FANTASTIC NEWS, AT LEAST IN MY WORLD ........

And that "fantastic news" would be ...................................................................... Mr. Gene is officially "banana puddinged out!!!!!!" Ahhhhhhh, music to my ears. Ya see, every Friday I ask him what he'd like desert wise for the weekend. Well, for the last five weeks, his answer has been "Banana Pudding." Just the sound of those words were beginning to make me cringe. I swear, if I had $10.00 for every bowl of Banana Pudding I've made in my life time, I'd be at home sewing right now instead of at my office where I should be working!!!!

It's gonna be a real pleasure to put that official "Banana Pudding Bowl" back in the cupboard!!!

Aunt Margaret's Banana Pudding:

1 small box Vanilla Instant Pudding (I use fat free/sugar free)
1 small box Banana Instant Pudding (ditto!)
3 cups cold milk
1 small container sour cream ... 8 ounces (I use fat free)
1 container cool whip ... 12 ounces (I use fat free)
1 box vanilla wafers (yes, you guessed it ... I use fat free!)
1 batch of bananas (I never can guesstimate correctly on how many, which is why you see 2 left!!!)

Mix the pudding with the milk, which I do in the blender. Poor into a large bowl. Fold in the sour cream and then fold in the cool whip. Now it's time to layer ... vanilla wafers in the bottom, pudding, bananas, teensie tiny bit of pudding over top of the bananas, vanilla wafers ... etc., etc., etc. I then top it off w/some cool whip and vanilla wafer crumbs :)

Ohhhhhhh and I normally save exactly 2 of the vanilla wafers, 2 pieces of the banana and 2 small spoonfuls of the pudding, which I then proceed to eat :)

Sooooooooo, what did Gene request for his desert this weekend???? Guess you'll have to stay tuned for that :) Such excitement in Davie!!! (LOL)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phillipians 4:6)

QUILTING ARCHIVES :)

Since there is a very good chance that I'm the head of the "Slower than Molasses Quilters Club," it will be necessary for me to dig down into the archives and pull out a previous project from time to time to share here in Blogville USA; and today is one of those days :)

This little cutie was for Pastor Rob and Wendy's baby boy back in 2006. It was made w/my all time favorite fabric ... flannel. Love, love, love that stuff, even here in South Florida :) I also used the "chenille by the inch," which I highly recommend ... it's a lot of fun to work with!!!! If you double click on the photo, you'll see that the chenille by the inch is outlining all the squares, the stars and the moon :) This one was entitled "Reach for the Stars :)"

It's the one and only time that I sent a top out to be "quilted." Needless to say, as usual, I was running about 2 steps behind schedule!!!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:19)

JUST A LITTLE SNEAK PEAK :)

Remember the "flower fabric ... the brand spanking new something???" Well, I'm happy to report that the top is completed (nothing fancy) and I just lack about a quarter of the quilting :) If it would ever quit raining down here in Davie, I might actually get it finished!!! This time of year, the rain comes w/oodles of thunder and lightening; and the minute the booms begin, I unplug Loretta. Anyway, here's the sneak peak :)

I just realized last night that this is the 5th top I've managed to quilt this year. Considering the fact that before we brought the HQ16 home, I always "hand quilted" everything, this is "mind blowing" !!! At the rate of the hand quilting process, which IMHO is still a wonderful craft that I will continue to do, I'd still be working on Top #1!!!! Sooooooo, after almost two years, I remain extremely thankful for that wonderful machine!!! If Mother Nature cooperates and I can manage to sneak out of my office to get some more bobbin thread, this one will be ready for binding after this evening :) I know, I know, I should be working on the Autism Blocks; and I swear to my soul that I've got all day Saturday slotted just for them :) I then vow to remain in that mode until they are all sewn together, which will probably take the full 4 weeks I've got left to finish 'em!!!

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Phillipians 4:8)

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?????????

I certainly hope so, cuz I need to have my doggone head examined!!! 'Ya see, April is "Autism Awareness Month;" and every April, down here in Davie, they have the "Walk Now for Autism." Our Dear Nephew, A.J., has Autism, so his family has always participated in the walk; and speaking of A.J. and his family, here they are :) Meet Gene's Brother, Paul, his wife Betsy, A.J. and Miss Mallie :)

This year, the Autism Folks decided to collect quilt blocks during the big event; and these are the two blocks I made for A.J. to turn in. The symbol for Autism is the "puzzle piece."



