I'm Done

With a couple things. First here is a closeup of my Carolina Christmas, Bonnie's last mystery. But I'm calling it Poinsetta Christmas. I set mine differently than Bonnie had. See the center Pointsetta blocks.

See here is the complete quilt. I put the poinsetta blocks all around the border. This is on my regular size bed and is pulled down over the quilt chest so show the border. I machine quilted it, mostly in the ditch on my Juki. The borders I used the free motion templates that you fastened on with tape on either side. Sure helps this gal that is not up on free motion.

The other day I was looking through my old little black binder I have used for receipes through out my married life. Found a cookie receipe cut out of the paper that just looked like I should make them. They are called LEMON WHIPPERSNAPPERS . So simple using a box of Lemon cake mix, 2 eggs and Cool whip. and powdered sugar.

The picture doesn't look like the picture on the receipe. But they taste pretty good. I left the last batch in too long and they got a little dark and crisp.

The thing is , I haven't made any cookies for years. Just felt like it.
I want to make some Snickerdoodles also. Maybe tomorrow since we have snow outside and I don't have to go any place.

Got caught in the snow today. They said maybe a dusting. So I went on in to Swimming and then had my  hair appointment after. By the time I came out there was close to an inch and still snowing. I do not like to drive in the snow. But my  car did fine. The main roads at least had a clear lane but when I got to the turn into my road which winds up onto the mountain and has a big curve going up. It started to slide, I let up on the gas and turned the wheel and it sort of took over, going very slow and I tried to keep the wheel turned like I should and finally I was up to my house and turned into the carport and I was never happier to get home. I do not like to drive in the snow.

So I came home and started to sew on these string blocks which is the last clue # 3 I believe.
I finished them, Here is all 60 of them . Anxious now to find out how she is having us use them.

Well, Bring on the next one  Bonnie,. Sure hope you have it in Vegas to post it in the morning.

I wasn't to hep  on doing strings but once I got going on them, cut lots of sizes of strips , It was really fun. I used old printed paper from my printer. It was heavier than phone book paper but I didn't have a phone book large enough. Yes, one came the other day. It worked fine, it's what I have used for paper pieceing. It rips of easy.

Thanks loads for visiting, Hope you are ready for Christmas. Just one more week.

What I Have done on Mystery

 

This is the last clue for the mystery. Not all of the complete sets but I have now finished all of them.

Then this is one of my sets. Just like Bonnie said. I have used my constant green bit the lights have been scrapy. I sure can't figure out how these blocks will be set together. Like others have said on Quiltville site, We have yet to use the red constant.  I have not finished my string blocks Here's a sampling of what I have frinished. As of this morning I have a little over 40 made so have about 15 left  make.

These have really been a lot of fun to make. I got out my stack of lights and cut different sizes of strips. So still have quite a stack of strings.

Now a couple weeks ago my daughter asked if I would like to keep her friends kitty. So after asking about how she might do in our house , She said she would be fine. No front claws and almost 8 years old and probably couldn't jump to the windows.

 

So this is a picture of Missy. She was good company for me and was very good , But not to lovey. I want a kitty that will sit on my lap and purr. Missy would purr and especially when I would eat, she would purr and want her snacks. Unfortunately DD came back this past weekend and took her home. Her owner had to find a new home and did get moved a week ago and it is one that would allow the cat. He wanted her back.

So I think maybe I need to go to the shelter and see if they have an older cat, trained and not one to try to jump in the windows. I have glass on the sills and don't want anything broken.

I finished another quilt but will show it next post. I do hope everyone of you that visits have a very good holiday. I will have most of my grandchildren will be with my daughter and I.
Thank you for visiting.

Roll Roll Cotton Boll

 

Are you doing Bonnie Hunter's new mystery.? I am. These are my first set of blocks. Not really Pink but I picked out anything that was in the red family. I'm using scraps of any fabrics that I have with the right colors.

