Hello from Connie in FL! :)

Hello Connie, welcome. I am in Boca (how did you guess) It is always nice to have new members.

Thank you! It's more than a pleasure being here! :) Would you believe it? I really didn't think there would be a quilting NG! And here, I found this wonderful nirvana! :)

Now which palace are you currently residing in? The one made of fabric or the one made of chocolate? :)

Nevermind, I sent a pound to each ... minus a few teensy-tiny bites. :)

Hi, Boca!!

Because, I am very, very, very smart. :P

*ducks head*

Believe me, it's much nicer to BE the new member!! :)

So have you sent us "Oldies" a FQ each?

Butterfly (Addy on request)

Glad you're having a good time here, Connie! I'm in north Central Florida, outside of Gainesville. Hot here today too...ugh. And me with all this extra insulation on me ;-). I promise to try appliqué again sometime soon, and I don't mind the nagging one bit. I tend to get busy/lazy/distracted and forget things anyway! Still have issues with seams matching but what the heck. People still like them. I'm planning yet another wedding quilt for a coworker who just popped the question to his girlfriend a couple of weeks ago. I'm thinking the combo of Contrary Husband and Contrary Wife would be funny and make a pretty quilt. They'd appreciate the humor in it too.

Tell me who and where and I WILL! :)

Though I've not actually quilted in about 2 years (other than, really, the occasional evening on an Amish quilt that's l-o-o-n-g overdue), I have been collecting fabric like it's going out of style (which, it probably IS!) ...

I went through a period where I bought "Aunt Grace" left and right ...little boys sailing little boats, enough cherries to make a million pies, and enough scotties to satisfy even the most ardent terrier fan! :)

I think I even have a huge amount of hand-dyeds left over from Williamsburg about 6 years ago ....

True ... ya'll have it much, much, much hotter than we do, but it's fair - you have at least 4 times as many quilt shops than we do! (we really only have one - Quilting By the Bay - and a JoAnn's about 5 miles away ... other than that, the nearest decent fabric shop is about

60 miles west, in Ft. Walton Beach).

Once you put it all in perspective .... ;)

LOL, same here ... wait ... what group am I in again? ;)

I've got about 7 UFPs - 3 actually basted, hooped, and ready to go. Once I began quilting them, I just lost interest or got distracted by the "next one." The other four just need borders ... ran out of fabric on one of them ... and never found a fabric I liked to complete it. :/

I just finished pillow covers for two floor pillows - did one in a nine-patch and couldn't get the darn seams to match (though of course, I ripped them and redid them - first time sewing in a long time, so I was more than happy to savor it and prolong it!) ...

What's most important - more important than seams matching, thread tails being buried, etc, is the happiness you share with others, in MHO. Everyone loves quilts (even those who aren't very interested in actually quilting) ... they seem to just KNOW the love and history that goes in every stitch! :)

I think that's a clever idea ... and it would make a really cute tale for the grandkids! Wedding Rings I think have gotten a bit trite for wedding quilts (spoken by one who's always been too chicken to actually DO one - just call me "fox") ... I like the patterns that actually speak to those who made it or received it! :)

Now ... how's that applique coming along? ;)

*ducks so Debi can't ask ME the same thing!*

"Connie"

You're too funny in a nice sorta way:) We have an ongoing contest here to see who'll ask first : if it's for fabric or chocolate altho our Chocolate Queen takes a hiatus during her summer months...says it's too hot to send them but I think it's cause she needs time to get caught up on all that she gets the rest of the year......

Butterfly (just keep an eye out for an 'I'm collecting for' post that we have every so often is usually the best way ; )

I'm all for it ... believe it or not, I can remember every single fabric that I've bought! Probably because hubby STILL teases me about how many boxes and boxes of fabric I've got stowed away for a rainy day! :)

Ya'll are welcome to what I've got - mi fabrica is su fabrica! :)

Connie: You and I probably rubbed elbows in Williamsburg at the stall of the hand dyes vendor! I go every year. If you come up this way for Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival, don't look in Wmbg! The show is now held in Hampton, about 35 minutes east of Wmbg. The facility is new and way nicer there! I am nearby and love to have RCTQ meet ups. PAT

Connie wrote: ...cut...

