At last this week is over

First, thanks to all the wonderful bloggers out there for all your kind words about the loss of my truck. Second, I am glad this week is over and I hope next week is really boring with no drama.

For those that want a truck update (if not scroll down for some photos): My truck "Xena" was stolen on Tuesday. Thursday I had to go to south Georgia for work on an overnight trip and while I was there, I received a phone call that my truck was found by Atlanta Police. Xena is now in the impound lot (in an unpleasant part of ATL) with a broken steering column, body damage, and a flat tire. I got back into town yesterday afternoon and picked up the rental car that my insurance co. arranged and now I have wheels. Monday I get to experience the adventures of "ATL Police Dept. Standing in Line Waiting for Paperwork" and "Visiting the Impound Lot" and "Seeing How Bad Xena is Damaged". Stay tuned for these and other adventures coming soon!

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Now on to other more pleasant things: Here are some photos from my New Year's trip to Maryland/Washington DC area. S. and I went to visit his family and pick up E. from Dulles airport. Due to horrendous traffic on the Beltway, we took a scenic route from Dulles to Maryland via a car ferry across the Potomac River. Not much has changed in a couple hundred years, you can still cross the Potomac by ferry boat, only in cars rather than with horses. For the record: I refrained from any George Washington impersonations while crossing.

We spent one day in DC and went to the newly refurbished Museum of American History. There were several neat displays on the first floor of all kinds of different stuff including a quilt. (Sorry for the glare and the partial photo, it's not easy taking photos around other tourists)

I loved this peacock block so took a detail of it. Maybe this will end up in one of my future quilts, or we can just admire it here....

We had lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill, which is "Washington's oldest, most historic saloon", founded in 1856. The current location is in this Beaux Arts former theater building

The interior is beautiful and full of antiques.

Our booth had this incredible statue of a dog. Loved it and wanted to take it home with me!!!! Isn't it just fabulous???!!!

Not a good way to start the year...

Well my first day back to work in the new year and (I still can't believe this) my truck was stolen from my work parking deck. Oh my beloved truck "Xena" is gone! So instead of sewing and downloading photos from my trip, I have been on the phone with insurance people, etc. Nothing of value besides a pair of shoes, a Michigan ice scraper (can't find good ice scrapers here in the south), some magazines, and coffee mugs was in the truck. Well things can only get better from here right?

Return from the Mid-Atlantic

Hi all! I am back from a short trip to Maryland/Washington DC. Thanks for all the comments on the posts while I was gone. I have a zillion blogs and emails to catch up on. I will post photos of my trip (including the building of the Inauguration viewing stands and the Obama family's temporary home) soon.

Gift cards

Did anyone receive gift cards for the holidays? I know a few of my lucky friends received gift certificates to Sweet Home Quilt Co. Since S. thinks I have WAY too much fabric, a gift certificate to a quilt shop was nowhere on his list of things to buy me. I did get a Barnes & Noble gift card though and since I wanted just about every book in the store, it took me awhile to pick something out. I decided to get a book I probably wouldn't buy myself but that I have been eyeing every since Martha mentioned it on her show. I love cookbooks--I read them like regular books and often check them out of the library. I especially love to bake and this book is a delight to read and look at the gorgeous photos. Although a baking book goes directly against one of my goals to lose weight this year. Guess I'll have to bake and take stuff to work and Starbucks.

On the third day of January....

Three cats are snoozing.

Hand Sewing Clutch

I received this gift from my mom for Christmas. She made this handy little tote for carrying hand sewing supplies.

It's made from a potholder.
What a cool coffee potholder! I put a chart of embroidery stitches in the pocket.

Inside ziploc bags are sewn in to hold your thread, needles, scissors, and a seam ripper. Close it up with a loop and button and you are good to go. Thanks Mom!

Happy New Year 2009!

Hooray for a new year!! 2008 was getting to be a bit much to deal with don't you agree? It just kind of fell apart near the end. Here's hoping that everything will be better in 2009. I looked at my quilt-related resolutions from last year and sure enough, not one accomplished. We are just going to roll those over to this year (kinda like cell phone minutes).

I really really really am going to finish up some UFOs this year. The number of projects in bags is crazy and needs to be cut down. This will also help clean up my sewing space so it doesn't looks like San Francisco after the Great Earthquake of 1906.

And I'm going to finish making all those jelly roll quilts that Karin and I are working on from our favorite book "Jelly Roll Quilts" by Pam and Nicky Lintott. (PS: my mom is hooked on this book now too hee hee!)

I'm going to support my favorite LQS's (Sweet Home Quilt Co. and my favs in Michigan) as much as possible. Gotta make sure the shop owners keep buying new stuff to tempt us. When the economy is tough, it is so important to support small businesses (PS: and Starbucks!)

I realized that I missed my blog-iversary but it comes at a crazy time (Dec. 19). I will do a giveaway sometime soon to celebrate a year plus of blogging.

I also want to thank all the fabulous bloggers that I have met this past year!!!! Y'all have inspired me with your creativity, made me laugh and smile--especially at the posts about your pets (Rembrandt gets a special shout out for being so darn cute and silly), and were gracious enough to comment on my ramblings. Blogging and bloggers have become a fun part of my life and I can't wait to see what everyone is up to in 2009. Thank you again and hope everyone is spending the day exactly how they want to (sewing!!!!)!