I'd like to thank the academy! My Dentist and Plastic Surgeon.....
-Pat/me

Thank you so much Jocelyn for the lovely bogging award. You are one of the many, many blessings that have come my way since becoming a member of the blogging world.

Below are only a few of my favorite blogs so if you are so inclined have fun on your own blog tour. The guidelines for this award is to choose bloggers that blog with great attitude and or gratitude. (which makes the award soooo very special to me) It was soooo difficult to choose 10 but here they are!



Here are the rules:

Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.

Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.

Link the nominees within your post.

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award
Jocelyn
Mary Don
Kathleen
Brenda
Becky
Karin
Melisa
Karen
Laurie
Alma
Karmen
Barb

I'm still packing. By this time tomorrow I will be gone, gone. I'm hoping to blog while away, the problem is photos. My camera cord thingy DUN GONE BROKE...not good. So I might have to blog with no photos which is a bummer right???

I base my fashion taste on what doesn't itch.

-Gilda Radner

Ok here is the long and short of it. There is so dang much going on here at Silver Thimble headquarters I can't even describe it. Suzanne called last night, Sir Quilt Dude answered the phone and she asked him if I had...had a break down yet? His answer was..."Not yet but we are close!!!" hahaha. I thought I was holding it together pretty well. I got some STUFF going on.! I think he was referencing the comment I made when he asked if I was going to get ready for the Super Bowl party next door. #$%^&*(IO)P{_ do you people really...really think I'm in the mood or have time for a dang FOOTBALL GAME....I made a culinary contribution to the game and sent him packing next door...turned OFF the TV and went to my sewing room. Peace at last....Peace at last....I was working on some secret stuff for the participants in my retreat this weekend. (can't show you a picture cuz those chicks are probably reading this BLOG...nosey nosey!hahaha)

The reality of this post is that I am so excited I could jump up and down. I had the BEST TIME at the Silver Thimble Club at A Scarlet Thread this weekend. Holey Moley those ladies are a blast I love them more than my self cleaning oven. Karen Taylor and I laughed until we lost oxygen to our brains on Saturday. A good time was had by all. There is nothin better than belly laughin!!!! The photo below is Jennifer with her almost completed Strawberry Pie quilt.

So the fun continues because I'm packing the house to go to Ellijay for the Silver Thimble Quilt Retreat "Come Away With ME!!!" in the mountains. The food is going to be fantastic and the ladies will be pampered and spoiled by yours truly! I CANNOT WAIT. well...I have a bit of packing to do. (that is an understatement TO SAY THE LEAST.) Sir Quilt Dude cannot even get his car in the garage because I have started dumping stuff out there so I don't forget what I'm taking. (oh I'm in serious trouble now kids!).

On top of leaving at 7 am on Wednesday.. I am speaking at a guild on Tuesday night (100miles away) which is another event I'm looking forward to. So I figure I must be packed and ready to go to both events by 2 pm tomorrow. What do you think??? The photo below is me yappin. Ok what this photo says to me is that I need a face lift...hair color and basically an overhaul. Perhaps a gym membership would help.

OK Sophie just barked at me aparently I am 14 minutes late for her dinner time. Please tell me how dogs know they should be fed at a certain exact time of the day. And while you are at it tell me why I'm ending this blog post to accomodate the dogs barking at me? Who is in charge here??? She should be grateful I saved her from the enternal dirt nap two weeks ago didn't I???

Only the heart knows how to find what is precious.

-Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Here are a few photos of the fun in Panama City Fla. this weekend.

Debby Maddy did a workshop on her Carpenters Star pattern and technique. I really enjoyed getting to know Debby! She is a lovely lady and I'm hoping to see her again real soon. She gave a lecture on Sunday morning before everyone left and showed a TON of beautiful Carpenters Star quilts! A fun quilt that goes together very fast. It also has a lot of area to do some cool quilting!

This is Peggy Barkle's class showing their Circle Bargello quilts. I loved walking into the classrooom where they were working it was like being swallowed up by a rainbow!!! Nicely done ladies.

