Liberated

I was so excited to see an advertisement for Gwen Marston's new book that I scanned a pic to post on the blog. That's my stickie on it with Woohoo!!! - that wasn't part of the ad. I was looking at the image on my computer when Pokey came by for a peek, so you get an unexpected photo of two of my favorite things in the world. Kitty Pokey and Gwen's book.

Not that Pokey is a thing: she's a tiny cat person.

I spoke with Gwen last week. I'm sure I've mentioned before that she's my hero. I finally asked Gwen if I could use the word Liberated to describe what I do. Now obviously it's liberated, but could I capitalize and make it official. No more having to always say "free-piecing" to describe things. Guess what?

Gwen said yes! Woohoo again. It's Liberated Letters now. She's happy to have others use that term to describe this style. I didn't want to step on her toes or infringe on her copyright or make her unhappy in any way. No such problem. She is a doll. Am I gushing too much? Sorry. Last bit of Gwen news and then I'll change topic.

Gwen's website has been updated and we can now pre-order autographed copies of Liberated Quiltmaking II from her. It's a big deal to do it that way and support her directly. You can do so here. The retreat dates, information and sign-up form are already posted for 2010 too. The theme is Liberated Quilting. I sooo want to go.

I am finally totally done with the whole sluggish, can barely move, when will this anesthesia be out of my body thing. I'm excited, happy, energetic. Of course my bad knee has blown up, but that was bound to happen. At least it's not too bad (and doing much better) - I refuse to go under another general anesthetic this year.

My husband has gotten so incredibly fit, not to mention tanned, it's disgusting. He looks 20 years younger than me - gack. He bought a set of scales that tell not only a person's weight but their percentage of body fat and body mass index. Stuff I did not need to see. I've managed to keep off the weight that I lost during/immediately after surgery but haven't done as well at losing more. Note to self: must stop weighing myself in the morning and then again in the afternoon when I've gained six pounds. Food and water are that heavy?

We are eating healthier and that's definitely good. Sweetie has been doing most of the grocery shopping which keeps me from all that impulse naughtiness I usually fall prey to. By the way, have you tried 100% whole wheat Angel Hair Pasta. Just that kind. It's wonderful, doesn't taste whole wheaty at all and I've tried three different brands. Love brown basmati rice too, whereas regular brown rice makes me want to cry rather than eat. Course you do have to love basmati rice in the first place.

In continuing health news, Pokey is doing great. She was the most bouncy happy lively bundle of fur this last week. She's not too happy with me today because I took her to the vet's for her saline. I'm now only taking her every six days instead of three times a week. I think she's so much happier this way even if she does come home with a hunchback and her little cat suit all stretched out. She's definitely got baggy sleeves today.

I can't believe I forgot to tell you that I finished the hand quilting on the Margarita Quilt. Still no binding yet, unsurprisingly. The only hand quilting project I have now is Slither, Eek, Boo. Don't take it the wrong way (it's a wonderful quilt) but I hate working on it. Too massive and heavy. Maybe when I'm down to zero hot flashes and the weather finally gets cold(er) it will be more enticing.

Didn't do anything for Halloween this year, not even the decorating. It felt pointless to buy candy to give to kids when there's only about three of them living in the area. This so IS Florida. Instead sweetie and I went out for Mexican food. I figured the calories from the chips and Margarita, and the cheese, and guacamole and okay, all of it, would maybe somehow add up to the bag of trick-or-treat candy that I didn't buy and then eat all by myself.

I am crazy crazy busy with a project and will be a baaaad blogger for awhile. I won't be disappearing, but will post infrequently, just like I have for the last couple of months.

I'm outta here. Ya'all take care.