Let's get back on track!

So here's a quick peek at some of my projects from today. 

This is as much a peek as I can share of this quilt till it's completed and gifted...cute little red lobster? 😉

Sad to admit I forgot to take the before pic of this table but imagine how it looked when it was black as the one chair still is...

Big improvement don't ya think? Still need to remove the blue masking tape near the spindles and finish waxing the chairs but I love what the Annie Sloan 'old ochre' did! Looks so much better in the room now! 

Until next time... Keep creating peeps.

Today's social media ?? Good or bad? (Warning: a lot of babble so might want to skip this post)

Having just celebrated my birthday July 29 & After a lot of joking about it being a rough number to celebrate "my Medicare bday" [Whoops please let me make one thought clear first " I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to celebrate 65 after feeling the loss of many dear and loved friends/relatives/co-workers etc. much too early in their lives.]
NOW onto the topic of my post.  First it does amaze me that I have NOT completed a post since last April! Then when I review most of my recent post titles or the starting sentences of my posts, they all acclaim the same 😢😪😖 how I cannot believe I have not posted. {So NOT funny.}
I wonder if anyone else has begun to be disappointed in Social media? Facebook? The Internet? Maybe all of the same and above? 🙄
I know that IT adds many great things to our lives but I am starting to feel it also sucks out so many minutes and more from of our lives too?
'I am' thinking since this is a year of political upheaval [*Please do not misunderstand: I HONOR and BELIEVE in our (America) 'Our Freedom's and Right to Vote and I exercise those rights."]  I just think political campaigning on the Internet is becoming a huge mess! So much false information being passed around, so much cut and pasting, so much defriended, blocking, etc. I am afraid it is overflowing into our daily lifestyle. Such bad habits.
Oh well enough of my babble! I just realized I am not helping my present predicament nor moving forward in my creativity by babbling. lol
It is time for me to decide whether to get back into my old habit of blogging which actually was a great habit for me because it made me stay on the straight and as they say narrow road towards my goal to create. 'Art Feeds One's Soul' so thinking it is time for me to get busy!
So let's see now?
I have a baby quilt I must complete ASAP
I have two challenge Quilts due; one in Sept. one for Oct.
I have my own king size quilt I set as a goal.
I have a very special Star Wars quilt planned for my grandson.
Ok that's 5 projects on my list with deadlines TIME for me to get moving along and hopefully the blogging posts will follow suit. Stay tune.
Everyone have a productive creative day!

What a fun day of celebration #lifeiswhy

The #lifeiswhy #pbgored #fplbetteru West Palm Beach American Heart Association's Banquet was wonderful. The banquet took place at the Palm Beach Four Seasons Resort on April 7, 2016,11:00P.M. We began on the second floor banquet hall with cocktails and healthy tidbits such a veggies and hummus. There were blood pressure stations for guests, various information booths, a photo booth that a few of us 'Go Red' gals had some fun getting photos as souvenirs of memories. Each of us 10 gals had a large photo board on easel set up in one corner for guests to read of our journey and successes. 

At noon we all moved to the third floor for the luncheon.

Beautiful centerpieces.

Gifts and programs waiting on our chairs.

The banquet room starting to fill of go red guests.

Fantastic heart healthy luncheon.

They showed a video of our 12 weeks journey that we cannot wait to see, we missed it since we were lining up to walk the run way in our specially made for us dresses. 

Here's a couple of my Go Red forever friends.So proud of us all.

Hubby got a pic of me in my dress, possibly soon I will have a link to other photos that were taken that day? We #pbgored gals felt like stars for a day! What a very special day thanks to the West Palm Beach American Heart Association.
Now to move forward hopefully forever being heart healthy.