I had my X-ray this morning of my back and boy do I have the hardware. 8 screws. One in each of the 4 lower vertabrae on each side. Will see what the Dr. has to say on Wed. But hope they print out a picture for me although I will keep the X-ray but would like to send it to my son.

I'm getting some little Schnibble's quilted and as soon as I can get some pictures muploaded I will show you.

Hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving.

Some Projects Done

A long time top which I finally finished. I believe it was for the Charm Girls Quilt Along. I ended up setting mine different. Sorry the picture is so light. I think you can click on it and see more detail. I call it Hugs and Kisses,

This is the quilt I had been hand quilting and finally finished. It was the last of the stars which we swapped at Quilter's Hollow about 4 years ago. I  really  like the secondary blocks for the setting. It is all Thimbleberries fabrics.

This is my completed, quilted Schnibbles quilt Called Paganini. I'm doing the second year of the Mini's and this was the first one. I just got it quilted.

Guess I  ought to say a little of where i have been. No place just trying to get some of these quilts finished. I've been doing great. All healed and go back to the Dr. next week with new X-rays of my back. Get that done on Monday.

The only thing I have found I can't do is walk and shop very long without my back starting to hurt. When there is no place to  sit down to rest a bit it is not good. But that too will pass. I am anxious to see what it looks  like now and how it is healing around those cages.

This is the next mini which I just made this week. Of course it is not quilted.  It's from This and That and called Butter Churn

Hope you  all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and don't eat too much. Only my daughter will be up this year so it will be just her and I. Very quite and hope to get a few things done around here that I am unable to do right now.

I have also finally finished quilting the big Carolina Christmas mystery quilt that Bonnie Hunter gave us last year. As soon as I get the binding whipped down I will get a decent  picture of it.

Thanks for sticking by me and checking back.

Fall in Western Maryland

This is my rocker at the back of my property and the view looking west and the woods that below to the neighbors. I love to sit here and read in the afternoon . So peaceful.

So then a few days later a different view with the yellow coming though. I finally got all 4 pictures posted together. Just needs some practice.

Then yesterday I  just had to take this out of my window. This is what I see when I sit and sew on my porch. The close tree is the dogwood which is old, old and in the foreground by the bird feeder are about three small dogwoods that we have tried to keep growing. There was two blossoms on one of them this past spring.

This is what I have been working on the past couple weeks. See all those half square triangles. Takes a lot of time. But really is worth it.

It is the Thimbleberries Club quilt for this year. Is just 7 feet tall and 6 feet wide. That is how big my board is and the room. It will be a while before I get this quilted.

Have enjoyed being able to drive myself as the Doctor said I could drive and also I can now start swimming again. So that is what this last week has been. Busy as I had my  last week of physical therapy. I presume that means I am almost back to normal.  I still have some backaches when I am walking to long. So it just  means I don't go  shopping very long or sit down for awhile.
I still have a date at the Doctors office the day before Thanksgiving but also have to get X-rays of my  back to take with me. So  maybe I will get pictures of what he did to my back.

Something else that I am doing today along with My Hubbies cousin who is also a widow , we are going to see a travel agent to find out about a cruise to Alaska for next summer. That should make a very rainy warm day much better.

I have also been getting Bonnie's last mystery quilt, machine quilted. It is on my Juki in the basement. Find I  can get a good bit done in about an hour or so. Didn't get down yesterday and guess I won't today.

So yes, I am doing well  and have to get some more quilting  completed, Thanks for stopping by even though I don't have that much to say or post to often.   

Happy Paganini

Yes, this is my first Schnibble quilt for this year. Happy Paganini. Happy is the name of the charms that I used. It is by Me & and My Sister by Moda. I loved all the bright prints, polka dots and strips. Was so glad when I went to my Local Quilt Shop where I had gotten the charms to find they had a good many of the prints so the one I picked was the blue print. If you click on the picture you will probably be able to see all the prints.

