Sunset on Singletary Lake, NC

I got away this weekend and spent it with some great people.    As part of the weekend festivities, there was a schedule sunset paddle on Singletary Lake.  

I went as the photographer, since my kayak sank a few years back.  Didn't hear that story?  Check it out HERE.  And if you want all of the follow up posts, they can be found HERE in reverse order.

I really think I had as much fun as those people paddling,  and I stayed dry!  I took about 100 pictures, but these are just a couple of the really good ones.

AMW

(Day 3 of NaBloPoMo!  Only 27 more to go!)

NaBloPoMo

Yeah - that title was greek to me, too, and I had to look it up.

Apparently, November is National Blog Posting Month.  And the goal is to post SOMETHING everyday.  HA!

But then I realized that I already started off right by randomly posting yesterday, even though I was unaware that it was NaBloPoMo.

Oh, and look!  I've got today covered too!

I have no earthly idea if I can keep this pace up.  I mean, really?  Posting EVERYDAY?  Have you SEEN my track record???  I doubt I've posted 30 times this YEAR!

But what the hey............

2 down, 28 to go!  Wish me luck!

AMW

Success comes in many forms

I posted something on Facebook this week, and got some weird looks.  Well, not looks really, cause it's the internet and you can't really see, but I could certainly FEEL the strange looks as it was probably (ok, REALLY) out of character for me.

But it got me thinking that it would probably make a pretty good blog post (albeit a bit more insightful and serious than normal).  Hey - you did read that this is RANDOM THOUGHTS, right???

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What makes us successful?  So many times, we judge success by how much money we make, the car we drive, or the house we live in.  Sometimes even by the neighborhood, or who we associate with, or where we dine.

Sometimes it's in our job title.  But sometimes it's not.  I own a small business.  So my title is often "Owner"  or "President".  Four and a half years ago, I bought the company that I worked for.  And for many people, they would call me successful for that.  But I don't see it that way.  Over the last four years, the logistics of my business have change, and I don't really enjoy it.  Don't read that wrong....  I love what I do, but I'm not currently enjoying aspects of it.  But that's for another post on another day.

If my success was based on solely on even some of the criteria above, I'd be considered a dismal failure.

Fortunately - success comes in many forms.  Friendships, relationships, family, and many other ways.  But recently for me, it's come in the form of friendships.

Most of my friends don't care that I make VERY little money.  Or that I drive an 11 year old beater of a car.  Why?  Because they are my friends!

I haven't always been a good friend.  I've gone through slumps where I've been very selfish, to the point of not even noticing my friends were struggling.  And I haven't always known how to juggle multiple friendships at once.  I was really bad at it.  I've slowly, over about the last 5 years, learned to manage this, and come to really enjoy it.   And even more recently, I feel like I've started noticing, and trying to offer to be more of the kind of friend that I would like to be.

And in turn, it has me appreciating my friends more.  The more I contribute to my friendships, the more I appreciate them.  Funny how that works out.

It's also made it easier to develop new friendships into lasting friendships.

And I consider that a success.

What does success look like for you?

AMW

This is backwards

I've been recovering from routine (yet major) surgery, so I've been a bit sluggish. Still tired, and sore from time to time.  Nothing out of the ordinary for recovery.  I've actually stopped taking the prescribed pain medicine except on rare occasion.    Like tonight.

I was a little extra sore today, so thought I'd take a pain pill tonight to help me sleep through the night.

And here I sit WIDE AWAKE at 1:00am.

I went to bed at 10:00pm.  I just could NOT fall asleep.

I imagine I'll have no trouble drifting off to sleep tomorrow in the lazy boy recliner, but right now it alludes me.

Would be the perfect time to get some sewing in, but that would wake up my roomie who has to work in the morning, and that wouldn't be good.

So I'll just hang here in blogland with you guys, K?

;)

AMW

Fractions pattern

This will be a picture-heavy post.

