Happiness = A Finish

Life is simple, it's just not easy.

~Author Unknown

Wednesday  proved to be weird and wacky.  In fact, almost everything I attempted in the morning seemed to be whacked.  My blog was still displaying the nasty little photoblog signs that are continually in the way.  I tried to reset things myself in the design area and that made everything weird.  Luckily my blog designer, Kassie, came to the rescue and restored my header.  Hopefully most of you didn't see the debacle I made of it.  Then I was sewing sashing and my sewing machine kept stopping.  Weird!  After some detective work I discovered that the poor thing's bobbin case needed a good cleaning.  Did that and then it ran like a dream.  The weather changed cool again - wacky!  We didn't get above 53 degrees until well after noon.  I can do with a little less weird and wacky.  Let's hope that Thursday will be tranquil and mundane - lol!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Pecans

Today is National Pecan Day.  The history of pecans can be traced back to the 16th century. The only major tree nut that grows naturally in North America, the pecan is considered one of the most valuable North American nut species. The name "pecan" is a Native American word of Algonquin origin that was used to describe "all nuts requiring a stone to crack.”  Because wild pecans were readily available, many Native American tribes in the U.S. and Mexico used the wild pecan as a major food source during autumn. It is speculated that pecans were used to produce a fermented intoxicating drink called "Powcohicora" (where the word "hickory" comes from). It also is said that Native Americans first cultivated the pecan tree.

During the 1700’s and the early 1800’s, the pecan became an item of commerce for the American colonists and the pecan industry was born. (In San Antonio, the wild pecan harvest was more valuable than popular row crops like cotton!)

So go enjoy you pecans and be a little bit nutty!

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HAPPY SQUISHY

Yesterday I received a wonderful, squishy envelope in the mail.

I opened it to find this package just for me.  Couldn't wait to open it......

And look what was inside!  Isn't this just the cutest hot pad you have ever seen?  Sandy Hobbs was my secret swap partner in the Hot Pad Swap hosted by Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin'.  Sandy included a little note that said she "really don't know how to do hand quilting" but it certainly looks good to me.  She also included a postcard showing where she lives in Australia.  This little creation is much to adorable to have some old hot pot sitting on it.  I now have it decorating a small table in my living room.  I absolutely love it!  Thank you so much, Sandy!  This made me feel happy after a rather disastrous morning.

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TOP FINISHED

Yesterday I didn't do any quilting on the blue and brown quilt. I just couldn't take the struggle and my neck muscles were already in major cramp mode.  So, instead, I worked on my Layer Cake quilt top and even managed to complete it!

Here it is!  This is a picture of it hanging up in my entry way.  At the time I wasn't sure if the sun would come out for me to take a picture in natural light.  This picture is a little dark but you can get the general idea of what it looks like.  Then the sun came out and I rushed outside......

well, it wasn't full sun but at least you can see the colors a little bit better.  Do you see the little rock at the very top?  It was breezy and every time I would get it all nice and flat, turn around to get up on the step stool with the camera in hand, I'd turn around and the top would be flipped over.......grrrr......  Situation remedied with a little rock.  After I get the backing pieced together, this will be on its way to the long arm quilter.  Hooray!!!

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A LITTLE HUMOR

I just had to share this little bit of humor I read in the April edition of the Reader's Digest.

Taxing Taxes

To publicize colon cancer screenings, an Idaho doctor suggested that a reminder be included in every tax notice. The idea was nixed. "Recommending a colonoscopy in the same envelope as the tax notice may be considered ironic," said the county treasure.  Source: AP

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to make two blocks for the 6 Inch Block Swaps Australia. 

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GIVEAWAYS

Sunshower Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win 10 die-cut Butterflies and Dragonflies.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 17.

Cross Stitch and Cupcakes is having a blogoversary giveaway.  To celebrate her first anniversary in blogland she is giving away all sorts of fantastic goodies for those of us interested in cross stitch and stitchery.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 19.

U Create is having a Fashionable Fabrics giveaway.  You could win a $50 gift certificate.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 19.

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FINAL THOUGHT

As you can tell, it doesn't take much to make me happy.  A smiling face, a cute little stitchery, or a well working blog.  Yesterday when my blog was plagued by those little floating boxes, I sort of felt violated.  Someone had messed with something that was mine.  Something that I put my feelings in and where I express my thoughts.  My blog is part of me.  That sounds strange doesn't it.  But then I guess it's no different than an artist putting life to a painting or an author giving life to the subjects in a book.  This is part of my life.  A part I enjoy.  Now that it is back to normal and looking like me again, I am happy. 

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.
~John Barrymore


Thank goodness it's Thursday, a brand new day to create!

Only One Completion

There aren't enough days in the weekend.

