Baby, it's cold outside!

It's really not snowing outside but it sure is cold enough too! At least Mandy gets her business done quickly when it's like that.  My thick hoodie didn't even begin to keep me warm this morning.

I've been doing a lot of surfing of quilting sites this week. I've wanted to get into quilting for a very long time and decided that there is no time like the present. I may not actually begin a project until after Christmas but I want to decided on what to start out with. Yesterday, I created a web site to sort of spur me on. It's called The Story of a Quilt should you be interested.

My DIL, Stephanie up in Tennessee is excited because her mother is coming up there to visit for the holidays. I'm excited about that because she is going to take up some boxes for me so I'll have less to transport when I do the actual move. It's been a challenge to decide what to pack since I really don't know when I'll be moving up next year. But so far I've got 8 boxes ready. Don't know how many more she can take.

This year has been challenging to say the least - the horrendous stress at work, co-habitating with my mother and decisions about my future.  A lot of it is settling down. I'm now retired so no work stress but a lot less coming into the check book.  My decision is made to move to Tennessee but the waiting gives me time to second guess my decision frequently.  I biggest stress right now is Mom. She just doesn't seem happy. When we talk about it, she assures me that she is thankful and happy to be here with me. But, she shows no interest in anything.  She's always been a negative person and so this is probably just her personality. The challenge with me is convincing myself that I can't be responsible for her happiness. She has to find that for herself.

I'n praying for a calmer, more peaceful 2012.

Hope all of you are staying warm and safe.  Until later.