Thanksgiving was really special. Took some pictures, but kind of got caught up in the holiday that I forgot to photograph it like I should have. It was just the four of us. Instead of place cards--- my kids threatened to take me to the doctor if I used them with just four of us at the table---I opted for Thanksgiving verses.
And Even though I got the “Mom, you are so cute” line, I think it was outstanding. I wanted to press the point home that the holiday was more than just about food.

Both kids are settled back into their college lives but as I look back on the weekend, it was definitely one of the more memorable ones. We Played Buzzword. If you want a great family game—this is it… We all still laugh over playing. Trust me—you won’t be disappointed. Friday, Chels and I went to Appleton. Lots of shoppers--- but I could tell there wasn’t so many buyers. We spent the day shopping for her an outfit for a Christmas party. She’d get a little frustrated and I’d calm her down---“Who cares what we’re doing… at long as we’re together…” By the end of the day, I think she recognized it. We ended the day at a quilt shop in Green Bay. And she spent the trip home trying to convert me to her “kind” of music….Where’s Kenny Chesney when you need him?!?!?!?!

Saturday she returned to school, as she had to work. Don and Eric did their thing and I played in my sewing room. I started a tiny quilt. It was for a gift… but I may not be able to part with it.
On the advice of Libby--- I went to the scrap box and dug in. It does become addictive. When I look at this little 8 x 10 piece… all it keeps telling me is to “Appreciate the little things…”

I started work on a wall hanging. The pattern was a gift from Colleen. The stitching is complete.
Over the last 12 months my stitching has improved.

I’m off to work. Did I say I have a “wife” this week? Don has a week of vacation. And I truly believe…”Every woman needs a wife….”

Gratitudes:
Safe travel for my kids
That scrap box of fabric
Mittens

Celebrate……Every day there’s reason to celebrate. Some days it just takes longer to find that reason. I found out Monday that the place I work will take down time between Christmas and the New Year. The pay cut is tough but my kids will still go to school, the jeep will still have gasoline and there will still be a house --- warm with a refrigerator full of food. It could be so much worse. It’s just temporary but I’m a realist---it could turn into permanent down the road. But for now we will celebrate and say it will be family and quilt time at home. Once my kids get home for Christmas the snow can fall by the tons because there’s plenty of fabric and we will be snug inside.

I just pulled the pecan pie out of the oven. The Turkey goes in bright and early in the morning. Chelsey should be home around 9 or 10. Eric had a safe trip home.
Here are the next to last blocks to the Four Seasons Quilt I’ve worked on throughout 2008. I’m excited about the completion. I have a couple of Christmas presents have been stitched, but I can’t post until later. They are surprises.

I hope everyone takes time out to appreciate the goodness in all of our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving…..

It’s Sunday evening. I finally got tolerable weather for my Neighborhood quilt. That’s what I call this BOM quilt officially called the House Sampler from Cottage quilts. I wished over it for two years before signing up for the project.


We went to Green Bay Christmas Shopping this weekend. I made considerable progress. It was chaotic in the stores. You’d never know there was economic woes across the nation. I did make more cautious buying decisions and avoided quilting stores. I guess I recognize my weaknesses.

The kids will be home Wednesday. Chelsey will not be home till Thursday morning as she will be working Wednesday until dark. I’d rather her not be on the road. They’ve already got 14 inches of snow on the ground. It’s the responsible decision. I sat back Friday night and thought….my kids are coming home for a holiday—oh no—they might be turning into adults!?!? It’s tough for a Mom.

It’s tough on Ransom too. He’s hanging tight with me… but I don’t think I’m as much fun as the kids…
Gratitudes—
Pine cones
My favorite Coffee Mug
Don and Ransom’s Company

Home…..It’s always great to visit other places, but there is nothing like being home. My folks are doing great. Over the next week, I’ll write down stories, because I don’t want to forget them. Here’s my old green--- new black jelly cupboard with a quilt draped over it.
Every once in a while the folds fall just right and I love the look of the pumpkin. This was a Thimbleberries Club quilt from several years ago.

The weekend before my trip--- I attempted to make a pencil roll designed by Kathy at Pink Chalk Studio. I had wished over it over about 9 months.
Four months ago I bought the colored pencils thinking it would be a great surprise for Chelsey. My pattern called for 13 pencils and I had 24.
Some people are gifted enough to “monkey” with the pattern and adjust it to work--- I’m obviously not. The strips were to be cut 1.5 inches. I thought a quarter of and inch wouldn't matter so that I could incorporate more colors. Wrong! It was a complete disaster. On top of that, I used batting when the pattern called for flannel inside. I should have just emailed Kathy and talked to her about it. 3 hours of sewing Sunday was wasted. But I regrouped and two days later I started again and it was worth it. She loved the gift. The fabrics were filled with memories.

