Happy Father's Day

Greetings from Greensburg, IN - where summer heat, humidity, thunder, lightening, rain and more rain have been bombarding us this past week! I'm ready for the leaves to turn and cooler temps arrive.

We met up with Palmer & Lois, Don & Betsy on Wednesday. Nate acted as our chauffeur - he enjoyed the family and food! Bless his heart for putting up with all the 70 + year old timers! We had a great visit. I've met Betsy before but never had a chance to sit and visit with her - lovely lady!



Yesterday our first quilt show came to an end. . . I must say "we did ourselves proud!" We had 181 exhibits and approximately 300 visitors to the show. I've shown pictures of some of the quilts below. Unfortunately I'm not able to do editing lately and my pictures truly need cropping and color adjustments. Click on them to enlarge them and get a closer look. I must say hosting a quilt show is a big task. If we ever do this again, we need to shake the bushes and hope younger, agile folks fall out to help!

The two quilts below are mine and were in the show. This was a mystery quilt from the Traditional Quilts magazine. A set of instructions came each month, for four months. The Happy Holidays quilt has been finished for several years but never had a hanging sleeve till now - so this year I will hang it in the family room. . . it's long and skinny!

This is my "Fallen Leaves" quilt - I love it! A challenge was issued on http://quiltville.com/ to do a Fungly quilt. Dig out your ugliest fabrics and have a go at it. I pieced the backing for this quilt using fabrics from my solids bin. So - if the front isn't appealing, the back side may be!

We asked visitors to sign a guest book. This book was taken and placed in a "Time Capsule"! Doubt any of us will be around for the opening of the capsule! While acting as a greeter I was cajoled into doing a brief segment for a video to be placed in the capsule. There were three other gals there and none of them agreed to do it - one of the young men doing the video knew me from school. So I put on my "big girl panties" and bit the bullet. These young men were hired by the city to video tape all the different events during the Sesquicentennial celebration. The video will be for sale - I'm going to have to buy a copy to pass on to my heirs! Won't they be thrilled?

We are celebrating Father's Day with Nate, Deanie & Mark - going out to the Bayside Restaurant at Lake Santee. This restaurant just reopened, under new management - and the manager is a friend of Mark's.

Till next week - stay dry and cool.

Neat Cars & Quilts

Decided to do a mid-week post! I have so much to share. The yellow van advertising coffee was one we passed on I-75 when going to meet family in Ohio. The little K-Car was driven by my insurance agent to the hair salon the other day. Peeked inside and it's definitely a two seater!

The following pictures are from the quilt show, Greensburg Colonial Quilters first show. The city is celebrating it's 150th anniversary this week and the show is part of the festivities. 180 entries were submitted and when I left this morning all but 6 had arrived. First three are of accepting the quilts and doing the paperwork and the setting up of the racks. Thankfully we had a few "good men" to assist or we would have been in trouble.

This is just one of the antique quilts and it is lovely - a true "multi-fabric" quilt.

I'm scheduled to work as a "greeter" tomorrow and hope to get pictures of more quilts.

This weekend I will post about our visit with family. Till then, take care and enjoy the quilt show.

Hail To The Graduate

Have to begin this post with pictures of our lovely Granddaughter Amanda who graduated from high school this month. The photos were taken at the graduation and Spring Dance. Her plans are to go on to nursing school in the fall. We had several other graduates this spring - children of nieces - congratulations to them, too!

We woke up to the sound of rain this morning. Our lawns are so green but Chet is delighted to have to mow often! We are to have temps in the high 70's today. No need for the air conditioning to be on yet! (Thank goodness!)


Busy week ahead for me. Our guild is hosting a quilt show on Friday and
Saturday. I've volunteered to work a couple of mornings - first time for me, so I hope the gals I'm working with are well versed! I'm taking two large quilts and several smaller pieces.

The quilt photo I've shown today was made by an 84 year old lady, originally from Minnesota. I took a class from her and posted a couple of pictures from my version two or three posts back. She hand stitched all her applique where I used the blanket stitch on my sewing machine. I don't think I have a photo of my finished quilt - but it is finished!

I had other pictures I wanted to post but haven't figured out how to get them moved into this post. Hope I can do it because I took them off the memory stick in my camera. . . oh, will I ever learn to click slowly!

Family is all fine - at least I've not heard other wise! Short post this week - I'm off to have brunch with a friend. (Chet went back to bed this morning!)

Have a safe week and take care.

Sunny Sunday

Greetings All!
All's well here - we have had a busy week. J.D. came to town and spent some time with us. He visited friends, played basketball and cards, slept alot and ate. I even did some cooking - Hamburger Helper and Minnesota Hot Dish! J.D.'s favorites! Chet's gone to church this morning with his buddy Paul. Paul called and said he was running late, I asked him if he was having a bad hair day - poor guy is almost as bald as Chet! Nate has been laid off work for four weeks now but he's helping a friend at the Harley shop and is in "hog heaven". Mark's plant is closing for two weeks (without pay) in July - this is rough to take after he took a pay cut a month or so ago. Things are rough all over - for everyone. Mark left for Michigan Thursday after work, to go to Tori's high school graduation. He went early to help set up for the big celebration on Saturday afternoon. He rode his motorcycle and said there were 40 to 50 deer carcasses along the highways. He said seeing them was an inspiration to drive very carefully and he said he was very cold, too. He is heading back this morning - wants to take in some sun on the beach at the Lake! No word from the out-of-state kids!

I've been digging in the fabric stash again. Was surfing and saw a really neat Log Cabin quilt made using only plaid fabrics - so of course I had to give it a try, too. Each morning this week, I've been cutting and sewing and now have a total of 55 blocks. I was planning to do 100 blocks - but as I was pressing them this morning I noticed my center square is a rectangle! Can't imagine how that happened. So I'm ending it with the 55 blocks and will make just a small throw. The pictures below are a stack of strips and some of the blocks.