Actually, Ms. B, my job title is Official Chocolate Taster, though my royal title is Queen of Everything! It can be confusing, but I do take my roles seriously!

I am NOT taking a hiatus this summer. Dry ice is available for safe shipping of chocolate. Fans and subjects (loyal or otherwise,) please take note!

PAT

Butterflyw> You're too funny in a nice sorta way:)

I was just trying to give you another title..maybe its' to much for you to handle so I rescind the title...if that can be done. Haven't checked the rules book lately.

Butterfly (Since when did dry ice come into the equation?I got a kick outta your keeping such close tabs on the weather)

No quilt shops near me, except maybe toward Jacksonville, Orange Park area. The one in Gainesville closed about a year ago and I haven't seen anything but Joann's since.

*snerk* No appliqué as of yet... My feet are going to complain about me getting back up on them in a minute when I go to cook super, and the dog will get all excited since he gets to eat about that time. DH comes home from work in a couple of hours, about the time I'm getting ready for bed. And I've been trying to find an old friend online through an IM service we used to chat on, but in dealing with them I remember why I don't really use them much anymore... they're big PITA's for trying to search, especially when you've been out of touch and don't have a current email (or can't remember it...) I *am* tired... that last paragraph is rambling like mad! Anyway, I'll get back to sewing this weekend... maybe ;-)

*rolls eyes* I'm finding out that's the case everywhere today ... took out an old edition of "Quilt Shop Traveler" (?) and tried searching them via Google ... most are closed!

JoAnn's is bigger (and does more business, I'd bet) than our local shop ... JoAnn's has cornered the market and more than likely driven some great shops of out of biz. Even Hancock's felt the bite ...

I hear you ... I've been trying to find an old, very dear friend ... we both moved, promised to keep in touch and then just kind of drifted apart. No dice on my end, either. :(

As to dinner ... I only do Rachael Ray nowadays. If it takes longer than 30 minutes or has more than 10 ingredients, I usually don't bother and just order a pizza! We have Papa John's on speed dial!

LOL, I've rambled more, trust me ... you ARE tired so what you wrote doesn't make sense to YOU! :)

Here's some quilty hugs .... save your strength and get to bed ... you sound like you've more than earned it! 'Sides, you can't applique if you don't have your strength up! ;)

Last time I was there was a whopping 6-7 years ago (since moved to FL and haven't made my way back to good ol' Virginny - where I was born and raised - parents still live there!) ... were you there then, too? It'd be a huge hoot if we did see each other there! I wouldn't doubt it, though, it was quite a turnout!!

Well, moving it from Wmsbrg is sad ... I really like that area. Hampton's nice too, don't get me wrong ... and the hotel (Holiday Inn?? was that it??) that they held the show in just felt so .... cramped and not very glad to have us there ...

Have you ever eaten at Captain George's? BEST seafood ever!! And this is from someone who lives on the Gulf! :) In fact, I just made authentic Jambalaya (with Gulf shrimp & blue lips) for dinner!

We have a nice (but small - though getting bigger every year) show here ... and we have the beaches, the sun, etc ... if you ever find yourself moseying down this-a-way, I'd love to put you up and show you around ... we only have one local quilt shop ... but about 50 miles away, we have a few more .... :)

I'll even drive nicely ... grew up driving on I-95 and although I'm still a Beltway driver, I promise I'll behave myself whilst your here! :)

LOL... I did get some rest and it's off to work again soon. I have a HUGE Great Dane to do a bone scan on today, unless I get dragged into another part of the department and someone else has to scan him... I'm thinking that a trip to the ATM and then fast food breakfast may be in order this morning. I know it's terribly unhealthy but I've been relatively good food-wise the rest of this week so far and I'm starving and there's no milk for cereal right now (thanks to DH who doesn't take milk out of the freezer when he empties the last bits out of the jug...grrr...;-)

You work with animals? *sigh* I used to be a vet's assistant (read: haul big doggies onto the table and hold'em for the vet) and I LOVED it. Unfortunately, it only took about 2 months to realize that I was hopelessly allergic to cats!

*sigh* I really do envy you ... it was quite possibly the most rewarding job I ever had ...

