The Tale (not tail) of Annie's Quilt

Annie's Quilt - a special quilt, made up from orphan blocks from various projects collected over the years. Its name came from orphan block quilt - Little Orphan Annie blocks quilt - Annie's quilt. The name was special too because of our gorgeous dog Annie who died last year. We loved her very much. ( go here to read about her last days) 

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My grandma was also Annie but the dog was NOT named after her. 

    

These are some photos of my Grandam Annie aged 16, 24 and about 55

Grandma was Annie Mabel (set the table) and Annie was properly Annabelle, named by my youngest son (known on this blog as Boyo). He doesn't know where the name came from (mind you our other dog Daisy WAS named after my other grandmother... cause our neighbour had a dog Bessie and that is my mother's name. I asked what their mothers names were - Vera and Annette... nope they weren't dogs names. So I named her after my grandma... yeah long story and not that funny in the retelling... maybe you had to be there) 

I digress!

I started working on Annie's quilt last year. It was to be a quick project - using up some of these orphan blocks I'd collected. To be a donation quilt - no biggie. But in putting together the blocks I needed to make some fillers - I had some mini pinwheels - I made some more. 

I made some checker boards.

 

 I had some flying geese but needed more (ended up making enough for borders - yeah so I made 130 or so... just a few more) 

I had so much fun but it was a lot of work and I really loved it. There were so many bits to it - so many stories in the quilts that the blocks came from. So many bits of fabrics from so many other projects as well. I really didn't want to give it away - at least not to someone I didn't know. It was special and I wanted it to go to someone special

And that made me feel guilty. Do people who have fallen on hard times for what ever reason need less than our best? Why did I think that only people I knew and loved deserved a quilt from me?

I think this dilemma apart from having other projects on the go made me push the finished quilt top out of my priority list. I finished the top sometime before we left on our big trip last year (9 weeks driving through Southern parts of Australia) but didn't get a backing done for it. After we got home we were busy with Christmas and visitors and other things and so the top waited. I had a piece of backing big enough for it and so in late January I got the quilt pin basted at patchwork. Then the quilt sat, folded up near my machine waiting for me to get around to quilting it.

Thursday I finally  decided that it was time I got Annie's quilt finished. It had waited long enough. I still wasn't sure who it was for but I knew that the time had come to get it done. I thought I could give it to our former minister Suzy who is now living in a town that was badly affected by Cyclone Marcia last Friday. She would know someone who would appreciate it.

 It wasn't long before I was muttering crankily under my breath. Two lovely ladies from my patchwork group had helped me pin baste it a few weeks ago and my friend Lindi got a bit enthusiastic with how many pins she put in!! We had both laughed about it at the time... but as I had to stop start my quilting so frequently I didn't find it quite as amusing. I muttered "Thanks Lindi" a number of times as I stopped and sewed and stopped again.

I chose to use a gorgeous multicoloured King Tut thread which I've had it for a number of years. Its  colours vary from yellow through orange to pink - just beautiful. I had never come up with a project to use it on but it suited this project perfectly. 

I chose to do a simple stipple design - I love stippling but I'm not perfect at it and unfortunately there is a bit of eye lashing on the back. I love the rhythm of it - sort of dancing with my hands. That's why the pins were aggravating me till I decide to go a bit bigger and dance around them.

I was able to finish the quilting off Friday afternoon after work and on a roll I made the binding - I chose orange - and got it on machining it on front and back. I chose a wavy line decorative stitch for the front. I didn't think that the thread I used for the stippling would be enough to do the decorative stitch on the binding so I chose a variegated orange Aurifil instead (from Tula Pink collection). It worked well but I wish I'd had enough of the other as I loved it. I have a bit left over of the King Tut, not enough to quilt anything but a moderate wall hanging but I will eventually find a project for it.

As I quilted I wondered about who my quilt would go to and then I had a wonderful thought. My friend Liz's house was badly damaged in the cyclone. Liz and I had met through the Emmaus movement. I was the assistant table leader on her table the year she did her walk. This weekend it is the Emmaus training weekend for this year's Central Queensland walk and it (the training weekend) was being held here in our town. We were billeting 5 of the team members in our home including Deb, this year's lay director of the women's walk Deb had been the table leader to my assistant table leading and therefore Liz's table leader. I had a feeling that Liz was on team this year. Would she come to the training weekend with her home having been wrecked only the week before. 

It was fairly late last night when our billets arrived at our place. Over breakfast this morning I checked with Deb. Was Liz on team? Yes! Had she been able to make the training weekend? Yes! Another of our billets Mary (another lady I have known for many years who is the mother of a dear friend from our days in Moranbah) had been her prayer partner that evening and Liz had shared some of her story.

It was confirmed who my quilt was for. The colours in the quilt and bright and cheerful - the colours of the rainbow. The rainbow is the symbol for Emmaus. 

