Thanks to all of you who offered help in my birds nest dilemma. Someone else on the board here referred to them as "my machine barfing up a bunch of thread" which I think sounds much more accurate.
It seems that holding both threads as I begin to stitch helps. That is where I was having the problem, when I began to stitch. This was not just on quilts, it was on anything which made it that much more annoying. Anyway, I think my problem was solved by rethreading, cleaning out the bobbin case (wow, lots of barf in there) and holding the thread. Again, many thanks!!! 8-)