2016 Flew Past

I didn’t start out planning a prolonged blog break, but that’s what happened.  Since it’s the last day of 2016, I wanted to do a wrap up post before turning over a new leaf for 2017.

Since my last post, we spent a week on the Texas Coast at Port Aransas for our birthaversary celebration.  This has become a tradition for us as my birthday, Bob’s birthday and our anniversary, not to mention Christmas, fall within a 30-day span starting late November.  It’s our gift to each other.

The weather was not ideal this year.  This was the type of view we had of the shore most days. The color in  these photos is fairly accurate.

Even the birds didn’t want to be out and about, although I saw surfers in the water every day.

…But I soon found that if I bundled up I could enjoy the sound of the surf and the taste of the salt air as I walked along the shoreline.  Most days I got my 10,000 steps in.  

I took my machine for working on bow tie blocks.  (The collection of blocks on my design wall is growing slowly.)

…And my hexagons, which I worked on both in the condo and in the car.

When we returned, this sweet squishy package from Debbie at Stitchin' Therapy was waiting for me.  I’m still pondering how to use these, but I’m thinking about a cover for my 2017 journal.  The one about letting go of what I can’t control is especially apropos.  Thank you so much, Debbie!

So, ready or not, 2017 is arriving right on schedule in a few short hours, and I’m wishing everyone happiness and health.

Back From The Coast

We spent last week on a trip to the Texas coast where I enjoyed a glorious week basking in the sound of the surf, long walks on the beach, and fabulous sea food. 

I even set up my Featherweight and stitched some triangle squares one blustery morning while Bob went on a fishing excursion on the bay.  I also continued working on my applique project.  My neck light and battery powered task light both came in very handy during the trip. 

For the most part I was pretty unplugged from the internet.  I could browse my favorite sites, but trying to comment using my mobile devices was problematic.  The reading list for the blogs I follow is so congested right now that I may choose to click the “mark all as read” option and start over from scratch.

Farewell Until Next Winter

Peggy and "North Dakota" Carol, two Winter Texans who have become a regular part of our Tuesday quilting group for the last three years, are heading home again.  They are so much fun; and they always keep in touch with us during the rest of the year.

In keeping with a practice they started their first year, they hosted our group to a luncheon as a thank you for being included on our Tuesdays.  Truth be known, we’re the lucky ones to have such delightful ladies join us.  

These are the party favors that came home with each of us including bubble bath, raspberry preserves, a cake tester and dishrags that served as napkins.  The theme was the 1930's.  I’m told the blocks on the apron were found at a garage or estate sale.  Peggy had them appliqued to the aprons.

Today we are again cabin bound due to iffy driving conditions.  Okay by me.  I ransacked the pantry and freezer and threw together a soup that is simmering in the slow cooker.  I can always find a quilting project to work on.  Boredom is not an issue!

Progress

I finished the applique handwork and added the final borders on the Jill Finley quilt.  It is now a flimsy hanging in the closet and waiting its turn for quilting.

Cutting continues on the sashings for the Jane Stickle quilt and I will probably start stitching them next week.  I’m not sure why I've dragged me feet on this unless it’s because I’m nervous to see what the blocks will look like together.

We will be celebrating a grandson’s belated birthday Sunday.  I spent the morning making chocolate chip cookies.  I have it on good authority that he doesn't like chocolate chip cookies, he loves them.  It has been a long time since I baked cookies and the house smells wonderful.

Random Notes....

Sweet Julia sent me these lovely tulips for Mother’s Day, and they certainly made my day.  I am so blessed.

Bob is home from rehab and trying to make friends with his new left knee.  We’re going through the settling-in phase as we try to organize everything he needs in a way that gives him easy access, while keeping him comfortable.  Home health care made an assessment visit yesterday and PT should resume tomorrow.

I’m still working on appliqueing the Jill Finley blocks.  At this stage the pictures are rather repetitive, but I am making progress.  I find this an especially relaxing project, making it the perfect one to have on hand.