 ~Rod Schmidt

Why does it seem that weekends are made for running.  Well, at least Saturday was.  We ran errands all over town.  Farmer's Market, Pet Smart, Target, Vons, and the list goes on.  I feel so lucky to be home during the week but I can't run these errands since I no longer drive.  So my poor DH has to usually spend one full day of his two days off on the run.  Last weekend was the rare exception with relaxation but then we had to drive 4 hours from home to be able to do that.  Sounds a little ridiculous, doesn't it.  Maybe next weekend will be better.  On average we have a quieter weekend every other week.  How was your weekend?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Did You Eat Your Spinach

Did you know we missed Spinach Festival Day on Saturday?  In 1936 the Winter Garden Chamber of Commerce organized its first Spinach Festival. Bushels of spinach surrounded the platform, and people dressed as Popeye and other Popeye cartoon characters danced with joy as the band played "La Paloma." Texas Governor James V. Allred proudly proclaimed Crystal City as "The Spinach Capital of the World" that same year. The first festival was a great success and the tradition of the annual event held until 1941 when World War II ended all festivals. In 1982, forty-one years later, the Spinach Festival was revived. On March 6, 1987 Crystal City Festival Association President Mike Delgado presented a letter from President Ronald Reagan to the residents of Crystal City recognizing it as the nation's leading producer and shipper of spinach in the world.

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HOT PAD

Friday I finished the hot pad for the swap I'm involved in.  Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin' is the gracious hostess for the Let's Exchange fun.  The next exchange sign up will be April 1st.

I used the fabric line Daydreams by Deb Strain for moda.  I have had this fabric for a couple of years and I think it worked up nicely.  Looking at it now I would have done the braid a little differently but I still like the effect it created.  And here is what the back looks like.....

I went with a simple stitch in the ditch for the quilting.  I thought too much quilting would lessen the protection qualities.  I did use Insul-Bright for the batting. This will be going out to my secret partner this week.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I have several swap and bee blocks to get made.  My goal for today will be to complete two of the swap blocks.

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GIVEAWAYS

Cat Patches has started up Fun Fact Friday again!  You could win a book, a pattern, a fat quarter and a nifty tool.  Barbara will announce the winner on April 1st.

Pink Please is having a giveaway.  You could win a jelly roll of Just Wing It by moda.  This giveaway ends March 31st at midnight.

Quilt Times is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Schnibbles times two.  This giveaway ends midnight GMT on Thursday 31 March.

The Q and the U is having her third of 3 giveaways to celebrate her year of blogging.  The actual giveaway is a mystery but we do know that it is equal to a yard of fabric.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 30, at 7:00 pm AST.

Lucky Duck Dreams is having a stash giveaway.  Colleen is giving away three cuts of pretty green fabrics from her stash.  She will draw the winner on Wednesday, March 30th.

Quilting Ranny is having a charm pack giveaway.  You could win Sandy Gervais 'Oopsie Daisy,' charm pack pattern, all of the fabric to make the pattern and the accent buttons too.  This giveaway ends April 1st at noon PST.

I'm having a celebration giveaway on April 4th.  It will be my 200th post so be prepared for something good!

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FINAL THOUGHT

This week is going to be one of those weeks.  Today my cleaning lady comes.  Good because I will have a dust free, clean house.  Bad because it puts a crimp in my sewing time.  I don't feel I should be in her way if I want the sewing room vacuumed and dusted.  In the evening I get my hair cut making for a late dinner.  Tuesday looks good.  Wednesday starts off with early doctor's appointment for both DH and myself.  Nothing more than routine follow-up appointments but they still take time.  That afternoon I will be having a visit from our case worker for ALS.  She has only been in this position for a few months and feels it is necessary to visit everyone in the support group (and I suppose it is).  I'm sure this will be a good thing for both of us.  After dinner we will be doing our bi-weekly grocery shopping.  Wow!  I'm already tired and it's still early on Monday - lol!  I think the rest of the week will be fairly tame - or at least I hope it is.  What is your week looking like?

I cannot count my day complete

'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Monday is a great day, I hope yours is fantastic!!

