Gracie handbag

Thought I'd share my latest project. This is the Gracie Handbag by Lazy Girl Designs. I had seen the tutorial on it, found the pattern at Joann's where I could use my 40% off coupon, and made it up this weekend. It has 6 pockets inside, and is nice and roomy. I've added a link to the tutorial for your pleasure. Check the sidebar. It's a Kaye Woods site, and you just click on the button to browse the video list. Gracie's handbag is one of the videos, and you might enjoy some of the others listed.

If I get ambitious, I may make it up in patriotic colors for this summer.
Now that I've made one, the next one should come together pretty quick. This one took several hours, but there were interruptions thrown in when I worked in the yard a bit, did some laundry, took a nap, etc. ...

Christmas in March

Back in the early Fall I went to a quilting retreat with several ladies. One of our projects was to make 30 log cabin blocks in assorted Christmas prints. The centers were to be red (duh), with light prints to one side, and the darker prints to the other. Then we were to also have one larger block, which would be equivalent to 4 of the smaller ones. For the month prior to the retreat I worked just about every night, sewing my log cabins together. About two nights before the retreat, I was able to put my fingers on a Santa that I had embroidered a couple of years ago. That Santa became the center of my large block.

At the retreat, we proceeded to swap our log cabins with each other. By doing so, we each had a wide variety of Christmas prints for our quilt. I put mine on the design wall, and played with the layout for a bit, and finally bit the bullet and sewed it together. After I got home, it set to the side for a couple of months until I finally figured out how I wanted to finish it. You see, initially it was square, and I wanted a more rectangular shape for the finished quilt. I found some border materials that I added, and afterwards took it to my friend Ty to quilt.

If you're acquainted with a professional quilter, you know how busy they are. Since it was into December before I got it to Ty, I told her not to rush, and to get to it when she could. She then had some family concerns that kept her busy for several weeks, but just this past week she returned my quilt to me, ready to bind. I was blown away. Yes, my handiwork was pretty. But wow, the quilting really set it off. She quilted little snowflakes throughout, and put some definition into Santa's beard and the fur on his Santa suit.

Hopefully these pictures will do it justice (double click on the picture to enlarge and see it better). I know Christmas is a long ways off, but I had to share.

Granny and Grandpa's bear escapade

In going through files and closets and drawers to see what I can get rid of, I came across this keeper. Mom wrote this in May, 1972, as a letter to Virgil, and Sue made me a copy. After putting it back in the file yesterday, just this morning I had to think about which folder it was in. I decided it wouldn't take long until it would be forgotten in the drawer, again, and never see the light of day. If I want my kids to be able to read it in my lifetime, this is probably the best place to put it!

After Dad retired, they worked for a summer or two at a camp in Idaho. They were living in a small trailer, so small that the refrigerator sat outside on a little platform. These are her words:

"This happened a little after midnite a few nites ago.

From outside the trailer, there came a clatter.
I went to the window to see whats the matter.
Looking out I see the trees bathed in lovely moonlight
I stand for a minute, enjoying the sight.
But just in a sec another sound to my ear,
and looking again I see a BEAR.
But what is so amazing, so startling in fact...
he'd knocked our refrigerator off of the rack
laying face down, right flat on the ground.
I yelled at Grandpa, he came on the run...
but he took time to grab his old gun.
He opened the door, and stepped out in the night,
but ole Mr. Bear took off in a fright.
Mid discussion !*@! between Grandpa and me,
we lifted the refrigerator up as should be,
then opened the door and the sight you should see.
There's Grandpa in his shorts, me in my gown,
and scattered about us, there on the ground,
2 cartons of eggs, corn on the cob, tomatoes, cucumbers...
all in a blob.
Potato salad, made with such care,
spread at our feet...all which were bare.
To make matters worse, if it could be,
a spot light picks out Grandpa and me!
"Do you need any help, is everything ok?"
Then they turned the light the other way.
The vision they seen, and I don't really care,
wasn't a dream (more like a nightmare).
Me in my gown, up 'bove my knees,
and Grandpa in shorts. Why, we could about freeze.
We picked up the pieces then went back to bed
(wishing that ole bear had got a shot of that lead).
Next time, I bet we show him.
In front of the refrigerator, as the daylight grows dim,
we pull in the car, just as close as can be,
and we hope, as we turn off the light,
that we have that icebox closed in real tight.
But you never can tell, we'll just wait and see.
Maybe he can drive (but I'll hide the key).
We'll outwit him, you wait and see.
We're not beat yet...
Grandpa and me."

