Hump Day

Wow, I completely missed Tuesday. Well, not really. I was busy working on the Backyardigans quilt. Maybe tomorrow or Friday I'll post some photos of my progress. On Pat Sloan's blog, they're working on a Crooked Cabin Sew Along. I did the last Crooked Cabin sew along, and I love the quilt I got from it. However, this time, I had to pass. Just not enough hours in the day for another project. I have two of the blocks from Kristin's sampler quilt done, I can work on those during the day when the kids are watching TV. I cut 5 blocks this weekend thinking that I had an extra week before Bubby's birthday. Well, I don't!! The party is on the 9th of August, so I need to get a wiggle on, as my granny used to say. Mary has planned a party with a carnival theme. She's serving corn dogs, funnel cakes, popcorn, nachos and cheese, and soft pretzels, along with sno cones. We're playing lots of games on the "midway", and the kids will win tickets which they can turn in at the end of the party for prizes. I think it's going to be fun, and I think the kids will love it. Check out the invitation post cards she made for the party. All the necessary information was on the back. She's such a great idea person. She needed gifts for Bubby's teachers, therapists and bus drivers, and didn't have a lot of cash to spend. So, she packed gift bags with a huge Hershey bar, a box of graham crackers and a bag of marshmallows, along with a recipe card for microwave s'mores. Then she wrote a cute little poem about the person being sweet and deserving a sweet treat. It ends with "we can't wait to see you s'more next school year." Pretty inventive, huh!!! Do you have any neat gift ideas to share? Please do. See you tomorrow.

Not Much Impressed Me

at the Hershey show on Friday. We went to the Farmer's Market in Bird-in-Hand the first thing Friday morning, and bought meat and produce, and then it was on to Hershey. I did find the greatest Christmas fabrics for Kristin's quilt, and over the past two weekends I got 7 of the 12 blocks cut. I also found some great marbles for Pablo in Bubby's Backyardigans quilt, but no Disney fabrics at all. Sure was a lot of Wizard of Oz, though. Never cared much for the movie, myself. There was nothing that screamed, "Take me home", so there was not much I brought home. Is that a good reason to try out the show at the Farm Show Grounds in September? Sounds like it to me!!! I did buy a pattern for an octagonal mat for the kitchen table. I liked the shape of it, and think it will look really nice under the candle and stand I bought for the kitchen. There were some really cool bag patterns, but if I had picked up another pattern for a bag, I think Rod would have started screaming, "Not another bag!!!" So, I passed them by.

Kristin kept Mary's kids on Saturday evening and they slept over at Kristin's also. Kris took the three kids to the "Y" on Saturday evening, and Rod and I went, too. What a great time we all had. There had been some rumbles of thunder which must have emptied out the place, because we had the pool pretty much to ourselves. You should see that Izzy in the water. She and Kristin have been taking swimming classes since Izzy was six months old, and she's like a little fish.

This week I hope to get Bubby's blocks finished and ready to put together. So, I'd better get moving. Have a good week.

WOOHOO! It's Thursday!!!

Yep, it is. And we leave about 5 pm for our Hershey trip. Yeah, Yeah, we're only staying away overnight, but still it's being away. And the thought of adding to my stash ----- one can only dream of the possibilities. I know I have to find some cool Disney fabric for DD Mary. She found a pattern for "Neck Coolers", and bought the stuff you put inside. All Moi has to do is make the things. But they are simple. Mary and family are going to Disney in September and are anticipating some hot days. Mary is always prepared.

I also have to find some pretty Christmas fabric for DD Kris's Christmas quilt. Maybe something elegant with bells on it. And some tiny Christmas prints that would be suitable for a "card trick" block. And for me -- well, I'll know it when I see it. It will call my name and beg to be adopted. And, since I'm such a softie for homeless animals and the such, I will have no choice but to take it home. And Rod, well he'll smile sweetly and say "I only wish you had more money to spend and more space to fill, honey". But I know that all the while he'll be rolling his eyes. But you see, he knows, that if he is patient with my spending at the quilt shows, I encourage him to spend more money at the train shows!! It's a symbiotic relationship!!! You know, you feed my addiction and I'll feed yours!!! Have a great weekend.

No Whine Today!!