“Mom--- you used my Prom dinner table cloths.”
“You made me a purse out of the turquoise.”
“ I bought you the Baby –Blue”
“My favorite is the White”
“I know how you love plaids”
“I was with you when you got the green.”
“The key on the bottom is your trademark.”

“Mom--- I love it….my friends say that I can’t use it. I need to saved it…”

I stopped at the cleaners last week to pick up clothes. On the way to the car I saw dried hydrangea bushes. I went back in—on impulse—and asked if I could cut the dead flowers. The girl’s response was “I don’t know why you’d want dead flowers, but take all you want…”


So here they are and they’re going on the Christmas tree. I think it’s just going to be beautiful.

Gratitudes:
My kids coming home for Thanksgiving.
Quiet days at work
Southern Living Magazines sent home with me by my Mom

Tuesday and tons to talk about. The last month of my House Sampler is Complete and the quilt is entirely piece, just no photo opts.
Maybe this afternoon. As soon as my Christmas sewing is complete, we’ll get this baby quilted.
Chelsey sent me this dishtowel from school. She said is looked like me. I think it’s almost too nice to use.

I won!!! I did, I won a complete quilt kit from Carrie Nelson at Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company.
The Pattern, Fabric and Even borders fabrics came. I even brought it to work one day to wish on. Made a tough day easier to get through. OK--- I just wish I had hand writing like this lady…Another thing to put on the “to do” list… practice penmanship.


Lastly, My latest Purchase, The Crow napkin rings. Perfect for anytime of the year. They were mail-ordered from Farmhouse Woolens.
Even though I’m on a budget, some things you just can’t live without.

I’m off Thursday for a long weekend to visit my folks in Louisiana. Don and Ransom will be “Bachelors” roughing it without me. I can’t wait to see my folks.

It’s called Saltboxes in the Corner. And it’s complete…..well pieced anyway. It’s supposed to have a 4 inch black border all the way around, but this quilt is queen-size already, so I’m opting for black binding instead. It was so much fun. It’s the first time I’ve used wool in a quilt. I’ve got to create a backing.

This is legally defined as a stash buster. I only purchased the wool. I’m kicking around piecing one more house and including it in the backing. It was an incredibly accurate and easy pattern. I have many memories of quilters stitched into it as we have traded and swapped fat quarters the last couple of years.


I had an email chat with a quilter today. We talked about houses and decorating and wishes and “want to’s” dealing with the wood, nails, and brick contraption we call home. I firmly believe it’s never the ‘House’ that looks great, it’s what you do with it and the love--- not $$$ poured into it.

We bike ride all summer long and I took the time to photo some of the homes on our path.

Most, if not all, looked empty throughout the summer. I always imagine them being cottages for weekenders or maybe camps for winter hunters, or maybe just hide-aways for people needing a chance to escape the city.
.


As we ride I tell Don stories of the people that I think live there or if I owned the house exactly where the quilts would be.

So I guess ending this post of a House quilt …maybe the same concept is true--- it’s not how much money you pour into the quilt but the love that’s there in the stitches that makes the difference.

Good Morning---

I'm finishing up the Cheerios and I'm off to work in a flash. It's Halloween. We usually don't get trick or treaters out our way, but I have candy just in case....

I completed the top border for the quilt I'm working on and I just have 4 appliqued trees left.
I don't think I'm going to make the November 1st deadline, But, I'm pretty close.

I sent My college kids Halloween Chinese takeout boxes filled them with Fortune cookies. I completed a handmade card with a snapshot of them as kids trick or treating. Yesterday I bundled up their mail and sent it to them. Probably missing them a little. I just want them to know they are thought of.

We've had a snow shower but it has melted. It even got into the 60 degree temperatures yesterday.

I'm hoping for a weekend of sewing and playing in the the woods. We have to enjoy the warmer weather and it is fast leaving us.

Hope everyone has fun tonight, be careful....

I started a post before work on Monday--- It’s now Tuesday and that post is yet to be complete. We had a great weekend. I went to work yesterday and there’s always the question: “what did you do?” We caught up on housework, watched a movie, Raked leaves, ran Ransom each day, slept in, and quilted. On paper it sounds incredibly boring…but in “real life”, I was terribly content. Guess you had to have been there….

