2011 August 30 — Patchwork Times by Judy Laquidara

Time Wasting

August 30, 2011 · by JudyL

You know I’m an expert at wasting time but recently as part of a “Life Well Lived” series for Blogher, we were asked the following question:

What is the biggest time waster/issue you have when getting you and your family ready in the morning? What tips do you have to save time in the morning to get everyone out and ready on time?

My answer was this: When Chad was young, in late elementary or middle school, getting him up in the morning was a nightmare. I dreaded getting up because I knew the next thing I had to do was get Chad up. I’d go upstairs, wake him up, come back downstairs to fix breakfast, go back and wake him up again and make him promise he was actually getting into the shower the minute I left the room, go back downstairs, turn the bacon, go back upstairs to find that he had gone back to bed. You’ve probably been there.

Someone told me to get him his own alarm clock, have him set it and check it each night and get up on his own each morning. We did and we discussed with him what time he had to get up in order to shower and get dressed and be downstairs for breakfast by 7 a.m. There was probably some reward for doing it but the punishment for not doing it was that his bed time got moved up 30 minutes for each morning he didn’t get up, get dressed and get downstairs to eat breakfast on time. We explained to him that the only reason he should have for not getting up was that he needed more sleep so he would go to bed earlier and earlier til he got up on time. I remember us arguing at one point and I told him that if he had to get off the bus and go to bed, that was fine with me because he WAS going to get up on time. He hated going to bed early so having to go to bed 30 minutes early a few times worked for him.

It worked and it made my mornings so much easier.

Do you have any tips to share that help get your family (or just yourself) going in the morning? Take a moment and go over to the BlogHer Life Well Lived Series and see what others are saying on this topic. And, while you’re there, be sure to answer their question by leaving a comment about a Life Well Lived Moment and you will be entered to win a $250 Visa Card.

· Filed Under: Home & Garden · 9 Comments

Noises in the Night

August 30, 2011 · by JudyL

I am the biggest chicken in the whole world! When it gets dark, I’m afraid of my own shadow. Nothing’s ever happened that made me afraid . . I’m just scared! When I was growing up, we lived in a very safe little town (except for my sister and her crazy friends!). We would leave the keys in our cars during the day time and they had a house key on them. I never went to bed early and about midnight, I would remember that my keys were in the car. Of course, the car was about 2 steps from the door but I’d wake my dad up, make him come “watch me” while I went out and got my keys! Even now, I make Vince get up and “watch me” if Speck has to go out in the middle of the night. I know . . he should just go out with him and let me sleep but that doesn’t happen.

Outside this house are some round vent opening type things on the sides. I know critters can get through there!

The side by the kitchen has a screen over the opening. The side by the bedrooms does not!

In the master bedroom closest, there’s an attic access. Every night just about the time I almost fall asleep, I hear this loud thump! The first couple of nights, it scared me half to death. The next few nights, I lay in bed waiting for it and yes, it always happens, just like clockwork, right before I go to sleep. Of course, Vince is snoring to beat the band and he hears nothing.

The other night on the news, they were talking about a rabid raccoon. Last night when I heard the thump . . you know what went through my mind! A rabid raccoon has climbed up the side of my house, gone through the opening, into my attic and has fallen into my closet. I said to Vince “There could be a raccoon in the closet!” Huh? “Really, would you get up and look?” No! He would not get up and look. This morning I never thought about it and he uses a different closet.

Thank goodness, I had clothes in the laundry room this morning or I’m not sure what I would have worn to the dentist because I am not opening that closet til he gets home.

What if there is a rabid raccoon and he falls down into my closet every night and then climbs back up in the morning and does it again every night? Otherwise, what is that sound I’m hearing every night?

· Filed Under: Home & Garden · 48 Comments

Let Me Introduce You . .

August 30, 2011 · by JudyL

I have a brand new team member I would like for you to meet!

60 Pieced Quilt Borders! Guess what’s in there! 60 Pieced Quilt Borders . . to mix and match! Included are my tips for making any border fit any quilt and for adding those neat and accommodating strips that make those wonderful pieced borders fit.

It should be out in early January, 2012 and I will begin taking pre-orders in early November. I’m so excited about this book because borders work for every quilter. Whether you like pieced, applique, traditional or non-traditional, almost all quilts benefit from borders. I haven’t even seen the first draft yet so I’m going to say no more but will keep you posted on the progress.

When I signed the contract for this book, I had no idea that on May 1, the due date for the manuscript and all the quilts, that my life would be so crazy. Once again, AQS Publishing has been fantastic throughout this process. Linda Baxter Lasco is my editor and has been for all three books. Andi Reynolds is the executive editor. They are both so wonderful to work with and they’ve both been patient and understanding. AQS never misses a deadline, they always figure out what I’m trying to say, even when I’ve confused myself. Thank you AQS Publishing and all those who work there along with Linda and Andi. Coming up with ideas for a book is the easy part; what those folks at AQS Publishing do to make it happen is the hard part. Thank you all!

When I’m ready to start taking pre-orders, I’ll post a note on the blog and I’ll add a button/link to the sidebar. Be watching!

· Filed Under: Quilting · 58 Comments

Walking on Water

August 30, 2011 · by JudyL

Almost! We walked where water once was. Though sad, it is amazing to see the lake almost completely dried up at this end.

Deep Water? Really? This sign is at the boat launch for our subdivision.

This is the boat launch. There is water way off in the distance but there surely aren’t any boats on the water.

This what the bottom of the lake looks like now. Some of the neighbors were out Friday night on four wheelers and those are the tracks you see. When we were out there walking, I felt like a kid — maybe walking from the top of one little tower to the top of another little tower. The little “towers” would sometimes crumble when we stepped on them and sometimes they would wobble. It almost made me dizzy looking down and trying to determine which ones were the most secure so I could step on those.

Isn’t it weird? If you just looked at that picture, without knowing it’s the ground that’s all cracked and dried, what would you think it is?

Those cracks go down very, very deep. Have you ever seen anything like that?

This old stump and root system reminded me of an octopus, looking up and begging for help. The only help I can offer is to pray for rain for our area . . desperately needed rain!