A great weekend makes it tough to go to work on Monday morning… over and over again I keep telling myself that the job provides the “great weekend”. Work is just a few hours… I can do it.

A picture first…
The angel that watches over the back porch. The photo doesn’t do her justice. Summer is in full swing. The temps have been in the low 80’s…just about right for the U.P.

Thursday night we went to some friends’ house for supper from church. They have eighty acres about 20 miles from our place. The food was good, the conversation even better. We even walked through their vegetable garden. We don’t do things with friends as often as I’d like. We’ll get our turn as the kids get older.

The comments about Chelsey I really took to heart. As, I’ve said before… I think I’m the one growing as much as she is. She went to Green Bay with a couple of friends Friday looking for Grad picture clothes. I bet she called 10 times—“Mom, I can’t do this…I need you here…” I think my heart grew two sizes that day… Like I said before…maybe I need to grow up too.

I don’t know where the weekend went. Not much quilting went on. I caught up on laundry and the house. I looked at the clock on Sunday evening at it was 6:00pm and I hadn’t even bought groceries. I made a quick list and Don and I hit the store. The bill was about $50.00 higher because he went, but the company was definitely worth it.

Here are impatiens that are thriving this summer. I’m still a rookie at flowers, but next year, I’ll plant more of these. We have so much shade, and these love the morning sun and afternoon shade.

I lost Eric to Harry Potter this weekend…he said it had a great ending. He was really stressing over it before he started. I’m glad it did, he's too much of an optimist, to become cynical.

Gratitudes:
10 kids in Sunday school
Quilt pictures—food for the soul when I can’t quilt.
Watermelon

OK – so last night I’m writing my block for my 365 day Challenge Quilt, Eric sits down beside me. He talking with his dad about the day—it’s about 7:30 at night. All of the sudden, he stops mid-sentence, “Hey - this is pretty cool… what is this?”


A Quilt Moment…..I went on to explain about how there’s a block for each day, I’m recording the temperatures, Prices of movie tickets, gas, a loaf of bread, milk.--Talking about everyday things like movies, Ransom, and conversations I have with family. I told him it started out as a project marking Chelsey’s Senior year, but Chelsey has turned out to be pretty much “anti family” this summer, so it’s a document of my life for a year.
“This is pretty neat, think about what it’ll mean looking back in a few years…”
“Eric – there’s hope for you yet---“
“Mom—I’m really into to the quilting thing…. If it weren’t for the sewing part…”

What?!?!?!I think he meant he appreciates them, just wouldn’t ever make one… we’ll go with that thought.

Chelsey anti-family? I think those are pretty tough words. She’s just busy with her life, working, cheerleading practice, and friends. Don says make a list of expectations—chores around the house—and as long as they’re done, her free time is hers. “Mel, you can’t ground her into hanging out with you… Mel, you need to find a new friend”.

At first, when she started this I was devastated, but we’ve kind of gotten a new routine established. Don points out for me to remember when a couple of Chelsey’s girlfriends Moms went through the same thing when their daughters hung out at our house all the time. I felt so lucky that they were at my house. Well, now I’m paying the Piper.

Again—whether I’m trying to convince someone else or maybe myself—You can't force the issue, but I won’t stop living either….dwelling on it won’t change anything, and I’m not losing a summer over it. Don said, “ God is preparing us for her to go to college…” Chelsey is in the world... the world doesn't revolve around Chelsey...

Me—I want the old Chelsey back…

Here’s proof I’m still around. I’m stitching away on the birdhouse block of my project. It’s not moving as fast as I had hoped but the summer is filled with so much going on, we have to balance things out.

Don and Chelsey made it home. The laundry is even caught up. I got all the weekend housework done before they got home, so I had the entire weekend at home to play. Saturday, I sewed and played in the garden. The weeds were taking over. It took two days and the war isn’t over but the battle is definitely on my side. Someone asked to see a photo of the garden progress, so here it is. I have a twirling water sprinkler in the middle to shower the garden if it needs watering.
There are two rows with fencing that act as trellises for cucumbers and gourds. I have snap beans or what most call green beans planted in two patches about two weeks apart. I have hopes that the vegetables will be ready to pick at different times so maybe they will last longer. I have regular tomatoes and cherry tomatoes planted. Most of the time we get frost before the full size tomatoes are ready, but I planted them in the sunniest spot in the garden and got bigger plants to begin with. There are marigolds along the fence rail with birdhouse gourds planted amongst them.

