Closing down Blog

I have decided to close down this blog due to health issues. I am no longer able to do many things I've done in the past. I hope you have enjoyed visiting with me as much as I did with all of you. Blessings to all of you.

Signs of Spring

Ah yes - Signs of Spring are appearing every day. This morning I spotted a beautiful red cardinal in our back yard. The snow is gone and springs of green grass are showing more and more. We've had quite a bit of rain and the ground is saturated - and more rain predicted later today. I'm glad I don't have kids playing outside these days!

Chet had the riding mower out with his little trailer attached and spent an afternoon picking up twigs and small branches that came down in a recent wind storm. He was so pleased to be out riding and 'doing things.'

I've managed to keep as busy as I can and want to be. I still tire easily and end up taking a daily nap! I've been battling a slight flu bug the past week and am hoping it soon will be gone. I just don't like tummy aches and headaches! I did get busy at the sewing machine a few hours this past week. No pictures to show yet. Perhaps next week I'll have a few blocks done. I am making the parts now for the different segments in each block. The quilt is a large size but I'm not sure I'll have a large one in the end - it's kind of boring right now!

I went into the picture archives and found a few quilts I'd not posted pictures of before. Most are now out of the house - given to kids and grand kids and some were donated for fund raiser items.

Shown below is Majestic Mountains - a pattern from http://quiltville.com. It is not finished in this picture, I did add a border and had it quilted. Truthfully, I don't know if this quilt is here in the house or if I've given it away. (Pathetic soul, right?)

The piece below is in Mitch & Di's house in Wisconsin - she had a red sofa in the finished basement and I thought this went well with it - I don't remember how big it is but it is a good size wall hanging.

Next quilt is a multi-fabric 9 Patch with snowball blocks - I think my niece has this one but I'm not sure. A second one using this pattern but with yellow borders was given to a daughter in law who needed a baby gift. Not sure who she gave it to tho.

The wall hanging below was done in creams and ecru's, 6" blocks and donated to Relay For Life fundraiser. It was on display at school and one of the teachers had the winning raffle ticket.

The patriotic wall hanging below was also donated to Relay For Life as a fundraiser - the gal who managed the Bookstore had the winner raffle ticket for it. It hangs in her office at school.

I made a second patriotic wall hanging similar to the one above and donated it to church as a fundraiser for their annual chili supper and bazaar. The gal who had the winning raffle ticket wasn't too pleased with it - am thinking she gave it to one of her children. I hope the person who has it is happy with it.

Someone is in the kitchen rattling pots and pans and I think it's a sign to me! Till next week be safe and healthy and warm.

Sewing Again - Just a bit tho!

The snow is melting slowly and the back yard has a few broken branches and twigs scattered around it. Chet looks out the windows and licks his lips - I know he's chomping at the bit to get the riding mower out and clean up the yard! I know I'll have to ask the little boy next door to help him with the pick up because Chet's 'bending' ability has decreased considerably! Poor guy.

My bending ability is pretty good - it's getting up that's a challenge for me! Ah - old age has crept up on both of us. I did have good news after my last scan and blood tests - I am in remission and don't have to see a doctor till mid March. I'm still battling with radiation burns and the horrible itching of new skin growing back. I won't even mention my hair loss! Gaining weight is a battle, too - and I'm eating often. I am convinced it's as difficult to gain weight as it is to lose it! The ladies from church and another church in town have been bringing over meals - one on Wednesday night and the other on Sunday mornings. I have been cooking but these extra meals sure do help make things a bit easier on me. I'm stronger day by day and yesterday we ventured out to the bank, drug store, grocery store and Staples. I had a good long nap when we got home!

My fabric stash hasn't decreased too much the past few months. I did make two new sofa pillow covers. I found a Log Cabin block and made another, added backing and put the pillows inside. The covers are a bit too big but makes it easier to take pillow form in and out - am hoping the covers will shrink a bit after their first run through the washer and dryer. Photos below.



Picture below is of the small quilt I started a while ago - it was begging to be finished so I found matching/coordinating fabrics and finished it this morning. This will be a donation quilt.



Being house bound for the past five or six months has given me a lot of time to surf the Internet - I see so many pretty quilts and imagine them done up in fabric from my stash. . . so many quilts, so much fabric and so little energy!

This week I need to reply to Christmas cards and letters - am just now getting around to opening and reading them. And my lovely Southern Belle granddaughter, Anna Grace, had her 11th birthday last week. I did call her and we chatted a bit but I haven't sent her a card yet - that's top of the list this week!

Time to grab some lunch - Chet is shaking pots and pans! Have a good week, stay warm and well.

