It's only been 24 hours since Grumpy arrived, and things are beginning to settle down. Bump is acting like the all-knowing big brother and gives Grumpy a light thump on the head when he's trying to usurp Bump in the hierarchy of the family. Stella is still hissing, but no longer threatening to seriously maim and destroy. She's been asking me how long we intend to have a cat, and when is this babysitting job going to end, and she doesn't care for my answers...lol! Grumpy will keep his name because its origin is rather cool, and gives him a bit of kinship with Bump. I've come to the conclusion that he is seriously stupid, or ferociously brave (leaning towards brave) because he's been ignoring the age and size of Stella and Bump. If he wants something, he simply bounces his way into it and ignores the warnings coming from his siblings, each of whom outweight him by a good 12 pounds. Grumpy is extremely active, sleeps seldom, and has an affinity for toes. He loves pizza and asiago cheese, having stolen a bit of each at different times this morning. And, I'm happy to report, he has convinced Bump that it's okay to eat wet food. Bump has an expensive habit of only eating the gravy off of wet food, leaving the meat to go bad. However, I've seen him eat more wet food in the last 24 hours than I have in the last six months. Now I won't feel so bad about spending 1.39 a can. I'm scrapping my plans to get any sewing done today due to a lack of sleep (only got about 3 hours last night because someone had already gotten some sleep and wanted to play) but I'm heading into my bedroom now to read some quilting magazines, and probably have my toes washed and nibbled...lol!

Thank you for your kind words. I'd posted a partial picture of it earlier this year, and someone (I forget whom) told me to please post a finished picture of it, so I did. I am a clumsy hand quilter. Arthritis has caught up with my hands, and I wanted to do this one before I quit hand quilter entirely. I tried bamboo batting for the first time, and I absolutely love how easily it needles and how it drapes. The star theme is a little over the top, but intentional. My DD is an amateur astronomer, so serious that they built an observatory in the house they just moved from, and plan to build another in their new home. She is working on her third astronomical sketching book and writes columns for several astronomy magazines. Her husband is a star/solar/lunal gazer as well, so I wanted this one to speak to their passion. It was a grand experiment for me, lol, and I'm quite happy to send this one out the door!

Mid-week the ballast burned out in one of my laundry room lights where my sewing desk is, but all laundry room lights are on the same switch, so I did not get lights back on until Friday afternoon, so did not get any sewing done during last week as I had planned. Friday evening I did laundry and helped my son start his science project. Then Saturday finished laundry, helped my son finish his science project, decorated the Christmas tree and decorated the house for Christmas. Went to church this morning. Now am fixing to start making 1 of the 2 saw tooth star pincushions I have left to make for Christmas presents. Hoping this week to get organized and fill out Christmas cards. I also have my brother's scarf about 25% done so depending on when my side of the family gets together I may be able to finish his scarf for this Christmas, we'll see, if not I will put it away until next year. Still have a little Christmas shopping to do, not looking forward to being in stores packed with people all in a hurry. M-I-L flies out of town right before Christmas and she normally prefers to do all the cooking, so I am trying to get meals/cooking organized for me to do while she is gone, simply stuff like tacos, and steak/rice/gravy, pizza, etc. I am feeling a little last minute and rushed this Christmas season. And the house has a draft to it with all this freezing weather, luckily we did not get any ice, but the highs are only like low 40's ... brrrr! And I am trying not to get sick, though am reaching for kleenexs a little more frequently than would like, really hoping I am not sick over the holidays. Quiltnhen the snow looks beautiful, something we have not had since 2010. Hope everyone is safe and warm this week. Best to you, Sandra This post was edited by quiltingfox on Sun, Dec 8, 13 at 15:43

I hope to finish what is now what I refer to as "the Leddy quilt". All that's left to do is quilt a border seam and the binding. I pray I get it done. Then on to 4 stockings for my daughter and an apron for my SIL. Did I mention I need to finish shopping? However in spite of all the sewing I need to do, today I'm going with my dear Marine hubby as he plays Gunny Claus for military families at Camp Lejuene, NC 20 miles from our home. This is the first year he has done it and he loves it. Tonight is my first night going. So sewing will have to wait. Gunny Claus has priority tonight. Darlene