The view out my front door

This afternoon I was walking along our road thinking that it was an absolutely beautiful day, so I came home and took a picture from my front porch. The weather man says we're done with hot and humid weather, which is music to my ears. It's always sad to close the pool and shut more and more windows and with days like this it's hard to imagine snow and wind is as close as 10 weeks away. First, though, is fall. Cool nights, apples for baking, pumpkins, home coming, spirit week, the list is long and makes my heart swell. I'll take the snow if it's what is required in order to have the kind of fall weather we have in Western New York. I'll be sure to take more pictures just in case it's not something you get to experience.

While I don't have any stitching to show, I've been shopping and dreaming. I have big plans. First, though, the Scholar returns to school in a week, new clothes and shiny new shoes need to be purchased. The Boy Wonder will begin his senior year in less then 3 weeks. Buttercup and I will sit thru Freshman orientation biding our time until they hand out the class schedules. Hard to be sad about the change in seasons when we have all this to look forward to.

Coming soon..... a new start and some framed finishes.

Until then, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

The list keeps getting longer

Once upon a time my husband and I owned some residential rental property. With each and every tenant we'd learn something new we needed to add to the lease. It was only a matter of time before that thing looked like a scroll we'd have to unroll across the table. It was always... give an inch, they'd take a mile. Or, if something was simply never mentioned it MUST be OK!

The same seems to hold true with our rules for kids living semi out of the house.

First came the fish. Not even the Scholar's fish. She inherited him. One of her suite mates got one along with a girl from another floor. One day she brought her fish down to my daughter's suite and said: here, he scares me. So, at Thanksgiving the fish came home to stay until school resumed at the end of January. While in residence, we put him in our little tank and he seemed to be enjoying life. So much so, that when he went back to school the suite mates thought he was a new fish. Really, it was just proper feeding and clean water. He stayed at school until it let out in the spring and now he's mine. I said he needed to go back in the fall and be given to the girls that move into the suite he occupied last year. Like: here, this fish goes with the suite. Now, on my rule list is... 'don't bring home any living creatures'.




Next, the more shocking rule. Who knew I'd have to have a rule that says..... come home with basically the same hair you left with? That rule isn't perfected yet because I know, from my landlording days, there are way too many open windows in that sentence. (Hey Robin.... quit laughing. I'm feeling for you. Isn't it true, though? Who knew we needed a rule like that?)

The Scholar and the Boy Wonder returned Friday, in time for supper, without all the hair ONE OF THEM LEFT WITH. My speechless reaction was... well... I don't even know what to say still. It just wasn't what I expected. Some one's 'hair' brained idea led to all the boys getting buzzed last Sunday BEFORE the campers came. Boy, I'll tell you.... I don't think I'd be a happy parent dropping my kids off at camp finding a bunch of freshly shaven counselors!



That boy has awesome hair, too. Soft and smooth and red. When he was little he'd ask for a buzz cut in the beginning of summer. I couldn't do it. I'd have the barber cut it real short but leave a little length on the top. Hope he's worked that out of his system because we have years ahead of us of college life.

So, life goes on.

The Queen Bee

Vacation, smacation...

So, I'm on vacation with no pictures to post. This is a vacation to be lazy, stitch, read, and laze in the sun. But, today it thundered all afternoon so what's happening is I'm watching the news. I much prefer to get my news from Jon Stewart. He just puts the right spin on it. (Really, I'm kidding, I follow the news.) It's just a whole different story here in Florida. There is news on regular local channels ALL THE TIME. So, here's what is of concern here on the Gulf Coast (besides the obvious oil spill).....


The hunt is on for an alligator that ate a dog. Isn't that what they'll do? Do we really have to hunt them down for making a meal out of a yippy little dog that wouldn't stop 'harassing' it? Oh, that makes me remember a previous picture I posted from our last trip to Florida.



(I do apologize to anyone who might have lost their beloved pet in such a manner.... and do agree that nobody should find a gator under the shrubbery in the back yard.) I come from an area where coyotes roam the countryside and nobody leaves their dogs out. For real. I feel like Laura Ingles on the prairie some nights.


Then, there was a story about Dengue Fever. Apparently, a risk in Florida this summer. Just today I saw a mosquito that was kind of green. I thought that was weird, luckily I hadn't seen the news story yet. I would have been more scared.