It’s the time of year when the turtles start migrating from one pond to another.  I moved this one from our flower bed to the water’s edge.  I believe this may be a female since she was burrowing in the ground, perhaps about to build a nest.  I rescued another one about this size from a dangerous spot on our street and relocated it as well.  The easiest way I’ve found to move these critters is to gently slide a flat shovel under them.  They simply retract into their shell until I deposit them in a new spot.  They are remarkable creatures that can move surprisingly quickly when they want to.  We also have snapping turtles in our area, but so far I have not had to relocate any of those.

Jane Stickle Triangle

Uh, oh….

Better….

Done, at last.  Here is LS-12, Button Hook.  It was a fairly straight forward block except I managed to reverse two of the triangle components on the base.  The top diamond applique piece is really, really small.  It's a little bit askew, but after all the "fun" I've had with this one, I am going to leave well enough alone.

In November Bob surprised me with a blooming cyclamen on my birthday.  It soon entered a dormant period, but starting last week, blooms began to appear again.

A Great Weekend....

 We have just returned from spending a nice long weekend at the ranch.  Sleet began falling shortly after our arrival Thursday making it a great night for using some of those quilts I've made over the last few years.  

Friday morning we were iced in and it was a perfect day to spend quilting the Willow Weave top I pieced as part of a sew-along in 2012. 

We enjoyed a gorgeous sunrise Saturday and the temperatures warmed up to the mid-60s. 

Later that day the kids joined us so we could celebrate our oldest grandson’s 15^th birthday.  

Jane Stickle Block Progress for November

Here are two Jane Stickle blocks I am counting as finishes in November even though I had to complete a few applique stitches and trimming today.  This brings me to a total of 34 completed triangles.  There are 18 triangles plus 4 corner kites yet to be done.

My hubby surprised me with this plant last week…just ‘cuz.   

'Tis the Season

….to celebrate life’s benchmarks and families and friends, but not a whole lot of sewing is going on here.

We spent last weekend in San Antonio on the Riverwalk celebrating our 35^th anniversary.  Our room looked down on the street activity and when we were not out and about, we had fun watching the people.  The weather was very mild and it was a near perfect trip.  Here is a picture of the dessert the waiter brought me after overhearing our table chatter about our celebration.  It's called a mud ball and is made from a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream that is then rolled in Oreo cookie crumbs and covered in chocolate sauce and whipped cream.  When I was in college these were occasionally served at our dormitory and were called  chocolate crumbly balls.  They are wonderful whatever you call them.

 

Now that we’re back, we have been seriously trying to get on track for the arrival of family later today.  So, very little has been (or will be) accomplished on the quilting front.  All I have to show since my last post are these Jane Stickle blocks that I appliqued.  The accent fabric in all but one of these blocks were fabric cuts that were generously gifted to me by other quilters including Wanda Hanson at Exuberant Color.  Three more blocks are in ready for hand applique and the colorwash quilt is ready for its binding and label.

 

Very Prolonged Birthday Celebration

November was my birthday month, and the last of my quilty birthday self-indulgences arrived in the mail today.  To summarize how I celebrated:

 

 

A new straight stitch throat plate for my 16 year old Pfaff.  When I purchased this machine, I was more interested in clothing construction than quilting, so the throat plate with the large opening that came with the machine was fine.  I was delighted to find that I could still find new throat plates of a machine that has been out of production as long as this one has.  I can already see an improvement in my piecing.

 

Stash enhancements.  One of my favorite quilt stores, about a 40 mile distance from here – has an annual fat quarter sale.  I sweet-talked Bob into making a day trip to the "Big City" and was able to score some hits in the batik section…more fodder for my Jane Stickle quilt.  I also lucked into an online sale and was able to get some half and quarter yard cuts there for a very good price.

 

New (to me) quilt books.  Finally, I made two quilt book purchases that had been on my Amazon wish list for months.  I figure if a book stays on my wish list six months or more, I must really want it.  I purchased these from used book vendors.  Not only did I get a more affordable price, I felt like I was helping out a couple of small business proprietors.  When we were preparing for our move back to Texas several years ago, I thinned out my library by selling used books on Amazon.  So, whenever possible, I like to help others out the same way.  There have been a couple of occasions when the books I received did not match the condition rating assigned to them by the seller, but this has been very rare, these arrived in excellent condition.

