My Quilting Porch

Full Moon Over Boonsboro

2012-01-25T21:09:00.001-05:00

Early morning with a haze about a couple weeks ago.
The lights are Boonsboro 2 miles away. Taken out of the window of my porch

Click on the picture and see it clearer. It was foggy.

This is the first Kids quilt I finished this month. Sorry I had the Orca Bay on the board so took it over it
the picture over it. This is a pretty lavender-pink for a girl. Click on it.

This is the last one I made. The print is Hockey so a boys. Kendra, our leader will quilt these two.

Orca Bay !!!

Picture is gone so will have to wait until next time. Hope to have the outer border on then

Then finally I got this sewed up, the inner border on. Now to get the outer boarder which is pieced , finished. I made this all out of my stash. Using the same colors that Bonnie had used in hers.

Sorry I have been absent. Just trying to get this quilt top finished. Then to get back to the Thimbleberries quilt that I had bought the kit in Kansas City this past fall. I had folded it and put it away.

This has been the strangest winter. Really no winter yet. Had a little snow and some below 32 weather but then back to 40 and 50. Not that I'm complaining. In a couple weeks I am going to a Workshop with Bonnie Hunter. Again with strip piecing a pattern from her first book. I am going to use Hubbies plaid shirts . So it will be his quilt. Better than going to the second hand store and buying them. But will need to get something a little brighter, like red for the border. He didn't like red but ---

Orca Bay

2012-01-08T22:35:00.000-05:00

This is the picture that I had in the last post that disappeared.
These blocks aren't arranged that great but hopefully with another week I can get to it again and try to get it put together. I have the first two rows sewn together so just have to finish making the last two rows of Ohio blocks and get all the red strings squared away and then can put it all together. Course there is the outer border.I have a few of the blocks done but have a lot more. Always got to do a few to see what they are going to look like.

This has been so much fun but a great design Bonnie has come up with.

I didn't say Happy New Year to all of you. Thanks for stopping by and hopefully won't be so long again till I have something more to show you. I have been busy and lazy.

Schnibbly's revisited and Orca Bay

2012-01-08T22:21:00.002-05:00

The first Schnibble's that Sinta of the Pink Pinchusion said was this Houes by Carrie of course. So I put aside my work on the mystery to get this done this weekend. Looks like I went overboard on counting making the houses so ended up with three rows instead of two but we can always put our own idea in the pattern. I didn't like the red borders as it made it too dark so figured the houses needed some grass and this Thimbleberries fabric worked good. The border is also Thimbleberries. You will have to click on it to really see the colors. I call this Santa Cruz, 1950. From all the different bright colors on the houses. I used two different charm packs and some extras I had laying around.

Then I have to show you Penny's new sleeping olace. She is on top of the basket that I have quilt tops rolled up in. It's on the hearth and therefore up a little higher. She got in there at Christmas when DD was here to be able to watch us all. When she isn't in the chair that is where she is. Click to enlarge.

Orca Bay - This was my first design when fooling around with the blocks. Couldn't figure out what she was going to do with the small blue strings.

Then she came out with her design. I have the first two rows finished and the rest put on the board but not all the Ohio Stars done or all the red strings and that set all squared up so-----

Picture disapeared.

This shows what I have put up so far. I didn't get a picture of the board as it is now as I put another tablecloth on top to have a board to put the houses up on.

Firgured I ought to show a little about Christmas as it has been so long since I posted. Such a mess two girls can make. Anglea was getting into her last box from her Mother and what a surprise. She got a wet suitl She wanted one when she was still in school as she had some diving classes and loved it. Just hope now she gets an internship on the Bay so she can get some more training.
We were minus one as Dan decided he would rather go to Florida with his friends than to Mamaws house for Christmas. So it goes with almost 18 year olds. He graduates in May.

Christmas Swap Arrived

2011-12-06T23:06:00.000-05:00

Isn't this the nicest runner? It was my swap from Kathy L a member of the Quilter"s Hollow group that I have been with for over 10 years. Every Christmas we have a secret swap. This year you had the choice of a runner or table topper. This fits perfect on my kitchen table. The flowers are the left overs from Flowers my daughter brought for Thanksgiving..

Here is the cute Hallmark set she also included which has note paper and envelopes. She also had a little round of special soap from Denali, Alaska. She and her husband had taken the same cruise I did , a couple weeks before I did.

Thanks for stopping in,

Christmas At My house this year and Orca Bay Mystery #3

2011-12-05T12:10:00.000-05:00

I was told I should show some of my decorations. This is my little tree in the dinning area which has lights on it

My tree which I have only used newer bulbs as Penny uses this table to look out the window. Although since I have had it up she seems sort of afraid to be able to sit on it. She does a little but not as much. So she knows it's something different.

One side of the mantle. This picture is blurry but I don't know how to delete. Kim told me how but this mind cannot remember all..

This is the other side but also blurry. didn't mean for them to be uploaded.

This is the better one and closer up. The celluloid deer just have to be shown at Christmas. They are some of the antique decorations I have from Hubby's family. The baskets are some of our Heisey that we collected for years.

Then the kitchen table with cute Santa table mats and another little tree.

Just another view with the other side of the kitchen showing.

Now to the pieces of the three sections of the Orca Bay Mystery which Bonnie Hunter is giving us the month before Christmas. I don't have all of each section done yet but this is a sample of each. I hope to be able to Put this picture on her special link. So will see if I can get that done.

That is about all I have to talk about today. Need to get something to eat and then down to the Boonsboro gym to do my exercises for the day. Have been doing the treadmill and trying to get back into shape. Back to my water exercises again tomorrow and Thurs. mornings. So hope that you are getting your Christmas decorations up and into the mood of shopping. Mine isn't too hard as the grand kids prefer money these days. Thanks for stopping.

My first Quilt

2011-11-28T21:19:00.001-05:00

This is a closeup of my first quilt. I hope these pictures get in order. There are to many of each one. and I don't know how to get rid of them.

Had to put in a picture of Penny, She likes sleeping in this chair where I put my laptop.

The first blocks to the new mystery quilt. Orka Bay that Bonnie is doing. I have about 100 of them finished but the hardest for me is squaring up as it means standing up and I can't do that for very long. So do a little at a time. then sit and sew

This is my butterfly quilt. first one I made and there is a story behind it, I said I wanted to make a quilt but didn;t know what pattern. My husband said make a butterfly quilt. His grandmother had made one while she lived with them when he was a teenager. His Mother said there was a box on the attic that might have some of her sewing stuff in it. So I found the box and yes, there was the pattern from a New York paper. The old cardboard templates she used. So did I. It is all hand stitched. I didn't realize this was a diffecult pattern, If you look close the block is on the diagonal and is made in two pieces and then the body of the butterfly is sewn in the middle.. There is one block that is pieced wrong. My Mother visit whle I was making it and made one block. She said no more. I just let it like she did it.

This is the Alaskan quilt I have made to remember my cruise. I bought the kit in Sitka the first port while on board ship.

The Wedding Quilt

2011-11-05T17:30:00.001-04:00

No this is not the wedding quilt but was made for me by my online quilting friends. Just brought to mind a lot what this book is about.

Yes, I am talking about the new Elm Creek book, called the Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. The 18th in this series and I think it will continue.

This by far is the best for it's history and the tales she tells. It is mainly about the wedding of the daughter who now lives at Elm Creek Manor. But then goes back and tells about other weddings held there over the years

I have spent the entire day reading to get it finished. Just got it from the library on Wed afternoon. I am not a fast reader. But just had to find out what happened next.

I have read all these books and mostly they tell about the people who come to Elm Creek Manor quilting retreats. What they do and what quilts they make. But this one delves more into the family now and before. Going back hitting times she talked about in other books. But this one is really almost a little in the future.

If you are into quilting and like history you must read it.

After last weeks storm which put down a lot of heavy wet snow and down came limbs and when that happens the electric lines with it. Our County was hit bad. Since we are up on the side of the mountain and have lines that run through the woods directly from the power station and only about 20 homes. We land at the bottom of the list to get repaired. The electric went of Sat. at 1:15 and didn't get on until Monday night after 9 PM. Fortunately I have a generator to run lights the pump, refrigerator and the microwave so I was OK, during the day. I turn it off when I go to bed. It did get cold Sunday.

Monday I went down to Boonsboro to my friend, Roben's who had the Internet . Took my laptop so I could at least get on Face book and tell family all was fine and then tell my online friends what had happened.

Then I guess I was coping Kim and had a tooth infected and swollen face and Hurt. WOW. This tooth has to be saved . Saw a specialist who drained it and that cut the pain so after a week of antibiotics it should be ready for a root canal next week. Then a cap. There goes the budget.

In the meantime I have been doing a little piecing and mostly reading. On Tues. my oldest granddaughter the artist is coming for a couple days. So that will be a change.

So much for the pictures. It looks all golden and red outside. A beautiful day. Thanks for stopping by

Rare Oct, snow Storm

2011-10-31T17:19:00.001-04:00

See how the sky looks foogy? That is the way it was snowing. This is just when it started early in the morning of Sat. Oct, 29, Too early for snow. But I am sure you have already heard about this storm.

This is looking from my carport towards the road. That is my lower driveway. Going to my backyard.

This is the backyard and the limbs from the Tulip Poplar. that were the first to come down. Large leaves that had not started to turn and come down. The same tree that the top had come down in a bad storm we had about three years ago. These are on the end of the driveway. More snow.

The electricity went out at 1:15 Sat, I went outside to look around and took my camera. This was taken from the basement door. That tree loaded with snow is the Hemlock. I got the broom and got it off before those limbs came off. The top came out of a Maple tree just above the hemlock

Just had to get a picture of these trees before the sun melted the snow and made it fall. Sun. came cold and sunny. Sun was just coming over the mountain. Can you see why these limbs would bend and crack and fall over the wires. We live in an area that has about 15 homes, farms and the line comes through woods directly from the power station and usually are about the last to get repaired.
At least I have a good generator which at least gives me light and the microwave to heat water for coffee and dinners.and water for the use of the toilets. But leaving it off at night means a cold house in the morning. Also this time for some reason the cable company was not repairing it until electricity is back. I guess I should have said something to them that some of us have generators that makes it easy for using the laptop IF it is working. So I am at a friends home that has WiFi to get some news out to my friends and this blog written. I miss sewing. I must get the belt fixed on my treadle so it could be used without electricty.
Thanks for stopping and hope you all had a Happy Halloween.

West River Quilt Retreat

2011-10-26T10:59:00.000-04:00

What I saw when I got there on Thurday Morning. No one else was there so I took my Subway out to the Gasebo and ate it while enjoying the river and the sailboats. So relaxing

This is the building that we sleep and work. The whole front room has windows out the other side with a view of the river.

Like this which I took the next morning when I was up early and the lights from the boats shining on the water.

This is a view of the main room on Thurs, when only a few quilters had arrived. Mine is the back table in the middle by the closed doors. I put up my tablecloth over them for my design wall.

I took this shot on Friday evening of my daughter, in the bright shirt, talking to one of the older members. She came to see me and of course had to talk to all of the older members that she knew. They asked her to stay and do the game of brown bags which is so much fun. I ended up with a small ironing board to be used on a table like so many of the Kansas group had gotten from one of the vendors. So Cool, but when I got home and tried it on my folding table it didn't fit. It also had a message board on the back so could be hung when not in use.

This was my progress by Friday afternoon. Lots of flying geese. This is the kit for the Thimbleberries Club quilt. Called the Quilters Garden. I bought the kit in Excelsior Springs, Mo. quilt shop where the locals have their Thimbleberries club. Loved the blue which is the center of the star and will be the outside border

This is how much I got done at the retreat. so now have them hung on my design wall and need to get busy sewing on the few geese I finished and then making more for the four star blocks I have to do. Then the little sashing around all of them with the blue and dark green cornerstones.

Home on Sunday evening but first stopped in Crofton to see my brother and sister-in-law who was visiting their oldest daughter. It was his 88th birthday. So very special. It was a beautiful day the trees had really changed color and when I got home found the driveway covered with leaves and they are still falling. Winter is coming Thanks for stopping by

Fall is here

2011-10-17T18:15:00.001-04:00

This is a veiw out my windows the other day. Yes, that is fog and the dogwood turning colors. Now the leaves are almost gone. It is going to get cooler this week.and on Thursday I am going to the Annapolis quilt retreat down on West River which runs into the bay.
I see that I had already showed this one but I have it finished now.

So here is the comopleted one but not quilted. A nice throw, Love these blocks

Sormeone said I should get more pictures of Penny. It would be easier if there was someone else here t
to snap pictures. The best ones would be the way she sleeps on my lap. She is still going into the quilt hoop and sleeping behind it. Usually hidden.

This is one of her walking and it is a little blurred.

This is the kids quilt that she gave us at the last meeting. It has been given back to her to erquilt. I will get it back to bind, Brought 2 more home yesterday. But no hurry to get them done.

I have the suetcase packed with the newest Kit I bought in Kansas City. All cut ready to put the blocks together later in the week. Will be fun to get reaquainted with some of the old members.

Another Kids quilt. The colors don't show up to well . I'm not fond of this pattern.

A quilted Schnibble. George. Guess you know why this was the first one that I got quilted. Love the colors in it.

Will try and get some pictures at the retreat. I know several years ago I got a terrific picture of a double rainbow. This time of year there should still be some sailboats.
Thanks for stopping by.

A Retreat in Kansas City and Otherthings

2011-10-08T21:10:00.001-04:00

This is the basement entrance to the home to me and my Fellow online friends from the Quilters Hollow. This is a Methodist Retreat Center and way out in the woods not far from Lawson , Mo. The upstairs is composed of 6 bedrooms with sleeping for 5-6 each with thier own bathrooms. Very nice and a large living area and small kitchen. You can see from the trees that fall was coming.

The dining room was in another building and we took a walk one afternoon down to the lake.It used to be the swimming hole but now they have a swimming pool. It was rough walking down for this old lady with a bad back but was fun and we came back by the road. Course that was dusty and rough with gravel.

We had 23 campers and this is the room which was the whole basement and lots of tables and good lighting. Those of us that flew in had sewing machine made available thanks to the local members. I had my choice of a Featherweight. Thanks Barbara. Was much appreciated.

This is Helen who picked me up at the airport and gave me a bed the first night. We spent the day on Wed. shop Hopping.They have some wondeerful shops around Kansas City area.
I spent the few days sewing up this quilt kit that I had bought in Sika, Alaska. It was the first good kit I had bought and then what did I do? Bought another one,Couldn't resist. It was half price and is the Thimbleberries Garden Club.

When I got home Penny was so glad to see me she doesn;t let me sit without her on my lap. Then the other day.I saw one of her secred hiding places.This is the quilt I am hand quilting and I leave it like this on the chair next to my lounge chair and I put my laptop on it.

See how it ia blugged out. She crawled into it through the hoop. I thought you could barely see her head. Try clicking on it and see.
Then we had a swap of these 6 inch blocks at the retreat. This is how I laid them out on the board. I have since sewed the blocks into rows but not the rows together. Neat aren't they.?

Since I have been home I havc completed the bindings on 4 kids quilts and sewn up blocks for another one. . Also cut the strips to have them ready for the next retreat next week. This one will be down where I used to go on West River. with the Annapolis quilt guild.

Thanks for stopping by.