Nope, not today. It's a rule -- if you miss posting on Gratitude Tuesday then you can't do the Wednesday Whine Fest. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it) We started getting ready for our trip to Hershey last night. Boy, you'd think it was a very long trip when, in fact, it's only 5 hours. But I printed out my hotel confirmation, and the TripTik from AAA. Yes, I know that we have a GPS unit, but that "biddy" is sometimes clueless. She tells us to return to the nearest highway because she thinks that we're off roading or in the water. Little did she know that we were on the Capital Beltway in bumper to bumper traffic in a bad thunderstorm. So, I don't trust her and take my own directions!! I made my list of what to pack, and have gotten my "wish list" started. I just can't help myself -- I'm a list-maker. This trip won't be as much fun as last year's because last year I took a class from Pat Sloan. Before that, I was definitely thinking in the box, usually in symmetrical duplicate -- it's a twin thing. I've always had to have two of everything, and they had to match. One of the guys Rod used to work with called the twins my "bookends". Guess that's pretty true. I need bookends. But since the class with Pat, I think a little differently. I can even use something other than white for a background. Are you a list-maker? Is it difficult for you to think "outside the box".

Rod's second surgery was yesterday. His ear has healed nicely, and the dr. said in about a week you won't know he even had surgery there. The one on his cheek was deeper than the dr. thought, and this morning his eye is swelled almost shut, and turning black. He's such a good-natured guy and doesn't complain. Said he's telling all the guys at work that I hit him!! He's pretty tall and I'm pretty short. Like I could really reach that high!! Have a great Wednesday!!

Monday

Well, it's back to work again this week. We had a really lazy weekend -- I think we need those occasionally. It's been really hot and muggy, and I don't go out much on those types of days because of the asthma. So, yesterday AM before the heat set in, Rod and I were on the porch talking about Christmas, yes Christmas, and I was telling him about the Christmas quilts I had planned for the girls. Can't decide what to do for Kristin. We talked and threw ideas around, and finally decided that there's no reason that I can't take my sampler quilt patterns, choose 12 blocks, and do them in Christmas fabrics. I have tons, already in my stash. Rod said he could hear the wheels turning, and smoke was starting to seep out, but, I started cutting blocks for Kristin's quilt. The sampler quilts were done by hand, and I loved that. It's something I can do sitting with the kids, travelling in the car, or just sitting on the porch. I got two blocks cut yesterday that I can take with me to Hershey this week. We are leaving Thursday evening after Rod gets home from work, and going about three hours away - to Breezewood. Then Friday AM we will drive to Hershey (only about two hours) and should be there about the time the show opens. I have a short "wish list", and so it should be a fun trip. This week I'll work more on the appliques for Bubby's birthday quilt, and tomorrow Rod has his second surgery for the skin cancer. Last week, the dr. did the one on his ear, and it has healed nicely. Tomorrow he'll remove those stitches and do the one on his cheek. Rod really has listened to the dr., and not overdone anything. He stayed out of the sun this weekend, and worked only short periods outside. But, he did manage to finish the steps off the deck. Have a great day, and stay cool.

Look I found them!!!

Have you ever watched 'I Spy", a children's show on HBO? Well, this little guy with a tennis-ball head and his block dog friend, CeCe spend the time looking for things that a duck on wheels tells them they need. When they find an item, they dance and sing, "Look we found it, look we found it, how about you!" Well, just after I posted on my blog the last time, I drug (or is it dragged) out the large suitcase that I store my fabric left over from projects in progress, and cut the sashing pieces that I needed. While I was looking on my table for the ruler I use to draw the 1/4" lines with, I found a little sandwich bag that held all the pieces I was missing and more. So, I did the "I Spy" dance. But do you think that means that my table needs cleaned off??? If you said yes, you get a gold star. Not only does that table need cleaned off, but the whole room needs cleaned. Unfortunately when I'm in there, it's usually only for short periods of time, and who wants to clean when you can sew!!??? But I promise, one of these days soon, I will clean up and get ready to start Christmas gifts. Have you started sewing for Christmas yet? I ordered Pat Sloan's pirate pattern to do a quilt for DD Mary, and I have the fabric already. If you're a pirate fan, you need to see this pattern. http://patsloan.typepad.com/photos/patterns_apl/158_cover.html

For DD Pam, I have chosen a Pat Sloan pattern also. It's Pat's Nick of Time pattern, and I did this one for myself and Pam loved it. I have chosen some western fabrics for her quilt. If you're looking for a quick quilt to make, then this pattern is for you. http://patsloan.typepad.com/photos/patterns_pcd/159_final_v3_web.html

But first I have to finish Bubby's birthday quilt. I have all my patterns ready, four are ready to fuse onto the background squares, and three more are traced and ready to fuse onto the fabrics. Have a great weekend.

Gratitude Tuesday

I'm giving thanks today. For what this week, you may ask. Oh, the normal things like family and health, but today for the nice weather we had yesterday and are expecting for the next few days. They say it's the first time we've had five days in a row with no rain since April.

