Facing my fear.......

Okay....maybe it's not so much a fear; more like a "want-to-avoid-at-all-measures" task.

But I did it.....after getting home from working the vball game tonight (9:00pm), I changed clothes into my running shorts and top; I laced up the shoes, and gave hubby a kiss. He asked what I thought I was doing??????!?!? Because he KNEW I avoid IT at all costs.......

however.......

my response back was indeed......"Running."

DH: "Running? Ummm......where?" (because it's DARKER outside than a murky basement during a power outage!)
ME: Downstairs
DH: REALLY!?!?!?

And then..........I did it.
I swept the cobwebs off........plugged IT in.....survived a coughing spasm after blowing the dust off the counsel.....

and......

Ran on the "DREADMILL!!!!!!!!!"

*giggle*
Okay, Okay.....so the "drama" here might be a bit much----but SERIOUSLY! I HATE the treadmill! And what is SO ironic.....when I started running back in 2002, I LIVED on the treadmill and HATED running outside. It is now the COMPLETE opposite!

It's SOOOO BORING!!!!!! And redundant!!!!! And hard to breathe inside!!!!!
However, 3 sweat-dripping miles later, I'm patting myself on the back and saying "Good job!"

And now......she'll probably start collecting dust again for another year before I finally break down, suck-it-up, and hit it again.

FYI: I'm looking forward to tomorrow night when I can hit the streets again during daylight :0)

It's FRIDAY tomorrow!!!! Whoooo-hooooo!
Happy sewing!

OTR at a standstill.... what next?

This is as far as I can go on the OTR at this time. I will be quilting it in sections (2 sections), so I am not able to sew the borders on yet. That actually will happen once both quilted sections get sewn together, and I'll be homefree! I don't have anything in mind for a backing yet, so I'm at a standstill. Also, I don't think I have any batting left in my stock!! OH DEAR!!! I haven't bought any all summer because I had been getting so much "donated" to me from family members----but I'm EMPTY now!

I don't expect to go shopping until this weekend, so now I have to think about what to work on next. Of course, I have many many UFO's, but I'm contemplating that C'mas list! Time is really ticking away FAST now that school has started, and my quilting time is definitely limited now. I've started Scot's (DH's boss) Camo quilt, but I think I've actually found a pattern for my BIL's "nautical" quilt. It's a "Storm at Sea" pattern..... So......

I'm tired AGAIN! No running tonight even though I should have. The next night I MIGHT be able to run will be Friday since DH has to work tomorrow night and I have to work the Vball game Thur night. I suppose I could always jump on the treadmill (DREADmill), but that get's SOOOOO BORRRRRRING for any amount of time longer than 30 minutes!

Okay----I'm off to do some last minute email checking, and then I'm off to bed again by 9:00.
Happy Tuesday

A Wasted post.....

HA! Right when I wrote that title, my instant thoughts were "oh dear----I wonder how many are going to equate the word wasted with drinking?????" *chuckle* Sorry folks, not that type of wasted!!! (Although it was definitely "5 o'clock somewhere" yesterday at 3:00 when I grabbed a Smirnoff Ice.

But no.....this is just going to be a short, sweet post.

I sewed all part 4 together yesterday on the OTR (no pic yet). I started and finished sewing all 94 Flying Geese units also for part 5. So I am now to the "math part" of figuring out the inner border measurements, which is no biggy, but I'm not interested in going downstairs tonight. I'm sitting here, watching the Packers vs. Vikings----HUGE RIVAL up here for us Cheeseheads.....*sigh*......even without Favre......but we will move on.

I ran a hard 6 tonight----warmed up 1, pushed 4 miles (tried to sustain 9:00/mile pace, but HARD to do with our hills), then cooled down 1 mile.

So....
my legs are tired
my mind is tired
my eyes are tired......
I'm going to prop my feet up, look through some quilting magazines, relax, and go to bed by 9:00.

