What Will You Do With Your Extra Day?

Wednesday, February 29^th is Leap Day.  Why not use this perfect opportunity to do something awesome, different or unexpected?  Take fifteen minutes, an hour, or the whole day.  Indulge yourself.  Volunteer your time.  Be creative and get inspired. There won't be another for one thousand four hundred and sixty days, so no matter what you do, leap out there and make the most of it.  

"Leap and the net will appear."  - Zen saying

Sewing With Love

My latest quilting project is just over halfway complete, but I couldn't wait to post some photos. I've been a busy lady, piecing a small quilt for my sweetie. His basement retreat (bubba room, radio shack, computer center & electronic workshop) has a cozy corner just right for reading or a nap. I designed this twin quilt especially for Jerold and named it Perfect Place To Snooze.

The border is a light weight denim with chambray blue for the background. The reverse side, called Off Center, is one huge asymmetrical log cabin rectangle in red, cream and navy. This whole project was done using fabrics from my stash. I had a few squares left over to make a matching chair cushion for his oak office chair.

I'm off to start working out a machine quilting pattern to accentuate the blue background crosses. I really love to sew, but it's even more satisfying when I'm stitching with love.

Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.  ~Author Unknown

Those who sleep under a quilt, sleep under a blanket of love.  ~Author Unknown

 

Put Your Heart In It

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, celebrated with hearts, flowers, candy, jewelry and perfume. I've always loved this holiday, even in elementary school with those goofy little valentines and candy hearts. A day focused on chocolate and roses is always at the top of my list! I'm not picky...any chocolate will do, a little bag of Hershey's kisses or a fancy two pound box of Godiva.

I'm lucky to have the same loving sweetheart for the past forty-two years. He's had plenty of time to figure out what I like, and he always remembers. Not just on holidays or anniversaries, but every day. A good relationship is created by making an effort, communicating, loving, sharing, and doing those extra little things for each other.

What things? We both do them. A sweet smile, a shoulder to lean on, or a hug while I'm standing at the sink. Filling a coffee cup, starting a load of laundry, ironing shirts, going out for breakfast, helping our parents, taking a walk together. A surprise little gift, a favorite movie, a call for no reason but to say I love you. I could go on and on. It's really about being nice, considerate, and helpful. He's a keeper, and I think he feels the same way about me.

Sure, there have been a few little bumps in the road. Everyone has those, especially when you've been together as long as we have. They require forgiveness, tolerance and understanding. The point is, you have to put your heart into anything worth having, whether it's marriage, family relationships, friends, your job or your life.

So, today, tomorrow and every day, put your heart in it and give someone love, friendship and a smile. You'll be happier for it, I promise.

“Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it,  take yourself out of it.”  – Unknown

Does Your Life Feel Like Groundhog Day?

Are you doing the same things over and over again? Waiting for something different to happen? 

Remember Phil, in the film Groundhog Day? “I told you. I wake up every day, right here, right in Punxsutawney, and it's always February 2nd, and there's nothing I can do about it.”

Our lives sometimes become a little too routine, predictable and monotonous. While routines are comforting and useful, they can feel stifling if your whole life revolves around them. You get into a rut, do the same things every day, and wonder where the time went at the end of the week.

You can do something about it. Keep your basic routines, but get them done and out of the way so you have time for fun. Break out of your normal pattern. You don't have to do something drastic or life-altering. Any small change will give your daily life more variety.

Explore something new. Take a different route to work. Do something nice for someone. Change your hairstyle. Try a new menu item. Choose a different color shirt. Make an appointment with yourself to enjoy a hobby that you love. Go for a walk outside. Rearrange your furniture. Buy flowers for no reason. Take a class. Buy shoes. Call an old friend or make a new one. 

And, above all...enjoy your life! The groundhog really doesn't know if spring is coming, so you can't depend on him to tell you what to do. Life's much too short to wait around for something to happen. It's up to you to make the most of the life you choose.

“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, 

but that we wait so long to begin it.”  

~ W.M. Lewis