After my last post about a quilt that I wasn't crazy about, but that grew on my, I thought I'd share a finish that I've loved from the beginning and love even more now.

The pattern is called "Fractions".  

It used mostly fat quarters with the exception of the sashing and borders.

I quilted it on the long-arm after I got done doing the black, white and red quilt as practice.

Just a large all-over meander.

One of the things I love about this one is how nice it "crinkled" after it was washed.

The "crinkling" has made me a fan of NOT washing fabrics before piecing.

The back.

Although originally made to go in the remodeled office, this has been my go-to quilt during surgery recovery.  I LOVE it!

 It will make it's way to the office eventually, but for now, I'm loving snuggling under it!

Do you always pre-wash your fabrics?  I used to, but lately haven't.  I find it easier to cut and easier to piece fabrics that haven't been washed, but I especially love washing it and seeing how it turns out.

AMW

It grew on me...

I wanted to make a black, white, and red quilt.  I found some fabrics that I liked, and just had to figure out what to do with them.

I figured a simple pattern would be best.  So I just did a trip around the world on point.

Well, when I got the top done, I didn't like it.  Has that ever happened to you?  You plan something, and get it nearly done, and then don't care for it?

I figured I'd use it as a practice piece for the long arm, and backed it with something else that I didn't really care for.  Since I didn't really like the front, I couldn't see putting a great back on it!

I used it as practice, and quilted it all over with a loopy pattern, and really had a good time playing with it.

And was glad when it was done!

But funny thing - when it was done AND BOUND, I didn't hate it so much.  It grew on me...

I'll admit that it's not a quilt I could cuddle under and relax.  But it's perfect for throwing in the camper, or the back of the car.  Using it for a picnic quilt or just general purpose.  In fact, we used it Labor Day weekend when we went camping and someone sitting outside was cold.  Threw it around her shoulders, and it warmed her right up.  So all is not lost.

Have you ever made anything that you REALLY didn't like, but it eventually grew on you?

AMW

What? Did I miss something?

Yeah, I've been MIA again.  Kinda, but not really...  I've been reading all my favorite blogs, just not writing.

I'll blame it on being a little busy, but also on feeling like I didn't have anything to say.

Now I'm recovering from surgery, and am getting to the bored point.  It's only been 5 days, and I'm bored.  I still can't move a whole lot, and am still in a fair amount of pain, so sewing is out for now.

And frankly, you guys aren't posting any more than normal, so I don't have any EXTRA reading material.    Can you all just step it up a bit?  If all of my favorite blogs did one extra blog post a day, well, then I'd hardly be bored at all...  Yeah, I know it's a lot to ask, but it's for my sanity after all.  And what's one extra post a day??? (Asked by someone who hasn't posted 6 weeks????)

Fine.  Keep up the normal pace.  I'll try to catch up on a few posts that I've been meaning to write.  And share some of the happenings from the last few weeks.

AMW

My Morning in Traffic Court

A few weeks ago, I was driving along, minding my own business, not doing ANYTHING wrong, when one of Norfolk's Finest thought it would be a good idea to pull me over.

I wasn't speeding.

I had my seat belt on.

I wasn't texting (or facebooking).

Just minding my own little business.

He thought it would be a good idea to remind me that my state inspection was due by the end of June.  And that it was July 6th.

So, maybe he had a point in reminding me that this was something I am supposed to take care of on my own without reminders.  And I took care of it the next day...

I had heard (and remembered) that sometimes if  you just show up in court, and show that it was taken care of, they'll dismiss it.  It was worth a shot, since the fine and court costs would be $90!  $90!

I show up this morning, and immediately see a sign that no cell phones are allowed in the court buildings.  I guess this is something that I should know since the sign was dated 2006.  But I didn't, and I had my phone, and didn't have a clue what to do with it.

Being a good geocacher (check out www.geocaching.com) I just decided to stash it in the bushes.  Fearing that it could go missing, and my non-stop connection to all technical life would be on hold, I made sure it was hidden well!