Well, after the Walk, my Sister-in-Law, Betsy, forwarded me their Newsletter, which included a "request for Quilters" ... "Quilters to help assemble the blocks they collected." I responded by saying that "I work full time and care for my disabled husband; buuuuuttttttt for A.J., I would like to help in anyway I can." Unfortunately, only one other Quilter volunteered to help; and she ended up going MIA!!! I can see her running North as fast as her feet would carry her once she heard how many blocks there were!!!! Sooooooooooo, all 150+ blocks ... yes over 150 of 'em .... landed on my doorstep a few days ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Isn't that top one pretty!!!!! The deadline is June 25th, which is the day of their Awards Banquet Ceremony at the Signature Grand here in Davie. Fortunately, they don't want them "quilted." They just want them sewn together and "backed." I could have delved in to them head first over the long Holiday weekend, but I decided I needed to wrap my brain around the whole ordeal before I actually started sewing.

All the blocks were supposed to be 12 inches, but that isn't the case. I decided to try to cut them all to 11-1/2 inches, which I've started doing.

It's OK to LOL at my predicament!!! That's what I did :) Ohhhhhh and your prayers will be appreciated :)

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

UPDATE DAY :)

On the "butterfly" home front, I'm happy to report that I received an e-mail from my friend Peg in PA about a recipient of the "butterfly quilt" when it's completed. Her friend has a Daughter, Allison, with Crohn's. She is currently trying to make her way through college, but the Disease is making that journey very difficult. Her story sounds soooooooooo familiar, hit home and tugged at my heart strings!!! Now I can't wait for Sue to get back from Disney so I can tell her about Allison :) Thanks so much Peg!!! God Bless you my dear and God Bless Allison and her family.


And, remember Mallie's "Bunny Quilt???" Well, her Mama, Betsy, sent me this picture yesterday and it made me LOL!!!! Thought you'd enjoy it too :)


"in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:6)

DID YOU KNOW ......

..... that one of the things that butterflies represent is "life!" I had absolutely no idea until my friend Sue in NY told me cuz, as usual, I am always residing under that infamous rock!!! Anyway, I did an on-line search on the subject, and this was my favorite finding:

"To wear or have around you the symbol of the butterfly is to state your intention to flutter through life in joy. The butterfly teaches us that patience brings its rewards; and as long as we keep working and developing ourselves, the final glorious butterfly stage will come. To wear a butterfly is to set your target like an archer -- joy is my goal, joy is my reality, joy will come, joy is here now. When we encounter butterflies in our daily lives, they are always a joy to find and a good totem. When one day you open your curtains and a butterfly flutters up, you know that a glorious change is taking place in your life. You see the butterfly flutter his wings, almost dancing along. This is what the butterfly teaches-- that true joy is within the dance of life."


In honor of Sue's Dad and Sister, both of whom have Crohn's Disease, and in memory of our Daughter, Michelle, who lost her 23 year battle against Crohn's Disease on April 28, 2007, Sue and I have teamed up to make a quilt together :) I did the appliqued butterflies and sent them to NY where Sue will put them together with her pieced blocks. Once she has the top done, she'll send it back down to Davie for me to quilt and bind. Then we'll go in search of a young girl/woman who is battling this debilitating disease. If anyone knows of anyone suffering from Crohn's, we hope you'll let us know.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

FROM "UFO" TO ........................

....... HPTLIFA!!!! And that my friends is "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, it's finished atlast!!!" I'm shouting it from the rooftops too!!! It's another "block exchange" that took place a couple of years ago, which we all referred to as the FTBE ... the "For the Birds Block Exchange." And the honors go to (left to right):

Row One: Genevieve, AL/ Me, FL / Kathy, WI / The Vickster, OK
Row Two: Jan, OK / Sharon, OK / Me, FL / Barb, WI
Row Three: Me, FL / Janet, CA / Kathy, VT / Michelle, MN
Row Four: Eileen, MD / Patti, CA / Me, FL / Kathy, NY

I sure hope I got all those right!!! I neglected to write them down when I received the Blocks back in 2006, so I'm going off of memory here :)

Once I took the last stitch on the binding, I threw it in the wash; and it came out quite "aged and weathered looking"! I'm AOK with that cuz I'm quite "aged and weathered looking" myself :)

"and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you," (1Thessalonians 4:11)

BUNNIES NEED QUILTS TOO!!!!