I’m one border away form finishing the Saltbox in the Corner Quilt. Maybe tonight… I made four donation blocks for a friend’s granddaughter’s quilt.
She requested purple… I was digging deep to find purple fabric in the fabric closet.

Yesterday I headed out with the quilted cards and a jeep full of pumpkins for the annual pumpkin drop off.
I felt like Santa. I left several pumpkins and notes on friends’ doorsteps and headed home for the evening. Who doesn’t smile at a pumpkin?!?!?

I’ve got 9 days of quilt time left. On November 1st, I have set a goal to make three small Christmas gifts. We’ll keep you posted on the progress.

I had a really rough week at work… we’ll l leave it at that.. I made it to the weekend. It’s not worth posting about.

My daughter came home this weekend--- with surprises. She knows me well.

I now have a crow for a front porch wreath and plaids to replenish my stash. I needed a piece of wool for tree trunks so she rescued me. She’s a great kid.

Weekend plans will hopefully focus on sewing. I want to spend time with Chelsey. She’s been laying the groundwork for not coming home till thanksgiving, but that’s a while away. But while I share her with her friends, I’m hoping to finish piecing a quilt. I’m really excited about it. Can’t wait to share.

Gratitudes:
My job despite the rough weeks
Plaids
A daughter that loves me

Where have I been???? I guess I’ve been just adjusting to life at home without the kids. The economy has hit work hard, so job responsibilities vary. We’ve been enjoying the weather a lot. It’s been pretty mild, so the leave seem to be just clinging to the trees longer than usual.
Here is the view from the ‘Front Porch’.

I’ve tried all summer to get a photograph of the view from the Hammock on the ‘Covered Porch’ in the back – the day light was just perfect today.
Experts are blaming the drought as for the reason for lack of red.
On the quilting front, I’ve just about finished the wool appliqué and here are the flying geese blocks. I am determined that my salt box quilt will be the scrappy stash buster kind of quilt, with only the wool being the new fabric purchased for it. You can see scrap pieced triangles of Thimbleberries fabrics from the scrap basket. I thought it was a little too “new” looking after the snap shot and dunked it in in the leftover afternoon coffee to age it a little.
We went bike riding this afternoon as temps reached 73 degrees. That basket came in handy for a quart of milk we needed for home.
A snapshot of my Fall star on the front door.

Gratitudes:
A ‘Sorta Labrador’ dog for company
Home Chef Salads for two
Sleeping in until 7 am

I was procrastinating. I knew it and did it anyway. I was scared to death of cutting into the wool for my Saltboxes in the corner quilt. I guess it was because it was a different kind of fabric. Maybe because I knew I couldn’t replace easily if I were to screw it up.

I had worked later than normal yesterday. I went home and got all the “have to do’s” out of the way. And then got on a fit. I had counted on quilting all day. It was getting me through a lot of junk at work and now that it was time to actually do the “fun stuff”, I was too tired. But I thought I’d at least go down and straighten up some fabric. Then I said I’d cut out one color and see how it went. I ended up cutting out all the wool pieces and it didn’t hurt a bit. A common sense tip --- I run short of common sense lots of time. I cut out the big pieces first, and then used the leftovers for the smaller ones. The yardage was pretty tight, so I was glad I did or I would not have had enough for the project. Most people know to do this…. like I said, I come up short on the common sense side of things. Give me an Algebraic equation and I do fine--- every day life—sometimes I suffer.

I even picked out fabric for the setting triangles around the houses.


I’ve got a couple of gifts to make this weekend. I have to finish breaking down the garden and harvesting the carrots too. Chelsey had planned on staying at school this weekend, but I talked with her last night:

“Mom, you know I’m all talk. I’ll be home after work this weekend.” I just laughed. That’s why she went off to school only two hours away. Weather will become a factor in later months. But for right now--- Ransom will have a weekend bed partner….He really misses those kids.

I had both my kids home for the weekend. Lots of cooking and eating, but lots of fun. They both made it safely back to school, so the house is a lot bigger and a lot quieter too. That’s not a bad thing either. Like a always tell Chelsey--- “since the day you were born, this has been part of the plan…”

Onto quilting. The postcard was a hit with Chelsey; she even had a friend that wanted one too.

“Mom, they don’t care what’s on it—just send him one…”

Now Eric wasn’t thrilled, “Mom, I share a mailbox with 6 other people--- don’t do that again, you’re a dork…” Oh well, win a few… lose a few….
Here are the cards hitting the College dorm this week.

