Lady of the Cloth

What a beauty!

2011-07-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

We met this lovely lady and her family when we were at Muckross House, interpretive farm in Ireland. She had just fed her babies and had a quick snack. Doesn't she look pleased with herself?

We had a nice 4th of July holiday weekend at home. I was able to take a private class with a friend who teaches a fractured flowers class. She hadn't taught this one for a while and needed a dry run before she had a big class of ladies. I got my top finished and when I get it bordered, quilted and bound, I will show it to you. The rest of the weekend was just relaxing (well, not the yard work part).

Our Maggie (standard poodle child) was terrified of the fireworks and our neighbors were going non-stop for 6 days before and on the 4th. I had to go to the vet and get her a tranquilizer to get her through. She would tremble and her heart just pounded and eyes were so frightened. I felt so bad for her. We live in a state where all fireworks are legal and people go all out. One neighbor was bragging that they spent $10,000.00 this year. I can't believe the waste when so many are having such a hard time. Well, I had better climb off my soapbox now.

Yesterday was a work around the house day and I had a lot of paint touch up to do after having new baseboards installed. Finding the paint we used was the big problem. I used the wrong paint on one wall and couldn't get it wiped off. I never did find the right paint so will have to repaint the entire wall. AAARRRGGG! For now, it is hidden behind a piece of furniture, but I have to remember if I decide to move things around.

Maggie and I are off to run errands and get back home so we can perhaps go for a walk before the heat sets in. It is supposed to be cooler today, so I didn't have to get going too early, however.

Make it a good day! Carline

Patriotic weekend

2011-06-27T07:31:00.001-07:00

Can hear the music I'm sure if you try real hard you can.

Saturday night we went to a concert by the Mormon Ensign symphony/choir. It was a satellite choir like the tabernacle choir, but not so famous and was held at the high school near us. There were 120 voices and a 60 piece orchestra. Anyway, the theme was patriotism and they sang songs that just made one weep, especially when the military posted the colors. Then about half way through the concert, they had each branch of the military march down two isles carrying the American flag and the flag representing their branch while the choir sang their anthem. Their was one female and one male of each branch and a big screen showed the emblem.

Some of the songs were old folk songs like, Cindy Cindy and Shenandoah and really brought back memories of learning those songs in primary school. Then they sang you're a Grand Old Flag and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. This song was sung at Robert Kennedy's memorial service. Not that I am showing my age or anything like that. It was one of the nicest concerts we've been to in a long time.

It got us pumped for the 4th of July and renewed our sense of patriotism and made us appreciate all the more what a great country we live in, despite all the woes we are going through now.

blocks for GD quilt

2011-06-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

I made a pact with myself that I would give up pleasure reading and quilting for the summer and concentrate on the yard work (which I do not enjoy at all). Well, I have been doing pretty well. I haven't had my nose in a novel since the last Jennifer Chiaverini book, The Union Quilter. It was not her best book by a long shot and I had to plow though to get finished, unlike others where I couldn't put it down. Anyway, long story made short, I started a new quilt last week.(so much for deals made with myself). My 13 year old granddaughter still sleeps with her quilt I made when she was born and it is pretty raggedy.

I am making her a lap quilt in a size more appropriate to her age. She wanted blue and I had purchased a kit from Connecting Threads, so I think this will be the one. I've made 10 blocks so far and I am not pleased with the amount of brown in it, so I'm not too sure what I will do. I'll go ahead and finish it and see how I feel at that point. It may grow on me, I don't know. The directions have you make those large corner triangles out of 1/2 sq triangles and squares. Why on earth didn't they just make a large triangle. I have it already cut out so can't change, but what a waste of time.

I also ordered some red fat quarters for another quilt I am planning and was not pleased with the quality of the fabric and decided since they were red, I would prewash them. Some came out so bleached out that they look peach colored. I don't think I will be able to use any of the collection. I should have sent them back, but had put them aside for too long before I discovered the problem. I used to get things all the time from them and was pleased, I hope this is an isolated problem, not a trend. How about you, have you ordered from them and what was the outcome?

Till later, Carline

Quilt patterns everywhere

2011-06-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

When we visited St. Patrick's cathedral in Dublin, I was pleased to see these tiles on the floor. At this point, we had discovered that my camera wasn't working, so all pictures were taken with the I-Pad. It takes great pictures outside, but not so good indoors.

I love the colors and variety here.

Another thing I was so mistaken about was that Ireland was mostly Catholic and that St. Patrick's is a Catholic cathedral. NOT! It is Angelical and that is also the main religion in the country. I guess an old dog can learn!

Yesterday, I went to the chiropractor and got my "sitting in a plane" body adjusted. I have been so miserable and today it seems much better, Yey.

I cut out a quilt for my granddaughter and got some of the 1/2 square triangles sewn last night. There are 240 of them to do, so it will take a while.

Take care and make it a good day.

Carline

Land of Castles and rock walls

2011-06-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Ireland. I have wanted to go there for so many years, I can't count them. My great grandmother was born there and for years I have had this trip in my bucket list. I discovered what county, Tipperary, she was from and convinced my husband that he could drive a right side drive car on the left side of the road, and off we went.

I will have to admit that the driving thing was pretty nerve wracking to say the least. I have never seen such narrow roads and they expect more than one car at a time on them! We survived, but barely.

We flew to Dublin and drove clockwise from there around as far as we could, then dipped inward to the counties that are inland. We had planned on going up to Donegal to visit Micki, but time got away from us and we weren't able to make it. Maybe next time. I live on the Northwest part of the US and I have to say that the weather and terrain was pretty much like home, rain and all (without the gale force winds). We didn't get very good weather but didn't let that spoil our visit. We just hunkered down, bought hats and forged ahead.

I think there is a castle about every mile or so and we just loved exploring them. I will post more pictures later as I sort things out. Right now, I'm trying to get the house in order from all the unpacking and having my son and grandson housesit, but that's another story.

I have a baby quilt that I had tried to finish before I left and the baby is due in 20 days so I'm going to spend some time doing that today. It is another I spy quilt and I have to say, after this, I never want to do another one. It turned out ok and is easy, but I'm tired of it after making two in 6 months. They are pretty busy.

I hope to be better about my blog going forward, I have been awful about keeping up.

Carline

2011-04-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

A couple of friends and I went to the farm store and got baby chicks. They are so cute and one day will supply us with lovely eggs. Now they are under a heat lamp in the garage. I got a variety of 6 and the Rhode Island red on will be called Luci, after Lucille Ball, the yellow one, I think will be Greta Garbo, the black ones, well, I'm stumped. They are (1)Barred Rock, (2)Silver laced Wyandott, both are black and white speckled. The other one is just plain black. Anyone out there care to help me name them?

We had chickens that came with the house when we bought it 6 years ago and I just loved collecting the eggs every morning. It was like Easter as a kid, all over again! When we got Maggie, we had three left and thought the dog would probably eat them, so gave them to a neighbor. Well, Maggie is a gentle soul and minds so well that all we have to say is NO to her and she will leave them alone, so we are in the egg business again so to speak. I bake a lot and the eggs are so much nicer than store bought ones.

New Chicks in the neighborhood

2011-04-15T08:46:00.001-07:00

Easing into the 21st century

2011-04-06T08:18:00.001-07:00

Our son visited and ushered me into the 21st century with my phone and computers. He hooked up my wireless network that I didn't realize I had. I knew we got the router, but thought it wasn't hooked up right because of course, it wasn't working for me. He also got my phone and car talking to each other and the blue tooth working, as well as getting my phone camera and my Mac on speaking terms. I wish he lived closer as I need him around about one day a week at least. . So even though things are working, I didn't get them posted correctly. I finally got the beach pictures uploaded in the last post, even though I had intended them to be in this one. Is there any hope for me? Don't answer that! I will whow the lovely sea food dinner we had though.

This son is in the Air Force and is stationed in Florida, soon to be going to So. Korea for a year. His family will have to stay in FL. He has been in for 22 years so far? He had to be at the airport this morning at 5:00 A.M. for his trip home. We will sure miss him.

We ate meals out a lot this week as we wanted to show Jeff a few of our favorite restaurants. Rib City was the favorite! I have never liked ribs because of eating with my fingers, but I make an exception for this one! YUM!

Beautiful day at the coast.

2011-03-11T10:39:00.000-08:00

Imagine the lovely pictures of our trip to the coast last weekend. The computer keeps saying that I don't have enough power and to plug it into the usb port. DUH! That is where it is plugged into.We went with our friends and stayed at a great place. We were just a short walk to the beach and could see and hear the surf from our rooms. The four of us had two meals in our rooms, I cooked breakfast one day, Peggy cooked the dinner the following day and the rest of the time we ate out. We went to the Maritime museum and visited an old lighthouse ship and the guys visited a coastguard ship. I wasn't too interested in that. Later in the evening we played a card game called Malice and Spite. It was fun and I think I need to pick up one for us. We topped in off with visits to two quilt shops. I picked up a few 1/3 yard pieces for projects I am collecting fabric for. All in all, a great weekend for everyone. My son watched Maggie and Heidi and they were glad to see us home and were no worse for the wear.

2011-02-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

This was my Saturday to work so not much fun going on. Yesterday I cut out 4 pillowcases I am going to make for nieces and nephews. I like to send them things for no reason or season. I think they like getting little treats "out of the blue". I'm also cutting 1.5" squares from scraps that will get used in little 9 patches for my leader/ender project. I have the entire kitchen island covered with fabric, what a mess! I had to leave it there and go to work too, and I'm too beat tonight to do anything about it. Maybe tomorrow after church. Funny thing, messes don't go away, they always wait patiently for you, don't they?

HRH "cooked" dinner tonight, we had pizza. That's the only way he "cooks". Papa Murphy pizza to bake at home. I wasn't complaining I was too tired to fix anything at all, and I love the chicken and artichoke on thin crust, Yummy. In fact, I sat down in the recliner to read the mail and fell asleep while waiting for him to go get the pizza. For some reason, unknown to me, I haven't been sleeping very well at night so I'm tired earlier than usual.

I found this little joke and thought it was cute. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

A Montana senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down I-90, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a Montana State Trooper, blue lights flashing and siren blaring.
He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing? I'm too old for this!" and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a new reason for speeding--a reason I've never before heard -- I'll let you go."

The old gentleman then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with a Montana State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her back.

"Have a good day, Sir," replied the trooper.

Lost in nothingness

2011-02-08T07:52:00.001-08:00

I have been such a bad blogger lately, I don't know why, but I have had a bit of the blahs. I'm not sick, just no motivation at all. Yesterday before going to work, I cut out a bunch of hexagons to make another I Spy baby quilt. I had just barely enough 6" children's conversation prints to make the 63 hexies I needed. I'm sure if I looked in the closet I would find plenty of yardage that would work, but I wanted to have each one different, so this works. I figure if I just make myself do something in the quilty department, my mojo will return.

Yesterday I got in the car to go to work and everything that was in the glove box and console was scattered all over the car. I had been robbed! Someone broke into my car and went through everything. I don't keep much of value in my car, but I did have a coin purse with about $15.00-$20.00 of quarters in there. Of course, they aren't there anymore. What a mess! I was pleased to see that the registration and insurance papers were not touched. I have keyless entry and sometimes when you walk past the car with keys on you, it beeps and the door unlocks. I think that is what happened when HRH came home from work the night before, because I am always careful about locking my car! So... I have the police coming this morning to make the report. Doesn't it just fry you that there is always someone out there who would take rather than work for what they want! Aarrgg!