Flowers, Bunnies, & Blocks

Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.
~Robert Benchley

I like learning something new.  But I also like taking the easy road working on something familiar but not tedious.  I have several projects waiting in the wings and just can't seem to finish any of the ones waiting for me on the bed in the spare room (my storage unit).  I like working on the BOM projects and the swaps.  I am enjoying working on my wool project too.  I just can't seem to get enough hours to do them all when I want to.  Every day I look at the pile of UFO's and think "Today will be the day that I will work on at least on of those."  And into my sewing room I go, starting a new block or working on the swap that I just didn't have time to finish the day before.  My "Daily Goal" has definitely helped me accomplish things.  I think that if I were to work on just quilting then I wouldn't have anything to share with you and I really like sharing.  Do any of you other bloggers out there have this same dilemma?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Grapefruit

February is National Grapefruit Month.  Another obscure day of celebration that you probably didn't know about.  Citrus x paradisi, the forbidden fruit, shaddock, pamplemousse...those are the terms refer to the common grapefruit now sold in most grocery stores year round.  National Grapefruit Month was probably established to promote consuming the fruit.  Did you know........  1) Shaddock is an old name for grapefruit. Some sources say grapefruit originated in a natural cross-pollination between two other citrus, on the island of Barbados.... 2) The pomelo or Chinese grapefruit is one of the parents of modern grapefruit. Pomelo is much larger than grapefruit, with a thick rind, but is said to be sweeter than grapefruit.... 3) The United States produced 1,580,000 tonnes, (that's about 1,738,000 tons,) of grapefruit in 2007. The U.S. exported more grapefruit than any other country in 2004, to the tune of $227 million.  In that same year, Japan spent about that much money importing grapefruit.... 4) Red grapefruit is the state fruit of Texas.... 5) Substances in grapefruit juice can affect how certain medications work. 

Okay.  Now I'm hungry for grapefruit and there isn't a single one in the house - lol!

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IF IT'S WEDNESDAY......

It must be One Flower Wednesday.  I am sharing One hexie flower made for me and One hexie flower I made myself - a double One Flower Day!

Over the weekend I received a hexie flower in the mail from my partner in the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.

This beautiful hexie flower was made for me by Bell (or Isabella).  My request was for either red or blue with a white center and this certainly fits the bill.  The red is so much brighter in person.  Bell also included a cute card with teddy bears.  Thanks for the wonderful hexie, Bell!

Recently I was able to make another hexie for myself. 

I really like how the little pinwheels worked on the petals for this flower.  And the bright colors are a perfect addition for my GFG Quilt.

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ANOTHER BLOCK RECEIVED

Over the weekend I received a block from my swap partner in the Christmas Quilting Block Swap Australia.

This beautiful block was made for me by Maria.  It has highlights of gold both in the background fabric in the stars and in the holly leaves.  Maria also included a little packet of decorative buttons (that I will definitely use) and a bright and cheery card full of tropical birds.  Thank you for the fantastic block, Maria!

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QUILTED TABLE APPLIQUE

Yesterday my goal was to work on my blocks for the Quilted Table Swap that started recently.  I signed up to make 6 blocks - 3 of the bunny applique and 3 of the carrot applique.  This is a no sew swap.  We are to only fuse the pieces allowing each recipient to do the finishing applique to their liking.  I was able to cut out all of the fusible web and iron it on the corresponding fabric.  But I was only able to finish up two of the blocks.

This is the trio of carrots.  The pattern for the tops is rather odd shaped I think.

This is the first bunny block that I fused together.  I think he turned out rather cute in his pink floral body.  I will be making two more of each of the blocks.  All of the carrot blocks are made with the same fabric but the I have made the bunnies each in a different fabric.

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HOT PAD EXCHANGE

Let's Exchange

Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin' is hosting another fun exchange.  This time we will be swapping Hot Pads.  These are sort of like over sized mug rugs and measure 16" X 10".  There are to be NO Tuck Ins in this swap.  It is another secret swap.  Doesn't this sound like fun?  If you would like to join, just click on the link under the picture above.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I am going to fuse the other four blocks for the swap and then maybe start quilting the mini quilt I made a few months ago.

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GIVEAWAYS

A Quilting Life is having One More Giveaway!  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Dan Bennett's Wild Garden Collection by Westminster Fabrics from Canton Village Quilt Works.  This giveaway ends Thursday evening.

Use The Loot is celebrating finishing of her mini project with a giveaway.  Evelyn is giving away a charm pack of 30-ish prints.  She will pick a winner on Thursday!

One More Quilt is having her Odds & Ends Giveaway #4.  This time Frances is giving away a little over 1 yard of silky Christmas design fabric.  Her DH will pull a name out of the hat on February 17th at 10:00 am.

Less than a week to enter my THINK SPRING GIVEAWAY!

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FINAL THOUGHT

The clouds are moving.  There's a promise of rain in the air.  We are supposed to cool down again with possible snow preventing travel of the major passes to the south.  Another storm will be following on its heels for the weekend.  It never seems to fail that our last big winter storm of the season falls on the President's weekend.  I will miss winter.  It never lasts long here.  Spring will be arriving with all intensity next week soon to followed by the hot weather of summer.  For the next couple of days I will enjoy the pitter-patter of rain, the clouds scurrying by overhead and the cooler temperatures.  How much longer is winter supposed to last in your region?

The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination.
~Terri Guillemets
Wonderful Wednesday is welcoming!