What's the pouch for?

Grandpa didn't know his scooter was equipped with cup holders. Zak showed him.

A Chapter Ends

I've said goodbye to my part time job in town. I started there almost four years ago. It was a new experience for me (no plastic bottles! no horses!). And though this is a small town, everyone there was a stranger to me, and I to them. What a difference a few years can make.

Those strangers became dear friends. Many light moments and laughs were shared. Many difficult times were discussed and tears were shed (okay, most of the tears were mine - look at me funny and I cry - those other two are SO strong).

Those strangers became an inspiration. I learned so much more than my job. They taught me about faith, perseverance, selflessness, and "rolling with the punches". About caring, and kindness, and acceptance.

I know this isn't goodbye forever. They will always be my friends. But I will really miss our twice weekly contact. The catch-up talks at the start of the day. The odd story in the middle of the day. The talk of future plans at the end of the day.

Though I couldn't have known it when I took the job, I am so thankful now that I did, and for the friends that came of it.

Friend. Isn't that warm, pleasant, rich, comforting word? One of my favorites.

Splashes of Red

Actually, I like Red Strokes better, but Garth had it first.

I need to find a place to hang my quilts for pictures. Laying them on the bed and then standing on the top step of a stool and reaching as far over the quilt and as close the ceiling as my arm can get and then snapping the picture, after waiting for the camera to focus, isn't the best way. At least it'll be a soft landing if I lose my balance.

This is the first time I've done an inner border this narrow. I like the way it looks.

I have no clue how to quilt this one. Or what color thread to use.

Friends again?

There has been a tentative reconciliation. Some regrets expressed. Some promises made. They've been made before (and broken) but I'm all for second (third, fourth . . . ) chances.



Part of the improvement is due to a renewed relationship with this old friend.



I'll continue to patronize the Dairy Queen in town. It's important to support the local businesses. Can't wait 'til they get the new Midnight Truffle Blizzard.

On Point BOM Center Block

All this fabric needs to be cut
into all these pieces (I think it's 72 pieces) for ONE block.

Fasten your seat belt . . .

. . . . this baby really moves! 1600 stitches per minute. Twice as fast as my regular machine. It's funny how it's so different using it to piece as oppposed to quilting. Just a bit more practice on simpler seams and I'll be ready to start in on the Trip Around the World. We should start flying again instead of drifting.

Fun at the Children's Museum

We discovered a new Children's Museum. This one is new and is still under construction so the admission price was CHEAP. Most of it was done, though, and it should be complete in June.

Caycee, Zak, and in the background, Grandpa and Cooper.

This play set was just the right size for the 2 and under crowd.

This "sandbox" was all beans.

There were paints, markers, crayons, chalk, paper, glue . . . . and aprons for the painters. Unfortunately, the apron didn't do anything to protect Caycee's mouth. Mmmmm, paint.

I did it! I cut the paper!

Zak's hands

Awwww . . . look at the babies!

What color is Happy?

We've all known what it's like to feel blue. Not necessarily for any reason. Everyone we care about is, if not on top of the world, at least doing pretty good and handling what has come their way. We have lots for which to be thankful. Still. Blue.

And, of course, jealousy is green. A big snarly cat with big green eyes and a big green collar.
MIAAAOOOUUUU (hear: Snarly Meow)

Anger. . . Red. (but lot's of cleaning gets done and the red fades)

Grief, if there's lots of anger too, is black. Deep, deep, unrelenting black. A big, deep void.

Grief, without the anger, I think of as grey. A subtle grey wash over everything. Even though you celebrate the person's life and know they have made their home with our Lord. Still. Grey.

So, what color is happiness? Contentment? Bliss?

The sewing is sew-sew lately

First: My Trip Around the World started off pretty fast. The wind was in my face, my short hair was blown back, my eyes were watering from the speed. Now it seems like I'm traveling in a sailboat and there isn't a whisper of a wind. Every couple seams I find a seam that needs to be ripped out. I think my machine is ill. It's heading to the doc tomorrow. I cleaned it up so nobody could see how dusty I let it get. I packed up the cords & put the cover on. I carried it to the stairs and then remembered the first thing I will be asked is "Did you change the needle?" GRRR. Open it up, unpack the cords, plug it all in, change the needle. Sew a bit - nope, still ill. Packed it all up again.

