Quilting Retreat is now...over

I have been on a quilting retreat, of sorts for 2 1/2 months. The same amount of time I have not been working. Friday I got the official word and once my preliminary background is complete, I will be working again! Yippee! And, also allowed to go to the bathroom by myself, sans one brown eyed girl and blue eyed boy. I find it quite interesting that I got more done WHEN I worked than when I didn't. So I'm on a mad dash to get as much done between now and the 29th...my offical last day of retreat.

I did manage to finish all blocks of the Carolina Crossroads as well as the Orange Crush, I just have yet to sew the tops together. The only time that is a possibility is when the silly kids are down for the night. Just 5 more hours to go...

I have also volunteered to help my Mom make a Blue Ridge Beauty for my cousin for Christmas. She made quilts for everyone, at least 15 yrs ago, and some look a bit pathetic they've been so loved. :)

I am also working on 4 custom tote bags for my mom's friend. Each one is different, but we are adding a picture collage to it with all 4 women. I'll post a picture next time around. They will look like this bag.

The weather is great so I'm going to get Little Dude up since he's not sleeping to burn some energy in the backyard. I get to paruse through a messful of quilting magazines I just bought while watching Sweet Pea and Little Dude chase each other and stare at these purple flowers. I just wish I knew what kind they were...

~Christa

The Reintroduction of Grace

My dear Grace joined Gabby back in 1998 or 1999. I picked out Grace because she was rambunctious with pretty markings. Course the two cats didn't ever get along. When we got married in Aug. 2003, I took Grace with me and mom kept Gabby. The girls were finally at peace!

In November 2005, Hannah was just shy of 2 years old and we were expecting Jason early the next July. Hannah always liked to play with Grace, but Grace wasn't always willing to enjoy a toddler's antics. Hannah liked to put her face right up to Grace so Grace could smell her and Hannah could feel her wiskers. Well, one day it was too close for the cat and Grace bit Hannah on the face. There were fang marks on her forehead and in her eyebrow. I immediately called my mom and told her she needed to take Grace back. Who do you get mad at...the toddler who wants to play or the cat that wants to be left alone.

Fast forward to Dec. 2006. We moved and had a new baby when my mom said that Grace was sick and losing a huge amount of fur. The vet didn't know what it was, even after $800 worth of tests. He suggested we take her to a vet dermatologist to figure it out and couldn't specifically say what was wrong. Eric and I couldn't afford to pay more money to the vet to figure out what was wrong and mom couldn't afford it either.

So the difficult decision was made to surrender her to the Humane Society. They took her and would determine what was wrong. They would make her well and if not, they would put her down. If they did cure her, we could take her back and pay any costs that were incurred or she could be adopted out to another family. Grace's record showed that she wasn't to be adopted to any home with kids or other animals. Mom called for an update after about a month; turns out Grace was allergic to fleas and that's why she was losing so much fur.

January comes around, we are all still missing Grace. My Grandma Frog (my Grandma) called and said that Grace's picture was in the newspaper for the humane society and she was looking for a great home. I told my husband and he said we needed to have her back the next day.

I show up to the humane society when they first opened the next day, saying that I saw Grace's picture, and I really wanted to adopt her. I went in and 'met' Grace; after talking to her for a few seconds, she recognized my voice when I called her Baby Girl, one of several nicknames. Even the volunteer couldn't believe how much Grace was purring and loving all over me. Through conversation, they found out I was married, and insisted that my husband came down to 'meet' her as well. So, on a football play off Sunday, towards the end of the academy, Eric comes down and we wait over 3 hours to 'meet' Grace and finalize the adoption.

It did take her time to realize where she ended up but we are so happy to have our Baby Girl back. Despite her grandour, she can run fast from the kids when needed.

Christa

P.S. My camera is having issues, otherwise I'd put a new picture of Grace up. ;)