What I have been doing

2010-12-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

I haven't felt too creative lately so I have been making cushions to take to the animal shelter. I was given some used drapes by someone who thought I could use the fabric for quilts, but I wasn't too sure of the content and frankly, didn't really like it much. The dark fabric was the lining and was pretty faded, but when I used the back, it was fine. HRH had found a few, well, many, bags of fiber fill in the garage that someone also gave me to use in quilts thinking it was batting. I had plenty of that and fabric bits that I trim and put in an old crock until I get enough I use them for dog beds too. So I accomplished a few things, cleaned up things I don't need. made HRH happy to get the stuff out of the garage and I'm sure the pets at the shelter will be happy and at 18 degrees F today perhaps a little warmer.

We are about as boring as a cabbage most of the time and New Year's Eve is one where we really shine in the boring department. We will probably watch movies and maybe see the new year in, probably not. I figure it won't look much different the next day. I hope it has been a good year for you and that 2011 will be even better.

Happy New Year

Carline

One more in the can..so to speak

2010-12-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. Ours...well, it was just the two of us and we only heard from one of our three sons which was rather disappointing but I have to suck it up and go on. We had a nice ham dinner and watched Marley and Me and both HRH and I cried like babies at the ending. I read the book, but forgot how sad it was and Maggie laying with her head on my lap, didn't help. It was nice to have a quiet day actually. No mad dash to clean and get ready for a big dinner or get the packages wrapped. We just rested, read and watched Christmas movies after Marley.

Speaking of HRH, he got me a new Droid phone for Christmas and I am having quite a time even making a phone call. Steep learning curve. I have always said "I don't want to do anything with my phone but make or take calls" Someone wasn't listening! I haven't had my number switched yet so until tomorrow, I can still use my old one. I will make a trip in to the Verizon store then and hopefully have the nice young man teach me how to use this and perhaps I can even talk them into showing me how to hook up my built in blue tooth in my car. To be helpful, hubby had the store load all of his 233 phone numbers into my phone. I don't want his choice of numbers and will have the nice man at the store remove them too. I'm not quite sure why he thought that would be helpful to me. Oh Well. I did find out how to text so my grandson and I can communicate!

Truth be known, I'd much rather use my time learning a new quilting technique.

I'm not setting resolutions this year but will have a few goals to shoot for. How about you?

Baby gift finished

2010-12-19T20:28:00.000-08:00

I finally finished an afghan I have been working on for a long while. I like to have something to do with my hands when I'm sitting watching TV. This is a checkerboard pattern and made with the softest of yarns. A young mom at church had a new baby and had also lost her mom this past year so I wanted to do something special for her and didn't have the time to make a quilt. I hope she likes it. I took it to her and she wanted to wait until Christmas to open it. A lady at the Assisted Living Facility where I used to work showed me this pattern, just alternate 5 stitches of knit, and 5 purls by 5 rows, then purl on the knit and knit on the purl for 5 more rows. Really fast and you can make any number of rows if you want the checkerboards a little bigger. I don't knit very often so like something simple. I have a book of knit stitches that shows squares of each pattern, I think they are 18" finished. Then you sew or knit them together to make a sampler quilt of sorts. I may tackle this in the new year, but I'm not sure yet.

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy your families if they are close. Ours are not so we are by ourselves on Christmas. We are having a couple of orphans (neighbors) over for Christmas Eve for dinner and that is about it for the celebrating.

Baking like a mad women

2010-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

I have been baking for days and the kitchen looks like it too...what a mess! I hope to finish up today and get my cookie plates made up for friends and neighbors. I love to bake and at this time of year I have a good reason. Usually I just bake and HRH eats it or I share with an elderly couple I know, this time the sharing goes a bit farther.

I made this pie for a Christmas party at church and it went like wildfire. I even saw an older man using a spoon to get the last of it out of the pan and it was just scraps. I love coconut cream pie, just like my dad did and because I am trying to lose weight (down 30 pounds), I didn't do anything but taste the filling when I was making it.

I have made about 5 or 6 batches of cookies which include: chocolate crinkles, thumbprint cookies with raspberry jam from our garden. (Actually only the raspberries are from the garden, I only wish I could go out and pick jars of jam already made). I also made butterscotch pecan cookies which I still have to frost, maple coconut bars and some little fussy ones dipped in chocolate and chopped nuts. In the middle of all this HRH wanted to make something for his company potluck, he wanted baked beans, so I coached him and he made the biggest pot of baked beans I have ever seen and only about half of them fit in my large crockpot. I found beans splashed everywhere, even on my toaster oven which is beside the stove. I'm glad he doesn't cook but once a year, my kitchen would never make it out in one piece.

All in all, it's been fun but I will be glad to get the kitchen back in some kind of order.

I hope you are all having fun and not too stressed out preparing for Christmas. Enjoy and remember the reason for the season.

Latest project

2010-12-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

This has been a year long project with a local quilt shop, Quilting Delights. We made several blocks per month and the large center medallion, called dream catcher was a single month block. The fabrics were Hoffman Batiks although they don't show well in this picture. The quilt is 107" sq. and I had to wait until I had company to get help taking a picture and as you can see, it isn't a very good one. There was no place to lay it out and it was too big for us to hold up high enough. I didn't notice the bottom corner until I uploaded and saw it...too late to retake. Oh Well, you can see enough. I am glad to say that the top is finished and I will have it machine quilted after the holidays. I want custom work done and I know it won't be cheap! I worked too hard on it to use a panto as there are lots of beige background that will lend itself to some nice feathers or something of the sort. I got the name of a good machine quilter from my bosses wife as I have seen the work of a few wall hangings in the clinic. I promise to get a better picture when it is finished.

The kick off

2010-12-05T20:55:00.002-08:00

I kicked off the Christmas season with an ornament exchange party that I was invited to. We were all asked to bring a snack food and a wrapped ornament. We drew numbers and opened one at a time. After the first one was opened, we could either open another one when our number came up or steal one of the others that had already been opened. I brought the silliest glass cow that had a tutu on made of soft marabou feathers. We all got a laugh out of that and it was quite a popular "steal" item. We had a lot of fun and I didn't eat too much. I'm still losing weight even with Thanksgiving.

This weekend was a weekend of must do's I finished my giant block of the month quilt top and got the binding done, I altered a skirt and pair of pants to keep up with my aforementioned weight loss, I sewed down the binding on a friend's quilt since she hates to do that and I finished a fleece quilt for another friend who was struggling with it on an ancient machine. THEN, I did my least favorite thing to do and that is yard work. I trimmed 24 roses, raked leaves and put down 8 garden wagon loads of bark. I was one sore puppy this morning and noticed a few muscles I wasn't aware that I had (and wish I didn't at this point). I actually worked for 3 hours without stopping and felt like I really accomplished something. Back to work tomorrow so I can rest!

The Saturday highlight was the televised football game between the University of Oregon and Oregon State. I went to OSU, but lived in Eugene where the U of O is for most of my life,and our son went to the U of O. So it was a great game for both HRH and me. I always root for OSU, but U of O had a chance at the championship so I was kind of glad they won. (don't tell hubby though).

I hope all of you are gearing up but still leaving room to enjoy Christmas and to remember why we celebrate. Slow down and enjoy it.

2010-11-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

Remember when your skin was too tight to do anything fun with?

Isn't this a hoot. I got this card and many others for my birthday this week. I got to celebrate not only my birthday, but Thanksgiving as well. When I was a kid I usually didn't have a birthday cake, but someone would stick candles in a pumpkin pie and call it good. I DID have a wonderful bakery cake on my 10th birthday and I remember a sheet cake with a small doll standing in the top left corner. I have remembered that cake for many years. I also had a 40th cake. This year since I am on weight watchers, I was glad for no cake. HRH did get me a wonderful new large cutting mat though and I love it. I had my old one on the kitchen island and he just slipped the new one over it and waited for me to notice. What I did notice right away was the smell. It had a slight skunky smell and I looked everywhere to see if that darned cat had brought a skunk in. It really wasn't strong enough for that so I kept looking, then I noticed markings on the mat that my old one didn't have and sure enough, that was the smell. I remember now that my old one (15 plus years old) smelled funny when I got it. I have to be glad that I made that one last so long. It had started cracking on the edges and even gorilla glue didn't work and the lines were non existent in places.

My co-workers also gave me lovely gifts, a plant I had been admiring on our walks and hand and foot cream, flavored olive oil for dipping and a plate of yummy brownies that I had a bite of and shared the rest with HRH which pleased him.

Thanksgiving was nice, just our grandson and his dad and his girlfriend and I even had help from hubby doing dishes. I am so thankful for friends and family and the temporal blessings we have been afforded. I am thankful for religious freedom and the other blessings living in this country have allowed me. How about you? What are you thankful for?

Happy birthday baby

2010-11-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

Our new great nephew was born today and is a little one! 6.# 19.5 inches. Proud parents were at the hospital when he was born and are staying there tonight, feeding and holding him. We aren't sure when the adoption papers will be signed and they will be allowed to take him back home, but I pray everything goes ok with that. They met the mother and it looks ok.

This quilt was so much fun to make, I'm sorry the picture is so bad, you can't see the fun conversation prints and can hardly make out the star points. We had to run outside between rain showers (downpour really) to get the picture. If you look at the top left of the quilt and see that second row bright blue hexagon, you can kind of see the star that surrounds it. Now to get a label on it and get it sent to Alaska.

Weight Loss

2010-11-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

I've been on Weight Watchers now for 5 weeks and lost 6 pounds. I'm having a fairly easy time of it except I usually have points left in the evening when I really don't want to eat anymore. I save them all day it seems so I can have a decent dinner. I need to balance it out a bit more. I was thinking that 6 pounds was nothing then when HRH and I were at the grocery store, I started looking for things that weighed about 6 pounds. I picked up 2 chickens and kind of held one in each hand at chest height and said "what do you think"? I didn't notice the man across from me looking kind of funny at me over his glasses. Yep two chickens were just over 6 pounds. Then I went to the butter isle and two of those big tubs of soft margarine and one small one came to 6 pounds and that really looked and felt like a lot. Then I picked up 6 pounds of butter and showed them to hubby at the same time that I dropped all 6 cartons of butter, then I looked up and the same man was staring at me, he then said, What are you trying to do, butter him up? I tried to explain that I was trying to visualize what 6 pounds would look like. Hubby was rather embarrassed to be with me then told me I was bouncing the items in front of my boobs and it did look rather funny. OK enough, until I got home and saw a brick laying loose and holding some plastic down. "How much do you think this brick weighs, I asked"? He just shook his head and went in the house. Anyway, I don't feel so bad at only losing 6 pounds, it looks like a lot when it's in butter or fleshy chickens.

2010-11-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

I had a busy week, sewing (the favorite part), cleaning, running errands, working, visiting a sick friend in a nursing home, reading, cooking. Whew! Sometimes at the end of a week, I look around me and it seems like I haven't accomplished a thing. In looking back over the week, however, there are lots of things I can check off my "list".

I picked up my I Spy quilt from the quilter (I'll post later when I can get HRH to hold it while I take a pic). I really like how it turned out and want to make another one. I have enough conversation prints to do another and can also see that one made in softer colors, like perhaps 30's prints with greens for the star points.

I had my last quilt block of the month ($5.0o quilt) class. This month we had 8 setting blocks to make and they were boring to make. Again, picture to follow. Now I have to get this quilt together as there will be a drawing for a sewing machine for all the finished quilts. Talk about incentive to finish! Yup, I will make it. It has a large center block and 36 other blocks. This is the quilt that I showed blocks in a prior blog.

Now, on to the other fun thing I got to do. A small, quilt show. A friend called me from a quilt show and said, "you've got to get down here". So being a good friend, I got in the car and was glad I did. It was a small show, but a good one. Here are a few of the quilts featured. I would like to make one of those Christmas Tree quilts, does anyone have clues as to the pattern and availability?

