Actually it was another two weeks!  It’s hard to believe how fast time can fly and it’s hard to believe, I use to live the busy, busy life that Sarah now lives.  I was genuinely worn out at the end of each day, and the accumulation of activity had me begging for naps!!  It’s hard to beg a 10-month-old to take a nap so Mia can collapse!

 

ahh...finally

The “to-do” list included making enough flannel blankets to ensure that Sarah has enough blankets to cover the upcoming baby showers.  State College must be having a population explosion!

Many hands make light work!

Sarah has a cozy sewing room.  It’s much larger than mine and has a wonderful view. 

The view of the neighbors yard

P.S.  The beer was tasty (from what I could tell from my two sips).   

The last two weeks I’ve been in Happy Valley, PA — a very happy place for me!  What did we do?

We took a long walk and saw some beautiful homes.  Our walk was about two miles and within that area, we walked to an area which was farmland just a few months ago,  but is now being developed into McMansions.  It’s sad to know that within five years or so, the same route will be all houses. 

On the fourth, Sarah and I walked to the elementary school/community park to watch the fireworks show.   It was one of the best shows I’ve seen. The park has a small hill.  The entire neighborhood was there, probably 250 people on blankets and chairs neatly set up in rows far enough apart so everyone would have a good view.  It gave me a feel of small-town living.  Bryan stayed home to pack for his trip and watch Emma who was fast asleep. 

We drove 3 hours to Hershey so we could introduce Emma to the joys of outlet shopping!  She was definitely the winner; when we got home we counted 16 outfits for her.  She needs warmer clothing for fall/winter, and where better to find cute stuff than Carters and Oshkosh!  She was such a good little shopper.  We were there five hours — I couldn’t believe it, it seemed more like 2 or 3.  She finally did get a bit fussy, but a  bottlebefore we hit the road and she slept most of the way.  She wanted to drink and drive, but Mom vetoed that.

 

 

                                                                                                     Her haul

 

 

 

We started (well, actually Bryan and Sarah did) a new batch of beer and we smoked a ribs and a couple of pork shoulders.  Yum!!  The beer will probably be ready to drink when I return next month.  I’m not a big beer drinker, but I really want a taste.

 

Three years ago Sarah and I were in State College for a house-hunting/job interview trip.  Our trip coincided with the Arts Fest.  The weather was hot and humid and we didn’t get to see the entire show (my knee was undoubtedly acting up also).   My trip this year also coincided with Arts Fest!  The show is held in the university area and also on the campus.  The weather was really nice this year, until the thunderstorm rolled in as we were leaving.  Just before the downpour, we snapped this picture at the “Nittney Lion”.  About 60 seconds after this picture was taken we on the run for cover!

 

I came home exhausted in the very best way!!  I had one day at home and then we left for our monthly RV rally — more on that in another post.

 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.