More good  news today.  With a visit with the Neurosurgeon. Asking the main question, can I drive. Yep. Oh, boy, finally  after almost 6 weeks having to ask for appointments. Then the next question, How about swimming. There again he said that was good excersise. So I am ready to go next week

My daughter is coming home for the weekend to try and get some rest as her back is hurting. School has been rough so far and she is just doing too much. Coming home  will be good for me.

The next thing for me now is to finish off  the TB Club quilt for this  year. I have the blocks done and am surprised that it is here at the bottom .

This gets several boarders. The first is just a small on of the main print. Then  there is a bigger one with sawtooth all around on both sides so that will take a while to make.

How do you like these very different trees and fences. This is done in the dawn prints so light background like the dawn.

More to come. Thanks for stopping by.,

Black Hills

Yes, a little strange title for me but I have just finished reading the best book, I just had to tell you about it.

Black Hills by Nora Roberts. Not just a love story but a story of two people starting when they were young and ending in a thrilling tale of the Black Hills and sacred Indian grounds.
A story of a girl who loved the wild animals and wanted to save the injured and start a compound for them and for teaching others about the beautiful wild animals.

It is a fairly new book having come out in 2009. I read mostly the older ones but love her adventures which in the past year the books I have read have been about Alaska, South Carolina and Now the Black Hills of the Dakota's.

I have been sewing but don't have any pictures yet. As you can see from the sidebar I have joined up with the Schnibble group for this coming year to try to make all 12 quilts that they ask for. I already have made at least six or eight of them and now have started on the New Pagainni , That's the first one that needs to be made by Nov. 1. why don't you join in. They do give prizes out. Kim did all of them last time and did end up with a prize.

I am progressing nicely. Have been doing without the cane even a little. But still need to get my legs stronger. PT at 8 in the morning and first thing 10 minutes on the step machine can really get you going. They usually end by doing some massaging on the back and then put on the electrical stimulation and a big heat pad for close to 15 min. So ends up good.

So hope things are going well for all of you. Thanks for stopping by.

Plan C Schnibble's

Here is the thing that has taken me so long to complete. It is called Plan C and it is the Mini. Each row is sewn together before sewing it up. So it had to be kept in order. Sure was fun.

Then of course the border. I didn't have quite enough of the orginal charms because I didn't read right. Do you to that also. Just go ahead thinking you are right?
I cut a lot at 2 1/2 in. instead of 2 inches so I didn't have enough. But filled in and I doubt you will notice.


Want everyone to  know that I was doing good. Have graduated to a cane and yesterday she said I could go downstairs, but to be careful. But My Juki is in the basement and also some plants that I want to make sure are being watered. I can also walk outside in the back and check on my perennial bed. Probably full of weeds. I didn't have a chance to even  turn on the soaker hose to water it. But I think what is there now will be OK. Will have a lot of work on it in the spring. Sure hope I am able to do what I want. I know I just have to take it easy.

So the rest  of what I have done are in the next blogs. I think maybe I have learned what I did wrong. Hopefully by the next time I have pictures. Thanks for stopping by.

Jelly Roll quilt

Ah, at least I have a picture in this one. Will have to see about the other one.
I finally was able to get these blocks sewn together as I have had the larger print since I was in the hospital. A friend in Kansas City was able to get it from her local shop, since it is a Kansas Troubles print. That's what the Jelly Roll was and all the other prints I have used.
Now I have an idea of another border but that will be in the next blog. Since the pictures I sent all went into seperate blogs.

I have been having Physical Therapy three times a week and each day goes a little further. On wed. I asked about using a cane and she had me walk around some walkways twice and decided I was doing well enough. So stopped at the store and got a cane.

So am coming along. Have two more weeks yet of PT. Next Friday I see the Doctor again and am hoping he will say I can drive. I don't like having to depend on someone else all the time.  Thanks for dropping by. 