So is it any wonder that several in the family have an interest in being creative? It's in our genes!

(Hey Sue or Carl...if you get a chance would you scan a picture of Mom and Dad that I can add to this?)

this week in Alvarado

I have to say, though I think everyone here already knows, this process of moving is hard work! Yesterday and this morning I've worked in the yard. Have to maintain that curb appeal you know. The front yard is looking good. Mowed yesterday, and over the two days, I've cleaned up the planting beds by weeding and replacing mulch. I even rearranged my little yard ornaments. My nails are looking really sad and I ache all over, but the front is done. Next on the agenda is the back yard. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe not.

Enough of that!

Let's see. Oh, yes. My Starbucks saga continues. I really have cut back to the once a week treat, even though the clerk (barista?) knows my beverage of choice. And I have now advanced to the "Hey, girl!" greeting. Who knows, maybe it's comparable to the waiters that come up and say "my name is Steve and I'll be your waiter tonite". You know, all the Starbucks were closed a couple of weeks ago for an hour or two for some kind of a mass meeting or training session. I think they were emphasizing the need for personalization. I can testify, they took it to heart.

Okay, not a lot new this week. Wait! Happy birthday Virgil and Mike and Missy. Brother-in-law Art had one recently as well. Hope all were/will be good ones.

Catch you later...

Updates

Just an update on my house...it didn't work out on the 50/50. That's okay, the right person will come. We march on.

Preparations continue. John put the lattice top on my patio (strong winds had played havoc a month or two ago), more stuff to Goodwill, a few more boxes packed, and more things trashed that I haven't used in who knows when. I have to say, that part feels good.

As a side note, I saw The Bucket List yesterday (thank you Jessica for the nudge). My first movie in quite awhile, and I really liked it. But then I like Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, can't go wrong with either of them. I'll probably get it when it comes out in DVD, but in the meantime, I recommend you see it if you get the chance.

Color my world...

Recently I started a series of caches for my geocaching, and they're in the "color my world" theme, meaning the caches are stocked with items of a certain color. So far I've hidden red and green. (Robert helped with the placement on the green one.) Yellow and pink are each ready to go, just have to find a place for them. Blue is not far behind. Go to the geocaching link, and look up GC19HK2. The most recent person to find it posted a picture of the container (along with his kids).

So now I've add the thrill of the hide to the thrill of the hunt!

I might have a problem...

So I stop in at Starbucks this morning on my way to work. Angie and I allow ourselves a start to the day on Mondays and Fridays, if time allows, but yesterday (Monday) didn't work out. This morning the traffic happened to flow better, and there were no tie-ups, so we had time to make up for the day before. Well. Maybe I need to cut back a bit.

We got into line, and I noticed the clerk said to the man in front of me, you're having blah-blah-blah today, right? Only she knew what it was and I wasn't paying that close attention. I snapped awake though when she looked at me and said, blended cream frappacino, white chocolate and raspberry, right? Of course, she was right.

I've turned into one of "those" people, who have to have their morning cuppa.

The saga continues...

I've had the sign out for a week now, and the house showed Thursday night, then today the same lady came again with her husband. I think they have one other house they're considering, and they're going to think about it.

That sounds like a 50/50 chance to me! Ah well, it will work out like its supposed to. Pollyanna, you know.

In the meantime, several more boxes packed, some clean-up done in the yard, more things to Goodwill, and several trash bags filled. It's all good.