This may become a long rambling post in order to satisfy a complaint from one of my ten readers!!  Ten might be an exaggeration, so I need to carefully take care of each compliant I get.  : ))

Here’s my collection of applique blocks from the book, “Old Voices, New Impressions”, by Jeana Kimball.  I’m using hand dyes and need to add some embroidery details.  The top left and lower right are ones I’ve worked on this week and they still need to have berries added to complete the design.  I want to complete 25 blocks for a wall hanging.  That ought to take another decade or so — there’s no sense in rushing these things.

 Here’s the 2009 NMQA wall hanging for this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  I didn’t do this one, but I did  work with a wonderful group of gals from our Community Serivce group to get the kits ready for members to quilt up.  Many hands make light work and within a couple of hours we had 22 kits ready to hand out.   I’m in charge of gathering the completed quilts and getting them ready for the fiesta. 

Here’s my latest block in the “Red Delicious” BOM.  I’m a couple of blocks behind and need to make some fabric decisions so I can get a move on.  The roses need some embroidery detail, and I’m considering removing a couple of the dark leaves  on the left and replacing them with the lighter color for balance. 

Here’s the rest of the blocks I’ve finished so far

And, if that isn’t enough, here’s a couple of UFOs I’ve been piecing on here and there:

Orange/Green Strips that Sizzle — this is about a twin size now and I want to keep making blocks until it’s a queen.  Steve put some gromets along the edge of a bat so I can have a queen design wall utilzing the closet doors. 

Moroccan Tiles.  If I don’t finish this one of these days, Janice has offered to take it off my hands. 

That’s all the quilty stuff.  Next I want to share the changes in my garden over the past month.  The first picture was taken towards the end of May.  I love iris and I’m always sad when they fade away, leaving nothing but leaves.  Last year, I decided to inter-plant daisys with the iris to hide the iris leaves as they shrivel into July.  The second picture was taken today.  The daisys have done a tremendous job of filling in and the hollyhocks are really putting on a show this year.   Maybe there will be daylilies when the daisys are gone. 

Iris

 

And here’s a rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could show you the red nail polish that I spilled all over the tile floor, but that would show you how clumsy I am at times.  It wouldn’t have spilled if the top had been put back on — now who can I blame for that???

50,000 or so ants

and more on the way!

 

Yesterday I was sitting out on the glider relaxing and enjoying the yard, when I noticed ants in a sidewalk crack carrying eggs (moving their nest).  The bad news was that they were carrying the eggs towards the house.  I got the ant bait, put some in their path and went on with my day.  Well this morning, I see those little buggers are knocking on my back door!!   On the inside of the door, I see there are a few ants, and a pile of debris which means they have moved inside the wall — crap.   Thanks to quilter friend Carol for a recipe for spray — 1/4 cup each of liquid detergent, water and alcohol.  It killed them instantly without having to mix up pesticide.   I’ve declared war — Monday I will spray with pesticide while Steve is gone.  

I had to do a bit of  life guarding this morning:

 

After I “rescued” him and put him back on the grass he decided to go for another dip.  I had a phone call to return, so after talking with Kathryn, I went back out and couldn’t find him.  I don’t see him floating, so I hope he went on his way.  He’s one of the most friendly, so he’ll be back for dinner tonight.  I’ve seen several of my turtles take a swim.  They always look so pretty when the crud is washed off.

This past Sunday I took a guild workshop with Margaret Miller — strips that sizzle.   It was a fun day, and the blocks go together quickly.  I came home and made another 30 blocks, put up a piece of batting for a design wall and started playing.  Margaret gives a set of worksheets with various designs to jump start the design process.  While I was playing I noticed that the blocks could make a friendship star — but what to do in the center???  Here’s what it looks like so far.  The white spots are the center of the stars.

 

I think I need to group the darker oranges together to make some of the stars more noticable.  That would leave the lighter sets in other stars.  Maybe it would give it more dimension.  I was excited when I picked out the orange/green combo — but it seems very flat in this design.  Maybe I need to add some yellows.  The stars look too jumbled together.  Definitely needs some definition.  I plan to keep it up until I come up with a solution — I don’t want another UFO in the closet!!

I was out in my pjs pulling some weeds this morning, and I almost missed this:

tiny turtle

She was disguised among the stones.  I usually find babies in August that are about 2″ across.  This one is definitely newly hatched.  I can still see where she was attached to the egg sac. 

Next week I’ll be hugging Emma!!  There’s a brief lull in the action around here, so I’m hopping on a plane to visit Pennsylvannia — let’s hope they don’t have a blizzard while I’m there!!

Emma and spoon

Although there’s a bit of decoration to put on, I’m counting it as done.  Now I’ve caught up! 

 

Today was my appointment to begin shots in my “good knee”.   While I was there the PA measured the flexion in my TKR, and it’s at 130 degrees!!   The goal after surgery was to get to at least 120, so I’m doing great.   I didn’t know what type of knee I got so I asked — it’s a Zimmer gender specific knee designed specifically for women.  It makes sense that most women would need a smaller, slimmer knee.   I think I’m going to have to start calling my new knee the good knee!   Here’s a link to Zimmer.

Here’s what’s been keeping me busy:

 

 

These are such fun!  Applique that I’ve done in the past have been little pieces.  This project has been so much easier because the pieces are much larger.   I’ve made some changes from the original pattern and I will be putting in some hand stitching to delineate the flower petals and also to finish off the small circles in the second block.   You can find the BOM patterns at Esther’s site.

March 27th snow

Here’s our newest pet.  He came home with us from Las Cruces a couple of weeks ago.    I love him!

Our new new pet