Getting Old Part Two and with ONLY a bit of Grace

Things here have been a little bit crazy and I’m hoping for a bit of calm to settle over us. At times it still seems crazy, but I’ve adjusted or accepting a bit better lately. Read Last Month Part One

I have heard a lot this past month or so about empathy, and you are under the opinion I have none. And, as I’ve politely tried to say and will say here in my own way, bullshit.

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within the other being’s frame of reference, i.e., the capacity to place oneself in another’s position.

And really I do get it….but, I’m moving through survival mode. My way is, look and solve the problem, see what is needed and what HAS to be done. I can’t seem to find empathy at those moments, but isn’t that empathy too, getting it done?

Long ago, a Hospice worker said to us, “Nothing but the truth is to be spoken from this time forward.” I hear her saying that in the back of my mind so often. It’s also a pretty good way to live one’s life.

As we settle in, the work has not stopped. The daily needs of life still have to be taken care of. I have learned to ask for help, to understand it’s alright to take time for me and that life becomes all about potty and poop. And, or the cleaning up of it.

Lessons learned.

Ask the VERY hard questions, of yourself, of others, of services. EVERY thing you can think of, ask the questions.
I had to fire the first service we had started. It was about Mom and what was best for her, not them, HER. This is where I have no empathy, it’s the momma bear in me.
Everyone has an opinion and I do just what I think is best. I listen, I thank them, but we (Mom and I) talk it over and do what is needed.
Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feelings with the heart of another and I like to add, ONLY after all the work is done.

I’ve learned to cry often (a hot shower is designed for that), WE laugh often and I NEVER fight or argue with her. Why…life always comes down to potty and poop.

Please be kind…or don’t leave a comment

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

The Quilt Ladies Quilts and Books

Nothing would be possible without all of you and The Quilt Ladies Books. This is how the books looked for years, after the past printing I decide to only put them on Kindle and NOOK It was a time and printing cost decision. I have been asked to have them printed on the Amazon site, but the book would be over 50.oo and at 9.99 it’s a bargain on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Book in Print

Twelve quilt stories and fifteen complete quilt patterns. In The Quilt Ladies Book Collection five very different women come together. The books take you through learning to quilt, starting a business, moving, daily life and death. Each book continues the story and has Complete Quilt Instructions for the quilt the ladies are making in that book.

Garden under the stars quilt by the quilt ladies as shown on Beth Ann Doing

Red, white and Blue quilt from Book one of The Quilt Ladies Books

Three Color quilt by the quilt ladies as shown on Beth Ann Doing

Just a few of the fifteen quilt patterns you receive in

The Quilt Ladies Books ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

Quilts Around my House

Just a few more of the Quilts Around my House

Little applique, machine pieced, hand appliqued and quilted. Quilt measures seven inches by seven inches.

This is packing tubs set up as a bedroom to sale our home. This is the quilt that I use every night watching TV. Machine pieced and hand quilted.

The Quilt for the Grand’s to use here at our house, Grand #3 loved to play on it, eat lunch on it and have popcorn on it ! Machine pieced and hand quilted.

Husband’s office quilt from his working days. Machine pieced and hand quilted.

husband's office bow tie quilt by beth ann doing

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

From my Quilt Picture Files

I LOVE quilts and I’ve been making quilts for YEARS. A friend was over doing a project and wanted to see my quilts. It’s easier to show them in photos. I was taken a back with her response, “Why are you NOT showing them daily?” Well, I will be for the next few days. I’m running away for a few days, please don’t tell anyone…… I hope to get a video of them all soon too, but here is a few for you to see. Please take a moment to sign up on the right side for my newsletter.

This is from my red, white and blue period, I had a thing for it for about six months. Machine pieced and hand quilted

This is one of the quilts that I loved to piece and it’s STILL sitting waiting to be quilted. My pattern…my idea??? Machine pieced.

This is my Mom’s snuggle quilt, I made it about eight years ago for Christmas for her. Machine pieced and I hand quilted.

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

Re-doing My Laundry Room…aka…Closet

I’ve painted, cleaned and it’s DONE

(Updated POST, added the paint color and how I used this color in my kitchen) This is a post from The Quilt Ladies and has a life of its own. How I updated our laundry room. It’s my number ONE pin on Pinterest and if you’d like to follow my Pinterest boards I’m HERE

Our little condo has a closet for the Laundry Room and I just didn’t like it, plus I couldn’t reach the shelf without being on my tip toes !

SEE ALL MY BOOKS IN PRINT NOW

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

before and after of a laundry room closet

I moved everything out of our little kitchen dining area,

we don’t use it. Than went to Lowe’s

Want to see a grown man shiver in his work boots ?