Posting Late - Good Excuse

I have a good excuse for posting late. Usually I post on Sunday morning but yesterday I took a grocery list and headed to the store! My first time out of the house (other than to the mailbox) since Dec. 21st. And I've not driven my car since the week before Thanksgiving! I managed to get the groceries and stop at the drug store for a few things. Chet was waiting with the door open - not sure if he was waiting for food or me! I was quite tired and took advantage of my nap by extending it a bit!

We are expecting ice/rain overnight! They even predicted power outages - hope it doesn't happen as we are total electric! Good thing I have a stack of quilts to help keep us warm.

Picture below is Chet with his Colts throw - a gift from Tracy and family. Anna Grace has been waiting to see this!

I have been keeping busy doing one of my favorite things. After digging through my stash I found enough fabric to put borders on the Wabash County Brick Wall quilt. Both border fabrics were used as backings for other quilts and there was quite a bit left over! (I love leftovers - be it fabric or food)! So this quilt is ready to go to the long arm quilter gal in Rushville. It measures approximately 45 x 55".

This little goodie just had to be made! ! I saw a photo of a doll quilt in one of Kathleen Tracy books. (Kathleen hosts a Yahoo group called Small Quilt Talks. Visit her at her blog: http://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com) The half-square-triangles are leftovers from another quilt - we call them bonus triangles. It measures 13"x 16" - or there abouts - and I even hand quilted it - not a lot tho!


Till next week - stay well and warm.

Must Not Complain

Oh this snow and cold is getting to me. I've not been further than the end of the driveway to set out trash and recycling bins, pick up the mail and newspaper. Someone just came to the door, I opened it and the cold was sharp! (Poor guy is looking for tree trimming jobs. I told him to check back in Spring and he told me that was not the time to trim trees! Oh well!)

Nate and Mark brought in a supply of groceries so the 'larder is loaded' for a while and there is no need for us to go out on the snow covered streets. Mitch calls weekly to check in with us and we don't dare complain of our snow and cold - Green Bay always is colder and snowier! No sympathy from him! Tracy tells us it's cold in Mississippi when it's 65; at least she doesn't have to shovel snow down there! And she gets no sympathy from us!

I've been back at my sewing machine a couple of mornings this week. I finished putting together the brick wall quilt top - center portion of the quilt, this morning. Feels good to use up some of the left over fabrics from the bigger quilt. I did have to go into the stash and cut more but it was a pleasure to dig through the fabrics and find coordinates. Now I need to see if I have enough of something to put a border or two on this quilt. Right now it measures about 36 x 44" and adding borders will make it a nice throw size. Picture below.



I'd not used my camera since Thanksgiving and found this picture - Anna Grace, Mitch and Jonathan - I don't remember who's teaching who and I don't know what game they are playing - but it is a nice picture, isn't it?



Thanks for stopping by - stay well and warm.

Sunny Sunday

Another week has passed and I'm proud to announce that I've been back at the sewing machine. I decided it was time to try and use up fabric from my stash. I did a "Brick Wall of Wabash County" quilt almost a year ago (March 7, 2010 post) and there were a lot of left over rectangles so I started laying them out and cut more from my stash. It was to be a small quilt but it seems to be growing in size and I imagine it will be a lap robe or sofa throw size. We'll see just how far the rectangles that I have cut will go. Hopefully I'll have a picture to show next week. (I tried to copy and paste it but it wouldn't work!)

Chet is sad because of the Colts losing the football game last week - I think he's cheering on the Packers now. He's not gone out often because of the cold and snow. Mitch and Chet have been chatting after the football games. "A bonding opportunity" is what Mitch calls the phone calls!

Nate, Deanie and Mark are off to an ABATE get together this weekend, expect them back some time today. I know they told me where they were going - but I forgot! And that's okay - cuz I'm old!

Tracy celebrated a birthday on the 13th. Visited with her for quite a while one morning - her doctor/boss was out of town so she had some free time to chat.

Till next week - stay safe, warm and well.

I'm Back - I Think

It's been a while since I've posted - have been dealing with health issues the past three months but I think I'm on the road to being myself again. I'm not sure if this is good or bad! We'll see - right? :)

Our holidays were spent with family and friends. They brought in the food and we enjoyed a lot of the traditional dishes. The sons have been doing our grocery shopping - not their favorite thing to do and we certainly appreciate them doing it. There is a long list on the table now and Chet keeps coming up with things to add to it. He does enjoy eating.