..... and the bunnies that this sweet, sweet child is cuddling with are no exception!!!

Meet Miss Mallie and her bunnies :) She's our little 7 year old Niece and is as "cute as a bunny!"

The gray bunny on her right is the bunny that she has cherished and loved since the day she was born and he looks it too (LOL). Double click on the photo to enlarge it and you'll see what I mean :)

The pink bunny, all bright, fluffy and new looking, was our other little Niece's (Gracie) bunny from birth. That little guy didn't get quite as much as loving as the gray one did, which yes, used to be pink too :)

Anyway, last year, my DSIL, Tracey, ran across the "pink" bunny, wrapped it up and sent it to Mallie for Christmas. We weren't sure how she'd react and were thinking that a trip to the Child Therapist might be in order. Fortunately, as the picture tells, "new bunny was welcomed with open arms :) So in honor of her recent Birthday, Aunt Jan made the bunnies a quilt of their own :)

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done."(Psalm 105:1)

THE BRAND SPANKING NEW SOMETHING .....

has been chosen :) I just love digging through my stash and finding absolutely everything I need to start a new project!!! I even have the backing for this one ready to rock 'n roll and now I'm anxiously awaiting tomorrow, which is when I can start cutting all this pretty fabric up :) Fortunately, I have a wonderful "quilting Husband" who agrees that "stash" is of the utmost importance :) No "sneaking" necessary in Davie :) Anyway, I happened upon these gorgeous flowers on-line back in January at Keepsake Quilting and they were on sale, so I used one of my gift cards from Christmas to make the purchase.

It's not gonna be anything fancy cuz I'm hoping the fabric will do all the talking :)

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16)

MY FAVORITE ................

......... roadside stand owned by 1 of the "good 'ole boys" and his bride. They aren't always open for business, so I'm always excited when I see 'em up and running. If they're not there, one can only hope that they are off re-stocking!!! You can double click on the photo to enlarge it and see all the good stuff up close :)

These are the lovelies that came home with me. Don't they make your mouth water!!!

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:12)

GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE .....

...... on this one :) Completed the quilting on Saturday and got the binding sewn on Sunday afternoon. Now I'm a little over 1/2 way done tacking it down ... great "Couch Potato" project. Actually, I've taken it to bed with me the last 2 nights to work on for a few minutes and ended up turning out the lights and crawling under it pins and all!!!

Now I'm anxiously awaiting "Sew Sew Saturday" once again cuz I get to start a brand spanking new something :) Ahhhhhhhhh, the glory of Quilting.

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (Romans2:11)

A WHOLE YEAR SINCE ...................

........ the "big truck fire!" I'm a bit weird when it comes to dates. I remember the Anniversaries of the strangest things, this being one of 'em!!! That hunk of junk you see burned to smithereens used to be Gene's gorgeous charcoal gray Ford F150 crew cab. The silly thing just caught on fire and it wasn't running when it did!

Fortunately, I was NOT home when the incident occurred ... I was at work; and it's a good thing cuz I don't think I would have survived! I panic at the drop of a hat and have a terrible fear of fire.

Gene nonchalantly called the office that day and told Diane that his truck had burned to the ground. When she came and told me, I said "his truck what?????" I immediately called him and he was as cool as a cucumber. I said "was the house hurt???" He said "barely!" OMG, when I turned the corner on to our street that evening I said "barely my you know what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Anyway, as with everything in life, there is always something to be grateful for in every situation; and this particular one was no exception to that!!! Sooooooooo one year later, we continue to be grateful that Gene wasn't in the truck when the flames went up ... grateful that I was not home when it happened ... grateful that our house didn't burn to the ground (Firefighters said just 1 foot closer and it would have!) ... grateful that Gene believes he can still get to Knoxville even when the gas gauge reads empty (Firefighters said a full tank would have been catastrophic)!!! Yes, he was running on empty ... fumes basically ... the day of the "big truck fire."

