Poodles and Quilts

It is hard to believe that 2017 will soon be history!  For us it has been a busy year. Instead of working on the inside of our home we had work done on the landscaping! We start year 19 at this address and I can honestly say this is the longest I have ever been in the same place! Growing up we moved a few times, same area but different homes. After marriage there were a few job transfers. The last transfer my husband had brought us to Texas and here is where we stayed. Back to landscaping. Trees that were small when we moved in have grown quite a bit. Grass that liked sun, does not like shade! We like the shade, so grass areas are much smaller-more rock and mulched beds. That was the 2017 project. Hopefully no major projects for 2018!  We both could use a break. Even though we had others do the work it is still a disruption. We did manage some trips around Texas for Galen to add to his list of birds, butterflies and dragonflies. Some new lifers and or for different county si...

Thought it was time to play catch up and post again!  I finally managed a few evenings of sewing. Being in a motel room in the evenings and no distractions makes it easier to actually get something done. We went to Rockport, TX last week. Ground zero for Harvey's first landfall. It is one of our favorite spots in Texas and wanted to check out how they are doing 3 months after the hurricane.  If you wish to read about and see some pictures click on this link.  There are also some great pictures of  Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes my husband took. Rockport, Texas Now for sewing! I had a kit from the FatQuarter Shop that was perfect for motel room sewing! Hard to tell from this picture but it is called Layer Cake Pop. Uses half a cake and a jelly roll of background. One night I got everything cut and then next 2 sewed! One block made. 19 more to go! After this is out together below is the UFO I mentioned the end of November. Started this one on one...

We decided to take a break and go to Rockport for a few days. It was ground zero for Harvey's first hit late August. After checking we knew that some places had reopened. It was hard to see all the devastation but they are slowly getting things cleaned up and getting places open. They are making headway but it will be several years probably before they are truly back.  Business that weren't too badly damaged are open, others are open in a trailer. Then there are some that it will take time. The Fairfield Inn across the street from the La Quinta where we stay had a lot of damage. Some restaurants are open, other's are open using a trailer for cooking and have tents up for seating. It was sad to see the damage to the trees. Those will not be replaced. The Coastal Oaks are part of the charm. The Heron Rookery along the coast road is still there but not as full and the birds will be building new nests. Driving into town we passed a spot where they have been collecting all the...

I managed to get a lot of sewing done in November!  Felt good too! Put together 3 quilt tops and dug out an unfinished project or UFO! Had worked on it during one of remodels. Easy to work on blocks while in a motel. Made the last 15 blocks. No pictures yet, have not laid it out  on the design wall. Can only show one today and that is the Barn Dance quilt top. It is now at the quilters. The top is large, 98 x 98 and yes I am keeping this one! Will be great on our guest bed! The pattern is from    justquiltin with Denise                                                                       Barn Dance In between sewing I froze 12 more containers of pureed pumpkin for pies. Did up several containers of squash. And yesterday got started on making sauerkraut. The small crock is full ...

I have been keeping busy and actually getting a little sewing accomplished. The secret quilt I have been working on is at the border stage. That is great progress as the on-point blocks were giving me some trouble! But I think I can turn it over to my quilting friend early next week! Several of us saved a quilt along pattern last year from  https://justquiltin.wordpress.com/ It is   Barn Dance . One of my friends is off this week from school so we decided to start it.                                                         If you don't follow justquiltin with Denise check out the link above this picture. She has lots of fun patterns As you see it is 4 different size blocks. We decided to make the 6 inch first as that was the blocks needed then work our way up.  My 37 blocks. Next the 12 inch blocks ...

I was able to get back to sewing this past week. Decided this was the perfect pattern to get me sewing again. 12 FQS from dark to light and 1 yard for the stars. Got into my stash of batiks                                                                                                                   the line up! my test block And my finished top! I am working on another quilt top now but can't show it. The wrong person could see it and that would spoil the gift! Feels good to get back to piecing again. I also wanted to freeze pumpkin this Fall for pies.   Enough for 20 pies. Mom's recipe makes 2 pies. Hoping to get cabbage yet so I ca...

It was a busy month of binding quilts for Quilts of Compassion. The Scrappy Courthouse Steps was the last to be bound. This is a picture of the 8 quilts I sent off this time. 6 by my friend Wendy and 2 more from me. Got them sent on Oct. 24th as we were leaving on the 26th for South Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Janice posted a picture earlier this week of over 1000 quilts that had been collected and now they have 1900 packed and ready to make the trip to SE Texas.  They will be picking up more on the way. Hopefully these will bring a smile to the recipients. My husband is into taking pictures of birds, butterflies and dragon flies and the Valley is known as a good place for that very thing. We spent several days in Pharr, Texas and then on to Mission, Texas. These are all close to McAllen. Went to Santa Anna Wildlife Refuge, The World Butterfly Center and Bensten State Park. The park is strictly for viewing birds etc. No cars in the park. Lots of blinds and wa...

Not a lot was accomplished this past week as far as actually sewing something!  Did a lot of removing batting from extra basckings. Will need to cut into scrap sizes when I am finished with the quilts. This one is done and ready to go. This is another one from my friend Wendy that I need to bind this week. Not sure what why I didn't accomplish much but I did get a little cleaning done. And we were busy with yard and doing other things.  Tomorrow would have been my Dad's 100th birthday. He had planned to make 100 but 98 was all. We will celebrate his 100th anyway tomorrow and with friends on Friday. Still have some of his favorite scotch here. I need to dig out my Halloween quilt. Think I gave a way all my Fall quilts. Sounds like a good project for 2018! Over to small quilts doll quilts