When school is out, I take care of my son, we play, go swimming ...

But when it is too hot to play (Austin, Tx), I work on quilts and bags.

Currently, I am working on an apple core scrap quilt, so far I have 232 out of 450 apple cores cut and my cutting table is cover with all my scraps.  Before I put the scraps away, I am going to cut out another scrap quilt, but it is not designed, yet

Jim and I are getting ready for the October Quilt Show. So much to do and it is only three months away! Where has the summer gone!!!??? Lots of things to make and I will post when I get things done. Right now it's all in the planning stages. Can't wait to start sewing them.....

I have 2 great days planned.

Friday we get the 2 grandchildren, so in the morning we are packing them up and going to a small lake that has a beach and sand. Sophia has never been to a lake, so it should be lots of fun. Pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and off we go. I will have to post some pictures.

Sat. my favorite quilting friends are coming over for a day of sewing. Hopefully work on one of the UFO's and get the top done. Then the hubbies are coming for supper, so we have all day to live it up. We are going to have Chicken on the grill, salads, homemade beans. Dessert Strawberries, blueberries on sponge cake. If you want to live it up put Choc syrup on it and whip cream.  And don't forget the ice cream. We will be eating on the deck, because do you believe it NO RAIN.  Should be a great day.

What are you all up to.

FOR RAIN!! The grass and flowers are so dry and they say no rain until maybe next week.......

Back from Sedona and the Grand Canyon....

What a great girlfriend trip! We traveled in a van, with lots of room for sewing machines, supplies & quilt shop stops. We visited so many galleries and craft/souvenir shops in Sedona, went swimming often, took a native plants/herb walk & learned about local geology, went sightseeing to Montezuma's castle (cliff dwellers), Church in the Rock, & the Grand Canyon---lots of photo-taking, and sewed in the evenings. I stayed within $30 of my planned budget! I was very good! Finished binding one quilt and made a quilt top for a new doggy quilt. Our timeshare looked out on a pond with a fountain and waterfall. It was so peaceful. Every morning, we'd go outside, drink our coffee in our jammies and just enjoy the cool mornings. It was the perfect unit to stay in. Both my girlfriends are such good quilters. Quite inspirational.

I'm happy to be home again with my hubby & our dogs & cat - must say they were all missed each day. What a welcoming committee I return to : ) !

Home now for a couple weeks then we all RV to Calistoga for a weekend. We're staining our deck before the hot weather makes it impossible - our project between now & Calistoga.

I'll get to work on my block swap blocks in August : ) to meet our deadline.

Your time with your friends sounds so wonderful. Welcome home. Please post some pictures of your trip and quilts etc. I would love to see them.

Nora, I will send the rain on to you, it rains everyday.

Yesterday, Sat. my favorite quilting friends came over and we had a great day. Sewed from 9:30 to 4:30, and it rained during that time. Then when hubbies came from dinner we were able to eat on the deck. Had a great time. I did not get as much done as I had hope, but what can you do.

Thanks Sue! We got some, not much.....it came with thunder and lighting! .....so I fell asleep through it. Now it is cooler, and I like cool......I worked the weekend doing pin cushions. Cut up a wedding dress of my daughters. She did NOT want it any more. So I cut the sleeve up for a pin cousin. I'll post pics when done. I also helped Jim with his latest creation. A hall tree. Mission style. It turned out great. Will post this afternoon with my stuff. This week will be for making hot pads and things for the quilt show in October. Just trying to take it easy to......