I finished the last block of the house sampler. I found my self cutting a house and coming back later and sewing it up. Lots of pieces and detail in this set.
Next month we receive borders and put it all together. Back in January I had plans for a flying geese border or maybe an Ohio star pieced one, but I’m ready to get this baby in the quilting frame and call her done. I recommend it to everyone. I really enjoyed it. Buggy Barn Quilts did a nice job of putting it together….
I had to get a new cell phone – the second in a week… completely stressful. I guess I’m going to figure out how to use the puppy, clean up the quilt shop downstairs, and hit the hay---

Tomorrow’s another day…..

For quilting……..

The words make speak of summer, but we have frost warnings tonight. It’s not the first time this season, but I think they mean business tonight.


These blocks complete my summer section of the Block of the month quilt Four Seasons from Country Loft. Three seasons down and one to go. This is my first BOM project with Country Loft and I recommend them to everyone. Reasonably priced, thorough, and each month they’re packaged just fun to read. I’ve gotten burned out on BOM projects before, but I find myself looking forward to this one each month.

Ransom and I picked up the leaves on our walk. I ironed them between two sheets of wax paper. I think I’m pulling petunias up this evening and cleaning out three rows in my garden too. It’s that time of the year. Don’s got another business meeting tonight, so Ransom and I will definitely be quilting…

Gratitudes:
1. A full tank of Gas in my jeep (even if I had to pay of it)
2. Pumpkin Gourds fresh off the vines
3. That cricket taking up residence in my office behind shelves where I can’t reach. (Helps me hold onto summer a little longer I guess).

Ok--- so the conversation went something like this:

“Mom, how come you never write me letters at school?”

“Well, Baby, we talk on the cell phone everyday and you’ve come home a couple of weekends—I don’t know. I email you.”

“Sara’s Mom writes her all the time… I never get mail. I bought some stationary yesterday and wrote you a letter. Call me when you get it. I just want to see if it works…”

You’d think she’d never mailed a letter or received one in her life!!!! So last night after the workout, chores, and dinner, Ransom and I whipped up two fabric postcards.


There’s a story. When the kids were little and had after school activities we’d pick them up from school instead of them riding the bus home. It was too far to go back home and then double back for the classes. So we’d stop at a restaurant for French fries and a coke. Just enough to tide them over till supper time later. We’d look at school papers and discuss the latest playground fallout. Then we’d bundle back up and head off to dance lessons, or karate lessons. There were piano lessons for Eric and Chelsey’s “Shania Twain” phase of guitar lessons.

Yeah, they’ll call me a dork, I’m sure. But now they’ll have the French fries even though I’m too far away to be there in person….

P.S. I did get her letter yesterday. I think I’ve read it ten times. Like my Mom always says, “ When you hang up the phone it’s over, but a letter you can read over and over again…”

It’s Monday --- Early…. I’m not even going to dread going to work... the weekend was awesome. Chelsey came home. Don needed something picked up in Green Bay--- so we sacrificed ourselves for some shopping endeavors. We had so much fun. There was lunch out and small purchases but tons of ‘window’ shopping.

The weather was crummy, but we took turns driving and it wasn’t raining inside. I had all of my new kids in Sunday school yesterday and each one is cuter than the next. I’m a football junkie so Sunday afternoon the family watched the NFL games and we got Chelsey back on the road to school. This was a hard week to send her back. I guess it’s because we had so much fun.

I spent Sunday evening decorating with pumpkin quilts. My mind says I don’t need anymore more… but there are so many beautiful ones out there it’s so hard to resist.

Purchases… Bath and Body Works is a “must” stop on the shopping trip.
The Fall Pumpkins scents are my favorites. The wooden leaves are Dollar Tree purchases. I removed all the raffia and changed it to Grosgrain ribbon.

There is a consignment shop that is always a favorite stop in Appleton.
The painted tea-dyed towel I couldn’t resist.

My last purchase was the pumpkin sign.
The photo doesn’t do it justice. There are black crows sitting on top of it.

The last couple of photos are just fall corners in my house.
The quilts have all been shared in prior years, but pulling out old quilts is like visiting an old friend. Don made the quilt ladder for me for my birthday.
This is the first Fall I’ve had it to decorate. I do have my eyes open for two new projects.
I want to paint an old chair black and one red. I love quilts thrown over old chairs. And half of the fun of getting the chair is searching for it.

I have plans for quilting tonight…. Maybe pictures tomorrow….

The borders are tea-dyed and the houses are built.

I’m washing the wool as I type. I’m so glad the weekend has arrived. Ransom and I have already gotten our run in. I made chocolate chip cookies for Chelsey. She’s coming home this weekend. What is it about homemade cookies that says ‘I love you’?

