4TH OF JULY

I'm a little late posting - but for the most part we had a grand time. Our youngest daughter and her family were the only ones in town - they came over in the evening and we barbecued and had delicious fun.

On a sadder note - our oldest daughter and her family were in Olympia - her mother-in-law had passed away the day before - after a long and painful struggle with several cancers. Our thoughts were with them all during that time.


For dessert that night we had a "sparkling" dessert - shortcake with whipped cream and mixed berries. Delicious and fun to look at.



There was a baseball game going on - Mostly Jahn and his pop - lots of throwing, hitting, running and laughing. Jahn is a most generous boy -never complains when it is not his turn, is glad to share anything with anybody and has fun whether he is hitting the ball - chasing the ball or falling down in a pile of laughter.





Good Pitch!!!



Jahn loved opening his 4th of July goodie bag - so many fun things in it. A glider that actually flew very well





And sparklers - which he shared with everyone - counting them out to make sure that everyone had an equal number.


The weather was good - at long last - seems that summer has come. It is only getting up to the low 70s during the day - and down to the high 50s at night - but we will take it - after all the rain of this spring - any sunny day is grand. I must get outdoors and hoe the flower beds - they seem to be growing weeds at an alarming rate.

Nothing much quilty to mention - I've been meaning to get busy on the butterfly quilt again - but so far it has eluded me. I did get a nice stack of GFG flowers made while at work this week, and have the vines pinned and partly appliqued so the flowers can go on soon. I'll post pictures when I actually make some progress.

AT LONG LAST - SOME SUMMER!!!!

We have been waiting long enough - that 's for sure - and summer came in stomping her feet. None of this meek, sliding in quietly - our tempatures went from highs in the 50s and early 60s to 85 degrees - in two days. Wow - it sure hit fast. It is fun to listen to people talk - "Wow it is too hot" - "Where did this HOT weather come from?" - and just two days ago we were all whining because it was too cold and rainy.


I've really enjoyed the bright sunshine - the cloud free skies - the warm warm temperatures - the cozy warm house and the cool pleasant yard in the evenings. Last Sunday we both were awake at 3:30 - and couldn't get back to sleep - so we got up at 4 a.m. - and sat on the front porch to watch the morning come in - and listen to the bird songs in the woods just across the street from our house. It is a skinny woods, not very deep - but has trees galore and it keeps us from peeking into the neighbors' yards on the hill behind our house. Lovely shade and lovely birds. The birds seemed to be very happy that morning - singing their hearts out - we could identify the songs of robins (earliest to bed and earliest to rise), red breasted nuthatches, chickadees (called chickaNees by our grandson Ben), Brewer's blackbirds, Redwinged Blackbirds, Towhees, Orioles, Crows, Juncos and Song Sparrows. We didn't see a lot of them - they keep to the woods in the early part of the day - but their songs were wonderful.


After a long time on the porch we decided to go out to breakfast - to our favorite little cafe down the road - a good "fisherman" breakfast, as our family used to call it, because my dad was a commercial fisherman at one time - Eggs, bacon (fried crisp), hash brown potatoes and biscuits and gravy. Ahhh the gravy. What a treat breakfast it was! The cafe only serves breakfast and lunch - has the same waitresses from year to year and many of the customers have become friends with each other from eating there so long. A really good "hometown" feel to the cafe.


Next, a trip north of town to our favorite farm stand - the Green Barn. Well it is ONE of our favorites - we love Joe's Garden too - they grow most of their produce and it is lovely to shop right next to the fields where the produce is grown.


Joe's Gardens in the fall! In the spring they have baskets of fuchsias hanging everywhere.


We got a basket full of fresh produce from the Green Barn, cantalope, plums, local strawberries, pineapple (obviously not local), asparagus, and WA cherries.


The cantalope was the best we have had this year - and maybe in many years. The strawberries were very very ripe and soft and so delicious. Local berries are the best!!! We ate them plain and over a nice bowl of good vanilla ice cream - ahhhh summer.!!!! We hope to get to our favorite berry stand this week and get a flat of strawberries - some to freeze for jam making on cooler days - and mostly for eating. We eat most of the first flat of strawberries of the season right out of the baskets - and freeze more later. Strawberries on cereal, strawberries on ice cream, strawberry shortcake, strawberry milk shakes, strawberries by the handful - just strawberries all day long!!!! Our oldest grandson, Jahn, loves strawberries - but Ben says "I think I'll just look at them" when offered one. He will eat most of a watermelon though, if offered - and if you make sure there are not seeds. We buy the seeded kind because the taste is more like we remember from childhood days - the seedless seem so bland.

