sadly, I could not make the event due to Hunter Safety and needing to be a single mom for the day, driving everyone around to where they needed to be.  So, the writer asked if I could share a picture of me either working on a QOV quilt, or presenting one.  Well....psht!  I didn't have one!  In all my pictures, .... nada.
So, I got all "humanified" and had Cassie take a picture this afternoon.

{{sign of a happy quilter = clutter and mess. Right??}}

 But yeah....THIS is part of the reason I couldn't make the event last week.
Not only did Cassie sign up for Hunter's Safety Education... I did too :)  
And we both passed :)  People keep joking with Paul (husband) about needing to share his hunting gear.  He just laughs and says..."HA!  It just means I can buy MORE tree stands, blaze orange, food plot land, .....etc...etc...etc..."

Last weekend was also Caitlyn's birthday.  Nine this year.  And that girl...... yup.  She wanted jeans.  


On the running front... 
I hit a mental wall after a botched 20-mile run last Saturday.  At mile 7, I texted Paul to come get me if he could.  By the time he got to me, I had run 8.9 miles....a far cry from the 20 I had set out to run.  I just wasn't feeling it.  And I've been fighting the mental block of "failure" all week, ONLY having run once since that day.
But today, despite the weather yet AGAIN bringing on blizzard-like conditions.... I ran .... and this was the view from my treadmill.   Only 5 miles, but they felt good.  And truth be known;  I'm considering jumping back on the 'mill once I'm done with this update post.  Time is still on my side;  Five more weeks until the Green Bay marathon.  Next weekend, there is a Half-Marathon that I'm pretty certain to run in.  I haven't completed my registration yet, but... yeah.  Pretty sure I'll be running it.  {{Amy--it's in Oshkosh.  Interested?  There's a 5K too, I think}} :)

Oh!  Need a funny to close your weekend before heading back to work?

One of my 7th grade advanced math students.  And I honestly don't know whether to laugh or not at this.  Does this show proficiency in mathematical reasoning???
LOL

I think we all need sunshine and 70s!  {{Heck, most of us will even settle for 40s!!!!!}}

Happy Sunday everyone.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Another week (or so...)

Spring is trying to make its way to northern Wisconsin, so I wasn't about to complain when I saw this as my hourly forecast this AM, knowing all too well that I had a plan to run 18 miles.

And in all actuality... the weather was quite nice!  By mile 4, the rain stopped, and it was a very comfortable temperature outside.

Really not trying or meaning to boast here... but I am amazed with my own progress and dedication to running these past couple of months!!!  In March alone, I've run just a hair short of my years 2009+2010+2012 TOGETHER.  Yes, YEARLY totals together!!!!!  ALMOST beat just in one month!!! With one more day left in March, I may just set out to make that a record.  We'll see how my legs are feeling tomorrow after today's 17.3 miles :)


The afternoon was family-time of egg coloring.  This is the first year that I used food-coloring as the egg dye, rather than those Paas kits.  Couldn't even tell the difference :)  
Recipe:  about a cup of water, a tsp of vinegar, and enough drops of food coloring to create a pleasing hue.  Easy-peasy.

Precious patience, right??!!?!??
:D

And another precious pic - Snaggle-tooth here!  Thank goodness corn-on-the-cob isn't in season yet.  Lol.  

We only had Friday off for our Easter/Spring vacation.  :(  Yeah, big sad face here.  So many of us (teachers and students alike) could really use a few days away from each other.  Patience is beginning to wear thin for everyone.  
Most days, the girls ride the bus home after school, but when they need to visit my classroom after school, they usually enjoy grabbing the colored pencils and computer paper.  They waited patiently the other day for me to finish up some tasks before we were able to 'get outta there.' :)

And just last night, I updated my iCal with my running events, so I counted the weeks until the marathon:  SEVEN!
But what made my jaw drop even more......
that means EIGHT more weeks until Graduation!
and Nine-n-half weeks until school is over for the rest of us.

Suddenly, time seems to be flying by again.

Happy Saturday.  And have a blessed Easter tomorrow.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Life is good!

Glorious sunshine today!  And very deceiving! LOL
The avg. temp during my run today: 17 degrees, with a decently strong wind on the "outs" of my out-n-back.

And I'll tell ya... I only remember one other time in my life where I have reached the "runner's flow."  TODAY was one of those days!
I really only had intentions of doing a simple, easy 3 mile loop....  

...but the legs felt GREAT, so those 3 miles tripled into NINE! :)
AND, my 9th mile was the fastest to boot.  Can't be anything but pleased today.
  
But here is the kicker of 'em all today....

So far in March alone, I've run 76.3 miles;  that's TEN MILES more than I ran last year TOTAL!!!
AND, so far this year, I've run MORE than I ran total in 2011; sitting currently at exactly 217.00 miles. My OCD is loving that number :)

I certainly hope y'all don't get sick of my running posts.  The obsessive dedication is going strong :)

Family time is also still a priority!  Last night, once again, the girls and I headed to Skate City for a couple hours of skating enjoyment :)  Caitlyn was in the top-five for the Limbo; Cassie and a friend enjoyed tormenting both little sisters, and Candace.... well... Candace just skated; and fell; and skated some more :)

AND AND AND.... THIS task just means that Spring is getting ever so much closer :D


I'll see what I can muster up now in the quilting room :)
HAPPY SUNDAY!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Double Rainbow, and Virtual Trip update

**GASP**
Yes folks... you see correctly!  It's an actual lil' bit of a quilting post :)
I made the trek downstairs yesterday to the quilting room, looked around... and grabbed my 2011 and 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  They seem to work out nicely together.
Now... we'll see if I find time this weekend to work on them. 

