I'm Back

I'm back...I am ready...I am here for me and no one else. I do lots of prowling on other blogs and have decided for several reasons to come back. Most important I need to do this for me. I need to journal or so I have been told but I do feel I need to write my thoughts down. I am hurting so bad on one side and the other I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is my blog and if punctuation isn't correct or I say something you don't like you can leave but this is my space. So now that I have said that I will be back soon for a new post. You have to start somewhere and that somewhere is here for me. I am still breathing and still alive and for me that is huge. 2 weeks ago I was ready to quit. I didn't want anymore. I survived the 2 weeks so lets keep going!

Polly

Training for my first Marathon

Training for my first Marathon

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Grandbaby #3 arrived at 9:33 pm

May 27th at 9:33 p.m. Alexis Gail Kolean was born weighing 8lbs 10oz and 20 1/2" long...pictures will follow within the next few days. What a day yesterday was. Why girls never learn or have the desire to know about buying a car? I have been babying my car and yesterday it died. At least it didn't happen on the freeway or on my way to school to take my final...nope it went to the mechanics and then he couldn't get it started and so I had to get another car. A new day, a new grandbaby;} a new car ok so new to me...wow don't think I can take much more today.

Have a great day;}

Polly

My Fundraising Page

My Fundraising Page

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I'm back...

I'm back...Wowza it has been a long time. I have a grandbaby due anyday, I have started training to run my first marathon, check it out, I have finished my microbiology class, and I am going to start the nursing progam July 21st. I don't know how much quilting I will be doing but I am knitting a baby sweater for baby Lexy when she comes to join us in this world. I have missed you all and it is good to be back...

Please leave me a little note that you have stopped by and I can chat with all my friends that I have missed so much;}

Polly

Happy New Year

I hope this finds everyone starting off with a great new year;} I need to post my goodies from my SSCS. I did send her a note telling her how much I loved them but couldn't post a pic of them cause my camera wasn't working but guess what. I took a break from work today to do a little catching up on blogs. Over on chookyblue there were my goodies that I received from Yvonne. Thank you so much. She had been following my blog and saw how much I had liked my goodies from my polka dot and rick rack swap that she actually sent me the book that had some of the patterns in it:) how awesome is that. She sent me some great chocolate and a great table runner. I have that at my desk at work. This is were I spend at least 10 hours a day at so I get to admire it the most:) It was great having a gift to open on Christmas. I wish I could have shown you how beautiful she had it wrapped. Thank you so much Yvonne and to elf Donna:) It made my Christmas that much more special to have friends that would take so much time and consideration into my christmas present.

The bad news is that my doll swap partner did not received here little quilt so I am making another one. The good side is that since I made it once the second time it is going a little quicker. I learned a valuable lesson on this. NEVER send out a swap gift with out a tracking number. Pay the extra to have someone sign for it. Anyway I feel so bad for my partner and am working like a mad person to get another quilt done for her in the meantime she is watching for the first one. It doesn't help that I am working 12 hours a day 7 days a week right now and starting school on the 12th of January so I won't be signing up for any swaps for a couple of months probably won't have time to do a lot of posting but will be thinking of you all everyday and saying a pray that you are safe and sound.

"It's not about how to achieve your dreams. It's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you."

Polly

PDRR SWAP GOODIES

These are what I got from my wonderful polka dot and rick rack swap partner Shelley. She had a little bump and needs to feel some love so polk over to her and give her big hugs ans squeezes. Shelley, I will be waiting to here the news but big hugs coming over the the US to find you in Australia... It is hard to see but can you see my cupcake pin cushion she made me. It has my name on it...Can you believe it:} I love it and look at all the pink. Do you see the little dog she made for me because we know I love my Sophie. Where would I be with out Sophie. The most awesome is what she wrote me in the card. It was absolutly wonderful. I can't read it cause it is a little to personal. I am learning not to give out so much information about me. \

This is the last post today but please go check out Shelley and say "hi"...Love you all for all the wonderful support you give and the goodies that I have received.

Polly

SSCS

Next post. I was part of the SSCS Swap and have some pictures to show. You don't know who is my partner so it won't matter...When they do get it they will see. What a wonderful swap that has been rather hard on elf Donna. She has worked so hard on this and then they lost part of their crops. I love you elf Donna...:} However I think I did a bad thing. I think I forgot to wrap them...but now that I am thinking about it maybe I did wrap them up...:} I can't remember. I'm sorry if I didn't. I hope they will still enjoy them...I guess we will find out...They were lots of fun to make. I hope they are enjoyed as much as I had making them...

Polly

One of many posts today

I have so much to share today. I have gotten behind. I have been working overtime at work and getting all my swaps out along with making my Christmas presents. So this first post is to acknowledge my wonderful gifties from the Polka dot and Rick rack swap that Sharon hosted:} I don't have pictures yet cause the camera is deader than a door nail:} Pictures will follow in the next post... Go check out Shelley she is the greatest! But what I really need to say is the gifts were way cool but it was the card she made me that was so awesome:} More to follow later but I want to Thank Shelly again and go over and check her out and tell her hello!!!

