Summer Kick-Off

Well, now that Memorial Day has officially been observed; it's full speed ahead into summer. I'm ready! Having successfully navigated twice-a-week, post fracture, out patient physical therapy sessions I feel ready to tackle the world again! The therapist that I was assigned has been fabulous, he's young, motivated and extremely supportive of my desire to be fully healed, flexible and strong. He pushes me, and that's good. I have three levels of therapy bands attached to my longarm frame for mid-day strength training at home. This sign greeted me the other day when I checked in at the PT facility: 

              "Pain is temporary, quitting is forever". 

I placed flags in the pots outside our home this weekend, take a look at the bare-root, wintered-over geraniums on the steps. They've absolutely rebounded to full strength. Think of me as a geranium... bouncing back for all that I'm worth.

I'm slowly catching up on the blocks for Shelly Cavanna's Barn Star Sampler that's being taught, block-of-the-month style, at my LQS. This one, above, is the Carpenter Star.

And, the Tulip Star. These are BIG blocks. I'm using my own color choices and Wilmington Essentials "dry brush" line of fabrics to give mine an authentic "weathered" barn star appearance. The colors, too, put me in a happy, summertime state of mind.

Augie has a friend spending time with us this week. These two are so cute together, they play, chase, and wrestle with each other all day long; until they literally crash, in their respective beds. After napping, as soon as one raises a head, it's on... all over again!

Because summertime means vacation time, when better to quilt up this National Parks (one of my favorite vacation destinations) panel that's been hanging out in my stash closet for a few years? I already had the backing on the shelf, a super-soft, chocolate brown flannel for a cozy snuggle quilt. This pantograph is Classic Weave by Kathie James for Urban Elementz. 

Uncle Sam is once again serving as the summertime sentry to the studio. 

I'll conclude this kick-off to summer post with a laugh, who doesn't love a good flow chart?

Are you guilty? 

😉

Life is Good!

It's A FAD

It's a Flag A Day (not a passing fad) for me, this has been a habit that I began last week and it's fun to watch the flags slowly stacking up on the design wall. At a time when it seems like our personal freedoms are being revoked it helps to remember that we are Americans and this won't last for us forever. Our country is blessed to be founded on freedoms and we need to remember that now more than ever. The inconveniences that we're experiencing now are temporary, thanks be to God; we have freedoms and rights unique to us under the Constitution and as Americans with those rights we, as citizens, have a heavy, serious and solemn responsibility to one another right now-- to stay at home and help to slow the spread of this deadly virus!

Quiltkeemosabe gave me this panel a few months ago, I plan to quilt it up and turn it into a sofa pillow for the porch. I had already planned to make some American flag quilts for out there and, suddenly, there's no time like the present! The first one that I've tackled is "Stars and Stripes by Thimble Blossoms.  I'm going to sash mine with a neutral gingham-y fabric from the stash. 

As you can see, I'm doing slightly scrappy version. I've also made another 24" -"Which Way Now?" quilt block. As it is so aptly named, I'm not sure where I'm going with that one-- time will tell, I'm not in any danger of running out of scrappy triangles yet. 

Adapting to an upside down world🙃: A grocery run yesterday was hit or miss; the items missing from the shelves is random (or it appears that way to me). It reminded me of a time in my life (mid 90's) when we lived in Puerto Rico. I was never exactly sure what the grocery store would have, or not have; so, I carried my recipe files with me and would make menu planning adjustments as I shopped! 

Entertainment: We're watching old episodes of "Coach" in the evenings, the sitcom starring Craig T. Nelson from years ago; we have a set of DVDs. It feels good to laugh. 

Prayer request: Please continue to pray for Quiltkeemosabe and her family; her husband remains hospitalized and they cannot be with him. Thank you so much. 

Remember to take care, be kind to yourself, listen to the directives

and wash your hands🧼; this won't last forever.

"For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5

Life is Good!

Up next: "On The Plus Side"