The gourds will eventually tower above them on the fencing. And zinnias and forget-me-nots (I’m a sucker for a flower with a neat name) planted along another side. Hopefully I’ll have cut flowers for the dinner table before too long. The bell pepper and squash are coming along too.

Here is a photo out along the roadside – The Queen Anne’s Lace Flowers are blooming everywhere.

I always bring some in for the porch. I don’t know if it’s the name I love—the fact that they call it “lace” are just the flower it self, but these are some of my favorites.

Gratitudes:
Both my kids have good work “ethics” and are hanging onto their summer jobs
Less than 7 days and I should have my sewing machine back
Fried chicken for supper – Don makes the best…

It’s Friday. The travelers will be home. While Eric and do not have the frequent flyer miles added to our week, I think we’ve had a good one. Eric even cooked one night. Wednesday night we went out for dinner. He and a date hit the ‘Harry Potter’ movie last night so I had an evening to myself – Tomato Soup and grill cheese sandwich was the menu of choice.

One night I made my cards and got them mailed for my Sunday school kids. Another night I got all 43 pieces of my next Primitive Garden block ready to appliqué. Last night, I mostly caught up on laundry and got things ready for Don and Chelsey to come home.

Here’s a photo of the last block I completed.
It was sprinkling rain when I took the picture. We’ve had gorgeous days all week, but by 4:30 pm, it clouds over and rains. I don’t really mind—Ransom does—because he doesn’t get his run in. But it is taking a toll on the garden. The weeds and I are going to battle it out this weekend.

A couple of dish pictures--- My Blue Willow dishes that hang in my Dining room.
My Mom gave me one and the other I found in a second hand shop in Escanaba. You may already know this, but there’s a neat story about the dishes. The Willow-pattern ware, originated in Staffordshire, England, c.1780. Thomas Minton, then an apprentice potter, developed and engraved the design, presumably after an old Chinese legend.
It portrays the garden of a rich mandarin whose young daughter elopes with his secretary. The lovers were overtaken on the bridge by her father and were transformed by the gods into birds and flutter beyond his reach. Being the hopeless romantic--- keeper of dishes--- this is my kind of stuff.

I also have a Currier and Ives Pieces by Royal China called the Old Grist Mill. I always thought the name of the collection was Old Grist Mill, but it’s just part of the Currier and Ives Pattern.

I better head to work, It’s Friday and Pay-day… a great combination.
Gratitudes:
Grill Cheese Sandwiches
Airplane Travel—family gets home quick
Porch Swings

It’s a quarter to eight, and I beat. I worked an eleven hour day, and Eric worked a twelve. It was kind of one of those days where you worked hard and accomplished little. Oh well, we get another shot at it tomorrow.

I took my sewing machine in. It’s going to be at least two weeks. Don told me to start researching and if it costs too much, we’ll just get a new one. As understanding as he is, I really just want my old machine repaired. I think the thing that bothered me the most was leaving it there for the two weeks. I wanted to make the appointment for two weeks from now and bring it in. The lady said, “Well, is it sewing?” “Well, no, but…” The logical side of me realized how ridiculous I was being but the emotional side wanted to say---‘You don’t leave your kids at the doctor’s office when their appointment isn’t for two weeks….’

I completed block 4 of the Primitive Garden. I still have to wash out the pencil marks. The tail feathers are not sewn down. When you join it with other blocks the tail feathers overlap to the next block.
I’m jumping to Block 7--- why? Because I can…. Block 5 is my favorite and there are many small pieces so I want to do it later. Block 6 is OK. Block 7 just looked fun…


So after completing this post, I’m off to trace – when I should be settling down for the evening.

The Folks in California are having fun….I’m glad.