Happy Monday

Miserable allergy day (AGAIN), but progress on OTR successful

The day started with DH leaving early to get to work, which meant I was off my typical "allergy-season" schedule. Ya see, whether it's just "in my head" or whether it really works, I have a routine I typically do during allergy season.
As soon as I wake up, I take my allergy medicine and then take a nice warm shower to "steam out" any allergens in my system. (*chuckle*.....gosh, I hope a doctor isn't reading this, because s/he'll think I'm a looney!)
BUT-----it seems to work! By the time I'm out of the shower, hair done and dressed, I'm usually doing great---very little sneezing, eyes having very little itch, and minimal congestion and runny nose.
Hmpf------and today just goes to SUPPORT my crazy routine, because.....I DID NOT FOLLOW IT! Sure, I took my allergy medicine, but I didn't shower....and the result.......MISERABLE, MISERABLE, MISERABLE! I seriously used up an entire box of Puff's Plus w/lotion kleenexes. (which is the ONLY brand I'll buy----they are softer than any other tissue I've used, and my nose appreciates it during this time of the year.) My eyes didn't itch at all, but I was contemplating calling a plumber to come and fix my leaky nose! UGH!!!! And for some WACKY reason, by 4:00 (FINALLY), my nose stopped running. Golly---I would THINK so---I was getting almost dehydrated from how much "fluid" I was losing.....*crinkling nose*.....ewwwwwww That was a bit gross to think about, huh????

Anyway....regardless, I had ONE goal today-----THE OTR!


By 8:00, I was downstairs piecing away the millions of pinwheels crazy-minded Bonnie requested in part 2 of the OTR! I was motivated (ummm...for about the first two hours), and then, the pinwheels were starting to turn my mind crazy! My goodness!!!!!!!!!! There were soooooooooo many of them.

BUT----by about 10:30....success! The last pinwheel was put together. I headed upstairs for a morning snack with the girls, printed out step 3, and was back downstairs a bit after 11:00. Step 3 was going together FAST----MUCH faster than 2! Whew.....it was a nice change of pace. However, at 12:00, I was back upstairs to make up some lunch (pizza). DH arrived home about 12:30, I tucked Candace into bed by 1:00 for a nap, and by 1:15 I was downstairs again. All of step 3 was complete by 2:00----yup----it was a fast one!

So...what next? DUH! Step 4, or course. I had already pulled SOME fabrics when Bonnie first posted the Original Information, but wasn't really sure if I wanted to use THEM or to use more plaids for the 3.5x6.5 bricks. After a few tryouts of the plaids, I decided----it was TOO MUCH PLAID! So, I started throwing more and more darks, rusts, blacks, greens, etc into the scrap pile and started cutting away.

This and that, this and that.....some time later (maybe an hour????), I was ready for the layout. I've been reading many emails stating that many ladies have now called this one their favorite, EVEN over the CC AND OC...... well, when I saw Bonnie's layout on part 4, (I hate to admit), but my mind said....."eh.....not my fav, but I've done this much work already, I might as well finish it."

I started laying out a few diagonals at a time......getting a bit lost due to the large-eventually-to-be-cut-off bricks, and the fact that SOMEHOW SOMEWHERE I didn't have enough half-4-square blocks????? I still need to look back and figure out what happened there. But.......well.....golly......by the time I had the entire quilt laid out..........sheesh.........it actually started GROWING on me! And I can only imagine that once I piece it all together, it most likely will join the "oh yeah I like this one!" list.

I am most likely going to make this for my brother, and I only want a snuggler for him. BUT.....I peeked ahead to part 5, and I agree with many emails......WOW! The flying geese borders POLISH it off! So.......he'll be getting a LARGE snuggler! :0)

I came upstairs at 4:30 after laying out the blocks, and I haven't been back down. I'm tired! I didn't get to bed until after midnight last night-------duhhhhh! After blogging, I flipped thru the channels and came across "A Few Good Men" which I haven't seen in a long time and I hadn't remembered a lot of the plot....soooo..........ya, ya.
It's just a bit after 10:00 right now, so I am going to wrap this up and get to bed! I know it's only Saturday night and it's still "early," but I NEED to get out running by 7:00 tomorrow so that DH can get to work by 12:00. I am planning for a nice-n-easy 16 miler, which will take a "strong" 3 hours.

Happy sewing!

Christmas???? In September! OTR update

Holy Buckets! Life has gotten so busy now that school has started that I COMPLETELY forgot about Amanda's give-away that I won! That is, until I picked up the mail today! Ooooo----how exciting! And--my goodness, she even WRAPPED each one so it really WAS like Christmas!












When Candace saw all the presents, she came a-running over! So I called all the girls over to help open gifts...... Each one grabbed a gift, and Cassie yelled..."MOM--this one is for US!!!" Sure shootin'----Amanda sent the girls their own craft goodies (pompons, bright colorful feathers, and metallic leaves.)