Liz put this status on fb recently

Thank you butterfly for flying up to me as I sit outside my wrecked house and landing on my arm. you showed me that we're fine and life goes on and we're never alone. There is still beauty and wonders to be seen if we stop and look.

As it happens there are a number of butterfly prints throughout the quilt! 

I gave the quilt to Deb to give to Liz at a time that she thinks is suitable. I can trust Deb to find the right time - that God will show her the right time just as he has shown me the right person to give this quilt to. 

Our current only dog Jack decided he should be in this picture too... how could I say no

Des Colores (The Colours)

Update. Deb gave Liz her quilt on Saturday evening and she was thrilled with it. I am so grateful to God that he guided me in the making and the gifting of this quilt.

Linking up with Tgiff and Can I get a Whoop Whoop

Tuesday Musings. Saying Goodbye to Annie

Yesterday we decided that we would l take Annie to the vet this morning  and have her put down. She had been struggling for breath all weekend and it has been heart breaking to watch her although I don't think she was in any pain. She'd look at me with her gorgeous brown eyes full of confusion as if asking me "Why is it so hard to breathe? What's wrong with me?" It had been difficult to watch. If she had been in pain I probably would have called the vet and paid the exorbitant  out of hours fee that would be charged for public holiday service but I truly don't think she was. It had been painful for us to watch her struggle for air. Other times on the weekend she was walking about the yard, finding nice spots to lie and soak up the sun. (Trust an old dog to find the coolest spots in hot summer  and the warm spots when the weather cools down) She'd wag her tail when she saw us and enjoyed having her ears tickled and her belly scratched.

She had continued to eat a bit and to drink which has provided me a measure of reassurance that she was moderately ok... well not too bad... at least not completely and utterly miserable. I was tempted to ask the vet to remove fluid from her lungs again and let us have her for a bit longer but that is really woud have just been prolonging the inevitable and her quality of life had been greatly reduced and my husband has wisely and kindly counselled against it.

Our dogs are basically out door animals. They are allowed inside when its stormy and on other special occasions but mostly they live outside. They access the laundry room all day and are locked in there at night. However these last few weeks we have been bringing Annie inside to cuddle her at night or during the afternoon when I have been watching tv or playing on the computer. Yesterday I sat and cuddled her for an hour or so before dinner and after dinner Fixit Guy went and got her and he too spent a hour or so cuddling her whilst we watched our son play Assassin's Creed (and I sewed) Its our goodbye time.

Our youngest son, Boyo got home on Friday morning. He is her owner, having received her as a Christmas gift when he was 10. It was lovely to see her respond to him , enjoying sitting on his lap whilst we watched some Dr Who that first afternoon he was here. Yesterday I took the other dogs for a walk  Annie so wanted to come too but even walks in the pram whilst we walked was getting too much for her. I called Boyo down to sit with her on the lawn. An hour later when I got back from my 7 000 step walk with the 3 dogs, he was still with her on the lawn. He was playing on his ipad whilst he patted her. Over the weekend we talked about how she was failing and our decision to have her put down. I had said that I was glad she had lasted so he could say goodbye. He said he was glad he got to do so but that he thought it was good that his brothers hadn't got to see her when she was sick and failing, because their memories of her would be of her healthy and active.

I then sat out there with her, taking photos of the other dogs as they romped about and Annie as she lay there quietly, struggling to breathe but seeming to enjoy the company. After a while I went over to my wannabe vegie patch to weed it a bit and get ready for planting. I noticed that she had changed positions and was watching me as I worked. I was glad I could spend some time with her.

I was dreading having to take her to the vet this morning to have her put down. But the decision was taken away from me. When Fixit Guy went to let the dogs out of the laundry this morning he found that Annie had died quietly in the night, stretched out in her own bed, in the comfort of her own home. The decision had been made for me. I sent a text to our 3 adult children who no longer live at home and Fixit Guy broke the news to Boyo. A sad time for our family

We are so sad to say goodbye to our faithful sweetheart of a dog. However we have a friend - 31, currently in Brisbane awaiting results of biopsies and scans but with the current thinking that he has Hodgkins Lymphoma. Now that is really serious. We loved Annie. But... she was
a dog. In dog years she was getting old. Our friend is still young with his whole life ahead of him. Perspective. We are praying for our friend that he makes a good recovery.

Fitness Friday

Not been a great week for me especially on the weight loss front. Basically... I haven't. sigh. Not tracking at all and enjoying a few good things too many. I have kept my weight to under 90 all week but bit disappointed with my self.

I have been managing too keep my steps up which is good. Had a few nights trotting about the house and one night I went trotting up and down the cul de sac in order to make my numbers. Sad but true.

