All Is Well

All is well.  Just busy.  Will be back soon!   

Time's A Flying!

Where does the time go?  Every time I blink, another week has passed!!  My mother always told me that the older you are, the faster time passes and, boy, do I believe here now!!! 


So, what's been going on around here?  Shortly after the Arcadia Mill foray, I hosted a String Piecing Workshop here at my house.  The teacher didn't have room at her house, so I volunteered. 

This is the pattern we were working on, using whatever kind of fabrics we wanted.  We could make the "star" all in one fabric or we could mix them us as was done here.   This class was inspired by the following quilt which is just gorgeous.

Sorry I can't show you all of it, but its huge and was made by various members of the instructor's family for a young lady who is about to marry into the family.  Now, isn't that sweet?


Then, of course, there was the Pensacola Quilt Show.  It is always a good show and I enjoyed it immensely.  The talent and creativity exhibited there (or at most any quilt show) simply astounds me.


Over the past number of months, I've been slowly, very slowly, working on a charity quilt from donated fabrics.  Discovered that I didn't like the fabrics and it was hard for me to work on.  Not that I didn't like some of the fabrics individually, but collectively they were a bit much. I finally got it finished and was surprised to find that its not half bad!   

Then, there was the Jelly Roll Race at the Guild quilt bee.  What a blast.  I was the timekeeper since I had done this before and none of the participants had.    I think most of them agreed that it was a great way to quickly get a quilt top done.  But I also think once and done is the attitude of a couple!!!   There's a bit more stress during the race than if working on it at home, so maybe they'll give it another chance.   Here's my quilt top from an earlier race. 

So many of the ladies were skeptics at the beginning of the day that anything attractive would result from just sewing stuff together.  But, at the end of the day, there were lots of believers.  The strips can be sewn together diagonally as above, or simply straight sewn.  They look great either way. 


And there were a couple of birding trips thrown in the mix.  I actually start having withdrawal symptoms if I don't get my bird fix ever so often!  I do have lovely birds in my back yard, but its not the same as getting out into the woods or to the shore and seeing what is traveling around. 


Last week, I went with Birdlady to Ft. Pickens for her "birthday" bird walk.  We didn't see her coveted hooded warbler, but we did get to see a pair of prothonontary warblers like this. 

So, it was a successful day for me!


That very same day, DH and I treated Birdlady to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and a couple of her other friends came along also.  Was a lovely evening all around. 


Okay, so what else?   Oh, the never-ending yard work!!   Spring is not an easy time when you have lots of live oaks in the yard.  We've been raking leaves for weeks and will still be at it for several weeks to come.  


I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely spring. 


Y'all take care. 

A Local Adventure to Arcadia Mill

Spring temperatures are definitely here but where are the sunny skies every day?  Sure has been a dreary time around here.  We'll get one day of sunshine and then three or four gray days. 


Yesterday I went up an open house at Arcadia Mills.  I had never been to the location before.   You can read all about the mill here.  Arcadia Mill   

A primary reason for going was to see two friends working on hooked rugs.  For a long time, I've wanted to learn rug making but didn't know anyone who could point me in the right direction.  I'm expecting to hear from them in the next day or so as to when a class will be held by Ms. J.  Can't wait!! 

Wonderful fibers

These same two ladies are part of a fiber group that meets monthly in downtown Pensacola Village, the historic section of town.  There are spinners, weavers, quilters, knitters and folks who crochet.  Actually, anyone who works with fibers in any way is welcome.   They've invited me to attend next time and join in the fun.  I may take them up on it, provided I can arrange to have a project to work on and that can be taken along easily. 


Crossing Pond Creek on the swinging bridge was an adventure, particularly when more than one person was on it at the same time.  

Swinging bridge over Pond Creek

I was amazed how many people didn't know what these winged creatures were.  Termites are very common here in the south, and at various times they come up out of the ground and swarm through the air.   This swarm was resting on a nearly rotted piece of debris.  

Swarmed Termites

  
These guys were likely warm in their period clothing.  Looked to be wool for a number of them.


All in all, it was a very enjoyable day. 


Y'all take care. 

Let There be Sunshine!

After days of cloudy dreary weather, we actually have sunshine!  It's like a warm tonic that my body needs.  

I am so far removed from the natural rhythms of the earth and weather that were such a part of my life while growing up.  As a farmer's daughter, we had real connections with the earth and weather.  They weren't just  abstract ideas or theories.  I do know that my parents could read things from what was going on around them.  It was an accumulation of knowledge gained through years of close existence with the earth.  It was survival.    

In the spring while Daddy was plowing, the earth smelled so good and you simply could not resist the impulse to take off your shoes and just walk barefoot in that damp, cool earth.   It felt right.


There are times when I would like to try to recapture that closeness to the earth and let the natural rhythms dictate my life rather than the artificiality that now surround so many of us in this "modern" world.  I miss those remembered connections.  


Y'all take care.  

Hometown Quilt Show

Last weekend I went back to my hometown to a quilt show.  It was the first show  by this guild and they did a great job, I think.  Was fully as good as any show I've been to, albeit a little smaller. 

 One of the best surprises was to find that a childhood schoolmate and friend has become a prolific quilter!!  She had several quilts in the show and I was delighted to see her again after so MANY years.

King sized Jacob's ladder quilt

Those are 1 inch squares in the Jacob's Ladder quilt made by a husband/wife team.  Oh, my, the work put into that quilt. 

I think my favorite of the show was this Courthouse Steps quilt made by Bette Haddon from men's ties. 

Over the years, I've seen a number of quilts made from ties, bit I think this once is the best I've seen.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that she does exquisite work on all her quilts. 

In addition to the numerous large quilts, there were lots of minis also.  I've never tried to make a mini quilt as I'm intimidated by all the tiny pieces.  They are beautiful to see, though. 

Suddenly, here in the middle of this post, I'm having difficulties uploading more photos.  Aggravates me something fierce when this happens.  Let's try again.   No luck.  I'll be back later to see if I can edit this to add the other pictures.   Grrrrrrr!!!!!!


Wow, I was able to come back in an add pictures.  


Y'all take care. 

More about Bottle Trees

There've been several comments about the bottle tree.  I thought everybody knew about bottle trees!!  If you want to learn a little more about these beautiful creations, go to Felder Rushing's bottle trees.  Felder is a retired county extension agent, an avid gardener and collector of bottle trees, not to mention a truly nice guy. 


I've been looking for one for a long time but never found one that suited me.  I got mine from Kinsman Garden.  It seems to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the bottles with no problem.  

Couldn't let the day go by without mentioning that today is hubby and my 16th anniversary.  We've been together for 21 years.  Where does the time go?

Y'all take care.  

A New Tree

I've wanted one of these trees for the longest time, but have not been able to find one that suited me.  A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across one and it is now MINE!!! 

You should see it this morning!!  The sun just sparkles off all that colored glass and it's just an explosion of color out in an otherwise drab yard.  

I still have to add a few more bottles to it but I think its gorgeous!!! 


Y'all take care.