Excuse Me Ma'am...Is That an Otter On Your Head?

Our girl has the best time...and yep, that's an otter on her head.Tooooooo cute!!!

Tis the season for BINDINGS !!! Three done on top and two waiting to get done on the bottom. That's my friend Carol's wonderful candy quilt on top. I'll see her tomorrow and get a full view picture. It's so sweet and yummy looking too. There is another stack waiting in my sewing room, so any thought of quilting will have to wait for a while.

Today I went and bought a bag of crushed walnut shells to have on hand for some pincushions I want to get done. Here is what I found when I opened up my trunk .......opppppps!! I knew that was a bad idea when I put it in there!

Last week was a fun one. An evening spent with a friendship group (way too much laughing and carrying on), and Saturday sewing with the Quilts of Valor group. Pat who has organized this group has done such an amazing job, and each and everyone of us has gotten way more out of being part of this group than she could ever imagine.

Chookyblue has made my blogging so much easier. Don't know how I missed the memo about having comments sent to email, but it is so much faster to email people this way! Now she has a trick about emailing your pictures to yourself to make it easier to post....hmmmmm!! I don't know, this one might be over my head but I'll give it a whirl. Thanks Donna!!!!! And our bloggy friend Miss Sharon has been a bit under the weather. Hope you are up and about soon Sharon. I know those kiddos are missing you like crazy!
Happy week everyone!

Just Like Riding A Bike!!!

I did remember how to do some piecing...thank goodness. It's not much, but at least it's forward movement. I was behind two months on my basket blocks so now I am at least caught up with them, and now on to two months of the Fat Quarter Shop BOM's. Both these programs are so wonderful with great patterns and extremely economical...so yipee for BOM's!!!

Tuesday night we were lucky enough to have tickets to the Angel/Yankee playoff game...not so lucky was the result of the game, a loss of 10 to 1......wooooooooooozers, that was a BIG downer. We went through 3 sets of thunder sticks slapping them so hard. Mr. Polka Dot, our girl, my sister in law and nephew are going tonight....GO ANGELS!!!!!!!!!!!! We only need 3 wins in a row and then we move on. No snickering please.....this is my optimistic fan talk going on!

GAME UPDATE...............WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

Little Polka Dot and his mommy and daddy are waiting for escrow to close on a house they are buying. Like so many others this process is proving to be frustrating. We are hopeful for a close tomorrow, since they have a renter moving in to the house they have now on Sunday. Nothing like a bit of pressure for them, but we are so happy to have time to be around to help them out and so exctied for them. Their new place is so perfect with some amazing views, and the bonus, more room for baby rick rack due in January!!!

My October quilt goals are slowly slipping away from me, but I guess there is always next month......have I told you I LOVE RETIREMENT!!!! Happy crafting everyone.

The Quilt Police Are Coming!!

That's the word on the street.....no quilting happening, my quilting card is going to be revoked!! YIKES, this could be trouble. Let's start with the excuses.....not home much, playing tons with little Polka Dot, and that mojo thing. My posts lately have all had the same tone...but I really want to be productive, I just need more hours in the day!

I have managed to get bindings done for some peeps and got this quilt back from the quilting sisters and will get the binding on it way in time for an Xmas gift. Beautiful quilting!

Yesterday I met my friend Lani for one of our annual quilt shopping/lunching expeditions. Wow, the quilt shops were a big let down. Not even a pattern to entice us. Now that's kind of scary, but Lani brought three of her beauties to share, so we did another car quilt show! I always enjoy seeing what she is making because I know I am going to want to make them too, and she didn't disappoint!! I was very lucky to receive some wonderful Fall goodies from her. She definitely knows what I like! We had a good laugh, because I had given her a turkey wall hanging out of the same line as the wonderful bag she made me....Gobble, Gobble by Moda.....great minds we decided! The pumpkin sign is just so perfect as well as the Moda Home coasters! Such a fun day but way too short. We are planning a quilt weekend get together, or may be even a quilt retreat.....hmmmmm, some planning needs to begin.

"Mom could you make me this quilt?" Words a quilter/mother loves to here. I have been hunting down this fabric after my girl saw it in a magazine and now have all the pieces...oh yeah, there's that time thing. But once again I am determined. Ok, so I have some monthly challenges I still want to try to meet, but my girl comes first!!!

I haven't visited many blogs lately and that just has to change. This time of year it is so wonderful to see all the goodies being made, so a definite priority has to be some much needed blogging time. I leave you with a picture of a one of my new favorite finds...these stinkin cute battery operated scented luminaries from Febreze. LOVE THEM, and there's a cute snowman coming out for Xmas!!

By the way, if the quilting police are out and about asking about me.....you haven't seen or heard from me! PS....thanks for the nice birthday wishes!

