First of all, I have the greatest tip to share with all of you 6 needle machine users. Mine is a Brother PR-650. I’ve spent a lot of time the past few days on Facebook and yesterday someone posted about getting an error message that says to “check your bobbin or thread” or something to that effect. Your machine might stop and you might get that message, the bobbin is full and all seems fine w/ your thread. After several comments, several of us realized we all had the same issue with one of our needles, and it happened to be needle #4. YES!! My white thread pretty much stays on needle 4 and I get this message all the time. I usually keep going and have to press start over and over again and sometimes it’ll get going and sew fine. Well, someone pointed out that that’s the only needle with no guide. Someone also mentioned wrapping that needle thread around the tension knob TWICE, and after starting this snowman this morning and my machine stopping and giving me the dreaded message, I tried it and so far (fingers crossed, knock on wood, etc.) it WORKS!! I was able to sew this snowman without it stopping again! So…. if you have that issue with needle 4, give it a try! It can also be lint and buildup of wax on a guide (from thread), empty bobbin or a number of other little issues, but if you seem to have this trouble with needle 4, give it a try!

I’m not sure if other multi-needle machines are built this way or not? Anyway, I may be the last to know this trick. If not, I hope it helps!

 I’ve been MIA, AGAIN, for a couple of reasons. Every Thanksgiving we spend most of the week down in Orange Beach, AL. It’s a family affair for sure. This year we had around 35 people in a 3 BR condo for Thanksgiving lunch. It’s a great relaxing time for our little family as well as Jeff’s parents, sister/family, brother/his wife and other extended family and neighbors. This year it was WARM. These are my crazy kids outside in the lazy river the day before Thanksgiving. The water was FREEZING, but they insisted and luckily no one came home with pneumonia. As you can see he is “in the water” but not really touching it. Although his hair is wet so I think he did take a dip!

Here’s cute little Sissy too. G was floating around somewhere too. Since the high yesterday in Montgomery was 80, I guess this seems perfectly normal around here!

Every year we make a family trip to The Track (I think it’s technically in Gulf Shores, AL). Everyone rides “Woody” a few times and little Sissy was not afraid one bit.

Jeff & G behind us. I think Browder was riding with our neighbor behind them.

Anyway, it’s really fun!

 Now on to the real reason I’ve been MIA this past week. We got back from the beach the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and last Tuesday I had a planned partial hysterectomy. I’ve spent the past few weeks “nesting” (it’s NOT just for pregnancy) and getting ready to be OOC (out of commission) for a week or two. I was told by many how great I would feel afterwards, and hopefully that is true! I was also told that since it’s laparoscopic, then it would be NO BIG DEAL!! On this end of things, I have to say that any time a morphine drip is involved, it’s a big deal! Long story short, I had it Tuesday and was supposed to come home Wednesday. I ended up getting really sick. Not sure if it was the morphine, an Ileus or my bowel slowing down too much, or what. After lots of nausea and vomiting, which is not fun after having surgery on your stomach, and after X-Rays to be sure my bowels were OK, I was able to come home Friday. I spent most of the weekend on the couch and got to watch lots of movies and TV. Monday I felt better so I “got out” and went to Target and lunch with my mom, and then yesterday was back on the couch from 9:00 AM until I went to bed last night. You know, the “oh I feel great so I’ll do whatever I want today” and then the next morning you are set back 2 days.

 Today I am feeling much better and I am sure I’ll continue to heal and improve every day if I’ll just take it easy and take my time!  The good news is I’ve lost some weight! We’ve also been so blessed with friends and neighbors and my mom over the past week. The moral of the story: if someone you know has surgery, take them dinner, breakfast, offer to carpool their kids, etc. I have been so appreciative and BLESSED! I’m not supposed to drive until next week which is a bit challenging with 3 kids. Anyway, that’s where I’ve been! Today I am trying to get a few designs sampled and will go from there and do a little each day!

Here is Mal & G doing a little reading the other night in M’s bed! I’ll close with that! 🙂