No, no shock collars for spouses ... Lord knows, if there was one, I'D not be here today! Hubby would have zapped me a good one! The poor man just helped me dig through 12 (HEAVY) boxes searching for the perfect fabric to applique with ... and guess what?! None of them worked, so it's off to my LQS for me! :)

Wheee!!! :)

Hmmm ... what do you consider good food-wise? Lord knows, losing about

20 pounds (one butt cheek) wouldn't be a bad thing in MY case!! :)

Well, good for me with food is not eating everything in sight, but I've stuck to my meals and not overdone it then. healthy snacks, more fruits and veggies, lean meat, rather than processed granola bars, crackers, chips, soda... I've worked mostly for veterinarians for ages now and love it. The added interest in doing radiology is getting good images that help our doctors diagnose and treat whatever oddball ailments these animals get referred to us for. I've seen some strange things, from congenital heart defects (most of which our cardiology dept does wonders with) to ingested toys (a big cheer went up a few months back when they were able to remove half of a SuperBall from the stomach of a Yorkie with the scope, rather than having to take him to surgery.) DH is a good boy, but he seems to forget things like the milk, cleaning the kitty box, washing dishes... things I hate to do too!;-) Go figure...

Yeesh ... my diet usually consists of Coke, chips, and crackers .... with occasional sushi (a pathetic attempt at being good). But hubby's gone low-carbs and we're following suit (I am NOT going to make two meals for dinner!) ... so far, so good ... I haven't even cheated on cookies or chocolate (how long THAT will last ...?).

Do you eat lots of fish? Everyone I talk to says that they are the healthiest and lowest in fat (the bad kind) and carbs ... too, I imagine the Omegas are good, too ...

What made you decide to eat healthier? Not meaning to get too nosy ... if I'm out of line, please just tell me to bug off. :)

A superball from a yorkie?

*whistles* I'd have thought that a superball would be bigger than the dog! I'm glad that he was okay ...

You should be able to appreciate this ... around Christmas, we had chicken wings. I was recovering from DVT (blood clots) and couldn't do the trash (or the cooking, LOL) and hubby forgot to take the trash out (Buddy LOVES to hunt for treasure in the garbage!). Next thing I know, we're awakened at 2 in the morning by the sounds of poor Furface yelping and screeching in pain. We took him into the living room where we had the best light, and in the living room was the remains of our chicken wings. Needless to say, we panicked and called our vet (who is blessed with more patience than I ever was). Immediately Buddy starts vomiting and of course, by this time, we're both crying, begging the vet for advice, and praying ...

So the vet says to bring him in in the AM ... after test upon test, X-ray after X-ray we find out ...

Buddy was so overweight that he literally "sprained his ass" (as hubby says) jumping off our bed (the tall kind that for most, requires steps to get onto - his idea not mine - he's the tall one, not me) to sneak into the kitchen to get the wings! Specifically, he sprained the area where his tail meets his rump/back! The pain was so bad that he yelped and hollered every time that he moved - we thought it was chicken bones in his digestive tract! After a week of doggie painkillers he was fine ... and on a diet (my fault - I love to give him treats).

I thought it was funny (in a sad way - can't stand to see my Furface in pain) ... I'll bet you have some doozies to share! I'd love to hear them when you have the inclination! :)

*rolls eyes* Our prob is the trash - we both hate to do it and he often manages to "forget" to take it to the dumpster (we live in an apartment). My car is all curves and putting the trash on top of the car just won't work (it always falls off halfway to the front of the complex) ... his is a Jeep so it has the roofrack and a nice straight top (trash never falls off his). When we bought the Jeep, we agreed that IT was to be used to ferry the bags to the dumpster ... but as I said, he hates the job enough that he usually "forgets" to take it ...

When we agreed on the Jeep being used for that, I think he thought that he could leave me with the Jeep (and therefore, the job of taking the trash) - but it turns out, he loves driving the thing so much (feels He-man, I guess - that and the plates on my car is "Sew-On" LOL) that he NEVER leaves it! :)

BTW, if you ever have the problem of hubby wanting to drive YOUR car, just get sewing vanity plates - cures it EVERY time! Hubby had to borrow my car to ferry around some big-wigs that were in town ... for six months after, all of his male co-workers would come up to him, raise their fist, and holler "Sew ON, Dude!" :)