What could be better.....

Friday has arrived.
      So a little cleaning,
          a little sewing/quilting,
                   exercising,
                              some shopping and
                                        even supper at a new place Midpoint Sports Pub near Menards.

Hamburger, fries and a drink "castaway", all very good. Retirement has been good, eating out and even a few new clothes(clearance) as new wardrobe is order now that I am retired. Sister-in-laws coming over tomorrow afternoon to visit. Possible heavy snow on Sunday so probably will stay home and warm. Super Bowl on TV. Seahwcks and Patriots playing. Commercial watching is always a favorite.

😍😍😍😍😍

Farewell to UWPH Watertown and all my wonderful coworkers!

My final day was yesterday. I spent the final fours of work finishing up distribution of important files.
Also the final farewell to select coworkers. My first stop was Hospital Drive Clinic. A clinic that has gone thru many things and continues. Some did not know I was leaving so this was a bit of shock. So I decided to take selfie's and they are below.

Hospital Drive Clinic

Triage nurses

MIS guys that kept my computer in check.

Nurses in MIS for Meditch programming.

Dan's shopping expedition at Joann's...nice fabrics and chocolate.

Flowers from Hannah, Cherith and Abigail.

Celebration lunches as the final day of work approaches.

Yesterday began the conversations with friends from work. I did speak to Duane VP and shared some of my final thoughts and insights. It would appear that they do not have a concrete plan when I leave. Decisions still need to be made. I stress the importance of some kind of communication with my nurses is very necessary as they are becoming more worried and unsettled as I deoart from the organization. It was a good meeting between us. My earlier lunch was with a dear friend as we have been networking the past two years. El Marachi was our destination with great food and conversation. Also an offer for a future consultant to Marquardt Manor- Denise Blackborn. Always good to maintain connections.

Today my dear friends did a pot luck lunch with a variety of great foods. 2VP's even found their way..Tina and John. Truly amazing that I know and have worked with all 4 VP's. Maybe when John and Berta retire we may hook up with them in AZ. But my nurses were great and I shared with them my final thoughts and wishes. I will really miss them. Cards and gifts were shared...but friendship and working together is very special. We did a selfie with some..I will do another tomorrow with the triage nurses. 

Lynda,Vicki,Kathy, Liz,Sally and Anette 

Great picture!

The final week of work..the countdown.

It is the final week. Last week continued the lack of particpation in many things. I continued to clean out office and computer. Of course there are many voicing that they will miss me. I actually have 2 lunch dates this week and Dan it taking me out my last day.

Funny thing this weekend. I tried to log in and was denied. My manager thought my last day was Thursday..didn't think too much if it until this weekend. Now I will have to go I as I suspect I have lost all access to everything. Luckily Duane is there early and can correct this hopefully with an email or call. I will need to do payroll on Monday, one of the reasons I stayed the extra week.

Friday we took Abigail to Concordia University to finish her move in and meet her roommates. Beautiful campus and I hope she does well. We ate lunch at the below spot and it was very good.

Beautiful Lake Michigan view.

http://www.highlandhouse.ws/main.html

Green Bat Packers play for National Championship...unbelievable finish..

No words can describe this incredible game. We love our Packers!

The weekend has finally come, 1 week down and 2 more to go...

Another week at work and another weak of being excluded from meetings and such. Have spent time with my triage nurses and validating their skills and give my guidance to the future. I also continued my purge of my office files and things to return home. My plan is not to leave anything behind in hard copy files and on my computer. I emailed my supervisor (Duane) regarding my concerns for a proper handoff prior to my departure. We will see what if any response I get.

One of my clinics continues to have issues with my insurance and getting lab to their designated place, had to be redrawn this week. Then my blood sugar comes back elevated and provider wants to check a A1C, but I had just eaten pasta 20 minutes prior so believe this is the reason for the elevation. I would like to wait a year or possibly after 6 months after my retirement. Would like to try to do more exercise and concentrate on a more health diet.

Finished up my week 2 Downton Abbey mystery quilt blocks. Dan and I went to movie to see "The Snipper", great movie. Take home fish fry from Oasis Restaurant in Lake Mills...always enough for 2 meals.

Getting more excited about Arizona. Looked at some possible places to look at when we are down there. Weather looks great now.

Packers playing Seahawks this Sunday and hoping for a Packer win...then on to the Super Bowl.

Work, Quilting,Packers and Mystery Quilt

One week down and 3 more to go. Another week of minimal decisions and participation in anything. Even the RN Chronic Care Management program that was my program that I researched, was not invited to this weeks meeting. So sad. Well I will just sit back and do little things and do more work from home. There is no interest in heading off any of my responsibilities but then again they will not know what I do until I am gone, slowly clearing out my office, files and computer files. So much will change and I have had many minor discussions with coworkers that in some respects I am glad to be leaving. Looking forward to planning for Arizona and doing some research during work. Pickleball, hiking and areas of interest.

I did see a quilt..sort of for Lent-Easter. Here are pics. Will have to add some yellow patches and the green border and black run together. Found the directions online.