Fall is Coming

2011-09-26T20:09:00.000-04:00

When the dogwood start getting brown and red it means that the leaves will also be falling off the Oak trees.

Then the acorns start falling and before long the temperatues will be going down. Doesn't feel like it now as it was in the 70's today but Oh so nice outseide. I just had to go for a walk and then got my camera and started to take some pictures.

This is what the drive looks like. It will get worse. Hopefully we will have some wind to blow them off. Along with ehe leaves.
I don't have any quilts to show. None are finished but look what is blooming in the garden. My daughter brought these home from a baby shower they were the favors.

She said to plant them which I did and they have been blooming ever since. At least two month.

After taking a couple pictures I sat down in my swing and looking up at the skyline this is what I saw. These are the huge old oak trees in the front yard. The sky was so blue and then the clouds but to think in another couple weeks those leaves will be down in my front yard or hopefully with some wind they will blow into the neighbors yard.
Those windows up on the second floor is my sewing porch. It is the first foor of the house. We sit on a hill. I love the woods and never get tired of looking at them.
I'm going to be off to a quilting retreat on Wed. and am so ready for this. Been in the works for several months. I have the kit from Alaska to start sewing up. Will tell more about it when I get home. Will be sure and take some pictures

Thanks for stoppping. How do you like my new blog dressing.? I finally updated it all but didn't get all my sidebar things back. See you soon.

Summer Day

2011-09-16T13:23:00.003-04:00

I have this finished now for the Schnibble's Minis that the Pink Pincushion has going. This was fun. One of the last set of patterns that Carrie has designed. I used a bright set of charms. Don't remember the name but if you click on it you will be able to see the designs in the fabrics.

Things have been going on in my life and with trouble uploading pictures to blogger I get a little discussed about even trying to post. But did need to get this posted. Since on the 28th I will be going to KC for a quilting retreat with my online friends. So am trying to get things caught up around here. Besides this past Tues. I had a cataract taken off my right eye and still have a film across the eye. Doctor said it should go away in a week. But am using my left eye and find it is pretty good.

This is one of the kits I put together for Kids quilts. She said last month she had a request for softer quilts for babies. So she put together some kits for us to do in the following month which comes to a close this Sunday.

This is another one. Then I put a couple more together with some of my fabrics and completed them .

This is one. She wants them washed so all this one and another one I didn't get a picture of need labels which I hope to just sew on this Sunday.

I have also been sewing up one I am making from one of the plates that Carrie sent to all of use last month. I was able to find a couple charm packs to complete it. I'm doing on of the patterns out of Carries book 2 that she put out to use Plates but to make the larger quilt it takes two plates. I found that 2 charm packs would do the work. Have all the blocks made now but still need to square them up and finish pressing some. So back to work.

Thanks for stopping until next time.

Prizes and finished quilt, finally

2011-08-23T16:35:00.002-04:00

Wanted to show the prizes I received from Carrie and Rosy for doing the quilt George for Le Petite for July. I had managed to get the top done before leaving on my cruise.

This is a closeup of the little pattern and kit which she also sent. Everyone that entered was to receive this special prize. Just wanted to publicly tell Carrie, Thank YOU.

This is the bright quilt which I finally got quilted.

. The top was done as a strip quilt. When I was on the Just Quilting group and I understand it is still going. So if you think you helped with this quilt or another one like it. L.et me know. Would be fun to hear from you. I want to put a picture of it on Facebook as I know of a couple gals on it
If you click on it to get a better picture and see the colors better.

Now as you can see, Penny liked it. She was siting there washing and I took a video of her. This morning when I got up you could tell she had fun with it over night. The bottom here that was on the floor was all messed up.

I have since put it on the bed to see about the size. Only about a good twin bed. Maybe if one of my grandsons go to collage next year would like a bright quilt.

Had a good visit with my daughter this weekend so now back to sewing on Kids Quiltts. Thank for stopping by

I've Finally Found Them

2011-08-21T09:13:00.004-04:00

The majestic mountains of Delani. Probably the best view you can get of Mt. McKinley. The locals call it Delani. We were lucky and had a week of very sunny and clear weather. This was taken at the McKinley lodge which they say is 40 miles for the mountain.

This is my last kids quilt. I have it ready to take back today. Washed and all. This picture doesn't have the border on it yet. That's how long I have been trying to get this picture up.

Then back to my trip. I had told you we found a wonderful quilt shop in Skagway. I had asked the lady if she stayed all year round. No she and another gal only spent the 4 months of tourist season. There was one who lived there all year and kept the shop open.
They had lots of animal prints and co-ordinates. That is what drawn me to this kit.

Normally I do not buy kits but this one was complete. The pattern has fussy cut 7 in blocks to go in the stars.
Yardage was supllied for this as well as the blue with the bear. They go in the alturnate blocks. I am planning on taking this to the Kansas City retreat our group is planning. I have cut the animal blocks out as it will be easier to just make the flying geese and put the blocks together.

This shows the bear fabric. It is terrific. Look forward to working on this. The light blue and dark blue border has bears in it as well as the light tan inner border. Love this fabric.

I also bought a panel of all the things, animals for Alaska. The lady had fussy cut them out for blocks and made a large quilt. My daughter said I should border it and quilt and use it as a picture on the back of the couch, Probably have a picture of that at sometime.

This is what I found when I got home. The naked ladies coming up. There was another clump against the carport also. Warmer there I guess. Then a loner out in the yard. I had thought we would get a lot of blooms this year because of all the leaves this spring. But only one down along the lower drive.

Today I have Kids Quilts meeting so we are going over there. Want DD to see the set up this lady has. I need to get some more fabric to finish off one of the kits. Plus a border. Then DD has a meeting this evening at one of her fellow HS classmates. Working on the next reunion. Then she will head home.

Not sure when she will get back. but that is fine. She will be very busy with school and then the Renn Faire starts mid Sept. for 6 weeks.

Hope all are having a good weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Mount Rainer

2011-08-20T21:51:00.003-04:00

I was trying to get both of the mountains to show you but this is the only one that came through. Taken from the plane on our way from Vancover to Seattle all of a sudden this big mountain came into view. Had to be Mt Rainer.You will need to click on it to see it clear. I didn't realize we were almost to Saeattle. What a sight. I had started taking pictures as soon as we got in the air and I saw the mountains of Vancover and so got a good many of the city and country inbetween.

I also wanted to show you the kit I had gotten in Skagway. Guess it will have to wait until I get it sewn together. I have done some of the cutting as I figured it would be a whole lot easier than at retreat. Will save the sewing for there.

I also had a surprise package in the mail the other day. You know I've been making the little quilts every month for the Le Petite and this last month there were not many that made them and Carrie who usually gives at least one of the prizes. Decided that everyone would get a prize. Two plates and a little gift for. Primitive Gatherings. So nice of Carrie to do this. Now to o decide what to make with them. Would love to make one of the patterns in her second book but they all take
two plates. Maybe I can find someplace to get another one like the one I would really like to use.

I don't think it is out yet.

This weekend has been nice as DD found the time to come up before her hetic schedule of school begins. Today we went shopping for things to decorate her room with. So had fun and got very tired.

Maybe the next time I can get those other pictures. I put them someplace that I can't seem to pull up with this blogger . Found it was easier using Picasa so will have to take more pictures and put them in there. So until next time and thanks for stopping.

Home From 2 weeks in Alaska

2011-08-17T19:12:00.004-04:00

This is the only bear we saw. The first stop on our

trip through Alaska, The Lodges all belong to the Princess lines and are wonderful. After a full day of travel we were ready to go to bed.

This was our transpertation for the next morning in Fairbanks. It took us up the river past many homes and buisness of Fairbanks. This is the way the first residents got to Fairbanks. We saw where they are breeding and training the dogs for the Idinarod.

Flowers were beautiful. This is a old cabin of the original Alaskans. The young people that told us about life 100 years ago for their people. Most of them were students saving for collage. After our morning on the paddle boat we were left at the store where they had a family style dinner for us. Stew in huge pots , hot bisquits and pies. Course then there was a huge shop to look around in and spend your money.

Then onto buses to go to gold mine. What fun. A ride on an old train to the mine. The owner was a middle aged women and she explained how they were finding gold in the piles of dirt dug from the mountain.

If you click on this picture you can see the gold flecks. This is a time consuming job , but fun for travelers to do. I found $15 worth and had it put into a container on a necklace.
They gave us each a bag of dust to try our hand at it.

When returning from the gold mine we stopped at the oil pipeline. This is the group of women that was with us . They had husbands also except for another pair of females. I went with my husbands cousin who is also a widow. All except us two were from West Virginia. Fun group.
There was 25 in our group.

Sorry I have taken so long on getting something written. The first time I put pictures in it was terrible. Then didn't seem to be able to work with Blogger at all. So waited.

Now I want to show you the two mountain pictures but they will have to wait for the next post. I also have some other pictures to show you. Found a really neat quilt kit in Skagway.

All is well here and I have been trying to finish up some projects and kids quilts so will talk to you again soon. Thanks for being so patient and still visiting.

George

2011-07-13T18:16:00.009-04:00

Fooling you. This is George--

A new Schnibble and the quilt for the Le Petite for this month, Of course you all know my husbands name was George and I have a son and grandson with that name. So just had to make this quilt.

Wanted to get it finished before I left for my trip. It was made with. OOPS can't find the strips from the charms. Will have to wait to get this one quilted. Thanks for stopping.

Completed Quilts. finally

2011-07-13T14:14:00.009-04:00

Surprise, finally back. I have been busy. This is one of the Kids Quilts that I have made. I took a bag of about 6 back to the leader that were all bound and washed. Also had bound a large quilt that someone had sent her. She had quilted it and I said I would bind it. She hopes to raffle it off at a flea market type thing the Town has to get money for fabric and batting. She did finally get a big box from one of the companies.

This is the back of one of the Schnibbles I made a few months ago. Will have to look up the name. The fabric I used was a gift and I used the 2 set of charms and then used the blue for the background and the print was this great stripe. So figured I would use it for the backing. It also shows up the quilting better. I machine quilted it.

Here is the front of Brocante. I had showed this back in April but now it is finished. These Minis are so much fun, but I am getting a lot of them.

It seems like this summer I have had a lot of friends and family who are pregnant. There are 3 boys coming in Aug. and a girl. I didn't have any suitable pinks so got this selection at my local quilt shop. For some reason I decided I wanted to make a tumbling blocks pattern but the only pattern I could find was a paper pieced one. I wanted the whole blocks. I found the pattern in an old book I had on Amish quilts. Ever made this quilt? Well it isn't easy. Has all those Y seams. But did manage to do it all on the machine.

Here is the results. The baby shower was Sunday and she was very pleased. If you click on the picture you might be able to see the prints.

Right now I am getting packed for a 14 day cruise - trip to Alaska. We fly out on Sunday to Seattle and then on to Fairbanks and travel down to Denali and then to Mt. McKinley, traveling by train and bus down to Anchorage where we will get the ship and cruise down along the glaciers to Vancouver. So hope to have some pictures to show when I get home.

I need to get Penny to the vet to get her nails clipped but this morning she did not want to get into her cage. So am going to try again this afternoon. She is quicker than I am. My neighbor is coming twice a day to feed her while I am gone. So will check in later. Hope you come back to check the July Schnibbles I've finished for the Le Petite quilt show at the end of the month. So be sure to look for that. Thanks for stopping.

Penny is Smart

2011-06-22T20:43:00.003-04:00

I have my June quilt finished but want some input with it. This is the way the pattern was. Finished with the plain border. This is Recess by Schnibble. One of two that was given for this month for La Petite.

This is what I had thought about when starting this project. I have used double charms from the latest Thimbleberries fabrics. Had ordered this blue because I liked it. Then not to sure it needed the extra border. Does it distract?

I have not sewn the blue on yet but I think the longer I have it up on the board the better I like it. Sinta you may use which ever one you like.

I had a visit by my daughter this past weekend and since school is finally out she stayed though Monday. Sunday evening I had eaten my Activa yogurt and since Penny had shown a liking to this I have let her lick the package. She started this a few weeks ago and Sunday night she did it while my daughter was here and I quickly showed her my camera and knowing I could take a movie she took this.

Now hope it looks better than the way this picture came up. That is not good of me and my hand, really shows my age, but look what Penny does. I think she is so smart.You can make it larger.

We have been having a tipical spring, summer is here now with 80-9os. Thank goodness for AC so I don't mind it till I go outside. I even got some local friends to come and mow all my weeds. Looks nice now. I can do the touch up now with my weed whacker.

This Recess was fun to make. Easy cutting the strips off the double charms. Just had to cut about 2 inches off the end. Think I will have to sew those pieces together and do something with them.

Just waiting now for the time to start packing for my cruise. We have a meeting on the 29th and then will find out the itinerary and just what we need to take. Going to Fairbanks and then down to Ankorage and get the ship and cruise down along the coast to Vancover. Fly home from there. I'm sure I will have more about this later. If I can continue to upload pictures so I can find them with blogger.

Thanks for stopping and seeing what my Penny can do. Does your cat do this?

Trying Again to Post

2011-06-17T19:05:00.005-04:00

Ah, Finally I have gotten a few pictures uploaded. It's been a while since I have posted because of getting my pictures into the right place. I have been busy and last week end spent it at the Annapolis Quilt show that my daughter and I used to always help and took care of the Country Store. So I rejoined, mainly to get to go to their retreats. They have two. One in the Spring , which happened to be the same weekend as my Granddaughters graduation in Florida. Of course I had to go to that. Then one thing I could do was help with the show. I have a widow friend that lives in one of the retirement homes and I called to ask if she was going to be home and would like some company. Then one in the fall.

This is one of the many wonderful quilts. It is typical Balitmore Album quilt and is hand appliqued and quilted. There was another one almost as beautiful which had been machine quilted and looked like hand

This is one that I put in called Rose Star. It is completely hand made of all feed sacks, including the backing. I don't know if you can see the quilting if you click to make it larger. The white pieces are completely solid with quilting

Look at this one. Machine quilted but great work. Sorry I didn't get the whole quilt but guess I wasn't back far enough.
This is one of the last little quilts I made out of half square triangles that were cut off the ends of others when making our friendship quilt. I sewed them together before cutting, like Bonnie Hunter has suggested doing. This picture has also been cut off. It has the sawtooth all the way around. It is all Thimbleberries and I machine quilted it. The hearts in the solid blocks was a template that I transferred and sewed free motion.

I have been busy making baby quilts. Three this summer, two boys and a girl. Should make another boys. Besides I have 5 of the kids quilts all finished with the bindings done. Have a meeting next week at the leaders home to work so will take these to her. I did find some kids prints at the quilt show to make some more.

But now I have been busy with doctor appointments. Just this week have seen two eye Doctors. My Retina specialist that I see twice a year to keep check on my Macular and then the other to see about a change to my glasses or get this cataract off. They could get some change in my glasses so will get them and wait until next year maybe to see about the surgery.

Then it will be time to concentrate on packing for my Alaskan Cruise. Can't wait. Poor Penny will not like it when I leave her again. After I am gone for a couple days, I can't sit down in my chair without her climbing into my lap. Doesn't work very good when I have the laptop on my lap. But at least she is now MY cat.

