A New Start...

Back when we lived in NY and the kids were young, we had friends who had a little place in southern Vermont. We would borrow it a few times a year and head up for some rest and relaxation. It was heaven. As Andrew was beginning his job search when he graduated from college, he kept looking in the Philadelphia area. There was NOTHING available. Earlier this month he decided that, with snowboarding season coming, what he'd REALLY like to do would be to find a job in Vermont. He started looking on Craigslist and found a few positions to apply for. There was one in particular that just seemed to suit him.

He sent his resume, got a call back and it seemed like it might be a good fit, so I suggested he go up there to visit. He did that last week and things went well...he was invited back for an interview on Thursday. Another 6 hour drive found him back in Vermont on Wednesday, he interviewed on Thursday and they invited him back on Friday morning and offered him the job. Of course he accepted, then went to look for an apartment. He was worried he wouldn't find anything, but I told him that since he decided to look in Vermont, everything has fallen into place...if it was meant to be, he'd find an apartment too. An hour later, he had an apartment lined up! Talk about karma! So he'll be living in this little town...

With this lake down the road...

At the base of Okemo Mountain, right on the shuttle line to the mountain...perfect! I just love it when everything works out!

It will be Andrew and his dog Max, starting a new life in one of my favorite places. I'm so excited for him...and for me because now I have an excuse to go to Vermont!

September Projects...

Project # 1...Make 5 sets of 5 basket blocks for a swap...

Project # 2...Make these into a baby quilt...

And of course, I want to stay caught up on my blocks of the month, but I'm not counting those as my September Projects! So, what are YOU planning for September?

Priceless...

A few days away, with beautiful weather...

A wonderful dinner with new friends and a fabulous sunset...

Touring the most opulent mansion in Newport...

Spending time with the kids...

A cruise of the harbor...

Another spectacular sunset...

Grace with her own boat...

We had a wonderful time together in Newport, RI...a perfect way to end the summer!

I actually did it!

I actually finished all four projects I set out to complete in the beginnning of August! It's amazing what having a deadline will do. So here are the finished socks...

And the finished blocks for Anne Sutton's block of the month.

Now to make my plans for September...

Iraqi Bundles of Love

A few days ago I read about Iraqi Bundles of Love on someone's blog...and clicked over here to check it out. Maj. Art La Flamme came up with a wonderful idea to put sewing and knitting supplies in the hands of Iraqis who need these things and aren't able to get them. It's a short term project right now...all the bundles must be sent by September 7th.

As I started pulling fabric from my stash to fill the box, something happened. Yeah, first I pulled the older fabric, the larger pieces left from fat quarters where I'd just nipped off a small square or two, or a little bit for applique. Then I found myself pulling fabric I really like, but just hadn't used yet. It occurred to me that if I've had it sitting on the shelf for quite awhile, was I likely to use it? And if I really enjoyed having that fabric, wouldn't someone else love it as well? Next thing you know, I was pulling my favorites to add to the box.

I don't have a huge stash, but managed to put together a nice, heavy box of fabric, along with a few gadgets, buttons and ribbons to share with someone who can use it. I have so many other choices still on my shelves...I'm blessed to be able to share some of it with others.

Then I realized that I did have enough yarn left from projects (and some still in wrappers!) to share as well. So, Art...thanks for creating this project to give all of us a chance to share some of our bounty with those in Iraq.

Two boxes will be heading your way tomorrow...and I hope to put together a third box by the end of the week and get that to you by the deadline. All of you reading this...I ask you to put a box together as well. We can make an Iraqi's dream come true...as well as the dreams of a Major named Art who truly understands us quilters and our need to help others. Thanks, Art!

Interesting way to spend a Saturday...

Audrey Kitching is an alternative model who grew up in a town near us. Grace has been reading her posts for over a year now on BuzzNet and was very excited to see that she was going to be having a yard sale at her childhood home. I promised to take her and today was the day. It poured all morning, so it was moved inside. Audrey seemed like a very nice person and was willing to have her picture taken and sign autographs for everyone who came. I loved that she was so accessible to her fans. Just wish I could pull off the pink hair!

Project Update

Project one, block for our diocesan quilt...finished! (Although apparently I didn't get a good picture of it before I turned it in!)

A close up of the block center...

Project number 2, the current block for my Heartland Heritage Block of the Month...done!

Projects 3 and 4 are still in the works...I've turned the heel on my sock and I'm working on the foot and I've been appliqueing the first of the 3 blocks I want to finish...I have a feeling they won't all be done in time! And then we had a new project thrown in at the last minute...finding a car for Ellen in time for her to return to Providence for school. Her car has had a series of fuel pump problems and after replacing the fuel pump about 5 times it just finally died. So, she's now the proud owner of a Mazda Tribute. She was able to load all of her college stuff in the car and get back up to school safely...and we didn't have to take her!!! We'll be heading up to visit her before Labor Day.

One other project completed here...after 20 years of saying I wanted to get a real estate license and putting it off, I finally signed up for class! I start September 14th and class will be over by late November. The encouragement of a good friend can be priceless...

Canoe Carnival

After the tornado, we bandaged up our fish the best we could...