Jelly Roll Quilt addition

Here is what I am thinking of doing for an outside border on this Jelly Roll quilt. Have a lot of KT charms and enough of that outside print to use. I might end up move them around a little. Wanted to make a few and get them up so I could get a few comments about what you all think.

This was fun doing and then trying to figure out just how to put it together. Twelve blocks is really not enough to make a very large quilt. This will probably be just a large throw or twin size. Maybe one of the grands will like it. Have two boys yet to go off to collage.



I don't know how I can get that Schnibbles quilt picture. Can't seem to get the post back now to edit it.

Now will publish this and then the other one which should be first to be read. Sort of strange I know. Sorry.


 

Would love some comments about maybe suggestions about other borders. thanks.

I'm Back, Finally

Sorry  have been so long in blogging but I have had  very serious back surgery and I just couldn't get back to this right away. I have come a long way now and maybe I can get back in the groove, If I can get my pictures uploaded again.

Just wanted to show you first ,the last quilt I finished hand quilting.It is the end of all the star blocks we swapped a few years back. I really like these setting blocks of Courthouse Square. This is all Thimbleberries.

Now a little more about my surgery. I was surprised to get this going so quick. Then when they got in it was a lot worse than the Dr. expected. It involved all the lower vertebrae from 5 down. He ended up putting in a rod, screwing vertebrae together and putting in what they called 3 cages which were filled with  bones and would , we hope, meld in with the other bones.

I am still using a walker but can stand good and have taken a few steps. I just started what will be a month of more serious Physical Therapy. Hopefully will be able to drive in a couple weeks.

I have not felt like doing  anything. I spent one week in the hospital and the rehab as I had no one at home to take care of me. Then I had bladder problems and the day I was suppose to go home the Dr. noticed my blood count had gone down and gave me 2 pts. of blood. That made me feel much better. Now I just want to get out and sit in the sun but I can't get down  there. I need to get this mess of pictures in a place that I can upload them. I finished the last Kids Quilts and delivered it today. Had a picture if it and one of the Jelly Roll quilt on the board in the setting I'm using.

Enough and probably more than you wanted to know. Hopefully  will be back sooner than before. 

Night Time on a cruise

Thought it was about time to show you what we found on our beds each night when we came back from dinner and the big show. I showed the first nights already so this is the next night. I presume it is and elephant. All made from rolled up towels and wash cloths. So  cute. Makes me wish I was back there.

Here's the next nights. Our pooch with his cute pointed ears.

Then the very best one which we just kept hanging. That is our monkey. He is hanging from the cover of the indirect lighting around the cabin.

Then last but not least the walrus , looks so sad that it is our last night. But then hoping for another cruise down the road.

This at least is the last of the pictures that I have now in blogs to be written. I will start anew when I am able to get back on my laptop. I see now what I did wrong on the one that I have this symbol of Picasa enlarged. It will stay here showing that the pictures were put from there. I think I clicked on it and it enlarged instead of going away. Live and learn.

Jelly Roll # 12

This is the last block in the Jelly Roll quilt in. So I have put them all on the board and decided how I am going to set them but still have to get some material for the center blocks.

I'm going to put them on point and there is a larger print with a light beige background that I want. One of my friends is Kansas City said she could get me the yard I need at her local shop. So that is in the workings.

Now for the next few day's I'm going to be worked on by a Neurosurgeon who will repair my back. I have two bad vertebrae or disks that are making my legs go numb and my back hurt. So am ready to report to the hospital in the morning. He says a day or two in the hospital and all should  be well. They really can do wonders anymore . Suppose to get me up as soon as possible and get me walking. Hope so. I have one more blog to post with some pictures so will do that also and then can start anew. As I do have a finished quilt to show you. Thanks for stopping by. 

A Good Day

Joe 4, Ashley, My daughter, Angela and Dan

This was taken the day we had the Memorial for George. It was the first time all four of my daughters children had been together for a year and a half. She used to be tall. Seems the kids are all outgrowing her.

