Design Wall and Musings

This is what is on my Design Wall this morning.  They are blocks from the Aunt Reen Jelly Roll Sew Along.  What you see is not the layout Doreen planed but one I kind of stumbled on.












This is the weave pattern.  It is much more organized that what I currently have on the wall.  I still don’t know how I will sew her together but since I still have several blocks to complete, I have a little time to decide.







These are the last of the blocks parts that still need to be sewn.  The only sewing I did over the four day weekend was on these blocks and it again proved that I get tired of sewing the same thing over and over.  But today I will finish these so I can have the whole set on the wall and then I will move to something else, for a while.






I did take a break from seam stitching to put this month’s fish together.  He is a little more subdued than some of the others but I see him as a camouflage fish.












And I also put Owl #5 together.  It is a little hard to see his outline on the background fabric but he will show up better when he is stitched down later.











Later today I hope to get to the last teapot BOM and perhaps to be able to cut out the ornaments for the Deck-ade The Halls Quilt Along.


Our son and daughter-in-law have been on a vacation in Teaton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.


We have followed them through pictures and loved seeing the three of them having so much fun seeing a whole new place. 








 And it has been nostalgic, too.  When our son was 6 months old, the same age as his daughter, we went on a two month camping trip from  IL to OR/WA/CA.  And we had a 6 year old, a 2 1/2 year old, and this son with his twin sister.  We had a great time then, just as they are having a great time now.  It is such fun to see our children enjoying each other and the world around them.  And I love the digital age that allows them to share with many pictures.  Thanks, guys!

Maryland Post #4

Have you ever felt like your children were trying to kill you? Well, yesterday was one of those days. Now, mind you, it was a wonderful day. We were up early and off to Western Maryland to ride a steam engine train. We had a beautiful ride up and down the mountains and then we arrived here.

Our son had already purchased tickets so all we needed to do was to be there in time to board the train. As we waited I had to take pictures of the station, which looks a lot like it did a hundred years ago.

And while waiting, here came the train.

And it got bigger.

Before long we were boarded and on our way further up the mountain.

It was an hour’s ride with beautiful scenery all along the way.

And then we were finally there.

Now, here comes the “killing” part, what do I mean by there? Well, after watching the train go around on the turntable for the return trip, we climbed these stairs



and walked up a very steep hill into the town. If I tell you that I had to stop once on the stairs and again on the walk/climb, you will understand that I thought I was dying, right there. But, I made it to the top and was treated to an ice cream cone by my children. [killing me with sugar if the climb didn’t do it] .

The train ride home was even funnier. DH and DS spent most of the ride in between the cars, hanging out the dutch door, getting soot blown in their eyes from the coal being shoveled into the steam engine. And, they had a wonderful time.

There were people who rode the train up with us, taking their bikes along, and then biked down on the bike/walking trail. It is 15 miles and we did see some people biking up but way more biking down.

And then, after only 30 minutes going downhill with the brakes screeching all the way, we were back in the station.

If I tell you that I didn’t take any pictures of going to the LL Bean outlet store or the sandwich shop for dinner, you will know that I was too tired to lift the camera or push the shutter button. LOL

This morning, while the kids were at church and we were loading the car, I stripped the bed and put the new quilt on the guest bed.

I was very pleased with how it looks, especially with the painting they are planning to hang in there.

When I wrote this we were in Raleigh, waiting for DS#2 to arrive. He had just called to say he was delayed in Charlotte, weather related, and we were killing time at Books A Million: free WiFi and all the books and magazines you can read. Whoopee.

After he got there we had dinner at Red Rooster, with lots of catching up, and then we parted so we could leave Raleigh by 8pm and head home to AL. I was ready for home, puppies, and my own bed.

We arrived home at 6am this morning and laid down for a "power nap." But when I woke up at 10 I was immediately off to get Abby from the vet and get our little family back together again. Had a great time but it is good to be home!!