Now Where Was I ?.....

A little bloggy break, possibly due to bloggy writer block, or possibly due to lots of other things going on.....hmmm, me thinks all of the above! Good to be back and now let's see what I can bore you with :-)!!

Arches National Park in Utah was the last leg of our vacation adventure. The drive in was spectacular..... and inside the park..wowie!

We hadn't planned on visiting Arches, but since we had those snow days in Colorado and left a day early, it was the perfect place to visit on the way home. Our last night we spent in St. George, Utah.....I LOVE THAT CITY. Mr. Polka Dot found the most beautiful golf course to play a round on, and I found a wonderful quilt shop right across the way from the hotel, Scrap Apple.....life is good!

Miss Sharon keeps track of me even when I'm not blogging, and coming home from vacation I had this wonderful box of Fall goodies waiting .....ahhhhhhhh, can't you just smell the wonderful smells! The pumpkin in front is wax with a flicker tea light on the top....love him. I was whining about owning one of her Halloween purses---yipeee, whining does pay off. Thanks Sharon!!!
No quilty stuff happening sad to say, but I did get these two sweet things back from the quilters. My plan for this week is to get current on my BOM'S and get the bindings on these guys. Sadly I didn't finish the Schnibbles challenge, but I did get some of the blocks made on vacation. Confession time, I didn't meet any of the challenges that I gave myself for the month. Being gone for 14 days just did me in!!! I know, excuses, excuses!!! October is almost half over and setting a goal for this month probably isn't a good idea, but I am really going to try to finish the Schnibble quilt for September and the I Spy quilt for Baby Polka Dot.

Baby Polka Dot....that name is just not going to work any more. His baby brother will be here in January, and he's a big boy now, with all the walking that is going on. So now he is little Polka Dot!!! Peek a boo papa....so sweet that's what he calls grandpa!

We feel so lucky to be able to spend so much time with him and we hope he feels the same . Smoochy smooches to you little one, we love you

And I have to mention baseball playoffs. We are HUGE Angel fans and I am happy to report we have had representatives at both playoff games. Game one, Mr. Polka Dot and nephew John..game two, Mr. Polka Dot with our girl. Going to Boston was out of the question, so there will be some big cheering from the couch going on tomorrow. GO RED!!!

Happy Fall everyone!!

2,5000 Miles Of Fun

We are back from our Colorado vacation and what a great time we had....now back to reality and laundry!!! We saw so many great sights along the way, beautiful blue sky, Fall starting to show it's colors and SNOW!!!!! Here's a sampling of our great trip.

Mesa Verde National Park........such an amazing place to visit and hike around

On our way to Independence Summit.....natures lesson in contrast. We were probably a week too early for the full show, but nonetheless, the colors were spectacular!

Oh don't even think about throwing that thing!!!!! BRRRRRRR it was cold, even these motorcycle riders were trying to get some shelter from the sleet and snow

So this is part one of our adventure. Either me or blogger are having trouble downloading pictures...most likely me. Think I am rusty after being gone for two weeks. Nice to be back home and now off to the blogs!!! Missed you people!!!!!!!!! See you later gators :-)!

OH BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and some quilting!!!

Oh boy, oh boy.....Baby Polk Dot is going to have a little brother!! We are so, so, so, so excited and can hardly wait till January to meet the new little guy. I need to get busy with some new baby quilts!

I have forgotten how wonderful one year olds are. Baby Polka Dot is so much fun and such a little character. He is such great entertainment for grandma and grandpa!! Here's a sweet photo of him and his auntie when she was visiting last week.

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I have had a productive few days. Mr. Polka Dot was off fishing in them there hills, so I really dug in and got some things done. Finished my notions caddy.........

.....worked some more on a top secret Xmas project........then

I almost finished an Xmas quilt for a friend. I just need to add the outer borders and it will be off to be quilted. The colors are way out of my comfort zone, but oh so perfect for my special friend. Then I just had to make this sweet Turkey wall hanging. His button eyes will be added after the quilting....Sandy Gervais strikes again!!!! I just can't resist her patterns !!

This week we have a big adventure ahead of us...a getaway to Colorado, and you know some quilt shops will be included in this grand adventure and golfing for Mr. P. I have some handwork all set to go and another Janet Evanovich novel. Looking forward to some beautiful scenery along the way!!!! Happy week to everyone!

Relaxation!!!

We are back from a great six day stay at the beach, vacationing in the can of course. We were very lucky again to get one of our favorite spots with a great view out the window. (lousy picture...but great view honest!) Despite being a bit humid, the weather was definitely cooler than at home, and we really enjoyed the break from the heat. Our girl spent a couple days with us and we got in some rousing games of Mexican Train...she totally beat us!!