Gratitudes—
Long Distance phone calls—Everyone seems closer
Sewing Machine Repair People in our town
Grilled Steaks with Eric

I’ve got a big week at work ahead, but I wanted to check in and type a few things to remember. First off, my patriotic dishes…fun for summer time.
Here are my blocks for my 365 challenge quilt I’ve been working on. I really how little fits in a square.
But I’m putting things like temperatures and when is the first time I picked daisies or when do we start bike riding…I want to be more creative, but I’ll get better as I go along.

Don and Chelsey are in California for her FCCLA trip and that leaves Eric and I (and Ransom) at home. We knocked out the housework and even did the laundry together so we had the rest of the day to play. He went to kickboxing class and I did some grocery shopping for the week. We both have finished novels this weekend.

We went to church together today and out for lunch afterward. We cooked pancakes and bacon for supper. Ransom got a long overdue bath this afternoon. It was 98 degrees today and now we’re in the middle of a thunderstorm.

I went down to sew this afternoon and turned the machine on and got the error message “Step Motor Error”. I’m just sick… Don called and I’m taking it into the shop to be fixed tomorrow. It’s not the end of the world. I’m going to cut out the next blocks for the Primitive Garden in stead. I’m just re-grouping.

Gratitudes:
Don and Chelsey’s safe flight
I didn’t throw a fit about the sewing machine (But I wanted to)
A weekend with lots of good memories

Our flag --- here is the view on Independence Day from our front porch.
I took a picture because I wanted to remember the view. We had a relaxing day for the holiday. There was a small thunderstorm about 2:00 pm, but it just made us take a nap until the sun came back out….

Both kids were in the hometown parade. The parade covered a five mile path. It was complete with cotton candy vendors and school bands. At 17, Chelsey was in the senior Cheerleader group. Eric works for a well drilling company so he got roped into walking along their float in the parade passing out water bottles with the company logo. While this isn’t a great picture, I wanted to keep it.
I realize both of my kids are pretty much “grown” and this will be the last “Independence Day” parade for them… We’ve sat through them in strollers, through the ‘Candy-catching’ years and their last year of being “In” the parade…. While Eric wasn’t at all thrilled about being in the parade, he admitted afterward it was a blast--- on a hot day you’re real popular—and after toting cases of bottles of water for five miles, he doesn’t have to lift weights tonight….

Chelsey is about to go to a national FCCLA convention. She’ll represent Michigan. Each person is given a pack of state pins – 5 in a package—to trade with other kids. You can buy additional pins but their really expensive. So the kids make their own representing their state. Chelsey has been working on hers. “ Mom, when I think of Michigan--- I think of snow and the Mitten state…” Here are some of her Pins. They were buttons that her father took the fastener off the back.—Of course the plaid paper that we laminated is my favorite part.

Answers to quilt questions. The ‘White’ stuff on the back of my BOM block is a thin interfacing that I used to stabilize the fabric. The homespun fabric is so flimsy that the blocks were difficult to appliqué and the stitching wasn’t coming out crisp…

What kind of appliqué? Keep in mind, I’ve never had a quilting class, and we were taught NOT to take sewing class in school. I trace the patterns on freezer paper and then iron the fabric down around the edges. I pull the freezer paper out press the edges back down and stitch into place. The Primitive garden came in a cotton set or a woolen set. I almost wished I had gotten the wool set but I had so little experience. I hand appliquéd it because I don’t want the edges frayed, I want the quilt to last for ages….

Gratitudes—
Parades
Red white and blue flags
Corn on the cob

‘Rainy days and Mondays always get me down…’ at least Mondays do…. I’m glad we’ve made it to Tuesday. I had a great weekend, that’s what makes Mondays tough. You don’t want them to end.

Friday night we went to the show. The Bruce Willis Flick was great. A little ‘Over the top’ as far as stunts go… but I don’t watch movies for reality anyway…It was fun. We went out for pizza afterward, I almost felt like I was on a real date. We should do it more. We had called home to check on the kids (not that they needed it) but Eric said he and a date we headed for Pizza and asked if we wanted to come. We even did the silly puzzles with crayons on the back of the paper placemats. And we laughed…I think that was the best part.

