quilting and stuff

I've gotten a decent start on my vacation quilt, having put the shadows on several  squares.  Need to cut a few more strips, so I'll do that today.  I didn't get a memento from the Devil's Tower to sew into it when we were there, since we got to the park way early in the day.  But...I called the Devil's Tower Trading Post, and ordered a bandana/handkerchief over the phone.  Hope to get it in a day or two.  And, I got in touch with the Ogallala, NE chamber of commerce, and I should have one of their t-shirts soon.  That will probably about cover all that will be on there, unless I come up with something that just says Kansas to me.  Might look out for a fq of wheat (that's a fat quarter for you non-quilters, which is an 18" x 22" piece of fabric).  Or maybe I'll check in with the Concordia KS c of c.  That was the neat little town that we stopped in on a whim.

And...I'm on my next Netflix dvd series.  I decided that since the James Bond series of movies came out way back when, and I hadn't seen all of them, and I really like Sean Connery, that I'd watch them in order.  I just finished Dr. No last night, which was the first one, made in 1962.  I must say, while he was handsome and all that back then, I like him much better now.  :)  I liked the "action packed" adventure, though it's pretty tame compared to everything they pack in the movies these days.   And remember how they showed the credits at the beginning of the show back then?  Don't see that now.  Oh no!  Am I turning into an old person who's always saying "I remember back in the old days..."?????  Ah well.  At least I've got those years to remember!

too much time on my hands

You've Got Mail  has been one of my favorite movies for years.  Hard to believe it was made in 1998, but then it's hard to believe how long a lot of other things have been around.  Anyhow, I knew YGM was a re-make of another movie, but didn't think much about it.  Then I came across something in Netflix, and I read that YGM was one of 2 re-makes.  That got my curiosity up a bit, so I decided to watch the other two.   Through Netflix, I can get one movie at a time, so I started with the first one. 

The Shop Around the Corner was a charming little film, good characters, and I could see how YGM was a modified version of the original.  I could even see how some of  Meg Ryan's mannerisms were very similar to Margaret Sullivan.  I really like Jimmy Stewart, so all together it was good.

In the Good Old Summertime came out in 1949 with Judy Garland and Van Johnson, and this version is a musical.   Still good, and at that point a toss between the two on what I thought of them, leaning towards favoring the original .

I had YGM next on my queue, wanting to see them all in sequence.  Well, while I liked the original just fine, I have to give You've Got Mail my nod for the best of the three.  It may be a generational thing, but I prefer the modern day interpretation.  And yes, even though I've watched it who knows how many times, I still had a few sniffles at the end.  That's always a sign of a good movie!

Is this a sign that I don't have much of a life?  Eh, maybe.  But I must not be too worried about it, because I plan on seeing what other remakes are out there, and taking a look at them too!

lazy days of summer

I have not been posting regularly, and the only thing I can blame it on...the lazy days of summer!  As a first year retiree, I guess I'm just totally enjoying doing what I want to do when I want to do it.  And if that means doing nothing...so be it!

I went with Robert and his family to the coast last week.  They love it there, and this was my second time to tag along.  So nice...the surf, the sand, the eating.  


Here are a few pics, and I'll save the best for last.  wink    These were taken at Padre Island.

And here it is...hard to go to the beach and not show a bit of skin...be sure to close your eyes if you're easily offended.

Have a good week...and wish me luck at tonight's bingo!

Whew!

Elizabeth and David returned from their Tahoe trip, so Elise's first sleepover x 3 nights has finished up.  She did really well.  Of course, she's used to the crib over here since I watched her in the spring.

Back in the spring, I could plop her down on a quilt in the living room, put a few toys around here, and she was a happy little camper.  Now that she's mobile and crawling wherever she wants to go, forget her activites being confined to such a small space.  She plays with more toys in a broader area.  This pic was probably taken at the end of the day, shortly after she went to bed for the night.  Or it could have been when she was down for her nap.  Either way, I went through and picked up toys several times a day!  But that's okay, she had fun.

She doesn't pull up on her own to a standing position yet, but I think she's working on it.  She gets in this position, holds it for a bit, and plops back down again. This was actually taken a couple of weeks ago.

I can't say I've done a lot of sewing this month, but here's my latest project.  Strawberry Shortcake needed a new dress.  I made this pattern close to probably 25-28 years ago, and it was still in it's envelope in the sewing machine cabinet.  I think I probably should have allowed extra for seam allowances, but it fits ok.  I have another one cut out a little bigger and will use whichever works better.  The doll in the picture was Elizabeth's original SS.  The replacement doll (no haircut) is at Elizabeth's house, and this dress is for that doll.  I mentioned Strawberry's haircut adventure here, if you're interested.

And I got my secret sister gift for July in the mail today.  My BSS does a great job and puts thought into her packages.  This month I have a kit for a table runner, with the pieces already cut to size, and some red, white, and blue fabric.  She included a  tumbler template too (how's that for alliteration), and I might use it with the rw&b pieces.

That's it for now. :)  Don't get too hot!