Here are some of the ladies working in my classroom. They were very busy. I taught my Silver Thimble Extravaganza workshop. There were FIVE different patterns under construction. I love to teach this workshop because the learning and demos never stop! Fun fun fun.

And here is Donna...see those crutches? She had a "fall" on Friday night and broke a dang bone in her foot!!!! She got back from the hospital and went straight to work. NO STOPPING A QUILTER ON A MISSION, I'm tellin you! HATS off to YOU Donna.

Well doesn't this photo say it all. Linda and Ann having fun. Ann has MASTERED her 1/4' seam. We danced and celebrated the event! (of course...!)

OKay so I was talking and showing a ton of people how to "splay" a seam "pop" a seam...you know like this (see above) on the backside of a block. One of the workshop ladies (better not mention her name she might punch me). Asked me to show her how to... "POP HER GIRDLE!!!". I laughed so hard I lost oxygen to my brain! POP YOUR GIRDLE......who the h$%^&* wears a girdle anymore anyway? Then of course they were all "splaying, splaying...splaying" everywhere. The abuse we handed out over this technique went on all day. I had tons of other retreat attendees bringing me their 4 patches and pinwheels for two days to show them how to "splay/pop" a seam. I was even showing people at dinner time. WE SPLAYED ALL OVER THE DANG BEACH...

One week from TODAY I leave for Ellijay to begin hosting my retreat in the mountains...I have 47 weeks of work to do to get ready...BREATHE PAT...BREATHE, BREATHE ,BREATHE...It will always get done, right?...I am woman I am strong, right?...I may need wine and lots of cheetos to get ready, right?. What do you think?

PAT (who is in her Fred Flinstone car again running as fast as my feet will carry me!)

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impluse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.
-Henry Van Dyke

Gratitude....Thankfulness....Thanksgiving....OH MY IT IS ALL THERE FOR ME RIGHT NOW. The above quote expresses so well my feelings right now.The picture was taken around dusk of the view from my hotel room...beautiful snow white sands of the Gulf Coast..now that is a BEACH!

GRATITUDE...to the Quilting By the Bay people, Sandy, Sue, Wendy and the entire staff for inviting me to be a guest lecturer, and workshop teacher. It was my complete honor and pleasure to spend the last two years at their retreat in Panama City Florida. When I am asked to come and do my talks and workshops it is great fun. When I am asked to come for a return visit well then.... I am quite simply honored!

THANKFULNESS.....to the attendees of the retreat. Your many, many, many comments and well wishes will be kept in that special corner of my heart where joy resides...you filled me up ... Thank you till we hopefully meet again.

THANKSGIVING.... It has become my tradition to sing, dance and generally act like a complete fool (not much of stretch for me) when the joy we feel over our quilts and little accomplishments bubble to the forefront of my classes and lectures. It is just a another form of Thanksgiving. To all that came to the lecture thank you for all your wonderful comments. To my workshop attendees. Thanks for a wonderful day!!!!

I really have not stopped running since I got home. We got home at 6:30 Sunday night. Brought all the quilts (60 or so) in bags...and I reassured Sophie that we would not leave her anytime too soon. Then fell in the bed, I think the fatigue finally hit me around 9 pm. Up and out the door yesterday because I had PROMISED my friend that I would take her on a needlework tour of Atlanta. She is a civilian (non quilter...go figure!) and she wanted to visit some of my favorite places for cross stitch and quilting, and people a promise is a promise. So off we went. Got home at 6 pm (dang dang double dang the traffic). Then off again to my book club. Had a completely wonderful time with my book peeps (wine was involved !) Liked our current book Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom. Got home at 10:30 (missed 24 but I love my DVR!!!!) Off again this morning for my Tuesday sewing group.

I suppose I will unpack those quilts sooner or later. I have another Guild lecture next week so I have to unpack um and repack um...........