Walk into Lowe’s with a yellow legal pad, tape measure and pictures from
pinterest ! ! ! Yes, it was a metal tape measure not cloth, I’ve learned, they will laugh out loud at you, I know I did it….once.

My drying time was less with the cabinets in the air conditioning, in the garage and in Florida, it would have taken quite a bit longer for them to dry.

This is 3 coats of the Valspar Latex Enamel Paint

Trick ONE, I get the better brushes HERE, NOT the cheap ones from Lowe’s.

White NYLON Brushes.

They wash great and no hairs come out like the other ones !

Trick TWO is a BROWN paper sack, paper is the finest sand paper. BUT, it must be a BROWN sack. The only one I had in the house was from a little quilt shop in McKinney, TX, Stitched with Love, their site. Cut the sack open and I like to fold it in and use just as sand paper, it makes the paint and wood soft !

This is the “BEFORE” of the closet

Everything out ! CLEANED and Taped walls

How often do you move your washer and dryer?

I’m going to have to do it more often…it’s been 5 years for me. And, from the looks of it, too LONG !

LOVE the Blue

First Cabinet up !

This is the “AFTER” I love it. Besides time this was not that expensive of a project, cabinets and paint about 150 dollars,

I like !

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

Post Update:

Our little condo kitchen

Paint I used from Lowe’s

Paint Color tag Crystal Aqua

Condo Back Door

I have so many idea’s yet to do !

Read my book “The Quilt Ladies” 12 Quilt Stories
and 15 Complete Quilt Patterns

SEE ALL MY BOOKS IN PRINT HERE

Make Retirement fun with my “How to Survive Retirement” a Check List
The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU This post may contain affiliate links. I will receive a few cents if you click to their site and purchase.
#quilt #quilting #thequiltladies #patchwork #bethanndoing #quilts #needlework

Presidential Chair Quilt Pattern Block for YOU

“Presidential Chair”

A Quilt Block of ALL

Please let today be a day of all, not some. A day of love over hate and understanding over fear. And with kindness in our hearts.

how to make a quilt block

Today is a quilt block day, this quilt block has a finished size of Eighteen inches by Eighteen inches.

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Etsy Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

My shop here at Beth Ann Doing

Cut 8 Blue 2 ½”x 2 ½”

Cut 12 Lt. Blue 2 ½”x 2 ½”

Cut 21 White 2 ½”x 2 ½”

Cut 4 Blue 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Cut 4 White 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Make Triangles

Cut 8 Lt. Blue 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Cut 8 White 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Make Triangles

Cut 4 Red 2 ½” x 8 ½”

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

Beth is the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection

Today is my Birthday !

And I’m getting OLD. Yes….OLD.

Yes, 59 in the NEW 39. Yeah, you keep believing that. It’s not, it’s 59.

Old bones, gray hair and these brown spots had seem to have a life of their own. It’s all about preservation at this time. Keep the body moving or things will start growing….Where it should NOT be growing. Where getting out of a chair can take on a whole process itself….REALLY. BUT, I’m laughing my way through it.. Or trying too, what’s a Lady to do ?

GET OLD…Wise and HAPPIER. And I Laugh, out loud. I know I shouldn’t sometimes, BUT, I’m OLD. So I do ! HA !

So today as most days it’s ALL ABOUT ME. Go over and purchase a quilt pattern for yourself and me !

So, it’s my Birthday and here are two of my Flower Photo’s. I LOVE them. These are “after’s” and then before’s. Just a bit of computer work on them. Nothing is really as it seems ! Not even 59 Years Old today…I AM 59??? Holy Shit…

White Rose Photo — (c) Beth Ann Strub White Rose

Orange Rose and Water Drops Photo — (c) Beth Ann Strub

Orange Rose with water drops photo — (c) Beth Ann Strub

Enjoy Each Day, Each moment and LAUGH, OUT LOUD !

Beth Ann

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

Sign up for My Post Alerts Sign up for Beth Ann Doing Newsletter

On the right side

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

My Dining Room Table and Chairs Re-done with Chalk Paint

I had an idea one day…..I did the research and was pretty sure it would be NO problem to do, “I can do that.”

Well, no problem but OH MY, what a project. This is NOT a hurry up project and getting VERY sick during it, helped only with drying time, because I just didn’t care to ever walk into the garage again. That being said, and the table sitting in the dining room, I really like it and how it turned out. We’ve had the table for over 30 years, and it’s rock solid.

Husband and I pulled the table out, put it on to it’s side and then flat to remove the top. It’s just so heavy.

Before and After Table with Chalk Paint

We moved the table into the garage, added the leafs and Husband put a couple of the screws back in to hold it, so the sanding could begin.

