It's going to be a sewing day!!

I should be able to carve out several hours for sewing today. My hubby is in meetings all day, my house is clean enough as I had an overnight guest (Our boss's boss from camp). I've got some laundry to do, and need to run to the grocery store, but all in all, I should have at least a few hours to sew. Check back later and see my progress!

Not much to blog about today...

I managed to get all the billings out for work. Because we'd been at camp for 2 months, we were behind. But they are done, and in the mail. In between working on billings, I've been trying to get the house ready for an overnight guest tomorrow. I've got lots left to do, but most of the day tomorrow to do it. Tonight when it is quiet, I will probably cut out the BOM that is due this Saturday, so I can get it sewn on Thursday or Friday. At least it is an easier block this month. I'll try to sew you a pic of the pieces tomorrow.

Have a great day.

Finally - progress on making my blocks

On Saturday, my hubby and I went to camp to be there while the post camp inspection happened. Post camp inspection is when other people come in and look at our facilities, and see what needs to be done. (We have several things that need to be painted, and probably other stuff too. I'm sure there will be some sort of report) Any way, to get to the fun stuff, I want to show you a picture of the road into camp. See all of the wild sunflowers??? There were more on the left side of the road, than the right side at this point. They are really beautiful. These are also the same as we have in our front yard at home.


Then while I was walking around with the inspection team, we spotted this horny toad. Now this is NOT a toad, but is really a lizard. You can learn more about these lizards by searching for "horny toad" or "horned lizard" in your favorite search engine. Wikipedia has a nice write-up too. You can see how well he blends in with the rocks on the ground. I had a real hard time seeing him through the camera viewfinder to get a picture.



Now to show you the progress on my BOM log cabin blocks. they are ALL done. The log cabin blocks are setting blocks between the BOM blocks. Isn't this setting great? I'm showing you two shots, the first is with the flash on, the second the flash is off. I felt that some of the blocks showed better one way, and other blocks the other way. The two "holes" in the layout are the BOM that I need to do for this month (Before Saturday!!) and the last block we will get on Saturday. Then next month we will start a new BOM. I can't wait to see what that will look like!!! OH, also, there are a couple borders that will go on this quilt. So far, I'm really please with how it is coming out. It will be Queen sized when it is finished. Maybe I'll sew the rows together that are completed!

The other quilt that I will be getting back to really soon is Heather's graduation quilt. I have most of it quilted, but need to finish quilting it, and then adding the binding and the tag. I'm sure she is anxiously waiting for the quilt, and wondering when I'll take a break from working on this one, and get to hers. Also, my hubby has a quilt he wants me to make for him, and I've ordered a fabric that will be the focus fabric. It has not yet arrived, but I need to get Heather's quilt done first. (That's a promise, Heather!!)

Well, off to bed. Have a good day tomorrow everyone!!

Two weeks ago, I shared this picture of the sunflower in my front yard. I think the plant grew from birdseed that I was feeding the wild birds. I actually have two of these plants, each having one flower at the top of the plant, which is 3-4 feet high. We have many wild sunflower plants, but these have grown taller, with many side branches, and many flowers on each plant. The wild sun flowers are probably 3 inches across, which includes the yellow pedals. You can see this sunflower was much bigger than that.

Well today, two weeks later, the pedals are basically gone, and the center is beginning to form the sunflower seeds. It is even bigger across now. Here is the picture:


Isn't it amazing how bit it is? Especially since it started from seed that was kicked on the ground by birds from the feeder?

I didn't get any sewing done today. We went to Flagstaff and did the banking, and running errands. My hubby got a great deal on a reconditioned gas mower. Our electric one that we brought from the city just does not manage the job that we have up here.

Well, we have a meeting out at camp at 8:30, so we will probably need to leave here at 7:30. Guess I better get to bed. Hopefully I can show you some sewing progress tomorrow.

Have a Great Weekend!!

Progress on log cabin blocks...

I promised I'd show you some progress on my log cabin blocks. You can see from the fabric I cut, I have 3 more "logs" added - the two red ones and the tan one on the left. I believe all I have left is three more "logs", the other tan one, and then two dark blue logs. I"m getting close!

