How does your garden grow?

     Memorial Day weekend was wonderful and I got bunches done. Back is feeling better and I spent the weekend sewing myself a wall-hanging. I'll show you when it's done. I don't often take time to make something for myself but, it's always a 'sweet' time for me, when I do.

     Summer is officially here! Bill's garden is producing and we enjoyed a dinner of a fresh lettuce and tomato salad, steamed zucchini and summer squash, all from his garden and grilled chicken (we grill the year round so that's no biggie). But, we are so happy to have fresh produce.

Summer Squash

Red Sails lettuce.

    Hope your gardens do well this year! Don't forget to eat your veggies!

Have a great day and a safe and fun summer!

Quilter's Dream Batting

I use Quilter's Dream Batting and love it! I got this e-mail today and thought it worth sharing.

QUILTERS DREAM BATTING May 29, 2010

This Memorial Day and Every Day Quilters Dream Batting would like to Honor Our Military Men and Women and Veterans of all Branches Dear Friends, As it is Memorial Day weekend, we would like to take this time to reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Military.  The United States military is, and will always be, made up of the finest men and women of this country, and we take this opportunity to honor those who serve or have served. We remember those who have died in service to ensure our freedom and the sacrifice of their loved ones.  We honor those who courageously defend our country and show our appreciation with thoughts and prayers.  We give special thanks to those family members who give up so much for our freedom. This weekend as well as each and every day may God bless America and American troops. Sincerely, Kathy Thompson and the "Dream Team" at QUILTERS DREAM BATTING Quilters Dream Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS Please join us in the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS by visiting the link from our website www.QuiltersDreamBatting.com Members of the military are 66% more likely to aquire ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) then the average population, and ALS is now recognized as a part of Gulf War Syndrome.  We have recieved beautiful quilts to distribute to ALS patients, and some of the most touching are those patriotic quilts which will be given to our service men and women.  To view donated quilts and prizes, visit us on Facebook:

"Freedom is Not Free" by Kelly Strong I watched the flag pass by one day. It fluttered in the breeze. A young Marine saluted it, and then he stood at ease. I looked at him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud, He'd stand out in any crowd. I thought how many men like him Had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil? How many mothers' tears? How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? No, freedom isn't free. I heard the sound of TAPS one night, When everything was still I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill. I wondered just how many times That TAPS had meant "Amen," When a flag had draped a coffin Of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives. I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom isn't free. Quilters Dream Batting 1-888-268-8664 Fax: 1-800-626-8866 589 Central Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Rescue Pup from last November

Remember last November, when Bill and I transported a rescue pup one leg of a trip from Wilmington, NC to Atlanta? Well, here she is and looking terrific. Her new mom and dad are very, very good to her; she is a blessed puppy and it shows . She had not been abused like our Mira but, had no real attachment to her family and she kind of had an empty look in her eyes, that's gone now because, she really belongs to her new family. Bless you Larry & Mary!

back from Myrtle Beach...

     Sorry, I didn't take any pictures at the beach. Just laid in the sand and relaxed the whole time. I was having some trouble with my back but, with a few visits to my friendly chiropractor, upon my return I'm almost back to 'go!'
    My bestest friend, Jerrie and I escaped to the beach on the 13th and returned home the 18th. Tried a little sewing but, had to rest my back between sessions. Before we left, I finished her quilt and I'm so happy with the way it turned out.

 

    Last month I attended a 'quilting bee' (yes, they still exist) along with my dear friend Mary and some other gals. Anyways, I mentioned that I was tired of the irons out in today's marketplace. They are generally big and clunky, don't get hot enough, they shut off before you want them to or, the stupid little holes on the sole-plate catch the corner of your patchwork and wrinkle it all up. All I want is a small iron, no holes, that will heat up good. Well, didn't Mary find one; she went to Liberty's antique/flea market and found this for me:

Look no holes!

Isn't it darling and it works great. Thank you Mary! Mary also, took me out for a birthday breakfast, what fun!

