Bonnie's Bits & Pieces

Happy Holidays

2009-12-27T23:46:00.007-05:00

We had a very nice Christmas and I hope you did too.

I think most everyone here enjoyed the day. It is so much fun with the grandkids. They are growing up much too fast. Only one seemed a little disappointed with their presents.

This year we got some really good pictures. Santa brought Chloe a camera for Christmas. She took some really good ones.

This is the oldest son Tony's family.

Tony, Cindy, Haylie, Lyndsey, Chloe, Katie, Amy and Karly

I can't seem to post any more pictures so I guess I will do some a little at a time.

More tomorrow!!

Another Birthday

2009-12-19T22:27:00.004-05:00

We just celabrated Isaac's 9th birthday. Grandpa made him his favorite. An apple pie!!

We have been so busy getting ready for Christmas. We spent one day this week going to Chicago to the American Girl store. Amy wanted Santa to bring her the bitty twins. I guess they were sold out online. I figured they had them in the store. Couldn't get the blondes but did find the brunettes. When her Mom asked Amy if Santa could not bring the twins and brought another doll instead what would she do. Amy said she just would not play with it. As stubborn as she is she probably wouldn't. Santa is going to come through though.

Today Jonathan had a wrestling match. He got beat but it was a pretty even match. He put a scare in me though because he started having trouble breathing. I thought he got hurt. Come to find out he had an allergy attach. They cleaned the mats before his match and he is allergic to chlorine. It threw him off his game. It has been a frustrating year for him but he isn't doing all that bad. He is 15-2. That is not bad for a freshman.

Isaac wanted an apple pie and Jonathan wanted a peanut butter pie. Since Jonathan has 2 weeks till his next match and will have a 2 pound extra allowance Grandpa made him a peanut butter pie too.

Jonathan had been talking about his Grandpa's pie to his wrestling buddy Will. Some we are taking 2 pies to church tomorrow for him.

I have been sewing some things but have to wait to show pictures. I sure hope they like what I have made. I can't believe it is less than a week away.

Happy Birthday Sara

2009-12-02T22:01:00.001-05:00

Today is DGD's 17th birthday.

Quilts in the Mail

2009-12-01T21:36:00.009-05:00

I haven't posted for awhile. But I have been busy. But I will tell you about that later.

My swap on about.com came to an end and I thought one of my gals wasn't going to get her quilt. I had made an extra of my pumpkin quilt so I sent it to Sandy. Her swap partner came through after all so Sandy had an extra of her quilt too. She mailed it to me. I was very lucky this last round. She did a good job and I really liked it. Thanks again Sandy!! Oops not the best picture.

Monday my geisha girl came in the mail. Margaret had a super LA deal so I sent her my quilt. She did a really good job. I just love it. She had really nice things to say about it here. Made me feel pretty good. I would highly recommend her to quilt your quilts.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We got to go to our oldest son's house. It felt so good not to have to cook and clean. DH did bake 2 apple and 1 peanut butter, and 1 pumpkin pie. They were very good. His crust is so thin and flakey. The grandkids just love the apple and peanut butter.

Friday and Saturday we went to Jonathan's wrestling meet. There were 10 teams there so he was to wrestle 5 times Friday and 4 times Saturday. We won all 5 matches Friday. Saturday morning he woke up with diarrhea. Took some amodium after weight in. He thought he was doing OK (but he wasn't) so he went and won 2 times before he called it quits because he was too sick. I don't see how he could do it.

He did very well for his first meet of the year. 7-0 is great for a freshman. Jonathan said that one of the guys he beat on Saturday was ranked 12th in the state. That sure pumped him up.

It was a long and tiring couple of days. I did work on my Dear Jane blocks during the breaks.

Other good news is I got my car back today. It took them a month to fix it. It seems just like new but I haven't driven it much. Hopefully it will be right.

BTW check out my new sidebar. I posted a give-away. There are so many to blog about that I thought this would be easier. If you like doll quilts you will love this one!!

Mail Call

2009-11-12T22:00:00.011-05:00

I have had some pretty things in the mail this last week. My doll swap on about.com is coming to a close. Yeah! All the quilts have been delivered but one person is away. She will have a surprise when she gets home.

I received a pretty quilt from Kat in TN. She asked for my name because this is her last swap for awhile. Her hubby has some health problems so she is taking a break to take care of his needs. I am glad she made me one. I have always wanted one from her. She made it completely by hand and did a beautiful job. Makes me want to try to hand quilt again. The flowers are puffy. Thanks Kat!