Polly

Lookie Here!! Can you believe it:)

oh my gosh!!! Where do I start...Can I tell you I received the best gift in the world yesterday from Amy it is like she has known me forever because of what she made. I love applique. I love hand quilting and most I love pink. Oh yeah how did she guess that I am a total girly girl and love dresses. Did I tell you how much I love this little quilt? Thank you so much for the wonderful gift I will treasure it forever and ever!!!

Polly

goodies made it safe to new home

I can finally post a few pictures and show what I have been doing. This picture of goodies went to May Brit for the Polka Dot and Rick Rack Swap hosted by our very own favorite Sharon at Red Geranium Cottage. It was fun. Thank you so much to Sharon for being a great host and setting it all up:)

Busy Beaver

I have been a busy beaver getting out my polka dots and rick rack out. Can't show pictures yet until she gets it. It is on its way across the ocean. I sure hope she likes what I did...
I now have my SSCS ready to mail on Friday. I am a couple days late mailing but it is all ready to go and I can't make it to post office by time I get off work they are closed. So I will be in line Friday morning to get that mailed off and it also has a long travel over the ocean to a far away place. I have had fun doing these swaps.

Check out my side bar. I have added a BOM that just started if you like applique.

I hope everyone has a wonderful happy thanksgiving.

Polly

Where does the time go. I have to tell you my exciting news. I went to a knitting group last night and had the most wonderful time. Thank you to all the girls for making me feel so welcome:) It was great:)

I have been busy getting my polka dots and rick rack swap ready to mail. Peeks later:) I am also working on my SSCS and I have to get that ready to go next week. Then Dec 1st is my Doll Swap quilt and wait till you see all these goodies that are going to special places:) Can't show until they receive them but once they do. I can post. I am having so much fun. I am knitting and loving it and my confidence is picking up so all I want to do is knit. I think that my quilting just needs a break. Once I get my swaps off I will be knitting and can't wait. I have posted a little snowman wall hanging that I made about 10 years ago and I still love him cause I see how far I have come:)

Here is a little something from me to you:)

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father...When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me”, he said. “No, who are you?” Said the father.

The minister told him his name and then remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up.' 'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden man. 'Would you mind closing the door?' Puzzled, the minister shut the door. 'I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the man. 'But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.' I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old man continued,' until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, 'Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.'

Here is what I suggest:

'Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'. 'Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.' 'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.'

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon. Did he die in peace?' he asked. Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him.

But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?'

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.*

I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.*

I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

Polly

Veteran's Day

We need to take a moment and remember everyone that has fought for peace for our country. Here is taking a moment to remember everyone. Saying a prayer for them all and their families.

No pictures to post. I have been working on getting my swaps that I have signed up for and need to get out. Can't show until they receive them and my camera is on the fitz.

I am stuck and maybe someone can unstick me. When I receive a comment I have it set up for an e-mail to alert me. It isn't working. I have gone into my settings and have my e-mail in there but any suggestions would help so much.

Have a great day:)

"To be happy; don't do whatever you like...Like whatever you do:)

Polly

Election Day

I'm back...Needed a little time to get back on track. I thought I would post this flag I made a while ago. It was hanging on my door all summer and needed a good wash. I did what anyone would do and gave it a good soaking in preparation of election day today. Please vote:)

I will end with this quote and Sophie not wanting to get out of bed yesterday she was tucked in all nice and warm:)

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself..."

Polly

Cottages and Halloween

You have been boo-ed
I have been boo-ed from Mel. I am on my way to boo you...here I come...:)

Here are the rules:

Go to as many friends as you want and tell them they've been "B00-ed."

Have them link back to your blog to pick up their Halloween Treat (picture) and tell them to Boo their friends.

Then put the picture in your side bar so everyone knows that you've already been "boo-ed" and to send the picture to someone else.

Polly

goodies from Australia

Look what came all the way from Australia! I received this in the mail yesterday from my Secret Stitcher's Angel Dale. I'm not able to find her blog but will keep trying to find and see if I can get information from Helen. She did an amazing job. I love it so much and guess what colors she used? Can you guess? I guess so because you can see the picture of it but I love pink and I love the soft muted tones she used. Thank you so much:) They truly are amazing:) Thank you so much Dale!!:)

Now my to do list for this week:

1. Do my cottage blocks and get mailed to T at purple & paisley by Friday.
2. Finish my stitcher's Angel projects and get them mailed by Friday.

So tonight my machine will be humming away finishing up my projects. Once my halloween swap partner receives her goodies I will show you what I did. It has been hard not to post what I have been working on since I can't show what I have been doing but pretty soon I can post:)

Todays words of wisdom:
Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless your scared.
- Edward Rickenbacker

Polly

Week-end with high school girlfriend

I had a wonderful week-end with a girlfriend that I hadn't seen since high school. Wow, I was worried that I wouldn't recognize her and nervous we wouldn't have anything to talk about. Boy was I wrong we had such a good time. I kept her running from the time she landed. We went to shoreline village and ate at the yardhouse thursday evening. Friday we went to Huntington Beach, the Aquarium, Knott's Scary Farm where we had the poop scared right out of us. Saturday we went to hollywood and went on a bus tour and saw all the look alikes:) and walked the star of fame seeing all the stars:)

She left Sunday morning and then I finished my quilting projects that I had to get out but can't show until they get to there destination:) Once they do then I will post them until then I will show you my pictures of the week-end:)

I DID IT!!!