We had snow but it all melted when we had temps in the 50's. Yesterday we had a couple of inches of fresh snow - looks so pretty out there but it's cold and windy. Our wonderful neighbor shoveled our driveway sometime this morning.

No sewing here since October except for the final block of the month block - I thought it was finished but someone pointed out to me that there was a mistake in it - so I took it apart and redid it. I've been too exhausted and shaky to use the rotary cutter and ruler. The other day I did pull out a kit and fondle the fabrics but I put them back in the cabinet.

I dreamed I turned on my sewing machine and it made odd noises, spit sparks and moaned and groaned. I woke up after that dream! I haven't turned it on to check it out!

Chet is ready for the Colts game tonight - wearing his Colts shirt, a gift from Mark and has his Colts throw, a gift from Tracy, on the sofa. I will have to sneak a picture to post next week.

Perhaps I'll have some other pictures for the next post - something quilty. Till then, be warm, happy and healthy.

A Few Pictures

I'm home alone tonight - first time in ages! I've had my bath and am dressed in new navy plaid flannel pajamas with lace trim! Mark and Chet are at the Colts football game tonight. It doesn't start till 8:30 so it will be late when they get home. Mark will probably stay over night and go to work from here in the morning. Mark is so patient and good with his father, takes a special person to tackle some of the projects he takes on with him!

Posting just a few pictures from our Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. Tracy, Jon and Anna Grace arrived about 1:00 a.m. They drove straight through from Mississippi - Jon is a licensed driver now and did about half the driving so they were able to do it in one shot. Mitch arrived about 1:00 p.m. Nate deep fried a turkey (shown in photo below) and Mark and his friend Brittany, made a beautiful ham. Tracy brought cornbread dressing and it was very tasty. Tia made a cheesy potato dish. I cooked cranberries (twice). And we had many veggies, rolls and the usual dishes. Mitch brought Wisconsin sausage and cheeses - oh so good!





Anna Grace 'sharing' her Stained Glass Windows quilt with Nate, Jon and Tracy. She fell in love with this quilt before it was finished - now the quilt is in Mississippi!




The guys: Mark, Nate, Jon, Mitch, Chet and J.D.



The Gals - Tracy, me, Tia, Anna, Kim (JD's friend), Brittany and Tori.

We had a lovely weekend and enjoyed being together! Tracy and family left at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and drove half way and spent the night at a hotel. They arrived home about 11:30 today. Mitch's flight left at 7:00 p.m. and he got home about midnight. I'm sure they happy to be in their own beds, too.

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Stay well and warm.

Happy Thanksgiving

I imagine everyone is writing menus, grocery lists and looking forward to a big day with family and friends later this week. We are having a house full with our children and friends coming. Nate will deep fry a turkey and Mark is doing a ham. Tracy is doing Mississippi corn bread dressing and Mitch is bringing Wisconsin Brats. And of course we'll have all the usual side dishes and trimmings. The kids will do most of the cooking this year because my treatments leave me zapped! The Michigan Granddaughters spent a few hours with me yesterday going through cabinets, cleaning the refrigerator and stove and etc. It's nice and sparkling clean in the kitchen now. I could have kept them for a few more hours to hit a few more rooms but didn't want to scare them off for good.

Am proud to announce I finished block #12 for the Rocky Mountain Sampler quilt a group of gals have been working on this year. I've not laid the blocks out together to see how the completed top will look. This block is a bit 'blah' - think it's because I didn't use a red and I did in all the other blocks. The block looks a tad off kilter but a good spray of starch and a hot, heavy iron should fix it up. . . the power of persuasion!

Photos below are parts of my fabric stash - I think it's time to go through the stash and 'share' with other quilters. I've not been able to do as many donation quilts this year as planned but do have a few to give to our local Cheer Fund for Christmas baskets.

This picture is just the top half of a big cabinet I had built to house my stash. I also store books, magazines and an assortment of other goodies in it. Perhaps next week I will show a picture of my quilt books - and that's frightening, too. Oh well, I've enjoyed every book and magazine; and every piece of fabric that has come into this house.

Too Tired To Post - A Bit Of Sewing

Yes, I was too tired to do a post last week - and I see several of you visited the blog and checked up on me. I continue to deal with health issues and will for a while to come. Thanks to those of you who sent well wishes, thoughts and prayers my way. I really do appreciate it.

We've had some lovely weather - in the 70's a couple of days last week and that was a treat. The family has been keeping in touch and most of them will be here Thanksgiving weekend. Be a treat to see them all together again. Mark is taking Chet to a Colts football game that weekend and Chet is all fired up and ready to go.

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to sister Ellen and brother Wally - and anyone I may have missed. . . I do have b'day cards for you - right in front of me now!

