DIANE - was it you who asked how many miles we've traveled all totaled? From our house and back to our house, we are just shy of 7,500 miles. About 1,500 miles of that was without the trailer. Seems we got around a lot during our almost 2 months in Austin!
And we don't, at this time, have any big travel plans until we go back to Texas next fall (Autumn asked us to please come back. She wants a babysitter. ), we will do a few local camping trips this summer of 3 or 4 nights. LYN - So glad you dodged the worst of the weather. In "yesteryear" appliances of all kinds were built to last. I don't know when they seemed to think it was a good idea to build in "failure dates" to ensure new sales. Or why companies thought that was a good idea. Why would I buy the same brand that just failed in a short time?? And as to irons, I suppose the hours we have them on is a lot more hours than if we just ironed a few shirts once a week. So I have to admit, a year in the life of MY iron is probably more like 5 years in a non-quilting household.
VALERIE - sorry to hear Dad is growing more tired. But at 94, it's expected. What a life he has led - and is still leading, thanks to you! I hope the caregiver works out for you. And I agree - I love early mornings. I like hearing the birds wake up and watching it get light.
VELDA - yes!! by all means! post pix of your projects!! we wanna see!
FLO - I agree, scary to put kids on school buses in snowy weather!
SUZ - so nice of you to make those memory quilts. I do get not remembering the name of the pattern of the minute! lol! Been there, not remembered that!
JANA, I'm with Chriss - one thing I didn't like about the Oliso was the legs. It was hard to get used to. I kept moving it too quickly and snagging my fabric with one of the legs. But then, after it died and I went back to a regular iron, I did keep leaving it down! Arghhh....
LOIS - I love my small travel iron for quilting for same reasons you cited. But it's nice to have the bigger ones for larger ironing jobs.
CHRISS - Your QOV quilt is really nice! I especially like the two patriotic doggies.
I guess I'm lucky. When Bill is sick I have no problem getting him to go to the doc or ER. He will even make all his own appts! But when people who's respiratory system is already compromised (smokers!) and they find it hard to breathe for whatever reason, they should get help immediately. It doesn't take much to occlude the airway completely. Then you are in real trouble - especially if you live out in the boonies where EMS can't get to you for a bit. Do you know CPR?? If not, talk to your fire department. Most give classes. SHERRY - Retirement is great, is it not?? And there is seldom anything in the mail anymore worth braving 4" of snow! Good call!
KATY - I'm glad you're OK with your snow. I love snow! Hope Jim's blood work got done and it all came back good.
JUDI - happy birthday to Ryker! CAn't believe that little baby is already 7 yrs old! Hope you get to go to his birthday celebration, but if not, you can make another one in a few days just for him and he'll like that! It will make his birthday last longer. I do use steam in my iron but regular water. I'm too cheap to buy distilled and too lazy to distill my own.
But I do use cheap irons - now! lol!Today is home day! And our friends, Tex and Annette, called and said they want to bring supper over. Very nice of them. Our other friends have been getting our mail and picking up packages while we've been gone and we see on our security cameras that he blew the leaves off our driveway so it will look nice when we drive down our road. We are blessed with some wonderful friends.
See you down the road!
mary z
>^+^<
I always add the kitty at the end partly because I'm obsessed with cats, but partly because Foxy is ALWAYS on my lap when I chat with you all! He would say hi, but really, he's all about the movement on the screen.
prayers 
happy stitches 
izzy