We have ended our 12th week of the #PBGORED, #lifeiswhy #fplbetteru 2016 challenge

First I want to THANK my daughter Keli Laverty for locating this challenge via Ivy's blog cleancuisineandmore.com way back in November while we were all celebrating Thanksgiving in Stuart,FL and then strongly encouraging me to apply, and I do mean strongly.
Being chosen as one of the 10 women for the Palm Beach American Heart Association's [Go Red for Women, Better U Challenge] (locally sponsored by the FPL) has been a wonderfully healthy experience for me. I have learned so much RE: living a heart healthy lifestyle AND have gained some great new habits.
I think what amazes me most is when I began this challenge [life journey] I discovered I had a resting heart rate of 82. [eek!!!] Of course add the facts; my past 5 years I did little exercise due to my DDD, constant pain and horrible vertigo which slowly and eventually was diagnosed due to my C5&C6  and then thankfully the Penn hospital neurosurgeon who performed the successful neck fusion on me March 17, 2015.
So now back to my story lol; Okay I began with a resting heart rate of 82 BUT I now have a resting heart rate of 64!!! I think that is what I am most proud of because it shows I have actually been moving and building muscle back. Hopefully heart healthy muscle.
My added bonus of eating heart healthy and walking as many days as possible along the beach has made me lose over 3 inches in my middle gut area lol AND as of the other day weighing in at the doctor I have lost 15 pounds since January all by following new heart healthy habits along with my daily walks.
April 7 I will be attending the GO Red banquet in West Palm and actually will be modeling a special dress along with my other 9 "lifeiswhy" gals. This challenge  has been so much fun and beneficial to me, I have had so much fun these past 12 weeks meeting so many new people and just love my PBGORED team mates and am so proud of our accomplishments.
Hope you all go to the American Heart Associations website they have so much info to share.
‎www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

Hubby took this pic the other night just as I was leaving to attend our final celebration meeting at Ivy's home.

We are starting week 7 of the "Go Red for Women BetterU challenge sponsored by FPL"

Warning: Not a quilt related post today ;-)
I cannot believe I am entering week 7 of the challenge already?
Don't know about anyone else, but my days sure fly by much too quickly.
I am enjoying living in Stuart FL and have been staying active or moving thanks to being involved in the West Palm Beach #GoRedPB #lifeiswhy #fplbetteru.

I decided to stay away from my scale as I enjoy the challenge and decided to set my goals to move more and to try to follow the healthy heart nutrition advice we are recieving.
Eat more fruit, veggies and grains and less red meats. Fish, Salmon and healthy lean meat still should only take up 1/4 of your dinner plate. ;-)
One thing I am happy to report is that by completing my daily walks on the beach,along with trying to eat healthy I have lost inches and lowered my resting heart rate by 6 beats.
I am amazed that as each month passes since my surgery last March I can feel how my body/ nerve endings have actually healed more and more  as each day goes by.
I cannot believe how stagnant or lazy I was for over 5 years due to chronic pain. I am so thankful for the wonderful neurosurgeons that treated me through those years, but even more thankful that the surgery last March has really given me my life back.
Yesterday as I was walking the beach with my husband (walking partner in crime) I teased him by running a little. I have begun running short sprints at times JUST BECAUSE I CAN again? It amazes me that I actually feel like I can semi run now. When I was in the constant pain I knew I did not have the balance or strength to run so tried to not get myself into a situation where I might have to run. It is such a great feeling knowing I am regaining my strength and actually can try to run again.

Roasting veggies are great!

I am thankful my daughter Keli got me involved with the challenge. I am enjoying all the new recipes and hints we have been given by Ivy Larson cleancuisineandmore.com who is working along with the West Palm Beach American Heart Org to lead us to have healthy hearts and a healthy heart lifestyle.

Remember meat is 1/4 of your plate

Chia pudding and fruit great way to get protein

Hubby and me heading out 

Time for me to get off the computer and get some steps in!
Everyone get up and get moving more.
See you soon.

I'm in the third week of West Palm Beach's Go Red Better U program, having fun!

