Cincinnati to Asheville

When I'm giving sewing lessons, I often point out the reinforced straight stitch and tell people that it's good for making corn hole bags. Everyone around here seems to understand that. It was always kind of hypothetical with me, though, because I've never made them.

This weekend Sarah and Winnie are planning a party in Asheville and a request came for corn hole bags. Sarah is working on making the rest of the set. So . . . after a false start with fabric that was wonderfully on sale but most likely too light, I have some corn hole bags that seem to meet the criteria. I'm sending them empty with a little filling hole and Sarah will put in the corn and (gasp!) sew the hole shut. The "gasp!" is because Sarah doesn't often willingly pick up a needle.

On to you, Sarah. They're heading out this morning.

I Can Fly

Flying's big around Steph's and Mike's house these days. Even Mike can do it.

My helping the kids fly is coming in for the landing. Not so good.

I've been wanting a new hair cut and this is how it came out. Not so much different in the front, much shorter in the back. Just like I asked for. It's short in the back, but not so short that there was shaving involved. I didn't want that. It's a birthday thing, a significant birthday begs for some changes. My stylist said the hair from her salon is being sent to the gulf to make hair nets to trap the oil. Hadn't heard of that.

Now for some new make-up. I've never had much luck with that, but I'm going to try.

Postcard Exchange

I was once in an internet postcard exchange and that was fun, but this is better. It's a postcard exchange from members in my quilt guild, and it's all the better getting postcards from people I know. We get cards in our birthday month, usually, and this month it was my turn.

I used to try making a postcard every day, when I wasn't working, and tried out lots of new techniques. It had been awhile, though. Awhile since I've tried new things, too. Time to start that again.

I've decided that while machine embroidery is enjoyable, it isn't my first passion in the sewing world. Art quilting is, followed by sewing little practical pretties. I don't know why it took me so long to realize that. Maybe it's because I love my embroidery machine so much and I really, really like software.

I've moved my regular sewing machine and computer downstairs during these hot days since the upstairs just heats up too much. Maybe if I were usually here in the daytime, I'd try to air condition upstairs but for now it's just easier to move things. Where I'm going with this is, it will be interesting to see what comes downstairs and stays. A little ironing board and an iron are already here.

It's an old iron, though, because I need to get a new iron with a non-stick soleplate. Four years seems to be my limit with them. And maybe no wonder since I turn them on and off numerous times throughout the day. Probably this weekend, I'll find a new one. It's got to have the nonstick sole plate though. Wonder Under and SteamASeam come right off, and I use lots of those. Also, things that accidentally melt are easy to remove. I'm not a fan of cleaning the iron bottom.

Happy Birthday to Me

How fun to start out a birthday with blueberry pancakes

and have a lovely cake

And two lovely grandchildren to enjoy it with.

It was a good day, nice to share the day with Mike (Happy Father's Day) and his family.

And now, the introspection. I'm 65 now, need to think about that, want to plan. You'd think I'd have done it by now, but this requires lots of thinking.

Camping Pictures

I was just telling Aunt Sharon that I had pictures from the camping trip here - then realized that I really hadn't posted many. Here they are

Oh, My

For the past week, I've been studying my back-yard flower bed, wondering why almost all the plants have been chomped. I've thought "deer" in the back of my mind, but I live in the city. I mean, I REALLY live in the city. I thought about squirrels, but thought that surely they couldn't do so thorough a job. Bugs? There would have to be a lot of them. Puzzling.


Tonight I turned the corner into my neighborhood and there was a probable culprit, lollygalling around, enjoying the evening, in no hurry at all to move on. And now I'm really thinking "deer."

As I turned the corner on to my street, the sight in the rear view mirror was of the deer, crossing the street and coming my way. Who would have thought?

I know that deer in the neighboring town are such a nusiance that bow-and-arrow hunting is permitted at certain times. But I live on the downtown side of that community and a couple of miles from the river at that. Not sure that there are flowers in my future in that backyard bed. The interesting thing is that the front yard flowers are untouched. Guess the back yard is more sheltered and delicious.

Friday Fil-In # 181

Happy Friday, everyone. Here are the Friday Fill-Ins. Answers are in bold.

1. It isn't quite 6:58 yet, but I've already had a shower and baked a loaf of cinnamon bread. Washed dishes. And felt grateful for this day.

2. It was the reason, of course, why the ice cream tasted so good. Talking about Graeter's method of making ice cream 2 1/2 gallons at a time. Took the kids last night. Strawberry for Aaron and chocolate chip for Nora. I wonder whether good ice cream is wasted on kids, but I don't think so. Even little ones should be exposed to really good tastes. There was quite a crowd at Graeter's last night.

3. Shopping for fun is something I no longer feel the need to do. I'd rather be at home making something.

4. I have another errand to run (laundry) then I'll get to work on the apron I'm making. I'm not following the directions, exactly, they're kind of vague anyway, but this apron is going to be pretty. All of a sudden, patterns for pretty aprons are everywhere.

5. I know that organization is kicking around here somewhere - I need to just go find it. Things in logical places. A schedule for doing things. Yesterday I was in line at Kroger's behind someone who had her coupons in a binder - and she used lots of them. That kind of organization eludes me - I wouldn't know where to start. And there's always the fear that if I was that organized I'd sacrifice my creativity.

6. What were once vices have largely disappeared from my town. Gambling, dancing girls, prostitutes, after-hours liquor sales. One of these weekends I want to to on the walking tour of places where these things happened.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to picking up a veggie sandwich from the Newport Pizza Company then dyeing the fabric to finish Helen's quilt, tomorrow my plans include working, then stopping at the bookstore and coming home to put the borders on the quilt, and Sunday I want to celebrate with family.