To set goals or not to set goals.

When my kids were younger I used to ask them what their summer goals were.  They looked at me all funny and asked why the heck they needed to set goals over the summer.  An explanation of why goal setting made people happier, more successful, or whatever mumbo jumbo I could come up with would ensue.  Being a stay at home mom made me aware of just how many free hours it takes to make up a summer..... a crap load.  So, I was hoping they'd set some simple kid friendly summertime goals we could work towards.  They'd end up saying things like going to the arcade and riding go carts, reaching a certain level on a video game, and listing some movies they wanted to see.  Fine.... gave us something to work towards.  My goal, summer after summer, was to read a lot and sew a lot.  They caught on after a few years that I was just saying the same thing, but really and truly, those were my goals.  So, what's my point?  I pretty much don't set goals either. 

However, this month, I thought I'd finish a certain few Crazy January challenge pieces, bind the 2 newly quilted quilts, and finish this challenge piece.   I've done all of those except for finishing Peppermint Twist.  That Crazy January Challenge piece needs special concentration and a magnifier that ties me to one stitching chair and I just haven't been hanging in that room this summer. 

The Sweet Home Alabama piece must remain a surprise until Anna reveals it on her blog.  You'll just have to wait for that. 

The second quilt that came back from the quilter was Apple Crisp.  I made this during the winter and posted about it once or twice.  I love the fall colors. 

I think I can finish Peppermint Twist in the next 2 weeks.  Buttercup will be away for a second week at camp plus a little vacation with a friend so I should (knock on wood) have some good stitching time.  Stay tuned. 

My friend

Robin says I can't post every day then JUST STOP!  Oops.  The whole point of making myself post every day last week was to get back into the mode of posting more frequently.  I do love it when people commit to an entire month of posting.  I like knowing there will be something to read even when it's not craft related.  Let's face it, there aren't too many of us who can craft and create that fast. 

I don't have a real long list of blogs I read so I start to get to know the people who write what I read.  Some are even people I know in real life so their blog is even more interesting.  Even the mundane, seemingly boring stuff is fun to read. 

So, here goes.... a post with no real sewing, stitching or reading value.... however.... I will post a picture that includes myself....something I have, to date, never done. 

Yesterday Robin and I went to a town about 30 miles away with a quilt shop.  They do wonderful long arm quilting.  Robin had taken a quilt that was ready and I wanted to take one.  First, I sewed like a mad women for 3 straight afternoons until I HAD a quilt to take, then we jumped in the car and headed off. 

Several things show you how sloppy my blogging has become....
1. I have no photos of the quilt, and
2.  I never even thought to bring my camera. 

Luckily Robin had hers, although we didn't even think to take pictures until we stopped at a LOVELY winery on the way home for lunch. 

This way cool tree was just inside the door of the restaurant.....

then the beautiful view we enjoyed from our table on the deck. 

 So, maybe I've distracted you from the fact that I didn't take pictures of anything made by me...

or the bottles of wine I purchased... 

I guess we'll just have to go back and retrace our steps while I have a camera in hand....

Did I make it a full

week of posting?  I think so.  Just in the nick of time because I'm plum out of any stitching or quilting to show you.  Not to mention anything to ramble on about. 

However, I do have my way cute glasses and a pretty lamp from the rummage sale.  I bet I come home with more stuff after working there this morning. 

 I'm a sucker for anything with flip flops. 

I don't know where the lamp will go, but I'll find a place.  Possibly on my desk. 

Oh, when will this heat end?  We northerners like our cool evenings.  At least bring those back...... 

It's Friday.....

who doesn't like Friday.  I'm off to set up for the aforementioned church rummage sale.  No AC there, either.  I'm a glutton of punishment, I guess.  Knock on wood I find a bargain that makes all this work a little more fun.

I finally finished sewing the binding on this quilt.  This is the original, unquilted picture. 

 And, here it is all quilted enjoying a moment in the sunshine....

