Hello Nancy, as Im a novice I cant help you with the pattern but I too have lots of fabric gathered when I was working. Now Im retired and I hope to do a quilt for each of my family and a few friends. Then I hope to do children's and baby quilts and play mats for our local hospice. Better to use it up although it will take quite some time I think!!

Hello and Welcome to the Board :D:D:D

Hey Marie.....I'm wondering if you were a nurse before you retired? I was a hospice nurse the last five years before I retired!! I did alot of other nursing jobs but hospice was by far my most loved. It was basic nursing but the most rewarding. Small window of opportunity if you understand what I mean. Thanks for your note and I hope to hear from you often.

Thanks.....

Hello Nancy
I was a volunteer at a hospice many years ago and I was a nursing auxillary at the Royal here in Belfast until the 90's.There's no work like it I think. I just wish I had had more years there.

I could not agree more. I was a late bloomer and didn't go to nursing school until I was 36 y/o, so when I got out of school with lots of bills to pay, four kids to put thru college or whatever they decided to do, I had to go into hospital bec hospice was a "low budget institution". Still is, I think. But the last five years before I retired, I did what I originally went to nursing school to do and went to work for hospice. It's God's work, I'm sure. Wonderful people. Only trouble is, all your friends die. But, at least you have the privilege of caring for them and enabling their passage to be easier.

Really agree with you. A chance to give back something for all the things in life which went right for me, my children and my partner. I wish children growing up could spend some time helping people in this or some other way, gives you the right priorities in life I think.I had to work too to bring up the children and although it was hard at times they now all have a work ethic and are great kids..kids???the youngest is 33!!

Hey Patty Patches....Thanks for responding. Where in Kentucky? I pass thru KY when I go to GA to see my youngest son. I've visited the Cherry Pit and a coupla other shops there.

Hello and welcome from Ontario.

Thanks, Patti....I appreciate the welecome