Another animal story to tell you - this one on our dog - Jenny. At camp, our Nurse Debby really missed her dog, and compensated by giving extra love to Jenny. Nurse Debby also liked to give Jenny treats. Well lots of people liked to give Jenny treats. One of the treats was a box of Scooby snacks. Jenny really liked those, and the end of the box came home with us. A few days ago, Jenny came into the office, and started whining. She does this when she wants something - generally to go outside. (Good Dog!) I got up and followed her out of the office, she turned away from the outside door. Puzzled, I followed her into the kitchen. She pranced over to the counter, and turned in circles, first one direction, and then the other, whining all the time. Looking up on the counter above her, what did I see? The box of Scooby snacks had been moved to the front of the counter when I had been wiping up, and I did not move them back. Jenny recognized the box, and REALLY wanted a Scooby snack. I laughed so hard at her my DH had to come see what was going on. Talk about a SPOILED dog!!! And yes, she did get her Scooby snack.

Have a great day!!

It's DONE DONE!!

Tonight, at 10:35 pm, we have finished out big job!!! Well, until they call and say they need something changed! LOL What a feeling of relief!

To celebrate, I want to share some pictures I've taken recently.

The first is fabric I managed to cut last week. Yes, I said we were working like mad, but we had a big storm, with lots of lightening right over head. So the computers all had to be unplugged and turned off, including the internet satellite. So what was I to do? I managed to cut all the remaining strips for my log cabin block for the block of the month at Odegaards! Now I'm in the process of sewing them on the blocks. I'll show you progress on those soon.

Also, while my husband was looking for something in the garage, he found one of my sewing room boxes that had been put in the wrong pile in the garage. And look what I found!! Years and Years ago, I joined an applique block of the month class at a store in Phoenix. There were 12 blocks to make, and I have 6 of them done. The rest of the fabric must be in another box.

I'm not sure I'll make the next 6 blocks. If I use just these 6, does anyone have any ideas as to what I could do with them?

Now for the great pictures I've taken from the window of the office this last week. Here is a little bunny. He had hopped through my front flower bed, but when I moved he ran across the yard. He was so cute!! (But don't ask my mom about bunnies. She thinks they are evil creatures LOL If you don't remember from earlier in my blog, my mom fractured her hip (Just a hairline crack thank goodness!) while trying to throw a stone to chase away the bunny that was eating all her flowers. I don't think she likes bunnies very much yet!

This is a picture of one of the birds that has been coming to our feeder. He has a red/orange breast very much like a robin, but he is some other type of bird. Anyone know what he is??

These next two pictures are another type of birds that has been at our feeder. Bright blue head, and a white breast. Also the back between the wings seems to be blue too. (It's hard to tell for sure, they like to stay in the shade of the feeder.)

I had to take a picture of our sky. This is looking north east from our home. I just thought the rain was beautiful.

Well, that is all for today. I'm going to go veg for a while, then go to bed. Have a great day tomorrow!!

Well it didn't get done this weekend

Our deadline on our big job was this morning, but now it has been extended to tomorrow noon or there abouts. I guess if our customers consultants keep giving us new things, and changing their minds, and ... Well you get the idea. You can't get it finished if they keep give you more and changing what you have already done. It gets frustrating, but now it is just getting silly. Or maybe we are getting silly. Slap Happy probably. But yes, it will soon get done. I'm hoping it will be tomorrow.

On a better note, I've been waiting all week to share my first award with you all. Brenda awarded me the "Tree of Happiness" award. Not sure what I did to earn it, but it sure did make me happy! LOL!

Here is my award.

"You have just received the tree of happiness. It is scarcely a small plant, which depends on you to grow firmly and strongly. Plant it on your heart, water it with smiles and kindness, feel the aroma of its flowers, savour the sweetness of its fruits and protection under its shade whom you love."

Isn't it the neatest photo, hands holding such a perfect little tree. Being so careful and tender!

I'm also supposed to list 6 things that make me happy right now. So here goes:

1. Our big job is ALMOST done!

2. I got to sew on my log cabin blocks while my hubby fixed a wonderful dinner.

3. Our weather! The windows are open, the crickets are chirping. The storms roll through, bringing much needed rain and then the sun comes out again.

4. My friends - the new ones I've made here in town (Dorothy, Madge, Diane), the ones I left behind when we moved (too many to name individually), and the new friends I'm meeting online (you know who you are)!

