Already August

Where has this year gone?? A lot has happened but seems days are flying by way to fast. I remember as a child and young teenager I thought Christmas would never arrive and now before I know what happened it will be Christmas again.



Last year I announced to family that there would be no more presents from me that I wanted to make each a quilt and would be putting money I'd spend on presents into their quilts until I got them finished. So this year I have been buying block of the month (BOM) kits for blocks for quilts for 3 of my 4 children, and several grand and great grand children. I have selected a special quilt for each child, and grandchild a total of 22. Since the ones for children and grandchildren are art quilts I've decided to make the children a pieced bedsize quilt as their quilts aren't large enough to cover the bed. For the other quilts I've selected to make that I can't find as BOM kits I'm collecting fabrics.



I've found some good purchases on EBay and have been able to get a good amount of the fabric for these quilts. I have all the patterns, and now most of the fabric. I plan to move into my own place again first of Sept and will then be able to go through my fabrics, pick what to use where and make a shopping list with fabric I have swatches to get rest of fabric I need to finish these.


Have a large stash of Brazilian Embroidery projects I want to finish and a good number of Counted Cross-stitch pieces.


I have moved several times since I retired in 2000, most by choice a few not and now I want to find a place and stay put. I think I have found that place in the one I'm fixing to rent. It is a nice large place with very reasonable rent. Room enough for family to visit even to have them all for holidays, and room for some to sleep over. Lots of nice closet space to organize and store things. Will have to see how "Stay Put" it will be.



I'd thought about trying to buy a place, but then I'd be responsible for repairs, and on fixed income those unexpected repair bills can be expensive. So put that idea aside.

Here is some of the latter purchases I found on EBay. I like autumn colors in the fall but really not my colors, I lean more to reds, blues, pinks, purples. But maybe it is the combination of fabrics but I really liked these.

Another Beautiful Day in South Texas

Weather is still nice, but it is early in the morning, just wait it will be sizzling hot before evening. A day to pretty to be inside and will later be to hot to be outside, just more typical weather for my part of the country. When you are raised here, as I was, it is what you know. But I've been in Tennessee on a day that was as hot, but so much more humid and much more miserable to be in. So all in all although I love to visit all parts of this country, I will prefer to live where when it is hot is isn't humid - most times.

I have been shopping EBay for fabric fat quarters to build my stash and it is growing by leaps and bounds. Right now my current passion is getting fabric to make quilts for my family. After searching for what I think would be the perfect quilt to make for each, I find that many are just the size for a wall hanging and not practical to use on a bed. Once I thought I could add fabric as borders to enlarge, but have now after long deliberation on my part found that several wouldn't lend themselves to that process and still look good. SOOOO 4 children get 2 quilts not just 1. The second being a pieced quilt.

After days of searching for patterns of pieced quilts I finally found one I like on the internet. It makes a stricking display on the bed, yet is of few parts and all straight stitching which should make assembly easy and quick. It lends itself to a variety of combinations using as little as 3 fabrics or as many as

blocks and sashing used. I've selected a number of pretty prints in colors (beige, turquoise) that my daughter-in-law said is in their bedroom. Since I'm using fat quarters my blocks will be slightly rectangular and not square. I can get 4 blocks from one fat quarter. The pattern calls for blocks that are divisible by 3, but then I tend to take artistic license with anything I do (almost) and make it my own. So my blocks will start with an 8"x10" rectangle and have sashing 2"x10" with 2" square corner stones - which will end up as Ohio Star after the half square triangles are added to each end of the sashing. My oldest daughter's will be the same measurements but using pinks and burgundy prints and I think I have enough to do the blocks, but will need to purchase fabric for cornerstones and sashing. Don't know who made this quilt, but really think whoever, did a striking job with layout and finishing.

Still have to find fabric for other two children, burgundy for youngest son and forest green and brown/beige for youngest daughter. Then figure what will go with those colors to make pleasing color arrangement. When suggesting other colors son just says burgundy - I don't do whole cloth quilts. So now I try to find 3 shades of burgundy or find other neutral colors to go with it and make it hoping he will like it when he gets it. LOL.

July 12

Today was a beautiful day, another day of clear beautiful blue sky. We've had a couple and prior to that we had 7 days of rain showers, most not lasting long but heavy just the same. Most days we had from 2 to 4 showers in a day. Not sure how much rain we got but it was welcome.

I have a neat toy Poodle and he doesn't like to get wet. Tolerates his bath, but when he looks out sees its raining, turns and comes back in. He'll go out and if grass is wet, turns and comes back in. I usually toss him out the door, and close it until he goes out and tends to his business. He'll try to come back to the door and ask to come in a couple of times, then realizes I'm not opening until he has finished. He is cute to watch as he tippy toes through the wet grass. Since we seldom have snow here, he won't have to deal with it. But I'm sure he wouldn't like it either.

Got the embellishment laces for the Ring Bearer's pillow I'm making for Grandson and his bride. I have the material and the pillow, now need to get busy and get it made - Wedding is in October. It is going to be a CQ block with Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery accents.

There is a family of kittens living under my granddaughter's house and her oldest son spyed them today when he was looking out the living room window. They are cute I've seen one kitten, he says there are more. Asked him if Momma cat was with them he said no. I'd seen a kitten the first time yesterday, so don't know if they just moved in, or have been there for awhile.