Joe is a chef  at an exclusive restaurant at Shady Side on the Chesapeake Bay. Ashley is in her 5th year at Art school in Philadelphia. Angela is starting her Senior year at the University of Western Florida in Pensacola. So we will have two graduating next year. Dan is a Sophomore. Mighty good family.

My niece has gone and this week I am trying to get caught up on a few things. Doing the binding on the quilt I have finally finished hand quilting Will get a picture as soon as it is finished. Finished up my 4th Kids Quilt. But need to get it quilted. Have been trying to get things finished up.

I went to the Neurosurgeon this morning and he told me what he could do. Didn't sound to bad and he said it should help the pain and the numbness I get when standing. So I haven't gotten the dates yet but do need to see the PT tomorrow to find out the does and don'ts.

Otherwise it has been sort of boring around here, Except it was rather cool today.  Got down in the 60s and felt good. Swimming will start again the middle of Sept. Don't know how long I will be able to go but signed up anyway. It is being held at a different pool and we won't have the extra swim time as before but at least it is a heated pool in an assisted living complex.

Hope you all have been having a good summer. Thanks for stopping by.

That big symbol of Picasa I can not get rid of.  Sorry The names are suppose to be under the picture.

Brother and Sister-In-Law

Meet my brother and his wife of 61 years. This was taken at the camp my son and I went to a week  ago in Ohio. I have just been too busy with company to get another blog written and in my experimenting with Picasa I got 4 pictures into 4 separate blogs. Dear friend Kim sent me a link to Picasa which had some instructions. Remember I had asked for help.

It said you could upload 4 pictures at a time. But I  couldn't figure out how to do this. No buttons anyplace that I could see to hold them once they  were selected.

Well, I have my niece is here this week from Colorado Springs . She is a Mack user but finally this evening we got it figured out. Yep, there is a little blue button to the left of all the other buttons at the bottom that you click on to hold the selection. Then do it one by one until 4. Then click on the blogger button and it takes you to sign in to blogger. When You go in there are all four pictures.

But Now I need to write blogs with these other pictures and get them out of the way without deleting them completely. So this is the first.

An update on my brother. I had told you he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had started on Chemo. Had two treatments I believe and the other day had chest pains bad enough that he wanted to go to the hospital and sure enough he had a mild heart attach. Ended up getting a stint put in but is home and feeling fine. Now the Doctor says no more Chemo. So hopefully he will get stronger and have a few more years with us. Sure glad I got to see him and all his wonderful family.

My  niece and I have been quilting and talking. and having a good time. I finally finished the quilt I have been hand quilting for almost a year. Now have another one in the hoop and ready to start.

Yesterday she helped me to get my Carolina Christmas quilt I made from Bonnie Hunters mystery  this winter. Ran out of pins so had to go to the Quilt Shopof course today. Will finish it up tomorrow. It is queen size and I will machine quilt it.

My niece will fly home on Saturday and hopefully I can get another blog written. Thanks for visiting and Another picture next time. 

Quilt Along setting

This isn't the way I was going to start this blog but I am having problems with these pictures. Really with Picasso. I took the download of the Picasso system and I love it as you can do so much with the pictures and see them so much better. So someone who doesn't have the best eyes it is a help. The problem is when it comes to putting the pictures in the holding area on the blog so you can upload them where you want them. The browser won't take you to the Picasso pictures in your laptop. So I need help. I noticed at the bottom you could add them to your blog. Which I did and now I have 4 different blogs with pictures in them. Can anyone help me !, Oh, my question mark key is not working. I think I need to call Dell.

This is all the finished blocks for this quilt a long. I have started this evening to sew them into rows. But this past week has been busy.

