Interesting find . . .

We prefer vitamins, healthy food, and exercise to using too many over-the-counter medications. People laugh at our pill cupboard as we do have an array of herbs and vitamins we have found helpful for our needs. I thought I'd share some of our favorite sources that offer good prices and quality items.

Our favorite source for vitamins, etc., is Puritan's Pride. You can search them out on-line just by using their name. They always have a sale going and if you have a question or concern, you can talk to a real person! I've compared prices and they beat the health stores and even Wal-Mart most every time.

We recently discovered Beeyoutiful.com which deals in homeopathic and more natural methods. In spite of the 'cute' name, we have now made Tummy Tune Up a staple in our home. It is a powerful acidolophilus that seems to work quickly for stomach upsets. The nice thing about this particular brand is that you don't need to keep it refrigerated like other types. Our other favorite is a Miracle Salve that is very pleasant to use and really helps with minor burns, scrapes, and itches.

Patience is not my favorite virtue . . .

Quilting has taught me patience in spite of my lazier inclinations. I do have to admit that I'm always looking for shortcuts. A great site for easier cutting and piecing can be found on the Quilt in a Day web page. Although there is a cost for some of the patterns, they also offer many free ones which include tips for faster cutting and sewing.

I tend to find a pattern I like in quilting and make several quilts with the basic plan before my husband suggests I (please!) try another one. Last month, it was the rail fence. I made four quilts with that pattern. Even I tired of it! My quilt du jour is an eight-point star. It is comprised mainly of triangles - my least favorite shape, however, About.Com's quilting site showed an easy way to get near-perfect ones every time. It met spouse approval as my husband declared that THIS quilt was staying with us!

I have never taken a quilting class so other people might be totally familiar with this method of piecing. That's okay, I'm still thrilled to have finally found it myself! You take two squares of fabric and line them together, right sides facing. Pin the fabric to stabilize. Using a ruler and a fabric marker, chalk, or pen, draw a line from one corner of the square diagonally to the other. Sew a quarter inch seam on each side of the line. Cut down the line (not either seam!), open up, press, and you have a square with two perfectly sewn together triangles.

I have fifteen squares pieced for my quilt. I probably need ten more to make a reasonably sized quilt for our bed. If it wasn't for the above-mentioned method and my rotary cutting board, my lack of patience might have slowed down the project! My husband once asked me what my favorite tasks were in quilting. I said they were finding a pattern, selecting the fabric, and the last stitch!

Ancient thought for the day . . .

"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities."
-- Sophocles