A finish!

2010-10-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

I love Fall and the colors and crisp days. I decided this year to finish a quilt from a block swap I did over 6 years ago. It was quick and although some of the blocks weren't perfect and a few of the points were cut off in seam allowances, I figured that the love that went into a friend's swap made up for it.

I have about 12 blocks left and am not sure what they will become yet. A table runner, a lap quilt, a twin sized quilt if I use sashings. Who knows? This past year I have really been trying to finish a few of those UFO's that have been languishing in pretty boxes. I get those photo type boxes, only larger, and put all of my UFO's in them and label them so I know what is inside. At least I know where they are and can pick one and work on it when I have time. It's made a difference in them getting lost and never finished or perhaps getting some Sew time after all.

Not too exciting

2010-10-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

It's been pretty dull around here this last few weeks, but sometimes, dull is ok. I am enjoying the fall colors, (it's my favorite season) The days are in the high 60's, low 70's and the nights are cool.

I have been doing mundane things like grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry and working. While I was in Costco yesterday, I became really annoyed to people standing in the middle of the isles talking on cell phones, or walking, trying to push a basket, talk on a phone and choose an item. It didn't happen once, but many times. COME ON PEOPLE! I have answered the phone in the store too and from now on, I will wait if there are a lot of people around. People usually talk so loud, you'd think they were on a can and string and some of the conversations (most) I don't want to hear. Ok, I've had my rant.

I think the reason I'm a bit crabby is that I've started Weight Watchers and food is no longer used to soothe the moods! Do any of you find that you do that. I weighed in for my third time and have lost 4 lbs. I know it's not much, but I got 4 packages of margarine out and hefted them and it's significant. I think I've lost in my fingers and wrists and face though. I have the biggest (other parts) and I lose in my fingers. GEECH! I guess I will eventually lose in the important parts, but for now fingers will have to do. I work them to the bone, it might as well look like it.

Make it a great day.

I spy top finished

2010-10-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

I finished the top of the I Spy quilt last night. It was hard to decide what to use because the quilt itself is so very busy. I decided to frame it with a 1/2 " border, then just use the same red as the star points. It was a real fun quilt to make. I had planned on going to Fabric Depot in Portland today because they are having a 35% off sale of quilting fabrics, but I went online instead and found a red children's print and ordered it. That freed up a day for me.

I have to work tomorrow as it's my Saturday to work. I don't know why I hate it so when I only have to work every other one, but I always dread it. I need an attitude change, I think.

I Spy

2010-09-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

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!

Duck Hunting

2010-08-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well, not really duck hunting. It was more like rabbit hunting. We went for a little walk after it cooled down this evening and Maggie stopped dead in her tracks and pointed. We knew there must be a rabbit somewhere as she LOVES rabbits. Sure enough she saw one and off she went. A lady who had stopped to watch her said "oh I hope it's not one that the neighbor lady has named" Me too my dear. I told her that Maggie likes to Think she can get rabbits, but hasn't brought any home yet. Maybe she should stick to ducks. Nobody around here names the ducks.

Dinner is served

2010-08-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

My husband never ceases to amaze me! I went out to dinner with friends the other night and he had to fix his own dinner. Well, let me back up a bit. The night before I was cleaning the freezer out and found some chicken breasts that had been in there too long. Freezer burn upon freezer burn. So, I chopped it up and slightly cooked it for the dog and cat. I told HRH that I was putting it in a baggie and that it was essentially "dog food". Well, when I came home from a lovely dinner with friends, he was on the couch eating his dinner. Upon closer inspection, I saw that he had a baggie of "something". I yelled in my not so lady like voice. For heaven's sake, you are eating dog food!". We had a good laugh and I gave it to Maggie. Hubby said, I wondered why the dog was looking at me funny! I told him that from now on I wasn't going to worry about making a delicious dinner, I was just going to open a can of ALPO! Can you believe it. A few months back I bought dog biscuits that looked like those vanilla and chocolate sandwich cookies and left those out and he ate a couple of those. Then he told me not to buy that brand anymore because they weren't very good. Discriminating taste. He doesn't dine, HE FEEDS!

General maintenance

2010-08-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

You know how you need to do general maintenance on the furnace, car and the roof of the house?

Well, we need to do the same with our bodies, especially when we reach that menopause (little feet, paws, as my grown son calls it). Well this past week I visited the electrologist to get that ever appearing stuff on my chin removed. Even though it is blonde, or white. I can't tell the difference, I still didn't want it there. I get it done every 5 years or so and I remember the pain, although minimally, even after that long. Boy, howdy, how it hurts, but really no more than waxing and it's permanent! Have any of you had this done?

As a teenager, I had dark hair over my lip and was teased to no end about it. It hurt so bad I still remember it. When I married and had the money to have it permanently removed, I felt like a new person. I only wished I had known about it sooner. I would have babysat, done yard work or whatever to earn the money to do that.

The second thing I did was get a body perm. I have very heavy hair and a lot of it and wear my hair in a modified wedge cut. It seems that by the end of the day it is flat. I hate the first few weeks as I'm not supposed to blow dry it straight to preserve the curl. So curly I am and curly I'll be for a while.

Thirdly, The perm takes the color right out so I have to get it colored, or do it myself. I also have to wait to put permanent color on for a couple of weeks. THEN, I'll be like a new person, almost.

Next in my dreams, a personal trainer and a tuck and suck (tummy tuck and liposuction).

I can't quite work that one into my budget, but a girl can dream. I think that would be a lot easier than just dieting, don't you?

Until next time, take care and make it a great day, week or month.

Carline

Block of Month

2010-07-14T20:07:00.001-07:00

Is anyone out there doing the Thimbleberries block of the Month this year. I signed up and although I am making the blocks, they aren't too exciting. I like a little more challenge than this one is giving me. It will make a nice quilt when it is all said and done, but not what I expected. I will look a little closer next time.

I am also doing a $5.00 quilt with one of the shops in Oregon. Just a little drive once a month. I signed up with a friend but her husband got seriously ill and she dropped out. It sure isn't the same going alone. There are lots of people attending, but it seems they come in little groups and so far, no new friends. I keep introducing myself and trying to take part, to no avail. I even take a shower before I go. Nope, not that! Oh well, the quilt is fun and very challenging, which I like. I'll show pics later.

Block of Month

2010-07-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

Coup du jour

2010-07-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this title? Coup du Jour is the title of an event going on in Vancouver, WA where you buy tickets to tour urban chicken coups. Now I like excitement as much as the rest of you, but I don't know if I could take this much in one day. CHICKEN COUPS! You pay $10.00 and you get a map. Kind of like the tour of homes around the holidays where you see the lovely decorations.

What are we coming to where we need to tour chicken coups? Can you just imagine our ancestors shaking their heads and thinking we are not "quite right". (that's a term I see in reading pioneer books). Well, I'm not going to buy tickets, I have to work that day. DARN! I won't have any guilt for not learning all I can about urban chickens. By the way . . . are urban chickens different than Country chickens? hummm.

SUN, finally!

2010-07-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had an unusually rainy spring and early summer. We broke a record from 1866 or somewhere near that, back when they first started keeping records.

You know what rain brings out??? Mosquitoes! We can hardly go outdoors without getting bombarded. They love me and seek me out of a crowd to nibble on my sweet skin.

I had to get up at 5:30 yesterday to get through Portland to go to Salem, Or before traffic and I was so tired last night that I started another journal project and left it and the dishes all over the place (well, the counter in the kitchen) so that is my goal for today. I planned to sleep until 8:00, get ready for my massage with Helga and then chiropractor and home to finish yesterday's jobs.

Great plans seldom happen around here and today was no exception. The little Yippy dog we are sitting for co-workers, started barking at 6:00, so I got up and watered the plants before the predicted 90 degree day. I even pulled a bucket or so of weeds! (I hate gardening with a passion except for trimming, harvesting flowers and vegetables and fruit). I feel like I need a crown today for being so good, so early.

Have any of you out there in blog land heard of a spaghetti salad? It has thin spaghetti noodles and eagle brand milk in it. It is so good, but I lost the recipe and can't remember what else it has in it. Everyone I have served that to just loves it. It is a bit unusual, but a big hit. I've torn my recipe box and notebook apart looking for this. If you do could you please share it with me. Thanks in advance.

Make it a good day! Carline

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

This past year and all that it has brought with it have me thinking about independence and how Freedom is NOT free. I have a son in the military and many friends with sons or daughters in various branches as well. Whether we believe in what's going on politically or not, our children are trying to preserve our freedom and putting their lives on the line to do it.

Yesterday at a celebration breakfast (held early, since the 4th fell on a Sunday), we had a flag ceremony, sang America the beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner and had a man speak who had just returned from Kuwait. He could hardly get through the talk because he kept choking up. It was very emotional. He reminded us that the military here in the U.S. is Voluntary and that most of the soldiers, including him would do it again to preserve this country and all it stands for. He said after being in the Middle East several times and seeing how others live and what lack of freedom exists, that he is even more determined to serve. It was quite emotional and really gave me something to think about.

The breakfast, cooked by the men (fathers and leaders of the Boy Scouts) was nice, well the idea was nice, the food, well..... cold pancakes, cold scrambled eggs, cold sausage and fruit. It is hard to cook outdoors for 100 people and keep things warm. The company was great and it kicked off the holiday weekend nicely.

Our Scout troop has a fund raiser where they sell subscriptions for flags. This means they pay $50.00 and on every holiday, the scouts put a flag up at their curb. My dear hubby is in charge of the behind the scene work. Well, at 11:00 last night, it was determined that we were short two flags. Earlier in the day, DH, also known as HRH, bought 10 flags, the poles and all the stuff to put them together, so we were prepared (scout motto). After much sorting and rearranging, it was all figured out and this morning the flags flew! What a sight they are!

2010-07-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well, another week rolls by uneventfully. I had an easy week at work since the bosses are gone. I just went in for 3 hours to check for messages, etc. I could get used to this real easy.

Kim mentioned her cat's hunting prowess in catching moths and bringing in mice, well My naughty girl brings in everything! Mice, snakes, voles, moles, birds and rabbits and they seem to all be alive. The biggest problem is that we have a dog door for Maggie and it has to be big for a standard poodle with such long legs and that makes it real handy for the cat and her prey. I came home from work yesterday and smelled something foul, Yup, a dead "something" and we can't find it. That cat and me are going to part ways one of these days. We have a very large entertainment center and it is so heavy it takes 4 men to move it when empty, so no way to look under that. How long before decomposition turns into mummification? YUK! That's one reason I like winter, I don't have to worry about her bringing in "stuff".

I had one of my twice weekly massage and chiropractic appointments yesterday, and today, I'm so sore I had trouble getting out of bed. I hope I survive these treatments. One of these days I sure hope I start feeling better instead of worse! The doctor says this is normal because I have so much scar tissue at the injury site and as long as I'm getting more movement, which I am, that things are on track. I sure wish I would have taken better care of myself when I was younger! Ahh, hindsight, aint it wonderful.

By for now, Carline

A Finish!

2010-06-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

I Finally finished the baby quilt for our new great nephew. I made it bigger than normal so Mom could use it on the floor and later for a youth bed. The girls had regular sized baby quilts and even when they got bigger, they want to sleep with them so why not start big. This one is 56X 65 or so. The pattern is by Terry Atkinson of Simple Pleasures and is called "Meet Me at the Corner. I used all scraps or stash fabrics. I like the plaids for a boy. The Long Arm quilter used a panto called Boy Toys and it is so cute. It has wagons, trucks, bikes, etc. I now wish I had used a plain back so it would show more.

