Greetings Family & Friends

Tis the season. . . Neighbors homes are decorated for C'mas and the kind people even strung lights across the front of our house, too. And of course I dug out the automatic timer so I don't have to run in and out to turn them off and on. Best $20.00 I ever spent! We've had rain for most of the day but we had no reason to leave the house!
Our Thanksgiving weekend was lovely - busy and fun. J.D. got here around midnight on Tuesday night, Mitch arrived late Thursday afternoon. We then went to Nate & Deanie's and had a super meal there. Mark joined us there. Deanie had family there, too. Full House, lots of food and chatter.

Friday we shopped for a new TV for Chet, here in the family room. We got rid of the big entertainment center and bought a stand for the new TV - gosh those flat screen's are neat - and it's big enough I can read the print without having to get up close! J.D. came over and helped Mitch put together the stand and connect the TV. I "excused" myself and took a nap while this was going on. A couple hours later I found them enjoying a football game! We had a big supper here, Nate & Deanie came over, too - and then they all went out to do their thing. Saturday morning Mitch met up with a high school friend for breakfast and then he and Chet rode out to Mark's for a visit and checked on his projects. Mitch left about 3:30 after he learned his 6:00 p.m. flight had been overbooked, hoping by getting there a bit earlier he could get an earlier flight out. . . not sure if he was able to do that or not.

Photos
today are of "the boys" - - Mark was here but not around at picture time - he was looking for a billfold someone claimed they lost, possibly in his truck. Nate graciously allowed Mitch to take his Harley for a ride. They play together so nicely now - amazing what 35 years will do, eh?

And of course I have to mention sewing/quilting.
Mitch managed to squeeze two quilts into his carry on luggage to take along for Paul & Amanda. I hope they will send photos of the kids with the quilts - if so, I'll post them for all to see! The kids are cute but they'll be really special with the quilts!

Not much sewing/quilting accomplished with the holiday but don't worry - I'll make up for it and I still have a good supply of fabric to use up! Oh - I should mention that the wallhanging at the top of this post was one of four I made last year for our kids. I noticed Nate & Deanie had their's hanging on their front door, I checked with Mark and he said he got it out of the closet and Mitch was sure his would be hanging as soon as he got home (yeah - they know how to pacify their mother, eh?)

Till next time - enjoy each day and take care.

New Week Ahead

I'm looking forward to a new week. I had to be "away from my sewing" for most of last week due to house cleaning issues. Amazing how textured walls and ceilings collect fuzz and lint. So we vacumned, polished and scrubbed this little house! I was tempted to put up a few C'mas things but decided not to just yet. Soon my neighbors will be decorating their yard and put lights across the front of our house. These people are so nice, I must start thinking about baking banana nut bread, pumpkin bread and brownies and share with them.

It's cold here - but I guess that's true all over the country. Rain/Snow Showers are predicted for this coming week. Tis the season - I will be moving my snow wiper from the trunk to the back seat and my gloves are kept in the car the year around. So I think I'm prepared!

This morning I gave in to temptation and decided to stitch a bit. I am getting ready to donate a few small quilts to charity organizations so decided to finish up this red zig-zag quilt. It measures about 24 x 26" and will be a nice infant cover or carseat cover. I pieced batting and dug out some Noah's Ark fabric from my stash and quilted it diagonally. Then I went on a binding fabric hunt and found that bin to be quite low. So I uncovered a one yard piece of fabric that was given to people who stopped at a booth at a quilt show. My friend and I graciously thanked him. Then I found out from a coworker that she was told the same thing. It seems this person told everyone who stopped at his booth that she was the 100th visitor. My coworker thought the fabric was just lovely; my friend and I still can't quite see any beauty in it. If you look at the fabric closely, you will see why it didn't sell and he had to give it away! I read somewhere that if you cut an ugly fabric into small enough pieces, it won't be ugly anymore - and you know, I think that's true.

Chet is primed up for another Colts football game tonight. I was looking forward to watching Desperate Housewives but The Country Music Awards are on instead. Gosh - I hate it when that happens!