Second: I can't be without a sewing machine (if they need to admit the one above instead of doing out-patient surgery) so I finished the quilt I had on the frame and decided to take that machine off the frame and use it for piecing. Figured I'd get to know the machine better that way and I could work on projects while my regular piecing machine is healing. Got it off the frame and set up and ready to go. Oops, it has a darning foot on it for free motion quilting. Did I get regular feet with this machine? Don't remember. Can't find any. I think I need to buy a regular foot when I drop off the other machine. Stalled again.

Visit with Mom

I had a nice visit with Mom today. Seems like we laughed a lot but now I couldn't begin to tell you what about. I made out on the book exchange . . . I didn't bring any, but Mom had two for me. She commented on the arrangement that she got on Easter from Marie. It's really pretty. But what is the big thing???? Is it a flower? Is it real? Is it dried?

Crafty Karen

I have such a smart niece. She knows what's important in life: God, family, friends, and fabric. On the fabric end of that, she knows how to shop for it and then how to lay it out and take an awesome photo of it all.

Karen's Crafty World

Finally, "no" means "yes"

. . . now that it's too late to do me any good. Growing up, if you asked mom for permission more than once the answer was, "No means No. It doesn't mean Yes and it doesn't mean Maybe. No means No." It's not that I was pestering or anything but, hey, things could change.

Cooper, like any coming 2-year-old, has learned the word "NO" and he does mean "NO" except sometimes he says no-ooo-ooo. And no-oo-ooo means YES!

"Do you want to go outside for a ride on the Scooter?"

"no-ooo-ooo"

"Do you want a cookie?"

"no-ooo-ooo"

GO AWAY!

Did I mention Dairy Queen in our little town is open for the season?

And a certain someone gives me cheesecake (it was SOOOO good) and the green Dots that she doesn't like (go figure).

All tidied up

I'm always getting bright ideas. Well, I think they are bright. Then I try to do them and they don't quite work out the way I pictured them. This one, however, worked! My sewing area in the basement

(I am tired of calling it "my sewing area" and think I will call it a studio soon (did you see my nose lift a bit when I said that?) 'cause it sounds better . . . more like a creative, wonderful place to spend my time . . . and I can call it whatever I want . . . it's mine)

was getting pretty messy. I cleaned it up last night

(working off a mad - not that I had any REAL reason to be mad . . . just cranky)

vacuumed the floor, and put all the odds and ends away. It looks pretty good. But you could see all the baby stuff that I have stored under the quilt frame. It's a large empty space so it's perfect for storing that stuff until I need to pull it out again for the next two grandkids :) happy dance :) this summer. But it looks messy. So, I thought, how about hanging some fabric and curtain it off. Had to go to the quilt shop

(poor me)

and found some $2/yard fabric. A fold, a seam, and a few velcro pieces and ta-dah! it worked! I like it!

And since the camera was out, here's a pic of my latest quilting project.

Per request

I posted this pic a few days ago when it felt like Spring was here to stay. Hah!

Comment left by Karen:

"....very cool....you'll have to get a pic of them after it snows tomorrow...wwwwaaahhhhh"

So I ventured out in the cold this morning to get an updated picture of our magnolia buds. I sure hope they make it.

It was wet and messy out there but it sure was pretty . . .



Poor little robin. Can't figure what happened to his world.

2009 Rainbow Quilt Block Swap

This is my block for the 2009 Rainbow Quilt Block Swap hosted by Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

No, not that block. This block.
And here's a close-up of the fabric. (Jane, does it 'read' solid enough?)

Soon

See this tree?


It's covered with these: Should be a sight to see in a few days, covered in huge pink flowers.

Fun in the Sun

This looks like a really inventive way to use your toy that doesn't work anymore. A real conversation starter. Cute picnic place and weedend party spot. But I hope a warning is issued with the invitation to "spend an afternoon on my cabin cruiser"!

Baby shoes are so cute

Favorite Grandkid thing to do

It seems no matter which of the grandkids is here, one of their favorite things to do is to look at the screen saver slide show of the kids that are not here. Zak calls out the names. Caycee grins. Cooper claps.

And the newest baby is "looking" too. (Just look at that cute little belly poking out just a weeeee bit.)