Letty

Thank you all so much for your encouraging messages,reading the replies made me see what a sad sack I sounded!Yes we have found a nearby church, just not sure yet if it's the right one,although everyone was very welcoming.I no longer drive -- walk with crutches and pretty most of the time in pain. My husband is always very willing to drive me everywhere I want to go,he is a real treasure. I will go to a local quilt shop, in fact my son always goes in there to buy gifts for me and is always telling me to go in and join classes there.I will do that now,we are settled in to our new home,In Ryton, Newcastle U.K by the way. I am also going to explore the local U.3.A. It's time to count my blessings for sure and I will start today on that quilt for my love. You have made me feel less alone, Letty.

QM

Not everyone has to stay with a particular set of interests. But before you abandon ship, you might see if there is a quilters' group near you. Around here, they are guilds, although in some areas, I understand they are church women's groups.
It just might be amusing to take pix of the DH's car from different angles, including the dashboard and have the pix printed on fabric for a quilt, or maybe a bunch of classic cars. You might intersperse those with Mariner's compasses, or make a steering wheel block.
It is very likely you can find a quilt show or guild in a community near you if you use the net for that.

lizzy

Lettie, went through something similar. My advice to you would be to focus on something else you love to do. Leave your quilting alone. Have you ever made something that you thought was awful and then a week later, when looking at it you could see the beauty. Your move and leaving all your friends had to be somewhat traumatic so just stop worrying about the motivation. It will come back! Hope this helps you.

auntpiggylpn

Well, you are a long, long, long way from Indiana! Just pick yourself up by your boot straps and persevere! You will come around once you have adjusted to your moving. Keep reading this board, it will always give you encouragement and more than enough ideas to keep you busy forever!!!

mim

I just looked at where you live -- the web site is filled with a wonderful series of pix and comments of walking pathways and scenes. Well worth a look. They took me back to when I walked many paths in the UK. Lovely area. I hope you will find a lot of lovely people.

When my son and family moved to a new home (every 3 or 4 years) They visited every church in the area and chose the one that was the friendliest. It is hard to make new friends.
newcastlephotos.blogspot.com/2011/04/ryton.htmlCached

Mim

rusty quilter

Moving is hard....and so is getting inspired when you are dead tired from the stress of moving! We just moved this summer...(was so much easier at 40!) Give yourself time to adjust. I have been here 4 months, and just last week began to unpack my fabric...Start with something small, like a table runner to give away for Christmas...the rest will follow.

Cybrarian

So many encouraging comments and ideas, just want to add one more. You are not a "sad sack"! What you are experiencing is perfectly normal, and not limited to an age group. I have a close friend who is a psychologist with a large counseling practice. We and our spouses have been in the same connection group at church for many years. He has shared with us that often people get scared thinking they are becoming depressed when they experience what you are when going through a big change in their lives, even very happy ones like marriage, the birth of a child-or moving closer to adult children. What we have to realize is we are emotionally "grieving" the changes in our lives. It doesn't mean we are unhappy about the new, but change is still change. It takes time to adjust to the new normal, to feel comfortable, to begin new friendships, trust new doctors, know the layout of our new regular shopping places or even find them! You will get there, but it takes time. Keep your long friendships alive, thank God for email, Facebook, FaceTime, Skype-whatever ways you're comfortable keeping in touch-make this a priority-and ease in to the new. It won't always be the new. On the plus side navigating through all this is great for your brain!! Feel the love of your many friends on the board-this is one place that is always in the same location, cyberspace! Our own little "Homeworld" LOL!

Jordan

Lettie-Please don't feel sad or alone. I was in your situation some time ago when we moved about 2 1/2 hrs away from where we lived for 30 yrs and raised our children. I felt so alone and had no interest in anything. I didn't want to move as I had worked my way up in the medical field and was enjoying a job I loved so much but---daughter was going thru a terrible marriage with 3 little girls and we had to move near her to help out. She introduced me to a lady from her church that was a quilter and the rest is history. She has become my very best friend and has introduced me to her friends and now we have a little sewing group that meets once a week. So please pick yourself up and and I think things will work out for you soon. Keep a smile on your face and think positive. Best of luck and maybe if you start sewing a small project the sun will shine for you.

mim

I hope you are settled in and happy in your new home. Moving is no fun. We change places twice a year -- summer and winter -- but this year was worst. Our winter condo bat bathrooms were flooded with sewer stuff while we wee gone and everything had to be removed and stored or the cleanup and reconstruction. Now we have to unpack and sort out. Lots too much so we will give a lot to Goodwill and resale shops.

Then in a few weeks, I hope to get back to quilting. Something small There is a new baby next door, so maybe a quilt for him. I have some truck fabric.

Mim

cashs_mom

Awww, Letty. I'm 64 and can't imagine moving far away from Houston. I don't have that many friends here, but things are familiar and known. When I was younger I moved many times and it can be very disconcerting and isolating. Is there a quilt guild in the area you could join to help you get going again? Or maybe LQS that has some classes or UFO get togethers? Being around others with the same interests always helps me to adjust.