Silly

You know, back when I started this journey with mum, I had visions of her and I sitting around, taking life easy, me stitching and her reading.....sipping tea, watching Lucy....sigh.  Care-giving is not for the faint of heart.  Unless you're a cat.  Cats are fine with it.

Hermione says "relax".....

Mum starts rehab any day, if we ever recover from the plague that hit last weekend.  I spent Christmas Day in bed - fortunately, my guests brought their own food, as my ham never made it out of the fridge.  We're having it tonight.

We got 10 inches of snow in our first snowstorm of the year, yay!  I love the first snow, especially if it's a good one.  I love seeing all the Rose of Sharon bushes wearing their little hats.

Then we got another 6", and it all melted after Christmas when it went to almost 60F.  The fog off the melting snow was awesome.

Exciting, right?  *snort*  That's been my life.  There is stitching happening, just not too much - taking care of mum, and cleaning after 5 people who are all on different schedules and eat at different times consumes me.  But I can't wait to share with you some upcoming stuff....my pencil has been busy.  As soon as I find my work tables, creating may happen!  Right now they're covered with mum's Christmas gifts.

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas holiday, and that the New Year is good to you - 

Love,
Allie

Done and Dusted

Hooray - I finished my wise men!!!  Introducing Follow The Star - 

And right here, I must stop and apologize for the quality of the pics.  I have no idea what's wrong, it must be the operator, I forgot how to use the dang thing.  

I'm really very pleased with how this turned out, the Asian-inspired fabrics just glow on the deep blue background.  And my very first Christmas decoration is up in my house, lol!!!!

Because it's so late in the year, I'm doing an introductory price of just one dollar for this pattern - I'd really hoped to get it done in early November, but we all know how that goes.  You can purchase Follow The Star in my craftsy shop, here:

Allie-oops Designs

This special price is only until Christmas!  

In other news, we visited the cardiologist today, and mum is getting her new pacemaker MONDAY!!  It's a new kind too, it automatically sends the data to the clinic, no more fooling around with land lines [we no longer have one!] and visiting the clinic.  Mum's not only battery-operated, she has wi-fi!  Makes you wonder what's next, lol.  

Well my dears, I must go make dinner, I have a nice relaxing weekend to look forward to and I'm going to try to catch up on blogs....cuz

I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Allie

Postcards From Heaven, Block 12, December....

It's here - the final block in our year-long journey.  What a blessing this has been to me, and I hope for you also!  Jenny always has the best ideas.

It's been an amazing journey, as well - at least for me.  I think I told you before that I had these blocks done by last December...and every month, as they came up, they were always applicable to what was going on with my family and me.  Some more so than others!  

My prayer this month is that if you haven't opened that door to Jesus, you soon will.....that you will taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34:8

The pattern is available free from my craftsy shop, just click here:

Allie-oops Designs

Jenny's exquisite version:

You'll have to go to her blog to see the gorgeousness of what she made with it!  Jenny of Elefantz

I do hope you've enjoyed this journey with us.  It's been a very busy year for me, and sometimes the only project I got done all month was my postcard, but that was enough.  I can't wait to get all my postcards put together into a quilt - I'll share that with you too!  And hopefully tomorrow, I'll be able to share a finish with you - 

I actually had my sewing machine out today!!!!!!!  Can you believe it!!!!

See you soon, precious friends - be blessed.
Love,
Allie

First Week

Hello my friends - I've missed you!  We've had our first full week of mum at home, she was ever so glad to get here.

She's constantly freezing, even when everyone else is warm.  Her doctor thinks it's her thyroid, so he's checking things out.  Yes that's a roll of toilet paper next to her - we ran out of kleenex, lol.  Keepin' it real.

She's doing very well, except for anxiety.  She's been breathing so badly for so long, because of the mitral valve, and is having a hard time adjusting to the fact that she can now breathe easily!  She refuses to lay down flat, and sleeps in the recliner.  

We laughed the other day - told her I thought that getting her here would be the easy part, we'd sit around and drink tea and read and I could stitch.  Turns out, driving to the hospital and nursing home every day was the easy part!

Every day there's someone coming in, and usually multiple someones.  PT, OT, nursing, social workers, you name it.  And I'm constantly washing something  - dishes, laundry, counters, floors, bathrooms.  Not a lot of time to stitch!

