It's Beginning to look a LOT ...

So ... remember how I wouldn't do anything in my sewing room because I didn't want to mess it up and then how I sold my house and immediately messed it up big time??

Yeah, that's what I did. But, trust me, it was worth it.

I agreed to do one more sample for my BC Quilter's Club that would serve as the November/December project. The minute I agreed, I realized that it could prove to be a rather idiotic mistake seeing as I really, really need to keep packing and I already took that little New York detour.

I tried to make up for it by simplifying the applique portion of the pattern (found in Lori Smith's Fat Quarter Quilting on page 46) ... and that did help, I'll admit. I also just plowed through and did the lion's share of the work in one day ... something I rarely do ... and something my lower back informed me just last night was not something I should ever, ever do again.

On top of that, I finished one more project (to be shown later). One more, Arizona grown project. The best part of all is that the 24/7 Christmas music has started in my town and I listened to it the entire time.

And to those who scoff at the wisdom of playing Christmas music in the middle of November, I say ...

Be very, very careful ... Bing is listening.

shuffling off to buffalo ...

So ... here's a picture of my 3-day-old new walking shoes. "What's the big deal?" you ask with a slightly annoyed edge to your tone. "Because I have walked in them every morning for three days and there is not a drop of blood on them!" This is huge, people. Kind of gross to talk about ... but huge.

I actually had a little photo shoot with my old shoes and judiciously chose not to post the pictures. The heels were shreaded and there were holes in the toes. But I absolutely dread buying new walking shoes because the 'breaking-in process' can be so painful. And bloody.

But there's another reason I have more pep in my step when I go out walking these days. For Mother's Day, the PDaddy gave me an ipod. My very own ipod. (And yes, this is my very first ipod and you can now say in unison [with my children], "Welcome to the 21st Century.") It came loaded with all my favorite friends ... Billy, James, Bruce, Neil, Paul (and Art), Cat, Bing + a plethora of others. (I, like, have so many friends.) Whether I'm walking or sewing, I like to put it on "shuffle" and giddily anticipate the next surprise.

How about you? Who are your friends? Do you like to shuffle them or do you like your friends one at a time?

Dish.

Christmas in Kilarney

So ... I told you that I would give you the heads up when it was time to start listening to Christmas Music. Well ... ready, set ...

GO!!

Yeah, you probably figured that out all on your own. The truth is that I have been listening to it non-stop since I declared that it was heresy to do so. Hypocritical?? Yes. Sanity-saving?? Absolutely.

Since I won't be able to decorate for at least a couple of weeks, I have to live vicariously through all those songs, through my strolls around Marshall's and ... through you.

So let's hear it. Have you started to decorate? Do you have pictures on your blog?

Are ya listening to some Bing?

Dish.

smashing pumpkins

So ... my picture here has nothing to do with the subject of my post, which has nothing to do with pumpkins ... which is exactly my point.

Are you following so far?

My point is this: Last weekend (that would be the first full weekend in November) both of my favorite radio stations went to "all Christmas music ... all the Time". Last year they (and there was only one then) started the weekend before Thanksgiving and even then, I thought it was too early.

So this year they moved it back not one week, but two. I can only respond to this with one word:
Heresy.

I'm sorry people, but this is just plain wrong. And do you want to know what is wrong-er? I'm listening to it. Yep ... singing along. Oh yes ... and to top it all off, I have started my Christmas shopping as a result! (That last one is actually a plus, but I threw it in for effect.)

I tried to find another station, but it was too hip for me and I was afraid it would make me more hip than I already am, and the non-hip woman you have grown to know and love would fade into the background.

In the meantime, I'll try to squeeze some more juice (figuratively) out of my pumpkins for a couple more weeks. And when the time is right ... Bing and I will tell you when it's okay to begin to look a lot like Christmas.

So let's vote:

A: Heresy.

B: The Economy needs it, let's face it.