Have only had one run this week and it was only 3.5kms I tried out the course that I will be running in the Mothers' Day Classic in a couple of weeks time. The course is actually a double circuit of the track and I only went once around so am going to try to get back there a few more times and run it in preparation.

We went shopping in Rockhampton last Friday and got myself a new pair of running shoes. That's always good. The flash has done funny things to the colour. The yellow is actually orange.

I have continued to walk the dogs most days although they are only get one walk a day this week as we have had special Easter Holy Week services at our church at 7 which we have made it to twice. The two nights I missed was because of the play we are rehearsing. I'm the prompt. Fangirl is directing it so I am helping out where I can. She's getting a bit stressed cause its not long till opening night and the cast is no where near ready.

Annie was doing pretty well up to the start of this week but has gone down hill rapidly since then. She is still eating a bit which is good. She is wheezing more and her belly has become very swollen again. Our youngest boy, her owner arrived home from university for the Easter break this morning. He will be able to have a few days with her and then I think we will have to decide to put her down before next weekend. We are all going to be away and I think that the timing will be better. Fixit Guy is on holiday next week so will be able to take care of burying her more easily.

I was feeling sad about her and talking to a friend before one of the services this week. The next day at the service a friend told us that her 31 year old son, whom we have known ever since we first came to town 25 years ago, was in hospital and the most likely diagnosis was going to be Hodgkins Lymphoma. That was a real shock. He is in Brisbane now having scans and biopsies etc. Kinda puts it all into perspective. Our dog is a very much loved member of our family BUT she is just a dog. We are all praying and hoping for the best for our mate.

Fitness Friday - a new milestone

This week I set myself a new personal milestone. I ran (or joggled as I more accurately describe it) for 8 kms on Wednesday. It took me almost 72 minutes which means my average speed was a tad under 9 minutes a kilometre. My fasted km was about 7mins 30 secs and my slowest was about 9 mins 30 secs. I am certainly not scorching up the miles but I am getting there.

Funny thing is I did not set out to run that far. In fact as I crept out of the house (avoiding my dogs. They love to come with me on my walks down by the river but I hate trying to run with them) I thought I would run my usual walking track... ie down by the river to the weir, turn around and come back. 

The weir

However once I reached the weir I decided to cut across the dry gully  to another road which would lead to the tarred road I usually do my distance running on. Once I got to the road... I turned right, to head further out of town, rather than right to head home. I kept on running till I got to 4km on "Endomondo" the ap I use for measuring my pace and distance. Then I turned around and ran (or joggled) home. 8 kms... done. Whoo hoo... go me.

The gully I crossed. Its popular with trail bike riders

I have had another little personal achievement. I clocked up 250kms on my fitbit. I've had it since the end of February so was happy with that as well. This week (including my weekend away at the retreat) I persisted in walking around the room or jogging on the spot, to make sure I hit my daily target of 10 000 steps.

My friends at the retreat were highly amused by my antics. One of them suggested I might be a tad obsessive and I would agree with her. I have even managed on a couple of occasions this week to be top of my list of friends in steps walked over the previous week. I have one friend Terje who averages 17km a day so she is usually in the lead... but she doesn't log in every day so I sometimes sneak ahead of her for a bit till she logs in again and then BAM I am back well behind her. (just checked. Yep Terje has logged in and I am 30 000 steps behind her!) I have another friend Sharyn who also is usually ahead of me but she too seems to not be logging in consistently and perhaps she has had something going on that she isn't walking as much. I have been ahead of her a good bit this last week too but I am pretty sure its just an aberration!

Weight wise things have been a bit steady or slight increase. I've had some peanut M'n'Ms in the cupboard and the last few days... they have been calling my name very loudly and before that it was the cookie dough truffles Fangirl had made for the Afternoon Tea. I have managed to polish them off this week too. Its not surprising my weight hasn't gone down when you think about it. (it did dip under 88kgs when I ran on Weds but dehydration had big part in that loss)

Annie dog is still doing pretty well. She comes for many walks in the stroller although sometimes she doesn't want to be bothered. Her appetite has picked up which is pleasing. I think she is starting to slow down again but is still going well enough. Our youngest son, her owner, gets  home on Good Friday which is a week away. The way she is now she will still be good when he gets here which we are happy about. Very glad that we made the decision to go ahead and have her lungs drained as she has been so much better. Don't know how long she'll last but so far so good

Annie and I on the swing that Fixit Guy made me for last Christmas

Jack and Annie with me on the swing. Jack always muscles in on any attention Annie gets

Thursday Thoughts

Just in case in the future I want to write something on a Thursday... figured I could call it Thursday Thoughts. Sad but true. I can't seem to have a theme for a blog post but it has to rhyme or have some alliteration with the day of the week its about. Every other blog poster seems to be the same so I don't feel too badly about it. 

