I've been tagged!!

How fun! My friend Babs over at Scattered Scraps and Snippets has tagged me.
THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

OK, so here we go, 7 random facts.....

1. I am the oldest of 4 siblings. I have one younger sister and 2 younger brothers.

2. I have never flown on an airplane.

3. My dream job would be to do voice work. You know, like providing the voices for animated movies or doing narration for films. Especially doing character voices, I think that would be a blast!!!!

4. I am a breakfast food junkie. Cereal, oatmeal, bagles, pancakes, you name it. I could live on breakfast foods for the rest of my life and never miss lunch or dinner :cD

5. I am the family athlete. In my younger days I played softball, volleyball, basketball, ran track and field (ok I threw the shot put and discus, but I did place in the state meet in the shot put), and was a nationally ranked powerlifter in the ADFPA when I was 19. Right now I love to run altough I don't get out to do it as much as I would like to. I have run 5 marathons, 5 half marathons and several smaller distance races. I am hoping to run at least a half if not a full marathon in the fall of this year.

6. I still love to watch cartoons. Guess I'm still a kid at heart.

7. I collect thimbles. I started collecting them before I ever even touched a sewing machine. I have well over 100 from a lot of different places. I look for them everywhere we travel, and have lots I wouldn't necessarily have been able to get thanks to my on-line friends and family that travles more than me.

Well, there you go. Some random facts about Country Mouse. Now to tag some others. I'm relatively new to the blogging thing so I don't know that I know 7 people to tag, but I'll tag Jacquie at Tallgrass Prairie Studio, Laurie at . , ( I have them linked on the left) and anyone else who wants to play can consider themselves tagged by me :cD

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's day. We don't go all out here, but we had a nice evening together. I got to help out with the Valentines party for my son. Lots of fun, brought back fond memories of Valentines parties when I was young. It was always such fun to pass out your valentines to your friends, then even more fun to see all the goodies that were waiting for you in your Valentines box. Ahhhh, memories :) I got a lovely card, flowers and candy from City. So sweet. I got him a card, some candy, and the most recent release of his favorite TV show on DVD. I think he was happy ;) Then we all had dinner together and enjoyed the evening. All in all a very nice day!

Here it is Friday already! I've been able to get more done on my scrappy bargello. Both mouslings were is school this morning, so I was able to blissfully sew away for about 2 hours this morning. I now have all the strips cut and 2 more pannels ready to sew. I've also got my ugly challenge top nearly done, and the binding 1/2 way done on the puppy quilt. I am debating on taking a day trip tomorrow. I've had my fair share of stress here the last week or so, so I may try to get away to Amish country for a bit tomorrow. I'm just gonna see how things go tomorrow. I'm off to sew a bit more, hope everyone else finds some quality quilty time too! Warm country wishes!!

of snow days, dissapearing 9-patches and Amy's quilt

Well, for once the snow did really come. And its still coming down! Actually, now we are waiting for the freezing rain that is supposed to come and wallop us. So we had another snow day here. At least right now it is really pretty. Soft white fluffy flakes gently falling out of the sky, and I have to admit that I really do like it when there is a fresh, unblemished blanket of white covering our yard :cD We've been having fun watching videos and doing things around the house and I have gotten a decent ammount of sewing done too. First I got one of my swaps out of the way then I got out Amy's quilt.

Its been a bit of a challenge so far. The center that you see was done by Amy back in the 80's. She brought it to me and asked me if I could bring it up to queen size and finish it off for her. I have really tried to square it up (I think I did ok) and I added the dark flower border to it today. It was hard for me to part with that fabric....I just love it.....but I think it was the right choice. Now it IS long enough, I just need to widen it up a bit so I have some applique work for it, and started making some dissapearing 9-patches to add to that outside. She said she is perfectly fine with me using up my scraps to finish this up, so I hope she'll be happy with the finished product. I am really trying to get this top done and basted before the end of the month. Also been organizing my sewing area, well trying at least. So we've been busy :cD

Well I'm off to get a few more things done before I have to go into work. Boy I wish we grown-ups could have snow days from work! lol Oh well, at least I had time to get some fun in today. Hope everyone else did too. Warm country wishes!!

Someone do the happy dance with me :cD

I have to say I have had quite a good weekend. It started when I received a wonderful package in the mail on Saturday. One of my groups did a game and I was lucky enough to win a great package of winter themed and colored goodies. I love getting packages like this one...soooo much better than the neverending stream of bills that the mailman seems to deliver :c) Then I was able to get outside Saturday before the cold came and settled in and get in a 6 mile run. It felt soooo good to get a nice long run in. Then I was able to find some sewing time and was able to get this done.....

Yup, here it is! The first finish of 2008!! (can you tell I'm excited :cD ) Just finished hand stitching down the binding today. The mouselings had a snow day, so I wasn't really sure if I would get it done, but it has been bitter cold outside all day. I think we may have reached a 'high' of 16 degrees today, so it was a great day to stay inside as much as possibe and sew when I could. It's supposed to stay pretty cold here and snow tonight so I may have another good excuse to stay inside and quilt tomorrow too ;) Just gonna wait and see. Well, I'm off to cruise around blog land a little bit and have a celebratory cup of hot cocoa. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Warm country wishes!