 Guess who missed me? Mira, she gave her dad a fit! Laying by the front door, looking out and whining. She didn't eat her dog food so, Bill plied her with puppy treats and pastrami sandwiches. What's a mom to do? It is Bill's dog! Right! Ha Ha!  She survived and went right back to eating her puppy food as soon as I got home.

While at the beach Jerrie took me out for a birthday dinner at Bone-fish Grill. OH MY, it was delicious! Thank you, Jerrie for a great time! 

Been home six days now so, I guess I best get back to work. 

Have a great day and until I 'm back with ya, behave!

Spring feels really good...

     Spring is feeling really good! We've had weather up into the upper 80's and it has cooled slightly today  but, still wonderful. Dry so, it isn't stifling hot. 
     I think the busy pace of the past month has slowed for a while. Six ribbons for the Carolina Longarm group have been either awarded or delivered so, that's done for a few months. They are time consuming but, I enjoy making them.

     Thursday, my friend Neva and I went to Clemmons, NC to the Forsyth Piecers and Quilters Quilt show and judged for the ribbon to be presented to the best longarmed quilt at the show. We only had to choose one quilt but, there were so many lovely, lovely quilts. fortunately for us we only had the quilting itself to judge. Theresa DeWalt won the ribbon. She is an outstanding quilter (13 years) in the Winston-Salem area. Oh, to get to that point one day! I can only hope it's sooner than later. Below is a picture of the quilt she quilted (only one of several she did, that were in the show.)

    Sorry, the picture truly doesn't do this quilt justice. Mary at Quilt Hollow has a better picture. The close-ups are a little better. New camera and I haven't got it quite figured out.

Absolutely delightful!

     Friday, Mary and I attended the quilt show and had a chance to take the pictures of several of the quilts and visit the vendors. They must have had almost 20 vendors and guild boutique. I found some scrumptious batiks and Mary gave me my birthday present a little early; a 'Jelly Roll' of neutral batiks to go with them. I'm going to use them in a 'Desert Nine Patch' quilt.

    I have several other batiks (too many to get in the photo) that I've been collecting for an 'Indian Summer' quilt so, will combine many of them with these for both quilts.

I just love fabric!!!

  Never got the chance to share a picture of my entry table dressed up for spring. Here it is! (at least part of it) Then I must go, it's getting late and I'm pooped! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

 HAPPY SPRING!

hopelessly bogged down...

      I am afraid I am so far behind I'll never see daylight, again. However there is always hope!
    
     I have finished some customer quilts, actually have the binding on my pinwheel quilt and have it on the bed. Forgive the picture I still have the room to paint and will take better pictures later.

We had snow in February something we seldom have so, I did take a picture of that. This was taken the morning after and the Carolina blue skies are pretty evident.

      Sunday we had tornadoes but, yesterday the clouds gave way to gorgeous blue skies and this morning is just as pretty a picture as the snowy one, only minus the snow. We have trees in bloom and the Bluebirds are busy building a nest in the birdhouse (it really is in the picture above but, hard to see). Kind of breezy but, climbing into the low 70's today and expected to be in the mid 80's by the end of the week. It's been a long cold winter for us and we are so looking forward to spring weather returning. Speaking of 'spring' have you had a good 'Spring' cold lately? I am just recouping from a 'bloomin' spring cold' and boy was it lousy. Went all winter without a sick day and get to the nice weather and bam!

     I've been making ribbons for the Carolina Longarm Quilt Guild all week and have a half dozen almost ready to mail out. We present ribbons to the 'Best Longarm Quilt' at different guild shows around the states of North and South Carolina. I was the recipient of one of these ribbons before, I became a member. I think an old post shows the quilt and ribbon. It was on my very first quilt off my machine, 2 and a half years ago. WOW! How time flies when you are having fun! Sometimes when you are not.

     I now have a 'Facebook' page. Not sure what to do with it just yet but, it has been a hoot seeing some of my classmates from HS (you will note I haven't got my picture posted, yet). Ralph Waldo Emerson said "As we grow old...the beauty steals inward."  I can sure believe that! LOL With that little quote I think I will close for now and hopefully return sooner than the last post.

      Have a wonderful Easter! God Bless!!!