And we took all of the pieces of the float and put them together

We toasted another year of good fun and good friends, and our paddlers set off down the lake...

Canoe Carnival was a different experience this year, but it was probably the most fun I've had since I started. We got to be creative this year....our "Under the Sea" theme was changed to "Under the Tree", we put up some power poles with drooping lines and a smoking transformer...you can see all the tape along the bottom of the canoes, where they were bashed into the dock and the plastic covering them ripped...we were lucky we didn't sink during the storm! We knew we had first place in our division locked up...since we were the only entry! There were problems this year on the lake and over half the floats were disqualified because they had to be towed. We made it around on our own power, but those in charge have decided to hold off giving awards because it just "didn't seem fair" that so many were disqualified, so they're going to do an investigation into it. Seems to me that the rules are the rules...if you're towed, you're out. I'll be curious to see what happens and if we ever get our first place award! After all, we followed the rules...

August Projects

Kelly, over at Charming Chatter, has started a club aimed at getting some projects finished. I'm in desperate need of motivation, so I'm playing along this month. Although none of these are whole quilts (and one isn't quilting at all!), they are the projects I need to get finished...they all have deadlines!

First up is a block for our Diocesan quilt project. I've been asked to create a block representing our parish. I'm going to do a Baltimore Album style block, red on white, with a small sketch of our church in the center.

Second up will be my new block for the Heartland Heritage block of the month from the Fat Quarter Shop. I've managed to stay up to date with this one, I want to keep it that way!

Third are my socks that have been on the needles for months now...I want these done before the weather gets cold!

I've got loads of projects going on my design wall. My fourth project will be catching up with my basket block of the month. I've got June, July and August to do, I plan to have them done by the end of the month!

And I thought I'd share my last two blocks finished...May in the basket swap and July's block from Gail Pan's block of the month.

I hope to make good progress on these projects because I have one more that I want to add to my list when I finish!

Happy Birthday, Grace!

It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since my youngest was born! She is an independent, free spirited, determined, funny and sweet young lady. Happy birthday, Grace...I love you!

Stormy Days

Late Friday afternoon, a fast moving, devastating storm came through our little town. The talk is that a tornado touched down a few blocks over, although the weather service hasn't confirmed it. It's amazing how much damage can be done in less than a minute. We were lucky. I was home with Grace, who is still recuperating from surgery and within seconds of hearing the wind pick up, I watched this tree go down right off of our backyard. Fortunately, it fell just perfectly and missed all of the surrounding houses...and didn't mess up my new patio!

The boss and Andrew were at the lake, working on our float for Canoe Carnival. They were incredibly lucky...as they were trying to cover things on the float, a board came off of a bench and flew right over their heads.

Then, as they were walking alongside the cabin, Andrew stopped to put something away. A tree came down in between the two of them...had Andrew not stopped, he would have been under it. All in our group are safe, but the house where we launch didn't fare as well. There's no structural damage, but they have a huge clean up to do.

Our float didn't fare well either. It's completely destroyed. Apparently, we were one of only two out of about 20 floats that were totally destroyed. Canoe Carnival was postponed until next week and although we can't rebuild what was lost, we do have a plan...and we WILL float!

The Patient

ACL surgery went well this morning and Grace was a wonderful patient. She's home resting and recuperating now. She's in some pain, but the pain meds are helping. Tomorrow she'll start on the CPM (passive knee bending machine) to help her regain mobility in her knee. After she gets her stitches out, she'll start rehab. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers, they're much appreciated!

Slowing Down...

Or trying to, at least. Over the past few months, when I haven't had time to do all of the things I need to do, let alone things I want to do, like blog or sew, I've come to the realization that I don't like to be busy. So, I've decided to slow down a little. I just finished the last customer quilt I had in the house. Since I'm now working just about full time, when I come home I really don't want to have to work more! I'm taking a break from quilting for customers, at least until October first. Don't worry...I'm not quitting...just trying to erase the feeling of burnout I've had for the last few months. I think I may take this course as a way of becoming motivated again. I may join MQR as well, there are apparently so many inspiring quilts and videos available to the members...are any of you members? Is it worthwhile?

It's also our annual Canoe Carnival time and we've been working on our float. Canoe Carnival is on August 1st and this is our float so far. We have a fair amount of work to do this weekend and next!

However my main reason for slowing down is that I'll be taking about 10 days off from work to spend time with Grace. Back in May she ruptured her ACL. For the past month she's been going to physical therapy twice a week to strengthen her knee...so she's scheduled for ACL surgery on Monday. If all goes well, she'll be back on her feet in time for school to start in September. I don't know how well she'll be walking, but she will be on her feet!

I have been back in the sewing room in the past few days...more on that later!

The party's over...

And it seemed to have been a success! There were people everywhere...on the patio...




In the house...



On the porch...







Games were played....



The most amazingly delicious cake, made by Kim from Just 1 More Bite was eaten...

And after a long, tough day of eating and drinking...everyone was still asleep at noon the next day (this was the living room...we also had them sleeping in the computer room and all the bedrooms!)...covered with quilts, of course!

And now that everyone has gone and all is cleaned up, I'm heading back to my sewing room!