I have started a new Christmas design.

Don't think it'll be ready for Christmas, though.  I was hoping to make it for my cousin, sigh.

Autumn is just about over, it's been absolutely splendid.

That's my view across the street.  It's been unseasonably warm, for which we're profoundly grateful, but I woke this morning to frost.  Most of the leaves are gone.  The bucks in the back meadow are butting heads, the squirrels are frantically burying things, and I think one of them has taken up residence in our living room wall.  Good times.

Well that's all from me, I've been hoping to get around to your blogs and try to catch up, but my computer is hardly on.  I've been full on flat out and wow, Christmas is coming - we're having Thanksgiving here, and celebrating two birthdays that fall on that day as well!  This year has gone by in a blink.

Keep well my friends, I miss you so much!!!!!

Love,
Allie

Postcards From Heaven, Block 11 November

It's November 1st in Australia, which means it's time for another Postcard From Heaven!!  This month it's Jenny's gorgeous design for you....

Oh my isn't that too gorgeous for words!!!  Thank you Jenny!!!  Go visit Jenny's blog to download the design, and see the gorgeous pincushion she made with it:

Jenny of Elefantz

I've done mine, of course, in redwork....

And used the King James scripture.

If you'd like to use the King James also, you can download the words only file from my craftsy shop.

Allie-oops Designs

I truly love this verse, and this month's design. I'm sure you will too!!!

As always, be blessed as you stitch.....

Love,

Allie

Wasn't This A Quilting Blog????

LOL - in stitchy news, I just finished up stitching November's Postcard From Heaven, just in time!!!!  Seeing as how it's almost November....oh you just wait, Jenny did a darling design.

In mom news, she's doing very well.  We had a home visit with the therapist yesterday, and she's determined to get to my house as soon as possible.  

That was yesterday's pic - my cousin had come from up north with sugar-free chocolates for her, and she wore the bow from the package for awhile.  It was such a pain dragging the oxygen tank around, so today they took her off it for physical therapy, and she did great!  Looks like she won't have to come home with it after all.

Fall colors are happening all around us, and I'm missing them, I spend most of my time running back and forth to mum.  

I've discovered that our backyard is sorely lacking in reds and oranges - that pic is from the library parking lot - so some care will be given to next spring's plantings.

I need to thank you all for your wonderful comments lately, I've read them all and appreciate them SO MUCH - but have had no time to reply.  That will change once mum comes home, thank goodness - and maybe I can get away with staying in my jammies all day once in awhile!  Doesn't that sound nice???  And what's really nice, mum will be a captive audience, and I'm going to show her all your blogs, lol!!!  She hates computers, but she loves you all.

Last thing before I go - I'm going to be changing prices in my craftsy store, just on the free designs.  A lot of them are no longer going to be free, they'll be changed to $1.  So if there was a free design you had an eye on, go ahead and get it now.

Ok, I'm off - still have to do dishes [although my oldest took me out tonight, we saw the movie "Sully" and had dinner], and laundry, and something I'm forgetting completely.  Take care my darling friends.....

Love,
Allie

Guts And Glory

Trust me, she's smiling - mum is at the rehab/nursing home.  She's doing VERY well.  Still on oxygen, but she does need her pacemaker replaced - yet another surgery, but this one will be outpatient and in about 3 weeks.  

My friends, I'm sorry I've been so silent, but I've been at the nursing home all day and half the night.  Mum had some transfer trauma, so did I - but this place is more like a 5-star hotel than a nursing home, and she's settled in nicely.  They have a master chef and I'm afraid she's getting spoiled.  My cousin, who travels around to nursing homes all the time, said she's never seen such a nice place.  

My poor sewing and home have been sorely neglected.  But at least mum has not been!  While understaffed, everyone has been uncommonly kind and helpful.  Did I mention this is an amazing place, lol?  Mum has not been having much pain at all, hasn't needed pain meds, it's incredible.

We both thank you for all your prayers, from the bottom of our hearts.  This has been quite the ordeal, and not over yet, but I know your prayers got us through.  Thank you my lovely friends!!

See you soon....
Love,
Allie

Update On The Invalid

Quick update - she did good, the dr. said it's been a very long time since he's seen anything so bad, but she came through like a trooper.  She had the whole pre-op area cracking up the morning of...as usual.  