Caitlyn opened up a GORGEOUS set of fat-eighths (actually, I haven't measured them and they seem a bit wider than 9")..... Oooooo....all the ideas running through my head to use those AWESOME FALL COLORS in.....I can't wait!

















Candace found herself opening this ADORABLE chicken; and she knew exactly what it was because she started clucking and struttin' around like one!!!!
















Cassie also opened up these items----a Christmas ornament and what appears to be a coaster. (Amanda, if it is meant for something else, please let me know). I won't use it as a coaster----it's too PRETTY!



I don't remember who opened this---it just showed up in the midst of paper and gifts. ADORABLE little sewing/needle case with Amanda's "known-for" stitcheries!


What else.......oh yes! How could I forget?!?!?! A BAR OF DARK CHOCOLATE! And what PERFECT timing----we had just finished eating dinner and I was hunting around the house for a bit of chocolatey sweetness! *chuckle* I had to bride it out of Candace's hands though!!!


So, for the next TWO HOURS, the girls sat at the table with the craft goodies, some WASHABLE glue, crayons, some paper and paper-plates. Thank GOODNESS the glue is washable, because Candace drained about HALF the bottle on her paper-plate, which then got transferred to the sleeves of her shirt. *shaking head, chuckling* They were in HEAVEN!









THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AMANDA! You were SUCH a dear to personalize this gift for my girls, too! You are a dear!

Okay........so now...the girls have decided to relax with Ice Age, DH just arrived home, so I am thinking of heading downstairs (FINALLY) and pick up where I left off Monday night on the OTR.

Catch'ya later!



11:25pm update
Yup....I headed downstairs, but didn't get down there until 8:00. I finished up sewing the HST's (all 188 of them that were left). I debated on ironing ALLLLLL 388 of them, or to just iron a few at a time, make a couple of pinwheels, and repeat. Yeah, well, 388 seemed rather daunting, so I ironed 10 sets at a time (40 HST's) and then sewed the pinwheels. I have 20 completed pinwheels. I WOULD have more, but I decided to throw "The Lake House" into the DVD player, and I was getting to some "good parts" and didn't want the noise of the sewing machine to block out the sound. So.........iron, iron, iron. ALLLL HST's are now ironed, although at one point I was sniffling and blowing my nose every 4 HST's and ironing through teary eyes. I mean....S-E-R-I-O-U-S-L-Y!!! I must have seen this movie a BA-ZILLION times, but GOSH----I am SUCH a sucker for sappy, happy endings! *chuckling sheepishly*......What a pansy!

Okay folks..I suppose I should TRY to fall asleep, even though I feel pretty darn wide awake. However, I want to utilize as much of the day tomorrow as I can to continue on OTR without dragging my butt too much. DH is planning to work from 8:00-noon and then I hope to run tomorrow afternoon (UNLESS I actually feel up to running BEFORE he leaves......hmmmmmmm.......6 hours away...not so sure that'll happen!) :0)

Alrighty----night-night!

1st day of school!

It finally arrived, and FLEW BY! Holy buckets---what a crazy day with very little breathing time. In fact, it was one of those days where I had to go to the bathroom by 9:00 am, but was so busy that I completely forgot about it until the last bell rang at 3:18!!!! The 7th graders were pleasant -- listened when they needed to -- *chuckle*-- and when I GAVE them the opportunity to get up and "bust a move" to the music, they sat, stared at me, and probably thought I was off my rocker!!! I DID manage to show them Mathemagic-----


Video can be found at Mathemagic if loading seems to be taking forever.


I don't think I'm going to get downstairs to work on OTR tonight. It's almost 9:00, and, well, after running 6 miles tonight, I'm just ready to relax and kick back and maybe even hit the hay a little early tonight. Here is the status that I left the machine in yesterday-----as said, 200 HST's are sewn, while another 190 await in piles. No rush here, so..........they'll wait another couple of nights :0)

This weekend, we celebrated Cathy's 60th birthday, and she L-O-V-E-D her quilt!!! It got plenty of ooh's and aah's once revealed.

Alrighty, short post tonight. I'm ready to veg with a Runner's World magazine in bed and crash. Happy Tuesday everyone!