We have had some really nice weather but no rain until last night I guess there was quite a storm but I didn't hear it. Good to be a heavy sleeper. Suppose to get more tomorrow. My daughter will be up for the weekend . Hasn't had time for over a month. She is out of school and now has big plans for the summer also. Hope a little with me.

This is it for today. Maybe I can get some more of these pictures in now. Looks like blogger has changed a little again but hope this will be OK. Am busy getting this months little quilt made for the Pink Pinchuson. I'm suing Thimbleberries this time. Thanks for stopping by.

Candy Bar Pinwheels

2011-05-21T21:39:00.005-04:00

Here is a view I had out my picture window the other day. They are in my neighbors yard, Thank goodness although I have seen some evidence that they have been eating in my yard also.Sorry I have been so long getting another post done. But have been a little busy traveling. My #2 granddaughter graduated from Collage in Pensacola, Florida 2 weeks ago and my daughter and I made a very fast trip down from Thur, evening got there Fri. afternoon about 5, spent the evening with her and saw those famous beaches. The graduation was on Sat. at 10. Then we had lunch with her and she showed us around the campus, will my daughter had seen it. Went to her job and met her boss. They love her and hate to see her leave. She will be staying there until her lease is up in July. Then who knows. We left for home around 5. Spent the night in Georgia somewhere and then got home again to Annapolis around 6pm . I spent the night and came home the next morning as Daughter had to go to school.
Thought is was time I show another picture of Penny. She has found a liking to laying on fabric. This is on the end of my ironing board. She also likes to sleep on my quilt I am hand quilting and have on the chair next to mine with the hoop sitting up. She goes behind and sleeps.

Now this is the quilt for the Pink Pincushion for this month called Candy Bar Pinwheels. It was

a free pattern from Moda. I made more blocks as I need a baby quilt so found this cute material with Norah's animals around the border. For a change I have this finished and quilted. Free Motioned around the animals in the border. You might be able to see it better by clicking on it.

I had just used a variety of blues from my stash.

Then this past week we had Granddaughter #1 graduate from U Arts of Philadelphia. So we went up on Wed. evening and got a hotel as graduation again was at 10 but we had to pick Ashley up early to put all her stuff in DD s van as Ashley is moving somewhere else. But she had to be in Maryland by 6 PM Thurs. Eve, for a wedding rehearsal she was to be in the next day. That with downpours of rain and then close to Annapolis gridlock as it was rush hour. I had it going home also for at least an hour and more rain. That we have had plenty of. Now they say it will be in the 80-90s this week.

At ;least Ashley has a internship for the summer in Philly but has made application for grad school. Wants to take Art Therapy

I had some pictures of the theater that her graduation was in, Beautiful. Downtown Philly in the Art district. This is where the school is and Ashley has spent 5 years there.

Hope not to be soon long the next time. Thanks for visiting.

Number two Granddaughter Graduates

2011-05-14T11:39:00.008-04:00

Here is the graduate and Mother and Grandmother. Just look at those curls that this girl has.

This trip started on Thursday afternoon when my daughter got home from school. I had gone down to her place so we could leave right away. We were headed to Pensacola Florida. Graduation was Saturday morning at 10:30. About 12 pm , Daughter pulled off into a place that advertised motels. We were fortunate to find a really nice one. I went in to see about it as I can get AARP and AAA discounts. Of course there was breakfast so we were on the road again. Oh, found out we were outside of Charlotte, N.C. So we had South Carolina , Georgia, Alabama and finally West Florida. Arrived about 5 pm and called Angela and went over and got her to go find something to eat. This shows her right after we found her. Her Mom holds some roses that her Dad had given her
This is in front of the Civic center.

The evening before we went out on the inlet with all the restaurants but Angela wanted us to see the beach

So this is Mother and daughter talking as it was taking me a while to get down the long beach.go see the sand of the famous beach. The whitest and finishest there is.

It was very hard with my back. Then later I caught Angela out getting close to the water and waves of the gulf. No that is not oil on the beach but seaweed. Just like you find on the beach at Santa Cruz, Ca.

It seems that the other two pictures have disappeared. but at least I have the two here showing where I have been.

We left after having lunch at her favorite restaurant, the New York Grill. Good food. Then she showed us all around the campus and then over to the Game store where she had been working for a couple years. They hate to see her leave. She is not sure where she will be going but wants to go on and get her Master's in her field. We left for home at 5 pm on Sat. and was home about 6 on Sunday evening. Daughter has to go back to school on Monday.

Yes, I know it has been a long time since I posted . Now I have to upload some more pictures of the last projects I have finished or worked on since I have been gone. Came home to the grass so high. Will show you some of the yard and flowers blooming so this will be it for this post. Thanks for keeping coming back .

Brocante and Kids Quilt

2011-04-19T16:38:00.004-04:00

My newest quilt for the Kids is from my stash. If you click on the picture you can probably see the prints. They are not new, maybe from the late 90's but with the plain blocks broke it up. Have put the rest of the fabric together for the backing. Will show the completed quilt when I get it quilted.
This is a closeup of a corner of the Brocante to show the prints and fabric better. Now I can't find the name of this charm set but it was sent to me for Christmas this past year by my dear friend Kim, Also with yardage the border fabric and the blue which I used for the background. The fabric is Park Avenue by 3 sisters for Moda. There is still another stripe which could be used in another quilt.

I put it on this dark fabric to try to show it off better. The colors are very soft. I tried to put the blocks in a way that the stars would show. Love this pattern so Thank you Sinta for picking it for this months mini. Hope to get it finished soon.Thank goodness the tornados didn't visit close. Although they did have some warnings up. Plenty rain though. The temperature was in the 70's today. The grass will really be growing. I at least got some leaves raked yesterday. It was so nice out I just had to get out and do something.

I'm still having problems with the pictures uploading but got it done the old way today. Probably be getting some dogwood pictures in the next couple days. Some of the little trees are starting to bloom. Thanks for visiting and hope your day has been good.

Is Spring ever going to get here?

2011-04-16T17:49:00.004-04:00

If you click on this you will see all the little blue flowers . It's the Vinca I have growing on the south bank of the house. Had to get the leaves raked Off them to let them grow. Still have more leaves to go but can only do a lttle at a time. Wouldn't have been as bed if I had been aboe to bet the leaves raked off last fall. But thats the way it goes.

This is the little bed of primulas that I have. I just put 3 new ones in but the pink rimed on in the left corner was from last year. They loose most of their leaves and all during the winter but are the first things up in the spring. The white one is also an old one.

This is a closeup of the pink rimed one. they come out so quick. Need a special spot with just a little sun and plenty of moisture.

At least I got the pictures in. They changed the way of doing it and I think that was my [ problem

Had to have a picture of the Perennial garden but as you can see not much has come up yet. The bulbs There was one jonquil early then these narcissus, they are huge. The columbine are coming out a little and the dianthus. The pinks are starting to show so color on the other side of the drive where the naked lady

Kids Quilts and others

2011-04-07T17:14:00.002-04:00

I have been making kids quilts and after the last post when the pictures did not appear I am trying again. The pictures are in there but I don't know if I will be able to get them in here. I had a very nice lady helping me but what she says is to click on upload image but nowhere do I see that or anything like it. I think I must have an old page.

So I think I will just post this and then go back to Picasa and try to get the pictures in another post. They have it so that you almost have to write the post there before going and after you publish the pictures are uploaded. At least that is what it looks like to me. Guess that is sort of what the Windows Writer does, IF I could get it downloaded .

Sorry this has been such a downer but thats the way I feel about it now. Ever since I got this new camera and then Kim got the very same camera for Christmas and has no trouble.

Thanks for sticking by me.

A Different Pattern and kids quilts

2011-04-03T19:39:00.001-04:00

I saw this pattern in a flyer that came in a renewal for the Quick Quilts. It just looked sort of neat that I picked out 12 different FQs out of my stash that sort of went together and decided to try it. I will say that the pattern had it listed as the Modern Baby quilt All in reds and pinks.
This first picture is the way the 17" square was cut. Then part of the top pieces were put on the bottom .Then sewn back into a square.

This is the blocks all sewn back together Now they are sliced diagonally through the middle. and switched around. Sewn back through the middle and then put into a pl;easing placement. I then found this black print floral that is probably from the late 90s that I used for the borders. Sort of out of this world don't you think?

This is the finished quilt. I was making this as a throw for a friend. She has black leather couches and needs some color. Might not be a friend aster I give it too her.

In the past three weeks I have sewn up the tops of 7 kids quilts. They are all cut out and the pattern given so no really any big deal. Here is the last two . I believe I showed a couple in the last post. I think after seeing how many the gal has to quilt, That I will make one out of some fabrics I have and quilt it also to help a little. We have another meeting in two weeks and she usually has quilts that we have made ready for us to make the binding on them. She gave me one of mine today . So will need to find something to use and get it sewn on and whipped down.

I sure hope I got these pictures right. When I came back to it all that was there was the squares. so am hoping they stayed there.

I have no excuse for not posting sooner. Just really bummed out with this new camera and the way it uploads. I'm sure it is me not knowing what to do. Guess it might help if I read the instructions that was put into the computer from a disk. Kim got the very same camera for Christmas and seems to be doing fine but then she doesn't have Picasa which is what the blogger said we should get. Most of the time it makes it easier to put the pictures in a blog but getting them into my computer pictures is another thing.

I have two weeks off from swim class. The spring session starts the second week I think. Seems funny not going any place on Tues. and Thurs. mornings. But the time will go by fast. If it warms up this next week like they say I can get the mulch spread. Get more leaves raked up and off the flowers coming up or vinca. Other years I had this done in the fall but couldn't do a thing in the fall with my surgery.

Otherwise things are going well. and am looking forward to the travels of the summer. Have two granddaughters graduating from collage. One in Florida the other in Philadelphia. plan to get to both.Then in late July the Cruise to Alaska.

So where are you all planning to go on your vacations? Thanks for sticking by me. I will be back sooner or later.Thanks for stopping by.

Kids Quilts

2011-03-21T22:17:00.002-04:00

'I have been so blogged down and just couldn't think about posting. I'm sorry I have been so long. The funny thing is I had put some of these pictures in once and when I came back to write the pictures were all gone.

This was the quilt the leader had us doing at the last meeting. Really neat. Then we took so some kits home and the next two are from kits.

Very different but fun to do I have two more kits to make up now. No meeting this month as she is going to be out of town. So have the next month to work on them.

This is the next mini for the Pink Pincushion . It is called Endless Summer which is coming soon , we hope. I made this out of Fresh Flowers by Moda .It called for 3 but Sinta said she got it out of two. Well I had to use a few pieces out of my stash but not having much with these bright colors, I went back to buy another charm pack and they were out. This was a popular preint. They had gotten yardage so was able to get the polka dot and then the border fabric. These star blocks are really not easy to construct but once you get it they go easy. Love the bright "Fresh Flowers".

We have had some really nice weather and I actually have been able to rake leaves , clean up the Perennial garden. Have to be careful but when my back starts to hurt I sit down and rest. Just glad to get out in the nice weather. It got up to 70 today so this evening before that nice big sun went down I took a little walk. Not early as far as I have before but it's a start.

Hope that you are all getting ready to enjoy the summer. Thank's for stopping by.

Sunday Desert

2011-02-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

Did you see this in the Sunday Parade magazine? It really caught my eye and when my Daughter came up this past weekend she looked at it and said that a friend had made it and was really good. It is a flourless cake. Yes, Just choc, 4 eggs, 1 cup of sugar and 3/4 c. of butter. The eggs are separated and the whites beaten to peaks. This is the hardest part.
I didn't have the semi sweet Chocolates and she offered to go to the grocery store to get some.So I made it. We did one mistake though. It said to cook for 40 min. at 300 degrees which we did but-- missed seeing to check for doneness with a straw. OOPS

Well this is what it turned out like. The top is crusty and you turn it over and the top should be a little soft but not as soft as ours. After we put it in the fridge it hardend up and is really good.We enjoyed it
.I am a sucker for sunsets and this was Sunday evening. It really was redder than the picture shows but the sky was so blue. This evening was even prettier but didn't take it. Today we had about 65 degrees outside and it was beautiful. Spring is here, maybe almost until the weather report for a few days from now. After all it is still February.

I even raked some leaves up in the front yard. Saw that the bulbs were starting to come up and raked the leaves off them. Don't want them 6 inches deep. I didn't get any leaves raked in the fall so there are a lot out there.
Then decided it was too nice to go in so got my book and went down in the yard to my rocker and read for about an hour. It was so peaceful and the sun was coming in just enough to keep it warm.

On the quilty side I have finished my Sweet Spot Schnibbles for the Mini this month. I thought I had kept the label of the charms but now can't find it. This was fun to make. I had all the blocks made and up on the board and my daughter arranged them for me. So this is it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Penny Is Mine

2011-02-09T21:34:00.000-05:00

First off is the quilt top I finally finished. The blocks were meant for a retreat our group was going to in Ohio this past year , so is called Road to Ohio ,but it had to be canceled . I had to finish the quilt anyway. It is all Kansas Toubles fabrics and the sawtooth border is made mostly from charms I received from Carol , of Carols Crafts in a giveaway a year or so ago.
I have also pieced the backing from a lot of scraps. Hoping to get it machine quilted in the following months.

Finally Penny has found a resting place in the living room. This is a drop leaf table that I have in front of the picture window with a spool cabinet. I used to keep glass on it and also had little glass toothpicks on the window sill. But knowing cats like to look out the window I moved them and all the glass so she could get up there via the chair.

A couple days ago I saw her get up here and looking out the window. Walked around the back and laid down like this on the other side of the spool cabinet. I didn't have my camera on me then. So Yesterday I did and took this.
Then the special thing this morning when I woke up, here she was up around my head purring. I had been trying to get her to come and sleep with me but she hadn't gotten up on the bed when I was around. So I think she has finally accepted me as her friend.

This is anouther mystery that our Hollow friends did right after Christmas. It is a Thimbleberries pattern for several years ago that the gal half sized. All Thimbelberries fabrics of course.

If you click on the picture you can see that the zig-zag is flying geese. Tiny.

I am working now on the new Schnibble's Sweet Spot for the Pink Cushion Monthly Mini's. I have all the blocks made, just need to square most of them up and sew together.
Minis are fun to do and don't take so long.

We still have some snow and it has been very cold the last few days but they say 50 for Sunday and the first of next week. I know you friends out in the midwest are sure getting it again.
Thanks for stopping by and will talk to you again in a few days.

Kid's Quilts

2011-02-04T20:22:00.001-05:00

I had a picture here of Penny and while I was writing last night all of a sudden it and some of the letters left. So I left to come back today to see if the picture might be here. Nope , So just imagine a picture of a black and while cat sitting on a chair.

A couple weeks ago I went to a Kids Quilt meeting to sew and get to know some of the other women. It was fun and this quilt with the pinwheels is the one she was doing that day. Since this group all started by some women wanting to learn to sew so the lady that started it said she would teach them , IF they made some quilts for the kids. So each month she designs a quilt and cuts all the fabrics and she then teaches them the new things for this pattern. So the Pinwheel was the first for them. I had a little trouble after trying to finish it. Her border and the blue that is the sashing wasn't enough. I finally decided to put the yellow cornerstones in the middle and then the blue worked. That fabric has Disney Characters.

Well another picture left. I have never had this happen before on here but it was a picture of another quilt made with bricks. Have two of them finished and have decided to let her quilt them when I found out how she does it on her long arm. Loading three at the same time and quilting across them all at the same time.