My party on Friday night went really well. It was a candle party, and I had enough sales to earn me about $300 in free product. Not bad. Everyone seemed to love the pinwheels that Mary and I made, but I have to say I was really disappointed in the Italian ones. They just didn't have much flavor, although we used a full packet of Italian Salad Dressing mix in the pack of cream cheese.

I'm working on the appliques for Bubby's Backyardigans quilt, and have three ready to fuse to the backgrounds. Wow, there are some really small pieces even though I tried to simplify the designs. I finally finished putting the top for my second sampler quilt together, but have one row of sashing across the bottom to finish. I seem to have misplaced some of the sashing, but I have more fabric, so this morning I will cut the four pieces that I'm missing. And then both sampler quilts are ready for the borders. I just might get these finished before the end of the year! Have a great day.

Friday

When DD Kristin was little, she would come home from school on Friday singing a little ditty that she made up -- "it's Friday afternoon and I'm glad of that cause I can't take another day of school." Think I'll sing it this afternoon. DD Mary came last night and together we made the pinwheels that I'm serving at my party this evening. We did five kinds -- cream cheese blended with ranch dip mix, bacon, mozarella and topped with smoked turkey; cream cheese blended with italian dressing mix, and topped with parmesan and mozarella cheeses and prosciutto; cream cheese with blended with bbq sauce and french onion dip and topped with cojack cheese and roast beef; cream cheese blended with stone ground mustard and chopped dill pickles, topped with cheddar cheese and ham; and finally (Mary's favorite) cream cheese with fiesta dip mix and well drained canned corn, and topped with fiesta blend cheese and turkey. We rolled them in saran wrap, and refrigerated them. Now, today before the party, we will cut them into pinwheels, and arrange them on a large green glass plate that I have. I'm serving two pudding salads with them, and a homemade punch. We cleaned the deck last night, and moved the furniture around, and so, other than the final food prep, I'm all set to go. Then, since the house is all cleaned, hopefully, I can sew all weekend. I like the sound of that. Have a great weekend. Linda

Hump Day

Wow, it's Wednesday already? I've been working on putting some beads on my Slice of Summer quilt. We bought mulch and new landscape lights for the pond area, and it looks really nice. Rod reset some of the stones around the pond, and finished the fence with a new gate. I'll post some photos if it every quits raining. I'm so anxious for everyone to see it at the party on Friday night. Rod and Jimmy have put so much work into this project, and I love sitting on the deck so much that I don't want to leave the house. However we will be going to the Hershey show at the end of the month.

Bubby wants a Backyardigans quilt for his birthday. Last year I made him a Blue's Clues quilt from coloring book pages. It turned out really nice, and I think I posted photos on an earlier blog. So, yesterday I finished prepping the Backyardigans' pages for applique, and hopefully will get started on it over the weekend. I'm currently working on charm party totes for Bubby's two busdrivers. They are great, caring ladies, and help with him alot. Have a great day.

I'm Baack

As Randy Quaid said in "Independence Day." I just took a short hiatus. Sounds like something medical, doesn't it. Nope, it's just a short break or vacation. Guess the old mind had drawn a blank, and I didn't want to bore anyone. The holiday weekend is over, Boo Hoo Hoo. Rod took a vacation day on Thursday, so we had a four day weekend. We spent Thursday with the 3 grandkids here, and I don't know who had more fun. Pappy seemed to have a kid on his lap almost constantly. And, he made his world famous donuts. Krissy is now old enough to shake the paper bag with the powdered sugar in it. And it doesn't go everywhere since she knows to hold the top shut. Donuts were done before Mary and Kris left for work, and they were pleasantly surprised to have Pappy's donuts.

Bad news, the oven caught on fire, and doesn't work now, so on Wednesday night we went in search of a new stove. Found one I really like and they delivered it on Friday -- yes on the holiday. It's got a ceramic top, and is also a a convection oven. No more cleaning under the burners when Rod perks over the coffee. Got to go and start some more charm party totes. I'm making them for Bubby's bus drivers and his last day of school is at the end of the month. Have a great Monday.

Gratitude Tuesday

Woah!!!! Today I'm really grateful that my husband's name is Rod and not Noah. We have had rain everyday for what seems like forever. And sometimes there's no warning -- the sky just opens up and it's a real cloudburst. If his name were Noah, I'd be worrying that our new roof was about to become an ark. Today, however, the weather person is calling for a dry day. We'll see. Sure hope he's right.

I haven't started any new projects, nor have I worked on any old ones. Just lazy I guess. Today I'm going to start on the July banner from last year, and I have made up my mind to get the borders on my sampler quilt this weekend. We are supposed to have rain nearly every day this weekend. Jimmy asked last night if we moved to Seattle. But rainy days are always good for sewing. Have a great week.