I’ve got a pot of Jambalaya cooking… Cornbread with it and we’ll call it supper. Several have asked about my folks in Louisiana. They’re OK. They were without power for 4 days--- most would think “No big deal”, put couple that with 90 degree temperatures and it’s pretty unpleasant. They have lots of tree limb damage and their church is 18 inches deep in water. That was pretty devastating to them…but buildings can be repaired and no lives were lost so they’ll be OK.

One last thing---I’m going to date myself—guess what I’m listening to? Remember Christopher Cross? I ordered Eric a book on CD for ‘back to school’ because he’s way too cool for pink boxes. He listens to it while he travels in his car. Anyway I ordered Christopher Cross’s Greatest hits--- such great memories in every song…..Google it and listen….

Onto the weekend…..

I’ve been sewing--- but every time I try to take a photo of the progress there seems to be an obstacle… It’s raining, the camera battery needs charging, and People drop by the house… so we’ll just have to hold onto the suspense.

I’ve been in Wichita Kansas this week for an Aviation seminar. While the seminar for fine, there’s no doubt my heart is at home. Don and Ransom were bachelors without me. And though every one of Ransom’s water bowls was empty he lived and I count the adventure a success. Ransom has almost caught up on his water intake too.

I did make some purchases.
I saving up fabric for a homespun project, so that’s where the yellows and purple pieces come in. I have a couple of friends into “pink” so those were definitely stash builders. I have just been in love with the Kansas Troubles piece so I purchased 3 yards just for the sake of that.

My final purchases were wool pieces for my Saltboxes in the Corner quilt. Wool is pricey… never purchased any before. I’ve had several pieces in kits but never purchase that kind of fabric as stand alone pieces. Should I pre-wash the pieces before appliquéing with them? I’d appreciate any advice.

It’s not a tornado or a hurricane… this is the current view from the back ‘covered porch.’

Don and I had decided on Direct TV as a treat now that the kids are fleeing the nest. But as it turns out, we have way too much forest for the high tech satellite device. So we were going to cut down 2 trees for the project. We had a forester come in and gave me serious talking to about tree safety, about how thinning out certain trees will allow others to flourish. He also talked to me about disease in certain trees and conservation. Well, he won me over, and 25 trees came down. I’m not sad… my garden will grow better. The house will be safer, trees will get bigger and truthfully after the mess is cleaned up, I don’t think I’ll even know their gone. It’s kind of like thinning the garden out… it only hurts for a little while….Oh --- and—we decided against Direct TV… We decided we didn’t want to become couch potatoes and that it probably wasn’t really good for us any way… regular cable would suffice….

Maybe tomorrow I can get the quilt blocks photographed and include another post….

Fall is settling in….
From the Covered Porch……..

I’m about to head out to work for the morning…but I had a wonderful weekend. We’ve been enjoying the last of the summer temperatures. I have been nursing the garden and hoping I can make it another month without frost. I have been quilting up a storm. Here is August’s block in the House Sampler block of the month. I love the chimney…

The other project I’m working on is the Saltboxes in the Corner quilt.
The pattern was a gift from Colleen. We had planned on working on it together, but I’m completely unreliable and she’s an incredibly busy woman.
We have been changing the look of our den in the basement. My cute green jelly cupboard has now been painted black. I’m trying to “embrace” the entire “black” theme and I’ve wished over this quilt a long time. The middle is complete. Here is one of the corner houses.
I have completed a green house also. I only have a blue and gold one left to whip up. I tea dyed muslin yesterday for the appliqué portion. I’ve decided to use wool. I have blue and green. With a business trip ahead, I’m hoping to find enough red and gold to complete the flowers and hearts. This quilt will be draped over the door of the cupboard I think.

Chelsey is surviving college. She came down with a fever of 102 and tonsillitis on Wednesday. Pretty much a major meltdown, I talked her through getting to a doctor on her own and getting to Wal-mart for antibiotics. Guilty--- I called Wal-mart and warned them she was coming, and asked them to package up Ny-quil, cough drops and juice. I asked for a special dose of ---“Acting like you care”.

“Mom—just come and get me--- I can’t do this…”
“Chels, you can. One day you’ll be working in New York City and I won’t be there. I know you can do this.”
“No, I can’t…”
“Yes, you can….”

And she did……

I was strong on the outside, but on the inside I was crumbling....And it turned into a bonding thing with her new roomate and the kids on her dorm floor really rallied behind her taking her temp and checking on her. She's going to make it.