The second picture is the blocks laid out but not sewn together yet - blocks are rectangular, so have to use them in this layout. Alas and Alack! What's a quilter to do when she goofs! Ho Hum, eh?

Tomorrow our quilt guild meets - we are hosting a quilt show during the 150th anniversary of Greensburg and final plans should be made tomorrow. Other than that, it looks like a quiet week ahead.

Till next week - take care and be well.

Trial Run

These are photos from my Folk Art Appliqué quilt. Okay – and now I’m going to see if I can add it to my blog! Wish me luck!

Oh – it’s Microsoft Live Writer – downloaded at no cost – isn't that special? This software was recommended by a gal in an online Yahoo Group. It took quite a while for it to get to my blog - patience is a virtue - virtue is a grace - Grace is a little girl who wouldn't wash her face. And I'll leave you with those words of wisdom!

Have a good day!

More This & That

Up until yesterday afternoon we've had a quiet week. The doorbell rang, I peeked out through the drapes and saw an ambulance in my driveway. My first thought was "oh they've got the wrong address - same house number on Ryle Center and our house on Ryle Drive confuses emergency and delivery people! The lady on Ryle Center is sickly and in hospital often! Anyway, went to the door and two guys standing there - wanted to know if they could park in our driveway for a short time; they said they wanted to go to the graduation party two doors up the street. Oh my goodness - we were invited to that party, too, but I thought it was today! I peeked out further - cars lined the street on both sides, other neighbors driveways were full of cars. There was a big white tent on their front yard and people mulling around. This is a ' no parking on the street' area - not a law, just neighbors considerate of each other! The mailman struggled to get through and it was impossible for him to get to the mailboxes without getting out of his truck! But he's a good natured man and doubt it was a problem for him. (Second photo taken through screen.) It just doesn't happen that often in our addition. Photos below show the traffic jam! So today I must fix up her card and deliver it to the graduate.

Speaking of graduates - there are four in our family this year. Congratulations to each of you and good luck! And congratulations to our niece and her husband on the birth of their son - I'm wondering how big sister is accepting him. . . having flashbacks here when we brought home a new baby!

Weather wise - we've had a lot of rain. The field out back is finally planted and corn is peeking through the soil. Our neighbor tilled up a small area and planted a few things - hopefully his tomatoes will be plentiful! (Hint - Hint).

The kids - Nate and Deanie are on a "bike run" this weekend. Thousands of bikers are in Indianapolis on a fund raiser for Riley Children's Hospital. The run is quite a distance and ends up at the Indianapolis Speed Way. Nate will be so thrilled to have done that! Nate has been laid off work for three weeks now. We haven't seen him since the first of the month so imagine he's keeping busy - mainly biking, I suspect! JD has been in Bloomington and planning to come and spend some time here in town. He will be staying with us and says he needs some home cooking and I suspect he needs coddling, too! Nothing new from the out of state kids. Mark has popped in a couple of times this week. He is swamped at work.

I'm so disappointed that Susan Boyle didn't win the British Talent Contest - losing to 'street dancers' - I say some people's taste is only in their mouth!

My quilt photo today is a pattern from http://quiltville.com/ It is Bricks and Stepping Stones. A fun, quick cut and easy sew. I used a line of fabrics from http://connectingthreads.com/. The fabric feels like silk; the colors are a bit drab compared to what I've been using the past few months. But more stash is busted and that's a good thing! There are sunspots on the quilt - in photo only!

This year Greensburg is celebrating 150 year anniversary. Our quilt guild is hosting a show at the Baptist Church. The dates are June 18 and June 19. I signed up to accept entries for the show and be a greeter! Those associated with Decatur County may show quilts. We have a good selection of antique quilts. It should be an interesting show and hope it's successful! This is my first show to be involved with. Nothing new in the quilt making area - guess I need a rest!

Till next time - take care and stay well.

This & That

Not a lot to say about the past week! The usual running errands and so forth. Weather did get up into the low 80's and I don't think I'm ready for that yet. We did have a lot of rain again - it sure is green around here!
Last Sunday afternoon I went with a friend to a birthday party! I didn't know the fella, just went along for the ride. Did have a tasty piece of chocolate b'day cake and glass of ice tea. The ride was nice - I'd not been in this area before!
I did a bit of sewing this week - finished a purse but not happy with it! Can pitch that pattern! I also finished piecing the maple leaves table topper and have to hunt up some fabric for the borders and bindings.
We spent a few hours this afternoon with Mark, Tia & Tori and numerous other friends of his. Tia and Tori, and a friend named Jillian, arrived from Michigan on Friday late afternoon. They attended commencement ceremonies at North Decatur High School - this was Tori's class and they've kept in touch with many friends here. Tia had a party on Friday night at Mark's - a bonfire with about 15 friends there. Both girls have grown into such neat young ladies.

Tori will graduate on June 3rd, work this summer and start college classes in fall. Tia is finishing her sophomore year. They plan another visit here sometime during the summer. Tia in top photo and Tori in lower photo.



And this is Mark relaxing. We enjoy the pontoon boat. There is always a nice breeze on the lake.



Just had to snap a picture of the dog wearing a life jacket!


Last picture is just one of the beautiful homes on Lake Santee!


Must tell you about a movie - if you run across Taking Charlie - take time to see it. Very moving. (Keep a box of tissues nearby.) Another good movie that played a while ago - both on HBO - is August Rush. I may have to revise my favorite movies list - move down Dirty Dancing and Ferris Buehler's Day Off and put the other two on top!

Till next week - stay well and take care . . . . bye now