Then a few days after I got Kat's quilt I got another surprise. Wanda is in my swap too and she wanted to make me a quilt just because she likes me. I have wanted one of hers too. I bounce problems and ideas off of Wanda. She lets me vent and gives me some great ideas. She made a pretty quilt also. I liked her machine quilting. It really went good with the fall theme.

Then a couple days later I went to the mailbox and there was another package in the box. I couldn't figure out what it was. Needless to say I was very excited because it was another doll quilt. It wasn't due till the end of Jan. but Robin at sewcrazygrandma wanted to get it out early. It has a fall theme. It is very pretty too. I love quilts that make a chain. It is one that I have never made though. One of these days. It is on my to do list. I loved the appliqued leaves.
I have been very blessed the last couple weeks quilt wise that is.

I never posted that I wrecked my car. Coming home from church a lady pulled out in front of me. She is lucky my reflexes are still decent. I pulled to the left just enough that I hit her between her front door and the front fender. It could have been alot worse. No one was hurt. I had some bad bruises and I am sure she did. DH didn't have any complaints and it hit on his side. Mine came mainly from slamming the brakes and the seat belt.

My car had $6,000 damage and will probably take 3 or 4 weeks. It wouldn't be so bad except my loaner car is a piece of %%$ foreign car. It would have been nice to have a fun car to drive while they fixed mine. I won't drive it unless I have to. I use DH's Jeep. And I can't take my dog in the loaner either. But no one was hurt so I can not complain too much.

Margaret aka Supermom is starting her LA business. She had a special and wanted quilts to LA. I sent her one to do. She still might be wanting some more. I know she will do a good job quilting it. I wish I had more done to send her. Of coarse if I would quit making doll quilts I might get some finished!
I will let you know when I get it back.

2009-11-06T10:09:00.001-05:00

I found a nice website. It is a place I would like to visit on one of our trips down south. And she is also having a nice giveaway. But I added her site to my blog list. Take a look.

Thanks Melisa from Sweet Home Quilt Company Blog for the chance to win!

Fun Night

2009-10-31T23:57:00.021-04:00

We picked up Lyndsey to take her to the hockey game. We got to see the 4 little ones getting ready to go trick or treating. They were so cute. Katie came out running to see us. She looked so funny with dark hair. She is really a blonde.

Chloe dressed as a devil but she is a super sweet girl.

Karly went as a cow. She was the same cow last year. LOL

Then Amy dressed up as a basket of laundry. It was a very clever outfit. I never thought of that. Here she is getting ready.

On the way to the hockey game we stopped at Pizza Hut to have dinner with youngest son Jeff and his family, plus a couple extra kids. We were all going to the game.

At the beginning of the second period Lucas got to lead the team back on the ice. He carried the team flag and skated around Komets half of the ice. He was just so excited.

A little story about Lucas. He has always said he wanted to be a hockey player. But we told him how can you be a hockey player if you can not ice skate. Didn't bother him because he was still going to be a hockey player. So in January right before his 10th birthday they got him some ice skates and took him out learn to skate. He is a natural. First time out he skated for three hours and only fell a couple times.

He wanted to join a hockey team but you have to be tested to make sure you are at a certain level before you can join a team. They took him to lessons and after 7 months he passed and they let him join a team. Jeff said it takes most kids 2 years before they can qualify. We went a couple weeks ago to watch him play and it was really fun.

2009-10-25T23:16:00.003-04:00

I finished the shop hop. Didn't get a whole lot. Just some fabric to help finish some projects. The drawing is tomorrow night. I sure would like the main prize. They are giving a $50.00 gift certificates from each shop. All 13!! Wouldn't that be fun!!

I haven't kept you up to date on Jonathan. He has been doing really good running. His cross country team went all the way to semi-state. He has worked himself up to being #4 on the varsity. That is really good for a freshman that had heart problems this summer. He was #95 Saturday. He said he would be lucky to break 100. The track was a real muddy mess. He had mud all over him. Now he starts wrestling.

We went for a nice bike ride on Wed. The weather has been so bad I hadn't been on since vacation. It is a shame because we really like riding in the fall. We usually do the shop hop on the bike. Maybe we can get in another one this week. If the weather stays nice.

Geta has a pretty little quilt she is giving away. She has a button on my sidebar. You need to check out her tutorials. She has a really good blog.

Great Great Giveaway

2009-10-19T11:27:00.003-04:00

Brenda at Pumpkin Patch Primitives is giving away fqts of the fabric line I bought on the shop hop. See previous post. It is a wonderful line. I didn't get all the ones I needed because it was sold out just about everywhere. It was a really hot item on the shop hop. If you sign up tell her I sent you. I would like some more chances. But I probably won't win but maybe one of my friends might.