Now I had to show you our last snow storm. This wasn't near as bad as the mid-west or north but the trees were loaded with snow. No that is not Penny looking out the window. I took this out one of my porch windows and that's just some of the stuff I have on the window sill.

I have some other quilts that are finished to show you but since I can only load 4 at a time I will put them on the next blog. Hopefully not very long. Thanks for stopping.

Roll Roll Cotton Boil

2011-01-26T18:15:00.000-05:00

This is what it looks outside right now. Hard to tell how much we might get this evening. Had a couple inches this morning then it let up and started again about 3PM.

It's been a while since I wrote but I have been busy . Just wating to finish quilting a couple quilts. This is a Schnibble quilt whose name has gone from my mind. I just need to cut the binding for it.

This is the one that has taken me a while to get done. I am not sure if you can see the border stitching or not. It is a running feather and since I am not good at this type of thing free moiton, I used the paper pattern. The draw back is on this where so many stitches are done over each other and some paper stays in the stitches. I plan to wash this as soon as if get the binding on and hope the little pieces disapear.
These blocks were from a Friendship swap in my online group. Am glad to get it finished.

More so about this next quilt. Bonnie's Mystery. It was a bear. W0nder if Bonnie counted how many pieces are in it. Roll Roll Cotton Boil.

It is very large. The porch is 7 foot high and there is another foot on the floor. The thing that I've been working on this past week is that border. It is wonderful but--- Really sets the whole quilt off . Am very happy I made it.
Bonnie calls the pieces for the border Parallograms. 3 squares with triangles on each end. Then set so they are sewn with am straight edge. There are 39 of those on the side , a few less for the top and bottom. But the way she has you do the corner is perfect. Maybe you can see it better by clicking on the picture.

Now maybe I can get back to some of the Kid's quilts whose kits I have. Also been Helping my neighbor. She has a foot and leg in a cast and He needed to get to his job. He is a contractor and had men out working. Also was tired of his new job of taking care of her. So I have gone over for a couple hours at a time to relief him. Well today He told the men to stay home. It's a good thing. He did finally get out and cleaned his driveway and then mine but now they and the road are covered again.

So the best thing to do is stay in and sew. and play on the laptop. Thanks for visiting.

Mon Ami & Penny

2011-01-20T20:20:00.000-05:00

I'm finally getting around to showing my Mon Ami quilt for January for the Mini group. Will send it on to be shown in the Quilt show at the end of the month. It was fun to make using a Schnibble pattern

Then Penny is finally making herself at home. It was almost two weeks before she would stay in the living room very long. This is her stretched out on Geo's lift chair. She still won't sit on my lap unless I lift her and then she is ready to get down as soon as I let go of her.

This shows her stealing a little monkey that I keep on these baskets. This is the baby that goes with the Mama that McDoanld's gave with food. She grabbed hold of it in her mouth and back the hall she went. I found it on the floor in her bedroom. I put it back where it was and she hasn't touched it since.

I have been sewing other things besides the Mystery quilt. I am working on the border pieces of it now. I am going to really like it. This is a kid's Quilt I made on Monday. Sunday I went to my first meeting sew-in at the quilt shop and got some more kits. Also got one we worked on which is a Pinwheel but I haven't been able to figure out how she wanted it set together with the strips that came with it. So am waiting till I get together with her again.

We are suppose to get some more snow tonight but they seem to be making it smaller, guess it is leaving it all in the mid-west or want to load New York and Buffalo again.
Thank You for visiting even when I don't post very often. Just not enough news around here. You will get tired of reading about Penny's antics.

Introducing Penny

2011-01-10T20:13:00.002-05:00

Meet Penny as I caught her walking in the kitchen.

This one below was the first and how shy she was sneaking around the corner of the hallway looking at me in the dining area.

She has gotten so she will sneak in the living room and today even curled up and made herself at home on the couch. So since she has only been here for a week .,This is good. Especially since we don't know what sort of life she had before I got her.

I even went off and left her overnight Sunday. Went to Annapolis to the retreat where I used to go for Quilting. But this was for a wonderful night for a Madrigal dinner and music presented by the Voices of Praise musical group of 40 from my daughters church. This is the group that both of my granddaughters were in. Was a great night with good company. I spent the night at my daughters then and came home this morning.

This is what I have done on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery that she finally finished up for us. I have the blocks all sewn in the diagonal strips but decided to work on my next months mini this time is a Schnibble's again, Mon Ami. or like I have been telling Kim, Bon Ami. I have over half of the blocks made. It needs to be done by the end of the month to get in on the quilt show.

This is a closeup. I have used similar colors that Bonnie did but used for those bright pieces, anything from bright orange, hand dyes to reds and marrons and anything in-between. The strip pieced blocks make an unusual alternate block. It gets a red, like the HST for a small inner border and then an unusual pieced outer boarder,

We are expecting more snow tomorrow so maybe I will be in and get more sewing done. Thanks for stopping by and meeting my Penny.

Trees

2011-01-05T21:52:00.000-05:00

I had wanted to have a couple other pictures in here but this is all that came. I just don't seem to be able to get anything in here like I want. But wanted to show that I had gotten this finished. I used only 3 inch squares and doing the amount that the pattern showed it was way to fat and looked squat. I took out some of the flaps and narrowed it down. So am happy with it now. Now to get it quilted.

HappyNew Year

2011-01-04T15:22:00.000-05:00

I know I am late but better late than never.
This is the way it was at my house on the 26th. Which was our Christmas day. Had 3 grandchilderen. They stayed the night a it had snowed at their home below Washington. They had to pick up someone at BWI early on Tuesday morning so it worked out well.

I had another picture of the girls but not sure if it will show up. Been having a time figuring how to get into Picasa for the pictures from my Firefox now.
Angela the younger girl said that she uses Firefox and it was a lot better than Internet Explorer. So I downloaded it. It is quick but there have been problems. and since I am not a GEEK . It's hard.

Now starting on the 26th my group started a mystery quilt for the week. Not being able to sew on the 26th or much on the 27 but I did get it done, Which is what this picture is. Thimbleberries of course.

I have not ignored Bonnie's mystery and this week there is a lot to do. Putting together blocks takes time. This is what I have up on my board now. The one completed block in on the top row. Besides the strip blocks cut diagonally then sewn again to make the alternate blocks and setting trangles. Probably clicking on the picture you may be able to see it better.

It was a busy week. On Tuesday we went looking for a kitty for me to adopt. Many of the older ones were really bigger than I wanted. I did find one and will get her on Monday. DD stayed until Wed. but then came back on Saturday and on Sunday she had a High School class dinner to go to and then went home and back to school on Monday.

Then on Monday I went into the Vets and adopted a 2 1/2 year old cat which had been taken to the Vets in pretty bad condition. They had taken care of everything. Even had to pull a tooth.Poor thing . But she is very scared now and having explored the whole house she has found a spot to hide from me and only comes out when she wants to. So knowing cats do what they want will have to wait till I can get a picture out in the open. She is a Tuxedo , black and white spots. DD said like a penquin so we have named her Penny. I'm hoping it doesn;t take her too long to be lovey. She will rub my legs once in awhile. But doesn't want held.

So now back to working on the mystery quilt. Thanks for stopping by.

I'm Done

2010-12-16T20:03:00.000-05:00

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

2010-12-14T11:50:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-22T21:53:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-19T22:34:00.000-05:00

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

2010-10-27T09:48:00.001-04:00

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

2010-10-15T19:06:00.001-04:00

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

2010-10-07T21:15:00.000-04:00

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

2010-10-02T10:09:00.001-04:00

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

2010-10-02T09:37:00.000-04:00

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

2010-10-02T09:35:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-23T19:57:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-30T14:34:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-30T14:17:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-24T21:16:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-19T22:06:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-11T21:15:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-04T21:18:00.000-04:00

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.

A Little What I Have Been Doing

2010-07-23T21:47:00.000-04:00

I've been putting in time before I leave tomorrow afternoon with my Daughter on our Cruise to the Bahamas. Well it leaves on Sunday evening but I'm going to my Daughters tomorrow.

To make time go a little faster I have been sewing and sewing those old half square triangles. Every block has 6 of them and 3 four patches. Should you the start last week and here is what I have done now.

That didn't go just where I wanted it but will do. I have all the rest of the 42 HST made but not trimmed and doubt I will get to that unless I have extra time tomorrow while waiting for my daughter to get her.

I have also finished another Kids quilt. So Have two that I have made out of my own fabrics. Think they turned out pretty good. The other one I had shown a couple blogs ago.

Blogger has made a lot of changes and one is the google photo storage and I have spent a whole lot of time fooling with it tonight and now don't really have much more to say.
Except it has been very HOT in the east and I think all over. I went to town today and the thermometer in the car said 98 when I was on my way home. Bet it was Hot where you are too. Sure am ready to ride the sea. Hope I get some good pictures to show you. See you in a couple weeks. Thanks for stopping by.

The Big 80

2010-07-16T11:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was quite a day for me. Yes, I turned 80. Had a dinner out with my good friend, adoppted daughter, I call her, Robin.
But I had so many well wishes from everyone in my online friends and then also most of the relations on Face book. Yes, I am on Facebook because of my oldest Nephew RL in Houston. After my sister, his mother , passed away several years ago he started it and wanted all the kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews etc. to get on to stay in touch. Even my big brother in Oregon finally got on because of his kids. I don't talk much, not like my daughter who has to go to Facebook as soon as she logs in.

Anyway more about my birthday. My daughter had been up on Tues over night and took me out for lunch after I got out of the beauty parlor. She had lots of things to do before leaving for a week on Sat.
This is the block that Kim found online with the instructions starting this coming week. I didn't want to wait so figured it myself. Using charms so 5 inch blocks to make the HST. 2 1/2 in strips for the 4 patches.

I spent most of the day, sewing. Am making lots of half square triangle and 4 patches . What fascinated me about this block is the many, many ways to set it. I've had to make a few blocks to see.
I really wanted that to be down here but it doesn't matter. See if you turn the blocks you can have a different design.

So that kept me busy during the day. In the afternoon my oldest granddaughter, the artist, called me for a chat. She's back in Philly working and waiting for school to start, her last year.

Roben called about 4 and wanted to know if I was ready to go. She wanted to go to Wal-Mart sometime in the evening. Decided to head out of town towards Pa. A little town and see what kind of restaurant we could find. First found a neat farmers market and stopped and got some corn and fresh peaches. On and came across this buffet style restaurant that has sort of gone the way, this one has been there for a long time. Country cooking and help yourself to as much as you want. fried chicken and all the trimmings. Too much. Couldn't pass up trying some of the 20 pies they had. Since we were in the area with lots of Mennonites they had an Amish specialty, Sho Fly Pie. Very rich. My Mother-in-law used to make them.

So too full we left to find a new Wal-Mart that she had heard opened. Really out in the country but found what we wanted. I wanted to get some of the oldies I like to listen to on CDs while sewing. Didn't find a Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby but did find 6 that will be good listening. Then she wouldn't let me pay for them. So Happy Birthday.

We headed home and parted ways. Later I got a phone call from my niece in Colorado Springs, who will be visiting me for a week in Aug. Then heard the beep of call waiting. Got the next that I thought would be my son, but what a surprise, My oldest grandson, that I hadn't heard from or seen for over two years. He is a chef in an exclusive restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay. He will be coming to the Memorial in Aug. for his PapPap.

I forgot to say while we were shopping in Wal-Mart my cell phone rang. surprise, Last two grands of Daughters, called and being on a speaker phone, sang Happy Birthday. They used to do this when a lot younger. Now going on being a Senior in College and a Junior in High School, was really a treat. Gee, thanks again all of you.

I had to call daughter and tell her, she had texted all of them to say it was my birthday. But still great. Son didn't call but got another short email saying he would call today sometime. Being where he lives sometimes his cell does not work and he has to call while in the valley. He will be coming in a couple weeks. I was very late getting to bed but what a wonderful day. Well , it isn't everyday you turn 80 years old. Thankfully in fairly good health. Now looking forward to a Cruise to the Bahamas with my daughter. Thanks for listening and I will be back in a couple days.

Finished Projects

2010-07-10T14:50:00.001-04:00

Heres my completed Charming Friends quilt and if you click on it you might be able to see some free motion quilting I did in the outside setting triangles. I am much better in stiching in the ditch or triangles.This is the first of the Kids quilts that I have made. I got the kit at the quilt shop. This is the project that is sponsered by the Downey Corp. They have woven labels for us to sign and put on the back. The lady in charge here in this area usually quilts them but since I had some large scraps of batting and found a good backing I decided to go ahead and finish it off.

Here you can see a closeup of how I quilted it. Such cute fabric.

This is the second one that I made up of some material I had. Figured it a good way to use up some of this stash. I have it ready to get sandwiched and quilted. Once that is done it takes no time at all to quilt them. Doing the binding takes the longest. From what I understand these quilts are given to some of the local childrens hospitals. There are a couple in the DC area.

Now I have no more pictures. Didn't think to take any down at my daughters home. I went down in the early afternoon on the 4th. It is in Southern Maryland not too far from the Chesapeake Bay. She's living with another lady that works for the government and has this spacious home right on the edge of woods with a stream below. What a wonderful outside screened in porch. They have 4 cats and when M. is gone on business which she is often is for days at a time. DD tends to the cats and the house and tries to pick up after her. They really make a good pair.

They gave me a job in the afternoon of shredding paper. Tedious and time consuming so was glad to help out.

We had hot dogs on the grill and potato salad which DD had made enough to take to the Church for the pot luck after the VIPs sang at the church for their homecoming concert. DD had gone with them the week before to Chicago and area for several concerts. She is the costume caretaker . She doesn't have anyone in the chorus now but the director has gotten to used to having her won't let her quit. She loves it.

Dan and Angela two of my grandchildren were there for hot dogs on the 4th. Didn't go to any fireworks but after I went to bed I heard plenty of them going off.

Monday then was the concerts. Which was the one of the reasons I went down. Also it had been almost 4 years since I had been down there. Had never seen where DD was living.

On the way home I stopped to see an old friend in Annapolis. She had lost her husband a year ago and I had not seen her since. We'd talked on the phone. So that was a nice stop. Also I did what we so often did after coming home from an antique show or DD. stopped in Frederick at our favorite Chinese Resturant and had my late lunch, early supper. Was just nice to get out and drive someplace other than to Hagerstown.

Now will be getting ready for my cruise which leaves on the 25th. Brought my big suitcase up this morning from the basement. Now to start packing it. Lots of new clothes especcialy for the cruise.

When we get home from the cruise my DS will be here for a week and then we will have a memorial service and put DH to rest in his final resting place. He was cremated as wished and had been sitting on the hearth with his favoite bear watching over him.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to get to this more often. Now this time the pictures went in where I wanted them.

Some Visitors and a little Sewing

2010-06-29T17:08:00.001-04:00

This is the finished quilt from the group "Between Charming Friends Quilt Along" I will get it quilted in the next couple weeks, I hope. It has been a lot of fun making but all those 1 inch squares made into the 12 patches. where a challenge for even a seasoned quilter. Of course you see some mistakes after you get it done. Like the three lights together and then about 4 darks down on the right hand side of the outside border.Little Smilie, The youngest of my Great Niece Briana from Colorado Springs. These pictures have gotten all mixed up and I wanted to show you all the kids playing with My Niece Nancy on her harp. The picture shows Similie conductiong, In this picture of the four of us which is fuzzy because of taking in the living room. From left to right is Nancy my niece who is now living close to Bowie Md. and she plays the harp. My daughter the tall one, Me, and Briana my Great niece. The girl partially seen on the left is Soquel and the little one Smilie.

