Bits and pieces

Wow! Thanks so much for all the compliments, everyone! This orphan top sure was a lot of fun to do. I couldn't go to sleep last night because I was still fitting parts and pieces together in my head! So I slept in this morning and haven't made any progress on the second one yet.

Marcie wanted a closer look at the quilt on the bench - happy to oblige. This top was one I made years ago - I would have gone much scrappier now. I still like it, however. It is from a book I've had for years calls "Yeah, Yeah, USA!" It was one of the first quilts I finished after I got my longarm, and after I'd become acquainted with Bonnie's Quiltville site. I busted quite a bit of stash making that backing! There are several more projects in the book that I want to do, including a large - 36" I think - Uncle Sam doll that will look great on the rocker in the summer.

I'm happy to report that after a temporary loss of focus resulted in a couple pound weight gain last week, I'm now back in stride. This morning the scale showed a loss of another pound and a half, which makes a total of 11 1/2. Hooray! And I've even gotten back on my exercise cycle for three days in a row! My goal is to lose enough so when we go back to our "standard" dress code at work after Labor Day I'll be able to fit into all the work suits and dresses that have hung unworn in my closet for almost two years.

Speaking of work - it is now less than a year until I retire!!!!! 364 days - but whose counting?