Friday, March 31, 2017

More Spring Break


Outside Gameworks yesterday, on the balcony, where the wind was blowing and it looked like it might storm.  It never did, though.


And inside Gameworks, where Aaron timed it just right and a game started spitting out tickets.

In fact, most of the time was spent in the corner with the football and basketball games.  I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't some sore arms and shoulders this morning.  

We took a break and got some pizza at Dewey's, hoping for outside seating but learned that that won't happen until around Mother's Day.  I cherish this time with these kids, glad that I can spent some spring break time with them.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Spring Break


Looking forward to a pretty spring day today.  The grands and I will be going to Gameworks for the day, taking our groupons that are good for the entire day.  There will surely be some lunch involved, maybe some walking on the Purple People bridge.

Last night the kids went with their parents to the hockey game.  Aaron was dismayed at the Cyclone's loss, but they had a good time.  I was invited to tag along, but hockey just sounded so cold last night.  Beauty and the Beast the day before . . . that was something to not be missed.


I want to finish piecing an Elizabeth Hartman quilt with a llama, just one more side strip to go.  After months of lackluster quilting, nothing seeming interesting, I suddenly find myself with pieced quilt tops all over the floor.  It's time to start using my sit down quilter.  I have some new thread and prewound bobbins that I'm eager to try out.

Monday, March 27, 2017

Butterfly Show



Aaron and I went to the Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory this afternoon and it was fun to see the pictures he took with my phone.


Of course I knew about this one.

He was absolutely charming, talking about when he used to be afraid of the butterflies landing on him and about the time he came on a preschool field trip.  He pointed out a few features about my phone that I didn't know about.

We visited the waterfall feature and the tropical room and then went on our way to The Gruff for lunch.  Since Nora wasn't with us, we got a cup of vegetable beef soup to go for her.  Nora is a big fan of The Gruff soup.

Then it was home again and Aaron was back to bouncing his basketball and shooting hoops on this pretty spring day.


Sunday, March 26, 2017

Just Hanging


A week ago my daughter gave me two fat quarters of Peeps fabrics to make a wall hanging with instructions about what she wanted.  Tabs on top.  "Just hanging with my peeps" on the upper border.  And a week later here it is.  That's what I love about quilting.  Something appears where there were  just flat pieces before.

Yesterday I pulled up in front of my house and a car behind me stopped beside me.  I figured that someone needed directions, but the woman instead said, "I love your sign.  Have a nice day."  She was referring to my "No matter where you're from we're glad you're our neighbor" sign.  Made my day.  I wished I'd bought an extra just to have one to give her for her front yard.  Maybe she'll figure it out.

On Friday I went to my friend Carrye's 80th birthday party.  I saw lots of people from the art quilt group that I haven't seen in ages.  And I realized that I miss them.

And here's the thing:  turns out that Carrye's party-giving friend lives in the same little group of condo's where my church friend lives.  What are the chances?  It's a big city.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Words of Wisdom


Words of wisdom from Nora:  Sewing is relaxing.

This time she learned how to thread the machine, next time will be winding the bobbin.  I don't want her to get overwhelmed with everything right away and lose her joy.  She made a pretty quilted pillow.  And I got to trim down my stash a little more.




Thursday, March 16, 2017

Mug Rugs


Spring mug rugs from Kimberbell Mug Rugs, Volume 2.  I love these, may just have to look for the volume 1 design collection.

Spring has gone away in my part of the world, predictably, since it was too early.  And now it is cold again.  My dreams of flowers on hold.




Friday, March 10, 2017

Challenge


Thanks to Ginny, who donated packs of challenge fabric to our baby quilt group.

The pattern is adapted from Erin Harris' Tidal Wave Quilt in the Spring 2015 edition of Modern Patchwork.  It's the first time in quite awhile that I actually followed directions.  The challenge fabrics are in the triangles and the binding.  And the backing.

My next baby quilt may just come from the same magazine.  It's just one of those magazines that has several quilts that I may actually just make.  You know, it's the magazine we always hope we'll find.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Smaller Runner


I wanted a slightly smaller table runner for the class I'll be teaching to give students a different choice and to give them a better chance of finishing.  Still the same pattern.  Husqvarna Viking.  The first runner required making four checkerboards, this one only two.

I enjoyed reading today's Washington Post article about the Statue of Liberty going dark last night.  The National Park Service says that the outage was because of replacement of faulty lighting equipment, but the internet offered other explanations:

*protest of the President generally and, more specifically, his new travel ban,
*So the Statue could get a "Nevertheless, she persisted" tattoo,
*Participation in "A Day Without a Woman,"
*Russian hackers.

I hope that however you fall on the political spectrum, you can enjoy with me a bit of lightheartedness today.