What I did on my summer vacation.

Here are the some pics to follow up with my return. 

First are some pics from Hawaii.  We stayed off Black Rock in Maui.  We always seem to have an exciting time.  The excitement seems to follow us.  While there, fires shut down the road that connects Lahaina to the rest of Maui.  Teen idol Zack Ephron was present for a Movie Festival.  The end of the vacation was saddened by the disappearance of a snorkeler right in front of our room.  Four or five days emergency personnel were present in the ocean, of land and even in the parking lot.  We stayed out of the ocean for part of the day.  The Lola was afraid that she would have a life altering event.  Here is a pic of the area where we would wait for the bus.   We enjoyed the trip to the other side of the island.  This "ginger" bloom was just gorgeous.  We also went to the top of Haleakala.  This old volcano looks like something more from moon.

At the top of the mountain is the strangest looking plant.

 This plant looks like it is metallic.

  It grows for up to 25 years before it blooms and then dies. 

 The last pic is of the view in the evening from our window.  What a way to go to bed at night. 

Well I am saving some pics for next time.

Just Another Quilter

Where have I been????

I can't believe that I have been gone for so long.  The kids finished school and it was suddenly busy. 

What I did on my summer vacation:

1. Went to Maui for 2 weeks and---saw sea turtles, shopped, found a quilt shop in a mall, went for walks, saw cool flowers, hiked, went to an aquarium, watched a water bottle collapse coming down a  mountain, and read a few books.
2. Watched some awesome fireworks for the 4th of July
3. A daughter got her braces off
4. Went to visit family in another state
5. Picked up hours at work
6. Watched lots of softball games
7. Helped with Bible school
8. Picked blueberries
9. Picked tomatoes
10. Made spaghetti sauce
11. Made salsa
12. Made plum jam
13. Made zucchini bread
14. Went swimming
15. Went fishing
16. Went to Mayo for a conference
17. Sent the youngest kid to a new school (Middle School)
18. Did very little quilting! 

What I did since the kids went back to school.  

1. Remind dad to schedule the hip surgery that he really needs. 
2. Hear that mother has yet again fallen of the bike. 
3. Made scarf made from fabric purchased while at Mayo
4. Finished bibs for baby born in July.  Still not delivered.
5. Started a quilt as you go project for the Christmas Traditions
6. Buy a new car
7. Take old car in for brake problems
8. Take other old car in for wheel bearing problems
9. Go to local quilt show for 2 hours--not long enough but got to go.
10. Take child for enlarged ear???? Infection? Allergies? Bite?
11. Pick up hours at work
12. Made a mission meal

I will get some pics in the next post.  Of food, flowers, cars, & quilt related stuff.  Tomorrow??!!!??

Just Another Quilter
where life gets in the way of quilting.

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!

Missing in Action

I feel like I have been lurking around lately. I thought that maybe I would check in. No pics in this one.

The orthodontist office is furnishing me with morning caffeine on Monday mornings for 2 weeks in a row. Both mornings before 8am. I also started taking a Bible Study class on Mondays. I tend to post on Monday mornings after the weekend. One reason why I am MIA.

I have never taken a Bible Study class before. As a regular attendee at church, I help out occasionally. I thought it was time to add some more depth to my spiritual journey. My spiritual journey like any other has ups and downs. The age difference is apparent in this group. I am again quite a bit younger. This group has wonderfully accepted my viewpoint. Recently I was asked to be in a play to be put on during the Sunday service. I am working on memorizing my lines.

DH ordered me my own laptop. After longing over my daughter Lola's laptop that showed up last summer I now have one of my own. Little is set up on it yet. I am looking at setting up a new email address to get some of the Hancock's, Joann's, Herrschners, etc. mail out of the family email address. Any suggestions. Lola has lots of opinions but she doesn't like any of mine. Post me some ideas.

No one ever signed up for my class a couple weeks ago. It was a busy time and with the Rosemont show later in the week and Paducah the following weekend, I wasn't surprised. Poor planning on my part. I was a little disappointed, I wasn't surprised. I was however, approached about teaching the class in a neighboring town. I need to get the sample over to my neighbor so she can talk to the person that has pull! I will keep you updated. I still need to pick up the quilt from the shop.

I was home today from work as MJJR has started with migraines. She doesn't get them enough to hit the dr. yet. As the hormones are flowing in her 11 yr. old body, I think it is a matter of time until they get worse. She gets the nausea & vomitting with it.

I hope to be more active than of late.

The handquilting project is moving along well. The outer border needs to have the pattern blown up from the sashing. Haven't done that yet. The software to blow up the pattern is on the new computer, just need to try it out. Another flower needs to be drafted to put in the last light section of the quilt. On a good note, the binding was cut and pressed today.

Just Another Quilter