[Warning: No quilting is covered in this post ;-) ]
I've been so busy adjusting to the our new place and remember/reminder I am participating with 9 other great women in the 2016 #PBGORED add to that the fact; I'm still trying to solve some minor laptop transitioning troubles so I just have not found the time to post.
 ["That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it". lol]

So first let me say I DID make my first week's goal in the "Go Red" which was to walk 5 out of 7 days on the beach. In fact I ENDED UP an overachiever and managed 7 days out of 7.  ;-)
It helps that my husband has gotten the walking bug too and is walking with me, and it is lovely to walk on the beach.
During week two we ladies were treated to a talk from a very interesting Cardiologist who answered so many questions RE: healthy diet suggestions, statins, blood pressure, etc.
My focus the second week was to try to eat "clean", lots of fruits and vegetables, less grains and to keep moving! The hubby and I are still walking a few miles everyday.
It has been very helpful that we also have a FB group that we women can pass on hints, recipes and cheer each other on.
So now entering week three and the goal is to stick with the plan and add tracking our daily activity along with logging our meals/snacks. Wish me luck and let's all keep moving.

Let's get some steps in

Steppin

Nice way to end the day

Almost done with the daily walk

Each day is different

Yay success even on a cold windy day!

Footnote: I also hope to have my sewing area set up this week

 so I can add quilting to my schedule too.

It's week one.. #PBGoRed

It's week one of the 12 week Program "life is why" a program designed to improve my/and your overall heart health. Check out #PBGoRed on Instagram and GoRedForWomen.org
For my first week of the PBGoRed program I set my weekly goal to try to get moving.
Thanks to the FitBit Charge HR we each were given I know that on Monday I manage to get in 9077 steps, Tuesday I added another 9691steps, Weds I managed 14,271 steps and today Thursday I got in 12,268 steps. I have to admit today was the roughest as I pushed myself to walk the beach, it's not as easy a walk as one might think due to sinking wet soft sand.  I can feel some muscles coming back that I haven't felt in a long time lol.
My goal for the week was to walk on the beach 5 out of 7 days and thankfully I have 4 days in so far because if the weathermen are correct predicting storms for tomorrow that might make it rough to get my beach steps in.
I've been doing so well working towards my goal I am hoping the storms pass us by.

Here's a photo that was taken on Tuesday of us PBGoRed 2016 Women 

Continued part three 2015 and onward to a great start in 2016

So I mentioned that last year felt like a strange year to me on many levels, many I find difficult to explain. So far I shared how my year began and mentioned our Florida stay that was to designed to give us some sun and possible fun before I had surgery March 17,2015.

I had been living with some unexplainable constant chronic pain for a few years along with a very bad episode of vertigo that never totally went away, even after many types of therapy, lucky for me they finally did an MRI of my neck and discovered a bulging or leaking disk, putting pressure on various nerve ends so it was decided that by fusing two of the disks in my neck would hopefully make my pain disappear.
No one wants to think of having major surgery but once they mentioned the promise that the pain might actually be gone I decided to give it a go. I was introduce to a great neurosurgeon from Penn Hospital in Philadelphia PA. Yes the surgery had some drawbacks, one being a recovery that was going to keep me in a neck brace for 7- 8 weeks and home bound since there would be no driving and it was imperative to keep my neck still and supported so the disks could fuse. The surgeon told the truth when he mentioned the worst part of the surgery would be in the hip area where they would cut and take some of my hip bone to be placed in the fusion area.

Thankfully the surgery was a success and has given me my smile back, I feel like a new person.
I will have to get back to reviewing my 2015 wild year in a future post because right now I'd rather share some news I have RE: My 2016!!!

I am thankful to get to announce that I was chosen as one of ten women from the Palm Beach County Area to get to participate in a 12 week "Better U"[ the 'GO RED' makeover.]
I know this is going to change my life for the better! So the hubby and I arrived back to FL on Sunday via the Auto Train just in time for me to begin my healthy journey Monday Jan 11. 
I met with Jen Rhine, the director of #PBGoRed at the offices of the Palm Beach County American Heart Association first thing Monday morning, besides me getting to participate look at the goodies I received so far.

                                          

So today (Tuesday - Jan. 12)  I got to meet most of the other women that are doing the "life is why" American Heart Association 'Better U' Go Red for Women #PBGORED and enjoyed their company while we had photos taken. We enjoyed cheering each other on as we partake in this healthy journey. 

Hope you'll enjoy my journey and maybe even go to GoRedForWomen.org or www.heart.org for more information.

