Quilt As Desired

About seven years ago, I took an online piecing class. The finished project was a Christmas tree made from lots of little blocks. Very nice, and I learned what I was supposed to, but I got to the end, "quilt as desired," and I was stuck. There was so much white surrounding the tree and I just didn't know how to quilt it. I still don't, actually. Into the box it went.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. I found the tree in the box once again and decided to go with my usual mode: when I don't know what to do, I cut. I cut from the top and bottom, then sliced again, and had the beginnings of some nice gift-y Christmas potholders.

Then someone suggested that I use the middle section as a table runner. She said, rightly so, that it still said "tree" without the whole tree being there. She was so right - I love the new table runner. Merry Christmas to me.

Riding on the Duck

Steph asked whether Nora was scared riding the Duck. That would be a "no." She wanted her own seat, which was fine since there were only three families. We learned that the Duck wheels don't retract when it goes in the water. Interesting. We cruised by the Great American Ball Park,


the beautiful mansions in Covington, (Nora listened carefully when the guide talked about how the Boy Scout founder used to live in one. She may have been hoping for a mention of the Girl Scouts too. I told her that when her mom and dad got married they had their wedding pictures taken there.)

the blue and white Ascent in Covington, (some people like it, some don't.)

and we went under the Roebling Bridge, usually known to Nora as the Singing Bridge.

We learned that the new building with the tiara (right) isn't actually as high as the older Carew Tower (left) even though it has more floors. The Carew Tower is on a higher elevation.

Today it's windy and chilly - hard to believe that two days ago we had this adventure.

Election Day

Nora was out of school for election day, and we got to spend the day together. (Side note: the school levy in her district didn't pass, and the vote wasn't even particularly close. Ugh.)

While I was working with my current project, she spent some time admiring scraps and threads and ended up choosing the threads she liked to go with some sew-off squares. I need to make something for her with those.


After we voted (she put the ballot in the machine) we headed down to Newport on the Levee for some lunch at Tom and Chee.

She wanted the grilled cheese salad with grilled cheese croutons. For myself, I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with potato chips in it, just because I was curious and because I thought a child might be intrigued. Nope. She wasn't a bit interested, but loved her salad. That's my girl.

We went to Barnes and Noble and got a book - a Sponge Bob Squarepants book, to the dismay of her mom. We read it while waiting for the Duck. The Duck was her choice over the Aquarium - pictures later. Good choice, who would have believed that we could have such lovely Duck weather on November 8. We can always go to the Aquarium during the winter.

Chasing Leaves

Raking leaves just isn't my thing, I really dislike it. So, I try really hard to keep mulching them with my lawn mower. I was so pleased to get the job done before it started to rain this week. So dismayed after the rain to find a new batch of leaves, even more than before.

So happy now that I think that the worst is over. Another "mowing" tomorrow and then one more in a week or so should get it. A few more sweepings of my downward sloping driveway that collects my neighbor's oak leaves should take care of that too. And I love the leaf vacuum truck that goes through the neighborhood and sucks up the leaves left on the curb.

With all those leaves almost taken care of, it feels like Thanksgiving is truly almost here.

Reader Rabbit

Last night Nora had a Daisy meeting at their library. In last year's routine, her mom would entertain Aaron during the meetings by letting him use the Reader Rabbit module on the computer, which he absolutely loves. This year, though, she's helping with the meetings.

So, I got the joy of meeting Aaron for his computer session. So fun to sit with the little guy, normally a talking, jumping typical boy, while he sat quietly, absolutely absorbed.

His mom commented the other day that in past years kids liked the "toy" laptops with various add-on programs. Now with iPAD's and smaller laptops, the kids want to use the real thing and the toys don't interest them. Aaron mentioned that he didn't want to try a certain module because he'd used that one at "school" yesterday.

As a result of last night's library session, I have a new Cincinnati Public Library card. I wonder
what goodies that will bring. I've heard that they have check-outs for books for Kindles and similar devices. And a huge wonderful library downtown, one of the nation's busiest.

Baby Christmas

This is my premmie Christmas quilt, due in November. The instructions were that the quilt could be any design, as long as it was made with Christmas fabric.

This isn't any particular design, just something I made up that would (1) piece quickly, and (2) be nice and scrappy. Thanks to Carrye for sharing her Christmas scraps with me.

This went really quickly because when I was reserving books at the local library I accidentally ordered one in "audio book" form. I love this, it's perfect for listening while I quilt. And the book, "The Best of Me" by Nicholas Sparks, is engaging while not requiring a lot of thought. Not to mention, I suspect that the waiting list for the actual book is much longer than the audio version.

Kings Island

When Kings Island was just new, I pictured an amusement park on an Ohio River Island. Of course, it would just never fit.

Grandma Janice and Pap met us there on Sunday. It was my first visit in twenty-five years, probably, and I wonder why I stayed away so long. The Beast is still around, and I rode that, as well as a fun newer coaster, the Diamondback. High and fast and smooth, fabulous.

I got a pass for next season, which included Sunday's visit, and am looking forward to fun and riding all next year.

Note: Nora's snazzy hat is courtesy of Aunts Sarah and Winnie. Aaron has an equally awesome one with skulls, but it was off his head in his picture.