Time Flies

2009-10-16T20:47:00.009-04:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. I was reading a blog from one of my followers. It said it had been 5 weeks since I last posted. Unbelievable!! But I have been awfully busy. I will try to do better.

Today I started our Shop Hop. There are 13 shops participating. My DH and I hit 3 today. The first store had 30% off a yard or more of fabric and 10% off everything else. I bought a panel and some fabric that goes with it.

I just liked the fabric on the right. Very pretty fall colors.
The next shop we went to had a new gadget I like and thought we would try it. It is a seat cushion that is supposed to help your lower back. It is made with the same material as the big exercise balls. When I went to the last retreat sitting on those hard chairs just about killed my back. DH likes to ice fish and sits on a little box. We will see if this will help. I can take it to class too. I will let you know if it works.
The last shop had books for 20% off and I got the book that went with the panel I got in the first shop. Maybe I can get the rest of the fabric in one of the other shops I will go to this next week.

They had a sample made up in the first shop and it was so cute.

Tomorrow we are going to go to Jonathan's cross country meet and then I am going with my friend to 3 more shops. Hope the weather gets better.

Also there is a nice giveaway. Take a look at the my side bar for the new button. She has a nice blog.

Bonnie Hunter

2009-09-05T22:31:00.002-04:00

My friend Estelle and I went to a quilt show in Auburn. I had free passes to see Bonnie Hunter and her quilt show. She has the most amazing quilts all from scraps.

I need to work on organizing my scraps better. I was doing pretty good for a little while. Her way of doing it seems easy. She said just do it a little at a time and you will get there.

I really would like to do some pure scrap quilts. They are so pretty.

I did get brave and enter one of my doll quilts. I did not expect to win but was more interested in what they had to say about it. Anyway I think you had to be a member of their Guild to win. At least that was the way it appeared.

I Got Mail

2009-09-03T21:46:00.012-04:00

Yesterday I got my "Doll Swap 7" quilt from Shelli in Delaware. I just love it! She did a beautiful job on the quilting and the colors are fantastic. Mariners Compass is not one I have tried - yet - but sure do love them. Thanks Shelli.

My quilt went to Denise in California. It is one I had made before. I told Denise she was a triplet. She has a sister in IN and one in Australia

It is one of my favorites that I have made.

Since we came back from vacation I have been trying to catch up. I am in a "Crazy Compass" class that meet about every 2 week. I was doing pretty good till I missed 2 being sick and 1 from vacation. When I went last week I found that they had given out the last 4 patterns the week I was gone. So everyone had gone ahead and made their blocks. These blocks and all made in the embroidery hoop and take about an hour for each block. Each lesson has 4 identical blocks so that is alot of time. Then if you screw up like I have on some it takes even longer. They are looking pretty good but I don't know how it will look when I put them altogether. It is a quilt as you go. These are the sets I have completed. I have some partial ones done too.

More later. Back to sewing more of these blocks. Sure wish they were done.

Back to Quilting

2009-08-30T22:17:00.006-04:00

Along with everything else that has been going on, I have been sewing some. I thought I might try to catch people up.

When we went on vacation it was fun to pack with some bags I have made in the last couple months. When I showed my family they all want one. Do you have any idea how many bags that would be? I would need to start now for Christmas 2011.

I packed a bunch of quilts in the bottom bag. I planned on sewing down binding while he was driving in the car. I also took a couple into the lodge at night and worked on them there. It was to hot to do the big ones in the car but I did finish some doll quilts.

Two are Jo Morton Club quilts and the other two are duplicates of ones I have made for swaps. I have had to change them a little because I ran out of the original fabric.

I will have more tomorrow. There is just to much for one post.

BTW Jonathan ran his first high school CC meet. He placed 4th in JV and qualified for Varsity next meet. They have been having him at a slower pace since he couldn't run for 6 weeks or so this summer. It seems that everything is going good for him. I just love to watch him run!!
BTW

Darn we had to come home!

2009-08-28T17:51:00.006-04:00

All good vacations have to end. If we didn't have dogs we probably wouldn't have come home.
We had a wonderful time. Traveled through WI. MN, SD,WY, ID, MT, CO, IA, NE, & IL. John only has 2 states he hasn't been to yet. I hadn't been to most of the ones we were in. We saw cows, horses, buffalo, coyote, elk, deer & antelope. This is one of my favorite pictures.

