Empty Nester

Well I'm an empty nester again. She's gone to Vancouver. She left on the worst possible day, so much snow. On the other side of the mountains it apparently stopped snowing and was fine, but I still called her every 1/2 hour or so. Single girl driving alone , not familiar with the roads, I was nuts until she got there. I'm surprised she made it in one piece, really I am. I was expecting her to call for help half way. I even ran to the bank and put some money in her account just in case.

But on the other front...

I have two baby quilts to make by easter, I've been madly organizing. I've got one for sure that's a girl, the other is still a mystery. I've made quilt tops over the years, and never quilted them, so I have a few I could choose from. I ventured into a quilt fabric store yesterday, woooow. The prices sure have gone up and the selection is amazing. I had to replace a foot off my machine (don't know what happened to it) one day I was hemming a skirt and the next week I was sewing a blouse and "where is the regular foot?" I muddled along with a less than ideal foot but I had to replace it eventually because it was just a pain in the neck. Considering the foot was the thin hemmer one, the blouse turned out quit good. Anyho I had to wait for a perscription at the local "stupid store" so I wandered over to the magazine section, (first mistake) and picked up a quilting one. So I came home and dug out all my bins of fabric, and all my bins of mag's and books. So that's when I decided that I had to replace the foot.

Since the spare room is vacated now, I decided that it would make an ideal sewing room so I spent a few hours moving beds out and sewing tables , machines, ironing boards etc inc. It's going to be nice to have an ironing board upstairs. I really hated trudging down to iron in the morning, I usually just pick something else instead. Lazy Lazy.

I made this one about 5 yrs ago, when I was bored in my store. I always thought it would make a good baby quilt, but never gave it to anyone. Although a few babies have been born since.

I quess I just wanted to keep it around.

This one was made about a month after the hearts. Again, bored.

also I have a Yorkie/maltese which looks alot like this little guy before she gets to the groomer.

And I rather enjoy making scrap quilts.

and then about 12 years ago I made this one.

But it's more a single bed size rather than a crib size. It started out as a wall hanging and I just got carried away and eventually stopped when it became bed size. But again I never finished it, just pieced it. That's the only part I enjoy. And the shopping for fabric part.

So I'm all set. I just have to quilt the darn things now. I really hate the actual quilting of them. I made a few actually quilting "by hand", even went so far as making my own stand and all. Bending over them for months and months at a time. Never again. Now it's machine quilting or nothing, But I hate it, so much work. so much puckering, and ripping out, and doing over. Ugh. Not something I look forward to.

I've got a double shower planned for easter, maybe they'll just get a picture of the quilts. My son is planning on being here for easter, and my extended family will all be here, so I figured it's a good time to have a shower, even though it's a little early. Both are due end of june beginning of july. I figure One will be late and the other will be early. Just my luck Because they live about 500 miles away from each other. And Me, I'll be here, there or somewhere in between.

It's been decided that I pay for the cribs, HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE OF THESE? It's kind of cute listening to the two of them (brother and sister) discussing the merits of this or that crib. I quess they're kind of lucky that they are both so close on due dates with each other. How often does that happen between siblings.

The youngest one probably feels left out, that's probably why she left town. Although she said she was up for some sort of adventure. Making up with an old boyfriend and moving in. I've been missing a few things since she left. Like all my pasta. She took the whole basket. I couldn't believe it. It's as though there are no stores in Vancouver. A few of my cook books have disappeared. She even took her sword, so I figure she'll be awhile. A few years ago she bought dishes and a set of pots and pans, and lots of towel etc., but they haven't been used. So I think she's looking forward to using all her stuff, finally. She figures her boyfriend probably hasn't got anything other than a can opener and a microwave. Guys!

I made the butter chicken again today, I'm obsessed with this recipe. Trying to cool the spice down a bit. It was better today, last time I couldn't eat it, spiccccccy.

I'm hoping it'll be better tommorrow for lunch.

I finally bought some garam masala, instead of improvising. But it's still hot. I left out the chipolte chili this time. Didn't help. Maybe next time I'll tone the curry paste down.

My husband liked it, even though curry is a bad word to him. So that's something.

I gotta go and refill my wine glass.