The news around here is that HRH was pretending to be 18 again and playing basketball with some kids he works with (DH is 64). He "made a great move" and tore his ACL in his left leg. Great move? I don't think so. Now he is "on the couch" with the TV blaring for the next few weeks. I'm used to a pretty quiet house during the day, but when he watches TV, the neighbors can hear it. No, according to him, his hearing is fine. MEN! I feel bad that he is hurt, I just can't do anything to please him when he is sick. He calls me every few minutes to bring him something. Then a minute later, he thinks of something he forgot, yada, yada, yada, all through the day. I'm thinking of all kinds of errands I need to run. I am kind of glad that this Saturday is my day to work. This will be a long recovery, at least from my standpoint.

We finally got some warm weather here in the Pacific Northwest. The rain broke an all time record and the sun (a UFO) is a welcome site.

Make it a Great Day, Carline

News and Nonsense

2010-06-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

Again, It's been ages since I've posted. I don't know what's up with me. I just can't seem to get disciplined to keep my blog or my quilting up. I really have been doing things though.

I got laid off from my job where I didn't have enough to do. No surprises there and really no sadness about it either. I got another job quickly as the acupuncturist I had been going to had been thinking of expanding his practice and adding another acupuncturist and a naturopath. I only work two weekdays and every other Saturday. It's in a funky old house in the historic district of our town and is small compared to the very large assisted living facilities I am accustomed to working in. I really like the change and it is so much fun to walk around the district during lunch hours and admire all the old houses.

This is what I have been up to this past week, as well as a baby quilt for a new great nephew. Little Nate was born with three sisters waiting for him, so I thought I should send along a little treat for them too. I will post a pic of the quilt later.

I made these notebook/journal covers in no time and embellished them with funky yarns, trims and beads. They were really fun and I think I'll make a few more for little gifts. I made one of these to fit a regular theme book 8.5 X 11" and the others are 7" X 10.

Where's Waldo?

2010-03-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

Well, not Waldo, but I have been among the missing for quite a while. I just didn't have any news and felt quite uninteresting to be exact. Not that I'm any more interesting now, but Spring has sprung in Washington state and it always perks me up. I look forward to the first daffodil every year and this year it came up right in the middle of the grass. Not what we wanted, but I guess it didn't want me to miss it!

I've been trying to finish UFO's and got this one done and to the long arm quilter. It is 104" so it was a big one and IT'S A FINISH! I am not too happy with the quilting and think from now on, I will pay the extra and get custom work and not a pantograph. This one used all batiks and I chose a variegated thread for the quilting. I didn't like when the dark blues showed up in the light background. I did hear of one lady who ripped all of the quilting out when she didn't like it, but I won't go that far. Just chock it up to experience and go on. Kind of like life, huh?

My job has been so boring for some time. Not enough work to do, even though I work in 4 locations as a relief worker. Well, last week, I found out that "due to this lovely economy" I will be out of a job at the end of March. Not unexpected, I might add and I have been keeping my eyes open for another one, but so far, nothing. I have to work, so I will keep looking. I'll probably get to retire when I'm about 90 and I'm looking forward to it!

Today, I am working on my Thimbleberries 09 block of the month. I'm down to my least favorite part of any quilt I make, the borders, and this one has 4. I have 2 done and 2 to go. Hopefully, I will have a pic soon.

Kitchen tree and Santas

2009-12-13T20:04:00.001-08:00

I still have to find a little topper for this tree. It's only about 18" tall so the optimum word is LITTLE!

Thomas Kincaid musical tree

2009-12-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

This little tree is so cute and plays music as well.

It's beginning to look like Christmas

2009-12-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

My DH and I have been sick for nearly 2 weeks and Finally today, I felt like getting some Christmas decorations put up. We drove yesterday to a tree farm to get our tree and then came home and I cooked a big breakfast, eggs, bacon, little smokies, hashbrown potatoes, toast and juice. We ate and by that time, as it was our first time out of the house since we became sick, we were both pooped and sat on the couch and fell asleep. (What lightweights, huh?). We were too tired to even get the lights on the tree.

Today, feeling a bit better but still not able to go to church as I was afraid I was going to cough all through the service, I baked a batch of cinnamon rolls, put swiss steak in the crock pot and proceeded to decorate a bit.

I'm Back

2009-12-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a long time, but life just jumped up and had me by the throat. I have been battling depression and I think I have a hold on it now. I didn't want to post when I was such a downer. Why depress everyone else.

I have been doing a little quilting, too much working as I have been covering vacations for everyone who will lose their vacation time if they don't take it before the end of the year. This means more weekends which I really don't care for, but hey, I'm glad to have a job, many don't.

I feel kind of like this picture of Heidi, Fat and lazy today. We are getting over (hopefully) the flu and I decided that since I have the day off, I am going to just do nothing or perhaps just read or something about as strenuous as reading! Christmas decorations aren't even out of the attic. I think next weekend will be the time!

I hope everyone out there in blogland is gearing up for the season, remembering what it is really about and enjoying family.

The Witch is in

2009-10-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

I saw this pattern on the back of the Keepsake Quilting catalog and just fell in love with it. I made it for my niece, who is well under 5 ft. and the little witch reminded me of her (no, she's not a witch, just short) besides, she loves Halloween. I got it all finished and a friend noticed that I had forgotten the T in Witch. I had to take the top section all off and do it over. Of course, I used fusible stuff for the letters, so couldn't get those off. I remembered having left over letters and just thought I had cut extra! NOT! Anyway, it's going in the mail tomorrow. I hope she loves it. Try to ignore the hands and all of the background stuff. I wanted to get this posted and don't have the time tonight to photoshop it. A photographer, I'm not!

Still no pictures,

2009-10-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

I'm still having problems posting pictures so my blog is pretty boring, but these days, I think I'm pretty boring as well. The voice thing is still giving me fits. I lost my voice completely in August, then I got it back, but when I talk more than 5 - 10 minutes, I start sounding like a teenage boy who's voice is changing. Well, I thought I had better go see what's going on and the Dr. says it may be reflux, so he gave me meds (I hate taking pills). If this doesn't remedy it after a month, I have to go get a tube poked down my throat to see what's going on. This doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun, so I hope the meds help. I'm 2 weeks into it and so far, no dice. I still sound horrible. It's funny, but when my voice does this, people assume I'm contagious and start backing away. I have to stop and explain. With all the flu scares, I can't blame people one bit. That brings up a question....have you had your flu shot (s) yet? I work in health care (assisted living) so I get mine tomorrow. I have had them every year except last and have never had much of a reaction other than a sore arm and a slight yucky feeling for a day. I always have it in my right arm as I am right handed and a nurse once told me to have it in the arm you use the most as the more you move your arm, the less chance of soreness and by golly, it works!

I will post my latest projects when I get my ability to do pics back. Till then! Take care.

Ramblings

2009-10-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

Fall has arrived in Washington with a bang! It is downright cold in the mornings and evenings and MAY warm up during the day if it feels like it, and it's raining. Well, isn't that what we're all about here in the Northwest? I think so!

I have been in a funk and when I'm like that I have trouble posting. I had this bug where I lost my voice, and my voice is still croaky when I talk much. It's like a pubescent boy where it goes along fine, then a croak. I'm pretty fed up with it. And my other voice, the computer, is still not functioning well either. HRH added a bunch of "updates" to it a while back and now, I can't seem to add pictures to my blog without the dumb thing freezing up. He's done this with every computer we have ever had and I'm pretty upset about it. He only uses the computer very rarely, but he thinks we need all of these updates and they NEVER work right and foul up other things. For some reason, he doesn't learn! By the way, he's a computer programmer so he should know better but once he does "great things" with the thing, he loses interest and doesn't come back to fix things. I will take it in when I get time. AARRGG! So moral of the story, no pictures till it gets fixed.

Have you ever wondered why moods seem to hit us out of the blue? I do. I can go along just fine and one morning I wake up all depressed or out of sorts. One of life's mysteries, I guess.

I finished my batik quilt and it's back from the LA quilter. I still need to bind it. I will either donate that one or the Double Delight to the cystic fibrosis auction in the Spring. I was trying to get it ready for the Fall auction then they cancelled it, so I have time. Now I am trying to do a small applique baby quilt for co-workers first grandchild who was born early and weighed only 1.6 pounds at birth. It has little chicks hatching out of eggs and is really sweet.

Well, off to work, this is my work weekend and #3 of a 6 day work week. I'm not used to this and am already pretty tired and it's only half over. I hope it's a slow weekend.

Take care, Carline

Life is Busy! Too Busy!

2009-09-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

Sorry I have been so negligent in posting lately, life has been busy and not in a good way!

I haven't done much quilting, but I'm making a surprise Halloween wall hanging I will show a little later. (the recipient may read my blog). I did manage to finish my large batik quilt and send it to the long arm quilter. This one may be donated to a cause close to my heart. I still haven't decided which quilt to donate or since the Fall auction has been postponed until Spring, I may just make another one.

Then there has been canning. Our tomatoes have been coming on so fast I can't give enough away and don't want to waste them so, I'm making spaghetti sauce and canning it. It takes about 8 hours for the tomatoes and seasonings to cook down enough. I start with a huge stock pot FULL of peeled tomatoes, onions, celery, parsley, garlic, basil and seasonings and then cook till it is just a little less than 1/2 full. I have to stir it often so, no naps for me. We also got the cider press out, made and canned 100 quarts of apple juice. YUM! We make so much because we like to give it to friends and neighbors.

Yesterday was a work day and I got a call from my son needing to go to the emergency room. It seems like he tore a disc in his back or something similar. He was in a lot of pain. They said they couldn't do too much but did give him steroids, muscle relaxers and tylenol 600 mg. Not much in my not so humble opinion but he is doing better today so I guess I will have to relinquish my medical diploma!

Today, I have to make applesauce and finish canning the pears, give my husband a haircut, go to the bank and do the grocery shopping. Yikes, what a day off huh?

See you in the funny papers as my dad used to say. Have a good one. Carline

Where in the world have I been!

2009-09-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, I give, I haven't been anywhere! It started with losing my voice, then I got sicker than I have been in years. I had this yucky flu like stuff for 11 days and then when I felt better, no energy. But I am feeling a lot better now and I'm ready to roll. I got a quilt top and back done and ready to quilt. I took it to someone Monday and will show a picture when it's done. I also canned (with the help of HRH) 56 jars of apple juice. We haven't even picked the majority of the apples yet. Those were the ones on the ground. The old apple press has been humming. We like to put a lot of it up because it's so yummy for one and we also like to give a lot away through the year.

We also made a huge oops with our corn. Remember, we aren't avid gardeners but rather novices. We waited too long to pick the corn and it was tough as a boot. Darn, we hated that. How DO you know when to pick it? Beats me! Anyone reading this know the answer, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

The other big thing in our lives is that son #3, the youngest is back home living with us for a while and it has taken some adjustment. He was disabled in a logging accident about 5 years ago and the employer wasn't paying his workers comp premiums so, no insurance! He had his back covered real well with things in other's names, etc. Long story short, son is in very bad shape and his wife decided she liked someone else, so he's with us until he can sort his life out. He and I are like oil and water a lot of the time. He's a slob, and I hate messes, etc. We are glad we can help him, but it isn't easy to say the least. I just need to get my attitude in order and get on with it!

So...no pictures of this stuff for sure, besides, the computer is rejecting my loading pictures.

What a cheery post, huh? Doesn't life come up and slap you in the face sometimes!

