Really???

We got the results of Grace's MRI today. Her little fall from the fence tore her ACL. No wonder her knee hurts! She's probably looking at surgery and rehab once she gets out of school. Not exactly how a 14 year old wants to spend her summer!

Wonder if I could convince her to let me teach her to knit?

Hey...

I'm still here, did you miss me? After Andrew's graduation, the drama continued. Ellen is home from Providence now and I once again have a full house. My house was seeming very empty and far too big for awhile there...not anymore! It's good to have everyone home, although they expect me to cook. They're learning quickly that I don't do that anymore! :o) Grace has had a little drama herself. Last weekend she jumped over a fence at the beach and it didn't go well. We were in the emergency room the next morning. She badly sprained her knee and wound up on crutches and in a knee brace. Today she went for an MRI. We hope to have the results tomorrow and we hope there's nothing wrong!!!

Judy asked what was on our design walls. There's not much on mine. My finished 5 blocks for Gail Pan's Block of the month is up there. I'm caught up on this one and here is the latest block...

I've also got the first two blocks of the Heartland Heritage Block of the Month done...I'm caught up on this one until my next package arrives later this week! Here are blocks one and two....

I've realized that other than the BOM's, I don't have a quilt started. I'm still working on Anne Sutton's baskets and I've been working on a Rachel's Reel quilt when I have a few minutes, but I really need to start working on a pieced quilt. Hmmm....I'll have to find something to make. So many choices!!!!

One Down...

The happy graduate...

The relieved family...

Congratulations Andrew, we're so proud of you!!!

Mother's Day late...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. It's been a busy week and a half, which didn't allow much time for quilting!

My Mother's Day weekend was excellent. Earlier in the week, I received a tin of Hershey's dark chocolate covered pretzels in the mail from Ellen and her boyfriend Jarred. They're almost gone...chocolate covered pretzels are my favorite treat! On Saturday we went to the Phillies game and saw them lose to the Dodgers. In spite of that, there's nothing like a sunny day at the ballpark! Afterwards we met Andrew at PJ's for my "Mother's Day" beer. :o) They run a special on the 9th of each month...99 cent Magic Hat #9, so we took advantage of it!

When we got home, sitting on the table were these beautiful flowers. Grace had walked from our house to the local florist, which is about 1.5 miles away. After she bought the flowers she walked to the Hallmark store which is a little further and bought the two votive candles. Then she carried it all the way home. I was overwhelmed...what a thoughtful gift she gave me! Then the next day, the Boss offered to pay for part of the flowers and she told him no...if he paid, they wouldn't be from her and it was worth every penny she spent to surprise me and see the smile on my face. What a sweetheart!

Burlington County also sent me a Mother's Day gift...a summons for jury duty. I have to report in June...on my birthday! Thanks, guys...

I finally finished my fourth block of Gail Pan's embroidery BOM this week. I'm now a month behind on Anne Sutton's basket BOM and on the Heartland Heritage BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop...although in that one I've done block 2 and not block one. I've had no time to sew, between my work schedule and quilting for customers schedule. I can't wait to have time to catch up!

And that's it from south Jersey...until the weekend. I should have lots of pictures then...Andrew graduates from college tomorrow! I can't imagine how I got old enough to have a child graduate college!

Home again...

I hadn't been to Chicago since I was very young and really don't know why I waited so long to go back! Even in the persistent rain, it is a beautiful city. Since this was a business trip, the boss was busy during the day, so I got to spend a lot of time exploring on my own. We arrived on Wednesday and took a walk down to Lake Michigan once we were settled in the hotel. You couldn't see much of the skyline as you looked across the park because the clouds were hanging a little low.

I walked for miles each day...I loved the parks and the artwork in them. This fountain is in Millenium Park and I found it very unusual!

As I came around a corner in the park, suddenly this came into view. It was very odd to see a T. Rex lurking in the park!

Then there was the Chicago Bean. I'd never heard of this before, but read about it in a travel guide at the hotel and had to go find it. It's like a big garden gazing ball which reflects the city. Very cool!

On Wednesday night we had dinner at a restaurant called Wildfire. I had a filet platter with roasted vegetables which was just amazing. If you're ever in Chicago, give this place a try, you won't regret it!

More pictures next time...