Other then watching for alligators and mosquitoes I'm getting lots of stitching and reading done. Maybe I'll have something of interest to post tomorrow.


Until then, I'm off.


The Queen Bee

Nice deflection

Lee over at Lake Sticher recently posted about what she's been doing instead of stitching. Seems to be a common problem this summer. I have plenty of time but a lack of motivation. At my house, the excuses are few. The kids were gone all week, work was slow, weather was bad, but the motivation was nowhere to be seen. I did make a quilt. It's almost done. I only need about half an hour but today I spent about 10 minutes working on it when the rain started so I had to go close windows. I never went back to the sewing room. Soon I'll finish it and take pictures. So, to deflect from my total lack of stitching, here are the homemade ice cream sandwiches I made.



See how you're wishing you could sample this and have completely forgotten that you came here to see what I've been stitching or reading? Even I tasted it and I don't eat ice cream. Delicious. If anyone cares how they were made just ask, but it involved a boxed brownie mix and ice cream. Anyone can do it. I've never made them before, had to rush a little which probably explains the oozing around the edges, but whatever... the taste was perfect.



I'm off to see what's happening with the kids.... all home for the weekend.



The Queen Bee

Heatwave, we're having a heatwave....

The temperature is a little exaggerated.... but not by much. The outside thermometer is in the sun, but if someone was out there I'm sure the beating down sun feels like 105! Yuck. Here, in upstate NY we don't do hot like this. Generally, houses aren't air conditioned so, we suffer. Our window a/c unites are managing but we've already replaced one that pooped out Tuesday. And, probably, I'd feel quite a breeze if I stood next to the spinning electric meter!

Now, before you folks in southern climates laugh... keep in mind we're thinking the exact same thing when you get snow. Snow is what we do. We know how to manage snow and cold.... heat, not so much.

Anyhow, along with having to schedule our day around when to raise or lower shades to keep the sun out, what we can fix for supper that doesn't heat up the house, and where we can go that has air conditioning I've managed to stitch a little.

I started Jenny Bean's Christmas Sampler. And seriously, the designer? Shakespeare's Peddler, isn't it? I'm not going back downstairs to look. Sorry. Next time I'll be more efficient.



Then, on Vonna's blog, she was doing a give away of Little House Needlework's 'Summer House'. I love this little pattern, and since I have it, I thought I'd just whip it up myself. It really is a quick stitch... it's just me that's not stitching it very fast.

Lastly, here is my progress on The Library by Little House Needleworks. I'm doing a Monday SAL with my friend Rebecca. I love the piece and hope to dedicate some serious stitching time to it over the next few Mondays. I'd love to get it done and framed.

This weekend we're off to visit another college campus. Luckily, the weather is supposed to break.

Until next time, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

You're all going to think

I made up those posts about not having any time to sew since every time you check in I have a new finish to post. Really, I hardly did anything for a couple weeks but now I'm back at it.

This is another piece that's been languishing in my 'waiting to be finished' pile. It's Blackbird Design's Easter Parade. It's in the same pattern booklet that the violets are in (a finish I posted a couple days ago.) There is a clue in this picture about what else is happening around our house today.

The birthday table runner only comes out when it's some one's birthday..... and today Buttercup turns 14. A funny story from the day she was born. We didn't know if she was going to be a girl or a boy, a rarity these days. When a delivery room nurse asked me if we knew and I said we didn't she was most excited to tell me that she was the one that got to tell us! I would have never thought about how the people in the delivery room worked that little detail out. Whoever calls it, or by taking turns, or maybe they draw straws. At any rate, it's something they don't get to do very often anymore.


I am still practicing my machine quilting with the attachment for my sewing machine. I am very close to trying it on something I really want to turn out well. It's supposed to be very hot this weekend so hanging out in my basement sewing room might be just perfect.


Hope everyone has a nice weekend.


The Queen Bee

'k then.... it's unanimous.

I'll be tossing that chain letter in the trash. It would appear that not a single person I would have sent it to would have carried out the requests contained within. Sure takes away any guilt I might have been suffering for opting out.

Now, on to more bad photography.