No Voice

2009-09-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

Not only no voice, but no computer. Now that should NEVER happen, it's like stripping a girl of every outlet of expression!
Last week I made a trip to Eugene to visit my favorite niece (the only one I keep in contact with because I don't know where the other two are). We had a great time and she made wonderful food and snacks and we laughed a lot but when I woke up the next morning for another round of fun, I found that when I opened my mouth, nothing, and I mean nothing, came out. I had absolutely NO voice at all. I whispered all I could and it about wore me out. I had to go home around noon and I have been mute ever since! I'm about fed up with this, believe me. It has been a week now and a little improvement, but not much. Do you realize that you cannot go to a drive through bank, restuarant, cleaners or anything else. You cannot talk on the phone, yell at the dog or the noisy birds that annoy me early in the morning. NOPE, none of that, plus HRH seems to be enjoying it. Maggie just sits and tilts her head like what kind of game is this anyway, I don't get it.
Anyway, to top it off, my computer is down, thanks to HRH and his many "updates". Everytime he does updates, something doesn't work. I could just scream, Well, no I can't because I DON"T HAVE A VOICE!

Peach jam recipe

2009-08-23T21:35:00.001-07:00

Some of you wanted the recipe for the jam made with jello. This is a favorite with all my family and friends and so easy.

5 cups mashed peaches (peeled anyway you like, blanch or just peal)

1 cup crushed pineapple

8 maraschino cherries,chopped

5 cups sugar

1 large package jello, any flavor you like. Our favorites are raspberry and orange

Combine the first 4 ingredients and bring to a boil, cook for 25 minutes. (use a heavy pan and stir often)

Take off heat and add jello, stir to combine.

Fill jars, wipe around the lid with clean wet cloth. Put lids and rings that have been sitting in hot water on jars and screw tight. Invert jars on towel and let stand for 5 minutes, then set upright. The jam will need to set up for 24 hours or more before it really sets up.

Makes 4 pints

Enjoy

2009-08-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to check some things off of my "quilting" to do list this month. I got an extra nudge from Kim at Kim's quilting adventure. One of the things I had to do was finish cleaning my closet and since there was a Quilter's garage sale last week in Battleground at Country Manor, I took advantage of it to sell a few things I needed/wanted to sell. I have more than enough featherweight sewing machines (I bid on them for someone else and ended up with them myself). Just the thing when HRH is so under employed after being laid off from his IT job. well, I sold my favorite white FW, Darn, and my serger that had been used all of 2-3 hours. I got it, then went back to work and couldn't take the lessons on how to use it, so there it sat. Now my piggy bank is a little bit fatter and some of those other things I didn't need, like some fabric, cutter quilts and antique tops that I didn't love have new homes. My closet looks a lot better too. I still have two featherweight's if anyone is interested, e-mail me.

Today, I made two batches of plum jam and bought another box of peaches to make some of the good peach jello jam. This is a very old recipe and everyone who tastes it wants the recipe. Let me know if anyone is interested and I will add it. Of course the peaches aren't ripe enough to make the jam yet so I checked out Alexander McCalls latest book, Tea time for the Traditionally built. I love his books. So I just may find a comfy book and take a few.

Shopping under the influence

2009-08-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

Kim over at Kims big quilting adventure bought a new latex mattress and it pushed me over the edge! Yes, it's all her fault. I went out today and bought a new Carrington latex king sized set. I have been getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night because my back hurts so bad from my super duper, highly over advertised sleep number bed! We went last spring to a boutique hotel (a gift from sis in law) and slept in the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. I proceeded to tear the bedding off to see what kind of bed it was and it was a latex. Well, I used to have one way back when and remember that it was wonderful. (why did I have to have a bigger than queen bed?)

So I jumped off the bridge and in a week will have a new bed and since I am short (5'2") they ordered a lower box springs so I don't have to have a ladder to get in the thing. What a novel idea! I can't wait. And by the way, I went to a camera shop (a dying type business these days, and hard to find) and had them show me how to remove the dreaded date from my pictures. I also got the name of a place in Kansas who develops Kodachrome film which nobody in the world except them will do. I have 4 very old rolls of 8mm movie film I want to develop to see if it is anything of any worth. It has to be 25 years old. Probably a waste of money but what the heck. The man at the camera shop said they have enough developing fluid left for about another year then no more so this is my last hurrah! Piddly errand day for sure! Then I bought peaches for making jam this weekend. Now I'm too tired to even cook dinner! Soup from the home canned soup shelf tonight.

Date on Pics

2009-08-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

I thought I had the date on of my camera figured out and erased, but low and behold, I'm a techno idiot and now all I have accomplished is to get the date to be 3 years old! Suggestions?? Anyone??

Man of the Corn Or Corny

2009-08-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Our corn is so high I can't believe it. (higher than an elephants eye), I've never seen corn that high before. I asked HRH to stand by it so I could get a picture then noticed that he had his nerd socks and sandals on and I sure didn't want THAT in a picture so you can see how he remedied the problem and it wasn't by taking the socks off. I do refuse to take him out of the yard dressed like that, however!

Our garden is doing better than ever, I didn't get enough cucumbers or squash planted and we didn't do any root vegetables except three kinds of potatoes, red, yellow and russets because last year the bugs got all of them, or grubs or something. We will have a lot to share with neighbors which we like to do. Our tomatoes have given us three yummy slicers and are loaded with green ones. I tried a new fertilizer this year and swear by it already. I used it on the tomatoes last year and was pleasantly surprised. How is everyone's garden going out there in blog land? I know you southern gals have already been harvesting your bounty probably.

Lazy Summer Days

2009-07-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

What have I been up to? Really, nothing but reading good books. It has been record breaking hot here in the Northwest. Yesterday was 108 degrees. Unheard of around these parts where the natives, like me have webbed feet from the cool rain! We aren't prepared for this kind of heat for the most part and don't know how to function in it. Me? I just read. I found a couple of good Authors/books I'd like to share. Marie Bostwick wrote A single thread and a thread of truth which I loved so I thought I would try another of hers, River's Edge. Great read and I highly recommend it. The other by one of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber is the first in the Dakota series and it was also great. The third was a book by Beverly Lewis called the Shunning and I read it in one day! When I was a little girl, I would read when things were troubling me, if I was sad or lonely as I was often, growing up with siblings who were out of the house when I came along. Mom said when my best friend and I would fight, we'd each take an end of the couch and a book and ignore each other. So reading has been my friend and confidant forever and I love when I can go back and immerse myself in good books. NOW, to find the second book in that Dakota series. I have the third, but have to keep looking for the second one! The library doesn't have it, Darn.

Back to reality today, I have ripe plums and have to make jam so I have to get my head out of the books and get to work. Grab a good book and enjoy!

The dining fairies aren't with me!

2009-07-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have to be on somebody's list and I don't mean a Christmas list, either. A few weeks ago, I met some friends at Applebee's for dinner. I sent my "rare" steak back because it was so done, I almost couldn't get the fork in it. When it came back, same thing. The waiter had me cut it in front of him so he could make sure it was good and rare. He even laughed. Everyone else in my party was almost finished eating at this point so I just declined further fixes and asked for a doggy bag to take it home to Maggie. (I hate over done meat)! To make matters worse, the waitress who cleared the table, dropped the entire tray on my lap. Someone had something with red sauce of some kind and it spilled all down the front of me and onto my slacks. (new slacks at that). To make it right, they gave me two $10.00 gift certificates. (which by the way, didn't even pay for the pants which it turns out were ruined by that awful red stuff).

Fast forward a few weeks, a quilting buddy wanted to meet for lunch and I have these gift certificates so I said let's go to a different Applebee's just to improve my luck from last time.

I ordered a salad, enough for the steak thing! I had eaten about 1/4 of the salad when I bit down on something real hard and broke my tooth. I took the offending "hard thing" out of my mouth and it was a piece of fiesta ware type pottery. Applebee's uses these kinds of plates, the piece in my mouth was red, my plate was purple. We called management and she was just appalled. She said they had broken a dish in the kitchen and thought they had got it all cleaned up. NOT! Well, I filled out an incident report, didn't make a big deal of it and left. Two days later, the insurance company called and told me to go ahead and go to the dentist, pay for the appointment and THEN, after they see the bill and determine IF it is a valid claim, they will issue a check to me. Such a deal, huh? Not to mention the time to take off work to go to the dentist. I think I am living under a dark cloud as far as meals out go. SO, next week, to the dentist (I just had my check and clean two days before this fiasco)!

I should just stay home and quilt, don't you think!

Baby quilt

2009-07-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Another Finish!

My best friend's son and DIL had a baby girl and I finished this quilt for her. I used prints from the Lakehouse line and cut the letters out of a panel. I was kind of pushed for time so wanted something simple. Grandma is a librarian so I thought the alphabet was appropriate. I was able to find a sweet flannel for the back that has the alphabet on it as well. Lucky find. I tried to get a picture, but the light was wrong and it's too washed out to show the letters. Now back to more UFO's. I'm now working on a batik that I started over a year ago at a WASIQ (Washington State Internet Quilters) retreat. It turned out ok but I had a lot of Oops, intersections that I had to frog stitch and re-sew. That finished, I am now on to the borders. It's a king sized quilt so a handful. I will have my friend at Hattie and Me Quilting do the quilting on "Hattie" her LA machine. She also did the quilting on the baby quilt.

We've had a lazy Sunday, church, then a short nap and dinner with fresh peas and new red potatoes from the garden. Yesterday I picked rhubarb and raspberries and made a pie so nearly the entire dinner was "home grown. We had fish from Costco, so no fishing trip involved.

Blue Ridge Beauty

2009-07-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's going to be 90 degrees today so I got up early even though it is a day off. I took Miss Maggie for a long walk and enjoyed all the flowers and plants in yards as I walked. I then came home and watered the garden (at least the part HRH didn't have time to do before he left. I picked a few pea pods to munch on, ate a few sweet raspberries and got Maggie soaking wet as she played with the stream of water. We then trimmed her too long ears and went in for a little blog reading and quilt planning.

I have been working on Blue Ridge Beauty, a pattern of Bonnie Hunter's of Quiltville. I found it in Quiltmaker, Jan/Feb 08 and have been collecting blues/creams, cutting and sewing probably since then although it gets slipped in between other projects. Well, 2668 pieces later, 224 blocks are assembled, pinned in bunches of 10 and ready to sew into rows. I am so pleased with how this is going so far. I think I will love it. I won't let myself start the rows, however, until I finish one more UFO. I'm almost finished with a batik top and when I get the back done and ready for the LA quilter, Hattie and Me, I will show a pic.

Do any of you bargain with yourself when it comes to getting things done? I will put a load of laundry in the machine, start the dishwasher (my two favorite slaves) then let myself read blogs or read a chapter of a book I'm reading or quilt. This way, I get to do what I want and accomplish what I must as well.

I'm going to have a relaxing, although productive day. I hope you do to. Make it a good one.

Carline

Old Friends, good vibes

2009-06-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

No pics today, but I just had to talk a little about how much old friends mean to me. About 14 years ago, I moved North, up I-5 away from the area I had spent all of my life. I had been close with friends who I went to school and church with since grade school. I felt like a big bird had picked me up in his talons and dropped me in never never land. (I remarried and followed HRH to where he lived).

Well, I lost track of some of my dearest friends and because of cell phones, couldn't even get phone numbers from our friend, DEX. Monday, HRH had to travel south for work and I just mentioned that I sure wish I could go to this town and look up Pam, who I missed so much. Surprise of my life when he came home that night and told me that he couldn't find her phone number, but found an address, so he drove way out of the way to go see her and he didn't even know her (had met her one time). Long story short, we had the best phone conversation, catching up on many years, kids, grandkids. ( I probably maxed out my cell minutes) Over our adult life, we have lived within blocks of each other three times, completely by accident. We got married a week apart in the same church, we each had two sons, about the same age. So many things in common. The last time we got together we each took a couch and a quilt and curled up and talked for hours. I remember my hubby coming in the house and asking why we didn't go do something instead of just "sitting there" It was pure heaven and we were having a ball. Men have no clue about this kind of friendship. We vowed to grab a quilt and do it again soon, even though we are 150 miles apart.

