The Gang's Almost All Here

The blocks for Aaron's Noah's Ark birthday quilt are embroidered and on the design wall.

The gang may not be quite all here, though. I'm thinking of a small 2" red sashing and a wide 6" purple one - same width as the blocks. A couple more pairs of animals may find themselves on the purple sashing. We're missing the elephants and the lambs.

There's still more than a month to go, so timewise it's looking good. Fabrics are a sturdy cotton. I know that somewhere, somewhere, in the studio or office or basement there is an aqua piece that I really wanted instead of the red but I couldn't find it and decided to go with the red.

Fountain Square

Last night there was a movie showing on Fountain Square in Cincinnati. Steph, Nora, and I agreed that the experience was good but the movie not so much. We'll try again another time.

The fountain on Fountain Square -

When we got back to my house, Nora requested a sleepover, and that's what happened. I'm glad she likes to stay at my house, and she was ever so well behaved.

old Sunbeam mixer

One of the joys of my retro kitchen is this Sunbeam mixer, a gift from my cousin Bill when he came to town. I don't know where he finds these treasures, but I'm glad he shared this one with me.

Appropriately enough, the pot sitting next to it and holding kitchen knives was made by his brother Gregg, who is an awesome potter.


Tucked at the end of the baker's rack is a new kitchen towel, with embroidery on a flour sack with a Spanish hemstitch trim. It was one of my samples for a workshop last week and I'm happy it's come home.

Friday Fill-In # 135

Friday Fill-in Time. Questions by Tonya.

1. It's time for peaches, watermelon, blueberries, tomatos, sweet corn. Yummm.

2. Elkmont in the Smokies; it's not a bad place for setting up a tent, sitting back, listening to the river, doing some hiking, going into town. Next month.

3. I must be crazy about sewing/embroidery. If I don't do it every day, I'm at least reading about it, getting ready for a new project.

4. Time with family is the best thing I have ever known. Especially birthday parties - they're the best. With white cake and candles. Aaron must love birthdays too - his eyes sparkle when he sings "happy birthday to you." He's happy to sing it every day, birthday or no.

5. My lifestyle is simply simple.

6. The last time I laughted really loudly was when I read Janet Evanovich's new book Finger 'Licken Fifteen. Her books always make me laugh. Babe.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having three days off, tomorrow my plans include going to Deveau Park with my friend Sandra - not - she broke her foot today, and Sunday I want to enjoy early August. Summer's flyin' by.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Fairies

These Celtic fairies from Embroidery Library caught my eye. The first one is on a premade canvas bag (great sale!) Really tight quarters for embroidery and I caught my needle threader and now it's way out of wack. There may be a new one in my future. In the meantime, I will thread my needle the old fashioned way and not whine about it.

This bag is handmade, with pockets inside and a large zippered pocket on the back. The bag's made from upholstery fabric. It's much easier to embroider on a flat surface, then make the bag.

I think there are more handmade bags in my future. Not tonight, though. I'm really, really tired and plan to go to bed with my book. Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts. Perfect easy summer reading.

Quiet Spot

Yesterday after work, I met Steph and Mike at the Newport Aquarium. I don't know whether it was the earlier rain or just a July Saturday evening, but the place was packed.

Nora and I found the only quiet place, the sand excavation in the otter area. It's just before the entrance to the birds, which Nora wants nothing to do with.

She must not be the only one - there's an exit to by-pass the flying and screeching birds. We took that door and met up with the others outside.

Friday Fill-In # 134

Friday Fill-ins. Gotta love 'em. Thanks for the questions, Tonya.

1. Running out of Diet Coke is not the end of the world, but I would be very sad. It's about the last of my no-real-food-value-but-I-love-it food vices. I'm always looking for a sale to keep my supply up.

2. Sitting here, listening to the sound of rain falling, I am being happy that I don't have to water the plants and the tree today. Yes, Bridget, I'm still watering the tree, but it doesn't look hopeful.

3. Diet Coke tastes so good. See # 1.

4. Sometimes, putting others first isn't the best idea. That's a hard lesson for me to learn, though, since I was always taught to think of others first.

5. Red River Gorge is breathtaking, really, a fabulous Kentucky treasure. I love the bumper sticker, "Lost in Red River Gorge, don't find me." Should I go camping this weekend?

6. Well, maybe there is a bigger front-yard garden in my future. Things grow so well there, there's so much sun. I'm thinking about putting a garden where the yard slopes down, then I won't have to mow the slope.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to coming home and sewing, tomorrow my plans include working and teaching a class, and Sunday I want to work on some projects - unless I go camping, hmmmm. Never made it last weekend.