These are the blocks, both the 12 patches and the little 4 patches with the muslin around them

Again they are not uploading like they said it would..

Isn't this dear? Smilie playing the harp? She did do some good cords.

This is the group, The two oldest, play the violins and started when about three years old. This is Squire in the front with Smilie conducting . Nancy is playing the harp and in the background by the window is Soquel . Little Sequia will start the viola next year. He will be five. She is homeschooling them and doing a wonderful job. Everything they do is a lesson. On these trips they are seeing all the Civil War places. Nats Mother and Sister live in Martinsburg, W. Va. and they try to come back every couple years. Have always come over to visit. This is the first time that DD and my niece could come. They hadn't seen each other for years. Was a very nice visit.

Then on Sat. Briana called and said that Nat and the boys wanted to come and help get the grass cut for me. Oh, what a blessing. I had a good job for the boys. Pulling weeds that I had started earlier. Did a great job too. Nat also got my new swing put in the grass where I wanted it. Needed to fix some wood strips to put the legs on and it is perfect. Now I go out in the evening when it has cooled off and read .

Thanks, guys,

Lots Of Piecing

2010-06-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

Here's the stack of wood that my neigbor cut up for me. Roben wants it when she gets the time to come and get it.

Look what I found this afternoon. This is what happens after cutting down some dead tree stumps.

The trees had been cut off to about 20 ft. DH wanted the trunks left for the woodpeckers. When I got back from Texas the one had fallen across the drive. There were twin trees.
Two views of it. I want to fill in the center with some good dirt and transfer a large Lavender plant out of the perennial garden where it has gotten to large.

Well the cut up wood didn't go where I wanted it. So much for the pictures not going to the top.

My Quilt aloing blocks for the mini. Christmas prints.

Now what this post is about. I Hope the next picture comes here where it is suppose to go.

I mentioned in my last post about working on the blocks for the quilt along. Here are my blocks. This will make a cute little quilt. Just waiting now for the next instuctions for setting the blocks together. Click on the button on the side bar and go look.

A Long Walk

2010-06-18T20:25:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday I went to Fairfax to my Colarado Granddaughter's other grandmothers. She is in Maryland helping her Aunt with her three little ones . We had her for the weekend. So we headed to DC Mall. Wasn't long before we wanted a cold refresment. This is Sara and her big hat eating in front of the Washington Monument. We were headed over the hill to the WW2 mounment

This is the newest mounument and very impressive. Many were sitting with their feet in the water and we did it also to prepare our feet for more walking. We had decided to go to the Newsmuseum which is at the other end of the Mall on Pennsylvannia Ave. It was hot but there are many shade trees along the walk and furtunately benches for an old lady to rest once in awhile.

In the meantime it was lunchtime and after asking one of the policemen about the closest cafeteria, He said the Reagon building. Boy are these building show places. In the basement was any kind of eatery you would want. With lots of nice tables to eat at. Much better than getting a hotdog out on the street from a vendor.

W walked and walked down Penn. Ave finally coming to this beautiful new building. Went inside and found out that it closed at 5 and it was already 3:30. The cost was high and since we certainly couldn't see it all in that time we decided to find someplace else to go.

Grandmum had never been to the Arberatum and since it
was just across the Mall in front of the Capital building we set out for it. See the ducks in the water enjoying the summer day . This is the new pool in front of the Capital building

I had a lot of other pictures to show of the Arberatum but had a lot of trouble the first time around trying to write this. After reading some things I guess I should have read before I think I have figured this new system out. Well almost. Those flowers didn't go to the bottom and didn't seem to want to move. That is just one of the many blooming flowers in this wonderful place. If you ever get to DC do not miss going to it. Flowers and plants from all over the world.

Now I did get a little sewing in over the weekend, This Schnibbles quilt finially got the binding on. I also since got the other one bound and I think It is my favorite. I wish I could remember all the names. It is the one with Nine patches in two different sizes. I will get a picture of it another time.

Have you noticed that I have a new button on my sidebar for the quiltalong. I am making the little quilt and as soon as I finish the blocks I will be posting them. Hopefully over the weekend. Now that I have finally figured this thing out. Maybe. thanks for sticking with me even when I don't post very often. I am doing fine and seem to always find something to do.

What a Wonderful Day

2010-06-10T16:26:00.003-04:00

Last week I went out to the Quilt Shop to see about when they had their meetings. Also about the program they do ,sewing quilts for kids. They aren't having them this summer but did have a couple kits there so I took this one and have it all finished now. Think I will call and see if it is OK that I finish it with the quilting. The lady that takes care of these has a longarm so quilts them but I imagine if someone wants to go ahead and quilt one it would be OK. I want to use up some of this material around here and make good use of it. Really don't need any more quilts

Now I want to show you what I have been working on for a few weeks. This is the first Schnibbles, Imagine, small quilt I have made from her new book, Schnibbles Times Two, because she has used the Plates and the Charms to make the patterns. The plates make a larger quilt. Kim has been making some of the larger ones. I used two of the charm packs that Kim sent me for a condolence gift, so I would have something to do. Ha.!

I have just started to quilt this little guy.

This quilt you have seen before but not completely finished.

I have been busy outside when I can, getting all the high grass cut with the weed whacker but can only do it for about an hour a day. Then my back starts to hurt.
But am continuing with the swimming 3 times a week and the past week have had my eyes dialated twice. Once to get new lens and I do have a cataract which will have to come off in about a year and then my bi-yearly check up for my macular. It is still at the dry stage so that is good. Have too many quilts to finish. Now that I have more time I am also trying to get involved with some local quilters.

Then this weekend will have a visit with my Colorado grandddaughter and her other grandmother, my DD and oldest Daughter. Going to meet in Fairfax and go to a big Fairfax celebration for the day. Sara has just finished her second year of collage and she wants to be a teacher.

So am doing alright and will be back to you when I have something else to show you and talk about. Thanks for visiting. I love your comments.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY , HUBBY

2010-06-02T05:58:00.000-04:00

Today is my Hubbies 81 birthday, but he didn't quite make it.
He was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather to 6 and from all the notes and condolences I have gotten Teacher. Great friend and very strict; But in later years quite the tease.. All the nurses and aides in the hospital and nursing home got to know him quite well.
In his early years he loved to hunt. I went groundhog hunting with him many times. He was very pleased when he got his first deer with a bow and arrow, In the morning before school. Then came home and got ready for school. Always wore a white shirt and necktie and a suit. Taught Biology and Chemistry, General Science, in one school for 30 years.

I miss him so much. Not the running to the hospital or the nursing home but not being here.

This past week, my oldest granddaughter, the artist, called and asked if I was going to be here . She wanted to stop by on her way home from school. She has stayed for two days and what a joy to have her. A wonderful 21 year old.

I have been sewing a bit. Will get a picture up later of the New Schnibbles pattern I am making. First one from the new book.

I do plan on making a quilt out of all the cotton plaid shirts that hubby wore in the summer. But that will come a little later.

Thank you for listening and being such a good friend.

Oh what a Beautiful Day

2010-05-30T14:09:00.000-04:00

So this is what my perennial garden looks like when I got home from Texas . Had a great time with a great lady. She hadn't told me we were going to be stopping at a friends house below Fort Worth and do some cooking.

Yep she is the one that writes cook books mainly so far for those that have Celaic Disease. They can't eat anything with wheat in it so she tests receipes using other flours like rice, potato and baking powder for a few.

So now she is working on a book for Mircrowave baking.

Here is the mainly quilty thing that I finished on the trip. I had shown this before but not since I quilted it and then did the binding on the trip. Had to wash is as some coffee spilled on it but did not hurt it. It is all Thimbleberries fabrics.

These pictures got in at the wrong place again. But this is the final product of the muffin done in the microwave for about 2 minutes.

Here is Roben mixing and recording on her laptop what she is doing. Then mixes this in the measuring cup. Yes, she uses one egg and the rest of the ingridents and beats it up and puts it in the little pyrex bowl for baking.

She also baked some chocolate cake. After several tries with the different flours she decided that was good. I thought I had a picture of them but I think that was when my batteries decided to go bad.

We had stayed in this little town the night before and did get out in the afternoon to get a little lunch and do a little shopping. Have you ever heard of an eighth measuring spoon? I hadn't but with these little cakes you need one. When this book comes out next year I will tell you about it. I want to try this myself. Would be nice to be able to bake a small cake for just me and not have so much left to have to eat.

I did go into one quilt shop but was not impressed.

We left there about six and had a 3 hour drive to Austin and needed to find a hotel. about in the middle of where her wedding was and where My grand nephew lived. That took some time as the first couple we stopped at were full for the weekend. OPPS what was going on. Yep, Graduation at the University.

Finally got one at the Hilton Garden Suites. A King size bed which was OK and a very nice room. The best thing of this trip was we both had laptops and was able to get online at every hotel we stayed at . So were able to keep in touch. I had hoped to post to the blog but was usually so tired that I couldn't think straight.

When we got there I was looking for my nephews phone number. I had their address but had left the card at home. So set out to try and get it. Found their name online but no number. I called my brother in Ohio and the number they gave me was disconneted. So Roben thought about Facebook. Finally , yes, lots of my relatives have a facebook page and set out to get the number. Seems nobody was online that night but finally in the morning my nephews sister-in-law had it for me. Of course I got a lot more too. So Facebook is good for something.

Had a wonderful day with them and Anne took me to downtown Austin and showed me the sights. What a fun day and of course temperatures at around 90. We only had one day of rain on the way down. Beautiful coming home. But was I tired.

Thanks for dropping in and listening to my tale.

On The Road Again

2010-05-20T07:17:00.000-04:00

Yes, we went through the great Smokey Mountains to Nashville but the interstate goes right through the center of town but NO we did not stop.

Left Matyland about 9 AM and after the necessary stops for gas and drive through at McDonalds for lunch we finally found a nice little town with a number of Motels and food.
Went to Ruby Tuesday's for supper but wasn't impressed. Ended up with the salad bar. Tonight will have to find some good Southern Cooking.

So we are in Dickson, Tenn. half way between Nashville and Memphis. So in a little while we will be On the Road Again. Going to a little town beyond Dallas where Roben has a friend that wants to see some of her new recipes she's working up for a new Microwave cook book., She specializes in receipes for those with Celiac Disease.

So will see what today brings. Maybe tomorrow I will get some pictures of Deep in the Heart of Texas. Have great days everyone.

Time Marches On

2010-05-18T09:17:00.001-04:00

Yes, time has marched on and it has again been a busy week. At least now I have my Social Security done.

Remember that I had said that DD and I went shopping last week? I bought material to make drapes for Hubby's former bedroom. The room just needed to be changed.

This is what it looks like now. Got those neat Battenberg valences and this floral fabric at Wal-Mart believe it or not.

There is a small window in the front that I have now got these Battenberg curtains for all of them. 5 windows across the front of the hoiuse.

This is a shot of the bed and quilt that I was getting the orange flowers to match. It is mostly applique and all different pieced blocks in the outside border.

The Appiqued quilt folded on the cedar chest is an Antique One that I bought a number of years ago. Don't know who made it but it is perfect.

I wanted to show you what I had put on the wall opposite the bed. It is one I made years ago with lots of small quilts. Been hanging in the basement with the other two that I made after from patterns from the same lady that lived in Gaithersburg. Took a class from her to get started on them.

I am going to be going on a little trip tomorrow. My good friend Roben has a wedding to go to in Austin Texas and asked if I would like to go along for company. She will not fly so will be going in her new Toyoto. Which has a bulit in GPS so we will not get lost.

Beside I told her I had a Grand nephew and his family in Austin so while she is at the wedding i will visit with them and their two small children.

Have been through Texas a couple times but never to Austin. Once through Dalles Fort Worth and another years ago to Houston as I also have my oldest nephew there and a niece.

I hope to take my laptop along and will see if I have time to take some pictures to show you along the way. Gee. it seems like ages since I was across country in a car. That is the only way we traveled together as my husband never would fly. I have flown to California and Colorado several times.

So now to go get my hair done and visit the attorneys office. It is a dreay day out as was yesterday here on the east coast. Suppose to go through tomorrow. So hopefully we will travel through it and have some nice HOT weather for a change.

Thanks for stopping and come back to see where I go.

Busy, Busy Week

2010-05-14T20:29:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have had a very busy 2 weeks. My son stayed until Tues, and then my daughter came back up Tueday evening. She had to go home as her two girls were both coming home for the weekend and she also had to get plans made for her class for the week. Her Principle had said she could take all the time she wanted. I seems I can't move these pictures as I would like.Seems that it will do as it wants.

This is my son before he left. we were taking pictures of the Rhoderdendron that are along the carport behind him.

The two quilts are both Schnibble's patterns. The orange and brown one I have shown before but it is now finished. The other is one I have the top done called Tagalong. My friend Gran, the Embrodery Lady gave that pattern and another one to me when she visited.

This is also George. On Thursday my daughter and I went shopping . After visiting the Board of Education, My Hubby was a retired teacher. The credit union to change names the court house with what I thought were his wills., Not but copies. I had to find the originals. In the lock box thank goodness. Then a bank where his SS was deposited.

Finally to the mall. I wanted some new sheets for his bed that was brought back up from the basement garage. Well DD happened to spot this pillow giraffe and saw it was named George. She collects Giraffe's and has for years. But not one named George. This is a 50 plus lady and she begged me to buy it for her. I said "NO" I went on looking at shorts and she said I'm going to get that Giraffe. Well,. he is seen sitting in her Father's chair. I guess it is George's Chair. See her Father's name was George as is her brother's.

She stayed until Sunday afternoon when she had to go pick up Dan , her youngest whose birthday was also this week, turned 16. A good friend had asked him over for the weekend and it really worked at well

See I have the binding on it now. Have it laying over the wheel chair,

I really like the way my Tagalong came out. Not a very good picture. Seems I cut the bottom off. I finished this up on Saturday morning while waiting for them to bring my husband home from the hospital. He seems really good and talkative to his son. They had a very good visit. Then just decided it was time to go. He looked so peaceful and the Hospice ladies were very good. Took care of everything.

Later in the week my daughter said she had found a cruise for us to go on. She had said last year after retuning from the one she went on to clebrate turning 50 and her divorce. That she would love to take me on one for my 80 birthday which is coming up in July. So we leave on July 25, on the Carnival Pride for 6 days to the Bahamas. The best BD present I could ever have. What a darling daughter she is.

Do hope I can bring myself to try this again soon. I do have other things to tell you. So until the next time. Be safe and Thanks to all the wonderful comments I got about my hubby's passing.

In Memmorian

2010-05-01T21:59:00.000-04:00

My dear Hubby of 61 years passed away this afternoon after returning home from a two weeks stay at the hospital. Our Son had come in from Colorado last night so he saw his Dad and had a nice talk with him. Only 3 hours at home but he was home. Our Daughter came right up so I have them both with me for a couple days. Hospice took care of everything.