I have been watching/listening to the Game Show Channel while I'm sewing. By looking at the clothing the contestants are wearing you can about guess when year the show was recorded. I think my favorite old show is Match Game. I also enjoy Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld - but am having to give them up - know the lines by heart now. And another thing - Nancy Grace is getting on my nerves, too. I'd like to tell her so but am afraid she'll bite me! And then there's Judge Judy - I'm being a very good citizen - cuz I sure don't want to end up in her court room!

Commercials can be fun and frustrating - Progressive Auto Insurance - I want to call them and tell them how disgusting I think the ads are! And Billy Mayes - the man who sells everything and YELLS!

Pajama time here - take care all and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Ah Ha - I Did It!

Well, if it doesn't work one day - just come back and do it later! These machines are wonderful - when and if they work!

Anyway, here are the pictures I was trying to post yesterday. This pattern is from Bonnie Hunter at http://quiltville.com This pattern is in her first book - Scraps and Shirttales (I think - or something like that.)

I did make a few changes. The top is finished and is now waiting for it's trip to the longarm quilter.

The second picture is a close up of the border.

That's it for now. (Nap time).

This + That

This is my second attempt to update this blog today. I had a lovely entry finished this morning, then looked at it in "preview" mode, clicked to publish and the darn thing vanished! So I just signed off and went and did something else - I guess I proved who's the boss of this blog, eh?

Chet came home from church with a gift for me this morning, he couldn't tell me who it was from or why! So after process of elimination, I think I know who sent it for me. But will have to make a couple of phone calls to check it out. I have a feeling it was an appreciation gift because the past couple of years I've been donating items to the church for the chili supper/bazaar they have. I'm anxious to know who ended up winning the wall quilt I made and how much it brought in. I have edited the photo of the plaque, hope I've not got it too much out of proportion! The tiny hearts, about 1" in size are precisely cut from an old quilt. Very pretty and dainty!

Family News - Congratulations to Becky for exceeding her goal of $3,000 by $1,059. Becky and a friend trained for the three day marathon in Arizona this past weekend. We have yet to hear how she is feeling after the marathon. Thanks to Becky and all who contributed. And thanks to her dear husband Geno for pitching in and helping!

Tracy is settling into her new home and job bit by bit. She's still unpacking boxes and learning the ropes at work. She and another new nurse will be going to Minneapolis for a crash two day conference.

The three sons check in occasionally - all are very busy. J.D. is doing well at school - but we knew he would. He's always been an excellent student and we're very proud of him.

Chet is already dreading the cold weather and being housebound for the winter. I think the days of riding the mower on the back forty are over now. Most leaves have been mulched and he's stowed away the swing cushions and lawn chairs. Lots of football games to keep him occupied - and that's when I head off to my sewing corner.

On Tuesday we picked up two quilts from the longarm quilter gal - I had the bindings ready to put on them so did that later that day. I now have one completely finished - the Fungly (Fun-Ugly) has been renamed to Fallen Leaves. . . could also be called Fabric Library because I used many different fabrics in it. I like to "read" it! The second quilt is the Row Quilt and I now have binding stitched to two of the sides. . it will be finished this week. Both of these quilts were pictured in past posts. I also picked up the fabric for the Swing Your Partner - plaid blocks I showed last week. The top was finished this morning and I was wanting to post photos but for some reason this machne is now showing me who's in charge. . . . but I will try later.

Until next week - stay warm and well.

Lazy Daisy

It's been a rather slow and lazy week here. I did venture out to have my hair done so I'd look halfway civil to go to a Sulky Thread Workshop on Saturday. Friend Pat and I enjoyed the long ride and the fall foilage. It wasn't too cold out but it was quite windy.

The car had it's pre-winter oil change and a washing, too. And of course the usual visits to the bank and grocery store.

Chet's had the mower out cruising the yard, chopping up leaves as they come down. He even went across the street and did their yard, too.