This afternoon I begin the process of OFFICIALLY PACKING AND GETTING READY FOR ELLIJAY....whoop whoop whoop. Baby we are going to rock the house February 11-14. I can not wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will post some more pictures of Quilting By the Bay activities....Wait till I tell you about "popping my girdle" it will go down as one of my favorite teaching moments.

Pat
Did that dang Groundhog see his shadow??? I'm ready for Spring PEOPLE!!!

Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart give yourself to it.

-Buddha

Yippe! It is almost time...I can't wait....packing is underway....60 quilts...presentation...workshop materials...demo materials...Sir Quilt Dude and I leave early Friday morning for Panama City Beach. I know we can at least walk on the beach, I'm sure it is a bit chilly even if it is the panhandle of Florida.

I am doing a lecture, workshop and demonstration for the outstanding group from Quilting By the Bay. The ladies, led by Sandy(she is the best and the shop owner) and Sue (I love her she cracks me up) and the rest of the QBTB staff put on a fabulous retreat every year in January. This will be my second year and I'm honored that I have been invited for a return visit!!! We are staying right on the beach at Paradise Palms. Don't feel sorry for us no sireee. The best part is that Sir Quilt Dude will be right along with me on the journey. This is what we enjoy doing together and we have worked hard to be able to do these types of trips. He is such a big help cuz I'm tellin you shelping all my quilty stuff around is a big dang job!!! I get to be a princess while he shelps..Then he gets to play golf and walks on the beach while I'm teaching my workshop and playing with the people I love to be with... QUILTERS.. I could just jump up and down right now! (but I would damage something for sure!)

We are packing the quilts tonight. I'm hoping to get everything packed and then tomorrow I can take care of home stuff and treat myself to a day of just getting me ready. Quilts are the priority but I would like a little time for myself. (probably won't happen). Are you one of those people who has to clean the house before you leave on a trip? Well I am. go figure.


I'm hoping to get a chance to go over to the shop and empty Sir Quilt Dude's wallet. They have a fantastic shop which was in the Quilt Sampler! I can get in some real trouble there no doubt!!!

I will take my camera and record the event for you. If you would like I can mail you a bucket of the wonderful snow white sand of the gulf coast, or maybe a shrimp....oooh la la I love seafood!!!

I just looked back at my post to you..almost every sentence ends with a !!!!! My English teachers are rollin over in their graves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do know better ya know! Gotta go find my bikini. Tah Tah for now dear friends.

!

Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
-F.P.Jones

This man, this wonderful man, this father, this husband, this best friend. Today is his birthday. We have spent a lifetime together and today his HIS special day! There are no words to describe the life we have and how he has managed to unselfishly care for every need, every desire, every good thing that has ever happened in our family is a direct result of HIM. He asks for NOTHING...never, never puts himself before the rest of us. I love him beyond belief and bless every day we have together. Happy Birthday Sir Quilt Dude! (the other day he asked if he worked really hard could he one day...maybe be promoted to Earle...hmmm
maybe I'll make him KING!

Writing today...must have complete silence...and plenty of diet coke, coffe, hot tea, water, cheetos. Then it is out to dinner with Sir Quilt Dude...Provino's our favorite Italian and they give a free dinner to the birthday person (we would go there anyway, but don't tell them that!!!).

Have a Quilty Day,
Pat

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
-Anais Nin

Here is where our story begins. This is Sophie aka Osama Bin Doggie...sweet lovable little terrorist. A barker, guardian of our home just ring the doorbell and you will understand. We love her and she loves us. She has arthritis in her lower spine and right after Xmas we noticed she was walking differently slipping and falling all over the place (we have hardwood floors, acres of them) in short she needed to be checked out and it was time for the po po check (you know stick up the rear) and her annual shots. So off to the vet we go. She agreed to go only because she knows we will drop by Dairy Queen and she gets an ice cream if she doesn't bite anyone!

Enter the Vet:

Sophie: "Why do they always put me in THIS room? There are CAT pictures on every wall!"
"I want to bite you but they slapped a muzzle on me."

