Getting ahead of the game...

the cooler air has me thinking about the winter months when a bit of color is always so cheerful. I had a fun time making these projects. The snowman(Pearl Louise Krush) is about 20x30" and the table runner(Terry Martin)...well, it's made with 12 blocks. The snowman's applique was a bit of a trial, because I grabbed the wrong roll of adhesive-the heavy instead of the light- and had to do the whole thing over again. Note to self- do not store them together. Originally I had it in hot pink and purple. Come on, it was cute. Plus I wanted it to be just wintery, not just Christmasy, ya know? But he's OK as is. The runner I made out of postcard fabric scraps and I love the brightness of it. It just makes me smile.

I miss my boys. Our oldest son is married and living in Alabama(450miles away.) I talked to him on the phone, yesterday, and he seems to be loving married life- and is thrilled with how much cheaper two can live together as compared with apart. Our second oldest son is living in West Virginia(400 miles away.) He is training to be an evangelist and is loving every moment of it. He was one of those crazy "kids" that camped outside a new Chick-fil-a and won a year's worth of free sandwiches! But I baked cookies today!!!!! And it just isn't the same without them! Daniel loves my lemon cookies with raspberry filling and I also made chocolate chip cookies. And honey ginger cookies and even four loaves of friendship bread. Oh, none of it will go to waste, but when I baked, the "boys" would walk through the door, smelling the air and professing that I truly must love them since I baked for them. Aw... Jacob(16y) just came in the door sniffing the air and being all appreciative. How sweet is that? I think I'm gonna have myself a little cry...

Mama said that there'd be days like this...

Abe is happy as a clam- even with two black eyes. When I asked what happened, he said he ran into the floor. Then he confessed that one of the black eyes was due to a run in with the kitchen bench- apparently he was playing the part of the bull and the bench didn't flinch. He is scarfing down the remainder of the icing left in the bowl- I might have left a little more than usual. He needed a bit of a pick me up.

I've been sewing quite a bit, actually. And doing laundry. Enjoying the last of the warmer weather. Kinda nippy, but nice. Let's see... I appliqued a snowman wallhanging and whipped up a table runner of three blocks that I liked in a magazine. I love finding interesting looking block in quilters' magazines and just sewing one for the fun of it. If I love it, then I might sew more for a project. The quilt magazines are on loan from Sandy- I certainly couldn't afford the things. Not saying they aren't worth it, just saying wow, do they ever cost alot! I'll post pictures soon.

We had company for dinner last night- what fun! Made poppyseed chicken casserole. Go ahead and google it. It was very tasty and a hit with even the pickier eaters. And sooooo easy to make. Then we quilted a baby quilt and played some table tennis. A very productive and enjoyable evening. Need to do that more. Good times, good friends. Good life.

Wayward Fabric Club...

We're meeting at Puerto Vallarta on Tillotson, at 11am on Tuesday, October 27th. Don't forget your four exchange blocks. For those of you not in the Wayward Fabric Club...

Color play. You know, where you play with color. These are my four blocks for an exchange and I didn't have enough fabric to make them all the same color, as I am determined to use only from my scraps. So the reproduction block is for Sandy, who likes everything reproduction. The traditional colored block is for Kathy who likes, yep, traditional. The batik is not for me- believe it or not. That's for Tanya. And the grey block is for me. I love grey. Heather grey, stone grey, slate grey. I can't understand who wouldn't like it. It is so peaceful and restful...yawn. Gonna go take a nap.

Autumn is upon us...

Dontcha just love the changing seasons? I do. Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the bright colors(lots of orange, ya know) and the cool crisp air. The smell of fading leaves and woodsmoke. Mmmm... I just love it. The soy beans are all cut here on the prairie- the fields do look a bit empty, but it's time to give them a rest. Maybe that's why I love autumn- time for us to take a rest! Time to sweep out the cobwebs that have gathered from the neglect of living outdoors more than in over the summer months. Fluff the pillows on the couch, drag out some throw quilts to cozy up the room. Yep, I love a good, rest-full, autumn.

Welp, here's a small wallhanging I've been noodling on. Such fun to do these little bitty ones- no pressure, just one little block comes out and then when it is all sewn up it goes back in the box- until I feel a need to admire the little darlings and then I pull out another one. Sew some. Iron some. It's all great fun. No deadlines, no "gotta getter dones." Just sewing for the fun of it. Remember how to do that? Seems like I just get all goal-oriented sometimes and all my energy is focused on the end, instead of the doing. And, reality being what it is- there's a place for that. But boy is it fun to just noodle away the morning with the laundry going in the background(so I don't feel like a complete slacker) and sew for the fun of it. Give it a try- it's really "quite refreshing."