I have a seasonal finish to show. A couple weeks ago I stitched the Quaker Star that was a free pattern from Aury's blog. Then it rested on my ironing board while I considered my finishing options. I found a heart shaped candy box that was the perfect size so I covered the box, put the stitching on top, and trimmed it with a matching piece of trim.

In the next day or two I should have an update on Holiday Express. That piece is coming along according to plan. I just hope I can keep it up.

I just heard the weatherman say it could get down to 49 degrees tonight. Good thing I didn't put that winter nightgown away. Brrr.

Tonight is a work night. I live just a few miles from a major performing arts venue, which means chaos sometimes. Tonight is one of those nights. The newspaper calls this bands' fans a 'roudy traveling circus'. Oh goody, is all I can say. The concert won't be in my jourasdiction but since we have court and a judge on the bench we could see some of the action. Maybe the cold temps will keep them calm. Ha. Who am I kidding?

I'm off.

The Queen Bee

A finish and proof that I'm the weakest link.

A photographer, I am not. This picture was chosen because it shows the fabric color the best.



This is from Blackbird Designs' pattern Easter Parade. It's cute and spring like and has only been in my 'waiting to be finished' pile for 2 years. Why rush these things, right? It's sitting on a table runner I assembled at my quilt retreat last spring and finally quilted and bound this past week. I have a few more quilty things that I'm trying to finish before starting something new. I would rather assemble then finish but I'm trying to dedicate some time to freeing up space for new projects.

Now, on a totally unrelated topic....

Recently I was reading a blog where the author likened blog awards to chain letters. She was explaining why she wasn't going to participate but truly appreciated being given the award. I thought she eloquently voiced her opinion and fully understood her decision. I know there have been hurt feelings over people not wanting to pick the required number of blogs to forward the award to so opt to 'opt out'. There is absolutely no reason someone can't make that choice and get on with their blogging....without shame. Except.....everyone knows who broke the chain because they didn't post the award or who they sent it on to.

Remember that game show where the evil women yelled "you are the weakest link" and sent you off stage in shame? Nobody ever wanted to be subjected to her 'in your face' name calling rejection. Sometimes contestants would be in tears during their post game interview. I haven't seen that show in years. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who didn't care for it. Which leads me to this story... Yesterday I was the lucky recipient of a chain letter from a friend who moved across the county more then 10 years ago. This letter involves sending a book to the person named and copies of the letter to 6 of my 'luckiest' friends. In the end, if nobody broke the chain, I would receive 30 books in the mail. Ok... sure.... just what I want..... 30 books that someone else chose for me to read. Mind you, they're probably people I've never met. If I break the chain (and I say 'if' as if I have any intentions of participating) I wonder what the chances are she'll know it was me? Drat. I hate chain letters. I never participate in the email ones and wish people would simply quit the whole practice relieving the rest of us from having to be the weakest link. Regardless of the potential shame I'm opting to be the weakest link.

What does everyone else think? I've never met a single person who says 'sure send that sucker on to me, I'd love to participate'. So, why is it they still exist????

My older kids leave for their summer long camp counseling jobs today. (They'll come home once a week for laundry, etc, so I'm not going thru withdrawal or anything.) I'm merely planning a few quiet afternoons and a lower grocery bill.

The Queen Bee

High school, here we come.

Buttercup is officially a high school freshman. On Tuesday evening we attended the 8th grade moving up ceremony. Traditionally, in our school, the girls do it up big for this event. The ceremony is followed by their first semi-formal dance. Everyone has a great time. There is a reception in the cafeteria for parents, so we can stay in the building the whole time, while the kids go to the gym for the dance. It's a very nice way to ease parents into the high school world the kids will soon be taking part. She was most excited and had a great time. I overheard her best friends oohing and aaahing over her hair and dress saying, 'now you look like a girl!' I guess my girls aren't exactly 'girly, girls'.

The Boy Wonder is now a high school senior. It's simply amazing. Yesterday we toured another college campus. It was such a beautiful school in a cute, elegant little town in the Finger Lakes area of NY. This school is currently my top pick and it really doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the fact that the town has a quilt store or that there is another great quilt store on the road I would drive to get to the town. Really, it doesn't. Well, OK, maybe a teeny tiny bit. But, really, it was a beautiful campus with well maintained buildings and grounds along with all those other things one looks for in a college.