Saturday I got on my bike and set out for the first picking of the Black-eyed Susan’s for the Season.
The Ceramic pitcher was a gift from my Mom 22 years ago when we moved up here. It’s still a favorite. It gets filled with different things depending on the season—from Tulips to Pine boughs at Christmas. The birdhouse is from my sister-in- law… definitely a Louisiana Swamp Birdhouse.

Saturday night we had dinner with friends—It was an outside thing and the temps were chilly, but we really had fun.

I’m back working on my Primitive Garden Blocks---Here’s the block I’m working on now. It definitely needs pressing but I wanted to share it.I've been marking placement with a white chalk pencil. Even if I don't exactly match it, it kind of gives me an idea of where everything goes and everything fits a lot better.
I’ve got two old crows and seven orange flowers to stitch on and this block will be complete. I guess I’m officially 3 blocks behind—the decision is which to do next; they’re all just darling.

Gratitudes:
Tomorrow’s a Holiday--- no work
Crickets—I just love their sound
My new front porch steps.

A 5 AM photo before I head out to work shows the embroidery that brings to life another block in the Journey of a Quilter. It’s a chilly morning 41 degrees on June 29th.

They had frost advisories out, but I just said if it frosts tonight, the garden just wasn’t meant to be… I don’t think we got any….

Every day this week has been pretty uneventful--- just the way I like it. Weed a row of the garden, water the petunias, run Ransom, quilt a few stitches every night.

We’re off to see the new Die Hard movie tonight—Yeah, I’m a Bruce Willis fan. We’re having dinner with friends tomorrow night and church on Sunday.

Tuesday I did hit a small quilt shop in Eagle River. She’s closing her doors. Not because of lack of sales, but she’s going to be wholesaling her hand-dyed wool to quilt shops around the country. Everything in the store was 30% off, so I picked up a couple of pieces, three yards each just for wishful thinking. It was therapy--- cheaper than a psychiatrist I say.

Gratitudes:
Don & I getting along well
Grilled burgers last night
Presents in the Mail

I just came in from watering the garden. We’ve spent the weekend catching up on Chelsey’s adventures in Mexico. While traveling is fun—I think she’s figuring out “there’s no place like home…”.

I had eleven kids in Sunday School. We went outside for our summer bubble expedition. We talked about giving your troubles to God and letting go of what you couldn’t fix… My favorite response was..”But Miss Melanie --- the bubbles don’t make it to heaven…” My response, “God knows they’re there…”

I’ve been pretty useless on the homefront. We held ‘family house cleaning' on Thursday night before Chelsey got home, so I’ve been totally absorbed in my Journey of a Quilter Blocks. Here’s one
and the other is probably completed by the time you are reading this.
I keep thinking—‘Just a couple more stitches and I’ll put it away…’

We’ve got a consultation with a Photographer in Eagle River on Tuesday for Chelsey’s Senior Pictures. There’s a quilt shop in Eagle River, So we just might have to stop and check it out….

Gratitudes:
A gorgeous weekend
Cashews for snack
4-year olds…..

I’m still here. Work was outstanding this week. After you’ve been away, you always wonder…It’s a “Catch -22”, if they did fine without you…Are you needed? If they suffered without you do you delegate well and are you ready to pick up the pieces? I think there was a balance… A manageable list of task to conquer and get caught up.

I receive this box of gifts from Connie and was just amazed.
A friend who has never met me and yet shared so generously…there’s a special place in heaven for quilters—definitely. I told her I couldn’t begin to pick out my favorite thing… the handwritten card… the gingham paper it came in… or maybe the 30’s reproduction fabrics. I’ve never had any before. I guess I always looked at it like I had my stash of fabrics built and never varied from the color scheme. Now I’m psyched to get some more and start cutting them up for a project.

What’s been going on all week? A little nightly stitching on the Journey of a Quilter blocks. Maybe pictures will come on Sunday.

Ransom and I have been strolling nightly. The guys worked late on Wednesday so I brought the camera. We went after a thunderstorm. While I don’t spend an obscene amount on flower—nature provides free ones on the side of our road…I look forward to them every year. Rain drops on oak leaves.