My son was here until yesterday and on Friday he took me to Ohio to visit my brother and his family. They were having their yearly get together. So My son got to see his cousins for the first time over 30 years. That's what happens when you move across the country from your relations. It was fun and to see all the little ones. Their great grandchildren. and none of my grandchildren are even married yet. We were married in the same year.

On the way home though I got sick with the intestinal flue. Then Monday night my son got it but it is really going around here. I  had planned to make Chili for the gang when they came here after the game convention but DS made it. It was very good.

The grandchildren and DD came so we could put their Dad and grandfather in his final resting place at the cemetery. He had been on the hearth in his box. At least his ashes were. It was mainly family, A couple close friends that knew him well .

I am back to the regular routine now except of getting some tests done now so the doctor can see any changes since the last MRI and X-Rays. Tomorrow I go in for the nerve study test on my legs. Had this done several years ago when I developed this Neuropathy.

I have no more pictures as I can't get them in here so you have to put up with my talk. But this is it.  I did want to let you know how things were going. I have a niece from Colorado Springs coming on Sunday to visit for a week. She wanted to come for the Memorial Service but I figured we would have more time together if she waited to come later. She is the only one of my sisters girls that quilts when she has time. So we want to get some quilting in. and of course a lot of talking.

But if someone can help me with this Picasso thing please let me know or email me. Thanks for dropping by. 

The Carnival Pride

Here I am in front but a good ways away from this huge ship. This was taken in Nassau. We didn't get one of the paid trips so walked from the boat around and over to where the shops were.

I'm really getting ahead of myself. This isn't the picture I wanted but they are so small on my computer I can't really tell which one I want. I thought I had a picture in port before we left last Sunday the 25th of July. Leaving from the Port of Baltimore was so easy and fun. I took pictures the whole way out. Going under the Bay Bridge at sunset.Of course it wouldn't get into the right place. For those who aren't familiar with Maryland. This is the bridge that goes to the Eastern Shore. Our beaches and Ocean City.

It takes about 5 hours to get out of the Chesapeake Bay. A special pilot gets on at each port to guide the ship where it is suppose to go.

We sailed for 2 days with the first stop at Port Canaveral We got off and went to Cocoa Beach but didn't stay to long as it must have been in the 90s.

I was really surprised at how large the cabin was. This is ours. I had wanted a window but figured it would be a porthole but look a full size window. The heavy dark thing on the bed was put there so we could unpack suitcases on the bed and not get them dirty. Pretty smart heh?

Our Steward was so good. Any time we left the cabin he came in and cleaned it up. Especially the bathroom. Clean towels etc. At night while we were at dinner he would come in and turn back out beds and leave a little something.This was the first night.
The paper with the goings on for the next day. Always two mints.
Every night a new animal.

Here's a picture of us on the forward deck while watching the ship leave dock. Isn't my daughter a doll? We had a wonderful time. I let her sleep in the morning. Would get up and dressed and take my key and book and go clear up to the 9th deck where all the food was . Have my coffee and find a table by the window to watch the sea going by and sometime the sunrise. What a life.
Daughter would come up when she got up and then have breakfast and decide what we would do for the day. Mostly go out on the deck and lay in the sun or get in the hot tub and talk with everyone. That is one thing I found out. Everyone was so friendly. We talked to one couple from Quebec Canada. Another time at lunch in the dinning hall we sat with a couple and their 10 year old daughter from Belgium.  Did you know that Belgium waffles are really a desert? They never eat them for breakfast.

this was when we had gotten off last Sunday and were waiting for the firebnd to come and pick us up. 11 floors and that doesn't count the lower floors where the food is stored and prepared and the crew quarters are.

Just a pretty sunset picture and a buoy. This must have been going out of the Bay. I will have more another time.

Just wanted you all to know that I had a wonderful 80th Birthday. and yes, I got a small piece of fancy cake with a candle and the waiters sang Happy Birthday.

My son came and got me at my Daughters on Monday and will be here until the middle of next week. So have a week with each of them. How blessed I am.  Thanks for stopping by.