Someday soon I'll have some stitching pictures to post. I've been doing the tiniest bit of stitching and am also trying to finish a few things from my 'waiting to be finished' pile. I need to take swatches to Joann's or Michael's to find some matching trim. Then, maybe there will be something worth showing.

Until then, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

The phases of my summer

This summer is divided into a bunch of phases. Some are short, some long, some busy, others boring. This current 3 week phase is a very busy one. It's the 3 weeks when summer officially begins. When school finally gets out, when everything anyone takes part in wants to have a celebration. It's the 3 weeks between the Scholar getting home from Mexico and leaving for summer camp. The Scholar and the Boy Wonder will be working at a summer camp for 8 weeks. They'll come home each Friday night to do laundry, catch up on sleep, and visit friends, finally, returning to camp Sunday morning.

So we're cramming everything we can into this stretch of time. 2 college visits, senior pictures, shopping for Buttercup's birthday, dentist and orthodontist appointments, the 8th grade moving up ceremony, etc, etc. No need to bore you with all the details. The end result is the same.... I've barely picked up a needle. So sad. I know. I think I'll have lots of stitching time when camp begins but even that stretch of time is shaping up to be busy. Someday the kids will all be off on their own and I'll have all the time in the world so sew, so I'm not complaining but I am counting the days until next Sunday!!

Referring back to my post on June 6th, I was happy to discover Dawn of Crafter's Creation is back to blogging. I've only ever lurked on her blog so she hardly knows I exist, but that's OK. That's the way it works sometimes. I also discovered a post from Gabi, of Lady of the Floss, on a community blog. Glad to see she's still stitching.

Maybe soon I'll have something to show instead of a picture of something I stitched 4 years ago!! I like to include a picture though, just in case that's all someone wants to see! (Not that any of you folks are that shallow seeing as you've stuck with this post this long!)

Love ya, for that!

The Queen Bee

Monday, monday...

This is the last Monday of The Boy Wonder's junior year. The wandering daughter is home from Mexico... as of late last night. She had to run to make her connecting flight... and naturally her bag didn't run as fast. Luckily someone drove it the 2 hours from the airport in College Town to our house so we didn't have to drive back that way today. So, anyway, the end is near for any peace and quiet I get around the house. Buttercup still has 2 weeks of school. She's the quiet one, though. It's the older two that will be fighting, or I mean, working out how to share their car. The Boy Wonder isn't use to sharing and The Scholar still remembers when she was the only driver. Anyone remember when we had to share the family vehicle amongst all the drivers in the house???? I will say that it is a huge help to all involved when the kids can drive themselves to their many, many sports and social events... especially since we live where everyone is so spread out... there isn't a parent ready and willing to drive so far out of their way to drop an extra kid off. And, in the Boy Wonder's defense... he's a huge help with driving Buttercup where she needs to go.



Any who.... the real reason you came here was to see what I've been working on.





I finished Shepherd Bush's Halloween Night. This was cute and fun to stitch. I received it as a gift so I don't know the fabric... but it's a large count even weave. I used the recommended threads and the button pack that was included. It will now go in the 'to be framed' pile.

Next,


this table runner is made using a pie shaped ruler with 60 degree angles. It was so easy to cut and put together. I see the obvious distortion from cutting the pictures at an angle and sewing them together. It's near impossible to avoid that. It's still really cute fabric and will be a pretty table runner no matter what. There is enough fabric to make a second one so I'll do that and see how it comes out. I can choose which part goes in the center by flipping the fabric before cutting. That will give it an entirely different look.


Over the weekend we went to see Killers at the movie theatre. What a good movie. So funny and who doesn't love Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher? The Mother-in-law played by Catherine O'Hara was hysterical. Tom Selleck wasn't so bad himself. I rarely want to see a movie a second time but I'd gladly sit thru this one again. And here's another perk to the kids driving..... we all went out to supper, but since the kids didn't want to go to the movie, we took 2 cars and they drove themselves home!


I am going to a dish to pass supper so I'm working on my dish to pass. I've put dinner in the crock pot for the family so I will be spending my afternoon in my sewing room. Lucky me.



I'm off.


The Queen Bee

Curious minds want to know.

(Or maybe I'm just nosy?)

