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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Fabric... Welcome to the Patriotic Quilter where I like to share all things quilty as well as red, white, and blue! Please feel free to look around and enjoy yourself! I would love to hear from you.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Jumping Back In

Hi Everyone!

I have been wanting to get back blogging for several weeks now, but the first post back seemed so daunting to write.  So much has happened, how can I possibly remember it all?  How do I get back to it?  Are just a couple of the hurdles that made it difficult to start again.  Compounding the problem is the fact that I was feeling so guilty for not posting, that I haven't been reading many other blogs.  I think if I had been, it would have inspired me to get back to it.

The past few days, I decided just to write a "normal" post--just "jump back into it."  Then this morning when I woke up, I had an email from Maggie in Vermont wondering where I was, so I decided that it had to be today.

The closing for our house went off without a hitch.  Well, at least once we got there.  Since my husband had the afternoon off, he decided to stop by the DMV on the way to the closing.  (The DMV is just a couple blocks from the closing.)  His goal was to get his new Indiana driver's license.  His previous license had expired, but that state allows it to remain valid if you are in the military.  This state has the same provision with theirs, so you would think that everything would go smoothly.  We allowed over 2 hours for the process and there wasn't a line, but still we nearly were late.  To make a long story short, it involved the clerk, the supervisor, and several phone calls down to the state office.  On top of all of that, the clerk didn't think that Alaska was a state(!)



 Here we are signing some of the papers.

That was the end of September.  The very next day I began painting some of the rooms.  They were all very lovely to begin with, however, most of them were green, and while I like green, it just doesn't go with my things.  So I tackled the kitchen, my new quilting room, the dining room, a guest room, the master bedroom and the entire basement rec room.  I finished it all on a Thursday and on Friday went on a day trip with my daughter to Ikea in Cincinnati.  While we were there, my husband called to say that our stuff was arriving on Sunday (as in the day after tomorrow!)  We weren't really expecting it until the following Tuesday, and so we just had Saturday to move out of our apartment.

 

The delivery went pretty smoothly.  If you have ever moved, you know that sometimes it can be heartbreaking when your things arrive damaged, etc.  Our stuff was mostly okay--a few dings here and there, but that is expected.  Nothing seems to be lost, either.  The weather was gorgeous--it had poured with rain the day before, so that was lucky too.

Once they left on Sunday afternoon, the work really got started.  We actually got most of the boxes emptied and out to recycling by the end of the next weekend.  I think I was motivated by it being the last time!  Also, I was leaving my quilting things to the end...

What went very slow for me (and always does) is the "dressing" of the house.  Where to sit things?  How to arrange things on the wall?  What should go in each room?  Over the course of our military life, my house became entirely red, white, and blue.  The advantage was that if some favorite thing didn't fit in the room it was supposed to, it could go in another.  The huge disadvantage has been deciding what room to put everything in!  It would have been much easier if I had, say, a blue and yellow bedroom.  I would put all of the blue and yellow stuff in there and arrange it so it works the best and be done.  Instead, nearly everything I have could go into any room, so that was all a bit daunting, too.  I finally got the main floor done, and the guest rooms upstairs.  I have a few things hanging in the basement, but all of the rest is leaning up against the walls down there.  I had all of the "sitting" decorations all over the dining room table.  Luckily, I had Thanksgiving to motivate me, and I got things arranged and the excess carried downstairs in time.

Amongst all of the tasks to get done, are heavy doses of these:

My nephew who is now 10 months old

My nine year old neices.  

Moving somewhere where there is family has been wonderful!  I adore these kids and love spending time with them.

I am still going to the local quilt shop for "sit and sew" on Tuesdays.  Today is our Christmas party.  I also joined a newely-formed bee and have been to one of the two meeting that we have had so far. 


Have I shared that this is Amish country?  Shipshewana is only a bit over an hour away.  There are several wonderful quilt shops there, but I haven't been to them yet since we moved here.  We did go to Shipshewana for an antique show, but I didn't want to go to the quilt shops with my husband tagging along.

I think that this is a good start for now.  I will try to be back in a day or two to share more things.   My plan is to show some of the rooms, but in small doses.  I've done a bit of stitching lately, but not too much.  Part of the problem was getting my room set up--it took a while.  It still isn't ready to show as I'm redoing my fabric.  I had folded it all around my 6" ruler and had it neatly stacked on shelves in Virginia.  I planned to do that here, but I have different shelves, and they are not as deep, so the fabrics hangs over the edge.  Now I'm in the process of winding it around the comic book inserts.  I had 300 and ran out and just got some more.  More about that, later!  (Incidently, the folded fabric was easy to move.  They just stacked it in boxes, and I took it right out and put it on the new shelf.)

