New quilts.

I realize I have dropped out of blogging for awhile. I have been too busy. I actually spend tons of time on the computer but don't take the time to blog. I love to read everyone else's blogs though. I have finished a few major quilts. Sarah, you will be happy to know your wedding quilt is finished----only 10 years late!
This quilt is "Sarah's Roses". I even quilted circular feathers in the white blocks.

I finished the top of this unnamed quilt which will be my nieces wedding quilt. It is a collage of beautiful Asian fabrics.

This is a king size 30's quilt in a pattern called "Stepping Stones" Tons of sewing!

I finished my Dear Jane Quilt. I Finished it in time for it to hang at the Quilt Festival Quilt show with several other Dear Jane Quilts. I am so happy to have it done.

Truth #4 Don't believe everything you think.

Education week was very inspiring and uplifting and EDUCATIONAL! Fancy that. There is one thing though, that I can't get out of my mind. It is one of those true things that I wish I could share with everyone, because it can make their lives easier if they understand. Carrie Wrigley talked about it at education week. She is a licenced clinical social worker (Therapist) and a singer, so she was able to zing the truth of her words to our hearts through her music. Her message in part was "Don't believe everything you think. " People's thoughts are often twisted, in fact there are 10 forms of twisted thinking, but in our culture we typically employ 4 main ones.
1. All or Nothing: You see things in black and white, if a situation falls short of perfection, you see it as a total failure. If your program was great but one person suggested something you could do better, you feel like a total failure.

2. Self Blame: "It's all my fault" You think that everything that happens reverts back to you. If your child is having trouble at school, you think it is because you are a terrible mother.

3. Jumping to conclusions: Mary didn't say hi to me today she must be mad at me. or I'm going to blow my test, and flunk out of school. You interpret things negatively even though there are no facts.
4. Mental Filter: Focusing just on the things that are wrong. That program was great and you had 49 wonderful comments, but the only thing you remember is the one negative comment you heard. You obsess about this negative comment and ignore all the good.

There are actually 10 forms of twisted thinking and there are ways to replace good thinking with bad. As you talk to your friends you will notice these patterns. It's all in a book, The Feeling Good Hand Book, by David D. Burns, MD.

Anyway, when I start to feel depressed, If I slow down, I can recognize some form of twisted thinking going on. It is really powerful.

Just sharing something I know strongly to be true. Love you all
Kathy

Lightsaber

Ben fixed this picture so it has REAL lightsabers!

California

We just came home from California where I met my new Grand Daughter Zoey Maeling

We attended her Blessing on Sunday.

We went to the beach where I discovered that some of the seagulls can catch a sandwich in midair. Actually, they can stop flying and remain in the same place in the air for several seconds while waiting for me to break off a piece and through it. How do they do that?

We went to Adventure Land where we built this addition to this fort. See my cute Grands in our little room?

The funnest thing we built was this giant On-OFF switch.

We also played with Ben's light sabers. It's funny what happens to a fully grown person when you put a light saber in their hands.

Brother against brother--no mercy!

Of course a trip to California is not complete without a trip to Fenton's. Afterwards we sat on the curb and watched the cars go by, or counted blue ones or something like that. (See "UP")

It's good to be home.

chicken pasta recipe

Here is a great chicken pasta recipe that we had in Knotts yesterday. YUM It makes enough for an army but the recipe can easily be reduced.

Pasta Salad

1 pkg. bow-tie pasta (12 oz.)
1 pkg. spiral pasta (12 oz.)
1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits
2 cans sliced water chestnuts - chopped
2 c. chopped celery
4 green onions, chopped
1 cup red grapes, sliced
1 can cashews
1 pkg. or craisins
1 lg. can mandarin oranges (I used two small cans)
6 large chicken breasts, cooked and cubed. (I used 3 cans Costco chicken)

Dressing:
1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing mixed with
1 cup mayonnaise.

Cook the pasta, drain. Drain all of the canned items. Mix together in a giant Tupperware bowl with dressing. Chill, Serve.