I want to thank everyone again for their prayers. Much appreciated.

Some Sad News

2010-04-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

I hate to have to write this blog but it has to be done. I have had so many email me privately wondering about Hubby. Well he is not doing good at all and I think the Doctors are going to pull out all the tubes and let him come home with an aide from Hospice. He so wanted to come home. He seems to have gone downhill very fast and why prolong something that is not good or will be good. , Our son is flying in tomorrow to spend a little time with his Dad. Hasn't seen him since last summer.

Now on to what I have been doing. Here is the second Schnibbles with this pattern for me . I finally finished the binding today at the hospital. I took this picture with it hanging on Hubby's wheelchair.

This is the one I have going now. It's called Tagalong,I still need to sew the inner white border on and then the pieced outside border.

This was made with Garden Song by Nancy Halvorsen. I had picked it because of the plaids, stripes and I think it has turned out good.

These are the blocks I have made so far for the 2010 Thimbleberries club quilt. There are some different blocks and I have them set here on the board where they go in the main part of the quilt. There are three more stars and another house. Not sure if there is more. But then there are the borders. Fun to watch it go together.

It's great the way our quilting helps to keep your mind in a good place. I really don't know what I would do without my quilting and my online friends. I need to talk to someone I just come to the laptop. Thank you all for being my friends.

I'm OK

2010-04-22T07:56:00.001-04:00

I've had a few of you wondering what was going on with me. I have been sewing. This is the last Jelly Roll block and now waiting for the next one.

I do have some pictures of the flowers that are coming up in the early spring.

This is the first of the Primulas that stayed good through the winter. There are more to come up and my Daughter brought me a new one for Easter. That is my shadow. I took pictures in the late evening.

This is part of the little garden I have at the back of the house. The creeping phlox are starting to bloom over that old stump. Lots of the other perennials are coming alive.

Here is a view from the other direction. The last yellowish creeping vine is really taking over but hopefully all the dianthus will come back. There are columbine and others showing up.

I have been very busy with my Hubby for this past month. He has been in and out of the hospital with really bad infections and is back there now for at least another 8 days. He came home this past weekend for a couple days but was too weak to be able to get around and without any help couldn't take care of him. Come to find out then that this infection has gotten into his blood so back to more IV's, Fortunately they had left the Pic line in so he doesn't have to have a lot of sticking of needles that leave lots of bruises.

Here is the edge of the lower drive with the phlox that I planted last year. Those large leaves are the Pink Ladies that come up in Aug. My Daughter and I planted these a year ago and have come up all over the yard. Several up along the road. So hopefully in August we will have lot of Pink Ladies coming up this August when it is HOT.

This is the completed top of the blocks we swapped at the Quilters Hollow that I belong to. It has every ones signature in the middle of the block. I didn't make more blocks as I wanted just a small throw. Now to get it quilted.I have finished machine quilting a Schnibble's quilt but need to get the binding sewn on and whipped down so that will be for later.

Sure hope this comes out OK. With the new editor on blogger it is hard to see how it will come out. So I am fine just busy. Now must think about getting to the hospital. It's a daily chore and am keeping up with my swimming three times a week. Thanks for sticking with me and being so concerned . Will try not to be so long posting another blog.

Springtime and Flowers

2010-03-27T13:44:00.000-04:00

To start with I wanted to show you what I did with this little quilt. I found some more HST so wanted to finish this out with all four borders. It sort of looked unfinished the other way. Hope to get it quilted soon.

Hubby has been home again from 4 days in the hospital and now is really doing very good. Still needs to get rid of more fluid and this will always be a problem. So I don't get as much sewing time in. But I did get something finished that I wanted to show and tell about.

When I first got a Web TV back in the late 90s I was on a couple different groups and did a lot of swapping blocks and Round Robins. Don't hear much of those any more in the blogs.
The biggest and best group I was on was Larrisa's, She was in Texas I believe. Did several with her and can't remember the date but probably was 2000 early. One of the fabric company's came out with all of the States flowers in fabric. Lushest colors. So it was suggested that we do a swap using these fabrics. Each one would pick a state they wanted to do. They were to get a stamp of the state that would fit on a 6 inch square, with the things that the state represented. if possible. So figuered this would be fun and what a quilt I would have. Of course I choose Maryland with the Black-eyed Susan. I also ordered a set of Fat Quarters of all the prints to help complete the quilt.

Finally, after at least 8 years I can say the quilt is done. It is a queen size so hard to photograph without a large bed to put it on so I made do with the tables in the basement. Can't get a full view but good enough probably if you click to enlarge.
I added to each block which is a color that goes well with the flower of each state and the center square was to be made into a square in square with the flower on the outside. I added a color as close to the center as I could get. Then added a strip of the flower fabric to two sides of each block. I thought it worked out pretty good. The only problem was I had one block to many . That is Hawaii and it is on the back.

Then I used all the prints in the piano keys border. Then came the back. How to use up those Fat quarters? Yes, I pieced and pieced and ended up with a wild backing. Even used up the piano keys I had left over.

The Hawaii block is in the right corner. I have a closeup of this here.

I have finished quilting it this morning with free motion around all the states figures in the middle of the blocks. Had done the binding first and used a variety of the prints for it. I still have some of those fat quarters left.

Now I'm wondering if there are any bloggers out there that were in this list all those years ago and have ever completed this quilt. Be interesing to see how someone else finished it off. Any one seen one?

This is my Spring Flowers to you.

Happy St.Patty's Day

2010-03-17T21:15:00.000-04:00

Gee, and I don't have anything green to show. Just couldn't think of another heading. Since it is March 17 what else.

I have been a little slack on getting on with that mystery quilt I was making, but it is finished. Well the top is. See how those blocks went together. Really not like most Thimbleberries quilts with the colors but I really like it. Even my daughter liked it. In the picture it really shows the blues in it. If you click on it you can see the prints. They are all from the new Jelly Bean line. Even down to that black licorice. My favorite.

One of the reasons I havn't had time to blog for a few days, Hubby had to go back to the hospital on Sunday. His kidneys weren't working like they should and he was starting to retain fluid. Bad thing. So They have put him through a series of Dopamine IVs and has to be watched so has been in PCU . Is suppose to be moved up to another floor and get some PT. But he will be coming back home this time not to rehab. He has not lost his strengh so will be fine.

So with a free week I have been trying to get some things finished.
This is the second Schnibble's I've made with this pattern. It's the same as the blue and yellow one I made earlier. This was made with a plate of Moda Collection for a Cause. I liked the reds .

I have also joined up with the Jelly Roll challenge as you can see from the button on the side bar. Wanted to show you the first two blocks I have made.
This is the first one,

I had gotten a jelly roll of Kansas Troubles Butterflies and will be using that for all the blocks along with a lot of different white on whites that I have collected. This is the second one. She lists a pattern on the 1st and 15th of each month.

You can still join in if you want . Just click on the icon and it will take you to her blog.

This week has been so beautiful. We had rain the first of the week and then warm. 60's finally. Today I got out and raked up a bunch of of loose limbs, leaves, acorns etc from the front yard. Then had to check on the perennial bed at the back. Lots of dead leaves so got the rake and clean it up so now all those flowers hiding under ground can come up and bloom. There are daffodills which will probably bloom later in the week and the lilies are coming up also. Oh and the leaves for the Naked Ladies are coming up also. Can't wait for Spring to really get here.

I finally finished quilting a quilt from way back. Want to get binding made and on before I show it. It was one of the first good swaps I was in at least over 10 years ago. So stay tuned. Thanks for stopping by.

Spring Is Here - I Hope

2010-03-11T19:43:00.000-05:00

Spring is here. The very first wildflowers are in bloom. Course the leaves and branches need to be picked up.

The ground was just opened up from heavy snow here. Needs lots of raking to look better.

This is the first crocus in my front yard.

Here are two more of the four blocks making up this quilt. The first one was in the previous post.

Now here is a partial setup so you can see just what is happening with these blocks.

One more block to finish this off and then it can be sewn up. There are two inner borders and a large outer border.

The week has been busy and not much time for sewing, Now I can't seem to get this to do what I want it to do. I'm sure it is me and not this new Editor. If I knew how to use it .

This is where I wanted to go so now will see how it sets up.

Hubby has been working on a project in the living room. Don't know what the outcome of it will be but it is keeping him busy and me running for stuff for him to use.

We have also had a trip to the hospital to get a catherter changed and today to another Dr for a checkup.. Tomorrow we will go back and see his dentist and try to get this new set of teeth fixed or replaced with ones that fit better.

Then I also am going swimmig on Mon. Wed. and Fri. mornings and that does take a lot of my time but well worth it. We have a lady come in to stay with him while I go. It gives me some relief from this caregiving job. But he has tried his best to do as much as possible for himself.

I do want to try and get this Jelly Bean Mystery quilt finished soon. Thanks for stopping by. Hope this is readable.

First Block Finished

2010-03-07T14:10:00.000-05:00

The very first thing we had to do was make all these Half Squared triangles. Notice all the different colors and prints.

Here's the first block. Each one is different and you have to be very carefull as they each are a big piece to this puzzle.

Now this shows all three blocks to this set. Same block but different borders.
I must say the colors are really bright and I probably wouldn't have put them together myself. But fun to do something different.

I am happy to get a couple days now of no big running around, except I had to go grocery shopping yesterday. Hubby wants things he hasn't had for way over three months so today I am trying something new. Sea scallops sauted with mushrooms, and red and green peppers. From what I have read some butter will do the trick. Also want to put some baked apples in the oven. We always had roast chicken and baked apples on Sunday. But now Hubby has had all the chicken he wants for awhile.

Back to my sewing although I might get my shoes on and go outside for abit. Looks like Spring is coming but my perennial garden will take a lot of cleaning up, after all the snow is gone.

It's Jelly Roll Time

2010-03-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

My very first block for the Jelly Roll Sampler. I got a Kansas Troubles Jelly roll to make my quilt. It's called Butterfly Garden so will be anxious to get it opened and see all the different prints.

This one I made using a strip I had from the batch of scraps I won from Carol about six months ago. I am using a variety of White on White fabrics that I have collected. Good way to finally use some of them

The first week with Hubby home has been a challenge. He really is doing very good until he wakes me up twice in one night. But I had him out to our regular doctor this afternoon and it was a very nice day to be out and about. Stopped at the local Chinese resturant for a take out supper which was very good and Hubby ate a lot for a change.

These are the set of blocks I have made with the Thimbleberry Jelly Bean Mystery quilt which I started the first of the year doing 3 blocks a month.

Now I have received the final set of instructions to finish the quilt.

Lots of cutting to do first and now with Hubby home I don't have a lot of time to spend in the porch. I thought I would take pictures in finishing this quilt for you

This is the second Schnibbles I have made. I used the plate of Collection for a Cure instead of a charm set. Very different from the blue and yellow one I made from the charms that Kim sent me for Christmas. I still need to sew the side pieces on and it will be done. Maybe this weekend I can get some sewing done. Will be back

Thanks for stopping by. Will update as I get this mystery quilt going.

The Ides O March

2010-03-02T15:42:00.000-05:00

Where did Feburary go? The last few weeks have been so busy and then this snow. Hubby was in the hosptial for 10 days then back to rehab and now finally this past Saturday I brought him home.

Was looking for a picture to show which wasn't all that snow outside but this is what I have hanging in the window in the basement porch. The pot of geraniums which I have hanging outside in the summer. brought them in for the winter and never before have had them bloom like this.

I also found out they had a new type editor for blogger so changed to it and now maybe I can put a picture where I want it. Neat.

This is one of the projects I completed this past couple weeks. Using some charms I saw this setting which was from Kansas Troubles and it worked out perfect for the Island or in the middle of my table. These are Thimbleberries which is what I use most of the time.

I am also working on the TB club blocks. Have the first 3 months done. I am in a online club and she sends 3 months at a time to save money for both of us. I think I am really going to like this one.

Then I'm also working on another Schnibble's like the blue and yellow one . This one is using a Moda plate I had bought, the Collection for a cause. Will show a picture when I get it completed.

Kim has talked me into doing the Jelly Roll Sampler Sew in which is an ongoing block, 2 a month. So have ordered a jelly roll from Fat Quarter Shoppe of Kansas Troubles. I have background fabric in that to use. I have the first pattern printed out so can get busy on that as soon as the Jelly roll arrives. Also have to learn how to grab the button and where to put it. Help, Kim.

Just another view of my house after the last one and this is my neighbor Rusty's tractor. He really did a great job. Just see the mailbox and paper box. A good 2 feet on the roof.

Now hopefully Spring will be right around the corner.

So far things have been OK with Hubby being home. We had to go out today to get his pacemaker checked. He is still on the thinking of the nursing home. Wanted me to get him dressed in bed this morning like they always did there. He has to learn he is now at home. Should be getting an aide coming to give him a bath. Just something I don't care to do.

It was funny though last night after I was asleep about an hour he called. He was all wet with Mountain Dew. Had gone to sleep with a small bottle opened in his hand. Well of course it tipped and the whole bed and him had to be changed. At least I got to sleep until 6 when he woke me with his TV. Such is life. Not free to sit and sew or quilt any more. But at least he is doing much better. Sorry I have been so long. Maybe I will do better now that I know about this new editor. Thanks for stopping by.

Here We Go Again

2010-02-10T11:33:00.002-05:00

Yes, we are getting more snow. Started yesterday afternoon and went on most of the night. Although when I was up about one o'clock I could see lights in the valley so probably stopped some. They have a Blizzard for all of Maryland today. and it's cold.

I went out to clean off a spot on the carport for the ground feeders to get some seeds. Scared about 3 doves that had been trying to find seeds I put out last night. Thank goodness I had filled the hanging feeder with sunflower seeds. The birds have really been using it. If they can keep the squirrels from jumping on it.

Wanted to just update all on Hubby's situation. He was hoping to come home tomorrow but another bad infection has popped up and required him to go back to the hospital to get a pic line put in as the antibiotic that will kill this thing has to be given directly into the vein at 6 hour intervals, I think, for about 10 days. Fortunately the nursing home can do this and he can keep up with the PT. He was very disappointed but, I would rather he not come home with this horrible weather.

Thanks goodness for a great neighbor who will clean my drive out when it stops. Till then I shall sew and quilt. Hope everyone is this same region will be safe.

Blizzard of 2010

2010-02-06T15:29:00.003-05:00

No this doesn't look like a blizzard and I really wanted this last but didn't put them in right order and I haven't been able to move them around like you are suppose to.

This is a baby quilt I just finished the last couple of days, for one of my hubby's nurses that is expecting her 3rd in a week or so and the aides are giving her a shower on Friday and I thought this was a good way of showing her our appreciation for all she does. She is our favorite. This was a printed panel that someone gave me. Probably from the 80's or 90's but cute for a little girl which is what she is expecting. I just quilted it and put a sleeve on the back so she could hang it if she wanted to.
Now in case you haven't heard the east coast and mainly the DC area and Maryland have just gone though two days of snow and more snow. In fact I took a yardstick to the highest point on this porch this morning and it was 18 inches. This is our lower porch. It is a heavy snow this time not like the last one that you could blow away.