Cat for sale Cheap!

2009-06-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

We've had quite a month with our cat, Heidi. She has been very prolific in her hunting endeavors to say the least. I came home one day to hear a squeak coming from behind the entertainment center. After further inspection, and the animal running out and being stopped by the dog and the cat, I discovered it was a great big mole. Now you have to understand that HRH has bought every contraption known to man to try to get the moles that are all over our yard, to no avail. He has spent almost as much money as I have on fabric (note, I said almost). Well now Miss kitty just saunters out to the back yard and plucks herself a mole! That wasn't enough, the next time it was a snake in the middle of my kitchen. I wasn't about to pick it up even though we don't have poisonous snakes around here. I put a big plastic bucket over it and put a heavy rock on the bucket until HRH could come home and deal with HIS cat's escapades. YUK and EEEWE! This was enough, but the final tally for the last month has been 2 moles, 3 voles, 1 baby mouse, 2 rabbits, 2 birds (feathers all over the house) and 2 snakes. Oh, lest I forget, yesterday she had a beautiful dragon fly. I caught it in time and got it outside. You know, catch and release! Why can't I teach her that method. The joys of pets and pet doors! I'm just thankful we live where the pests are creepy but harmless. I just hope we've found all of them and I won't wake up some night to discover one in the dark! (with bare feet)

Have a great day

giveaway

2009-06-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Tonja is having a giveaway for her 100th post, take a look!

Tonjassewingroom.blogspot.com

A quickie baby quilt

2009-06-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who was expecting a new grandchild, so I made them a quilt and wanted it to be #1 quick and #2 use fabric from my stash. This was the result. I knew it was a boy and that is the only thing I knew about the baby or it's parents. In a way, that freed me to do anything I liked because there were no expectations, they didn't even know I was making it and I knew that the kids had very little for the baby. When I make this pattern I always make one boat different. It signifies to me how different each of us is. It's also fun when the baby gets older to have him pick it out of the rest. Can you find it? Not too difficult on this one huh? I need a quilt holder, it can be wind free until I go out to take a picture and then watch out, it blows my quilts all over the place,

Back from Vacation

2009-05-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

We spent some time in Montana recently and saw two graduations. Our great niece "graduated" from kindergarten and our oldest grandson graduated from high school. I couldn't believe our niece when she did a little program, she recited ALL the books of the bible, the preamble to the constitution, sang America, played two songs on the fiddle, recited the 23 Psalm, plus a few other things I can't remember off the top of my head. I couldn't do most of those things and never have been able to. Good old home schooling by a mom who spends the time necessary. What a difference it makes. Our grandson graduated on Sunday and the following Tuesday, left for a 3 and 1/2 month trip to Australia with his great uncle to mine for gold. He is a real outdoorsman, (see the quilt with all the antlers, bears, deer, ducks, etc.) so he is going to really love being in the outdoors and camping a lot. He did this a couple of years ago in the summer and just loved it. He's a real good kid, so postponing college for one semester won't be a big thing. He will get a lot of education that he wouldn't get in the classroom.

We traveled with our dog and she was a trooper, she had surgery on her leg right before and had to wear the "Elizabethan collar" to keep her from tearing out the stitches, which she did once before we left. She was so good. She just sleeps all of the time we drive (like I did as a kid). HRH is a madman when he drives. He just doesn't want to stop for anything. We made the trip in 14 hours with stops for gas and to let the dog go potty. I think if it weren't for the dog, he would have handed me a cup and said "go to it!" I tried to push fluids on him, knowing if he had to "go" we'd stop. Some day I'm going to throttle him, I swear. We drove home at night and so the stops were even less. That and the fact that he likes to see how far he can go on a tank of gas. I think the last fill up we had only 1/2 gal of gas left. That's pushing it if you ask me.

A fun time was had and I'm back to work today. I could use a week to recover, but that isn't happening so here we go.

Another one bites the dust...so to speak

2009-05-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

I finished another UFO and got it back from the LA quilter, Kay from Hattie and Me Quilting. She did a beautiful job even though I had one side crooked. oops! This is a quilt that I started some time ago in a class and never finished it. Have you ever gone to a class that just wasn't too much fun? Well, this was one of those, the way she explained doing the flowers made no sense to me, we used a square in a square ruler and for some reason, it never quite gelled with me. I put it away and never looked back, until I unearthed it in the great archeological dig known as my stash clean up. I really wasn't too far from being done and had planned it for a wall hanging. It didn't look finished without borders so I added some and it grew too big for the wall I wanted it on. I do like it now though. The picture was taken with quite a wind blowing and it makes the quilt look lopsided and it isn't. I really need to work on my photography skills so I don't have to keep apologizing for my quilts, don't I?

On another note, we were walking Maggie the other day and it was where other dogs had been and she was walking like a blood hound with her nose to the ground. I commented on it to HRH, saying that we could hide and she wouldn't miss us and he said, well, it's pretty much like what you do in a quilt shop. Ladies, it is true! We walk in there and the rest of the world just drops out of sight, doesn't it. I love the smell, the colors, the feel of every fabric. I sure wish we had more shops close.

Have a great quilty week! Carline

Am I getting old or what?

2009-05-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Last night about 11:00 I was woken by voices and then a crash just outside our bedroom window. HRH got up and went out with a flashlight and probably a weapon (he used to be a policeman) you go ahead and guess what weapon! What he found out there was a teenage girl who had been trying to climb over our fence into the backyard and broke the fence. She said a bunch of kids were just trying to get to the park (1 block away) as a game and were trying to do it without stepping on any concrete. He told her that she was lucky because he may have shot first and asked questions later. If I had been out there, I would have drug her sorry little butt in the house and called her parents and or the police. Tell me, what is in kids heads to make them trespass, break things, have no better things to do than this? I think I'm getting old. I can't get this out of my mind and am sure glad my kids are grown. The other thing I heard at the gas station a few weeks ago was a car full of young "ladies" using the most foul language and comments to the driver, (a boy) suggesting all kinds of "activities" they would like to do to him. You could hear them for a block away and they thought it was so funny, laughing and pointing at the adults that were shocked by this. I think morals are going the way of the Edsel. Heaven help us!

I've been found!

2009-04-30T17:01:00.001-07:00

I finally finished quilting this sampler that has been in the UFO pile for a few years. It sure feels good to get some of these done. As I mentioned a few weeks back, I have been cleaning my quilting closet and in doing so, found "several", well, many UFO projects that are in various stages of completion, from blocks to this one that was being quilted when I got discouraged because of thread problems. I had started it with rayon thread and I was doing each section or color with a different thread. The result was not good, so I frog stitched it out and started over. The only part I didn't have to re-quilt was the light background. My sister-in-law loves teals and so I thought this one should have her name on it. I still have to put a label on it before we go to Montana and deliver it. How's everyone else doing on that stack of UFOs? Any confessions as to how many are in your stash??? Carline

I've been lost under this!

2009-04-24T20:07:00.001-07:00

I have been busy trying to finish up some UFO's I found in the closet while cleaning it up. I found this sampler from who knows when and it was even partially quilted. I had been using rayon thread and was having trouble with it, so I folded it up and forgot it for a couple of years. I was using a different color of thread in each of the blocks and borders and whatever gave me those ideas, both thread and color, I'll never know. I ripped out most of the not too cool, machine quilting and started again. I was able to save a great deal of it but some was very poor quality and when I went to different thread, it improved greatly. I think I will take this to my sister-in-law or her daughter when we go to Montana next month. It feels so good to get some of these things finished. I will hand sew the binding this weekend and post a picture of the entire thing.

We are also trying to get our vegetable garden in. HRH has been tilling and planting what we can, peas and potatoes for now. My dad always said not to plant tender plants until after Mother's day and every year HRH listens to me, goes ahead and plants and then we lose the plants. This year, he thinks we will wait a while to plant. He won't admit, I may be right but I listened to my dad because he was a horticulturist, had a garden to die for that fed most of the neighborhood and I think he could plant Popsicle sticks and grow popsicles! We shall see how it goes. I'm not much of a gardener because I hate seeing worms, they freak me out. I don't know why but I've always been that way. I plant in pots where there's no fear of seeing one.

What have you all been up to?? Show off those projects. Carline

Ramblings

2009-04-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

I took Maggie to get clipped yesterday and since she's "friends" with the groomers' dog, Nigel, it was suggested that I bring her for the day and let them play while I ran errands. Well, I did and when I picked her up in the afternoon, she was just pooped! It tells me that she's not getting enough exercise since I had to go back to work. (well, neither am I) Maggie even went to bed early. She usually stays up until the last one of us goes to bed, but I looked in the bedroom and she was in her bed before 8:00 PM! So tonight after work, I came in, changed my shoes and took her to the park. I am vowing to do that every night I get home early enough. It's amazing how you just skip one night then it becomes a week, then a month, then you're fat! Hummm! Is that how it happened? Yup, just like that.

Easter as most of the world knows it!

2009-04-11T09:13:00.002-07:00

Tacky as always, I know. I just get real bummed out about holidays that mean a lot in the Christian world, like Christmas and Easter, being corrupted to the point that the average person has no idea what it's really all about. This starts working on me as all of the decorations and candy start appearing in the isles of the stores. Now, I like the chocolate as much as the next gal, especially the coconut eggs, but we need to keep perspective here!

Jesus Christ died on a Cross to save us, he was resurrected and appeared to his disciples. This was and is life changing! He bridges the difference between what we can do and can't do. He paid the difference and continues to do so. For this we need to acknowledge him and his sacrifice for us. We need to live lives worthy of this gift.

OK, I'm off my soapbox for a while. I just had to stand up there and say what I needed to say. Let's try to have fun on the holidays like this, but remember what they are really about, teach our children and grandchildren the real meaning before it is completely lost in this scary 'ol world.

Have a wonderful Easter! Carline

Maya Angelou

2009-04-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

I read these quotes from Maya Angelou and thought they should be shared. They are priceless.

A woman should Have... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A woman should have.... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.

A woman should have... a youth she's content to leave behind.

A woman should have... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.

A woman should have... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

A woman should have... one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry.

A woman should have... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.

A woman should have... eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.

A woman should have... a feeling of control over her destiny.

Every woman should know... how to fall in love without losing herself.

Every woman should know... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship.

Every woman should know... when to try harder and when to walk away.

Every woman should know... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips or the nature of her parents.

Every woman should know... that her childhood may not have been perfect... but it's over.

Every woman should know... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more

Every woman should know... how to live alone.. even if she doesn't like it

Every woman should know... whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally.

Every woman should know... where to go..... be it to her best friend's kitchen table or a charming Inn in the woods when her soul needs soothing.

Every woman should know... What she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month and a year.

What would you add to this list?

Carline

Doll Quilts

2009-03-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

I finished three little doll quilts to take to Montana with me next month. These are for my great nieces. I can just hear the squeals from them. They are so cute and I didn't want to show up empty handed. I had some pink and white squares left over from the Double Delight quilt and then decided to make two more for the other two girls and thought they should all be different so no fights break out. This way they can tell which one belongs to who??? We are going there for our grandson's high school graduation but will stay with my sister-in-law and hubby. We're looking forward to it.

