Finished this afghan yesterday morning. It's a Christmas gift for someone who I know doesn't read my blog, so it's OK to post, right? *big smile!*

It isn't the style I would have picked for this person, but it is a nice afghan.

I just hope she likes it....

My teen has an "old heart," I think. She wanted a quilt like the one I had made earlier but she didn't want it Halloween fabric.

Originally, she wanted the entire quilt to be a surprise. I'm glad we didn't go that route!

I convinced her to at least pick out fabric for the back of the quilt. Well, that led to her selecting ALL the fabric. WOW! I never would have picked any of these for her -- or any other teen, really. To me, this fabric is all "old!"

But she likes it. No, she LOVES it. So I guess it's all OK after all!

It's official. I live in the country. My husband took this picture off of our back porch today. How cool is that???

Day 22:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 36,674
Total words written: 50,006
Words left to reach 50,000: NONE!!! I wrote like a mad woman today and did it!!!!

And a bit of insomnia where I was working on another project didn't hurt! *big smile!*

Day 20:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 33,340
Total words written: 31,109
Words left to reach 50,000: 18,891

OK, so I have had two days in a row of "not so much writing!" I spent a good chunk of the day at the doctor's office with the kiddo and the rest running what my sister called "Hospice House" But I'm not hearing any coughing coming from the child's room, so I'm OK with that. Maybe I'll be extra (triple!) inspired tomorrow!

Day 19:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 31,673
Total words written: 30,756
Words left to reach 50,000: 19,244

I think this one was the "least written" day so far. I'm battling a cold and have laryngitis. (Although the family doesn't seem to be complaining about *my* lack of noise.... hmmm....) Also, the kiddo is ill. I'll be making an appointment for her tomorrow — even if I have to take her to the urgent care clinic.

Today being *mom* trumped being an author. That's OK, though. I like the mom job better. As far as I'm concerned, it pays better!

Day 18:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 30,006
Total words written: 30,008
Words left to reach 50,000: 19,992

Day 17:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 28,339
Total words written: 28,355
Words left to reach 50,000: 21,645

Day 16:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 26,672
Total words written: 26,184
Words left to reach 50,000: 23,816

Day 15 (Half-Way Mark!):

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 25,005
Total words written: 25,018
Words left to reach 50,000: 24,982

Not bad sinc I now have the flu. Stuffy head, sore throat. Maybe just a cold, but still NASTY! I am grateful that I'm not running a fever, but it does make it tough to write a mystery.

Day 14:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 23,338
Total words written: 23,349
Words left to reach 50,000: 26,651

Day 13:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 21,671
Total words written: 21,674
Words left to reach 50,000: 28,326

Day 12:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 20,004
Total words written: 20,016
Words left to reach 50,000: 29,984

Day 11 (Happy Veteran's Day!):

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 18,337
Total words written: 18,566
Words left to reach 50,000: 31,434

Day 10:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 16,670
Total words written: 16,741
Words left to reach 50,000: 33,259

Day 9:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 15,003
Total words written: 14,007
Words left to reach 50,000: 35,993

Got some terrible news yesterday. My mother-in-law passed away. She suffered from Alzheimer's, and sometimes didn't recognize her family or friends. I know that she is now in a better place, where her mind is back and her memories are all good.

That doesn't make the grieving process any easier on my family, though.

Day 8:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 13,336
Total words written: 12,291
Words left to reach 50,000: 37,709

Day 7:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 11,669
Total words written: 11,686
Words left to reach 50,000: 38,314

Day 6:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 10,002
Total words written: 8,811
Words left to reach 50,000: 41,189

Well, my little sister did it. She tied the knot. (Or walked the plank, as you can see from her wedding picture!)

I'm a little bummed that they got married on "short notice" since it didn't work out for me to be there, but I totally understand why she did it.

The best part of the whole deal, in my opinion (and since this is my blog, that's what matters, right?) is that it was a surprise to many of the people who DID make their Halloween party. Obviously, my parents (oh, I suppose those would be my sister's parents as well!) and I guess his parents were in on the plan and they even found a judge who asked if any "scallywags or wenches" wanted to object! I got to hear most of the ceremony via cell phone, so that was kinda cool, too.

Again, I wish I coulda been there, but it wasn't in the cards (get it? I was a gypsy!). I do wish my sister and her new husband all the best, though!

Like I don't have enough stuff to do around here!! I decided that this would be a good time to make a quilt! (OK, so I'm nuts....)

This one is a rag quilt for my mother-in-law. She is in a nursing home and this will keep her warm. (Although, how warm do you need to be kept in Texas? *grin*) The pattern is called "Falling Leaves" and this is the first rag quilt I've ever done.
As my husband pointed out, this is the second quilt I've ever done, and we won't keep either of them!

What can I say? I'm a giver!

Day 5:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 8,335
Total words written: 8,379
Words left to reach 50,000: 41,621

Day 4:

Milestone to reach (to make 1,667 words a day): 6,668
Total words written: 6,673
Words left to reach 50,000: 43,512

Day 3

Total words written: 5,051
Words left to write: 44,949

Day 2

Total words: 3,502
Words left: 46,498

NaNoWriMo has begun!

Day 1 Status: 1,695 words written
48,305 words left to go!