Guess what...I did it:) I passed my Algebra class!! I am now free for a little bit to get caught up on some major quilting. I also need to get all my swaps done so they won't be looming over my head and need to make some trips to some fun quilt stores around the area...Just need to find them... Thank you for all your support to everyone and now to show you what I was awarded yesterday from Messy Karen...



the Blogging Friends Forever rules are:
1. only five people allowed.
2. four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. one has to be someone new, or recently new to your blog, or live in another part of the world.
4. you must link back to whoever gave you the BFF award.

Let's see if I can do this: I pick
1. Em - for being so supportive
2. KR - who has just started a blog and happens to be Em's mom.
3. Kerri - who has been a great supporter
4. Susan - also did a great job on the halloween swap:)
5. Tina - who has been great

I did it! I hope you girls are ok with this. Some people don't enjoy getting tagged. I hope you enjoy it and please take it as a compliment

Next---

Libby tagged me to share 6 random things about myself. So here goes:

1) I love chocolate...any kind fixed any way. Never enough chocolate and if I could make that my main meal I would. It is the only way I get milk. I inherited that from my dad. He loves chocolate cake in a bowl with milk preferably whole milk he is so funny. Which leads me to #2

2) I am so lucky to have my Dad! He is the best Dad anyone could ask for. I tell my dad everything and he is my biggest supporter in life. He sometimes has a had time understanding from a girls view but I love my dad with all of my heart. He is so good about telling me every time we talk how much he loves me and how proud he is of me. I can't say enough about him. I Love you DAD!!! I have to edit this...(I just got a message from my dad---his words of encouragement for today is..."When you can't sleep--don't count sheep---talk to the Shepard"

3) After my husband was killed I learned to play in the dirt and enjoy it. I love to plant flowers now and love to plant and clean up in the fall to get the ground ready for next spring. Oh how I miss those times.

4) I am a fly by the seat of my pants...I love to do things with out planning ok sometimes it creates major havoc in my life but I do pretty good with that and it is probably the reason God decided I needed to have 3 boys before he gave me my 1 girl. It prepared me to have 3 boys a day short of 2 years and not even twins. Wow how I did it now is amazing...I think I shall pat myself on the back for this...:)

5) I love to meet people. My kids always laugh at me because I am always finding someone to talk to where ever I go. They say "Mom do you even know that person?" I say no but I do now and am glad I got to meet them:)

6) I am not very creative...I know with my love for quilting I should be but I depend on patterns and my friends to help me out. Again I love my friends:)

I did it:)...

Here are the rules for being tagged:
1. Link to the person who tagged you. OK, I did that. Click on Libby's name above.
2. Put the rules on the blog. Did that too! You are reading them.
3. Write 6 random things about yourself. See the list above.

Final Exam Saturday

Sorry I haven't been blogging. I have been putting all my time into my final Algebra exam on Saturday the 18th. This was a condensed 9 week class that has been tough. Somedays I feel like I am to old to do this. Last Saturday I got back my test that I had taken 2 weeks ago and had the 2nd highest score in the class! Let me tell you it was only a 76 so I don't know if that is good or bad...I am still struggling with it but my goal is to pass the class. Once I am a nurse they aren't going to ask me what my grades were in school they are going to make sure I have a license. Right?
So last Friday night I had been studing all week and had my homework done for the week and since I live such a quiet life I was tired of studying and needed to treat myself to something fun. So guess what I did? I made the table topper that I won from here...:) I love Des and Corrie. Des has been one of my many biggest supporters cheering me on for my algerbra class. Thank you all for supporting me on this. When you don't have anyone at home to cheer you on it is nice to have you all cheering me on and has kept me going...I love all of you and Thank you to Nanette also for being one of my biggest supporters!:) I am going into study mode till Saturday afternoon then I will be back:)


I am leaving you with this food for thought:

Bring Positive People Into Your World
You need to surround yourself with people who care about and support you even in your darkest hours. Avoid those who nag, complain or involve you in their problems, says Kirshenbaum. Toxic people, who put you down to lift their own spirits, suck the life right out of you. Spending more time with those who make you feel good about yourself or inspire you in some way will revive you.

Never Live In The Past
Quit dwelling on what may have happened in the past had you made different decisions. Instead, focus on the here and now and what you need to do to move forward. Do you want to go back to school? Change careers? Be more adventurous? Put the spark back in your romance? "You are in charge of the meaning in your life," says Kirshenbaum.

Enjoy Life
Fun is fuel. Those who genuinely enjoy an activity tend to excel at it; job, sport, etc. Enjoy life and you will excel. Focus on what you love about your life. Make a list of all the things you have enjoyed in the past. If it was fun once, it will be again. Now, go do it!

Polly:)