"Jesus replied, "what is impossible with men is possible with God." (Luke 18:27

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ... ONE DAY LATE!

"Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report - if there is any virtue and if there is any praise - think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)


Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!!! Thank you for everything. I love you! (90 years young ... isn't she beautiful!)

And for all the other "Mother's" in my life, both on Earth and in Heaven, you were all in my heart yesterday :) I would have told you that on "Mother's Day" if I had my laptop back from Gene! Until then, I am at the mercy of his Desktop on the weekends; and that machine would make a Saint curse!!!!

TGIF, LITERALLY!!!!!!!

"One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phillippians 3:13-14)

Whoever coined the phrase "Thank God it's Friday" should have won a prize, cuz it sure is the truth. Since Friday has "finally" arrived once again, that makes tomorrow "Sew Sew Saturday;" and this is what is at home waiting for some attention :) Loretta (my HQ16 machine) and I finished 1/2 the quilting on Sunday, and I've been itching to get back to it all week long!!! Sooooooooooo, come on "Sew Sew Saturday :)"

"QUEEN OF THE ROAD :)"

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colassians 3:23-24)

Yes, here she is ......... "Davie's Queen of the Road!"

She just cracks me up. When I got my new ride back in November, Miss Molly got her new car seat; and ever since, she is plain and simply full of herself cuz she can finally see out!!! In the Camry, she sat way down low and was at the mercy of the trees telling her where we were at. Yeap, most definitely "Queen of the Road!!!"

Please forgive her "unruly" hair!!! The little angel is in diar need of a bath :)

I CAME BACK!!!

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5)

I can sure see why sooooooooo many folks Blog!!!! It can be quite addicting :) Gonna keep this one short, as I need to focus on what they sometimes pay me to do! Just wanted to quickly share my latest completed project first though ................................ which is, yes, yes, yes ........................... a "UFO!!!"

..... a "UFO" from the year 2005!!! October to be exact and it was my very first participation in a "Block Exchange." This one was entitled the "Berry Block Exchange." If you look close, you will see that all the fabrics relate to berries :)

Anyway, it was the year Hurricane Wilma blew through Davie; and the year I turned the big 50! Spent that landmark occasion preparing for the Hurricane ... totally un-thrilling to say the least! We lost power for 10 days and had quite a bit of damage on the exterior of the house.

My dear friend, Debbie, offered to finish the blocks for me; but I managed to do 'em via generator power. Couldn't iron 'em till we got back that wonderful stuff we all call electricity tho cuz the iron blew the generator every time I tried to turn it on. All those extension cords running through the house still give me nightmares, not to mention the "cold" showers!!! We've since installed an automatic generator, so I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be for the next Hurricane Season, which begins June 30th.

The good news is this quilt gets to stay in Davie, which thrilled Gene to no end!!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

Is it true??? Am I really Blogging??? By golly, I think I am. Perhaps I am living in the 21st Century after all, opposed to under that "rock" that I've grown so fond of.

I guess it's appropriate that I introduce myself before going any further. My name is Jan ... I'm 53 years young and I share my life with my wonderful Husband, Gene, of 33 years and our little 4 pound Yorkie, Miss Molly. Gene has been battling severe multi-level Spinal Stenosis, a terribly nasty disease of the spinal cord, for a little over four years now; but he remains in amazing spirits despite it all. We're originally from the great State of Tennessee, a/k/a God's Country; and we've been here in FL since 1979. We own our own business, Ultimate Pools, Inc., where we've been specializing in major swimming pool renovations for two and a half decades now. I officially push all the paper and handle all the finances, which isn't easy in this wicked economy. We have one lovely, beautiful Daughter, Michelle, in Heaven. It's been two years since she left us and we miss her more than words could ever describe.

The thing that keeps me sane is quilting ... thus the Title of my Blog ... "Quilting in Davie." It is truly my passion. I share the love of this wonderful craft with about forty beautiful ladies from all around the Country. We meet daily on line at what we call the "Frame."

With my Husband's current health condition, the absence of our Daughter in our life, and with our current business struggles during this recession, I wake up daily and remind myself to "Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding!!!"