5. The flowers in my garden, the birds and hummingbirds at the feeders, and the bunny that comes by once in a while.

6. And of course my husband and my sons, and the rest of my family. The older I get, the more I realize how important they all are.

And I just have to add a number 7. After unpacking from camp, I had misplaced my camera battery charger. I finally found it last night! woo hoo. Back in business with photos!

Now who and I going to give the "Tree of Happiness" award to? Let me think. I'd definitely like to give it to Brenda, but as I received it from her, I don't think I can. So Brenda, enjoy the thought. Rhondee, I loved the post card you sent to me and your blog is so interesting so I'm giving a Tree of Happiness to you. Also, from my old job - the atmosphere has totally changed there, so I'm awarding a Tree of Happiness to Karen, Kristy, and Nancy. This award to them is so they know I wish them all happiness. I don't believe they have blogs, but I will send it to them in an email. And I'm going to award my two sons. Now I don't believe they will pass on the award, and I don't expect them to. But I hope they will take a few minutes and think about the 6 things that they are happy about.

Hopefully tomorrow I will download the pics on my camera of the birds and bunny that have been in our front yard. So a funny story... On the seed birdfeeder, we have had several types of birds. One of the slightly larger birds was eating, and not appreciating the smaller birds that were also trying to get something to eat. They were definitely irritating the bigger bird. So one of the little birds flew from the seed perch up to the top of feeder. He was standing so that his tail was hanging over the top of the feeder, above the bigger bird. Well the bigger birds saw it, cocked his head sideways, and then reached up and grabbed the little bird's tail feathers. I can still hear the little bird squawking, and see it flapping it's wings. Well after about 4 squawks, and a couple seconds of wing flapping, the little bird got loose and flew away. I could almost hear the bigger bird think: "well it serves you right!!"

Have a great night. Hope to talk with all of you tomorrow!

Not much to tell...

This week we have been very busy at work. We have a big deadline coming up this weekend, and must get everything done. Now we have time to get it all done, just not time to play much in-between. Darn, I have about three quilty things I'd rather be doing, but I guess work comes first. My DH reminds me I really like when the money comes in. And, yes, he is correct there.

So just bear with me while my blog is boring, I'll have sewing stuff to show next week (Maybe sooner if I can sneak some sewing in!) :-)

Things to share: Yes, my 4 post cards are in the mail. So the recipients should receive them soon. And if you are one of the post card group, and don't get a card, well I'll be making ones for you soon.

And woo hoo. I received a blog award. My very first. Hopefully in my next post I'll have time to share that award with you all, and Pass the award on too!

That's all the time I have now. Got to go to bed so I can work more tomorrow. (She mumbles to herself - it will be done this weekend, it will be done this weekend.....

Have a great day. I'll be by to visit your blogs soon. And if you are one of my visitors who haven't shared their blog address with me, just drop my a quick response - and I'll be by to see you!!

Fun Making Post Cards

I'm down to the final steps of making my post cards for the Post Card swap. All the fabric I used on the front of the cards is from my scraps from the Block of the Month that I'm doing. I'll show you some pictures next week, after they have gone out in the mail. (No hints before receiving your cards!!)

I made 4 to send, and one that I'll keep. The keeper was my practice card, so that I could make improvements on what I was doing before making the other 4. We've had a couple more people join the post card swap, so I guess I'll draw names to see who will get cards this month. All I have left to do is write on the backs of the cards, and figure out how to mail them. Making the postcards has been a lot of fun, and I'm glad I joined Brenda's swap. Oh, and I have received a couple cards already this month!!

The top card is from Brenda, and the bottom card is from Rhonda. It's really exciting to get such wonderful postcards in the mail!

Guess I better head to bed so I can get up for church in the morning.

Take care, and find something fun to sew! (or whatever is your passion!)

Cheating and Ethics

OK, I don’t rant very often, but today is just one of those times. Do you read Dear Abby?? Yesterday and today she is running letters in response to “Valedictorian Contender” who was unhappy about the cheating going on around him/her, but was uneasy about turning in the cheaters. I can understand about not wanting to be a “squealer”, but the responses really got to me. From a school administration who was too buy with REAL problems and chose to ignore “good” students caught using drugs at lunch, to moms feeding kids in the grocery store and throwing away the wrapper and not paying for the food.

