I Spy

I am making a baby quilt for our nephew's expected adoption in November. They are having a boy and are so thrilled. This quilt is so much fun to make. First, I collected conversation prints for over two years, all children's prints. Then cut the 6" pieces into hexigons 1st picture. Then cut and sew triangles to 2 of the sides of the hexigons. The next step is to sew them into rows. Then the rows are sewn together, stars form from the red triangles. This is as far as I've gotten, but I will post another picture soon of the top. There are so many different things for a toddler to FIND in the quilt that as they get a little older it makes it a fun game too. I think I will make more than one of these as last week at a women's meeting at church, we had a give and take table and someone had aKeepsake Quilting packet of children's conversation squares. I thought they were put there just for me so Hello quilt 2.

We had a glorious day weatherwise, yesterday and HRH got a lot of yard work done. Our front yard is almost finished. Today, however it is raining cats and dogs. So a good book and quilting after church is in order.

Why these are in the wrong order, I don't know, but I couldn't seem to get them changed. You get the picture though.

Day of Service

On Sept 11, we had a work day for the local food bank. They use Washington State's test farm to grow vegetables and fruit for the food cupboard. We joined 75 or more people to pull, wash and sort carrots, mulch blueberries and weed other plots. HRH and I were assigned to work in the blueberry patch pulling mulch from the trailer behind the tractor and putting it around the plants. HRH had his hand up so fast when they asked for a tractor driver, I couldn't believe it. It had to be the easiest job assigned. I had to give him a hard time about it. He said his neck hurt fro turning and looking around and his backside from sitting in the cushioned seat. The rest of the crew were wielding rakes and shovels all day. I didn't have much sympathy. It was a fun day and I met a couple of quilters there, so the conversation was nice too. It was nice to give to others and do service that we know was appreciated and will be as folks needing food get those nice fresh veggies.

block of the month

These are a couple of the blocks for a block of the month I am doing at a local shop. It's called a $5.00 quilt, but for the life of me, I can't see why. You know the concept of $5.00 quilts, buy the first pattern and fabric for $5.00, then bring it back the next month and you get the next one free, etc. This one is different because at the beginning, we had to buy all the background and focus fabrics, the dark green and center in the above photo, at the beginning. This was presented in a box with a handle and a notebook with the finished quilt on the cover, along with a bill for over $150.00 or more, I can't remember the exact amount. I loved the quilt and have been keeping up with my investment each month. Most months we make two blocks or more and we were able to choose from 3 colorways. I chose Summer, but there was Americana and Autumn as well. Funny thing is that they never ask to see anyone's blocks so I guess we never get charged 5.00 after all. It's a good thing after that initial investment. I really don't think I will do next year as I think having one of 350 identical quilts is not my thing. I would rather make an original. Fun though while it lasts.

Off to college

We have been helping our grandson, Talon get ready for college and his first apartment. He is going to play baseball for a small college, north of here and they don't have campus housing. He was frantically looking for a place to room or room mates so he could afford to make it, and his coach put three players together and found an apartment for them. NONE of them had anything to get started living independently so I put out the word and got to work. I gave him my day bed from the guest room, ( no guests for a while) then decided I really wanted a new couch, so we gave him that, my neighbor had a kitchen table and lots of towels, kitchen things, etc. Between all of the garage sales and shopping and raiding my pantry storage, we got him settled. I didn't realize how extensive my food storage was until I started filling boxes for him. I don't think he will starve at least. When I left him, I slipped him some cash, quite a little in fact and we were on our way home, a two hour drive with a bouncy, noisy empty utility trailer. As we were driving, HRH said, I slipped him a little cash. I said, so did I. We both gave him the same amount, not knowing the other was doing the same. Yep, he'll do ok. He is a good money manager. It sure felt good to be able to have him here for a week and get to help him move. He is from Montana and we usually don't get to see him more than once a year. Now that he is closer, we will see more of him. No pictures! I got busy and the only ones I took were of the guys packing the utility trailer and pickup and they look like the Clampet's movin' out west. We didn't have a rocking chair on top like granny, only a bike!