I finally felt good enough to get back to Sit ‘N Sew Tuesday, but was totally worn out by the end of the day.  Also, Bob took me out to dinner for a belated birthday celebration Tuesday night so I didn’t have to cook.  WooHoo! 

Day Trip to the Big City!

Eight of my quilting friends and I spent Wednesday in San Antonio visiting three quilt stores (two of them new to me) and having lunch together.  San Antonio is about 1½ hours from our area, so it’s always a treat to make the trip, especially with quilting friends.

Since I made several purchases in December, I tried not to spend too much, but I did come home with these items:  some batik cuts, straw needles for applique, and a needle plate screwdriver.  We had great fun.

Memorial Day

With gratitude to those who gave their lives in the service of our country…

Getting Ready to Party

The house smells wonderful today.  I have been baking cookies to take to the annual Christmas party with my circle of quilting friends.  The gift I’m taking for the exchange includes a bottle of Mary Ellen’s Best Press wrapped in one of my tote bags and decorated with a “quilty” Christmas ornament.  I used two cuts of Christmas plaid instead of tissue paper for the gift bag.

 I hope the recipient is pleased…I wonder what I’ll get!     

Getting the Spirit of the Season

Time to get serious and make some decisions about decorations this year.  I pulled out a Christmas throw I competed early in the year along with some older decorations that are very dear to me. 

Here is the nativity scene that belonged to my Aunt Mary.  According to the stamp on the bottom of one of the figures, it was made in 1955. 

My Aunt Mary made this Christmas stocking for me.  It’s had a few too many years and a little too much loving to be in pristine condition.  However, even today I marvel at the detail she lovingly put into it.  It is draped over my grandmother’s rocker. 

It wouldn’t be the season for me without a little whimsy.  These two reindeer are perched on a pair of vases my father brought back from India where he served during World War II.

Just as all the bittersweet memories were beginning to crowd in on me; I glanced outside and saw this.  Even though they were being naughty, I had to smile.  Fortunately, they were fighting over a cast-off towel.

It looks to me like Chloe is having to work a whole lot harder than Harley.  She doesn't know it yet, but she's about to get a bath.

Back From The Ranch

Following a Thanksgiving celebration with neighbors we headed for a four-day trip to the ranch.  Bob used the time to hunt wild hogs and succeeded in killing two which were smoked and are now in the freezer.

Meanwhile, I loaded the Lone Star Quilt shown above on Fiona and went to work.  It was made at the request of my brother-in-law, Dave, who purchased the fabric last April.  Our agreement was that I would work on it during the year with goal of having it complete by the time he's back in Texas.  Dave is a Winter Texan with roots in Wisconsin.  Weather permitting, he will pass through our area in late December on his way to the Rio Grande Valley, and I want to have it ready for him. 

It is by far the largest quilt I have put on Fiona.  It measures 98 inches square and took up the entire frame.  The quilt is now ready for trimming and binding.  I hope he will be pleased with it.

See these tomatoes?  I have tried unsuccessfully to grow tomatoes many times.  My husband thinks they are ugly plants but swears that it is entirely by accident that they frequently encounter weed killer.

When the local grocery store started selling plants in September for fall gardens, I bought one and planted it in a pot.  It grew extremely large but somehow managed to survive toppling over three times, stiff winds, light hail and outright neglect when we took trips to the ranch.  It finally succumbed to an early frost while loaded with green fruit.  Friends suggested that I wrap the tomatoes in newspaper and store them in a cool place.  I did so and we had home grown tomatoes for our salad Saturday night! 

Finally, while at the ranch we celebrated my birthday.  It was one of those "decade birthdays" we all love so much.  I was showered with cards, Facebook greetings and Bob even got me a birthday cake.  I can’t remember the last time I had a cake with my name on it.