Cont. Part two: my strange 2015

So last year in January the hubs and I went to FL to try snow birding and to give me some time to mentally prepare for the up-coming surgery I was to have March 17, yuppers that was St.Patty's day.
We had been going to FL little by little the past two seasons and staying at the condo his parents had retired to in the 70's and it was our goal to see if he and I were interested in FL for our winters or not.
During Jan and Feb we enjoyed some sun and even got to have some fun with my daughter's family during mid-winter break meeting them at Disney and then showing them around Stuart a little.
The surgery I was having in March was to fuse two of the disks in my neck and though I had been living with constant pain for a couple years the thought of major surgery was not something anyone relishes yet I had reached the point of feeling like I was never smiling from within (if you know what I mean?)  I can report that my surgery was a complete success and I still find myself marveling at myself (such as after the very active holiday I just spent with my children and grandchildren) it is so NICE to not live in constant pain and to feel like I got a new lease on life. But knowing the surgery was going to take place along with me not being able to drive, that I would be basically homebound for minimum 6-7 weeks weighed on my mind a lot. This was the second thing that contributed to my very strange 2015.
I am happy to say though though it all I still managed to quilt over 9 quilts throughout 2015 which pleasantly surprised me when I checked back at photos for the year.

Happy New Year - bring it 2016!

I ended 2015 feeling like the complete year was probably one of the strangest I have honestly experienced during my lifetime. I am unsure how to totally express the feelings or my impressions of the year and why it felt so strange but I will try to give a little insight little by little in my posts this week.

Last year began with a huge loss for my family, it was difficult (still is actually) to believe what had happened and my family still feels the after effects which I am sure we sadly always will. Our year began with the passing of my sister's husband who was a wonderful man, a loving, caring, non-judging, nice to everyone he met kind of guy. He was only 58, it was sudden and unexpected. His name is Tim Tock.

During the year while my family tried to grieve and re-adjust and my sister and his daughter tried to take one day at a time our family continued to experience day to day life and blessings, new birth, other passings, joys and sorrows and many blessings. 

By Father's Day the family was delighted to find out Tim's daughter was expecting a baby, the baby was to be his first grand-child. I knew I would end 2015 by making something I hoped would show honor to my BIL Tim Tock while  celebrating the near arrival of Tim's grand-daughter. 

When we lost Tim my sister passed along to me some Tim's t-shirts to create something special for his daughter Paula. It was to difficult for me to think of cutting up Tim's shirts at that time so I put them away for a few months in hopes I would build up my courage. Finally when I knew the baby shower would soon be here I knew I had to begin. It was time to figure out a design and what to create?

Thankfully when I began quietly cutting the 24 or so t-shirts it actually became calming (just like Tim could make you feel) and the designs or my plans seemed to be heaven sent. I knew my niece was hoping for a "t-shirt quilt made of Tim's shirts as a memory for herself but as I worked I knew that there had to be two quilts one for Tim's "first grandchild" and another for the family as a whole to be able to snuggle with in remembrance. The designs are simple in fact the large one is one of my rare t-shirt quilts that actually is all t-shirt on the front and then fabric for backing. I was one t-shirt short of the 25 I needed for a complete square quilt top so I took the back of one of Tim's t-shirts and was able to transfer two photos (one is a favorite photo my husband took of Tim and Paula when we were honored to take her and Eric's wedding day photographs) have to admit that was a difficult square to quilt and see on my machine, yet my machine and hands did move steadily like Tim was directing me. 

It felt right to keep the large quilt ALL "Tim" and then baby Avery's baby quilt are pieces of the varied little logos I cut from her grandfather's shirts along with framing of multiple bright colors of fabric possible like the many colors of joy and happiness we pray she will experience in her lifetime, the backing for Avery's quilt is soft purple "minky" to go along with her nursery colors.

It was interesting that as I went to begin quilting the baby quilt on my HQ16 I had a design in mind and as my hands began moving suddenly a different quilting design appeared possibly Heaven sent? 

It's as I would like to believe. 

I hope everyone had a great 2015 New Years Eve and now onward to 2016!