Have a great "quilty week"

Bonnie's Lecture

2009-03-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Last Friday evening a friend and I had planned to drive to Olympia to a guild (not our guild) program where Bonnie Hunter was the featured speaker. Well, she bailed out and I really wanted to go, so I asked HRH if he would drive up with me (it's about 125 miles each way). We got a late start because he left his wallet at work (fell out of his coat pocket), but we got there just as she was being introduced. I had to slip in and sit way at the back of a huge chapel. I am so glad I made the decision to go, she is such a delightful speaker and her quilts are beautiful. She had one with 10,000 pieces in it, and I was going on about my DD which has nearly 3,000 pieces. The one I liked the best was a log cabin where the strips were 3/4" or so to start with. The blocks were about 2.5" finished. It was a LARGE quilt and I just fell in love with it. Maybe someday, I'll make one. If any of you get a chance to see her, take it. I was sorry I couldn't go to one of the classes, but since my car accident, I just can't sit and sew for more than a few minutes at a time. Because I was sitting so far back, all of my pictures turned out too dark to see anything. Oh well, I have them backed up in my memory. (mine, not the computer!)

Have a great day.

Carline

Mail for ME!

2009-03-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

I came home yesterday and found a package in the mail box that said "Royal Mail". I was intrigued for sure. I couldn't remember ordering anything, I couldn't imagine what it could be. Well... I had signed up for a PIF (Pay it forward) some time back and this was my gift from Karol-Ann from SewKalico.blogspot.com/ It is hard to see, but there is the cutest little purse with a beaded handle. A British quilting magazine (love it) some charms in a lovely shade of coral/peach and a postcard from Paris. I feel like Royality indeed! Thank you Karol.

Now I have to get busy on my PIF. I think I only had one sign up so I don't have to get too busy.

Have a great quilty day!

Carline

I slept funny

2009-03-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been crammed into a little box in the night and wasn't able to move all night. My neck feels like this. Why is it that some mornings you wake up feeling great and others you feel like you've been fighting all night? Well, I have too much to do on this my day off to baby myself. I want to do some quilting and playing today. I am going to start my Blue Ridge Beauty quilt. (Bonniyf Hunter's pattern) I have all the squares cut out. I did this as I was sorting and refolding my stash (I'm not quite done with that yet).

2009-03-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post a picture of this miniature quilt I made a while back, it measures 11" X 15". Those little pieces don't give much room for error. I think I am completely over miniatures now. It was fun but one of those "now I've tried it" adventures.

I've been working on some doll quilts for my great nieces since we will be going to Montana in May, I wanted a few goodies to take to the little ones. I will post them in a day or so, when I get finished. It has been a fun diversion after that big quilt with all the tiny pieces (Double Delight).

Happy Saturday

2009-03-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

I had a rather busy week, at my job and at home on my days off. I am STILL sorting and refolding fabric from my stash closet. I almost with I hadn't started this but I'm in the middle of it now and so I muddle on. I have been folding for several hours a day for a couple of weeks and I'm still only half way finished. This is almost obscene to have this much fabric. I'm seeing so many pieces that I sure don't remember buying. As I fold, I think of projects and then when I can't stand any longer, I go through books to look for patterns for those projects. I've made hundreds of quilts in my mind this past few weeks! Key words: IN MY MIND!

I know a lot of you have heard things like, Vinegar can cure (or clean) anything, well HRH came home from volunteering the other night and told me about a man who is 95 who looks 70 and was as fit as a fiddle. He told him that 10 years ago, he had to have help getting out of bed or up and down from a chair and he hurt all over. His arthritis was so bad he could hardly dress himself. Well, he read an article on honey and cinnamon cures (do a Google search on honey cinnamon) and he has drank this concoction every morning and night for a year and now he doesn't need any help, volunteers and gets around better than I do since this car accident. I snoped it and it is unproven, but what the hey, it's worth a try. So the last two nights I have mixed a small tsp. cinnamon with two tablespoons of honey in 8 oz of hot water and drank it. It's pretty sweet and a little hard to get down, but worth a try. I will report back with results, one way or the other! We shall see!

2009-03-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I got my quilt back from the LA quilter, Hattie and Me, and got the binding done in two evenings. Binding has always been my favorite part. I find it so relaxing, well other than wrestling a monster of a quilt around on my lap and trying to keep the cat off of it. I like the pattern she used, it's called popcorn and it shows up real well on the dark brown border. My picture isn't too good as their appears to be light spots, their isn't. She used pink thread and it is real pretty. One down for 2009. I'm on a roll, trying to finish some UFO's. I sent the boxy squares to have it quilted so that should be ready soon too. YA HOO!

WARN YOUR FRIENDS, LADIES!

2009-03-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

You've heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves. Well, my thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal...Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for them. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans. And then the thieves struck again.

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier, but my new butt was attached three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to give up jeans in favor of long skirts.

Women around the world, wake up and smell the coffee! Those plastic surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted' look again..it may have been lifted from you.

This is not a HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere every night.. WARN YOUR FRIENDS

Boxy squares

2009-02-28T19:52:00.001-08:00

This is the quilt top I made for my Grandson, Talon's high school graduation in May. His only request was outdoor theme. It doesn't show up too well, but the prints are all deer, ducks, trees, bear and the outside border is deer antlers on the black. It was a really fun, fast quilt to make. I cut way too many strips so I have enough to make another one. It's flannel so HRH may like one too. By the way, my hubby is holding it so it looks crooked. It is square though. We will get to go to the graduation in Montana and also see my sister in law and her family as well. The great niece is the one with the redwork quilt in a prior post. I am also working on three doll quilts for the little girls when we visit. I don't send Christmas gifts to them but about midway in the year, I send or take a box with whatever I have decided through the year. I found three dolls at a garage sale that were like new, they are the porcelain ones with cloth bodies and that is why the doll quilts. I wish I had family closer. I need grand kid hugs more often than I get them.

Car Shopping

2009-02-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Well, my car was totaled and believe me you don't win anything dealing with insurance companies. I have been treated so badly by them and I have been telling everyone to switch over to Hartford as they have such good rates. NOT! I am debating on a Toyota Camry Hybrid and am just about sold. I haven't driven it yet as I'm still not wanting to get behind a wheel if I don't have to and it has been raining cats and dogs here for the past few days. SO.. do any of you have any experience with this car??? Consumer reports list is well so we'll see. I sure do not like car shopping, especially since the insurance company gives me 3 days to settle, big of them, isn't it.

Tomorrow, I am calling the insurance commissioner and talking things over, it may help, it may not. I won't bore you with the whole story, it's not pretty.

On a quilty note, I'm still folding and cutting scraps and almost have enough scraps for the Blue Ridge Beauty of Bonnie's, I think there are over 2200 pieces without counting borders and that's just the blue. I love it though and it hurts to sit or lay down so I stand at the counter and cut! Have a great Thursday, I have the day off.

Obviously, no Pictures of this one!

2009-02-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

I recently visited with a friend who told me that she was having problems with her young son and his "aim" if you know what I mean. Well, this brought to mind a story my aunt told me many years ago, see, she was a first grade teacher and had a little freckled, red headed boy as the story goes, the little boy was making real messes in the bathroom and it was assumed that he was trying to see just how far up the wall he could hit, or whatever boys do in the bathroom to make such messes, the janitor spoke to him with no appreciable results as did the male principal. They then suggested that the teacher, my aunt, have a go at it and see if she could stop him from his new "hobby". She took the bull by the horns and after sternly addressing the boy, she looked at him and his lip was quivering and he said Mrs. Robinson, have you ever tried to aim one of those things (thangs) (insert Texas accent here). Well, she said, you've got me there and let him go. I guess he wasn't trying for the bathroom olympics afterall. Don't ask me why I think of these things. Sometimes I think my mind malfunctions rather than functions but I thought I'd give you a smile for the day. !

Happy Sunday

2009-02-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

One of the facilities I work in (I work in 4) is upscale independent living and they have the best events of any I've been to. Well, last Wednesday we had a luncheon and the theme was the Ladies of the Whitehouse or First Ladies luncheon, I can't remember but all the recipes were from different first ladies and were excellent. Our chef used to be the chef on a cruse ship and she's GOOD! We served a dessert that was orange cake with raisins and creme cheese/orange frosting. It was to die for. Well, we couldn't have people go home empty handed so we sent them home with a little bundt cake of the same recipe and the presentation was so cute. It was on a gold plate (actually a coaster) with a doily and then put in a cellophane bag and tied with a pretty plaid ribbon and to go with it a tea bag was tied to the ribbon. Isn't this cute. I think this idea would be so clever to take to a sick friend or just to cheer someone up, don't you?

As to the accident.... I didn't sleep much last night because I feel like the heavy weight champion boxer beat me up. If I lay on one side, my hip hurt, if I lay on the other my neck hurt, I tossed and turned all night and can't sit for more than a few minutes so wasn't able to go to church and sit on the pews for over an hour. HRH went though and it doesn't hurt if I stand or sit in a recliner, so I will fold some fabric and get this mess FINISHED! I have been folding all week and only have one neat shelf to show for it. Mind you, it's a walk in closet so I've got a way to go. Have a great day!

What a week!

2009-02-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry my posts have dropped off so drastically. This has been a week to remember, or rather one I'd rather forget. I had calls from two dear friends, one lost her mother who I was very fond of and the other a friend of HRH, woke up to find his wife had passed away in the night. She was in her 50's and had undergone gastric bypass about two years prior and was having one problem after another as a result, she had been back in the hospital on average once a month, so this death was determined to be a result. I have heard from the nurses I work with that the mortality rate from that surgery is very high. I feel so bad for these people as I know how it feels to lose someone you love so suddenly.

Then, as if this wasn't enough bad news, I was driving to work yesterday and got broadsided by a big 4X4 pickup, it hit on the passenger side, which was fortunate for me, but hit so hard that it knocked my shoes (yes, shoes) off and glasses and boy am I bruised from the seat belt. I am so glad I always wear it though. I woke this morning and I hurt everywhere more than anywhere else. What really woke me up was the bottoms of my feet hurting, strange, I've never had that one before. The sad part is that they will probably total my 1998 Lexus and with HRH being out of work most of the year, we really can't afford another car. My Lexie was all paid for and didn't have a trouble in the world, she ran like a top and as long as I have had it, I had Zero problems. We aren't sure what we are going to do, right now, I'm driving a horrible little rental that I really can't see out of adequately. Oh Well, I have much to be thankful for, I didn't get hurt too badly and life goes on in our house while for many it doesn't.

I'll try to be a better blogger, maybe that brings me good carma.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

Well, as I'm folding red fabric today, still on my neatness quest and this is probably as close to celebrating Valentine's day as I will get so I got my mind all wrapped around Valentine's days of the past, you know, when we were in grade school and decorated boxes to put on our desk and made sure nobody was left out when we addressed and passed around the cards. I had a boyfriend then named Leonard and he asked me to go to the movies with him on Valentine's day Saturday. My first date of sorts. I will never forget his mom driving, and him coming to the front door. My sisters, who were in high school, my parents all sitting around making fun of the day and teasing me. Anyway, he showed up at the door and had his hair so slicked down with something good smelling and oily. I do remember a cowlick that was no longer visible, so it must have worked. My sisters were laughing and then I noticed that the stuff was running down his forehead an sides of his face. I have never forgotten that and it's been a hundred years ago. He opened the car door for me and we sat in the back seat as his mom chauffeured us to the movie, she then went in and sat at the back while we sat up front. I think I remember him trying to put his arm around me, but I will never forget that stuff running down his face. It has all been downhill from there. THAT was one romantic Valentine's day!