Catchin' up

Okay---lightening speed post coming! I have 10 minutes before I'll be ordered to bed by DH!

So....great weekend! You know about Saturday. Sunday and today were relaxing at the farm, INSIDE, staying away from those nasty RagWeed plants!!! This allowed me to find the perfect pattern for BIL's C'mas quilt....more to come later on that.

Today----whew! FULL! Left farm at 11:00, arrived home at 12:45. Ate pizza, spent 2 hours going through Cassie's closet with her, trying on EVERY piece of clothing, putting away what doesn't fit, and organizing what does. Spent 1 hour picking up Candace's and Cailtyn's room and making their bunk beds.

Amidst all of this, washed, dried and folded three loads of clothes; packed two school bags, putting together pencil boxes and a spare change of clothes for Caitlyn (pre-schooler) :0)

THEN...finally, at 4:30, I was able to head downstairs to work on OTR#2 for a bit-----cutting more 2" plaid strips from the 2.5" strips I had already cut. I didn't start sewing though until after the kids were in bed (8:00), after supper at 5:30, bath at 6:30, teeth and story at 7:30.

So, from 8:00-8:30, I finished cutting strips AND cutting ALL 388 HSTs (okay...if I counted correctly, I cut 390 just to be safe.) So---for about 30 minutes, I started mindlessly piecing the HSTs together. I'm 200 down with 190 left to pick up with tomorrow night.

BUT---during that mindless time, a thought struck me for tomorrow's first day of school. I always want to start the year off FUN and NOT BORING WITH ALL THOSE RULES!! (*ugh*)
Well...I had completely forgotten about "Mathemagic.!!!!" I am wrapping up with 2 minutes left before 10:00 (when DH is ordering me to bed). I'm off to do a quick google on Mathemagic--------if you wish, you can too. Otherwise, I'll touch base again tomorrow evening with a link (Oh, and PICS will come too)

OTR, Lake Run and Volleyball update

I finished ironing all 184 4-patch and 8 half-block-corner-thingies (REALLLLLY---I don't know why I can't EVER remember what those are called!!!!). Laying them out last night, I just played and shot this pic. I used the men's plaid shirts that I picked up at some garage sales earlier this summer. I'm kinda hoping they will fit the bill, afterall, *I* think they are "fall-ish" colors. I haven't started part 2, nor will be able to until Monday night at the earliest. So, for the rest of you piecing away, have fun and enjoy!

Today started out waking at 6:00 for some oatmeal and coffee in order to "energize" for the 15K. But after 3 bites of oatmeal, I was done---I just wasn't hungry, nor was it tasting all that great. I did finish up my cup of coffee, though :0)
The morning was BEAUTIFUL!!!! Temps were FORTY-SIX at 6:00!!!!! LOVELY cool weather!!!!! By race start (8:00), it may have warmed up to upper 60's, low 70's, but the LOW humidity really helped make the race tolerable. The sky was cloudless, full sun, and by mid-race, the temps were picking up. However, much of the course is bordered by woods, so there was adequate shade for about 70% of the race. I wanted to make 9:30's (9:30 min/miles), and finished just off that mark, averaging 9:43's. I came in at 1:30:42, and I'm okay with that. I finished at 9:30, allowed myself 15 minutes of cool-down, and then I was literally off and running again to the volleyball courts half a mile away. Vball started at 10:00 and went on until about 5:00, with high temps reaching mid-80's. We had a nice schedule where we had a game's rest inbetween most of our matches, so we never really got to a point of extreme "over-heating." However, I knew I was getting into a little trouble around 3:00 when a wave of nausea hit me. I REALLLLY did try to stay hydrated, polishing off 3 bottles of gatorade and 4-5 bottles of water, but I just couldn't keep up with the amount of sweat I was losing. I jumped on the scale tonight just to see how bad it was, and I dropped 5 pounds since this AM----NOT GOOD! So, I pumped some more gatorade in since I've been home, and have been sipping water inbetween sentences :0) We finished 3rd, which is right where we knew we would. The top 2 teams were teams from our Wednesday night leagues, and they TRULY are awesome and consistent! We walked away with $100 and were happy :0)

Tomorrow AM, DH and I are off to the farm. We'll spend the rest of the Holiday weekend up there, and bring the girls back sometime on Monday---hopefully not too late, though. So, happy weekend to all of you!!!