Finally and Hopefully

I have been in this house with my Dad since October 28. Two weeks after he turned ninety. I am glad I am here, but the move and the living here has put the "me" on hold. I am not ungrateful.
My Dad is somewhat of a hoarder. Not bad, it really could be worse. I am not a "neat-nik" but I could do better. I think I am a tad lazy too, which does not help.
What I am getting at is that there is this lovely bright and airy yellow bedroom that sits (ahem) empty right next to my bedroom. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Quilters I know all think basically the same. We do what we can with what we have and then sometimes we go out and add to our stash. I am not worried about my stash. I have been faithfully adding to it since I got here. I am just not using it. I want to mind you. I just don't have the space. Except that damn "empty" bedroom.

Um yeah...
Can you see that I spent five freakin hours in there today? I worked the entire time. Was I got done was to fill a box of papers that are older than the hills. I consulted with my Dad's accountant to find out what exactly I need to keep. He said throw out all the utility bills, credit card bills, and anything older than seven years. (I didn't touch any of the current billing statements, paid or unpaid, those are in another room anyway)
When I get this room cleared it will be Quilt Central. I will be in there. IN THERE! And not hunching over a bunch of all stinky paperwork. I will be hunching over some lovely fabrics and my stash and my quilty things and, and, and...
So, my finally and my hopefully is that I have finally started tackling the mess that will someday be my quilt central and hopefully, I can keep at it. I didn't realize how much work it is to purge!

In other news:

For my birthday I went to see two of my kiddos. The youngest daughter has a ranch (ette) down by Fresno, CA. The middle daughter just moved down there with her, because there are work opportunities for her and her boyfriend and a safety net (Her younger sister).
I went horse back riding for the first time in twenty years and for the first time with my younger daughter where we were both riding out own horses. She put me on her most gentle mare. A horn could have gone off next to that horse and she wouldn't have even flinched. Thankfully.
It was absolutely wonderful to wake up to horses outside the bedroom window. A ranch where my daughter used to work up by me just gave her fifteen horses that were going to end up at a slaughter house. They gave them to her so she could make sure they are all sound and then find good homes for them. She also has a few of her own horses. She told me she is keeping the mare that I rode. (YAY!)

Meet Tilly, or Matilda. The heart on here leg is from when she went through another horse rescue called the heart of the horse or something equally romantic sounding. Tilly is in her forever home now. My daughter loves her, so do I.

It was nice sitting in the cool evenings and watching the colors form in the sunsets. Gorgeous I tell you, just gorgeous!

Just a little slice of Heaven right here on earth. Not to mention I got to spend some quality time with my girls and their fellows.

Okay, so I really need some practice!

My first attempt left me feeling inept. (Is that the word I want?)
Obviously, I don't have the control over my hands and machine and feet and fingers that I thought I had. That's why they say practice makes perfect.
I need those gloves that Leah has, I need that silicone thingy that lays on the bed of the machine so I have more control. Gosh...Friday is payday. Guess what I am ordering???
Hey! I sewed! I'm happy. It's what I was striving to do.
More later...

Finally!

I got sixty or so...(really I forgot to count them) 6-1/2" squares cut out of my white fabric today! YAY me!!!
Tomorrow morning I plan on cutting some batting to go along with those squares. And then...I move my laptop into the living room on the table next to my sewing machine, tune into Leah Day at http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/, and learn from her great methods of Free Motion Quilting.

It has been MONTHS since I was able to sit down and do any type of sewing at all. I thought I was all ready to go and then realized that I had left all my rulers behind at the other house, so went and picked those up so I could continue on my journey.

My Dad said the most wonderful thing to me today. He said after breakfast, "What are you going to do for yourself today?" NO ONE has ever asked me that. It has just made my day so, so happy! I didn't do much for myself to day. I did clean my room, which, yes, was for myself, but it was just something I couldn't put off anymore. It didn't look messy, but it took me a while to get it tidied up. I did cut my squares. Then I went and got some groceries for Dad and I, picked up some 4 X 4's, and some post hole cement, so my BIL can start building Dad's fence. It wasn't for me, but if my Dad is happy then I am happy.

I will try to remember to get pictures as I go along with my FMQ "lessons". I want to keep track of my progress, and here is the best way I know how to do that. Then when I get enough squares done I can follow along with someone's tutorials on putting quilt as you go squares together.

I'm on an adventure!!!