I was a bit under the weather yesterday; had a Clinic visit even.  All is well;  antibiotics working their magic, but still enough to keep me draggin' butt for most of the day.

Until... after school!

The weather today was GORGEOUS!!!!  Little to no wind;  sunshine and low 40s!  What a beautiful afternoon.

So, of COURSE, the shoes got laced up for a quick, short run.
I can't remember the last time I've hit a pace under 9:00/miles.  It felt soooo good to just stretch out the stride.

AND...so far in March, almost 60 miles.  Kinda crazy to think that I ran a TOTAL of 62 miles last year.   TOTAL!  I'll be surpassing that tomorrow night most certainly.

Virtual Trip update
Kevin actually trusts me enough to share the name of his town... {{cue sinister snickering laugh}} LOL
So, I'm now leaving Amy's house, and continuing along my merry way...
474 miles will get me to Kevin's :)

Happy PI DAY TOO!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A small victory! Amy's house!!! [2013 running]

I ARRIVED AMY!!!!!
Today's 4 mile run brought me to Amy's, marking off 320 miles since I started my virtual vacation last summer.  :D

And now....so far in March alone this year, I've run 52.5 miles. 
Yeah, yeah... I could agree that I'm reaching a state of obsession that I haven't hit in my running before.
But you know what??  
I'm enjoying it.  
It's "ME" time...
and now that my fitness level has increased, running really HAS become a joy, not a burden.
Clears the thoughts...
Calms the stress and aggression...
and gives me a nice fit figure at the same time :)
EVEN on those "I don't feel like running" days!!!! So far, within my first mile on those days, my attitude has turned right around.  LOVIN' IT!

There are individuals in this "Run everyday in March" group (via Facebook) who have run everyday for the past 300 days!!!!!  Could that really be me?!?!?!   Holy yikers!

I've given some thought to my next stop, and trying to keep my path as linear as possible, 
KEVIN'S house is next!
Hey peeps...if you haven't had the opportunity to "meet" Kevin yet... what is stopping you???  In the short time he and I have commented back and forth, it is SOOO obvious that the man is a basket-bundle of laughs and has an AWESOME attitude towards life.  On top of all of that ladies.....he quilts!!!!! (LOL!)
So, until I can find out his town, I can't post the mileage.  But I don't think I'll be getting there anytime soon!   (...{{oh yes Kevin; creepin' and stalkin' on you BIG TIME here}}..) ... LOL

Hey!   Have I said "Happy Tuesday" to you guys yet?!??!!?



QUILTING you ask?????
THIS WEEKEND!  Promise!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Not quite there yet... [Running 2013]

Lordy, lordy, lordy.....
I was poooooooooopered out today.  It was a very full weekend with LOTS of driving and very little down-time;  add to that, I ran my 14 mile long run on Saturday... AND the loss of our precious precious hour...

Yeah.
Poopered out!

So, I only trekked for 1.8 miles tonight.  Amy, I'm sooooo close!  Tomorrow, for sure!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

My virtual vacation - AMY'S HOUSE! [2013 Running]

LOOK -->  Over there --> at my Virtual Vacation map!!!

OH duh!  Here's a copy too...


Amy, I'm soooo close to your house!!!  3.94 miles away.
Awww heck... Girl!  You can bet I'll be at your place tomorrow after school :)  Let's celebrate with a great spaghetti dinner :D

I started my venture back here in June, 2012, passing Linda's house in no time flat since she lives about 8 miles away.  Lol.   And now that I'm getting {have gotten? <<:- i=""> serious about running again, I WILL accomplish the trip to Amy's house in less than one year.

So, who should I visit next?????????
Let's see.... Jill in Cincinnati?  Or swing down around to Kevin in MO first, then over to Jill?   Continue on over to Nancy in PA?  Then down to Bonnie?

Eventually, I want to get to Angela's house, 1570 miles away, but that mileage is calculated directly from my place.

Candace and Ann Marie are in FL too!....
Then...head West???!?!?!
 I could see Linda and Judy in TX on the way...
And Alycia in CO...
Andee and Andra---all the way over there in the Arizona & NM areas, 


Come on people... can't we all live closer to each other???!??!!?
LOL

And Amanda, sorry dear!  England is a bit too far, but.....maybe I'll get there in the next 5 years 
:D

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

March Challenge [2013 Running]

A group on FB put a challenge out to runners:  "Run one mile everyday in March."
NATURALLY, I needed to take up that challenge :)
After Sunday's long run of 12 miles, Monday was a nice and easy 2.00 miles...

Follow by another EZ run of 4 miles yesterday...


And yet another EZ run of 1.5 miles tonight.

Tomorrow though.........oi-vey!  Mentally psyching myself up for the first speed workout of the training season.  

School is school.  Keeping me busy and honest from 7AM to 4PM everyday (and here-n-there in the evenings)
Quilting remains quiet...for now.