September 1, 2023

 Fall is just around the corner.  Thought I'd post what's been going on since my last one.  I finished the orange/pink quilt.  Love a scrappy quilt!  Only had to buy the backing and I got a great price on 108" 3 yards pack of this cute kitty print.

One of our church friends is going through a rough time with cancer treatments.  I wanted to make him and his wife a quilt. I pulled out blues/greens from my stash and made this one.

I did a baptist fan edge to edge for the first time and at first I thought it was too big, but really it was perfect for this quilt.

I don't think I could have picked better colors for their quilt.  They loved it! And it matched their home so well with the greens, blues, and grays.

Started and finished another quilt.  I wanted to make one for my friend Becky. She gave me a basket of her children's clothes.  Some of these go back almost 40 years!  I'm not fond of making quilts from stretchy fabrics, but I really wanted to do this for her.  I used a lot of starch.  Found this design on etsy and just figured out how to make it.  I called it "My Children, My Heart" and put a picture of her three kids on the back label.  She loved it!

And used on of my favorite backings -- newsprint!

After I finished this one, I saw that Bonnie Hunter just released a new paper pieced pattern.  I'd just told a friend I'd like to do another paper pieced quilt.  So I got it and started.  Hoping to not buy anything but backing for this one too. I've got 15 blocks so far, but I've got a long way to go.  These blocks take about two hours to make, and the quilt has 49 blocks! But so far, I'm loving it.

I had to put these away, to start on a memory quilt for my DIL's uncle who recently lost his wife. I've made many memory quilts for widows, and typically men have plenty of non-stretch dress shirts, that is, if they are church goers.  I'm noticing lots of men, and almost all women, wear synthetic stretch material now.  These clothes are not good for quilt making.  I'm working on this one and will show it after I gift it, but whew, it isn't easy. I don't like working with t-shirts, but I felt I had to use a few that were special to her.

My hair is still growing.  Had a trim the end of July and probably won't have another for three more months. I'm still enjoying getting to wear it up and in lots of different styles.  Can't believe it has grown this much in less than two years, with five trims!

This was a fun style using only bobby pins.

My son and family recently went to a wedding in Katie's hometown.  Those little ones love an event!  They all looked soooo good!!  I am so thankful they send pics.

Love seeing them all dress up. 

I did a little project recently and I'm very happy with.  They say necessity is the mother of invention and that is certainly true for this project.  I had to check the vent on my dryer, and it was a beast to remove the countertop we had over the top.  Way too heavy for me, and Jim just can't help with things like that.  I finally got it off and sold it on marketplace.  Bought two 16" wide shelving boards, stained them, put a sealant on them, and pushed them together to cover both washer and dryer. Then for fun, I put up some peel and stick wallpaper on the wall behind.

That's all for today!

The days are long but the years are short.....

 That's what they say.....and it's true.  We were able to make some good memories in the last couple of weeks.  Sadly, my DIL's aunt was not doing well, and my DIL wanted to see her before she passed so they made a quick trip home. I mean quick, here on Sunday evening, left on Monday.  Unfortunately she passed on Monday night so they made another trip on Thursday. We decided to keep the kids and then return them to their new home on Wednesday.  So we drove 20 hours in two days to take them home, and get us back to east Tennessee.  BUT, we made some great memories while they were here.  Memories we will cherish, and I hope they will also.

Swimming with their best friends and neighbors who they really miss since their move.

Fun at a really fun splash pad.

Always fun with bubbles and the pup.

After eating at their favorite place, Pizza Inn, we visited the Friendship Bell and the park in Oak Ridge.

On our way to NOLA to take them home, we made a stop in Laurel, MS, to see Ben and Erin Napier's "Hometown," the name of their HGTV show.

So, not a lot of quilting is being done.  It looks like I have two more memory quilts to work on soon, but first want to finish this one. Now, back at home, maybe I can get it done.

You can see I still have some scraps of my favorite bird fabric.  Just had to include a few of those in this one.  :)

July 2023

 Wanted to just capture some photos for my blog book.  Just life........in random order.

We enjoyed some food on the grill the other day.  Marinated the veggies in Italian dressing, the steak bites in Dales.  So good.

The kids received their first cards from Mamaw   :) 

Father's Day.  Jim has no biological children but he is the absolute best Fur Dad and Papaw to the grands.

Remembering my own father.  Love him much. I'm the little one.

We had dinner guests over and they brought their dog, Jack.  Oh my, these two had so much fun together.

Puzzle chasing bubbles in the back yard.

A bright summer Sunday before church.  We matched!

Our home brings me joy. I wonder if that is normal.  I love to decorate and clean it. I think it stems from our home as a child.  It was pretty chaotic, and always a mess. I know my parents did the best they could, but it still affected me. Never underestimate the implications in a child's life from their earliest environment. I'm thankful for all the good my parents taught and showed me. And really the mess and chaos taught me too, how much joy I get from a clean, nice home.

 

We really enjoy our screened porch.  Even in the heat of summer you can find one or both of us here.

Had to put out my patriotic quilts for the 4th of July -- tradition!

...and go watch the local fireworks in our little small southern town.....they always put on such a great show.

...and the hair is still growing and I've not cut it yet.  I will I'm sure just not yet.The shrinkage is unbelievable. From a very short pixie to these in less than 2 years!