My kids say I gravitate to anything “rusty”, here a farm tool
that neighbors up the road display on a corner. It’s been banged by teenage drivers making the corners too fast several times, but still I stop and look at it for a second every time we walk. Here’s a view up the road, you’ll find a hundred of them just like it –just about anywhere in the U.P., but I appreciate the view I have.
And here is someone’s mailbox.
They have a flag displayed. Sometimes –I wonder… will mailboxes ever go “out of style”…Ours got hit by someone last week. They didn’t even stop. Don wanted to replace it. I told him, “No way --- It now has character… a mark left by a rear view mirror…” Walking up the driveway, here are impatients peeking through the wagon wheel.


Summer time is great with the longer days, the ease of being outside without bundling up. And while I may not write as often, there’s not a day goes by that quilters aren’t thought about…. Enjoy your weekend… and enjoy your stitches.

Gratitudes:
Connie
Chelsey’s safe travel home
Eric’s safety traveling for tests this weekend
Warm temperatures and clear nights.

I’m having a great week. Work has called a couple of times, but I’m grateful for the job, so it is what it is….

I’ve been catching up on some things--- visited a friend who had lost her husband recently. I remember she used to sew all the time. I brought her a book and a couple of fat quarters. I guess I’m pretty naive, but quilting is the ‘fix’ for just about everything for me…. I worked in my Sunday School Classroom, just doing some organizing.. again things I don’t normally get to do. Got a baby gift. I had dreams of making something, but settled for purchasing a little outfit, but I made the card and gift bag. A nice compromise, I think. Recognizing limits is a good thing.

I made another block for the ‘Journey of a Quilter’ quilt. I even traced for the stitching.
The remainder of the week, I’ll work on it and My Primitive Garden quilt.

Monday afternoon my book came in….so You can guess the time I’ve spent dreaming over it.
I highly recommend it to everyone. I finished ‘ The Quilter’s Homecoming’ in the hammock yesterday.. a good book, but my favorite was a ‘Circle of Quilters.”

I’ve been keeping up with the daily chores, they don’t seem like drudgery – they almost seem like a race to complete to get to the fun stuff. A few days off really help.

Gratitudes:
1. DMC Thread
2. Sunny Days
3. Ransom at my feet

Paradise—no – vacation—no—just a week at home. I couldn’t be more content. Don and I made a pact last year that we’d take one week a year home doing home projects, sleeping late, and doing fun things together. Housework, yard work, everything is better when you have someone to do it with. Sunday we broke out the bicycles for the first summer ride.

We‘re not glued at the hip. Today he went on a 5 mile jog and I opted for the elliptical machine and weights. It has gotten to where I have to do lots more lifting at work, so Eric’s put me on a weight training program.

I ran errands, He’s re-doing some landscaping. I picked us up salads for lunch. This afternoon I completed a block on my Journey of a Quilter.
I still have the stitching to do on it but I’m extremely pleased. Her directions were great, and by taking my time everything fell into place. It’s hard to get a feel of it from the pictures, but I pulled fabrics that have special meanings to me--Fat quarters from friends, Thimbleberries, pieces from gifts I’ve made for others.


At about 6:45pm last night, I told Don, I could fold laundry, catch up on some paper work, or read a book in the hammock on the porch. He said, “You have a week off of work, I vote for the hammock.” So He took the porch swing and I the hammock. About ten minutes into it a thunderstorm comes up and we listen to the thunder and watched the rain. Swinging back and forth he said…” You can’t watch this on a deck…” I just smiled.

My Irises are blooming,
and
thanks to the generous rain last night, the snap beans are popping up.


The neat part of all of this is I get to do it again tomorrow…..

I’m thrilled. I finally got my 3rd block completed for my Primitive Garden.The block hasn't been pressed yet, but I couldn't wait.... It’s only fitting to photograph it on a barbed wire fence since the block is a picture of that.
I’ve got the fourth blocked marked and cut, now for the pressing and stitching. On the next block, I’ll take a before and after photo. It’s amazing (I think) how the stitching brings the block to life. The blocks are kinda ‘naked’ with out it.


