In the Car

Nora's softball team played a double header yesterday morning.  It was 51 degrees and windy when the first game started and 49 degrees and windy when the second game ended.  For the first game I sat on my chair and for the second I sat in the car.

And this morning, even though it's still early, 36 degrees.  So yesterday could have been worse.

After the games, we went out for lunch and warmed up.  My favorite part of it all.

Even at Nora's age, there is just something about being an only child.  Aaron had his own game at a different ball field with his own lunch plans afterwards.  Nora and I could take our time and chat, just us.  Time to be cherished.

Pink Premmie Quilt

Thanks to Joanne for piecing this pink baby quilt for our group. It really is a beauty.  Some family will be thrilled.

I'm realizing that my cropping wasn't the best, the sashings are nicely equal in the actual quilt.  The quilting extends from the squares into the sashings.  That seems to work best for me.

It has been a dismal start for the Cincinnati Reds, but last night made two wins in a row.  For the first time this year I heard fireworks after home runs and at the end of the game.  Not the first time it's happened, but the first time I've heard them.  Before Monday, the Reds were 3 and 20-something.  Hearing those fireworks was just good for my spirit.

The bridesmaid dresses I've been altering are picked up and gone.  And, they FIT. 

Spring at the Lake

Springtime.  In North Carolina, at least.  

Sarah's and Winnie's three small dogs were Asheville city dogs, prominading and visiting parks, when Winnie's parents were still living.  Now the dogs have their own park every day, with a neighborhood lake.  A large yard.  Would they still be happy city dogs?

I saw a facebook memory from a year ago.  Easter.  Nora and Aaron were kayaking on the lake, and Aaron's kayak flipped over.  Nora was towing Aaron and his kayak to shore.  What a good visit.  Lots of Easter eggs to hunt in that big yard.  Good memories.

Strong Women

Table top.  Christmas cactus and Easter kalanchoe.  The table, I think, came from my Steiner relatives.  It has a crack on the top, repaired with a large square nail.  And on the back, a different kind of wood, most likely repaired when the drawer crashed through the back.  Functional repairs.

I am thinking this week about strong women.  Barbara Bush, who exhibited such strength throughout her lifetime.  (And kudos to Melania Trump for carrying on the tradition of first ladies attending funerals of former first ladies.)

The pilot of that Southwest Airlines plane, who not only brought down the plane but also talked to the passengers after the landing.

The first and second place Boston Marathon female finishers.  The first American winner in a long time, and the second place finisher who showed up with no sponsors and little marathon experience.

Nikki Haley, who said this week, "I don't get confused."

Tammy Duckworth, who can now bring her baby to the Senate floor.

And all those women running for office, and there are a lot.

Spring Fling

Spring Fling by Anita Goodesign.  On a khaki tote bag.

Good days.  Spring rain, delaying the start of the kid baseball season.  Steph posted a picture of Aaron in his new uniform, all dressed up with nowhere to go.  And Nora's softball team played one inning before getting rained out.

I delivered some samples to work and that felt good.  Every day I have more energy.  The thermometer is gone from my nightstand.  I'm almost back to being a regular person.  I feel like I can make plans.

My studio has little snips of burgundy satin and organza from bridesmaid dresses I'm working on.  Almost finished now.  There is a good cleaning coming. 

Travel Treat Bags

A favorite work sample.  Anita Goodesign Travel Treat Bags.  I love any bag with the zipper easily incorporated in the design.  The biggest mountain has a vinyl opening, the burgundy shows through from the back.  I used a batik for the back so it would show through with both sides being the "right" side.

Of course, once the bag is filled with snacks (pretzels, Carrye?) the snacks are what shows through.  I hope I have time to make a second one of these, with a different design.

My days continue to get better, I continue to feel better.  A little rest in the afternoons.  No longer spending evenings in bed.  Evenings are a time of just feeling grateful.

Today should be a day of warmth.  Wind in the afternoon.  No rain until Saturday.  I just paid my Duke bill for March, which was higher than the one in February.  Strange, this "spring" has been so strange.

Snowed Again

Again this morning.  I didn't expect this, but probably only because I wasn't paying attention.

I have lots to do - altering a second bridesmaid dress, some work samples, but I find that I am not motivated for any of it.  Whatever I had, pretty sure it was the flu, sapped my energy and my joy.  Today I will pick up my taxes, sign my name, and they will be on their way.  Come home and write the checks and then I can forget about it for another year.  Everything seems like a chore.

A stop at the library would be good.  For the past few days, I have been cruising on Kindle Unlimited books.  Mindless reading, the time goes by.  I am grateful for the Kindle books, but I really like the real thing.

People Racing at Keeneland

Sarah's Saturday race, Run the Bluegrass, bills itself as America's Prettiest Half Marathon.  Probably true.  Through Keeneland race track in Lexington, KY, itself amazing, and past pretty horse farms.  

It's a huge race, more than 3000 runners last year, with various prizes.  Age group winners get little whiskey barrels, for the first three finishers.  And for the third year in a row, Sarah placed fourth in her age group.  Sixth the year before that.  Those little whiskey barrels are elusive, but she had a great race.  And there is next year.

The couple of days flew by with visiting and eating and celebrating Steph's birthday.  A big sleepover.  All too soon, people and dogs were back in the car.  I hadn't planned well, and our Easter lunch was Skyline vegetarian chili, which is chili served with spaghetti with soft yellow cheese.  There can be onions and beans added.  It's a chili with cinnamon, different from the usual chili spices.  Actually, it was a great hit so maybe not so bad after all.

Steph fixed Easter dinner at her house later in the afternoon for her family and me with a yummy salmon, mashed potatoes, and many veggies.

And this morning . . . traces of snow on the ground.  Yes, it snowed during the night.