OK, just one more (kinda) random thought for the day

Well, I just got done cutting a bunch of squares for Amy's quilt and strips for the other half of the scrappy bargello when I had a thought cross my mind. How do you feel when you use up the last of a fabric in your stash? I was thinking about it because there are several fabrics where the last peices of it will go into these 2 quilts. Me? Well it may sound weird, but its kinda bittersweet. Yes, I am really happy that I've used up something, and I know it will be used and that fabric will be seen. But on the other hand I usually pick up a fabric for a specific project or because it really called to me, and I've formed a silly little sentimental attatchment that makes it hard to see it go. Does anyone else feel this way? Strange, maybe. Something City wouldn't understand, definetly! This is when I'm happy that I have fellow quilters I can share a random thought with. Well, that's my silly little thought for now. I'm off to get some rest. Happy quilting all!!

Working toward those goals (or at least trying!)

I really wish I had some quilty pictures to share, but unfortunately I don't. :( But, I found this picture on one of my groups and it perfectly describes how I've felt the last couple of days. (Actually that was me this morning. After City took the kids to school I crashed and slpet for an extra 3 hours!) Things where I work have been a bit hectic so I've ended up picking up extra hours. Between that, and all the stuff I need to get done here between the kids and housework, errands and other stuff, I've been happy to squeeze in sewing and running time where I can. Now I am glad to report that I have completed the quilting on the BOM and the quilting is done and binding is attatched to the doggie quilt. Now to hand stitch it down. I have made some progress on my swaps. And the only fabric I've bought so far this month was a great neutral that was calling out to me from the remnant bin. I haven't made any progress on Amy's quilt yet, but I am going to go cut some squares to do some dissapearing 9-patches for the very outside edges here yet tonight as well as some leaves for some applique work I am doing for it. So, honestly, I'm a pretty happy quilter. Also been able to squeeze in 3 runs so far this week (only missed my Monday one) and am gonna try to get in a nice run outside this weekend if the weather cooperates.

February is Quilting Month and they are celebrating over at Sew Mama Sew. I'm putting link to them over on the left here. They are sharing blocks, techniques, quilts and other fun stuff. I just have to mention an entry on sharing quilting history. You'll have to go check it out if you haven't. It is excellent!! Made me want to reasearch more not only for my own knowledge, but also to make sure I share with the mouselings, who also love to help me make quilts as well as create their own 'quilts' by laying out fabric scraps on the floor. I think they enjoy playing with the fabric as much as I do.

Well, I'm off to have some quilty fun. Hopefully I'll have some quilty pics for you next time. Hope you all find time for your quilting passion too. Warm country wishes :cD

I love it when....

Things go the way you've hoped! I was right about getting out of work early, so I was able to run by Jo-Anns and get some quilting thread and heart toggles, and a snowman pillow that was marked down 90% for one of my little ones. Then after a quick trip to the store for a couple things and a stop by the pizza shop I was able to get some sewing done while the rest of the family watched the Super Bowl. Yippee!!

Now I wish I was able to get accomplished what Bonnie did over at Quiltville, you'll have to go check out her scrapy bagrgello quilt... just wonderful. But I was thrilled I was able to get as much done as I did. I was able to get one panel completly sewn and a second cut into strips ready to sew together. I think I am going to make two more panels and go ahead and put a border on it to make it throw sized. It has gone together very quickly, and I am just thrilled that I was able to cut those tubes into STRAIGHT rows of squares!! I was sooo afraid I was gonna end up with some weird wonky shape :cO I've gotten everything ready for the sewing I want to do tomorrow. Mondays are my day I devote to working on only older UFOs (although I may make an exception for the doggie quilt tomorrow, maybe only another hour of quilting on it and it will be done) So hopefully I'll have a nice progress report for tomorrow. Hope you all had a great Superbowl/Bargellowbowl Sunday!!

Cuttin' and sewin'....is there any better way to spend the day?

Now really, is there any better way to spend the day? The weather here has been cold and dreary. The perfect reason to stay inside and quilt. Now I didn't get as much done as I would like to have, but I did make some progress. I only have one more outside border to get quilted on the BOM then its on to binding. Yippee! I've also got the doggie quilt about 80% of the way quilted. I'm excited to be so close to a couple finishes. The picture on the left is some of the strips I've gotten cut for the Bargellobowl tomorrow. I've only got about half of the number cut that I need, and now that I'm looking at the picture I'm gonna make sure I find some blues, purples and greens to add to the mix. I don't know how much I'll be able to get done tomorrow, but I'm looking foreward to relaxing after work by sewing the evening away.

Spent some time with the family today. Its time for us to start planning the annual family reunion so City, the mouselings and I went to dinner with two of my aunts, one of my uncles, and my parents. Went to a nice restaurant in Amish country for dinner. Such great food! Just love all that stuff made from scratch. Also just enjoyed the drive. Living in the city there are just houses and houses, tons of cars, and lots of pavement; very little green space. Sure there is some, but I just love driving through the rolling hills seeing the farms, and big open fields and lots of trees. Makes me yearn for spring when the flowers are blooming and the trees are starting to bud and the new little green leaves make their first appearance. The drives out there are just wonderful. I think I heard that the 'official' groundhog saw his shadow today, but our local groundhog didn't. Boy I'm really kinda hoping ours was right, I'm ready for a burst of color! :cD

Speaking of animals, I was going through the photos on my camera and came across this one. I was thinking of sending it to Ami Simms, I know she has a page for these types of photos. This is a sign posted at the whirlpool area of a State Parks recreation area. The people that were in the whirlpool were looking at me funny when I took the picture, but I just couldn't resist. Read rule number 5 carefully. If I were a dog or cat, I really don't think I would have an issue obeying that rule ;) I got a giggle out of it, hope you did too.

Well, I'm off to try to get a little more done. Warm country wishes!