Before and After Table with Chalk Paint

This is the second time I’ve sanded the table and re-stained it, this table is loved and used. Do all your sanding FIRST and then clean up your work place. Before and After Table with Chalk Paint

Took the top off the table and I cleaned the garage up from all the sanding. With chalk paint all you have to do is a light sanding, I used a sanding block and just kind of scuffed the surface up.

Before and After Table with Chalk Paint I did four coats of the Chalk Paint on everything, this is ONE coat on the chair legs

Before and After of Dining Room Table with Chalk Paint

I did not want an antique took, I wanted a old time white paint look. I did chalk white and the Sealing Wax just as it said on the can. The Sealing Wax is….different….less is better and more coats even better.

DO NOT HURRY the WAX, it must dry between coats. I did 3 coats of wax.

Before and After of Dining Room Table with Chalk Paint

We sat the table top back on and started staining. I did light coats and many to get the color I wanted, I didn’t want it to be as dark as before.

Before and After Table with Chalk Paint

This is 4 coats of stain and I did 4 coats of poly. Let it DRY between each one, this project with drying time took me just over 3 weeks. DO NOT HURRY this project.

Before and After of Dining Room Table with Chalk Paint

I am SO….PROUD of this table. It turned out GREAT.

Beth Ann

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

Sign up for My Post Alerts

Sign up for Beth Ann Doing Newsletter

On the right side

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

All ABOUT “ME”

I love saying that, “All about me” over the years that’s not happened much in my life. I think with age….and taking a bit of time. I’ve learned what I need, want and NOW is the TIME.

I always felt The Quilt Ladies site was my retreat. Husband worked hours and hours a week and the site was all I felt I had. BUT…Now, I’m writing, sewing, reading, painting, decorating (almost 4 years here, time for changes) and still quilting, but that too has taken a bit of a change. Lots of color and hand work.

Daughter-n-law #1 is a graphic designer and I asked and she helped me with my new logo: So many ideas, I love them all. Here’s Rita’s Etsy Site Flourish Files & Design, ask and she CAN do it.

“What I’m a doing” WAS to be my site name, but from the time I checked, to the time of purchase the name was GONE. And that’s just fine. I love

www.BethAnnDoing.com Things always happen for the best. With me it’s the just letting it happen, not a strong suit of mine. But I have done this by myself and for myself. “I” did this site for ME. Music to my ears.Here’s some FYI things.

The first quilt pattern of the month block is HERE the four by four inch quilt blocks

The ten by ten inch quilt block is HERE and HERE

My Book is HERE for YOU always, The Quilt Ladies NOW ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

AND

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

THANK YOU for your support and HERE we I GO ! Newsletter sign up and post sign up on the right side bar.

Beth Ann

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

My Weight Watchers Tortilla Soup with Chicken

It was JUST yesterday they fit??

Here is Florida I’m in shorts and flip-flops pretty much year around. If I need a sweater it’s not for long and I really like that. UNTIL, yesterday and that pair of shorts I have had for six months is a little TIGHT. Yeah, the dryer didn’t do that, my favorite go to…need a few pounds off recipe.

My Weight Watchers Tortilla Soup with Chicken

This is based on Weight Watchers 0 Point Tortilla Soup. But, I need meat in mine, I need the protein it keeps me moving a bit longer.

3 chicken breast, in a pot with about 6 cups of water.

add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper. Cook until the chicken is done, remove skin/bones. I do it this way, I can control the fat.

Or use 4 cups of Can Chicken Bone Broth

if you can find it, just a better flavor

Pull chicken out and shred.

1 cup Chopped Onions Chopped

2 Garlic Cloves

3 Green Onions Chopped

3-4 stalks of Celery Chopped

1/2 a Green Pepper

1/3 Cup Fresh Cilantro

Spray pan with spray oil.

Cook in soup pan, make everything tender 10-15 minutes

Pour Chicken broth through a strainer and back into pot.(if homemade)

Add Shredded Chicken

Add the rest of the ingredients to the broth

2 – 12oz cans of Diced Tomatoes

1/2 cup Salsa, we like hot, use what you like

1 can Whole Corn – Or fresh off the cob, the best

1/2 teaspoon Cumin

1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder

1/2 teaspoon basil

Simmer and let cook down.

Serve with Sour Cream (I use Greek yogurt)

And taco chips

Suggestions

When you have leftovers after the holidays or party, make this soup, you can add anything to it and it’s wonderful.
Try adding fresh spinach, cut up add in about 5 minutes before serving.
You can use any meat, shred turkey, shred roast beef or pork, if you use another meat or don’t want to do your own chicken stock, use 4 cups of Chicken Broth
This is a make it your own soup.
We eat this year round, mostly I think because it’s a great solo-lunch for me.
It’s very good without meat, it will be a 0 Point meal with no meat.
Beth Ann

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

[ctct form=”124″]

Beth Ann Doing Home Page