We had just gotten home and were settling down for a spell, when we got an email saying that we could come and pick up the Little Tikes tugboat that was being given to our grandsons. We jumped in the car - and headed for the boat - about 30 miles away - but worth it. Of course the boat was too big for our car - though we do have a large trunk -so we put a blanket on top of the car and lashed to boat down - and off we went.


We couldn't go over 25 mph or the boat began to rock and roll. So slow and easy - down the road we went. The main road we had to travel was wide and had very large shoulders for pulling over - and we had to pull over a lot so traffic could pass us - the speed limit was 50 mph and we slowed traffic a lot. No one got cranky and we got quite a few waves and smiles as they zoomed past our strange cargo. We made it safe and sound - that picture is of the boat in our yard, on top of the car. It is probably the first time a boat has ridden home on top of a Grand Prix.


Now it sits in our yard - after a good scrubbing - and the boys can once again play boat. We had a wooden rowboat at our old house - but decided not to bring it here when we moved. I had gotten a pattern for sailor hats but never got them made - now I might just have to dig it out and make them for the boys. On warm days we will fill this with water for a wading pool - this is going to be such fun!!


On the way home we saw this heron in the shadows in the ponds near our house. He was looking for something good to eat and held this pose for the longest time.

The rest of that good sunny day was spent enjoying the sunshine - at last - and eating fresh produce from our trip north. A fabulous summer day!!

Nothing quilty to report - but a grand day anyway. Hope your summer is going as well as ours is.

TRUNK SHOW IN CHILLIWACK BC

On June 17 I gave a trunk show of my quilts for the Chilliwack, BC quilt guild.

Don and I went up to BC on the 16th - to avoid a long delay at the border the morning of the 17th, since the meeting started at 10 a.m. and we didn't want to be late. Sometimes the border crossing takes over an hour - although on Monday it just took 40 minutes - a new record for crossing there, for us. We crossed at Abbotsford. It is about an hour's trip from Bellingham to Chilliwack - if you don't add in the border crossing.







We did a little sight seeing on Monday- enjoying a most fabulous weather day. As you can tell in my previous posts, we've been inundated with rain this spring, with only a few days here and there that were sunny - but Monday was one of those take-a-deep-breath and enjoy the sunshine day!!! We re-visited a Heron reserve, took a nice long walk - in the sunshine this time - and enjoyed all the birds and flowers. We actually saw more Bald Eagles flying over than herons - it was great. The CA poppies and wild roses were fabulous. There was a bus full of school children there - running about and enjoying the glorious day. Too nice of a day to stay in a stuffy old school room.


There were a few ducks on the pond, but we didn't see any up close. This is one of the places we stopped to sit on a bench - they have benches all over the reserve and a tower to climb to get a better view of the land.


On the way to the Heron Reserve we saw a yard full of some of the strangest sculptures. This one had a mail box that said "Hammer Metals" - guess they meant it.

We got to our host's house about 3 and spent some time just sitting and visiting. Jeanne is the guild member that scheduled the trunk show and she had quite an interesting home. In her basement is a huge room with a long arm quilting machine, stacks of fabrics and wonderful projects. Then in the adjacent room, not quite as big, but just as interesting was her card making room. She is quite clever and re-uses old cards to make some stunning cards, which she often uses as gifts. I got a lot of good ideas from her - and plan to make some cards of my own soon.

Then we went out to dinner with Jeanne and her best friend Penny, and Penny's husband Marvin. We got to pick the restaurant from several Jeanne had chosen, and we picked a Bavarian restaurant from the choices she gave us - and a good one it was indeed. Don and I ordered one plate of Schnitzel and split it - and it was more than the two of us could eat. The meat lapped over two edges of the huge platter it was served on. I should have had my camera with me then, to take a picture. The food was delicious and then we sat at talked at the table for a couple hours - it was great fun.

The next morning we were up early to get to the meeting hall and get the Power Point projector set up - and all the quilts - I took 30 - displayed. The presentation went very well, I spoke for an hour and 15 minutes and the ladies enjoyed the slide show about my quilt journey - and after the presentation they asked many questions and viewed the quilts. Don ran the projector for me - and helped with hauling the quilts in and out.

We thoroughly enjoyed the ladies we met - that is one guild that is chock full of sweet ladies - and so friendly and helpful. They have a quilt show in 2009 and we are already planning on attending.


This was the guild's raffle quilt a couple years ago, made by Penny and quilted by the guild. It is folded roses. I can't wait to see the one for 2009.

On the way back to the border we discovered we didn't have Don's driver's license - and we'd never get back across the border without it - so after much searching of purse and pockets and every inch of the car, we had no choice but to head back to Chilliwack and look for it. We drove into the parking lot and there is was - face down on the pavement - looking like a scrap of paper. Ohhhh big sigh of relief. Don has security clearance at the border for his job - but we weren't sure if that would get us back into WA. So back to the border and when we got there a train was passing by and we had to wait about 6 minutes for the train and then we were the first in line at the border - a one minute crossing - now that is a record we won't ever beat!!!