Back when we first met the dr., he mentioned the tissue band that goes around the valve and keeps the heart together.  He said it looked calcified as well, but he'd do his best.  If it was too bad, she would die, right there.  Well, it was bad, and disintegrated while he cleaned it - but he, miracle worker that he is, was able to create a new one from a bovine pericardium.  God put her in the right hands, then guided those hands all the way, and the doc admits it.

It took her a long time to get off the ventilator, but they finally got it.  Right now, she's either sleeping [pain meds] or in a lot of pain, so continued prayers would be most welcome.  I'm going to try to get there every morning around 5:30am, as it's the only way to get a parking spot.  That hospital is huge!  I think I've walked 20 miles since yesterday morning, and I can't walk well.  A nice bonus is that the gal at the coffee shop recognized me this morning, and gave me a punch card for free coffee.

The first verse I saw this morning.....

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  God is good.  All the time.

Love,
Allie

EDIT:  Almost forgot.  My aunt texted me a pic of her kitty, Snickers - she was praying too.

Craftsy....

Jenny of Elefantz just did a marvelous post on the new Craftsy changes, and how to download your patterns.  If you're having trouble, please do go read her post!

Love,
Allie

Postcards From Heaven, Block 10, October

Can you believe it's October????

Time for our Postcard!!!  This month it's my turn, and let me tell you, we serve an awesome God.....I drew this last December.  God knew how much I would need this verse, this month, with mum going in for surgery.  Is that not too awesome for words?

Today, we signed the papers giving me power of attorney for medical decisions for mum, not an easy thing to do, and something I never would have thought of - but the hospital seems to think of everything.  She and I had a very serious conversation this afternoon, about her wishes; something we've joked about in the past, and it ended again in laughter today.  It was pretty much decided that it's in God's hands, and we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

We can only be serious for a very short time, lol.  Mum and I are alike in that - we prefer to laugh, because it's all temporary anyway, and we know God will guide us.  Remember this is the woman who would "rather giggle than google".  How very dear she is to me!  And how terribly unconcerned she is about it all.  Truly God has given her the peace that passeth all understanding...

Download Block 10 from my craftsy shop - 

Allie-oops Designs

Jenny's gorgeous version.

Exquisite, as usual.  If you prefer to use Jenny's more conversational style wording, you can download it from her blog here:  Jenny of Elefantz

Someday I must make these again, using Jenny's lovely style.  By the way - when I went to upload the pattern, craftsy had changed EVERYTHING!!!!  I forgot my password so had to reset that, and then learn to navigate the new site - but you know, I think it's better!!  Except, you might have to go to page two of my designs to find the new postcard - there is a little tab at the top to change the sorting to "newest first".

And now a word about blogging - it's going to be a very busy weekend here, and surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning.  I'll be spending the night at the hospital after the surgery, they have a hotel right in there!  I doubt I'll have time to blog, and I won't have my laptop with me.  I'll be able to post from my phone on facebook, so if you follow me there, you'll probably see updates on mum.  She'll be in there 7-10 days, it's not close to me so most of my time will be spent either at the hospital or traveling to and from.  I'll try to update the blog later in the week, and let you know how she goes.  Oh my precious friends, we covet your prayers....

Take time to laugh this weekend with those you love.  I said with them, not at them.....

Love,
Allie

Busy Days

Hi everyone - I'm sorry, I've lost the plot recently with the Road Home RAL.  I've not kept up with giving you the schedule.  Mum had a few appointments this week, along with pre-op testing.  If everything goes well, she'll have surgery next Tuesday morning.  However, she had to call her regular doctor last night, she thinks she may be getting a sinus infection, so she's now on antibiotics and we'll see how she goes.

There have been some fabulous rows released, and I'm posting the schedule so you can check them out - and don't forget to visit Marian, she has the Fat Quarter Shop giveaway on her blog!!  Thanks to ALL the sponsors, this has been a grand event!

I'll see you tomorrow evening with October's postcard, it's that time again!

