Thursday, May 23, 2013

A Little of Everything

The problem  when you don't have time to blog is you really have a lot to catch up on when you do.   A lot happens around here in two weeks these days.

We had a wonderful Mother's Day BBQ with the children and grandchildren.  As well, we celebrated the five birthdays this month. 



The garden continues to use a lot of my time with weeds to manage - or at least try to keep under control - and the summer fruits starting to produce.  Somehow they do not can themselves.  The peaches have been spectacular so far with lots more to come.



I seem to have a lot or oranges blooming in my flowers at this time.  I'm loving the color.





We returned LATE last night from New Orleans after a disastrous day of canceled flights and several 5 hour layovers.  At least there was no luggage fee charged!  Our own bed felt really good in the wee hours of the morning. 




The cemeteries there have always interested me.  Since the town is above sea level, the bodies must be buried above the ground.  Families or groups build structures to place their loved ones in.    They go on for generations.  When someone new dies they simply open the structure, remove an older casket, collect the remains and bag them up.  Those are then placed inside and the new casket with the newly deceased person takes the place of the older one.   They do have a one year, one day law.  The structure cannot be reopened for one year and one day after a burial which has caused problems - especially during an influenza outbreak or something of that sort.  They must be buried somewhere else and the wait of one year and one day starts. 



This one is for firemen.  Can you see the very old pumper truck on the top?


Then there was the food.  They have some of the best restaurants in the world!!!  Need I say more?  The bread pudding souffle here was incredible.



There has not been a lot of sewing this month.  Here is a sneak peek at a great border design that I have been working on for a quilt.  I'll show more later. 



Check out this incredible wall in the New Orleans airport.  Is anyone else thinking quilt????



I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend as we remember those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Nature's Fire Extinguisher

Our town has made the news locally and worldwide this week with a brush fire.  We are located in a narrow valley with hills surrounding us on both sides.  Last Thursday we had dry, hot winds blowing and a brush fire started on the other side of our hills.  The winds blew the rapidly growing fire in the opposite direction from us and eventually all the way to the beach.  Then it reversed course and blew back again.  Thanks to the amazing work of the firefighters not one life or home was lost. 





Last night we received wonderful rains that allowed the firefighters to predict full containment by tomorrow.  It also washed away the ash that has covered everything.

California's May snow.


We've had little ones since the middle of last week.  Five went home yesterday and we still have four more that came yesterday morning and will be here a few more days.  Needless to say, there has been no sewing this week. 

Everyone loved building these and watching them tumble. 

Future mechanics????


We took the five little ones to Legoland last Thursday.  Rather than drive the three hours home after a long day, we got a nice hotel and spent the night.



After going out for pizza we went to the beach to watch a beautiful sunset.  The fires down in the San Diego area added to the reds of the setting sun.



We passed the Armstrong Flower Fields and I had to stop and take a picture of the incredible ranunculas.  I know they are past their prime, but spectacular nonetheless.




 


Since my May is pretty impacted  (two anniversaries, Mother's Day and five birthdays), my goal for this month is simple.  I need to quilt my Summer Star QAL that I worked on last summer. 




















Monday, April 29, 2013

Spring in the Garden

It seems that this is the time of the year that the garden beckons me outside more and more.  Other than the countless weeds that multiply faster than rabbits, things are really blooming out.  I have quite a few Cymbidium orchids that are always so pretty at this time of the year.  Many of them are plants from my father who has been gone almost thirteen years.



I love this little green one.


The cactus is also blooming.  I just love this plant with the giant flowers.




Other than the blog hops, I have been sewing some.  Months ago I participated in a Low Volume Swap and I have been playing around with them.  I am just sewing the blocks together as I make them to encourage random placement.   I think I will do eight rows so I am halfway there.



The blue dotted block is coming out because it really does not play well in the mix. 

I had a couple of the granddaughters over to make themselves some costumes for their spring show at school.



My mug rug for our swap is made and sent out to Linda (who no longer blogs).  Linda loves Doxies and has several at her house so when I saw this mug I knew who had to own it.



This is the gorgeous mug rug that Linda sent to me.  The tiny flowers are so perfect and so pretty.



I've had a lot of fun mail arrive lately too, including this wonderful package from Shanna.  I had won the charm packs, but Shanna send this entire box full of selvages since she knows that I collect them.   Between Shanna and a high school friend of mine, I am slowly getting close to starting my selvage quilt. 



Have you seen the lovely blue canning jars that Ball has come out with to celebrate their 100th anniversary?  Even if you don't can, they are wonderful for vases or tall glasses of lemonade.  Since I can, I am looking forward to using them.




I've joined my first ever Bee - Japanese Xs and +s.  I have enjoyed seeing this block and look forward to swapping some each month.



My goal for this month's Lovely Year of Finishes and Monthly To Do List was to finish all of my blocks for Easy Street.  I am happy to say that they are all done. Now I have to sew them all together.  I must have the last Easy Street completion.  I hope to finish before the next one comes out in December ;-)

 
 
 
 


We have grandchildren staying with us for a week starting tomorrow so I will have very little computer time.  I'll check in when I get a chance.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Shake Your Pom Poms

Today is the big kickoff for shaking your pom poms brought to you by Madam Samm and Thearica.  These gals have done a wonderful job putting the hop together and I am shaking my pom poms to cheer for them.   Rah...rah....shishcumba!!!!!

Whatever could I do with pom poms?????  I had no idea when I signed up for this hop, but I remembered wrapping yarn around pieces of cardboard when I was younger as I tried to make pom poms.  After all....we did made our cheerleader pom poms ourselves waaaaay back then.  Nowadays, Clover has an amazing pom pom maker tool.  They make different sizes of pom poms too...easy...peasy.

Taking inspiration from the abundance of new bunnies in the yard this month, I started with one.....




Then I grabbed more yarn out of the basket and some fabrics to coordinate with it to create this.



Of course there are all kinds of pom poms one can make.  If made a bit longer they are called tassles.  I used these on an afghan that I made. 




Do you know how it is when you have something on your mind and you can't "shake" the idea?  Well....I was walking down the sidewalk and saw these pods.  Thinking pom poms, can you guess what idea came to my mind?



Ta da!!!!  TINY little pom poms!!!   Beady eyes and all.



Be sure to visit the rest of the pom pom makers from today and the rest of the hop.  I am sure we will see many fabulous ideas and you will soon be out shaking YOUR pom poms.


April 24











April 25











April 26











April 29











April 30