WHERE IS SPRING??!??

Oh - we are sitting in the spring! Or at least it seems so. We have had so much rain here in NW WA that we are beginning to grow webbed feet and moss - in our hair. Drip Drip Drip Drizzle.


I read someplace the other day that we have had rain for 64 of the last 70 days. Drip Drip Drip And this is the coldest June since 1894 - we are calling it June-uary. There was snow down to 3,000 feet in the nearby mountains last night - and the passes to Eastern WA all had snow.


Last night it rained so hard that the noise on the skylight was louder than our conversations - we had to wait for a lull in the rain to even talk to each other. Drip Drip Drip DRIP DRIP DRIP DOWNPOUR!!


My poor flower gardens are awash in mud - no need to water anything this spring. The grass continues to grow like - well, like a lawn in NW WA in the spring - and finding days that are dry enough to mow before we are eaten alive by the lawn is very hard. Drip Drip Drizzle Drizzle


I planted some nasturtiums in the flower gardens that I had started from seed and so far they are doing ok - and the deer haven't eaten them. I staked up the Shasta Daisies and the Asters - making it easier for the deer to snack on them. Drip Drip Drip Muddy Shoes.



I can't wait until the nasturtiums are blooming - they are one of my favorites! I love how they run about like wild women and spread all over the flower beds. Bouquets of them in the house are wonderful and we eat the flowers on salads in the summer!

The water is spilling over the tops of the gutters sometimes when it is raining very hard. Yesterday when I walked across the lawn the water came up almost 2 inches on my shoes - everything is squishy like a sponge - I think the water table is level with our lawn now. Drip Drip Drip Drizzle Splat!!


The lawn chairs are sitting in the rain - no one to sit in them - Drip Drip Drop Splash!


The windows are covered in raindrops - our grandson tries to wipe them off from the inside so he can see the birds. We have one sad, wet Oriole that comes to the covered feeder and sits, dripping, on the edge - trying to find a dry spot to sit and enjoy his lunch. Drip Drip Drip Drizzle

But all this rain does make for a gorgeous Washington when the sun finally does come out. I've never seen such green before - and I grew up in Southeast Alaska where it REALLY knows how to rain.






The daffodils were more than gorgeous this year - abundant and fragrant and cheerful. There is nothing more cheerful than a daffodil - unless it is a child laughing.



There are acres and acres of daffodils and tulips grown south of here. Each April they have a festival to celebrate the spring flowers. This is just one of the many fields of daffodils we saw on our tour of the fields. We stopped at a farm stand and bought a bouquet of 50 daffodils for 5.00. What a treat!!


The dogwoods are blooming all over the woods - bright patches of white in the deep greens. Pretty Pretty Pretty


California Poppies cheer us up with their sunny bright faces - they grow in yards and wild along the roads!!


The Lace Cap Hydrangea smell so sweet and are fresh and clean from the rain.

So I sit indoors and work on my quilts while it continues to drip and drizzle outdoors - I have begun the vines on the butterfly quilt, and will be adding the flowers soon. It is cheery to work on something so summery when all around me it is Drip Drip Drip Drizzle Downpour Thunder and Lightening Drip Drip Drip

Happy quilting - and stay dry and cool - depending on where you live! Squish!

I DID IT - I WON IT - I GOT IT!!

I have loved the Bucilla quilt kits since I was a kid in the late 50s. I grew up in Alaska and the local dry goods store carried embroidery kits in a big wooden draw under one of the sweater counters. I would go through the drawer every chance I got and wish for one of the quilt kits. I did earn enough money to buy a kit for a pair of embroidered dish towels, one with a Rooser that says - I Rule the Roost - and the other with a hen that says - Says Who? Quite traditional for that time. :-)



I never could seem to come up with the 9.98 that was needed to buy the quilt kit - and I've wished that they were available for a long time now. Then recently I saw photos of two quilts, made from these kits and decided to give ebay a try. There were several people selling the quilt patterns, for about 15.00 with shipping, some of the finished quilts, running over 300.00 - and some complete kits. I put several on my watched list and waited for the auctions to come to an end. I bid on mine - and there was no one else bidding against me - yet I still go so nervous as the last few seconds ticked off. I won!!!!! And for just 51.00!! I couldn't believe it - the fabrics would have cost me more than that,and it inclueds binding also.





In just two days the quilt kit was in my mailbox - all the way from Sherman, TX - I could not believe that it was actually here. I slowly opened the package - pulling each piece carefully out - looking at the colors and the instructions - feeling just like that nine year old kid again!! Of course I want to dive right in and start it - but the grown-up in me says - wait, you still have the butterflies to finish, and the Hawaiian to to be hand quilted - you must wait. So I put the pieces back in the package - how long they will stay there I'm not sure.