I'm finally home!  I had a great two weeks (actually 2 weeks and 2 days).  I spent the first Friday and Saturday at my friend Wanda's (she's one of my long time quilting friends) and her sister, Doreen (my other quilting friend) came over and we went to a great quilt shop and out to lunch.  I bought a few pieces of fabric (10 yards of a really pretty dark pink border fabric) and we also spent some time sewing.  The first Sunday I went to my old church and then spent the day with my aunt and uncle at their new house.  On Monday I drove about an hour to stay with my best friend who was my college roommate.   We went out to eat, spent some time with some of our friends, played cards and went to a friend's house for dinner.  On Thursday I drove back to my friend Wanda's and spent a few more days with her.   We sewed most of the time and on the 4th went to a family picnic and saw fireworks.   On Sunday, I helped her organize her sewing room and refolded all her fabric, moved her furniture around, and made an office in her walk in closet!   We worked at it most of the day and it was looking good by the time we stopped.  On Monday, I drove to Grand Rapids to spend some time with my parents and other family.  We all stayed at my niece's house, which is big and beautiful!  We visited with several friends and family members and ended the week with a big family reunion.  The weather was perfect and there was a big turnout.   My husband and daughter Amy came down on Friday and we all headed back home yesterday.  It's good to be home, but I had a great time!   Tomorrow, my daughter and I are headed to Sault Ste. Marie for the day, to shop and she's taking me out for a birthday lunch.  After that, my plans are to stay home for a while, do some yard work (as my body allows) and some sewing and some painting.  I'd like to get my kitchen finished before company comes in August.  So far, we have company lined up for two visits in August, one in September and one in October.   Also, Amy and I would like to go to Mackinac Island one day since she's never been and we're only an hour away.  It's a beautiful place to visit.  If you've seen the movie "Somewhere in Time", you've seen the island.  It is just like it looks in the movie and there are no cars allowed, so travel is by bike, horses or horse and buggy.  I highly recommend a visit there if you've never been.  There are LOTS of fudge shops too! 

I am very glad you are home and safe. It seems like you were gone for a very long time, much longer than 2 weeks. It sounds like you had a great time.

There is an island north of Ohio, that I have been to, that sounds the same has Mackinac Island. I do not remember the name of it. You also could not drive, so you used bikes, I loved it there.

It sounds like ya'll have wonderful plans and have done fun things this summer.  We had a fun trip to White River, Arkansas last week.  But that is the only thing that has been fun this summer.  We have had some unfortunate events this summer that has us a little down.  The worst one being that Scooter died.  He is the little dog that you see in my picture.  I am doing okay now, but on a slower scale, sometimes a little afraid of what the next day will bring.  I can only hope and pray that things will get better for the rest of this year.  You all keep on quilting and sharing, even though I don't write much, I love to see your posts, quilts, and funny things that you say that make me laugh.

Lee Ann

My heart goes out to you too, LeeAnn. Our dogs are absolutely our 'furkids'  and mean the world to us, as I'm sure Scooter has been to you.

Though it almost seemed disrespectful when we lost our first Shiba, about 4 months later in a very quiet house, we decided to get another Shiba puppy. Quite different from Tasha, Robun quickly brought new energy and love; it was simply the best decision we could make. A puppy does not let anyone be sad for even a few minutes....they're just so full of joy and desire to be with you! A year later, we added Aiko as a friend for Robun. Those two are our best buddies as they are for each other too. They sure fill our lives with the best of companionship.

Perhaps sometime in the future you'll consider a new 'furkid', when the time is right.

Hugs, Layna

Thank you both for you sympathies.  It was unexpected and sudden, but I'm dealing with it.  Laynak, you are right, they are our furkids, and I still have 2 small dogs with me.  I'm hoping that the rest of this summer is uneventful and boring.  I don't need anymore drama!  Looking forward for things to go up from here.

Love,

Lee Ann

I have been doing allot of work around Wendi's house!  I layed a brick walkway, edged the garden, planted a japenesee maple and a magnolia (built a brick border around it), resealing and fixing the driveway, and preparing the deck for stain!  Wendi will stain it!

Then I want to get carpet in the Bedroom (Got to pay to get it done) and paint all the walls in the family room.  We are thinking about remodeling the kitchen and the family room!  It is allot of fun getting some exercise and sun!  I always liked landscaping (though I take allot of time doing it and get VERY dirty!), but I think thats part of the fun!

Anyways, I hope to post pictures of my work!  Have been very busy (sorry about my absence).  Wendi checks the site when she gets up, but I am generally up and out the door to work!  Lately when she gets home we have been having fires.  I also ordered a fire pit!  This is my toy for the house!