Storm at Sea Quilt Completed June 8, 2011

I made this quilt to be my porch swing quilt.

Front of Quilt

Back of Quilt

Wouldn't It Be Nice...

Wouldn't it be nice if you could slap sense into people?

Of course you can't.  That is why violence does not serve a purpose.

Here it is June 5

Here it is June 5 and I made it over the hump.

Raymond died May 31, 2006.  This year I got through that day without thinking about the death, a new stepping stone for me. In fact, I totally ignored the date.  I went to work, went to my meeting, went to dinner with extended family, and did not once think about the significance of the day.

I still cannot control my eating during the month of May.  I go back to old habits of just wanting to eat all the time.  The good thing is I did not reach for just the same thing over and over again.  No major obsession with Pringles and dip, or any one single food that I just eat over and over again.  

Do I miss him any less because I made it through May 31 without thinking about that day 5 years ago?  No. I do not.  In fact, all I can think about is how he has missed 2 graduations. He has also missed the oldest having his first very serious girlfriend, my youngest getting a new car, watching me learn to quilt, and most of all watching his two boys grow into fine young men.  That brings me to my knees on a daily basis, whether it is a significant date or not. 

Sometimes I still day dream about what our life would be like right now. After all, this would be the prime of our life. Both boys in college.  We would be pretty much free to do whatever we wanted.   Instead, I am trying to figure out what I want the rest of my life to look like.  I feel like I am in limbo. I know it is up to me to move forward.  I just don't know what I want to move forward to now, or in the future. 

I know that January 1 starts the new year, but sometimes I feel like my new year starts June 1 as I see how I get through March, April, May. 

The Last of the Line For Now

My dad had 2 brothers and 3 sisters.  Of the six kids, my dad was the only one to have a son, my brother.  My brother has two sons. 

For years we took pictures of my dad, my brother and his son(s) together showing the men that were left in the family, since my uncles both died before my dad.  Then my dad died, and there were no more pictures of the line, especially since my brother hates having his picture taken.  

Recently my brother and his two sons were together at one of my youngest nephew's wrestling match, and pictures were taken.  

Here is a picture of the "Last of the Line," for now.

Table Runner - Using Modern Charm Runner Pattern

Jill gave me two batik charm packs and Laura gave me the Modern Charm Runner, quilt as you go pattern by G.E. Designs, so I made this table runner for my antique table.

Too Much Stuff!

My oldest moved back in for two months while he is waiting on his next apartment to be available.  He has too much stuff!!!!

Either that, or he just brought it all home in so many boxes and baskets it looks like too much stuff.

Then there was all the dirty laundry.  The boy had a washer and dryer in his apartment, a luxury I never had in my apartment, so why did he have so much laundry?  Laundry he kept saying he would do, but was never home to do it, so I sorted it all out and Loni and the youngest did almost all of it in one day.  Probably about 8 baskets full.  (We didn't do his girlfriend's laundry. It was put in a paper bag on his bed.)

I have had a couple of run ins with him since he has been home. (Loni calls it "The Wrath of Mom.") Evidently he needs reminding that he may be 21, but he is in my home.  Oh, I don't care about what time he gets home, he has no curfew.  I don't care about how many people he has over, they are all good people.  I don't care what he eats and when as long as he cleans up after himself.  I do care about keeping the house up, talking to me with respect, and not adding extra work to anyone else living in the house.  

It may take another week, but we are almost there.

 

The Anti Driver Has a Car

My youngest, the anti driver, now is the proud owner of a 2011 Honda Civic with 113 miles on it (test drives).  He brought it home on Saturday, May 28, and has driven it 4 times since. Two of those trips were less than a mile, one was less than 3 miles, and the other was probably 25 miles round trip. 

He hates driving.  However, once he gets to college next year he will need a car.  It was one thing when he was on a campus with rigid restrictions, but next year he will not have any restrictions other than his own morals.  Which I am proud to say, at this point is his life, are very high.  

I think this car will last him a very long time if he takes care of it, and I am sure he will.