A Squishy & A Mini

There are three kinds of death in this world. There's heart death, there's brain death, and there's being off the network.
~Guy Almes

Yesterday morning I was having trouble with our main computer.  I could not find the top of my blog page where you sign in (the blogger navigation bar).  I broke out in a sweat.  How can I read my blogs?  How can I write my blog for the day?  What about my Swap and Bee?  I restarted the computer.  That didn't help.  I reset it back to an earlier day.  And then I remembered the lap top.  Oh, thank goodness!  The sign in bar was there and so my day could begin.  My stomach was turning into knots - I was almost stick to my stomach.  Isn't that strange?  All because I couldn't get into my blog?  I just goes to show how much I enjoy working on my blog and how lost I would feel if I could no longer communicate with all of my blogger friends. I'm so glad you are all still here!!
P.S. Resetting the computer to an earlier day fixed the main computer - whew!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Fireworks

I am sure many of you will celebrating the 4th of July by attending your local fireworks show.  Or, maybe, you will be putting on your own display.  While you wait for the cover of darkness to enjoy the festive display, perhaps you would like to be able to share a few facts about fireworks with friends and family:
* The first fireworks were probably made in China, around 2,000 years ago. Chinese crackers, as they are known, are still used in China today to celebrate weddings, births and religious festivals - and to scare away evil spirits!
* The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486.
* The word for firework in Japanese, 'hanabi', means 'fire-flower'.
* The first fireworks recorded in America were set off by an Englishman, Captain John Smith, famous in the story of Pocahontas.
* Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch.
* The world's largest single firework was set off at a festival in Japan in 1988. The shell weighed over half a tonne and the burst was over a kilometre across.
* Disney World has more than 1,000 fireworks shows every year.
* Workers who make firecrackers have to be sure to wear an ensemble that is entirely cotton, lest static electricity generated by their clothing set off the fireworks.
* At first, the only colours that could be produced by fireworks was orange and white. However some Italian scientists managed to create more colours by adding different types of salt into it.

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SQUISHY FROM ILLINOIS

Yesterday, my mailman brought me a squishy envelope.  In this envelope was......

This wonderful block from Jorie.  I love the bold red with the subtle blue and the clean crisp white.  But wait!  Not only did Jorie make this wonderful block above but she also made.......

This amazing block!  I have not tackled circles yet and I think Jorie did a great job on this block.  I love both the design and the fabrics.  Thank you so very much, Jorie, for two such beautiful blocks for the June Block Swap Adventure!!

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MY NEW MINI

Yesterday I finished up my monthly mini quilt to hang in my entry for the month of July.......

At the top you will find this little dragonfly. 

A little further down is this little butterfly just fluttering around.

And if you look carefully, you might just see this little caterpillar climbing up a flower stock.

And here is the entire mini scene.  This little quilt is called June Bugs and is from The Wooden Bear Quilt Designs.   I know that this isn't their July pattern but who else is going to know that except you and me.  I think it will work just fine for July.  Do you like my straight line quilting?

And for a final look, here it is on it's stand in my entryway.  I think this is my favorite of all the mini monthly quilts I have made :)

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on some NICU baby quilts for my quilt guild.

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GIVEAWAYS

Hanging On By A Needle And Thread is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a Beam n Read.  Susan will draw a winner on Saturday, July 2.

Blueberry Patch is having a giveaway.  You could win a half meter each of Strawberry Fields in Robin's Egg and Henna Gardens in leaf both from Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet 2.  A winner will be drawn on Tuesday, July 5.

Bejeweled Quilts By Barb is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beam n Read.  Barb will draw a winner on Saturday, July 2.

Joy Of Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win Slice Fabrique Cordless Digital Design Cutter.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 22.

Butternut Street is having a giveaway.  You could win a Penny Lane 1/2 yard bundle; 2 1/2 yards total.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 5.

Just a few more days for you to enter MY VACATION GIVEAWAY.  You could win a wonderful table runner kit from Connecting Threads and a darling pair of embroidery scissors.
 
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FINAL THOUGHT

We will be staying home for the long 4th of July weekend.  Away from the crowds and the noise and off the busy highways and freeways.  It promises to be blistering hot with a predicted high of 108 F. on Monday.  We will be staying indoors under the A/C and whirling ceiling fans.  We will also be staying home to protect our home from any errant flying fireworks - you know, the kind that are illegal here.  We have already had a least 3 aerial fireworks shot off in the wee hours of the morning (2:00 am and 4:00 am).  As we lay in bed on Monday night listening to a neighborhood that sounds like a war zone, the dogs will be sleeping, oblivious to the noise and flashing lights.  And right beside them will be my DH, snoring away the hours.  Me?  I will be wide awake waiting for that unseen danger that might land on our roof or on one of our neighbors.  Or maybe the dry grass across the street will go up in flames.  Finally about 1 or 2 o'clock I may finally get to sleep.  Can you tell I'm a little paranoid about the fireworks around here?  How will you be celebrating the 4th?
 
Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.
~Louis D. Brandeis