Until then, here is a teaser picture from out of the window of my quilting room.  I have a great view of the pond.


Have a wonderful day!
JoAnne

27 comments:

  1. Glad to see you back! And glad that you had an easy move. The view from your quilt room is beautiful. Wishing you the best!

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  2. Welcome back! You have been missed and you have been busy. Moving is a task no matter how smoothly things go. So the DMV is a little behind on Alaska being a state--wow! Wish I could say I was surprised but my job requires interaction with the DMV on a daily basis and sometimes its a little scary about what they know and don't know

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  3. That is funny, but scarey - not knowing Alaska is a state - geesh! I knew you were moving and getting accilmated and enjoying family. You will be back when it is comfortable. Holiday Wishes

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  4. Well, there are some Alaskans who feel they are a separate country😉!! Cute DMV story! Nice to see your post. That first move into the civilian world is always different - take your time settling in. Know you will enjoy the pond view - our house is next to our pond and almost 20 years later, we still love it in all the seasons - water fowl and wildlife is endless. Enjoy your holidays in the new surroundings making new memories.

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  5. You have a gorgeous view from your sewing room!
    Nice to get an update on your doings. Looking forward to seeing your new home. : )

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  6. Really, really glad that you are back.

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  7. I'm so glad your back and looking forward to seeing pictures of your new home.

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  8. Welcome back!!! I can't wait to see your new home!!!

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  9. So nice to see you back! It's hard to read about your "last" move...I'm soooo ready to say that! I'm glad things went relatively smoothly for you...I can't believe that was in September! Time flies!

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  10. HI JoAnne, nice to see your post - I was wondering about you too - and just thinking that maybe I was missing your posts for some reason! In spite of the slowness of what to put where and how you want things, it must also be very exciting and comforting to have that feeling of permanence. That's what we have where we are now and I love it. Such a gorgeous view from your quilting room and I imagine it would look good all year round.

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  11. I figured you were so busy with everything and no time to blog. PAUL ARPIN!! They moved us from TX to VA when my DH was an air traffic controller. They did a GREAT job and were pretty new back then (1980). And Oooo, you're view from the quilt room is fantabulous! Can't wait to see more.

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  12. Hi JoAnne! You and I have both been absent I guess! I haven't blogged in over two months! And yours was the first one I looked at in longer than that! Eek! So glad to hear of your move going smoothly, and that you are so close to family now! That is perfect! Can't wait to see your new place and how you've set up your sewing room! Big hugs!

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  13. Good to see you back on your blog. I've been following your adventures via your Instagram photos and love seeing your figure skating niece.

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  14. Welcome back; hoped you were just getting settled into your new life and that it was just taking a while. Love hearing the catch up details and look forward to seeing your sewing room. It's wonderful to be close to family.

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  15. Welcome back to the blog world. It is nice to hear from you. It must be such a treat to be close to family now.

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  16. Glad to have you back and are getting settled in your new home! I think unpacking is just as difficult as packing!

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  17. So glad to see you back. I have missed your posts. I think it was yesterday or the day before that I checked my bloglovin to make sure you were still on my blog role. I thought maybe I had accidently unfollowed you. You're one of my fav blogs and hope you get back to your normal blogging self.

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  18. Hi JoAnne! I'm so glad to see you're back to blogging! It sure sounds like you've been busy getting your new home put together. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've been sewing and hearing more about your house.

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  19. Thanks for coming back to the blog world. Am looking forward to your next entries. You have a lovely view. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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  20. Glad you're back and all is well...I've missed you!

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  21. Glad your move went well and that you are settling in your new home... that does take time. Love that view out your window....

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  22. So glad you are settling in! I've missed your posts. I LOVE your view! I would probably just sit and look out the window....Beautiful with the snow.

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  23. Yay! Welcome back to blogging. I missed you.

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  24. You've been missed!! Glad you are back ;-) Linda

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  25. Congratulations! I am so happy you are getting settled.

    The view from your sewing room window is gorgeous...I'm not sure I would get any stitching done :)

    Merry Christmas!

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  26. Glad you are back, and looking forward to more posts! Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!!

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  27. Good to hear from you. Have a Merry Christmas. Do you have snow for Christmas?

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