C: Bring it on and make sure to include The Chipmunks, Snoopy & the Red Baron and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."

Morning has Broken ...

So ... I tested my new theory the last couple of days ... and it worked, by golly! I sewed my brains out in the morning instead of cleaning or erranding and I do believe that I worked a little faster ... and a little clearer. Cleaning and erranding still happened in the afternoon when a clear brain is not as crucial. (A few more dollars may or may not have been spent as a result, but really ... it's the clear sewing head that counts ... right?)

I finished (the top of) this quilt which was started before I got sidetracked with the red-green-I-don't-want-to-cut-teeny-little-leaves-anymore phase. I will unveil the whole thing when it is quilted and bound.

For now I will bask in my clarity. And just so you know ... I still want to hear about who-sews-when-and-why?

Also speak up if you immediately knew that my title is a reference to one of my favorite Cat Steven's songs. Without looking it up (that means you, PDaddy!), what was the name of the album?

There may or may not be a prize involved.

Ding Dong ...

So ... Saturday was indeed a Bing-would-sing-about-this kind of day. I needed to finish my shopping for the Dub's and for my sis, as those are both packages that I want to mail today. I actually went to a ... mall ... and after searching for a parking space for 20 minutes, I ventured inside and just felt warm and cozy as I stood in line with many what-appeared-to-be-crazy people. I hurried home to do some wrapping, something that I have loved since my sister and I were the official family wrappers for most of my childhood ... all of which involved a lot of curling ribbon.

But first ... I stopped to get the mail.

There was a padded envelope in there from my daughter, Mrs. Dub. Inside that envelope were two CDs -- one for me and PDaddy and the other for Sonny-boy and the Mrs. I took one look at it and gasped. Then I put it in the CD player and teared up just a little. Then I wrapped presents and giggled.

You see, when the kids were little, their most lasting memory of Christmas music was from a free tape I got with some Avon products. It included Dolly Parton singing Winter Wonderland, John Denver and the Muppets doing The Twelve Days of Christmas and a song by Bing himself called Round and Round the Christmas Tree. We played that tape until it was pretty much shredded. Over the years, we had all talked about trying to find it again, but we never did. Until this year when our lovely girl hunted it down on Ebay and made copies for us all.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

One last note on traditions. You might want to take a peek at Ms. Vespa's blog to read about one of her favorites. She is indeed a gifted story teller. Please know that no family members (uh ... that would be me) were harmed in the making of this tradition. In fact, I have come to look forward to that precious "alone-time" after the hustle and bustle of the Holidays.

One last question: Does anyone else have memories of Avon Christmas?

Badda ... Bing

So ... with all due respect to Mrs. Dub and her complete domination over Hot Topic Tuesday, I dare to be so bold as to declare my topic (on this Friday in November) to perhaps be the hottest of them all. I actually have the guts to offer forth the following question:

How early is too early to start listening to Christmas music?

You must understand ... I love, love, love Christmas music. And I especially love Bing. But I am well aware that this delicate relationship relies somewhat on the balance of time. How many times can one hear Christmas in Killarney or Mele Kalikimaka before one becomes a little ... ki-loco? Is is possible that over the passage of too much time, one does not even venture a giggle about getting a Hippopotomus for Christmas?

While sewing the other day, I was sorely tempted to throw Bing into the CD player, but I resisted. "After Thanksgiving", I told myself. "Thanksgiving is very early this year ... it will be the easiest year of them all to resist." "You can do it", I whispered to no one in particular. And I stood my ground.

That is until this morning when I discovered that my favorite "all-Christmas-music-all-the-time" had started ... TODAY! What the hay?! I tried to resist and change the channel but it was like asking Violet not to chew the Blueberry Gum. How can they do this to me? By Christmas will I even care if "Grandma got run over by a reindeer?" I came home and went straight to the Kingdom where red and green fabrics were strewn about like so much confetti. And I had to admit it.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

So ... what is your vote? And what songs are you just dyin' to hear?