Just a few snapshots...

My sis took some pictures and was good enough to share them with us. The professional ones are still in editing, but I am sure they will be worth the wait. (I really did not feel well, but it wasn't about me so just ignore my puffy face and eyes- it's been a long year. So many happy events, but I must say that I am ready to start feeling better. Now if determination were all I needed...) But aren't they a beautiful couple? I say that all the time, but it's true, isn't it? They are on their way back from their honeymoon, today. They spent the week in a cabin in the mountains of West Virginia. Same as Will and I. They have a sweet little home in Alabama to settle into- wish it was closer, but glad to know they are among dear friends and family. Already making plans for them to visit ;-)

Tranquility lake...

This is the lake where the wedding took place. It is a very peaceful- very Laurie and Joe. One picture was taken before dawn- I am up early most days when I am not sleeping in my own bed. The other picture was taken the evening before the wedding. Wish you all could have been there as it was one of those beautiful moments that make you smile every time you think of it. Where to start?

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A few days before the wedding we all moved into the cabins around the lake. How relaxing is that? I stuck my feet in that cool water several times before the big day- the dock is the perfect height. The children would line up beside me-sweet memories. Donna, the mother of the bride got to soak her feet once before falling and breaking her foot. She is on chemo treatments, and steroids, so her bones are fragile. Poor thing. But you'd hardly guess how much pain she was in- she just kept chugging along and smiling. All the big meals were planned ahead of time and even one provided by friends. Again, how relaxing, not having to worry about mundane things- like how to feed 40 some people. We had a little meltdown a few days before the wedding- 90% chance of rain and an outdoor event was planned. The dining hall was so not what the bride wanted for her wedding and I couldn't blame her, but she was such a trooper and once she and Joe got to spend some time together...we were all at peace that the best thing would happen. And it did!

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The sunny/rainy picture is taken from inside a round stone pavillion of sorts- complete with fireplace. After a bit of wedding decorating and some twinkly lights the bride was fair to bursting with excitement. That's Laurie, always smiling. We were all so happy that she was happy! It really was a perfect setting for her celtic inspired wedding. (So where's the wedding pictures, you ask? Well, when I try to snag one of my sis' pictures, they end up the size of a thumbnail. I'll figure it out and be sure to post more pictures as they are available.)

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The wedding morning dawned dark and dreary- but it wasn't raining, yet. Some outside pictures were taken and then as it began to sprinkle, things were moved under cover. It was such a sweet gentle rain that it didn't really interfere with the whole wedding event- just made it even more magical. We were all seated to the sound of celtic music- the grooms came in to the sound of celtic drums- way cool. And then the wedding ceremony was so sweetly conducted by the bride's father. There wasn't a dry eye in the place- except Joe and Laurie, who just stood there smiling at each other. I don't think they lingered even an hour at the reception- they were in a hurry to start their new life together- and who could blame them?

Leaving you with something pretty to look at...

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go, I'm standing here outside the door..." Yep, it's time. Time to drive to Alabama and see our oldest son say, "I do." The girls have shoes to match their flower girl dresses. Abe has dress shoes and socks to match his ring bearer suit. My dress... well, it will have to do. Will has a suit and even a pair of dress shoes to match. Guys, that man can be just too cheap! He bought a pair of size 12 shoes(when he wears a 10 1/2) because they were cheaper. Not to worry, says he- he'll just wear an extra pair of socks. Paul found him a pair in the proper size in the mountain of shoes that reside in our laundry room- so now he can return the "cheap" shoes and save even more. Gifts for the bridal party are all finished up. I am sure I am forgetting something, but hopefully it will be the type of thing one can procure at Walmart. The kids are chomping at the bit to get going, but we have to wait for an important piece of mail to come. So here I am chatting with you. Could be picking up the house so that it doesn't look like a bomb exploded... but you guys know that just isn't in me to care at this point.

Dontcha love this quilt? My Uncle Greg made it and generously gave it to me. I cried for a week, I know. I was just so overwhelmed. That was two years ago, come Christmas. I believe it is a Jenny Beyer pattern. Who else could be so sadistic? No offense, Jenny. I am glad you are the way you are- means a mighty fine looking quilt for me! So I have been staring at it, trying to decide on a quilting pattern. Sometimes you have get acquainted with a top to be able to quilt it. Some holler out at the very beginning for the design they want. Others make you squeeze it out of them. So I chattered away at it and, surprisingly, it kept quiet. It doesn't look like the quiet sort, does it? Finally I came across a loose and free type of feather thingy... and since it didn't protest... away we went. Two years in the finishing. I am pretty sure it took him over a year to peice. All by hand. Overwhelmed...by love. That's a good name for it.