If you click the picture you can get a closer look at the quilting.  It's just a flowing flowery pattern in a variegated thread.  It enhances the quilt pattern nicely. 

I first blogged about this quilt here.  It was so fun and easy to make.  The original pattern was posted by Rachel last summer as a weekly project.  (She posted 1 step per week for 4 weeks.) You can find her tutorial here.  Scroll down to the postage stamp quilt.  She called for 2 jelly rolls, a plain and a patterned.  Mine used a little more of each since I made mine a little bigger.  Now, every time I see a fabric I like I want the jelly roll so I can do this quilt again.  Fun and easy despite the overall look of tedium.  Like many quilts, larger pieces are sewn together then recut and sewn again.... so I never really handled a 2 1/2 inch square.  Anyone who thinks they'd like to quilt but can't imagine sewing all those pieces could do this one and safely call themselves a quilter.

Still no picture of my way cute flip flop glasses.  They're currently in the dishwasher. Tomorrow?  We'll see.  Possibly the suspense keeps you coming back. 

What's a girl to do

on the hottest day of the year?

This?                                 Nope.

 How about this?     (Well, Ok. I did do that, but not until after 3 1/2 hours of doing.....

this.  Yup.  From scratch.  All the way from scratch....which means I made the crusts, too.  2 cherry crumb (I pitted each and every cherry), a blueberry/peach crumb, and a Nestle's Toll House pie. 

First I went for an early morning doctor's appointment, then to work, then to BJ's where I loaded up on over sized, extra heavy packages of food and drink, then came home and baked.  Crazy, I know.  The weatherman is, right this second, saying that we haven't had a day this warm since 1998.  And, we don't have AC... just some window units that are working extra.  But, duty calls and pies were the item of the day.  They should fetch a good price at our church rummage & pie sale. 

So, are you bored with my post a day?  Today is a two-fer.  Just your lucky day, I guess.  Oh, maybe tomorrow I'll show you the way cute glasses (of the drinking variety)  I bought at BJ's.  They have flip flops on them.... and they're glass, not plastic.  Such simple pleasures.

Best invention ever....

if you have to give your pet a pill.  Our kitty is suffering some tummy upset and needs to take a pill twice a day for 2 weeks.  She's no fool when it comes to hiding a pill inside anything....plus she suffers a very restricted diet of NO people food.

What a life saver.  She's not as easy as our 'old man' cat to give pills to.  I'm happy to say (sort of) that she even wakes me up in the morning begging for a treat.  Knock on wood she won't figured out what's buried inside these moist little snacks.  There's even a dog version, but I think dogs might be a little easier then cats.  I know ours tended to gulp things.... like a little wad of cheese or something covered in peanut butter. 

Lest you think I'm here only for pet care advise.... I'm not.  I just wish I'd known about these things before we wrestled that poor kitty's mouth open half a dozen times. 

As proof, I have a little progress picture to show....remember this Block of the Month? 

I received the first installment this very week and stitched it up quick as can be.  It helps that I made a quilt a couple years ago from the same designer so I'm familiar with their patterns and methods. 

Such a fun quilt.  Now, let's see if I can stay on track with the rest of the months. 

Anyone remember

Lee's Older and Better challenge and how I was so quick to join up?  (There was a direct correlation between that speed and the # of old and forgotten patterns I own)  I have been stitching on my selection.  'Keep the Spirit' by Debbie Mumm.  I love snowmen and snowy scenes but this one had been in my stash for some unknown number of years. If I had to guess, I'd say 10.  I sort of refuse to admit that I spent money on something I'll never do so I adamantly hold on to each and every acquisition. 

 

There are vast amounts of snow to stitch, but I'm still enjoying it.  It was a kit so I stuck with whatever was in the package..... blue aida and all.  I don't mind aida and the cheap stuff will soften up with handling.   Working on snow in the heat of summer is kind of nice.

Back to work.