........Got some bindings done


some secret Xmas sewing
done ...........................






Some oh so good reading done . My quilt group talked me in to reading this book and they said once you start reading it you won't be able to put it down. Boy were they right and there are 14 more novels to catch up on!!!



Then I stumbled upon this when I was grocery shopping. How have I missed this one. There's Mary E. right on the cover and choked full of wonderful work spaces of "extraordinary women", one of which is Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree fabrics. Don't know what it is, but I just love to get a peek at others work/sewing spaces and this magazine is AMAZING!!!!!! Right at the beginning the editor writes the most beautiful article about friendship and made me realize how very lucky I am to have such wonderful friends in my life. Friends that put up with me no matter what...and there has been a lot of no matter whats!!!!!

Tons of blogging to catch up on and also time to pick my finishes for the Charming Girls Quilt Club...hmmmmm, I'll have to dive in to the closet of unfinished projects and see what I can come up with. Happy Labor Day everybodyeee!!!!

Charming Girls Quilt Club...Plan For September Finishes

Here's my entries for my September Charming Girls Quilt Club finishes. One easy smeasy and one that will push me a bit, but I really want to get er' done!!!

......this is on it's way to being a cute caddy for all my quilting notions. Not much left to do, but incentive to get it done!


This next one has a bit more work, actually a lot of piecing and pinning.It's an eye spy quilt I started a looooooong time ago and now I want to finish it for baby Polka Dot. Just the inside to finish this month though. My borders are sent out to a friend who is machine embroidering all kinds of cute words on the outer border. Wish me luck!!!!

Some Wonderful Mail!!

Don't you just love getting mail.....I sure do!! First off I got the sweetest Christmas Tea Towel from my swapper friend Rosie. Love the rick rack on there and also a yummy recipe for Apple Cake. As soon as our weather cools down I will be making this great recipe. Rosie must have peeked on my blog to find out that I LOVE Christmas. This swap was courtesy of Kelly of the Charming Girls Tea Towel Swap. Thanks Rosie my swap goodies are so so wonderful.!

Then there was this goodie box from Miss Sharon and this was what was inside for me and this was what was inside for Baby Polka Dot for his first birthday. Oh my word, does he ever love this bear. It plays the song Put Another Candle On The Birthday Cake....those of you old like me will remember that from the Sheriff John days. Baby Polka Dot loves to play that song over and over, and thank you Miss Sharon...I think it is permanently stuck in my head!!!! And you might want to pop over to Miss Sharon's to see why we will really be calling her Miss Sharon! I love the stitchery and those cute star decorations....and a cheese ball mix...I am nuts for cheese balls! Thanks to you Sharon from the bottom of our hearts!

That's all for me...not one speck of quilting. Mr. Polka Dot and I are having way too much fun with this retirement business. I am off for a bit of time to relax in some cooler weather. Wishing you all a very happy week!

Getting A Bit Done.....Sorta!!!

This is a very good lesson in why I shouldn't be hurrying to get a quilt done at midnight. Not that it was the end of world, but the stripe in the block against the same stripe in the border was bugging the heck out of me. So with a bit a reverse sewing problem solved.

Finished the next BOM from Fat Quarter Shop. This block just made me smile. (I am such a simple person :-) !!!) When I looked at the picture on the pattern I thought this was not going to be easy, but with some very sneaky piecing it went together very well....a really fun block to piece.

I actually got my August finish done for the Charming Girls Club including the blanket stitching around all the appliques. I highly recommend this pattern for a quick baby quilt, and it comes with letters to add a name if you like. Very big excitement....the quilting sisters quilted my Scrappy Stars and it is wonderful. My piecing on this quilt is not the best and they managed to save it!! The binding will go on tomorrow and then hopefully it can be my August finish for the finish a project a month challenge with May Brit and Kris.

Joining challenge groups has really kept me on track with getting things done. Speaking of which, while I was poking around I found this really great group to join.... A Year Of Schnibbles.

Sherri and Sinta have come up with this really great idea to pick a Miss Rosie's Schnibble pattern each month and then we all can play along ....as they said we all love charm packs!! They contacted Carrie of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company and she is very excited about the idea. There will be prizes and all kinds of surprises. Come on, join in....you know you want to....and look at the cute button we get to use!!!!

Talk about making me smile......now this put a huge smile on my face. Grandpa and Baby Polka Dot sharing a moment while taking a rest from playing. Such good buddies the two of them.

It's hard to believe it's the last week of August.....so I say let's bring on Fall. Happy week everyone!!!!!!

Charming Girls Club Finish For August

Here's my August finish for the Charming Girls Club. I am looking forward to September and getting some Christmas projects done!