The Red White & Green header

I was asked about the item I added behind the "The Ups & Downs of Quilting".  Several blogs I checked out had all the same formatting, colors & pictures.  I wanted to change things up a little bit.  So I added the picture.  The picture is of the fabric that I purchased in Alaska.  It can be seen in this quilt.  The fabric is blown up so much that it turned out pretty cool when I blurred it a little in the editing software.

I thought that this went well with the current blog colors & was fairly easy to just cover the picture that was already there.

Just Another Quilter

What's been going on!

We have been very busy lately.  The house is bustling with guests.  Mom & Step-dad left yesterday.  MJJR was promoted to the Middle School next year.  Lola finished with school too.  She is driving with her permit--her driving is coming along.  MJJR is playing softball.  Pictures were last night.  We didn't quite make it in time.  She has several pictures over the years.  We will take some pics before another game.  We were getting the teeth cleaned.  No cavities for either one of us.  DH & I went to the Dr. yesterday.  He is working at getting his very large varicose veins "microwaved".  There are some branching and they will put him under to remove them.  The veins keep him from being more active (like going for walks with me).   I organized the refreshment stands for the elementary schools Field days.  It is always a fun time but lots of work.  It was a warm day, some of the 450 Popsicles melted but we all made do.  It is always fun to watch the kids play.  The older kids even had a tug o war.  MJJR's class did well in the tug o war. 

Here is a pic of the lettuce that I planted back in early April.  I thought that you all would like to see how it looks now.  I have harvested twice now.  The taller green stuff is the spinach.  I ended up putting the pot outside a little too early and fried the small shoots.  OOPS.  I lost some of the plants.  I thought of replanting the empty areas but decided not too.  We still have a good crop there.  The smaller plants will thicken up as they have growing room.  I moved the planter to the north side of the house as the heat is starting already.  It seems we went into full hot muggy summer all at once. 

I haven't done much sewing with all the softball games, concerts, award banquets, graduation parties and such.  I am hoping to pick up a book or two in the next few weeks. 

  I often check out audio books from the library.  I enjoy this with my 30-40 commute, along with sewing or folding laundry while I listen.  I just finished listening to a great book.  It has some graphic parts that could have been left out or toned down but do help to establish the character.  The beginning is slow but the book is very interesting and intriguing.  The book is "The girl with the Dragon Tattoo".  The book is by Steig Larsson.  He passed away in 2004 after turning in manuscripts for 3 novels.  I was lead to this book by our book club at work.  I am unable to attend because of the chauffeuring that I do, but enjoy reading and discussing the books when able to.

Enjoy the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.

Just Another Quilter

Blogger's Spring Quilt Festival

The Blogger's Spring Quilt Festival has arrived.  I have enjoyed looking at others picks, this year I thought I would also put in an entry.  I can sit for hours and look at blogs.  Some of the entries in the past are now blogs that I follow.   It is certainly not a quilt show that can be looked at in 1 day.

The quilt that I chose for the Blogger Spring Quilt Festival is the only quilt that I have actually finished this year.  It is unnamed.  Have a name idea.  Leave me a comment.  I made it from "Wedgeworks II 3-D Mariners Compass".  I had hoped to teach the class at the local quilt shop.  I chose a bad day and had no one sign up.  The piece is still hanging in the shop.  The design was ready, the fabric was purchased.  I just needed to find time to get the sewing done.  I took everything to the sewing retreat in February.  It is amazing how little fabric you can actually have left over.  I was not leaving retreat to purchase more fabric.  I did buy the green & blue batik off a fellow quilter.   The binding is two sided because I did not have enough fabric for regular binding.  The backing fabric I brought was not big enough.  I found something big enough in stash fabric for another project.  The outer small navy sashing is different from the sashing around the blocks (it isn't noticeable) because I didn't have enough yardage again. I finished quilting it the Monday after retreat.  Then no one signed up for the class.  I will try to teach again in a few months when life slows back down.  (After the kids go back to school.)  I will be turning the wall hanging on its side and hanging it in my sew room over my cutting counter.  It will have an inset light over each compass.  It may require some redecorating of the remaining sew room.  It think that after almost 10 years, it might be do for an update.

Enjoy the quilt show.  Stop by and see Amy that organizes the show.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's out there, to all you that are mother's to be, and to all you that take a moment to remember your mother even though she is no longer on this earth.

We started out with a very quiet Mother's Day. The girls were hard at work finishing my Mother's Day surprise. They spent time yesterday and today working on it in secret. They would be excited when I would leave the house for an hour, or would get me outside to bring some wood next to the house so we wouldn't have to turn the furnace on for the expected frost last night. Also the youngest was very enthusiastic to help me cover the tender plants.

It is definitely spring. The birds are around. Because of the water, we have a great assortment of birds and wildlife. I enjoy seeing the birds that didn't frequent our house as a child. The bluebirds are beautiful, a pair has taken up residence in the bluebird house that was vacant for the last couple years. The Canadian Geese family stopped by the other day with babies in tow. They took to sunning themselves on the dam. They usually don't stay long. The Kingfisher is present gliding just above the water surface to take up watch on a neighboring dock. The ancient looking Great Heron is also present jumping over the docks to see what is on the other side.

This morning a hesitant gold finch was perched on the top of the birdfeeder, trying to decide how to make it a few inches lower to eat the seed. I believe daddy finch was taking new baby off for a trip to the local feeding grounds. The bird was so hesitant, trying a couple angles and several minutes before making across the finish line to the black thistle they love so much.

Well, I have called both of mom's phones and have left messages. No answer. Maybe at my brother's for the morning. I have talked to her more in the last couple days. The husband had a call from work and left just before church, so the girls and I are quietly enjoying the day.

Oh, the much anticipated present. The life of the MJJR from birth to present. All the really great photos, memorable moments and goofy smiles in 91 pics. Some scanned and some transferred. It was great to see so many moments in one place at one time. Now if I can just get the Lola to transfer her life onto the it also. Lola did much of the work for MMJR. Lola picked me up a new Wii game of oldie songs and dance moves. She says it is a hoot. We will have to try it later.

Enjoy the day!