This is the bird feeder outside the lower porch. See how high that snow is stacked.? This is looking out the other side of the porch to the garage door and the Air conditioner motor. Has to be close to 2 feet piled on there. Hard to tell when that snow will be removed. Rusty our neighbor was over and cleaned out the upper drive and sometimes does clean this lower one but way too much snow for that now. These I took out front before anything had been done to the drive. Now the rail fence has disappeared with the snow that Rusty took off the drive. This goes out to the main road. This morning when I first came out to see how things were, The wind had blown snow on the car clear over the front windshield. I cleaned out to the end of the carport and then took this picture. I measured out as far as I could to get away from the roof and got 15 inches. Now that has all been cleaned off pretty much and is piled in the front yard.This is how it looks now after Rusty cleaned it and pushed a lot across the road. The snow plow did come though and has clean it off some more but think there is an inch of hard snow left. I want the blacktop to show through before going any place. Looks like the snow has finally stopped. Can see the whole valley once again.

Now Hubby has been well cared for and has hopes , maybe of coming home this coming week. Only time will tell and weather permitting.

Thanks for stopping by, hope the weather is a whole lot better where you are. It is beautiful though.

How about a Puzzle?

2010-01-29T20:20:00.002-05:00

See how the puzzle shows up in this picture. Didn't do that on purpose but sure looks good. It is all finished now so if DD gets up here this weekend like she plains she can take it home with her. It was her design and a good one. Thia is just another view at a different angle but you can at least see it. Hopefully you can see how I quilted it. A little different for me but still the straight lines

Except for the border, Click on it and I'm sur you will be able to see.

I finally got my first lot of fabric, patterns etc for this years Thimbleberries Club. I don't have a local club any more so am getting it online and was beginning to be jealous of the gals in California and Kansas City as they had had their first meeting and got the first month pattern. Well I got 4 months patterns and have made the first two already.

See the Houses and trees over the Schnibles quilt. I like to put them on the wall and look at them , especially now when I didn't have anything big going on.

I'm working on the next one that is a different tree altogether. At least she has used different ones than I have know since I was going to Thimbleberries Clubs.

So I have been keeping busy. At least it's better than spending so much time at the hospital. Hubby is doing really good in Rehab. I think he is surprising himself. Usually when he is in bed for 3 -4 days he looses all his strength and has to start all over. In this one week. He is getting in and out of bed pretty much by himself and has been walking some. Well walking across the room is something for someone that uses a walker to get around a little. We just hope that he keeps those infections gone.

I mentioned DD coming up this weekend. Well maybe Sat. night after playing games at Herndon, a suburb of DC close to Dulles airport. and then planning on coming up and spending the night and Sunday. Unless the storm coming puts a stop to those plans. Since she lives in Southern Maryland and there is where the storm is going they say so she might not even get out on Sat. We are suppose to get a little depending on where it goes. This time it is Virginia that is really going to get it, of course after all those Southern states that it is coming though now.

So guess I will go back to sewing, or maybe reading. This is what my friend Kim says.

Oh, by the way she really hasn't been feeling good. Lets hope that she gets her computer fixed and up running this weekend. At least she has written a little from work. Thanks for stopping by.

He's Back and It's Finshed

2010-01-26T06:53:00.002-05:00

I have finished the Schnibbles, Dulcinea, that Kim sent me for Christmas. I showed it to you before I quilted it. Was trying to fined a different way of taking a picture of it to let you see how I quilted it. This is on my island and taken a little closer than on the wall. I had something else on the wall so couldn't use it yesterday.So just used what was handy. It's backed with a blue plaid that I used for the binding.

I haven't finished binding the Puzzle but will get a picture of it when completed. Been working on something else that can't be shown now.

At least this past week end was a little better. Hubby finally got out of the hospital and back in the Rehab. Now to start all over. This is the longest that he has had to be in the hospital. Really bad infection. But gone now and hopefully he can get back and some day get home again.

It's been a long haul but with my quilting and all my online friends and DD coming when she can, I am doing fine. Water aerobics takes up three mornings a week. Except yesterday when I got there they said someone didn't do their job Sunday evening of turning up the heat and the pool was too cold for swimming. So came back home where I found that a good friend needed a ride to the garage to pick up her truck. So tried to do a good deed and had a nice long talk with her and made a date to have lunch on Wednesday after I get my hair done.

So , thank you for stopping by .

Oh, forgot about this photo. I have the wall empty so figured I'd get another one. On the drap wall it really doesn't show up so well.

Friday Night Sew - In

2010-01-16T13:32:00.003-05:00

I'm afraid I didn't get much sewing done last night. I did get this Schnibbles sewn together this past week, between going to the hospital and keeping up with Hubby and all.

This was the pattern that Kim sent me for Christmas with the 2 charms and some white for background and a cute large check for the backing. I might use it for the binding also. I hope you can click on the picture and get a better view of the fabrics. It is very light but great for the Spring. As soon as I finish quilting the Puzzle I will get this quilted.
I don't have a lot of time today as my daughter and grandson are here. She has now gone to the hospital to spend a couple hours with her Dad. Dan is as usual sitting on the couch with laptop and his phone and his music in his ears. He's just happy that he has WiFi here. So this is what I sewed up last night while waiting for them to come. It's the block called Fall Fancy from Quilter's Cache. It is one that we are making every month for a quilt to be finished for our retreat. It's KT fabrics.

As I said before Hubby is still in the hospital in isolation. Have no idea how soon he will be going back to the nursing home. They are doing some PT, with him which is good.
I'm just enjoying the wonderful warm weather we are having and waiting for the rain that is coming tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by.

It's Finished

2010-01-11T20:25:00.003-05:00

I have been a little busy the last few days. My Hubby took a turn for the worse and has ended up in the CCU with serious infections. Got into the blood stream this time and his blood pressure went way down so I've spent some time in the ER and then the hospital.
But fortunately I had the binding on the baby quilt so got it finished while sitting in the ER all day Saturday. They wanted to get him stabilized before taking him upstairs.
It's all quilted and hope you can see what I did. Tried some free motion in the plain blocks with the ABC's and a few flowers. I hope that Maggie likes it. Sure she will.

Then this is a little piece I did a long time ago. You can tell from the fabrics. Just playing around and found some striped fabric to use for the border and then the dark binding is some leftover. Looks a little dark now that it's on. At least it is and old one done.

Now I finally started on the Schnibbles pattern that Kim sent me for Christmas. Have the pinwheels all done . Need to sew them together but figured I'd start putting the border together. It used two charm packages and with the border will use it all. It is very light and springy looking and will make a nice table topper. Like I need another one. But a nice gift. I just might use this pattern with some other charms sometimes. Or some scraps of TB laying around.

Picture of this will come later. Have no idea how long Hubby will be in the hospital but the longer he's there the longer he will be back in rehab and he was scheduled to come home on Wed. Won't do it now. So it goes in my life. At least I have all my blogger friends and my quilting to keep be busy. Till the next time, Thanks for stopping by.

Lets play in March

2010-01-08T07:17:00.004-05:00

Kim, my friend at Kim's Quilting Adventure talked about a sew in that Carol and Amanda were having so of course I had to go and sign up also. Bingo for FQs of course we play that every month at the Hollow.

Hopefully Kim can put in the link for me as I'm illiterate when it comes to that technology. It's a Sat. March 13 and they have prizes and all. Will be fun as long as things are OK at home.

No pictures today, I am quilting the baby quilt now and have the puzzle quilt pinned also to get quilted.

So hopefully Kim can help. I have a Schnibbles pattern she sent me for Christmas with the charms and fabric for setting and backing so hope to get some other thing finished first.

Go check it out.

(Kim helped--click on Carol's name to get to her blog and check out the virtual retreat in March.)

Quilt in a Day

2010-01-03T20:45:00.002-05:00

Isn't this cute. Yes, I sewed it up in one day. It's a long story. To bad I don't have any greats coming along but--
Last week when DD came she brought some boxes of quilting stuff from her long time friend and collage roommate Maggie. She had been up the week before because she said she had something for her. Her Mother passed away about 6 months ago and she and her husband are moving into the old house that her Dad had built.
Well it seems that Maggie's Mom had said to give all her quilting things to Ro. So who does she bring it to? Sure with the request that I quilt the one top she had finished. That will be the next one I guess.
In looking through the stuff I came across these blocks of circus kids in these bright primary colors. I just happened to have a set of FQs of these colors so set about to make this quilt top. I want to get this quilted when I quilt my puzzle quilt. DD was here this evening and she said" gee that would be nice to give to Maggie for her first grandchild." She has two children, Neither married yet. So guess that is where it will go. I was surprised how fast those piano keys worked up. I sewed up strips and then cut the length.

It seems her Mom had a thing for Amish. She had this all quilted but not bound . So I have bound it also for Maggie if she wants it. There is another rail fence which needs to be bound also.

So I have been finishing up things. Even finally finished the Bette Bunny that I got from Kim last year. At least it is ready for Easter this year. I still have a small angel wall hanging that needs to be finished. It is an applique and I really am not fond of it.

We have been living in the far north. Roaring winds for two days and not above freezing. It was 11 outside this morning and 19 now. Burr

Tomorrow starts the new session for swimming. I sure hope they have that water really warm. Seems nuts to be going swimming in this kind of weather but won't be near as bad as those that took the Polar Plunge on New Years day in the Potomac.

Hubby is really doing much better. He is suppose to get an X-ray tomorrow to make sure his lungs are clear. So maybe he will come home later in the week.

How do you like my new digs. I wanted to change and Kim told me how but for some reason my system did not let me go to the source. So she sent me the link and I looked and she put it in. Wanted to get looking more springlike. Thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T11:06:00.003-05:00

Want to wish everyone that has been coming by to see what my life is doing, A Very Happy New Year and hope that 2010 is much better than the last years.

I got up this morning to ice on the drive so have not gone to see Hubby yet. He called so knows what is going on. So I took the trees down and tried to put a little bit back to normal in the living room. Still have more to do but my back told me I needed to sit down for awhile. So where else but in front of the laptop?

Do you all remember way back a month or so ago when I talked about having these strips that I cut for a Mystery that never happened at the retreat? The gal in charge finally said she thought they were using this block at the Quilter's Cache, called Carrie Nation. I printed it off and proceeded to make the blocks Like these. It's Thimbleberries fabric of course and I made lots of these cute 4 patches in the two sizes and colors.

Then made into this big block. Neat but when I saw how these were to be put together I wasn't that thrilled. So I sent them aside and proceeded to Make Bonnie's Mystery which I showed the other day. After finally completing it and having a bare design wall, I got out these blocks again and put them on the wall. When my daughter was up this past Tuesday I said to make me a design to use these blocks up. So being the puzzle person that she is. Always has been This is the finish design. I sewed it together yesterday and since I have two different finishes to the corners and taking the picture as it should be you wouldn't be able to see both of the corners. So this is shown sideways. You just follow the Maze. So this is Rolinda's Puzzle. She even liked the fabric I had ordered for the borders. That is something.

So I start off the new year with a new quilt to get quilted by machine. I think I have some backing in the basement so will need to decide the batting and get it pinned.

Nothing new to report form Hubby. I imagine he will be coming home in the next week sometime. When they take new X-rays to see if the lungs are clear and he can get in and out of the car and be able to do what needs to be done at home. So More later.

I did want to say I thank all of my loyal readers from all over the world. You are all very special to me and I look forward to reading my mail everyday. I will try to post a little more often but have to come up with something to talk about. A Kim I am not. Until next time.

IT'S FINISHED

2009-12-29T10:12:00.005-05:00

Yes, I finished Carolina Christmas except I think I have to name it something different since I didn't use green and I set it differently from Bonnie's This was a trial on the design board. After putting up the blue blocks and seeing the secondary design they made me to decide to just put the Poinsettia blocks all around the outside of the blue blocks. Oh, I left one set of the poinsettia blocks in the middle. Then when my daughter came up she didn't like the red I had for the border. Said it was Orange. Nope it might be on the rust side but I liked it. Then my Granddaughter the artist said she didn't like the color either but maybe some blue might help. So this is the last that I could take on the board. Just not enough room for the rest of the borders. So I retreated to the basement and my double tables and Juki to sew on the borders.
All afternoon yesterday. Finally done. It measures 92 x 107. Those are 4 inch borders. Nice quilt for someones King Size bed. This was taken stretched out on the table.

Then this one I turned it the other way and tried to get a better view of the center and the borders. Don't know when I will get it quilted. Might be a little hard to do on my machine. Time will tell. See if I have the money to send it out.

Now what do you think this quilt should be named.? Love some good suggestions.

I had a nice visit this afternoon with my Colorado Granddaughter and her other grandmother. They had been to an Aunts in Philadelphia for Christmas and the next two days in New York City seeing the Rockets and a show and shopping. Stopped on their way back to Virginia where her Grandmother lives and they are both flying back to Denver tomorrow. Sara is in her second year of collage in upstate Co. Wants to be a Fifth grade teacher.

Hubby is gradually improving. Probably be at least another week before he is out of the woods with the pneumonia. Then try again for home.

We've had some nice clear sunny days but OH so cold. Did you see that full moon out there tonight. ? Just heard on the news that it will be a Blue Moon on New Years Eve. Hope it is clear.

Everyone have a very Happy New Year

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-24T12:17:00.006-05:00

TO one and all and just had to show you some more snow pictures. This is the mailbox and paper box and if you click on it I'm sure you can see how tall the snow is on top

This is the path I had to shovel out to the mailbox. The road is completely covered with Snow but during the night the plows were in and did a great job of opening it so the Sun could melt the rest and we had blacktop and could get out. I was in for two days but Monday morning was able to get out to take Hubby his eggs and go on in to Hagerstown to get my PT. It is really helping me to do things the way I should have been doing for years, Mainly to stoop not lean over to get something. Great exercises that make my back feel better. Stretches the muscles out. Still have one more next week. Just had to show what my good friend Kim had sent me for Christmas. She has talked about making those almonds. Sorry I put them in a can to keep crisp. Then the little fabric pockets that she made her students with little goodies inside. The cutest angel cookie cutter. Then from her searching on the FQ place a Schnibbles pattern called Dulcinea which calls for two charm packs and these she choose Moda Notebook all springy yellows and blues. She knows I like blue. Then the backing she choose this blue large check and a bit of white for the piecing. But I can't start this without getting a big project out of the way.

Yes, I'm working on Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas Mystery. Love Mysteries. I am using Thimbleberries and instead of the green that she is using. I'm using blue. Have lots of them with the lights . The gold is almost a tan but works well. Now here is a picture of what I have done so far on the wall. The only center blocks are sewn together. I love the way the blue ones come together and make some secondary designs. So I think I want to use the Poinsettia blocks around the outside. Have the one set as Bonnie has it in the middle. Hopefully I have enough of the blocks to go around. I still need to complete those Poinsettia blocks. This is sideways, Couldn't get it turned but you can see I hope. I want your

input on whether I should put a light narrow border around to separate the two different blocks. The is the Poinsettia blocks around the outside and the blue inside blocks. Doubt if I make the pieced border that Bonnie made. I think a printed larger border will help set off the quilt.

Since I will be here alone this evening I want to get the Poinsettia blocks all sewn together and see if I do have enough. Course all those blocks need to be sewn also. Plenty of time for that. They Are calling for freezing rain in the morning so I may be here then also.

Hubby really has a terrible deep cough so he is in the right place. Has a series of antibiotic shots for ten days so I know he will be there for awhile longer. Will once again have to get that strenght back.

