Today is not only the reveal of the Christmas Raffle Quilt 2025, but the start of selling chances for the next TWO WEEKS! Based on last year's feedback, extending it by an earlier start date and another week to extend the chances sounded good to me, so here we go! So, as the year winds down, my heart fills up. NeedleOnFull has been in full swing with T-shirt Quilts and, of course, a holiday-themed quilt to raffle off for families facing financial strain due to a newly diagnos

My friend, Diane, an economist and author of Your Shopping Superpower , has released a guide on how to choose gifts that are people and planet-friendly. This may not be for everyone, but her research is too compelling not to share her findings. She writes: Hello friend! I put together this holiday shopping guide to help you keep the holidays more joyful and less stressful. When it’s time to choose holiday gifts that are good for people and the planet, this guide will save you

One Week at 64 and I’m All Nostalgic..Ha! When hubby Bill shared an article titled “Be Mentally Attractive” by Dr. Chandrasekhar Bode , a 90-year-old physician, teacher, and lifelong student of humanity, I knew I had to share it with my daily writing group in Purple Space and on my blog. I already made a copy to accompany Chris Larson’s Optimist Creed pinned up by my sink, so I can read it while brushing my teeth each morning. It’s a good reminder of who, what, and why we

As Bill and I headed to Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, for the Special Love Parents Getaway Weekend this past Friday, we were filled with anticipation about how this program has vastly grown (awestruck may be more like it!). We’re proud to be among the founding members of this essential and highly needed program, which dates back to the late 1990s. What began as a small, parent-led idea—because shouldn’t parents get to run away to camp too (but in a nice hotel?)—has blossomed into

Hubby Bill and I headed to Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, earlier today for the Special Love’s Parent Get-Away-Weekend. We are founding members of this program, dating back to the late 1990s, and hopefully helped many parents in the trenches of childhood cancer and beyond. Our original group of parent-led volunteers for this needed program (can’t parents run away to camp, too, but in a nice hotel?) is now led by Special Love’s Programs (and parent “board, of which I am a member ”)

Today is the iconic age of turning 64 for me. The Beatles even wrote a song about it (first two stanzas): When I get older, losing my hair Many years from now, Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine? If I’d been out till quarter to three, Would you lock the door? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I’m sixty four? I hope a few people still need me, and will feed me (buy groceries at least!). Celebrating can last all week

There are many goals I want to reach by the end of the year, and I will continue working hard to accomplish them. Those goals include writing more blog posts, publishing my second book, and finishing quilts! Today, though, is Veterans' Day. It's a good day to take heed of the sacrifice so many paid to keep our freedom alive and honor the military veterans, both dead and alive, of th e United States Armed Forces. My dad served in the Korean conflict and, as legend has it, was

Musings on Blog Posts as I Finish Quilts and Prepare (Once Again) to Work on Joy Ride Journeys -Now: What’s Your Earliest Memory? While catching up with a guild member at our annual Quilter’s Showcase recently, who is the same age as me, I asked her for some random reason, “What is your earliest memory?” The question hung there for a few pregnant pauses, and I could tell she got into deep thought about the query. I prompted her a bit, asking if she remembers going to Kinderga

Since our son Ryan had his life-saving Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant on this day 21 years ago, we consider it a birthday of sorts. Yes, we celebrate on August 16, his birthday, but Ryan’s “other” birthday (today) with a new marrow that manifested in Ryan’s body in less than 100 days between November 3, 2004, and March 1, 2005, is also celebrated. We are still grateful for the selfless act of Scott Harris of New Jersey, donating his bone marrow and a lot of his A+ blood for

My quilt guild, the Southern Comforters of Bowie, Maryland, was at it again with programming. And, in the process , I Won a Movie Night Raffle Basket! I also secured items for a huge food basket for the basket raffle with the help of my Just Sew Bee 🐝 mates, and Jane McKinley. Yesterday, my guild hosted a Quilters Showcase event, including our guild challenge, a robust handcrafted boutique, our raffle quilt, and raffle basket prizes. Since we do not host an annual quilt sho