DD almost finished

2009-02-11T17:33:00.000-08:00

How many quilters worked on the double delight by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville? I wish we would do a poll. I finished mine and sent it today to the LA quilter, Kay Olsen, in Longview, WA. I can't wait to get it back. I did tell her that I am in no hurry, I know I won't be giving it away soon, so didn't want her to feel pressed but I am anxious to see how it turns out. It is such a busy quilt, with so many pieces (2976 to be exact), I didn't think anything too fussy would be seen so I'm just getting an all over pattern, I told her to use her judgement. I'm sure she does more than I do and knows best. The one time I chose what I thought was best, I didn't like it when it was finished.

Let me know if you are doing or have finished the DD quilt. I will post a picture when it returns!

Merry Christmas in February

2009-02-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

Are we a mixed up family or what! Don't answer that! During December, we had snow so deep that we couldn't get around. Remember, we are in Vancouver, Washington where we must own one snowplow and it only gets used every 5 years so none of the roads were passable. My son lives 45 miles South of here and lives in the country, again, no plows and to top it off, he had a couple of trees come down on his house so had to work on Christmas (the real Christmas) day to cut the tree up and keep it from doing more damage. so, long story, short... we had our Christmas celebration yesterday. We had a nice day, little one here wasn't feeling too well, he had been in the hospital two nights before with an asthma attack and the meds were making him pretty sleepy. He looks like he's been into the grog, but really, we only drank milk and water. I sure was tired last night from all the cooking but I love to do that. I also baked 5 dozen Snickerdoodle cookies to send home with my son for his birthday.

refolding stash

2009-02-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, someone posted a video (sorry I didn't save the link) of a nifty way to fold your stash so everything is the same width and stores neatly. Well, today I was in the mood to tackle it so I started. I worked for 5 hours and didn't even make a dent in things. This is going to take a while, I can tell. While I was at it, I cut the small pieces into 3.5" bricks, 2.5" strips and squares and 2" strips and squares. Of course I had a pile of crumbs as well. Last few times I had a batch of them, I sent them out to people on quiltville chat who requested them, but the last box was over $8.00 and I can't afford that so I may just dump them, not sure yet. I'm sure as soon as they get tossed, I will find something I want to use them in. Anyway, a productive day. I will post pics when I finish. Hey, I even found a UFO I didn't remember having. I wonder what else I'll find in that closet.

Our wild scouts

2009-02-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

My hubby and I are Weblo's leaders for our church scout pack and we meet on Wednesday evenings. Believe me, I'm too old for this. There are only four little boys 10 and 11 years old, but they are the wildest bunch. We have no control over them most of the time. they even get the dog so riled up she eats her "babies", just plain eviscerates them, stuffing everywhere. Last night one little guy was so disruptive, I just quit what I was doing and sat and looked at him. He went on for 15 minutes and when it didn't look like he was going to quit before midnight. I stopped him and told him that he could lead the group next week and I would expect a real lesson. When my kids were that age they didn't run through someone's house like wild men and disrupt everything. They waited until they left home to be wild. (not always a good thing, I'll admit). We did get through the lesson, Talked about 1 room school houses and the times teachers used switches to punish (OH, for one of those now!) played some games pertaining to the lesson on education. Then I sat them by the door, told them to put shoes on and wait for their moms. This was one of the longest 90 minutes in my life and today I'm beat, just want a nap. I'm sure glad I didn't have to work. I'm not sure where to go from here, perhaps ask our leaders to find someone younger. HRH doesn't have a clue either and the dog doesn't have many of her stuffed "babies" left. AAARRRGG.

Taxes

2009-02-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

I just love this time of year, don't you? Tax time. I am very organized and throughout the year, I keep everything in one place, neatly sorted. Well, I am just steaming because HRH, had one transaction, ONE, where he cashed in a small 401K (well, it was small by the time he cashed it in) anyway, he has NO record whatsoever of that transaction, he vaguely remembers about the approximate value, time he thinks he cashed it in. Get the words, vague, approximate, thinks. How am I supposed to deal with this one. I know we can claim a loss but finding out the amount is another thing. In the mean time. I'm looking through everything and he is relaxing with the cat on his lap and watching TV. Do "they" ever get excited about anything like this. I guess as long as "she" gets the taxes done, "he" doesn't have to do a thing. What is wrong with this picture?

I think I'm grouchy mainly because I worked yesterday and today and came home to "him" on the couch in front of the TV, waiting for dinner. AAARRG! Believe me, dinner wasn't anything to write home about. Should have been arsenic soup!

My baby is 39

2009-01-31T22:06:00.000-08:00

Wow, I feel old today, my youngest child, Dan, turned 39 today. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. It was a Saturday and it was his grandparents 23rd anniversary. I was also 23 years old. That tells a story, doesn't it. This son has given me a run for my money, I'll tell you. If there was trouble to find, he found it, from the time he was walking, no, before. He would be tooling around in the little walker and when I heard a screech, I had better run, because he was about to hit either his older brother or the dog. He always let out a warning sound, like some alarm system that was built in. His dad died when he was 10 and from then on, no warning sound, but plenty of trouble. He now has 3 sons and 4 step children and one of the sons is giving him the same treatment he gave me. I can only pray that perhaps the grandson can learn from some of his dad's experience, but something tells me, he will have to go through it himself. Life rolls on, doesn't it. Happy Birthday Dan, Mom loves you.

Little cutie

2009-01-26T21:26:00.000-08:00

This is my great niece and her quilt from "Auntie". I had forgotten to take a picture so my niece sent this yesterday. I told her that if I had sent a gunny sack it would have looked good with that little darling under it. Isn't she just the cutest thing? We sure think so and she has two older sisters who are just as cute. She lives too far away, (Montana) for us to see very often, that's the bad part of this equation. Carline

TA DA! Finished top

2009-01-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

I'm free at last, this quilt has kept me tied to the sewing machine (s) for 24 days. I've been a woman possessed! I just couldn't leave this quilt alone. I haven't done much else besides go to my job and church. My Bernina went bonkers during this quilt, started breaking needles and thread so she had to go to the shop. I got out my Pfaff and dusted it off and finished tonight. We didn't even have dinner because HRH had a late lunch and he knew there was cherry pie coming out of the oven. I am really happy with the end result of the top. I will get a back made this week and send it to a LA quilter. I do have to say that I did walk the dog and do laundry, so I'm not a total slob but the rest of the world just kind of had to wait. I also got half the blocks made for a square in a block flannel quilt that I was doing as a leader/ender project. So hopefully, I won't neglect my blog as badly as I have been doing. Thanks Bonnie Hunter for the wonderful pattern. The picture isn't great and the quilt came together perfect as far as being square. Each side was equal to the 1/4th inch. That doesn't always happen.

2009-01-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

I forgot to do this last week because, well, last week was the week from you know where. but I was tagged by Amy of Not always with thread and I'm supposed to pick a picture from the fourth folder and choose the fourth picture, then explain the picture and tag 4 more blogs. I pick Calamity jane'scottage.com

warmpiewarmhome.blogspot.com , mountainwoman@heart.blogspot.com and Ree@Pioneerwoman.com.

This picture is a picture of (believe it or not) Maggie's 1st birthday party with some friends who also had a standard poodle pup. We had hats, SEE MAGGIE , treats and a birthday cake made out of, you got it. Alpo! I really hate to admit that at my age ( a tender 39) I do things this silly, but now you know! Maggie's birthday is Dec 6 if anyone wants to put it on their calendar for next year. It is the social occaision of the year! She'll be 3 then.

Carline

Home stretch with help

2009-01-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Sunday evening I finished all the blocks and got time to lay my Double Delight out. Well, let me tell you, this wasn't the piece of cake I thought it would be, thanks to the quality control inspector. This cat has a mind of her own and it wasn't going to do any good to try to get her off that quilt. She gave her approval, big time! I like the way this turned out, I never would have put those colors together but it works. Thanks again to Bonnie Hunter for the pattern. How to quilt this one is another puzzle. There are so many pieces (I'll have to count them) that hand quilting is out for sure. I am making a flannel quilt for grandson #1 who graduates in May from high school in Montana. He loves all things having to do with hunting and nature so I'm using the group of flannels with deer, bear, fish, etc on them. I have the day off and just finished my Monday a.m. conference call so the day is mine.

Carline

2009-01-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

Steps 3 and 4
Slow and steady, I'm getting this quilt finished. I'm sure I'm behind most of the other mystery makers, but I can only do about 6 blocks at a time before my back is aching. This is going to be a great quilt though. Thanks to Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville for the design. I have half of the brown/blue blocks and a third of the pink ones done.

I come home from work and after dinner, I hit the sewing machine.

I have been listening to 50's and 60's music as I sew and boy does that take me back. My older sisters and brothers listened to the 50's and so I got familiar with that as well as my 60's music, what fun! Makes sewing go smoother. Remember the sad songs like Tell Laura I love her and the silly ones like Blue, Navy Blue and Sha, Na Na! Great lyrics! LOL.

Framed Orphan block

2009-01-11T22:06:00.000-08:00

Dresden Plate multi-generational quilt

2009-01-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

This is a "multi-generational quilt. My great grandmother made the "plates" and they were "discovered" in a cedar chest when my grandmother passed away. My mother brought them home, put them on blocks, embroidered them with a feather stitch, put them together and hand quilted it in beautiful tiny stitches. She, unfortunately used what I think was too bright colors, pinks and turquoise, not typical for the time the blocks were made. It was probably something she had on hand as she was very frugal out of need not social conscience. I came along and found the quilt unbound so I put the binding on it and am enjoying it in my collection. The back is white, as I loved to see the stitches and encouraged mom to use that on any quilt where she asked my input. I think I love this quilt so much because of the fact that it brings together family that really were not together when they were taking on the project. It is too bad my great grandmother never saw the finished product, but I like to think she is in heaven discussing it with Mom and knowing how much it is loved. I had one left over block and I had it matted and framed. If any of you have orphan blocks, this is a great way to showcase them.

Quiltville Mystery Steps 1 and 2

2009-01-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally finished the first two steps of the Double Delight Mystery from Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville. It has a gazillion pieces in it, actually only 1200 in the first two steps. I have never done so many square in a square blocks in my life. They finish at 3.5" and are so darned cute. The way Bonnie has us do them, they come out so perfect, I can't believe it. On to the next step, and I peeked...it ISN"T square in a square. This is my first mystery and I am having so much fun. I dropped another quilt in the middle, just pushed it over and jumped in with both feet. I am determined to have Christmas gifts finished early this next year and this quilt will probably be one of them. Even if it's just for me!
Carline

Plaid cats

2009-01-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

This is a quilt I made from plaid squares given to me by my friend Elizabeth for my 50th birthday, a few years back, well more than a few, but who's counting. She gave me a basket with 50 pieces of plaid fabric, each one different. What a great gift for a quilter, huh? I loved them. I made this quilt for HRH because at the time we had 2 "well behaved" cats who were not allowed on the furniture unless they were on a lap with a quilt on it. They actually minded too and only sat on our laps when we had a quilt on us. HRH (DH) always complained because he wanted a "cat" quilt. So this was my brainchild. The back is the "stealth" cats heads, so named because they kind of hide one in the other. I also added 3 mice. I'm not sure if they are blind or not. Anyway, those cats are no longer with us and now we have Heidi who is more like a grandchild than our child. She doesn't mind anyone, anyhow. She gets into everything. She doesn't have "bathroom" accidents in the house and asks to go out when she needs to. Doesn't get on the kitchen counter, but is into EVERYTHING else, especially my quilt stuff, She shuffles my cut quilt pieces all over the place when I turn my back on her, she jumps up and grabs the dogs tail when it is wagged then runs like crazy. I call these attacks, drive-bys. You know, like drive by shootings. No rhyme or reason. Gotta love those kitties though.