He planted seveal orange seeds in a planter between some pinto beans and now has about 7 little orange trees. His beans have produced and he carefully harvested the bounty. I cooked them for him and he picked the beans from the shells and ate them. They were snaps, and he likes green beans, but didn't want the shell part of these. But, he ate every bean there was. So I showed him to let them get bigger and cooked just the beans. He was thrilled he grew and ate the beans he grew. He is just 4.5 years old.

Friends

With the computer comes the advantage of making friends world wide. We don’t know as much about them as we probably do those that live near, but just the same we make friends. We have the chance to chat, exchange thoughts ideas, and learn from each other. We learn about the cultures of others as well as the new and interesting input to things we have in common, such as embroidery, food, quilting, and others.
I’ve spent many a pleasant hour just conversing by IM with the friends I’ve made online. I have others I chat with through posts to groups I belong to and groups that I’m the moderator for. It does make our large world so much smaller.
Today my dear DIL called they had just returned from 17 days in Europe touring among other places Greece, Italy, Rome, etc. She said she had such a fabulous time. Her son and daughter and her Mom and Dad had gone too.
She said she’d fallen in love with a Greek Island and kept telling me how beautiful it was.
Although there are some parts of Europe I’d like to see, I’d really like to be rich enough to own an RV and tour all the back roads and see the USA. But with the cost of gas, living on retirement and SS doesn’t look like a dream that will come true in my lifetime. Since I don’t play the Lottery that isn’t an option, nor spend a fortune in Vegas hoping. So will suffice with traveling there through photos and stories.
Ex always said life income is backwards, when you are young and struggling you don’t make much and you are usually trying to raise a family. After they are grown you move to a position in you career where you make better but by then you have most of the necessities, then you get to retirement and needs are less, and if lucky income is more than adequate. But during our lifetime until now the cost of gas was never the issue it is today.

My Laptop Broke

Computer Broke Computer Broke I have a laptop that I've been using for a little over a year. I use it a lot and the case is made of plastic. Seems opening it up so much the housing to the mechanism that opens the lid broke, I used it any way and now the monitor will not work. I'll be without it for a few days. So posts will be limited. I can make them from my granddaughter's computer but the scanner isn't connected to it.

I'm not sure cost of repair would be economical but will check. I'm inclined to get another that isn't made of plastic if that is possible. Seems everything today is either plastic or made in China.

Hello, a Beautiful Sunday Afternoon Here

Seems I don't have enough hours in a day to do all that I want to.

Yesterday afternoon and early evening we got some very badly needed rain. Today the sky is partly cloudy and so clear, all the dust is washed away.

The people across the street from my granddaughter moved out leaving two chairs. I talked to the owners a couple of weeks ago and today they gave them to me. One has a piece broken on the arm but think it will be easily fixed other than that they only need upholstery and refinishing. No deep scars, but the finish needs to be redone. I have a sofa and recliner and these will work nice as extra seating.

My Weaver Fever quilt arrived, I have ordered two the next will ship to me next month. I really like the fabric. Also found it in a poinsettia and fuschia. I may be ordering fabric for a couple more either as quilt kit or just fabric now that I have the pattern.

Good Morning

Yesterday was father's day. My youngest daughter called earlier in the week to ask me to join her family and since I live near I did. My granddaughter (whom I'm living with until I find a place of my own and helping take care of her boys until they get into day care and school in August) had to work she is a waitress with Olive Garden, so I took the boys with me. We had a nice bar-b-que dinner.

I did talk to my sons, othr son-in-law and ex and wished all happy father's day. Weather was beautiful but as usual this time of the year in Texas - HOT.

One of my interests is genealogy. Recently I learned of a site http://www.findagrave.com/. It is a great site, I think, as it lists those buried in cemeteries all over. As people learn of it, they add those of thier loved ones in the cemetery where they are buried if they are not already listed. Many like myself do some volunteering to add people in cemeteries near where they live, or in a cemetery where they have visited.

There is a cemetry on the way to my daughters, and a lady had requested photos of 10 headstones there. When I was coming home yesterday the sun was on the wrong side, so this morning I got up at 6, Kyron (age 4) got up with me and went too. We drove to the cemetery and walked it all, found 8 of the 10 stones, now to crop and reduce size so I can upload the the site. He asked lots of questions and learned about cemeteries, why they exist etc. He is like a sponge and wants to learn learn learn. His Mom teaches him words much beyond his age and explains what they mean, so he has a very good vocabulary.



I finished one block on Madison's (granddaughter) quilt, have one block almost finished and fabric and photos of 3 dresses to make into blocks. The blocks are of little dresses replicas (as close as possible) of some of her dresses. The blocks are 12" so the dresses are small. We showed the one to Madison, she loves pink and said that is pretty. Her Mom told her it was for her, did she like it, it was going to be for her bed. She got excited and said she liked it. She is 3 and loves the color pink, her room is pink and green and most of her dresses are in that color family. Her Mother brought out another to replicate. She takes photos for me of the dress and all the detail, then one of us finds fabric similar or if it is a dress made instead of bought I use the scraps of fabric left. This will make #6. One of the blocks (maybe will cover 2) will be a replica of her christening dress. They are fun to make and are all done by hand.