The only bad part of the trip was it got cold. It was hard for me riding the bike all bundled up. I wasn't as comfortable. On the morning we were packing up to leave there was ice on the windshield on the bike. It was supposed to get down to 27. There was snow on some of the mountains as we were driving out.

We would like to go back again next year. Combine it with Utah. We will have to see.

Off to Yellowstone

2009-08-11T21:55:00.002-04:00

Well we left this morning for Yellowstone. We made it as far as Sioux Falls SD. It was a very uneventful ride so far. I got some books on tape and John really interested it one. It sure made the time go fast.

Tomorrow we should hit Mt. Rushmore.

Super Give Away

2009-07-30T23:19:00.001-04:00

What I wouldn't do with this one. Rachael has a really nice gift that any quilter would love to have. Check it out here

Lookin Up

2009-07-29T13:18:00.001-04:00

Everything is getting better!! I am breathing much better. I figured out a trigger and tested it today. Sure enough that is what is was. Now I have to stay away from it.

Jonathan went for his check up and they are letting him start running again. He has to stay at 3 miles for now.

Chloe went to have her eyes checked and things look good. They do not think they will have to do any more adjusting. Now she just has to get her stitches out of her finger.

Amy is still in her cast but she sure can get around in it. I sometimes she accidentally hits her sisters with it. Katie says it hurts when she does it. LOL.

Now maybe I can get some pictures posted of quilting. I have done a little. But I am so far behind.

So far behind!!

2009-07-25T11:35:00.004-04:00

I am just so far behind with everything. This is the pits!! Still having trouble breathing. I went back to the Dr. Thursday and another antibiotic and a new allergy medicine. I keep hoping it is working. I was better yesterday and got my mini quilt finished and mailed. I have missed a bag class, a backpack class, and 2 of my Crazy Compass classes. The crazy compass is an embroidery in the hoop quilt. Each class has 4 blocks that take some time to sew out.

I think I found one of my triggers that makes my breathing worse. I will stay away from it for awhile and see.

I guess we are still having problems. Chloe is doing really good with her eyes. She was almost ready to get back into the pool. BUT, she got her finger caught in the door and broke her pinky. Not only broke it but had to have 11 stitches!! We took Isaac over yesterday so he could sign Amy's cast and see Chloe's finger. Isaac said Amy walked like a penguin. She waddles.

Cindy said when we left to be careful walking out. Their house has been very hazardous lately.

Yesterday they put( DSIL) Wes's father in ICU. He has been in the hospital for about a month but he got worse yesterday. They have some big decisions to make today. Since we are closer to the hospital and easier for the kids they will be here for awhile.

Shot in the Behind

2009-07-16T16:54:00.006-04:00

I went to the Dr. Monday and he gave me a shot. I feel so much better. I can breath again.

Chloe had her surgery and they think things went well. She has to go back in 2 weeks for a check. She hasn't wanted to open her eyes very much. They are swollen and sore. But yesterday she started doing better. Now her little sister that is another story.

Amy was playing on the trampoline Tuesday and broke her leg. They put it in a cast Wed. It goes from above her knee down. Poor thing has to have it for 8 weeks. She will have to start kindergarten with it. They did make it so she could walk with it. I feel so bad for her. What a way to start school.

They have it wrapped in an ace bandage till it dries. She wanted to stop by and show us on her way home. She said it felt better after they put the cast on. Today she probably doesn't say that. It is a real pretty shade of blue.

Now I have 2 grandkids that are not doing much for the rest of the summer. What a bummer!!!

Chloe

2009-07-13T09:36:00.007-04:00

Today Chloe has her eye operation. They are going to adjust the muscles in her eyes so the eyes will be level. They said this will help with her head tilt. Reading will be much better for her. I talked to her this morning and she sounded scared to death.

Doesn't she have a pretty smile?

Yesterday was Jonathan's 15th birthday. He wanted a sling shot. That should keep him entertained for about a week. He isn't doing to bad but I know he has a lot of energy that he can't work off.

Today is also back to the Dr. for me. My breathing is a little better but I sure don't feel good and I have no energy what so ever. I do good in the morning but am pooped by noon. I got to get better by this weekend. We are supposed to go with 7 other couples to Frankenmuth . I don't want to be a party pooper.

Beautiful Givaway

2009-07-10T15:20:00.004-04:00

Amy at Kati Cupcake has a kit to give away. Isn't it so pretty??? Perfect for summer!

A Quilt Kit, with Amy Butler Fabric in it! This is Porch Pots by Quilt Soup, and you could be the winner of this lovely kit. It measures 60" x 68 1/4".