Will need to correct to the below

Also found 2 quilts to document.

One of my first quilts hand quilt d in 1992

Here is Abigail's Angel quilt. Appliqué angels in forms of small hearts. Found this was a patched that was sent to someone during their chemotherapy treatment to show that angels are watching over her. 

2004 completed

Today was the big Paker Game with an injured Aaron Rogers...tear in calf muscle. What a game. Packers and Cowboys 

Working day at home.

Spent a bit of day working from home on some quality data. Have many more records to review.
Also finished my Grand illusion quilt. Added the inner and outer borders. So pleased on how it turned out.

We got some fresh snow last evening and now bitter cold today.

Here is my Dear Jane hanging in our bedroom. So many scraps and work done. All hand pieced and hand quilted. I even like the scalloped border.

Will continue to work on my ohmygosh quilt and maybe start some hand quilting on a waiting UFO.

Will return to work tomorrow and begin winding down some projects and office/computer cleaning of documents. I will take q quite stance in my remaining time and await for any offers of my suggestions, but I doubt that will occur.

A bitter cold day

A frigid day but some sun. Continue to work on the pieced borders for the recent Grand Illusion quilt mystery.
Took Hannah and Abigail to see movie "Into the Woods" a musical. Apparently it was a musical done at MLC recently.

Here is Abigail claiming her Green Bay Packer Solstice quilt.

Here is Cherith with her warm crocheted afghan.

Both needed to stay warm this evening!

Snow, wind and cold...perfect time to travel to Downton Abbey?

Woke up to a few inches of snow, now blowing wind and soon the temperatures will begin to fall.
Made request for lasagne today along with chili. Then on to the beginning of the Downton Abbey mystery. It began with a request to come to Dowton due to an acquired inheritance. We'll sort of. The first block was reveled along with a great webinar to share some quilting or cutting hints. Listened to this as I out the block together using the fabrics I had picked out several months ago. They are very close to the more expensive Downton Abbey fabric line. I am Team Carson and I love the colors and how the first block turned out. Don't you agree?

The color is more a blue/green color and is much richer. It was fun and a change from doing many blocks as per the last mystery.

Tomorrow the deep freeze..one more vacation day. Will go to a movie with Hannah before she heads back to MLC on Wednesday. More snow expected into Tuesday so may work from home. Will need to check if I have anything scheduled to do at work. I did bring something's home to work on. I am getting used to doing other things than work...so should be a smooth transition.

Kameron was here for the day and they made some Oreo/chocolate cupcakes that were very good but very sweet.

Well Downton Abbey returns this evening. Wondering what fun things will happen in this season. I have not seen any spoilers. Will be fun to watch and do the mystery together,

Some snow and some sewing..

We got some snow last evening and a few more inches this evening and then the polar vortex to come.

Today spent most of the day sewing the blocks together in rows and rows together. Looks great. Will need to set aside for next mystery. Hopefully will be able to complete between clues of Downton Abbey mystery. So much excitement on this mystery. Guest appearance during webinar in afternoon and clue up at 9 am. Good thing the Packer's have a bye. But also on the agenda in lasagne for the family with chili on Monday. Will take Hannah to see "into the woods" movie on Monday. Then back to work.

Here is a few pictures of work in progress. Also searching for ideas on quiltiing. Maybe fans, maybe circle echo...still not sure. Would like to take my time with this one with a simple design due to the busy quilt appearance.

The above a great quote from Facebook.

A day of sewing Grand Illusion mystery quilt blocks

Today I spent most of the day sewing the 25 blocks and sashing strips. They are all laid out on the basement floor. A very scrappy quilt with all of my stash except the yellow. I trimed the blocks and the end of each clue and this has helped out in putting the final blocks together. I have also peaked at other quilter's blocks as their is so much variation of colors. Again a great mystery and will be a great quilt. We will see how far I can go before starting the next mystery this Sunday.

The below are some of the possible quilting designs. Something simple as this is a busy quilt already.

Happy New Year 2015

The beginning of a New Year and fresh starts or plans. Soon I will step back from my nursing career and enjoy an early retirement with my sweetie. This will be the biggest change. Being off the last few days has shown me that I am ready.

The New Year began with the reveal of the lay out of Grand Illusion quilt mystery by Bonnie Hunter. Again a great layout. I did the first block and surrounding blocks. I then proceeded to do the next 5 incorrectly, so did some reverse sewing. I then decided to do them block by block. Tonight I have 6 blocks completed. I anticipate that I will get the blocks and side blocks done this weekend. However another mystery Downtin Abbey theme will begin Sunday at 9 am. Will begin ths one and do it weekly until we leave for Arizona. Here is the reveal and my block.

Then there is football. Badger's play in the Outback Bowl in Tampa. They won as well as Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. Currently watching ALABAMA and Ohio State. 

The star is #25 Melvin Gorden who will turn pro and just missed getting the Heiseman trophy.

Great Badger season. Packer's have a bye this week and then we'll see how they do in the playoffs.