Lessons learned—I’ve shared with several already. I placed a lightweight interfacing on the back of the block and it made the quilting and stitching a lot easier and the fabric anchored in the hoop a lot better. On the crows-- I cut off the legs and appliquéd them separately.
I’m just not that detailed a person and it was impossible for me to appliqué them otherwise. I also took a tip from Leanne Beasley, and sewed scrap fabric around the edge to give myself more holding room in the quilting frame. I used the widest stitch on my machine and the seam-ripped it after the block was complete.

I started this project a month late. I said I’d never do another BOM because my attention span failed. But I am really enjoying this. I’m now 2 months behind, but I’m not stressing at all. I’m having fun and it’s a nice portable project. Who wants to be stuck in the basement during a U.P. Summer?!?!?!

On the home front, Chelsey flew to Mexico with her Spanish class yesterday. I hope she has fun. Seventeen-year-old girls go through a lot growing up--- so do their parents. I hope she spends some time thinking while she’s there.

I’ve completed the first week on my 365- challenge quilt. Pictures coming this weekend.


Isn't this a great birdhouse?!?!? This is on the road where I live. I don't know whether it's the evergreens in the background, the wire fence or the mossy stuff growing on it. I just loved the picture...

Gratitudes:
Chelsey’s safe flight
My guys at home listening patiently to “quilt talk”.
Summer time weather.

Saturday was my Wedding anniversary—Twenty-three years, a huge investment in a person’s life. Over time, relationships evolve and change, Don and I have spent a lot of time talking about that lately. Age and wisdom are incredible things. We went out to dinner Friday night – and relived the wedding rehearsal and wedding details. We laughed this time because the first time we both were pretty nervous.

Saturday, I planted the garden. Don tilled it up for me. In past years, it seemed like I fought to get it all done. It’s not like we depend on it for food or anything but it just seemed like a battle to get everything done. But this year, I enjoyed it like crazy. It even sprinkled a little while I planted. Friends who have lived here all their lives swear that planting during sprinkles is a sign of a bumper crop. Time will tell I guess. Don laughs, maybe we’ll get that bumper crop of Black eyed Susan’s, daisies, oh and pumpkin gourds—he can hardly wait!!!:). My Garden signs aren’t up but the Garden Angel is watching over the rows as you read this….


A few months ago I found this website, Leanne’s House, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Not knowing anything about Australia, I looked to a friend for answers. She’s been great. I asked those ridiculous questions like how the seasonal colors work with seasons being opposite from ours, and what do you have for Christmas dinner and does Santa wear that big red coat with White fur in Australia in the summer time???? She’s answered the questions and the word ‘Dingbat’ was never typed. She sent me this.
Chelsey and I have enjoyed the DVD (Yes – we’re totally enchanted with the accent!!) and I’m saving the wrapping paper for something special. Thanks again- quilting friends are the best.

Gratitudes:
1. My anniversary gift of a new flash for my camera.
2. Family time last nite, it’s getting harder and harder for us all to be on the same time schedule.
3. Rain watering my garden last night.

A sunny morning--- I’m probably going to be late for work. Well, work isn’t going anywhere. Thundershowers again last evening but I played with the flowers before they came. Chelsey worked last night. Don has meetings all day today, so I stayed up and quilted and waited for her. What is it about needle and thread that just soothes your soul? At least mine anyways….

I took a stroll through the damp yard this morning, yeah, I’m that crazy person you see walking in the grass at 5:30 in the morning. In the wintertime, there is silence outside. No leaves, no birds, just maybe birch limbs clapping together keeping time with the wind howls. But in the summer, the birds and chipmunks shout from the rafters. Here are a couple of photos from this morning on the front porch.



I’ve written before about mother; she’ll be 75 years old in a couple of weeks. We’re really close, pretty amazing since we live so far away. We talk two or three times a week, at least. She’s anti- Internet. I think it’s because she’s never had anyone work with her on it, but she feels that it could be “the root of all evil.” I still write her once a week and she writes back. She includes clippings from the hometown newspaper, photographs, (I giggle—she sends funeral programs from friends passing away.) I always say relationships take the effort of two people and she does a heck of a job. She’s even sent coupons and fabric swatches when she’s picking out things for the house. I stayed a few minutes after work yesterday to jot a few lines down to get sent to her through the post office. She always tells me that when you hang up the phone call is over, but if you have a letter, you can read it over and over again (and typed letters don’t count—they’re impersonal—they must be hand written). I took a camera phone snap shot because I guess I wanted to remember what I wrote her this time.
The photo is pretty bad but here it is:

“My quilt blocks I’m working on have embroidery. Brings back memories. I’m so glad you taught me how. Thanks.”