Love,
Allie

The schedule, as promised:

September 6

Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life 

Cynthia’s Creating Ark
creates Adelaide South Australia
Kissed Quilts
creates Grand Coulee, Washington
Renee’s Quilting Addiction
creates Alberta, Canada

September 8

Sew Incredibly Crazy
creates Colorado
3 Patch Crafts
creates Bulgaria
Just Let Me Quilt
creates Las Vegas, Nevada
Quilt in Piece
creates Amanzimtoti, South Africa

September 13

Tweety Loves Quilting
creates Edinburgh, UK
Quiltscapes
creates Heber City, Utah
Seams To Be Sew
creates Idaho Falls, Idaho
Pine Valley
creates New Zealand

September 15

bdieges designs
creates Road to Tehachapi (CA)
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
creates Worcester County in Central Massachusetts
Patti’s Patchwork
creates Toronto, Ontario Canada
Seacoast Quilter
creates New Milford, Connecticut

September 20

Beaquilter
creates Denmark
Heleen Pinkster
creates Netherlands
MooseStash Quilting
creates Alaska
Rebecca Mae Designs
creates Northern Maine

September 22

Words & Stitches
creates Beaches of California
Quilt Art
creates Africa
I Can Quilt 2
creates Baltimore, MD
Any Pattern
creates Port Angeles, Washington
Patchwork Breeze
creates West Michigan Shoreline

September 27

Creatin’ in the Sticks
creates Dodge City, Kansas
Sue Griffiths Featured At Just Let Me Quilt
creates Northern Rivers Region, NSW, Australia
Seams To Be Sew And Batts In The Attic
creates Hollywood/LA
(Dual Posting)
I Can Quilt 2
creates Baltimore, MD

September 29

Quilted Fabric Art
creates Burlington Vermont
Westend Quilter
creates Manitoulin Island, Canada
Pamela Quilts
creates Oregon
Quilt Fabrication
creates Silicon Valley, CA

October 04

Patchouli Moon Studio
creates Central New Mexico
Linda Robertus
creates Netherlands
Elm Street Quilts
creates North Carolina
Sarah Quinn Featured At Seams To Be Sew
creates Outer Space

October 06

Cheryl LaPlant Featured At Quilt In Piece
creates York, Maine
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse
creates New Hampshire
Bumbleberry Stitches
creates OklahomaNeedle in a Hayes Stack
creates Mojave Desert
Cloth and Paper Studio
creates North Georgia Mountains

Day 6 Of The Road Home RAL

But first - I made something so yummy for dinner - Chicken Noodle Casserole.  The pic turned out awful or I would show you.  Super easy, really delicious.  You can find it at this site - Life In The Lofthouse.  Her pics turned out great, lol!

So, are you ready for Day 6?  Today we feature the West Michigan Shoreline [personal fave], Africa, California and Washington.  

September 22

Words & Stitches
creates Beaches of California
Quilt Art
creates Africa
Any Pattern
creates Port Angeles, Washington
Patchwork Breeze
creates West Michigan Shoreline

And here is the rest of the schedule - links to the direct RAL post are included up to today.  Don't forget to visit Marian at Seams To Be Sew as well!

September 6

Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life 

Cynthia’s Creating Ark
creates Adelaide South Australia
Kissed Quilts
creates Grand Coulee, Washington
Renee’s Quilting Addiction
creates Alberta, Canada

September 8

Sew Incredibly Crazy
creates Colorado
3 Patch Crafts
creates Bulgaria
Just Let Me Quilt
creates Las Vegas, Nevada
Quilt in Piece
creates Amanzimtoti, South Africa

September 13

Tweety Loves Quilting
creates Edinburgh, UK
Quiltscapes
creates Heber City, Utah
Seams To Be Sew
creates Idaho Falls, Idaho
Pine Valley
creates New Zealand

September 15

bdieges designs
creates Road to Tehachapi (CA)
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
creates Worcester County in Central Massachusetts
Patti’s Patchwork
creates Toronto, Ontario Canada
Seacoast Quilter
creates New Milford, Connecticut

September 20

Beaquilter
creates Denmark
Heleen Pinkster
creates Netherlands
MooseStash Quilting
creates Alaska
Rebecca Mae Designs
creates Northern Maine

September 22

Words & Stitches
creates Beaches of California
Quilt Art
creates Africa
I Can Quilt 2
creates Baltimore, MD
Any Pattern
creates Port Angeles, Washington
Patchwork Breeze
creates West Michigan Shoreline