I have become very curious about what has happened to some of the blogs I follow. Over on the right is the list of blogs I read regularly. There are more I like to check on that I can get to thru those blogs, so my list isn't really that short.... but that's not what this is about.

See the next to the last blog and the one above it.... Lady of the Floss and Crafter's Creations? Those 2 talented ladies appear to have dropped off the face of the earth. I can't remember how I came to follow Lady of the Floss.... maybe her blog was linked to some one's and I liked what she was working on. I came to follow Crafter's Creation because she was a friend of Renee's. (Renee's original blog was the first one I ever read.... way back when she was an ex-patriot and blogging about adjusting to life in Germany.)

Anyhow, I can't help but wonder what has happened. What would make them stop blogging, almost in mid sentence? I could understand computer problems, for the first few weeks, at least. Then I'd hope they'd get to their public library and log on for a few minutes. I know I'm about to bust a gut when our Internet goes down for half a day. I'm almost in a panic trying to figure out if my office still has Internet, or how far do I need to drive to find a working WiFi connection. Possibly that's just me, but I'd still be making an effort at some point. If something happened to them I would hope someone who knew them would let their blog fans know.

Does anyone have any idea? Just curious.....

The Queen Bee

Flowery Friday

I got nothin' on the stitching front to share but I've got flowers. And since uploading pictures and posting on Blogger is a real trial on the weekends I'll post today and maybe next week I'll have stitching to show.

This year the flowers are blooming like crazy. The columbines are very full and their color is beautiful.

I couldn't even begin to get all the irises in a picture. They've bloomed like they mean business.

Irises and lilies seem to love our clay rich soil. It's too soon for the lilies but once they start they will be beautiful. Every time I go to the garden center they have a new variety I must find a place for.

Our holiday weekend will be quiet as the Scholar is away and The Boy Wonder has track sectionals. We'll open the pool, wash the back porch, and cook on the grill. Not a bad start to summer.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.

The Queen Bee

Aaaaah, Mother's Day

Today I'm supposed to be lazy and not lift a finger. We'll see how that all works out but we're off to a pretty good start. There is still a lot of day left, though.

Anyway, here in upstate NY, the hummingbirds ALWAYS make their first appearance of the year on Mother's Day weekend. I was planning to catch them on their return and post a picture. I was ready with the feeder full and a hanging Fuchsia basket. Instead.... this is what I got....



First, the wind blew so hard yesterday (50mph) that all the food spilled out of the feeder, the flowers are in the garage to save them from being battered, and YES.... that's snow. Snow in early May isn't unheard of, just disappointing. Not much we can do but watch it.

Happy Mother's Day.

I'm off to sew.

The Queen Bee

Photo success..... sort of.

Despite looking like I stood on my head to get this picture, it's the best of the lot. I was standing on a chair looking from the top down. With a quilt like this, it's hard to give each part it's due in a photo. I can't get in a position to take a straight on photo. Anyhow, here it is. Heart and Home. It was a 6 month quilt class at my local quilt shop. It was really fun and very different from anything I've ever made. Tons of piecing in the houses and the border.... I can't even tell you how many pieces are in that heart and ribbon border. A gazillion. I took it to my quilt guild Monday night for show'n'tell and someone asked me how I did the applique and I said there wasn't much applique. Duh.... I guess I completely blocked out those sections with the trees, bunnies, and leaves. I worked like mad to have that done between classes so I'd stay on schedule. I'm not sure where it will hang, but I'll find somewhere.

2 posts in one day. You're going to wonder if I don't have anything else to do. Mostly I'm finding other things to do instead of the errands I have to run. I have to go to the bank and buy Mexican Pesos for the Scholar. Can't say I'm excited about this trip but I have to trust the organizers to know what they're doing. Plus, I'm sure I've mentioned the Scholar's love of travel. No amount of argument is going to keep her from seeing the world. Brings back memories of my own college days when I spent 6 weeks in San Salvador in the Bahamas. Oh, Lord.... I should stop right now or I might have to 'accidentally' misplace her passport. Just kidding..... really....

I have to keep reminding myself that my niece, who is a year ahead of the Scholar in school, manages to find trips to places like Africa and India. India for her semester abroad! Yikes. I'll take Spain, which is where she's planning to go next winter.

