QUILTING

I've been doing a lot of quilting the last few weeks/month. I've completed the top for a baby quilt, for the newest member of our family...due in October. We don't know what we're having and I'm hoping this quilt isn't going to be too feminine. It has lots of 'neutral' colors so I'm sure it will work. It would have been nice to work on something pink and frilly. I guess I can always do that later if it turns out to be an Olivia instead of.........what? I don't know what the boy's name choices are.

This red, black and white quilt will be for Travis and Erica. They are getting married next May, which will give me enough time to put this together and get it quilted. I have had an offer to have it professionally quilted by "a friend of a friend"....but I don't know. I've always hand-quilted all my quilts, and I'm thinking a quilt so special as for a wedding should be hand-quilted. What do you think? Do you think it would matter to the newlyweds?

This one is a mystery. To you, not to me.

I've received lots of new fabric this past month, and have plans to be doing a lot of quilting this summer and into the fall and beyond. One of my projects is a BOM....block of the month. That is when the quilt shop sends you the fabric for one quilt block each month. At the end of a year you have all the blocks needed to put together into a quilt. This is a great way to make a large quilt and spread the cost out over a year. The fabric is from a new line from some designer, but various designers and makers of quilt patterns have each designed one of the blocks going into this quilt. I don't get to know what it looks like until it's all done...so this one is a mystery to me. I do know what the fabric line is, and it's beautiful. Maybe I'll post a photo each month as I get the blocks done.

IT'S JUNE?!

Okay, to say I've been neglectful about writing is putting it mildly. In fact, you've all probably given up even looking for a post. Sorry about that. I haven't felt that I've had anything happening worthy of posting...tho I suppose anything would help to let you know I'm alive and kicking. Well...I'm alive and kicking!

I survived that horrible March month, and my health has actually been getting better and better in the last few months. I am going to credit God for this, and all the prayers that I know are being offered on my behalf. I've really been able to eat a lot of things that I shouldn't, and that's made me happy. It's hard to not eat tomatoes and onions, but lately I've been able to. I've drunk beer...eaten chocolate....salad dressings. I'm a happy camper these days. Thank you, Lord!

So, what have I been up to. Reading. Lots of books in the last few months. Autobiographies, fiction. And I've been quilting a lot lately. Just finished the top to a baby quilt I'm making for the new Caalim baby. I hope it's a girl....I think this quilt may be a bit too feminine for a boy, inspite of the "neutral" colors. We'll see. It's colorful, I'll give it that. I hope Baby will enjoy it.

I've also started a quilt for a newly engaged couple in our family. My nephew and his fiance' are getting married next May, and when I asked them for colors for a quilt, they asked for red, black, and white...with a Spanish theme (because that is Erica's heritage). I found some wonderful black and white fabrics, and a red to tie them together. Spanish? Well.....the designs on the black and white are very scroll-like...maybe even lacy....which makes ME think of a Spanish mantilla and their architecture. Hey....that's the best I can do! I think it's going to be stunning if I do my job right.

Memorial Day we went up to the Lake Quinault Lodge in the rain forest, and hung out. We've been doing that every year now for the past 4-5 years. It was another beautiful weekend weather-wise, and we totally enjoyed it. Relaxed, saw all the sights, hiked a bit, went down to Ruby Beach, and ate way too much. The restaurant had a beef tenderloin with gorgonzola cream sauce that was soooo good, I ate it two nights in a row!! They also had a wonderful po'boy made with marinated shrimp, served on top of slaw with a roasted red pepper sauce. It made for the best sandwich ever! And no, it didn't bother me. We've decided to make the trip up there more often....like after church...just for lunch.

We put in a new lawn in the last few months. Well, Michael did. He put on moss killer, thatched, and plug-aerated. He put on weed and feed, and new grass seed, and watered the heck out of it, because the weather decided to get drier just when we needed it wet. Figures. So, we now have a green lawn, don't see any moss, but the weed and feed did NOTHING to kill the weeds. He'll be applying weed killer this week.

I planted geraniums last night. And some solomon's seal. That's sure a pretty plant. I got it at the garden show....haven't seen it at any of the local stores, like Home Depot or Wal-Mart. Perhaps I should expand my horizons as I'd like to plant more of it.

No one has come and weeded any of the other areas on this place. Yuck. It's a mess. It's always a mess. But I try to keep my little plots weeded.

This weekend we are headed to the winery and Westport with a couple of sisters and their spouses. Will be a fun day. Hoping that this glorious weather holds.

I have been spending a lot of time on Facebook....which hasn't helped my posting here any. While I don't post a lot on there, it's fun to see what the family is doing, especially with those I don't see often. And there are some fun games.
AND....I have a farm. My niece, Becky, got me into farming. I tell you, it is addictive. It sounds crazy, but it's really a lot of fun. I keep after my sisters to start one so we can be "neighbors"....but they are resisting. It can be a real time sink, but I thoroughly enjoy it.

If you aren't already reading http://thepioneerwoman.com then you really need to check it out. Ree is a HOOT, and a wonderful cook. She lives on a large cattle ranch in Oklahoma with her husband, Marlboro Man, and their 4 kids. She will bring a smile to your face, and make you want to head for the kitchen to cook up one of her recipes. She has fabulous give-aways every week....from Kitchenaid mixers, to sugar lemon body lotion. She has a huge readership, and I've yet to win anything, but I won't give up trying. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment. Give her a look....you won't be disappointed.

And that's it for now. I'm headed back upstairs to cut more black and white fabric. Yes, I know the sun is shining, and it's a beautiful day outside........but first things first.