Our children won’t learn morality from TV or other kids. It has to start at home. With the “little things”. Children need to be accountable for their actions. Society has gotten to the point of not wanting to hurt children’s feelings. They can’t loose – it will hurt their psyche. Good Grief!

It’s not easy as a mother trying to instill the sense of morality in your children. One of the hardest things I did was taking one of my sons back to a local craft store, and making him turn in the miscellaneous beads he had found on the floor, and put in his pocket. Now he had less than 20 plastic beads. I’m sure the store would have swept them up and thrown then out. But the point was the beads did not belong to my son, and he should not have taken them. Personally, I think the lady he turned them into over-reacted. But I did NOT want her to tell him it was OK either. I never had another occurrence of his taking something that did not belong to him. And yes, the store was 5-6 miles away, I wanted to start dinner when I got home, I had other things to do that evening. But this was the point where the lesson could be learned – needed to be learned. So I took time to teach him. (And it was all I could do not to cry when he was so upset). I never claimed it was easy to teach life lessons.

In this world you get what you earn. If you cheat, you should get caught. Do you want the test cheater fixing your car? (hmm, he told you the part was bad, was it?). Do you want the liar promising to show up to fix your leaky faucet? (will he arrive?) Do you want the person who steals things, in your car or in your house? If you want none of these, then why is it not important to teach our children to tell the truth, not to cheat, not to take things that don’t belong to them? These undesirable activities have a beginning in childhood, and need to be stopped when they start. It’s called being a PARENT!!

OK, I could go on for pages more, but I’m done. Thanks for listening!

One more round of logs

I made a little more progress yesterday on the log cabin blocks, so here is another picture. I put the blocks next to the last BOM so that you can see how much farther I need to go. I need one more light side, and two more rows of darks. I'm a bit tired tonight, so I don't know that I will make any progress on these tonight, but I'm sure I'll get back to them in the next few days.

I need to juggle these block with the quilt I need to finish quilting and bind, and I want to make some fabric post cards. I joined the swap that Brenda is hosting. It is very low key, (read that low stress!) and looks like a lot of fun. Visit her blog here to learn more.

Have a great night, and thanks for checking on my progress.

Progress on Log Cabin Blocks

Yesterday I completed sewing the next "light" rows on to the log cabin blocks. There are 24 of these blocks, and as you can see, two different fabrics are used in this row. 12 blocks for each fabric. Now to add the next "dark" row. It is a red fabric. Stay tuned for progress!

Thanks for checking up on my progress!

Qulting and Gardening

Last Blog I promised you a picture of BOM 10. Well that was a few days ago, but here (finally) is the picture. I don't know if I've explained before, but the 12 BOMs will be set in a Queen (or King) size quilt with an additional 24 log cabin blocks. I can now claim to have started the log cabin blocks. (LOL) Well, it IS a start. Yes, that little square to the right of block 10 is the center of the log cabin blocks. I have 24 of those cute little things. I have pressed the fabric for the next two strips that get sewn on to the log cabin block, so maybe I'll just keep showing you my progress on those!!Now, I also want to show you my flower garden. I had just started watering it, therefore the two-toned dirt! Most of the plant were planted in the last week, so they are pretty small. But the two back corners have snapdragons (back left) and dianthus (back right). Also, that big plant in the center near the front of the garden is a mum that survived our winter. It is FULL of buds, and I can't wait to see it in bloomThe remainder of our yard is still wild (ok call them weeds if you want to!!) Well we have been working to tame the undesirable weeds, like the tumbleweeds and foxtails. We are keeping the sunflowers, the little yellow daisys, and the yarrow. Below is a picture of one of the sunflower plants. Most of them have much smaller flowers than this, but I just had to show how big and pretty this is. I'm not sure if it is really a wild sunflower, or if it came up from the bird seed that the messy birds spill on the ground. Either way, I'm keeping that plant.

I guess I'm pretty much over my "blahs". I started a notebook, and am writing everything down that I need to do. It is neat to see the items crossed off, and I feel like I'm getting a lot more done this way. Well DH and I are off to get dinner (pizza probably). Then I intend to work on the log cabin blocks.

Good sewing to you, and thanks for dropping by!