Thursday, June 25, 2009

first there was one...


Now there are 12! Twelve completed blocks for the little darling's baby quilt, that is. The next step after I've decided on the final arrangement will be to put the lattice strips inbetween each block, and add borders.

This is my first quilt that has the Amish feel about it, with the black background and brights, and I like it. I'm leaning towards the raspberry pink for the back side, but Liz will get the final say.

I like the baby quilts I make to be "waggers". You know, not put away with the thought of saving them because Grams made it, but wagged around everywhere as they get older. Probably dragged from one room to another, and the edges eventually getting ragged from use. That's success.

I don't know if I mentioned it previously, but I had my first thank you from the actual recipient of a baby quilt. Kathy's granddaughter Avery is 3 1/2 now, and apparently she loves her "my little pony" quilt I made. Kathy told me Avery has been known to lay on the floor by the dryer waiting for it to come out so she can snuggle with it! I was over there one day, and Avery very sweetly told me "thank you" for her quilt.

That's it for now, I still have to get ready for work...

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

check out Sherry's blog!

Sherry's having a give away, and I increase my chances of winning by bringing it to your attention...though why I would do this when it could possibly decrease my chances if y'all decide to enter is beyond me! Anywho, she writes a great blog and I know you'll enjoy it as much as I hope to enjoy the cookbook and apron.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

this little piggy went to market...

And these little piggies went to work! Friday was a red letter day for me. Probably the first day in all my years of working that I let my bare toes show. You've got to remember, I came up in the days that nylons were pretty much a requirement...at least if you wanted to appear professional. I've been through garter belts, panty hose, and knee highs, each one more comfortable than the previous. You know, the fashion trend these days is to go bare legged. This was really a bit out of my comfort zone, but I figured casual Friday was a good day to give it a try since I was in jeans anyway. Woo hoo! A whole new world just opened up! Well, at least for my toes. Don't know yet that I'm willing to leave anything else off... (Hey! I'm speaking of bare arms here...)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Mmm, what's that smell?

I've often thought the sense of smell and sense of taste are powerful. May even have commented on it occasionally. There are certain foods that can transport you to another place and time in just seconds. Last night was one of those taste sensations.

I'm not saying this was a gourmet treat by any means, but I stopped at a Weinerschnitsel hot dog place, and yes, I may have spelled it wrong. Anyway. When I was about 19 or 20, one opened in Lancaster (California). What was really a novelty at the time was that it was drive-thru...really. There were two little a-frame buildings on either side of the drive-thru, one being for their storage I think, and the other for the food order/pickup. They didn't have the little speaker to take your order...if there was a line, someone would come out and write up your ticket. My favorite was always the chili dog with a Pepsi. No other drink with it would taste quite the same. Well, last night, that's just what I ordered, and lo and behold, my taste buds registered about 1970 or so, and I was on my lunch hour at the park on a spring day. Not a bad little trip for just a few dollars.

One time I was at an antique store in some little town on the way back home from Austin, and came across some Prince Albert tobacco tins. To most people they probably don't mean a lot, but my dad "rolled his own" cigarettes for years, using you guessed it, Prince Albert. At the time, Dad had probably died 2 or 3 years earlier. I came across those tins, and I wrote as part of a poem several years later,

But look! Tucked away, almost hid,
tin cans in red with flip top lids!
She rushes over, opens, takes a sniff.
Oh, all she wants is one true whiff.
She opens more, finally succeeds,
faint scent lingers of absent tobacco leaves.
Tears come to her eyes, along with images of Dad...
A comfort to see him, yet it makes her sad.
Dad "rolled his own" in private rite,
pulled out thin papers, Prince Albert, matches for a light...
"Excuse me, ma'am, can I help you?"
The reverie broken: "No, I'm just passing through."

The next time your nose twitches at a certain smell, realize it may be trying to remind you of something!

Friday, June 5, 2009

some fun with a cat

I haven't been inspired to post lately, but life happens that way sometimes, doesn't it?

Got a link to this cute little cat game today. Fun way to while away the time. I've managed to accomplish the task a few times, but certainly not everytime. You have to develop a strategy.

Elizabeth and I picked out fabric yesterday for the quilt I'll be making the baby. That should motivate me to get going. We're only about 3 1/2 months out from the little darling being here.

Have a good weekend, all.