Imagine my surprise when I walk through the door of said court house, and there are lockers!  LOCKERS!  Right there for anyone to store anything they needed to store.  For a mere 50 cents.    UGH!  Go back and get said cell phone and securely lock it up, or risk it????

Yep - I risked it!

I take my seat on a hard wooden bench and wait for my name to be called.  When my officer is up, I notice they are going in alphabetical order.  Of course.  By last name.  Notice my initials:  AMW.  Surprisingly, it only took about 35 minutes.

AND MY CASE WAS DISMISSED!  YEAH!  I can think of so many better things to spend that $90 on!

Left quickly (so there was no time for him to change his mind) and went to my hiding spot to grab my phone and............

IT WAS STILL THERE!

So while I had to spend part of my morning in Traffic Court, it coulda been worse.

AMW

FTF - Full Circle

Well, this week seems like a good week to jump back into the Favorite Thing Friday with Shay over at Quilting in my Pyjamas!

On Friday, January 28th, I posted about the Norfolk Botanical Gardens Eagles as my Favorite Things Friday.  I posted an update on February 16th, announcing 3 eggs laid.  I didn't get a chance to post that all three eggs had hatched and eaglets were doing ok, before the devastating news that the Mama Eagle had been hit and killed by a landing plane.  I never followed up about what happened to them, although I followed them regularly.

The three eaglets were removed from the nest and taken to a world-renowned wildlife center.  The Wildlife Center of Virginia.  This wasn't without controversy, but the experts decided that Daddy Eagle wouldn't be able to provide for three growing eaglets and himself, and that several would perish or Dad would perish if he tried.

Fast forward to this week, and three months to the DAY that they were removed from the nest.

All three were released into the wild, as well as two other juvenile eaglets that from different situations that were rehabbed and ready to go.  A 5 eaglet release into the wild.

I went and attended this in person, and this is my Favorite Thing Friday this week (even though it happened on Wednesday!)

These incredible birds have come full circle and are now free to live out their destiny as the symbol of our country.  Here are some pictures of the big day:

This picture does not do justice how many people were there.  Last I heard there  were 1200 people from 22 state and 4 provinces in Canada.

DGIF (Department of Game and Inland Fisheries) were on hand just in case a rescue was needed.

Ed Clark was THE man of the hour.  He is one of the main people in charge at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

Ed Clark gets ready to release the first of 5.  Can you just SEE the size of these creatures???

Release in ONE......

Two......

Three!  And off she goes!

Dr. Miranda (a key vet in the eaglets care) gets set to release another one.

Off to freedom in ONE.....

TWO.....

Airborne!!!

Steve Living (with DGIF) gets set for another release.  Note the sign in the background.  It refers to the mama eagle who some have dubbed "Lady Legacy".

Getting ready for lift-off!

And the toss!

And she's airborne!

It was truly emotional to watch, and I cried as each eagle flew to it's freedom.  Happy and Proud tears.  I wasn't the only one!  Lots of folks were crying...  LOL!  I think it was really Eagle dander in my eye....

And lastly, for your viewing pleasure, I managed to capture one of the releases on video:

Thanks for hanging in there through all the pics and the video!  I hope you enjoyed it ever-so-slightly!  

AMW

I have a problem

What's my problem????  Too much fabric, too little time...

Pieces of fabric are stashed everywhere in the craft room...  And a great variety. Part of the problem is that I don't buy the minimum amount I think I need...  I buy the MAXIMUM I think I need.  Need a yard?  Why not get 3???

Polka dot fabric

More polka dot fabric

And while it's all **somewhat** organized, it's still a big mess!

Fat quarters

One specific project waiting to be started

Various charm pack and jelly rolls

Why yes, that IS a bookshelf in a BATHROOM full of FABRIC.  That's not a PROBLEM, is it???

So, you see my problem?  Where to start?  So many ideas in my head, yet no where near enough time to do what I want....

Ok - going to figure out what to do next!

AMW