I keep patting the package and looking at the picture on the front. I am so happy, finally I have my quilt!!!


And then I found more patterns on ebay - and bought the Hollyhock pattern. This is on a CD and has great photos and actual size pattern pieces and placement diagrams - this is for in the future - but I know I'll make this one too - these are my absolute favorite type of quilt, even though they are very dated. I just adore them, even now.


And I'm going to get the pattern for the Gladiola, as that is Don's favorite flower, so he must have a quilt also. Hollyhocks are my favorite flower, but there was only the rose kit on ebay, so I am plenty happy to have it.

What a good ebay/quilt week this has been.

MORE BUTTERFLY QUILTING

I finally got the last 24 butterflies appliqued and the buttonhole stitching done around each one. For some reason this seemed to take longer than the first 34 butterflies. Now I am cutting out the bodies from my hand painted fabrics - getting them ready to applique.


They are just pinned on the butterflies for now - waiting to be cut to shape and then appliqued.



I want to applique flowers and vines on the quilt - as butterflies just love flowers. It has taken me a long time and much searching but I've finally decided on using Grandmother's Flower Garden "flowers" and YoYos for some of the other flowers. I will cut bias stems and applique them down and then add the flowers.


I am doing the GFG pieces in English Paper Piecing - above are some of the papers glued (I use a washable glue stick) to the fabrics - waiting to have the seam turned under and basted. At the top of the photo are a few of the finished pieces, ready to be whip stitched together.

These are some of the papers stuck to the yellow fabric that will be the center of the flowers. This process has many steps but I really like the way the turn out so don't mind the steps.



Here they all are in a tin, ready to go to work with me where I can finish getting them ready to become flowers.

* * * * *

And of course I can't leave you without some of the pictures of spring time. It is so gloriously green here - even the air seems green on these sunny days. We had an absolutely perfect weekend - sunny and about 78 - and then Monday and Tuesday it was supposed to rain but it cleared off and was almost as nice as the weekend.


It almost seems you can taste the green!!


And the blue sky with the green leaves is amazing - be careful not to tip over while looking up at the sky.


The little evergreen in our backyard is sporting some very pretty green "fingernails"


And one lovely rhododendren!!! Isn't spring grand!!!

Happy quilting and gardening - if you like that sort of thing - to all!! Thanks for stopping by.

FINISHED CLOSETS - AHHH HEAVEN!!!

At last - the new plaster is painted - the shelves are in - and stuff is back on the shelves. Yippeeee. We did the painting yesterday - but unfortunately the color of white we picked is just a tad greener than what is currently on the walls, so this afternoon we will have to paint the rest of the wall space around the closets to make it blend in. It won't take long, and then one wall will just be a hair off the color of the rest of the walls and you will think it is the light in the room that makes it look that way - if you notice it at all.




We also got the shelves in last night in the studio - with just one more high shelf to go in - but that has to wait until we buy the shelf. I spent most of this morning putting the bins and boxes back in the closet. It makes the room seem so much bigger with the open shelving. We still have to patch the spot in the carpet where the door came out - we'll do that with a scrap from the carpet we are having replaced in the living room, master bedroom, dining room and den. The carpet is currently the same color throughout the house - but we are having most of it replaced in a couple weeks. The order is in -just waiting for the installer to contact us with a date. We will leave the dark green in the studio and the guest room for now - that is a project for a later date.

We did not put the closet doors up in the bedroom, as they would have to be taken out to install the carpet - they are sitting in the hallway - waiting to scare me every time I walk by.

Then - on one of our trips to town we drove past the ponds in our park and got some great photos of the ducks and geese. The babies are growing up fast so I wanted to get pictures while they were still little.


Daddy goose - he means business when he tells you to stay away from the family.

And here is the family - learning to move in formation. They practice their "V" formation for flying by swimming in a "V". It is interesting to watch the adult ducks keep their babies in line.

And the duck family - swimming in the same pond. The babies still are "peeping" when they talk - it is so cute.

Our weather has been fabulous the last two days - sunshine and about 78 - and no wind - who could ask for more? I'm headed back out to the yard to do some buttonhole stitch on the butterflies - I only have about 5 left to do, then the bodies need to be appliqued and last - the antennae embroidered. Then that top will be ready for some flower applique - for the butterflies to feast on.

When the race is over we are headed out to K-mart to buy some board games for our oldest grandson - Jahn. He asked me last time he was here why we didn't have any board games - and Ididn't have an answer for that. We found Dora Candyland on the computer and played a few games of that - but it isn't the same as getting out the boards and playing together at the coffee table.

Hope your weekend is going great.