Happy Holidays to all

It's Going to Be a White Christmas

2009-12-19T09:39:00.002-05:00

This is what it looked like when I got up and it got light enough to see. More is coming I went out to get the paper so wanted to get some pictures before I messed it up. Was surprised as it looked like there was at least 6 inches on to of the mailbox and fence. I haven't been back out but the way it has been snowing I'm sure that the path I made out to get the newspaper that is covered.

Am so glad that I filled up the bird feeder as they are coming in. Also have a slab of suet in the little holder on the railing. Just hope the squirrels stay into their homes and let the birds have the seeds. I took this out of the kitchen window trying to get some birds.I took the time this morning to fry up some bacon that has been in the in the fridge for awhile and cooked ME three sunny side up eggs. What a treat. Then looking out the windows of the porch this is what it looks like now at 9:30 am. Snow is much heavier when you can hardly see the far trees it is heavy. They are calling for snow all day.

So I shall start piecing blocks for Bonnie's new Mystery. Don't need to worry about going out. Hubby said I wasn't to come out if there was snow on the road. That might be into next week before this mountain road gets completely cleaned off. Depending on if they want to have school on Monday.

So hope you all are able to get your Christmas finished and stay safe.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING

2009-12-17T14:41:00.006-05:00

Sorry I have been so long getting another post in. With trying to get some things done for Christmas and with hubby taking time going to doctor's appointments. He had all but one molar taken out of his upper jaw and a new plate put in, then the plate didn't fit right and his gums started to bleed after a week. So the surgeon had to stitch them closed so that set him back a bit. Needs to go back to the dentist tomorrow for some work to the plate and checking out the gums. Sure hope they are starting to heal good. He has lost weight which he needed to do because he has been on a soft diet but none of it is good enough for him to eat. Fussy. But in my time at home I have gotten most of the pieces sewn to Bonnie's mystery and then this week with her putting up how the blocks go together. I wanted to see and this is as far as I have gotten. Have lots more pieces to sew together., but had to stop and get a quilt finished for my son. It's this where I ask for some help. I had quilted the top and wanted to quilt the border but just am not good at free motion. Had this roll of a feather pattern which really works neat. It has glue on each side that adheres it to the fabric. Then you sew over the pattern. Any of you that do free motion feathers no you have to follow the stitching a couple times to do it without cutting thread. Well when I peeled the paper off there were lots of tiny pieces that did not come off. Because I didn't go over the same line like I should have. catching the paper. This was worse than peeling paper off of paper pieces blocks. Any help out there? How did you get those tiny pieces out? I used a sharp pointed twizers my hubby has and did get most of them.
I had to take a picture showing this piece still on and you can see the ones I have taken off the white left

This is the completed quilt. See the border. Don't look too close. I love this quilt with all the plaids. One of my Hollow friends had this quilt on her bed in the hotel room when we had out retreat in Kansas City a couple years ago and I decided that was what I was going to use these plaids for. This shows the full quilt. Now it is on it's way to Colorado for my son for Christmas. Merry Christmas George
One of the things that has kept me so busy is the Physical Therapy I've been going to at the Spine Center. They are so good and helped me to get along with my back pain. One thing that I needed to do was raise my working area. All these years I have been leaning to much to cut and iron or press. This is a picture of my 6 foot table that with the help of DD when she was up last week to put the risers under the legs. It's just right. But you can see in the right corner the ironing big board 6 in. shorter. No wonder I have a bad back. Ladies you need to watch this because it can really damage those discs as you age.Worked great but now what can I find to be firm enough and fit on the top of those containers.?

Went shopping at Wal-Mart. First found some large plastic pans but when I went back there was only one. Looking around I saw these plastic shoe boxes. Bought two of them and they were perfect but felt I needed two on each side.You can see them in this picture. The only problem is I can't put anything in them.Can't open them with the board on. It has a long 2 in strip of wood that supports the ply wood. This was maid to be use on a ironing board to make more space to iron large pieces of fabric.

Excuse the stacks of fabric sitting around. Doesn't every quilter have that? My sewing machine and table extension is next here on the right.
Those bins have fabric sorted by color. No Thimbleberries there. It's all in another shelf.

So that brings you up to date on what I have been doing. Hubby is doing very well in his therapy and am hoping to bring him home on Sunday, weather permitting for a trial run then the Pt's think he will be ready to come home before Christmas.

A Winter Wonderland

2009-12-05T11:07:00.006-05:00

This is the view south of the house. See how the snow is sticking on the limbs. When I went for the paper a little before seven it was real fine and I do not like to drive in the snow. Hubby is back in the nursing home after a shorter stint in the hospital to get rid of another infection. Then Thursday we took him to the Oral surgeon to get all the upper teeth out and a new plate inserted. This went well but it of course needs adjusted but will probably have to wait until this coming week. But he expects me to take him scrambled eggs for his breakfast, they do give him a good serving also but not with chili sauce in them. So I hurried and got his eggs , got dressed and by 8 went to the nursing home. It is good that it's only about 2 miles but since it is on the side of a hill there is a winding driveway up. Nothing is yet sticking on the road as the Temp. are just at freezing. I didn't stay long. It wasn't long till it was looking like this outside. If you click on these pictures you can see how the snow is sticking on the trees. This is a view of the lower part of our property

This is our neighbors home and the bank she has planted a lot of different pines.

This is my view from my porch The neighbors shed and all the plantings she has made behind it. The stone fench is our property line. A couple little pines that my brother has brought to me.

Now this is what I have been doing this past week after Thanksgiving. Bonnie started a new mystery and I can not miss a mystery. This is some of the blocks from the first 3 parts. I am using Thimbleberries in reds, Blues and neutrals with a sort of gold which is suppose to be a single fabric. I have not finished sewing those triangles on the reds. The HST I am sewing before cutting off the triangle. Maybe something for a border?? Who knows

She does have part 4 posted which is a lot of broken dishes using more reds and the neutrals. Have not started to cut these.

Since it was snowing I thought it was time to get out the Christmas tree and get a little decorating done but it seems I can't do quit as much as I used to. Course I have no one around to carry the stuff up from the garage. So I have the tree up and a lot of the lights won't come on. So I am not going to put anything else on it for now. Besides my back was hurting so needed to sit.

Thought I better take the time to get this blog updated. Gee Thanksgiving has gone by and no post about what we did.

My Daughter and a friend of hers were coming on Tues. and since I am swimming on Mon. Wed. and Fridays. I said they could cook. He likes to cook and is Italian. So he had given me a list of what to have. He said he would make Lasagna and had to make the sauce from scratch. I left to do my thing.

When I came home this was on the table. They had to go to the store for extra things before cooking. Daughter found this pitcher which is her pattern in the Heisey we have collected for years. Really makes a great vase for these lovely flowers. There are still about half of them left. But I think I am going to replace them with a small tree.

Daughter said something about it was a wonder I hadn't gotten out my camera. I really hadn't thought about it but this was the crew in the kitchen. She was washing dishes. Doug was working on the islandHe was making a delicious cheese pie. His Mothers recipe. Daughter had made a pumpkin pie and made the crusts for both pies. Both got eaten before they left on Friday.

We had Duck for Thanksgiving as asked by Hubby. We were hoping he could come home but he didn't go to the nursing home till Wed. Evening but he was determined to come. Called at 10 an wanted us to come and get him. So Doug went with me in case we needed help. He got in the car good but had a little trouble getting out of the car so thank goodness we had some help.

Hubby had trouble getting out of the wheel chair so Doug was able to help again. Hubby was not happy not to get fried oysters besides his duck. Just a little confused as we had planned the oysters for Friday as this was asked for by daughter. That was my time to cook .He got them on Friday.

So by mid afternoon Hubby decided it was time to go back to the home. DD and Doug took him back to the nursing home.

We also had with us a Niece who is moving to the Annapolis area as her hubby is waiting for clearance for a job with the government. She has gotten a teaching job at the school where DD worked and next door to her school. She had her Collage student daughter visiting. I don't think I had seen the DD since she was a baby. This is my brothers oldest daughter and they used to visit after Christmas when the kids were young. We had a nice visit.

Now while I have been writing this the road is now snow covered. They have been calling for about 4-6 inches. but the sun is suppose to come out tomorrow. A nice start to the Christmas holiday. Sorry it has been so long since I posted but will try not to be so long the next time. Thanks for stopping by. Oh , yes that is my first Christmas cactus blooming.

A Couple Finshed Quilts etc.

2009-11-20T05:20:00.008-05:00

This is one of the blocks I've been working on. Have most of them finished and have ordered the border fabric. So this will have to wait.

First off, I want to say that Hubby isn't the best right now. Still have that meeting today, thought it was Thursday, can't read the letter right. This week he has seemed weaker, I think he is so anxious to get home and his body just isn't working so. Now he is scheduled to come home on Tuesday as DD is coming. for the best of the weekend. Has a friend coming up to visit from Florida so we will have some friends around and they are going to cook. I've ordered two ducks for Hubby and he certainly wants to eat some of them. If his teeth will let him. He did get to the dentist last week and the plate is ready and his date with the Oral Surgeon is set for Dec 3. Just hope he is able to make it.

This week I have been doing some sewing both on the Juki in the basement and up here. But these are the swap blocks that we have done for the end of the year in our Thimbleberries group. Aren't they neat? It's from the Simple Comforts book by Kim Diehl I'm going to put sashing and cornerstones and have two fabrics I'm thinking of using a green inner border and then have a new red fabric that I bought while at retreat, for the outer border. More on that later.

This is the first of the little ones that I got machine quilted last week. It's made from charms last year. Why I've waited so long to quilt it is beyond me. Didn't take very long. Not as long as putting on the bindingThis is the second one, It was a Schnibbles pattern Called Big Red, that Kim passed along. Mine should be called Big Blue as there are a lot of blues. This also was made from Thimbleberries charms. I really like this one. Just a nice size to cover up my legs when sitting in my lounge chair.

Which is what I am doing a lot these last couple days. Have not gotten the flue, or the regular flue shot, but just got an plain old fashioned head cold and it makes you feel miserable. That's why I'm up at 5 in the morning blogging. At least it is getting done. Thanks for stopping in and Hope Everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving with friends and family. I'm sure we will. Almost forgot about loading this one. This is a picture of the top that I have basted now and started to hand quilt. The star in this were from the swap Kim and I did for the Hollow. Each month we did a different star block. Was fun but ended with a lot of blocks that I think I have finally found places to use them. Love these alternate Chimney and Cornerstone blocks. Really makes it.

So now I have something to quilt while visiting with family over the holiday. Started it last night while watching Survivor. Love that show.

Leaves, Leaves, everywhere.

2009-11-10T16:47:00.006-05:00

First I have to show you another project finished. This is the Kansas Troubles quilt I made from the scraps that I won . I really like how it turned out. Don't know where I will hang it but will find someplace. Now for the leaves. On Sunday afternoon I got the blower out and started to blow the leaves off the front yard which is about nine feet wide to the road. Look what I found under all the leaves.

Mushrooms and lots of them. If my Mother had been around she would have started to pull them up and eat them. They look like eatable ones but the locals say not
Here's another batch I came across. Then look at this a flower peeking through the leaves

This is another clump of mushrooms. That's the heat and rains we've had. This clump is close to a small azealea.This is how much I blew off. Uncovered the front porch and that was it. You can see the pumpkin now. I think he is starting to get soft on the bottom but will leave him there as long as he looks good.

Here's a shot of Rusty who came to my rescue with his blower and tracker with the mower. He started by cleaning off the road. It is wide enough for two cars but with the leaves all you could see was one lane of blacktop. They live behind me and if he gets my leaves up then it less to blow over into their yard.

This is the way it looked on the lower driveway after he blew them off the bank.That's all our property you see in this picture. The driveway goes to the garage in the basement. A car won't fit in it though even if it were empty. This is the way the front yard looks now. The huge pile of leaves just beyond the house. I imagine in time he will get them chopped up. Good mulch.

Another project done. Yes, I finished hand quilting the Sunbonnet quilt for Kathy in Kansas City. This is a closeup of the quilting.

This is the best I could do to get a finish picture. No big beds in our house now. It isn't bound, Kathy will do that. It will get in the mail soon back to it's owner. Had a great time doing it. Now on to one of my own. But first I need to get some wide backing material. Don't want muslin. Will show you it when I get it basted. I think I made it at least 3 years ago, maybe longer.

A bit about Hubby. He is doing good. Is hoping to get home before Thanksgiving. We have a conference with the workers next Thurs. But first he needs to see the dentist about the upper plate they are making him.

I am getting a good rest and more sewing time in. Glad to have these little projects done. I have two more small pieces that I am pinning to machine quilt so will keep busy.

Hope all is well in your part of the country. Thanks for stopping by.

Butterflies are Flying

2009-11-08T18:12:00.007-05:00

See, I have finally finished it. Quilted and bound. The thing I was the most afraid of doing was stitching down those little wool antenna's Kim had sent me the wool, which laid in my post office for over a week with a postage due. Big mistake. But once I got going on them it really didn't take me too long. Now they are not all perfect. Well I doubt if every antenna on a butterfly is perfect. At least it was fun to make. To recap. It's a Buggy barn pattern and I started it at out quilt retreat in Dayton the last of August. So that is one thing I have finished since Hubby has been in the hospital and now the nursing home for rehab.
Talking about new butterflies. Remember me showing you the butterfly with the swans on the wings that someone bought at an auction and gave to the town.? Still don't know who gave it.
Last week when I went to the library here was another new butterfly. This is walking up to the library. Took this to show that on that mountain if you click on the picture you might be able to see the Washington Monument on the top. I live about half way down that mountain. Here;s a closer look. This one has smaller butterflies all over the wings. The other side is all blue. Couldn't get a decent picture of it. That's the road that goes to Keedysville and then Sharpsburg and over the river to Shepardstown, W, Va.
I did find out that Mr. Thompson that owns the Hardware store bought it for the town.

Been fooling around with the leaves this afternoon., It was so nice outside. But that's for another post. Thanks for stopping by.

Halloween

2009-11-05T07:48:00.005-05:00

This past weekend my daughter brought a niece up with her so we had a walk in the woods. I had taken my camera and this is the only picture I took. My neighbors home. He's the contractor that made the ramp for our backdoor so I could wheel hubby out or in in the wheelchair.
Unfortunately I had to call 911 a week ago Sunday as he wasn't able to get out of his chair. He had a terrible urinary trac infection, Spent a week in the hospital and now on Monday was taken back to the nursing home for more rehab. This is why I have not posted for over a week. Just not time or incentive to talk to all of you.

My daughter came on Friday evening, Halloween weekend and brought me the large pumpkin that her class had made. I told her to sit it on the front porch. So If you enlarge this picture you should be able to see it and the layers of leaves in my front yard. Course there are 5 huge oak trees there also and a mountain of them on the other side of the road. This picture was taken from the road This one from our driveway and it shows up better here. Can sure see the shadows of the trees. It must have been early morning with the sun just coming over the mountain.

Now that I have a little more time I have gotten some projects finished. Well I hope to this evening while watching Survivor. Have some hand work. Then the next time I can show you.

Al;so got my material today for the Carrie Nation blocks that I run out of the background. Found it online of course. So can start some piecing again. So stay tuned. Thanks for stopping by. Hubby is doing well. We're hoping he gets home for Thanksgiving.