The Queen Bee

Let's see how this works

today. I'm still without my computer. The IT department said several computers suffered similar problems Tuesday and that we should remove and re-install the anti virus software. We did that but it still won't open any programs except the Internet. Back it went.

I do have a picture of stitching..... I stitched this little piece in Florida. There are a couple little basket charms that I'll add later. I used a scrap of linen that was left from something else and picked a color of thread that matched. Nothing exciting... I just thought it was a funny little piece.

Today is the Scholar's birthday. 19. This is the first birthday she's been away from home. (Studying Spanish)

¡Feliz cumpleaños, mi hija!

The Queen Bee

There is corruption

in my computer! Yesterday I was trying to upload the picture of the little piece I stitched while in Florida when my computer announced it's corruption. Something went very wrong in the latest security download. It was so bad my computer has been taken away in hopes of finding a more knowledgeable person to fix it.

It makes me sad how often I have computer troubles. I don't ask a lot of my computer..... save some pictures, let me surf the web, send emails, and keep my tax files safe and sound. Seems simple enough. My latest computer has been to the IT guys at my husbands office 3 or 4 times in the last 6 months. So, now I have my next older computer on my desk. The saga of this baby is long and sad, but today, it's feeling kind of peppy and is allowing me time online. In an effort not to jinx myself I'll keep it simple and won't actually complain about this computer while I'm using it.

I'm crossing my fingers that my other one comes home happy and restored this evening.

Until then, I'm off.


The Queen Bee

The fun always has to end.

We've returned from our 'fun in the sun' spring break. I barely stitched or read because we kept busy doing things like.....

Typical tourist shopping..... gotta love a store that tells it like it is!

We met these two fellas hanging out under the deck of a restaurant we ate it.

I so wanted to 'accidentally' drop a little food off my plate just to see them move but signs like this are posted in plain sight.

This particular sign is posted by the lake that our condo sits about 10 feet from. Hmm. They tell us a big one was hanging around last spring but I never saw it. I just figured it was a POA sign. Guess not.

We hung out on beaches like this....

took a dolphin excursion boat ride,

and counted the baby ducklings on our lake making sure the ever present snapping turtles hadn't snacked on any.

So, I'm not really complaining about being home..... I'm just heading into Monday morning kicking and screaming.

Soon I'll post the teeny tiny bit of stitching I did manage.

Until then, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

How they grow....

The Scholar, age 5, and The Boy Wonder, age 3, in April 1996....





















and today. Tonight is Junior prom night. There was a date, who was cute as a button, but it's the picture of these 2 that tickles me the most.












Not to forget Buttercup, who wasn't born when the first picture was taken.








We dropped the kids off at the restaurant and took pictures of friends in the parking lot.







The Boy Wonder with his 2 best buds. Don't they clean up well?



Whoever invented renting dress clothes for boys was a genius. Otherwise, they'd never get to look this nice.












Until next time, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

Ouch!

Does this make me look old? Seriously, is this enough gray hair to age me beyond my 46 years? That's a rhetorical questions, by the way. I know everyone is shaking their heads no and wondering what the heck I'm worrying about. Had this only happened once I wouldn't let it get to me but it happened TWICE in one week! While shopping at 2 different department stores this week the sales clerks asked me if I was a member of the senior discount club! OUCH! The one was called '50 Plus' so I already know how old you have to be to participate. I didn't stick around long enough to find out about the second one. The Scholar told me I should have just said 'yes' and taken whatever discount they were offering. But, I say no way! I've got a minimum of 3 1/2 years before I'm signing up for any one's senior discount program.

I told my husband that they (meaning he and the kids) were aging me beyond my years. Always the quick thinker, he blamed it on the kids then asked what stores we weren't ever going to shop in again.


Buttercup reminded me that we would soon be in Florida where I would certainly look young.... simply because I was! What a sweety.

Many deep sighs from me.

I am not going to start dying my hair. I wear it too short anyway. Every time I got it cut (which is every 4 or 5 weeks) I'd have to get it dyed again because the back is so short. My hair dresser tells me all the time how nice my 'silver' hair is. Soft and shiny, etc. In fact, if it ever turns white I'm going to dye it silver. I figure I earned the grays I'm going to show them off.

So, I guess I'm going to have to investigate some other ways to look younger.

The Queen Bee