I haven't had too much energy but did do a bit of sewing this past week. Block #11 for the Rocky Mountain Sampler is now complete and shown below.

This morning I pulled fabrics and cut for block #12 - the final block for the sampler. Pieces are laid out and ready to be sewn together. It took 2 1/2 hours to sew up block #11 and this one has more pieces so imagine it will take a bit longer to stitch together. This is just the center section, know as Card Tricks and finished, it will measure 6" - can you see the pattern?

The blocks finish at 12" each so it will be a nice throw size. I do have to find border fabrics to finish it off. Picture below is showing the cut pieces for the outside of the block. I hope it's a pretty quilt as I've just not been too fired up about this quilt. I think the idea of having the fabric, directions and etc. laying around for such a long time is just not my style! Not that I'm neat and tidy; perhaps it's that I'm not a patient person.
Till next time - be safe and warm.

Happy Halloween

Hi Everyone
I was feeling bad because I had no pictures to post and not a lot to say. But as the Trick and Treaters began ringing the doorbell the 'light went on' in my head and I decided to take pictures of some of the kids. We had lots of bees, ballerinas, mummies and even a dog with pink fairy wings and a matching purse. I bought a couple of big bags of candy a few weeks ago and stashed them away. This morning the man in the house got out our big bowl and the bags of candy - it appears we have a mouse or two in the house that really like candy. There is just enough left to fill the bowl - - amazing, I never saw a candy wrapper around tho! Oh well - guess he enjoyed it more than the kids. I'm estimating we've had at least 50 kids out here and still another two hours to go. My front light will be turned off at 7:00 unless the candy is gone before then.






Till next week - be safe.

Busy Weekend

Hi Family and Friends,

Not only are we enjoying lovely fall color and temperatures, we are enjoying seeing our sons and one of our grandsons. Mitch and JD arrived Friday night, Nate and Deanie also came over to visit. I've not been up till 11:00 for a long, long time.

I put JD in charge of pictures, telling him I need some for my blog. I hope to get a picture of the three sons together - just didn't think of it on Saturday. The first picture is his car, he just recently bought it.



And this neat truck is Mark's - also a recent purchase.



We needed to replace the commode in the small bathroom so the 'boys' went shopping and installed this gem for us. It's one of the higher ones - makes it easier for old-timers to get up from. Here's Mark and Mitch setting it up and then the throne in it's royal position. (They tell me it works fine - I've not tried it.)



Haven't done any sewing all week so nothing to show off or brag about. But I will get back to it soon - have a quilt waiting for it's final border.

That's it for this week - thanks for stopping by.

This & That

We are enjoying fall temperatures and a lot of color with the leaves changing. I'd like to see the lovely colors for a longer time though!

I am still dealing with health issues - treatment will be decided on this week. Thanks for all the good wishes, prayers and cards. The local sons have been doing a lot for us and we sure appreciate that. The out-of-state kids have been calling regularly as have other family members. Mitch is planning to come for the weekend.

I decided it was time to take some pictures of what I've been working on the past few weeks. I did finish the Waving Flag. Picture below is Block # 10 for the Rocky Mountain Sampler. It is a pretty block and went together fairly easy. In fact, I think it's the prettiest block of the bunch!

This is the equilateral quilt top I've had in the works for almost two months now. I added left over batiks from the pyramids inside the top, as borders. I plan to add a solid black outer border - fabric is in the washer right now. May be my 'after my nap' project today!

I have a large collection of batik and hand dyed fabrics I'd like to do in something special and have spent time looking through my books. The book shown below is full of ideas but nothing really grabs me right now. New York Beauty keeps wandering into my mind! Or maybe the Drunkards Path blocks. . . .

Till next time - take care everyone.

Welcome October

Friends and relatives - I am dealing with some health issues and will not be posting as often as usual. But if I do manage to sew something worth bragging about, I will!

Take care and be good to yourself!

Happy Birthday, J.D.

Short posting today - not much to say and I'm lazy, too. We have been without rain for a long time and we need it badly. Fields are catching fire when combines go in to harvest. At least the beans in the field that butts up to our property have been picked for several weeks now.

I've been lazy in the sewing department, too. Today I hope to finish hand stitching the binding to the back of the waving flag I'm doing for Mitch. Only have 2 sides to go and it will be done. Picture of the flag is in last weeks post.

Have a pot of chicken noodle soup on the stove - smells good.

Our grandson, Nate's son, has a birthday today - forget which one!

Till next week - stay well and take care.

