Week At A Glance

I had all sorts of good intentions to keep up with this blog. Really. But, then, life has a way of interfering. It's okay, it's all good! And so, a random post detailing the week at a glance. Our two youngest grandchildren have returned from Florida, their precious little family is reunited once again. They're all staying here until their major home renovation becomes a habitable home once again. It won't be long now. This was the scene in their kitchen yesterday:


And, I hear that as of today they now have running water and functional bathrooms again -- progress all around! In the meantime, we're all adapting to extended-family living just fine. Lynnleigh loved her new sundress, as you can see in this photo, she and her doll are both enjoying them. She discovered her personalized stepping stone in the garden, I believe that she was thrilled!

The new perennial garden has begun to show more color as it becomes established. Lynnleigh is my constant companion out there this week, usually asking as soon as breakfast is over if we need to go outside and deadhead the flowers. She is an eager helper and learner; she knows the names of all the flowers and plants and keeps an eye on the bird feeders, too-- reminding me when they need refilling. 

Speaking of the garden: Lynnleigh placed the little copper "windmill" right beside this low birdbath yesterday, she thought that it would be perfect placement so that the birds could have a "bath and a blow dry!"😉

I've baked a few tomato pies this week; using up generous tomato donations from friends, which just so happen to make a delicious summertime lunch! The recipe follows here:

Cada's Commemorative Tomato Pie

1- 9" pie shell, unbaked

3-4 large tomatoes, sliced (I let mine sit on paper towels to "dry" for about 30 minutes)

salt and pepper to taste

sweet fresh basil

chives

2 or 3 green onions, chopped

1 C. mayonnaise

1 C. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Fill pie shell with sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle w/salt and pepper, basil and chives and green onions. Mix mayonnaise and cheese, spread evenly over the tomatoes. Bake @ 350 for 35 mins. Serves: 6 

We had a few visitors from the Capital City who enjoyed some cousin time and discovered their own special garden stepping stones while they were here! 

I did manage to get this fella (Penguin Party by Elizabeth Hartman, pattern here) pieced this week. This will be a quilted pillow for our oldest grandson whose favorite animal is the penguin; Mason will turn ELEVEN in a little over a week-- how is that even possible? 

I had to run a few errands yesterday. This is a common sight in the back seat these days.  

And a finish-- albeit a small one, but sweet nonetheless; a porch quilt for the summer: from Kim Schaefer's "Calendar Quilts".

Thanks to all who entered the drawing for the "By Wisdom" patterns; 

there's still time if you would like to leave a comment, click here-- a winner will be chosen on Monday.

Life is Good! 

Flitting

Like this butterfly I've been flitting lately. From here to there, from thing to thing. It's all good. I've wedged in plenty of quilting time on Sundance today, you'll have to stay tuned for the reveal on that one, it's a surprise quilt and it's turning out nicely.

Another BOM has begun at my LQS and for some reason I told Quiltkeemosabe that I'd do BOTH colorways this time.. of course, why not, I don't have last year's done yet!

Little Miss Lucy Ann is getting a second pillowcase, as you can see; but, this isn't exactly the pillowcase I had planned. I had chosen a precious striped fabric to coordinate beautifully with Tinkerbell for the cuff. I embroidered her monogram in fuschia (to match the background of the main fabric) and attached it, carefully inserting the white piping accent at the same time, it looked great. I folded the unit lengthwise, right sides together, to stitch the side seam and I suddenly realized that the monogram was in the side FOLD! When I centered the cuff strip for embroidery placement I should have centered the midpoint of the front half, not the midpoint of the entire strip. Groan. The precious striped fabric was removed and replaced with the fabric shown above, from my stash. I think she'll like it anyway. I should be teaching graduate level courses in "Live and Learn", I'm certainly well qualified.

I stitched up a few burp cloth orders this week,
thankfully those went off without a hitch!

The kitchen is taking on a decidedly richer look with the new stone backsplash going up.  After we placed our order we were notified that the accent strip we had originally chosen was unavailable. Back we went, to the tile store, and after much deliberation, and many samples, we chose this random slate strip border. I love it combined with the bricks. Once this is "enhanced" (sealed) the colors will be richer and bring out the tones from the granite on the countertops and the cabinetry. Mr. Goodneedle makes an excellent tiler, I can't wait to see how it looks once it's sealed and grouted! Yes, many different things are competing for my attention these days; I'm still piecing away on my row-a-week "Light of Day" quilt and basically living in the studio. So, when you don't hear from me for a day or two (or three) just remember the butterfly and know that I'm here, staying busy. Summer will be over before we know it and my schedule will become much more regimented again; so, I'm flitting while I can, and enjoying every minute!

Life is Good!

 

A Pillow Pallet

My daughter-in-law called me on Saturday morning to ask if I had ever made a pillow pallet. Made one? I didn't even know what it was! She explained that it was like one giant pillowcase into which you can slide multiple pillows, for little ones to sleep upon the floor... or, in this case, to provide protection for a little one who thinks he's very big in the event he rolls out of his now open-concept crib. For some reason I thought the pillowcase would hold the pillows end to end! It's a good thing she sent a web link with a tutorial. What did we ever do without online tutorials? She provided the pillows and a sheet from which to make the cover.  I easily constructed the pallet on Monday night, even managed to add an interior flap to fold over and conceal the pillows after they're inserted. The pillows come right out and the cover is washable. It all turned out perfectly, the happy customer is shown below. When the pillow pallet is not in use it slides right under the bed, such clever idea!

Life is Good!

What Possessed Me?

I've made a bunch of these pillowcases over the years and placed them on small, travel-sized, pillows for gifts. They're quick, easy and useful. I ran across this piece of fabric while I was cleaning on Friday and then, wouldn't you know it, I had located a few coordinating pieces. All of a sudden I was sitting at the machine and happily embroidering his name on the cuff! I had a million other things to do, but one thing led to another and before I knew it I had made a gift for my grandson. He doesn't even sleep with a pillow, but something tells me that he'll enjoy this for napping and dragging around before too long. What possessed me to drop everything else and make this right then and there? Blame it on love, blame it on this little face, I just couldn't help myself. Could you?

Life is Good!

In my own defense... I realized, when looking at the photograph, that I should have embroidered the name turned over from what I did (bottom of name toward pillowcase opening), which means that I should have constructed the pillowcase with the print turned over too, to match. My thinking is that Mason can see his name, right side up, when his head is lying on the pillow. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Live and learn!