Maybe you learned on your own, maybe you didn’t, I but never want it to believe that I don’t appreciate learning about needle and thread….

A quick post and I’m off to work. Man—I want to stay home today, but I got a 19-year-old kid looking at me in the face wanting the same thing, so I’ll set the mark and get to work. Here’s a photo of the flower baskets on my light post.
Usually there are geraniums or regular petunias hanging there, but this year I was charmed by the baby petunias the gardener called, “Million Dollar Belles”. So they came home with me.

Left early from work because I had a meeting with an auditor. But wouldn’t you know it—I left my purse and had to go back. It just wasn’t in the cards. Eric is coaching Chelsey through finals.

Chelsey: “Eric, I don’t wanna learn this.”
Eric: “ You don’t a have choice”
Chelsey: “ But I don’t wanna”
Eric: “ You can do this…”

He has the patience of a saint, she may not appreciate now, but I hope one day she appreciates him.

When I got home, I had treasures in the mailbox. Chelsey always find cool sayings that fit the right moment. “ A friend is someone who sings the words to your song even when you forget them…” That’s what kind of friend I have.

The needles have big eyes to go easy on my own and the picture of roses from her garden—sharing a view because I don’t have them.

Gratitudes:
The Guys at work
My two guys at home
Alfredo for supper

I enjoyed my three day weekend tremendously. I vote for three day weekends every week. The weekend started kind of tough. I had my list of “Have to do’s”. We went to several graduation parties. It was fun, saw people we hadn’t seen in a while. But after the “have to do’s” were complete, it rained. That means no gardening, no playing outside. Sunday it was frightfully cold, again I couldn’t plant. Then Sunday afternoon they put out frost warnings so everything worked out for the best. I think it was God’s way of telling me to quilt.

I slept in until 7:00 am on Monday. Totally out of the ordinary, but even Ransom slept in. We did the breakfast thing and Don and Eric took Ransom running. I hit the elliptical machine for a couple of miles. We’re redoing the walkway in front of the house. Seventeen years of frost lines heaving up and down—it’s cracked and sinks and holds ice so Don and Eric are working on it together. It’s going from a straight sidewalk to and S-shape winding one. It’ll look sharp I hope.

I got dressed. Only quilters can appreciate my bibs.
They are the ceremonial gardening outfit for the past few years. Chelsey says, “Mom – you’re a Dork,” but I’m OK with that.

I planted my geraniums for the steps, played with the hanging baskets, and purchased my tomato plants and bell peppers.

I ordered fabric for a gift that arrived on Saturday. It was clearance I got four yards for $15.00.
What I really liked was the packaging. Looked at how it arrived. I guess it goes to show—little things can mean a lot. I made the gift; pictures will follow after it reaches its destination.

The quilt today is the second quilt I ever made.
I could almost say it was made on a dare. The double wedding ring quilt has always been one of my favorites. I showed Don a picture and kind of talked about making it. Don’s response, “Look at the symmetry... and those curves. There’s no way, Mel that quilt is wayyyy tooo tough.” But instead of caving in, I took the challenge. I used templates and cut each piece individually. I remember sandwich bags all over the place holding the pieces. I hand pieced it because I was worried about stretching the bias if I used the machine. And it’s hand quilted because I had never heard of machine quilting at the time. Talking about rookie quilting--- it has “purchased quilt binding” because I had never heard of making your own. I think I made it in 1991. The fabrics are muslin and scraps picked up here and there. There’s even a piece from an old curtain in our first house. The quilt hung for many years above my bed in our room until I changed the colors. There are lots of nice memories looking at this quilt.

I’m really trying to be grateful for the three-day weekend…. But I find myself wanting more time….