Autumn Leaves Mantle Cover - This + That

Good Sunday Morning! Kind of dreary looking out there this morning, some talk of rain but it sounds very 'iffy'. We do need rain, yards are brownish, flowers are fading and dropping off.

Chet got so disgusted with his Topsy Turvey tomato gadget that he cut the vines off. Never did see even a blossom on it! My potted plant produced a few small and tasteless tomato's and I think he disposed of that, too! He gets out the riding mower and trailer and rides around the yard, looking for downed branches, papers or litter that may have blown onto our yard - he does this at least three times a week. Guess it's the male urge to drive something!

Nothing special going on here - kids must be fine - haven't heard from them! A good sign, I guess. I did speak with Mark briefly - he was getting for a party on the beach on Saturday night.

Picture below is the Waving Flag I'm working on for Mitch. It is ready for quilting but I'm having a senior moment and can't remember how I quilted the other two I made.

First day of Fall is officially Wednesday. So this morning I decided to change fireplace mantel scarves. Pictured below is the stack of quilts and wall hangings, baby and doll quilts, I had to go through to find it.

After a few minutes of searching and telling myself how ashamed I should be of having a mess like this, it showed up. So I did a quick decorating job and fixed up the mantle. I love fall and this will stay on till Thanksgiving time when I'll hunt for the C'mas scarf. Just noticed one of the candles is leaning! Oh well!




Till next week - take care.

This and That

Chet is humming while making himself a sandwich- he's getting ready for the Colts game which begins in about half an hour! He can get so wrapped up in football!

We've enjoyed fall like temperatures this week and managed to get a lot done - usual errands and dentist appts. Thursday I went to the Block of the Month meeting in Rushville. Chet went to a nearby casino with the people across the street - I think he did win a bit this time - he's got 'the look' on his face when I ask!

This week will be busy, too. Quilt Guild meeting Monday, Annual check ups, blood work and the 'girls' will have their picture taken, too.

I had computer problems and my 'guru' spent a couple of hours here this morning and it looks like he was able to fix the problem.

Have no idea how the kids are. I did remember to send birthday cards to Amanda and Paul and will send to J.D. and Jonathan we they come closer. And of course we remember our baby sister Karen who's birthday was on the 10th - we hope she's enjoying her angel wings!

I have managed to sew just a bit - am working on a wall hanging for Mitch. Name of the pattern is "Let It Wave" by Becky and Me - site is at (if interested). http://BeckyandMe.com I have the two strip sets made and hope to get back to it soon.

Time to find something for my lunch - have a good week.

Welcome Fall Temperatures!

We've had a week of cooler temps and it is just wonderful. Leaves aren't turning yet but it won't be long; the beans and corn are drying and will soon be harvested, too. I even cooked a pot of vegetable beef soup this week!

To celebrate Fall I took the Summer nap quilt off my bed and dug out my favorite quilt - Fallen Leaves, made a couple of years ago! I found myself 'reading' the quilt instead of snuggling under it and napping. This is truly a multi-fabric quilt! Picture below.

Close up of a block.

Back of quilt.

I am slowly getting the binding handsewn to the back of a quilt - seems like the quilt is really big but it isn't! Am hoping to finish it up this week and have a picture next week.

We have spent the week trying to get the house and yard in shape - an impossible dream, I think! Haven't chatted with the kids this week - heard Nate & Deanie were going on an extended bike ride and Mark was going to the river (near Cincinnati) and visit (party) with friends.

Till next week - bye now and thanks for stopping in.

Our Wisconsin-Michigan Trip

Hi family and friends - it's always fun to take a trip but it's good to be back in your own home again. Mark (bless his heart) had time off coming so decided to take 'the old folks' for a ride. And it was a long ride but enjoyable. Pictures are of family, friends and scenery!


Milwaukee skyline at sunset.




Chicago skyline - Sears Tower.




Diane's parents, Peter and Sally and Chet and myself. We visited with them on Saturday - lovely weather in the Upper Peninsula!















Ludington Yacht Harbor in Escanaba, Michigan. When we lived there we were just a couple of blocks from the harbor and park.



Chet, Mitch, myself and Paul








Chet, Amanda, myself and Mark.




Amanda was off to college - classes don't begin till next week but she's on the tennis team and team members have to be there two weeks early for practice. We met her and a friend for lunch on our way home on Sunday.

Lovely trip - thanks to Mark for doing all the driving. (FYI - my 16 year old car got 29.? miles per gallon!)

Have a good week.

Rocky Mountain Sampler Block #9

I bit the bullet and made the 9th block for the Rocky Mountain Sampler. Only 3 more to go!



Have a good day!