September 27

Creatin’ in the Sticks
creates Dodge City, Kansas
Sue Griffiths Featured At Just Let Me Quilt
creates Northern Rivers Region, NSW, Australia
Seams To Be Sew And Batts In The Attic
creates Hollywood/LA
(Dual Posting)
I Can Quilt 2
creates Baltimore, MD

September 29

Quilted Fabric Art
creates Burlington Vermont
Westend Quilter
creates Manitoulin Island, Canada
Pamela Quilts
creates Oregon
Quilt Fabrication
creates Silicon Valley, CA

October 04

Patchouli Moon Studio
creates Central New Mexico
Linda Robertus
creates Netherlands
Elm Street Quilts
creates North Carolina
Sarah Quinn Featured At Seams To Be Sew
creates Outer Space

October 06

Cheryl LaPlant Featured At Quilt In Piece
creates York, Maine
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse
creates New Hampshire
Bumbleberry Stitches
creates OklahomaNeedle in a Hayes Stack
creates Mojave Desert
Cloth and Paper Studio
creates North Georgia Mountains

I hope you're having a great time traveling with us!

Love,

Allie

Day 5 The Road Home RAL

It's time for some more rows, some more chances to win the fabulous Fat Quarter Shop give-away on Marian's blog at Seams To Be Sew, and other give-aways!

Today you'll travel to Denmark, the Netherlands, Alaska and northern Maine!  Here are your links, click on the blog name to go there:

September 20

Beaquilter
creates Denmark
Heleen Pinkster
creates Netherlands
MooseStash Quilting
creates Alaska
Rebecca Mae Designs
creates Northern Maine

And here are links to the rest of the schedule - it's been updated with a few changes, and I've linked to the actual post for the ones who've already uploaded their rows.  That way you don't have to go searching.

September 6

Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life 

Cynthia’s Creating Ark
creates Adelaide South Australia
Kissed Quilts
creates Grand Coulee, Washington
Renee’s Quilting Addiction
creates Alberta, Canada

September 8

Sew Incredibly Crazy
creates Colorado
3 Patch Crafts
creates Bulgaria
Just Let Me Quilt
creates Las Vegas, Nevada
Quilt in Piece
creates Amanzimtoti, South Africa

September 13

Tweety Loves Quilting
creates Edinburgh, UK
Quiltscapes
creates Heber City, Utah
Seams To Be Sew
creates Idaho Falls, Idaho
Pine Valley
creates New Zealand

September 15

bdieges designs
creates Road to Tehachapi (CA)
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
creates Worcester County in Central Massachusetts
Patti’s Patchwork
creates Toronto, Ontario Canada
Seacoast Quilter
creates New Milford, Connecticut

September 20

Beaquilter
creates Denmark
Heleen Pinkster
creates Netherlands
MooseStash Quilting
creates Alaska
Rebecca Mae Designs
creates Northern Maine

September 22

Words & Stitches
creates Beaches of California
Quilt Art
creates Africa
I Can Quilt 2
creates Baltimore, MD
Any Pattern
creates Port Angeles, Washington
Patchwork Breeze
creates West Michigan Shoreline

September 27

Creatin’ in the Sticks
creates Dodge City, Kansas
Sue Griffiths Featured At Just Let Me Quilt
creates Northern Rivers Region, NSW, Australia
Seams To Be Sew And Batts In The Attic
creates Hollywood/LA
(Dual Posting)

September 29

Quilted Fabric Art
creates Burlington Vermont
Westend Quilter
creates Manitoulin Island, Canada
Pamela Quilts
creates Oregon
Quilt Fabrication
creates Silicon Valley, CA

October 04

Patchouli Moon Studio
creates Central New Mexico
Linda Robertus
creates Netherlands
Elm Street Quilts
creates North Carolina
Sarah Quinn Featured At Seams To Be Sew
creates Outer Space

October 06

Cheryl LaPlant Featured At Quilt In Piece
creates York, Maine
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse
creates New Hampshire
Bumbleberry Stitches
creates OklahomaNeedle in a Hayes Stack
creates Mojave Desert
Cloth and Paper Studio
creates North Georgia Mountains

I hope you're enjoying all the rows!  Don't forget Marian has the link for give-aways on her blog as well, Seams To Be Sew!

Love,

Allie