Sew, I Did It

Oh, where to begin.  When we left off, I had decided to give the nieces and nephews quilts at our family gathering on May 20.  Well, I did it.  I finished and delivered quilts to or for 12 of my 13 surviving nieces and nephews.  I didn't ignore the 13th one, she already had received a quilt several years ago.    So, let's show you what they got. 

Julie's Quilt 

Dana's Quilt

Eddy's Quilt 

Tammy's Quilt 

Ginger's Quilt 

Blaine's Quilt 

Robbie's Quilt 

Brian's Quilt 

Devin's Quilt 

Michael's Quilt 

Wendy's Quilt

Tera's Quilt 

In addition to these, I also delivered new quilts to the two little granddaughters. 

Sorry these are not the best pictures but I hope you can see them well enough to appreciate them.  So far as I know, they were all well received, some even with tears.  I got lots of hugs.  

Somehow, I just haven't been able to get myself enthused over a new project yet, but I think I'm getting there.  

I'll be along with more adventures soon.   Y'all take care. 

Spring?

Spring has been trying to get here to stay but we had freeze warnings last night with temps down to near freezing.  Sheesh.  Today its near 70 degrees.  We've had the most unusual weather.  Now that Easter is only a week away, let's hope we can count on spring to be going full bore. 

I actually have a clematis blooming!  I love those things but have never had good luck with them.  I put out three  last year and they hung in there right through the winter.

I've been busy, busy here of late working on quilts for family members.  Got to have 12 of them ready for a gathering on May 20.  All but two are done through the quilting stage with only 5 left for the hand binding work.  Two more tops will go to the quilter on Monday.  Nothing like a little pressure to  get me in gear. 

Hope everybody is doing well.  Y'all take care

Just Another Day in Paradise

I don't know if it is just me or what, but I'm noticing the days a lot.  Take a couple of days ago when we got 2 or 3 inches of snow overnight. 

Yes, in color

I absolutely loved the way the branches and limbs of the trees looked like dark edged lace with their coat of snow.  Then, by evening all the snow had melted away and it would be hard to believe it had ever been there.  

I think as I've gotten older that I notice light and color in the days more.  I remember as a child dancing around outside as the day waned on the farm in Florida, just enjoying how pretty the sunset and sky were.  Then as we reach adulthood, we get busy with other things and forget to really see what is around us.  Thankfully, I've always been fond of "nature" and so made an effort to get out and about in it.  I spent lots of time in the desert when I lived in Las Vegas.   Goes back to that farm girl raising. Then, after I got married, we traveled full time for over two years in our RV and it was glorious.  Even after buying a house in Florida, we spent months every year on the road throughout the country.  Good times.

Here on our mountainside, I never get tired of the steep slope of the hill behind us with the bare trees at a sharp angle in contrast.   Or, the way the limbs move in the wind.    When the leaves come, there will be a whole other tapestry of colors and shapes to inspect.  

One view from the deck

I highly recommend taking a minute to just look around and really see what is there. 

Y'all take care.

Alive and Well

I'm alive and well here in the mountains where we haven't had much of a winter at all.

Daily Entertainment

I got a harebrained idea of giving quilts to a bunch of people at a gathering in mid May, so I've been busy, busy working on that project.  I delivered 10 tops to the long arm quilter last week and am waiting for a call that the first of them are ready.  It'll still be another week or so before I can expect that.    Meanwhile, I've put together another quilt top, too.   Once these are back in my hands, I will still have several hours of work to do on each one of them, so they are still a long way from being done.

My applique group is working on a quilt and my block is coming along.  The pieces have been cut and fused for several weeks but due to the project above its been waiting patiently.  I took it with me to my sewing day today and will keep at it.

Otherwise, not much excitement on the mountainside.   I'm looking forward to a birding day with my pals in north Florida late next week.   Since I didn't get to go last year, I really want to go to the southeast Texas coast for the spring birding migration but don't know if I'll pull it off.  Its no fun to go alone but not sure I can round up anybody who wants to go with me.  It's a 2 day drive from here and that puts  lot of folks off the adventure.  Party poopers.

Y'all take care.

Time Is Humming Along

I cannot believe that it's February 2 already!  The groundhog didn't see his shadow here at our house this morning and I can certainly believe that spring will be arriving soon.  Way too soon, really.  Due to the on again, off again weather we've been having, we already have early flowers coming up.  Trees and shrubs are budding.  This is just plain crazy here in the mountains.  Don't get me wrong.  I enjoy the mild temperatures but I worry about the plants and insect populations later in the summer.  

I spent a few days with friends from my quilt guild from Florida at a retreat over in north Alabama.  Had a wonderful time, of course.  No finished project to show but made a lot of progress on a couple of things.  Had lovely views of Lake Guntersville for the duration.

I'm not a fan of 'smores but a good time was had by the outdoor fireplace and some of the girls enjoyed them.   We've already reserved the same time for next year to do it again. 

Here on the homefront, a few friends came over and we worked on a small tote for use with hand projects. 

Now, to actually get to work on one of my hand projects. 

Life is good and I try to remember that and acknowledge the fact every day. 

Y'all take care 

A Different America

I've been a wreck all day.  It's been the most emotionally draining day I've experienced in very long time.  It hit me a whole lot worse than I had anticipated.

I only hope that more reasonable heads prevail over the next years and that our country does not suffer irreparable harm.

Y'all take care

Snow Day

Happy New Year!! 

What a way to start out the year.  This storm has dumped 5 inches of snow on us.  It sure is pretty outside with that blue sky.  

We don't usually get much snow so this may be our allotment for the year.  Let's hope so. 

The birds are congregating at the feeders since all the natural forage is pretty much covered up.  I get sidetracked watching them at the feeder just outside the window from my desk.  They are so skittish that I can't get a picture worth anything.  If I get close to the window, they scatter.  

This weather is a good time to hang out in the studio and work on quilts (or read, or putz on the computer, or nap, ...).  I recently finished up this little quilt top called Chubby Chicks.  

Tiny black button eyes will be added after it is quilted, whenever that happens to be!

Will be headed to a retreat soon, so it's time to get projects put together to take along.  I usually wind up grabbing something last minute and it sometimes backfires as I may not want to work on that once I arrive.  

I cannot believe that it is January 7, 2017  already.  Where in the world does the time go?  I passed a milestone birthday last month and although I can say the words, it simply refuses to resonate.  

Hope you're all well.  Stay safe and warm in this crazy weather across the country. 

Y'all take care