Me (thinking) Thank God they put a muzzle on her, they really remember her...I wonder how long it took the vet techs wounds to heal from last year.

Sophie: "I see those shots on the counter and that $%^&* stick. I'm going to give them the poor pitiful shaking and sad eyes. "

Me: "Hi doctor S did you have a nice holiday" If I'm nice to her maybe she won't hate my dog.

Dr. "Good morning Sophie, Yes we had a great holiday!" Remember you are a doctor and love all doggies.... "Lets take a look at her spine and watch her walk..."

Sophie: "Why are they putting me on the floor...oh I gotta go get weighed..I hope she knows I gained a few lbs during the holidays...I hate this part too...so embarrassing..."

Me: So far so good...ooops she just peed on the floor...it's okay its a vets office dogs and cats do that all the time here right?

Doctor and Sophie and vet tech return from their walk to the scales. Back on the table goes Sophie/Osama

Sophie: "Damn"

Me: So what do you think about her back and hip problems?

Dr: "Doesn't look good and the options are limited." Doctor proceeds with more examination, poking and twisting..

Sophie: "I'm gonna cry a bit and see if she will lay off my hips"

Dr. "Well we could try her on Prednazone but because of her "unique" personality it could be problematic"

Me: She is telling me my sweet doggie is a jerk!!!

Dr.: "We can do some tests, Xrays and such but if she needs surgery I don't think she would handle that well either."

Me: She really thinks Sophie is an ass!

Dr. "I don't know... there aren't many options."

Me: "Are you telling me it is time to say goodbye (tears are welling up)"

Dr. "It is your decision"

Dr. "If you decide to do this (she is referring to...you know..bye bye) there are things you will need to consider"
.
Me: "Consider?" she wants me to say good bye to the sweetest dog that ever lived!

Sophie: "Can we get on with this please!" "They sure are chatting it up today"

Dr: "Do you want to be with her, do you want to bury her in your back yard, cremation, burial plot.." and she hands me a pamphlet for a pet cemetery.

Me: now I'm beginning to hyperventilate.."I'm not ready for this decision now" (I really hate you I may bite you myself)

Dr. "Ok well lets try her on a muscle relaxer and see if that doesn't keep her more comfortable until you have time to think about this."

Sophie: "I'll give you a muscle relaxer if you will take of this %^&* muzzle"

Me: Sobbing

Dr." Lets not give her the shots and regular tests today."

Me: sure why should we give her a rabbies shot if we are going to murder her tomorrow.
Sophie and I leave

Sophie: "Wow that wasn't so bad no po po check...no shots...just a weigh in and I'm outta here" "Can we go to Dairy Queen now?" "Why is mom crying, she can get some ice cream too!"

I call Sir Quilt Dude he can hardly understand me because I'm crying so hard...he calls the doctor...the doctor talks to the head doctor. They decided to do exrays and blood work. In the mean time I'm giving Sophie treats and muscle relaxers. I'm taking Sophie's muscle relaxers and drinking wine..and crying every time I look at her..

Sophie goes back to the vet for the tests the next day.

Sophie: "Crap I know I'm getting the works now!" "Here comes the muzzle"

Sophie comes home and sleeps it off meds they gave her to do the ex rays and such..the vet calls (the head vet) and they are going to try some non steroidal stuff and see if it helps WE ARE NOT GOING TO OFF HER...AT LEAST FOR 30 DAYS...

Sophie within 24 hours: "Wow I feel great, I'm going to chase those squirrels out of my yard" "BETTER LIVING THROUGH PHARMACEUTICALS." "and they thought I was ready for the eternal dirt nap... FOOLED THEM! I AM SOPHIE THE GREAT...SOPHIE THE WONDER DOG...OSAMA BIN DOGGIE (sometimes)."

Me: "Ok we will spend whatever it costs to keep her comfortable and alive..."

Sir Quilt Dude: This is gonna cost me...for sure....