Jillmc, My heart goes out to you because I know what a hole you have in your life right now. Nineteen years is a long time to have a furry pal around. We lost one of our furkids very suddenly not too long ago. It takes a while.
My idea for another sew along is actual quilting. I have several tops but not quilted. My theory is that they're easier to store that way.
I wish I would bite the bullet and learn to quilt rather than make another top. But it's the tops where you get to buy new fabric, etc.