Never Again

Never again will I take on two difficult block of the month patterns in one year along with working a full time job.  Every month I feel stressed until I can get them caught up.  I have been working on them this weekend since we got back from our vacation.  Still not finished.  I have to make some borders for the batik beauty.  Below is the finished september civil war blocks and the one batik block I have finished.

I'd like to make a baby gift quilt for one due in December.  I also got a wedding invitation today for a wedding the end of October and I'd like to make a lap gift quilt for that couple also.......so much to do. I feel like I wasted a month worrying and stressing.  Got a call from the doctors yesterday and they want me to have more tests, but this time I am not stressing about it.  Whatever will be, will be.



By the way,,,,

I have found two really great quilt shops in Kalispell, Montana.  The Quilt Gallery and Glacier Quilts.  I may have to go back and get one of those great nature quilt kits with the bears and wild animals -- to commemorate this trip.

I got some really great news today.  Three weeks ago I was told that I probably had Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS), which is Stage 0 breast cancer.  I had an excisional biopsy two days before we left on this trip, which is basically a lumpectomy.  Got the pathology report today and it was benign!  Praise the Lord, now I think I can really enjoy this trip. 

Found a grizzly!

Too bad it was in the hotel lobby.......

Bear Hunt

Spent the day hunting bears.  This was all we found.

We did see this little guy

And the beautiful yellow trees

More Park Pictures

On the edge of Lake McDonald

The rocks are so pretty and colorful.  This picture doesn't do them justice.

Lake McDonald Lodge and one of the red tour buses.

Glacier National Park, Montana

We headed up to Glacier early this morning even though the weather is pretty cold and damp and cloudy.  However, it cleared up a few times so we could still see some of the beauty here. We drove all day long.  We started in Kalispell and drove all the way across the park on Going To The Sun road, then down and back around the lower part of the park.  Logan's Pass is closing tonight for the season, (about half way across). So we wanted to be sure we got to see that part of the park.  We stopped at about every pull off, lodge, store, etc.  Saw a few deer, no bears or elk.

Sunday

I don't have a picture for today's post, but I thought I'd just slip in a few words.  Haven't done hardly any sewing lately.  We are going on a vacation next Saturday, so I am sure there won't be any sewing this week either.  It is a good thing I've not got an urgent project. We are going to Glacier National Park in Montana.  We both are excited about seeing the beautiful scenery.  We had a ton of rain yesterday, and the air is so beautiful and clear today.  Got in some good walking with my buddy yesterday and today.  I needed it.  Been under a bit of stress lately, but I'm sure everything is going to work out.  I know I am in the Lord's hands.

Fall

I loved the way the sunlight was filtering through the screen.  Jesse is enjoying the evening air.

Beautiful Day

The weather has been perfect today.  I've had the windows open and the breeze is so nice.  Went fishing with Jim last night.  We had a good time, although we didn't catch much.  He went again today.  I stayed home.  I've had a lot on my mind today and didn't really feel like sewing.

I'm still not finished cutting up the shirts, but I was anxious to see how they would look, so yesterday I made a few blocks. I think it will be a good, manly quilt.

And, after Jim got home, I felt much better and ready to do some sewing, so I am working on my September Civil War BOM. 

Batik BOM

My two BOM's were very involved this month.  I just finished the August blocks for the Batik Beauty.  Had to make 120 flying geese.  All caught up for the month of August.  Now, hopefully, I can get back to cutting up shirts for the quilt for my son.

Homemade Oxygen Bleach

My husband wears dress shirts to work.  I have had a difficult time always being able to get out the "ring around the collar" on them.  He also has some bad stains on the necks of some of his t-shirts (we think from the sunscreen he wears when he fishes).  I found a recipe for homemade oxygen bleach.  As I write this I have 3 white dress shirts and one white t-shirt soaking.  I read it may take up to a whole day to get rid of the stain.

For a laundry tub or large bucket: Pour a small box of baking soda in  and add hot water.  Mix to dissolve; add 400ml of hydrogen peroxide; and more water and the stained clothes.  Soak over night or longer Check periodically and stir them.

For a spray bottle: One cup of hot water, (distilled is best), half a cup of baking soda, half cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Spray on stains before laundering; spray on vegetables and fruits to keep them fresh longer; can be used on grout, lawn furniture and anything else that needs to be whitened, brightened, or sanitized.

**NEVER mix vinegar with this!

It is safe and natural......(I'll let you know how it worked on the shirts!)

Smart Phone Bags

A friend gave me a a pattern for a little bag, perfect for my new phone.  I've made two.  I found several types of fasteners to use to attach it to my purse  I have two quilted backpack style purses that I love.  My new bags fasten on the handles.  I tried to coordinate the colors.

Block #8

Just finished "Gettysburg" the block #8 in the Civil War Reproduction quilt.  Yippee!!  I am caught up.  I had to make four of these.

I am ready to get back on the shirt quilt for Elijah.  He brought me two more light blue shirts to add to the mix.  Guess I'll try to get some cut into the 2 1/2 in ch strips this evening.

Finally Finished

It weighs a ton!

What a booger!

I am using the correct needle on my longarm for denim quilting, but man, is it a booger!!  I think I need to adjust the bar some, so it won't keep getting caught on the thick seams....and I even pressed all the seams open!