Mitch will be joining us for a brief visit, flying into Indianapolis on Thanksgiving Day afternoon and will be with us till Saturday evening. We've not seen him in a year so it will be a treat.

Tracy's been at her new job and new home for a week now - will call her this evening to see how the first week went at the job.

Chet is watching the Colts-Steelers football game and the Colts were not doing well. So I made us a nice supper to perk him up! Now, an hour later, the Colts are ahead.

I didn't take pictures of any of my sewing/quilting projects this week. I dug up pictures from the Grandkids visit this past summer. Both used the embroidery unit to make little pillow tops.

I don't think I posted these earlier - but shoot, they're cute kids and deserve to be shown off again!

I did make over 600 inches of bindings for two quilts which should be ready to pick up this week sometime. I heard a request on the local radio station that the physical therapy department at our hospital was needing walker bags. So I "surfed the internet" and found a pattern, printed it out and dug out some fabric and gave it a try. It turned out nice, tailored - neat for a man. I need to find four buttons for it. Beyond me how I can have about fifty pounds of buttons and not four identical large red buttons. Heck, I'd even settle for black, navy or white - but just don't have them. So I guess I'll have to go shopping! My quilt guild meets on the second Monday of each month, so perhaps on my way home I can stop for the buttons. I'm not sure how many more walker bags I will make - it was more time consuming than I thought it would be. I have quite a few "orphan" blocks laying around and would like to figure out a way to use them on some of the walker bags.

This is a photo Amanda, our granddaughter, took and sent to us a while ago - isn't it a beautiful Wisconsin Sunset.

Till next time, take care, be well and safe.

Short Post Today

My post today will be speedy - can you hear the pre-football game in the background? The way the Colts and Packers are playing, Chet is having a hard time finding a team to root for!

Nate came over and pulled the air conditioning unit out of my bedroom, brought his battery charger over for Chet's rider mower (guess what Chet's getting for C'mas) and stayed and had a light supper with us.

I finally got through to Mark - he's fighting a cold for two weeks now - guess I should make a pot of chicken soup for him - but don't think he likes my soup. He's still working on the Hot Tub on the Truck project!

Chatted with Tracy yesterday, she's now in Hattiesburg and will begin her new job on Monday. There are two heart specialists in this practice, another RN and a couple practicers. In a couple of weeks she will going to an equipment training session.

Had an email from Mitch - he's been traveling - says he's trying to keep jobs for 450 people. Such a big job - but we're proud of him and all he's accomplished.

We've had a quiet week - just my speed! I went and had a haircut, went to lunch and then drove up to a nearby quilt shop looking for fabric for sashing and borders to set the blocks together that I "featured" last week. Unfortunately there wasn't enough on the bolt, but she says she has more coming in - so fortunately, I get to go back soon. I also dropped off the red zig-zag quilt I'd been working on but poor Caroline is so busy right now so I'll have to be patient and wait.

So instead of giving Caroline a rest from MY QUILTS, I've gone and dug out my Blocks Stash. I made a "big bunch" of blocks using light scraps and a white background fabric. I put together one large top, 75 " x 90" , on Friday and Saturday. I'm not sure what that layout is called. I used 120 blocks in it. So this morniing I got out the blocks again and put together a small top, using 20 more blocks. This layout is traditionally called Fields and Furrows. There are 30 of the blocks left and I will stitch them up using another layout. I love the Barn Raising layout and may do that provided there are enough blocks to make the layout work. (I don't intend to make anymore!)

The reds with cream zig-zags is about a 26" square piece, made of leftovers from the Red Strip Swap several gals from the chat room exchanged. (Click on photo to enlarge it and look for the peppers fabric - from a Texas Gal) - isn't it cute? The smaller quilts I'm able to handle on my sewing machine and now I have a stack of them to work on. I'm always glad to see a snow storm blow in - then I can get in the mood to work on the quilting and finishing up projects.

I've had my lunch - and am ready to go take my nap. . . . till next week . . . . take care.