Time

Time has become something that is important to me and is a burden as well. How many times do we hear what time is it? Or do you have time? Or time flies! Or Time is precious. And finally, where did the time go? There are appointments, dates, show times, and such. Everything revolves around time!

So many people look at time differently. In my life there is "Gordon Time" and "Linda Time", which are not that different, actually. There is nap time, supper time, bedtime, etc., etc. I wish for quilting time, vacation time, but hate to think about losing time, or work time.

I also am feeling like time is running out on my summer with my children. I know, I should be thankful that I have a job that allows me this time with them, but somehow I want more.

It is funny how we are all either wishing for more time, or wishing time would move faster, but we never seem to be quite content with how time is moving.

Last week I had a meeting with our Director of Special Education about the amount of time the town has allotted me and my assistants to do our job and the amount of time that is needed to do the job. Never mind the time that is needed to do our job well. Since last week I have been back and forth with her about time. How our time is spent, etc.
Nowhere else in my life, except my professional life, do I have to account for every minute of the day. How it is spent, what I am doing, who I am talking to, where I am, etc., etc. It is nerve-wracking! Don't get me wrong. I do love my job. I had posted before that I love being an OT and working with children. It is just this part of my position in this particular school system that drives me mad. I am sure there are people in this same type of position that take advantage of the time, or the fact that we are travelers, but I do not. I think that's why I am so annoyed by having to justify any and all time that I am at work. Plus there are school-based OT's that do not have to justify time like this, it just so happens I am in a town that requires it.

Needless to say this meeting and now all this "time" conversation has me thinking. Why do we wish it away some days and wish it would stop on other days?

When I think about my kids growing up, I think I want time to slow down, but when I am sitting here waiting for them to wake up from their nap, there are days that I wish time would speed up. I want them to grow and change, but at the same time I want them to stay little forever. Does that make sense?

I find myself thinking about my Dad too. I have always felt that his time here ended way too early. Is that just my selfishness because I want him still here?

Friends and family that I don't see that often...I want the time that we are together again to come faster, but when we are finally together I don't want time to move.
I was recently with a group of friends where we lost track of time. Normally we are only together for a few hours, but before we knew it the night was gone and it was almost midnight when we said goodnight. Guess we were having fun... :)

Time is a funny thing. I guess it boils down to when we are happy and when we are not. When we are able to appreciate the time we are in at the moment is when we don't want time to move, but that's when time flies. But when we are wishing we are somewhere else, time stands still.

I guess the old saying is true..."Time flies when you're having fun". I guess the lesson here is to appreciate the time we have when we have it. Live in the moment. Those little moments can be so big!

Check it out!

I finally figured out how to add the slideshow of all my quilts and things that I have quilted to this blog. I guess you could say it is my own way of showcasing some of my work. It's not much, and I know you can tell which were my very first quilts. Pretty much all of them I have given away except for my very first one, which is this green sampler one and my guestbook quilt from my wedding. I hope all of you that have them love them as much as I loved making them.
I need to make one for us. I do love it. It is just now with two small kids, finding the time is tough. As it is, right now, one is trying to crawl up onto my lap....

A new blog...

Based on my last post a good friend told me about Heather Bailey, who is another fabric designer. She also has some paper packs and embellishments! I fell in love with some of her fabrics and her overall creativity that she showcases on her blog. I had to add the link to my blog as well. Wow! There are some really talented people out there! Check her out if you have some time. I got lost in the blog....

Quilting!

I love quilting. These stockings are my favorite project that I have done to date. I have been quilting for ten years, and I still feel like I just can't get it perfect. I have been making quilts for friends and family and have yet to make one for myself. The closest is making some for my kids.
Here are just a few of the quilts that I have made so far..

This one was for my niece's big girl bed:
This one was the quest book at my wedding:
This one was for my Mom:
This one I made for my sister's ten year anniversary, and the blue was from my Maid of Honor dress:
This one was for a very special bride-to-be:

This one was for my little sister at her bridal shower:
This is one of my first quilts for my best friend's bridal shower:

I've also done some pot holders as gifts.





And I have made what I am calling memory quilts. I use clothing from loved ones and make them into memory quilts. My Dad passed away in 2000. I've made now two quilts and pillows from his famous plaid shirts. This is a mini quilt I made for my daughter out of those plaid shirts. And I am finishing a airplane quilt for my son, also out of the plaid shirts. Here's some samples of what it will be like:



There is a brown border and then a navy blue border with white stars in the navy. I am still trying to come up with a binding and backing fabric, so if there are any quilters out there that have a suggestion...please!!



I have been inspired by quilt blogs that I have found to show you all some of the work that I have done. And to expand to making some quilts with different fabrics than what I am used to. I LOVE the fabrics that I have found by Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry. They are not the typical quilting fabrics that I'm sure many of you are used to. I just need to find my inner creativity and pick a pattern or something to try with some of these fabrics.

