Current Crazy Quilted Projects and Hydrangea's From Our Garden

Hi Kiddos!

No fall post here ~ I'm hanging on to every last bit of summer!

I thought I'd share what's been running through my needle lately.

This is a guest book cover I made for Mom's beach house.

I knew she would not like a lot of embellishment so I made it as simple as possible.

The use of Krenick Metallic threads added just enough sparkle for Mom.

My daughter asked me to make this remembrance for her friend who's Mom had just passed away.
I placed her photo on a vintage hanky ~ keeping it simple and respectful.
I can't control my tears throughout these kind of projects, always feeling the pain of the recipient and the love of the one who passed for the person who is left behind.

These projects are by far the most rewarding of all ~ far more than winning ribbons or any other accolade. I feel the hand of God moving through me when I am doing these and am in awe and honored He would allow me to do it for Him.

The 1st place winners from the Eastern States Fair (The Big E) have come home to Mama!
The pillow won 1st place in Original Needlework and Best of it's Division.

The Sunflower Bag won first place as well.
This bag was featured in Pat's "Crazy Quilt Gatherings "Fall Issue.

 I'm not quite sure what this will be but I always have a crazy quilted block I'm fussing over and this is the current one. It takes me forever to make this blocks because I over think every stitch.

Her curls are made from countless french knots ~ my favorite stitch to do!

These tiny "people" were on display at The Big E.

It is from the book "Felt Wee Folk" and I have had a fascination with them since the book came out many years ago.

I started my own little girl ~ she doesn't have her face or her shirt sewn on but I have promised her she will be beautiful one day soon!
Her skirt is made from of flowers petals I bought at Tinsel Trading several years ago.

 My garden is hanging on to summer too!!!
Our trees are always the last to start to turn for some reason.... much to my delight!

No nasty frost has hurt my impatiens yet and yesterday I even picked a new batch of big fat green beans for dinner!

I picked these hydrangeas this past week-end from my garden. 

My son gave me several hydrangea's this year not knowing each plant was one of my favorite colors!

I'm still in my flip flops but I'll admit I need the heat on when I have my top down on my car.

"Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season
When nature is all aglow."- Author Unknown

MenoWHAT???

I was sure I'd breeze through it....you know mind over manner.

No drama, I'm healthy and strong......then it happen.

The depression, I mean was this that thin veil of depression I struggle with from time to time or was it something more?

Where did my organizational skills go ~ I had always prided myself in that.

I  had one word for my husband  ~

I felt like I was loosing my mind....and then a few weeks ago when I went to write my weekly history column for The Patch, an on line newspaper, I couldn't do it.

The task of organizing hours of research and turning it into a meaningful piece worthy of my readers.....had left me.

I still had my normal flow and have never had a hot flash in my life but at age 52 I had to wonder if this was the beginning of menopause.

After blood work showed I was at the beginning stages, my gynecologist sent me to a compounding pharmacy who specialized in .Bioidentical-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy.

Please research first if you are planning on taking synthetic hormones or what the doctors are offering as "natural" hormones.

Bio identical Hormones are made especially for your specific needs according to your blood work.
The compound pharmacist, working with your doctor ~ will change the prescription as hormones change.

Day five of taking the hormones.....I woke up feeling centered and calm inside.

The "crazies" had left me!

It has been one month today that I started and although I'm not 100% ~ I know for the first time in a long time that I will be.

I struggled about blogging about this. In a way I wanted to keep it to myself but I have never been one to be able to do that.
If I find a great deal, have some great food, I must tell the world so they can experience it to.
I have found an answer to something all of us girls will go through, maybe it will be your answer too.
How can I not share that?

When I was 12 and started to go through puberty, I went to the library and checked out every book I could find on the subject, then preceded to give "sex ed classes" to all the girls in my 6th
grade Christian School who had a million questions but were afraid to ask them.

Lucky for us, our gym teacher was suffering from a rather long illness and the sub just wanted us to sit quietly in the gym and talk quietly among ourselves.
That we did! I filled them in on periods,boobs, pads, boys, and insecurities.

I 've decided not to go that far this time but I think it's plain silly to be shy about these things, information is a powerful stepping stone to change!

I know there will be that one person out there in blog land who will read this and it will be like reading her own words.
It's for YOU beautiful lady that I write this.

It is also for three other beautiful girls I must do this thing right  ~ my daughters.

Here is the course I've decided to take ........

1.Never start the day without a conversation with my Heavenly Father for direction and wisdom.

2. Bioidentical Hormones only.

3. Healthy, organic diet with a thick juicy milkshake or burger thrown in as needed.

4. Continuing to do heavy lifting (for me that is not at a gym but yard work and working around my house) and yoga.

5. Take the time needed to regain what I may have lost along the way and not feel guilty to do it.

6. Pay extra attention to skin care and keeping my teeth white and healthy. I realized I have been doing a pretty awful job at plucking my eyebrows so I just started getting my eyebrows threaded. For $10.00 every 6 weeks, it's money well spent and makes me feel great.

7. There will be NO toughing it out here! I have spent my whole life sucking it up and it is one of my regrets. It is not okay not to care for yourself, it is not okay to allow yourself to be mistreated.

Sometimes strength means admitting you don't have any at the moment.

I'm excited, hopeful.....its like a second chance and a new beginning!

Please feel free to email me with questions about anything ~ or if you need someone to listen.

Sometimes that's the best medicine of all!

I plan on writing about this from time to time and offering links and info as I learn along the way.

Let's laugh about it  ~ even if it's between tears from time to time.

My plan is to spend the second half of my life healthy, happy and sexier than ever and most important...living in the purpose God has placed on my life.

Menopause = Men have to pause