Old Keys

One person’s trash…another’s treasure. This was what I found in an old Ziploc bag in my church mailbox. Old-keys…a valued commodity in my heart. In today’s world on push button combinations for pass keys and card scanners for door openers…they are becoming more and more scarce. I even love the old keyring attached. They remind me of my Mom…I can remember as a kid playing with her keys with a key ring just like those.

No quilting in this post because I’ve spent the past two evenings ripping out stitches on the project I’m working on. You know it happens. I get frustrated because I want to complete my quilt and begin another. But I step back and tell myself it’s a hobby. It’s supposed to be fun--- low stress. So with Ransom on one side and Bruno on the other and a seam ripper in my hand I work.

Spring is so close in the U.P. There are parts of Lower Michigan that have had more snow that we’ve had. I’m tired of snowmen, mittens, and anything brown and gray. My Mom always taught me the merits of cloth napkins. I could say I doing my part to take care of the environment, but I love them for the simple reason that they’re made of fabric --- having plaid ones is a perk. Chelsey has been trained well to hit the clearance table and scarf up the markdown napkins. Even the out of season ones… Because sooner or later – the season they fit will come around….

Gratitudes:
People have patience with me at work—learning new things
No cavities—the dreaded dentist appt
The warm puppy in my lap

Angels to watch over me.......

I’m still here. I’m older. I had a birthday last Monday. It was a special week. That’s right, in our house, they’re not just birthdays—they’re birth festivals…just to make them last longer. I was queen for the week.

In the mailbox, Darlene sent me a gift “just because”—it was perfect timing. These angels have to make you smile. With the tiniest of stitches, I have a tough time picking out my favorite. I’m just a little partial to the Angel with grapevine wings, but they are all beautiful.

Flowers were left on my doorstep by some close friends…The card, “Because you believe in happy endings…”
My family gave me dishes….I know it’s a sickness, but I’m completely in love with them, and food tastes better in them.

On the quilting front¬- I completed my bluebird wool project.

A week ago we went to Green Bay for the day. It was cloudy, windy, and wet. Might as well be in the stores. We came home at the end of the day and it was like someone had hauled off all the snow. It had vanished. It’s dirty and kind of lifeless outside. But the sun shining puts a brighter twist on it. It’s a rare year to have spring come so early in the year. We had a week of 50 to 68 degree temps. I’ve had some long work days, but I’ll take what I can get.
I better get to quilting. I’ve got a project on the frame.

Gratitudes:
Birth Festivals
Grilled Green Beans
Sunshine

Baskets of Life Completed

It got up in the upper 40’s today as predicted. I went out while it was still below freezing to the back part of our snow shoe trail. There’s been on old fallen pine tree there all winter begging for a quilt opt.

So with camera and clothes pins in tow, the pups and I went on a mission.

The photos do not show the details of the quilt well. It figures.

As I was sewing the blocks into one piece last night I realized that other than the last five blocks I’ve sewn since Christmas, I didn’t even remember the others. 2009 was a tough year and many parts of it seem kind of like a blur in time-- but I'm realizing everyone has times in their lives like this and hey-- at least I got a quilt out of the deal....

JoAnn Mulally did a great job in designing the piece. The Country loft did an excellent job in packaging it with beautiful fabrics and the instructions were like receiving a gift every month.


I’ve done two of her block of the month pieces. I did not sign up this year. It’s a snowman quilt--- I’ve got too many of the real thing and just didn’t want 12 months of them. But I still recommend it to others, It’s a darling quilt.

Close ups show more detail. Where her Seasons BOM was mostly browns, this quilt has brighter colors with wool stars sprinkled throughout.

I have one quilt on the frame now, but it won’t be long till this one is quilted. I can’t wait to use it.

Gratitudes:
Hot Water Heater
My daughter dating a nice guy (for the moment)
Phone call from Florida – Needed prayers are always a blessing

Basket Blocks

If the quilt blocks really grew on trees….. I have to work late tonight, so I opted for sleeping in and traipsing through the snow for some photos.

These are the last of the Basket blocks for the Baskets of Life BOM. I got behind (life happens).

So after Christmas I drew out all six blocks and got busy. I counted myself complete when I finished the stitching, but there’s still lots of work sewing on the borders.

This one is my favorite.

I’ve been sewing almost 30 minutes a day.

I have this mindset that sooner or later Don’s going to get a job and I need to have this stuff completed.

But there’s always one more quilt to make.
Here are photos of my assistants in to snow. Nothing slows them down….

Working late, there probably won’t be time for fun tonight.

Kids are doing well. Life is good.