Where do you find the time?

I don't know if housework is sacred to you, but I was a clean freak and my doctor found my health not too good, so he asked me what I was doing in a day. I told him and his answer was this; "You have to slow down and rest, remember your house will still be there when you're gone, take care of yourself first and foremost". It took me quite a while to get that through my head and soon I understood that a day without housework was not the end of the world, that was a good lesson for me. Have fun, do something you love like quilting and take care of yourself first. Dixie in NB

When I give to you something I made with my hands I share my heart.

I can empathize with you! But I have some hand piecing work that I do at lunch time. I decided that life is too short to work through lunch anymore. If I need to work that much, they need more help! We're talking 12-14 hour days lately, then logging on from home. So, I now sew. Plus, I have a "Sit and Stitch" group at work that meets once per month and I look forward to those sessions too since then I have company.

In a hundred years we'll all be dead!

And the quilt you make will be a treasured heirloom, and no-one will know if you washed your kitchen floor once a day or once a week . . . . or even care.

Back when I had a dog, my kitchen floor was washed every day (by the dog, not me!). Every time I'd drop a bit of food, the dog was there, licking every single molecule off the floor. The places where food was likely to drop really gleamed! LOL

I may have to get a dog again because I haven't really adjusted to the idea that when things drop, they actually hit the ground. ;-)

ROFL - brought back a memory!

I am ex-military and we all had to do a "shoot" every year. So I duly went out and laid in the mud with my new CO and shot holes in little cardboard men one time. A few days later he came to my office (not normal - I usually went to his). It was lunchtime and I was doing needlepoint. He just pulled up short and shook his head, saying he couldn't reconcile the two images - "trained killer" and stitcher.

I twitched and stuttered that they told me it was good therapy and he almost ran out of the office.

Many years later, and now good friends, we still chuckle over the different images.

Rub...Rub...Rub....Rub...Rub...Rub....

Do you think it will work?

Kate in MI

I've found that the stuff the dog eats off the floor amounts to less than the dirt and crud she brings in but I do have a broom.

My mom was literally nearly dead before she let up on keeping a clean house. I think it was more necessary in the days when houses were smaller and there was a mess of kids. If you didn't keep up catching up was pretty tough. My dad has been having some weird stuff happen in his house lately. He told me he thinks 'mom' has been hanging around a bit (she died 6 years ago). He was teasing and said he sure wished she would have cleaned the shower when she was there ; )

I always have thought of myself as a casual gardener but since someone else mentioned she is a casual housekeeper I realize am that too.

Taria

Kathy Applebaum wrote:

Hi Carolyn, I certainly understand being a neat-nik, because I am one too. However, just like you "schedule" time to clean, you can "schedule" time to sew. The trick is to realize that for mental health having this time is just as important as having a tidy house. There are several ways to approach this. You could lay aside an hour to sew every other day (everyday if you can work it out), or you could declare one day per week a sewing day and forego the household duties. Believe me, either way, your house will not fall apart. For me, because of a busy household, it works best for me to schedule an hour to sew 3 times per week. You'd be amazed at what you can get done this way. And the best way to maximize this is to leave your sewing machine set up and your project(s) easily accessible. Hope this helps! Michelle in NV

"Carolyn McCarty" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@news.supernews.com...

One suggestion.. stick with simple patterns that still have WOW appeal... they are out there! Don't try a New York Beauty or a Mariner's Compass right now.

I saw a quilt not long ago -- forget whether it was Rail Fence or Yellow Brick Road -- either way fairly quick easy patterns. But the color choices (basically a 2 color quilt) make it look so much more complex!

Okay guys... I"m going to change the topic... and start a new post.... let's collect some ideas down this road!

Kate in MI

I was confused. I thought you were rubbing kitty's whiskers for us. Yes, indeed, neatness rubs off. My neighbor (not a gator) who quilts with me has been rubbed with it. When we first started quilting together, she absolutely rained pins, threads, scraps and templates just wall-to-wall and tossed fabric into twists beyond ironing. Now I notice that she is very careful, not only with my things but with hers. I haven't had to hit her in the face with a shovel in weeks. Polly

"Kate G." wrote > Rub...Rub...Rub....Rub...Rub...Rub....

Well, it hasn't done on me - yet. We'll keep hoping >g< . In message , Kate G. writes

I haven't swept up a Cheerio in over 3 years now.

So - their aim is better, huh? >g< . In message , frood writes

I can't believe we've had our beloved Mungo for 3 years. I want to add an auxilliary dog, but haven't gotten DH drunk enough to agree yet.

(Smile) . In message , frood writes

I know just what you mean, Kathy! We still have Dexter, but he's always been rather picky about what he'll clean up from the floor. Tuppence, OTOH, would grab first and wonder later what it had been. I loved how she'd clean up after the DGSs when they ate here -- Dexter, much as I love him, just won't condescend to do the same.