Visit her blog and leave a comment, make sure to let her know that I sent you her way. I'm not sure when the give away will happen, she doesn't have a date on it right now.

And I found another one. This one is super nice too. I sure would like to win one of these someday.
Go here.

Suzanne has this pretty summer bag. I love the colors. Wouldn't it be fun to carry? Check out here blog.

It's better!

2009-07-08T10:25:00.002-04:00

Jonathan is home and feeling good. He can't do any physical exercise till he goes back to Cleveland Clinic for a stress test. It should be in about 4 to 6 weeks. They did say he could golf. We had just got him a couple lessons. Now he can practice golf.

I am laying very low today. My breathing is still not up to par. I figure lay around and do nothing in the air conditioning might help.

During all this stuff with Jonathan my older son's dog feel off the bed and caught his leg in between matteress and frame. Buster pulled his leg out of the socket and twisted it. The Vet tried to put it back but it did not stay. They don't have the money it would take to fix it so they had to put him to sleep. I am sure it is a sad day over at their house today. He was nine years old.

Back to Normal I hope!

2009-07-06T22:33:00.002-04:00

It has been a very hectic couple weeks but I think everything will settle down now.

It started on June 24 when I said we would take care of my DS's 4 girls. They wanted to get away to celebrate their 20th anniversary. So since I had the girls I thought I should have my DD's son too. What is one more? Well actually 2 more because Sara came to help. If we went anywhere we had to go in 2 cars and she can drive. It was really nice to have her help.

They stayed from Wed to Sunday night. It was alot of fun and they were all so good. But it was nice when they left.

Monday my DH passed a small kidney stone and I started coming down with broncitus. I am now on strong antiboitics, inhaler, predisone. YUCK

Wed afternoon DD's other son Jonathan started complaining of chest pains. She called and said they were bringing him down to have him checked out. Isaac and Sara came here while they took Jonathan to the emergycy room.

They gave him all kinds of tests and all came back normal but one. His heart enzymes were too high. They wanted him at the Heart Center for observation and more tests. They tested and tested and could not find out why is enzymes were so high.

Friday around noon they transferred him to Cleveland Clinic. We took Sara to her house to get clothes for the family then headed to Cleveland. That was a 5 hour plus ride there and 5 back. We just stayed long enough to see him settle in and so Isaac could see what was happening. We brought Sara and Isaac back home with us.

We got in at 2 am but they were still setting off fireworks in the neighborhood. Cassie our dog is scared of loud noises. Things finally settled down around 3. BUT our new neighbor decided to trim his bushes with a noisy electric hedge trimmer at 7 am. It was all I could do not to yell at him. We couldn't go back to sleep and we were dead tired. We sure did sleep Sat night though. The 4th is just a blur.

Sunday we go to church. It is a 45 min drive. We just get there and our DD calls and tells us that one of Jonathans tests got lost. Our hospital sent it overnight to Cleveland but sent it general delivery. No one could find it. Would we go back home, get a copy and bring it to them. So DH drops us off at Church goes back home to the hospital and comes and picks us up. Isaac doesn't want the long car ride so he stays with his cousins. Sara comes with us and decides to stay with Jonathan in Cleveland. He was starting to feel better and was getting very restless.

Today they did an intensive MRI and found that his heart is perfect there is not any damage. They think it was just a virus that attacked the sac in the back of his heart. He should be fine. His enzymes were so high 9.? (.1 is normal) that in an adult body the heart was have stopped. But it is different in kids. Plus he is in great shape and very healthy. He should be able to go back to sports in 4 to 6 weeks.

Now all we have to worry about is DGD Chloe is having an eye operation next Monday. They say it is minor but it is still scary.

It has not been a very good summer so far.

Broken Tooth

2009-06-16T22:45:00.002-04:00

Saturday night I was eating supper and one of my back teeth broke in half. I have had some problems with it since my TMJ. When the fixed that my tooth did not line up right. Luckily the dentist filled it and it fits much better. I will know more when the soreness is gone.

I went to a Dear Jane meeting tonight. I will be starting this next month. Like I really need another project. This one will be using patterns that Penny Haren designed. They are supposed to be easier. I sure hope so. The paper said that with her method she saved 23 pieces on one block. I will let you know my progress. I sure hope I can keep up with it.

New Toy

2009-06-15T21:03:00.002-04:00

We have a new toy. DH went out and bought a new motorcycle. This one is much bigger than his other one. It is also much more comfortable for me. We rode about 300 miles this weekend. It will be much more comfortable when we go to Yellowstone in August. We will still trailer it out there. I am not riding that far!!