The main reason I wanted to put something up today (besides avoiding anything more constructive I could be doing) was I wanted to update my Tuesday musings and I wasn't sure I would remember it if I kept it till next Tuesday. I could have just gone back in and edited the Tuesday post but then if you had already read it you wouldn't necessarily go back in and read it again anyway. So... a new post... and since it was a new day (and not connected in with any other bloggers topics or activities) ... it had to have a new name.

OK... on Tuesday I outlined my planned projects for the month of April. One of the things on my list was to find the pattern from my Tea Shop Quilt. I bought it in the UK in September. I went looking on line and found the pattern... well I think it is the pattern. Fangirl told me the name of the shop we had gone to which was Puddleducks in Sevenoaks. They have an online presence and I found the pattern... only its a pattern for a tea cosy. I dont' recall that at all but maybe I bought it knowing it was a tea cosy but planning to change it to a quilt. I am not sure. But its the same picture. Its by Gail Penberthy and I think it is beautiful

I found many other patterns by Gail and she does some gorgeous ones. I found most of them at Daisy Chain Designs. (when you search patterns go to page 9 as this is where they start)

              

These are two of my favourites that I would love to stitch. The one on the left is Tea and Friends and the one on the right is Tea and Company. Are you sensing a theme here?

Another update on my Goals for April. I forgot about the curtains for the spare room tha I want to stitch and Fangirl has asked me to make coverings for the couches that will be used in the forthcoming play that she is directing and producing (and I am prompting for) They have to be covered in black fabric. They don't have to be done in a proper upholstering fashion... just covered in black fabric.

So my April Goals are (in no particular order)

1. Finish Sombrero Stars (quilt 3 of SOMB quilts... Shirt Off My Back)
2. Finish Not so Sombre Stars
3. Make an Easter Wall Hanging
4. Empty Scrap basket - cut into useful units and put away
5. Look for and hopefully find Tea Shop Applique Quilt pattern 

6. Cover theatre couches in black fabric

7. Make Curtains for Spare Room.

Annie Update

I had Annie at the vet again on Tuesday and they withdrew fluid from her lung which the vet then viewed through a microscope. he discussed his findings with a pathologist. I talked to him yesterday. Basically they didn't find tumour cells which would have been a definitive diagnosis but in the absence of other things that would have indicated an alternative the vet thinks that in all likelihood that is what it is. There is nothing to be done unless we wanted to go in for drastic thoracic surgery (which we don't). She is much brighter than she was so is obviously feeling a lot better for having the pressure relieved. She is more active, is eating better (not great but better) so we are enjoying her company and spoiling her as much as we can. The fluid will build up again and we will decide what to do when that happens. Thanks for all the loving comments

Tuesday Musing

Not sure what I will do on a Tuesday for my blog. I might not end up doing something every Tuesday but when I do... it'll be my Tuesday Museday!!

First Day of April. Time to set some goals for April. Trying not to set them too high so that I won't fall flat splat kerplop on my face. My goals for this month

Finish Sombrero Stars (quilt 3 of SOMB quilts... Shirt Off My Back)
Finish Not so Sombre Stars
Make an Easter Wall Hanging
Empty Scrap basket - cut into useful units and put away
Look for and hopefully find Tea Shop Applique Quilt pattern (I bought it in England in September but managed to lose it)

This is SOMBrero Stars. Finished putting the top together tonight. Now to make a back and quilt it!! You can see my shadow as I stood on a stool to take the photo

Not So SOMBre Stars. All the pieces are cut up and in their box.. Apart from the 5" 9 patches (which were part of the 350 or so I made from the shirt fabrics from the swap) no stitching has been done. But cutting all the pieces was a mamoth effort so it is well on the way

The fabrics and buttons purchased for my tea shop quilt. Finding the pattern is going to be a challenge. After I got back from the UK my husband and I went on a camping holiday in Southern and then Northern inland NSW. I bought fabric for it at several shops. I had the pattern then. Since we got home and I unpacked all my stuff... I haven't seen it. Oh dear.

Annie Dog

I took Annie to the vet today and they removed a heap of fluid from her lung by syringe. The vet is going to check some of the fluid under the microscope and will be able to tell if the fluid is from tumour or something else apparently. She came home after a couple of hours and is happy enough. She refused to come for a walk today (or a stroll... she rides in the stroller) She did come this morning and even walked for some of it. She seems a lot brighter in the mornings. If there are tumours then it will be just care and attention till we think her quality of life is too diminished. If it is treatable then we will treat her. The vet said to give her the diuretic tablets but she is becoming very wily and it was a battle to get them into her tonight... she puts her tongue up in the way to stop the tablet going down but we won in the end.

Annie on our morning walk. She is quite comfortable in the pram and seems to enjoy the outings

Annie and I

Our other dog Jack who is always looking for any extra attention that is going