I love quilting! It's a small thing that gives me strength. Quilting is creative, therapeutic, and a way for me to be me!

Olympic Anticipation!

So the Olympics start on Friday. Are you excited? I am. For some reason I get very excited when the Olympics come around. Both the summer and the winter games, I really get into. I don't know if it is because I wish I had the strength and discipline to get that far on something or if it renews my faith in humanity because of the fact that the whole world comes together for some healthy competition. There is something about the torch running through all the countries and ending in a huge torch that stays lit for the two weeks or so of the games.

This year in Beijing, the theme is One World, One Dream. I think it is an inspiring one. I know there are protesters to the Olympics and those who have something to say about how the Olympics are run or where they are held, but I for one am inspired by the dedication of the athletes, the way the world comes together, and how all sports have their day in the sun.


For example, there are many local athletes from CT going to the games. I had no idea. There are about 550 athletes on Team USA. Everyone knows Michael Phelps, Misty May, and of course Dara Torres (who actually you should check out if you don't know her), but there are local athletes that are there too. Check out your state. I'm sure there are people from your state too. In researching and talking to those who do know who these people are I found there are eleven athletes from CT. Their sports range from shooting, to fencing, to basketball, to equestrian, to sailing, and archery. I'm sure I am forgetting one. Here's the link to where I found all of them.

The one I spent some time reading about was Butch Johnson from Woodstock, CT. His sport is archery. I spent some time looking into him because my nephew, Anthony, is very much into archery right now. He is actually the one who told me that Butch was going to be in Beijing. Archery is also something that I do not know that much about, but I am learning. I know in the Olympics there is a men's and women's team event and then individual events too. It is 70 meters from the archer to the target. The target is on a slight incline. The targets are, I think, 122 cm in diameter, and all the ten colors on the target are divided equally in circles. They are white, black, blue, red, and yellow. I know there are specific ways to hold the bow and arrow, but I can't remember the specifics at the moment. Click here to learn more. It is an interesting and difficult sport. Patience, practice, and discipline are a must. Anyway, I learned something. Hope you did too.

So, opening ceremonies are Friday night. 8-8-08!

Watch, Enjoy, Find a favorite...Share a moment with the world!
(alittle cheesy, I know, but I'm excited :))

11-22-2008

Can't Wait!

Bigtime Boston Fan!

Ok, so it was only a matter of time before I posted something about my Boston Red Sox. Yep. I said "my". I have been a Boston fan for as long as I can remember. Now with so much in the news about the trades and such, I had to add my two cents!

Manny is gone! If you don't know who Manny is, you might know the phrase "Manny being Manny" or the sign he held in the World Series parade in 2004, "Derek Jeter drinks wine coolers". Or you might recognize his infamous dreads. Anyway, Boston and the Red Sox have gotten almost as sick of Manny being Manny as all the Yankee fans out there.
Manny Ramirez has been traded to the LA Dodgers. Bottomline, he wanted to be traded and did not hide it. Whether he didn't run down the line in a game, and got booed by the fans, or making comments like "the Red Sox don't deserve me". It was time for him to go!

Yes, he is a great hitter, with unbelieveable stats, but do we really want someone who is so full of himself infecting our clubhouse? Yep, I said "our" again. I really feel somewhat like I'm effected too. I know it may sound odd to some of you reading this, but I am a proud member of Red Sox Nation! The Red Sox have had their struggles since all of this Manny stuff started to really come to a head. It makes me wonder if his negativity toward the Red Sox organization had a direct impact on the entire team.

So good bye Manny, have fun in LA, thanks for what you've done in Boston in the past, and let's see if Joe Torre can tame some of Manny being Manny.

Now I can't talk about the Red Sox without acknowledging some of the fabulous players on this team. (who I might add are not bad to look at either)
Anyway, I digress...
The third baseman, Mike Lowell, awesome!
Pitchers Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, and my personal favorite (and my boyfriend) Jon Lester! Click here to see Jon and his stats. You won't be disappointed. Here's one photo!
This photo is catcher Jason Varitek, another of my boyfriends...so great! Here's more on Jason.
Can't forget second baseman, Dustin Pedroia...he is on fire!
The whole team is great! I love them all. These are just a few of my favorites. Plus in this Manny trade we acquired Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sounds good to me!

I don't know how I got into the Red Sox, but I know I love them now. I love baseball season! I'm sure my parents got me into them. My Dad was much more of a football fan, but I'm sure he or my grandfather, aka Poppie, started me on them.

Actually, I remember one of my very first games at Fenway Park, was with my Poppie! He was going on a bus trip with the seniors from town, and his friend, Joe Tobin, couldn't go. So he gave his ticket to me! I was so excited. We sat on the first base line, had some popcorn and peanuts. Poppie showed me how to keep the stats of the game in the program. I still have that program. I found it in my attic a couple of years ago, and now it sits on the bookshelf in my living room.

Thanks Poppie! And thanks Joe!

Go Sox!