HOT HOT HOT

The heat wave has made it too hot to go outside.

My High Scope home visit was cancelled on Tuesday, so I started sewing.

This is a baby quilt for a friend. She is expecting a little girl in September. I also made a dolly version of this for her 4 year old daughter. The remaining pieces went into a doll quilt for the baby - for when she is old enough to play with dollies. I made them all on Tuesday - when you're hot..........you're hot!!!

I prefer to made baby quilts that are easy - easy to make, easy to care for and one that can withstand the love I hope it gets and gives.

Welcome to Baby Andrew

Our latest grandson, Andrew, was born on Friday, July 21 weighing in at a whopping nine and a half pounds!!!!!!!

All are doing well - big brother and big sister and mom and dad. Big Brother, Alexander looks like he will take care of that little one. Doesn't big sisiter, Allison, look happy!!!!!

We haven't seen him in person yet.
In the latest email from Ashley she referred to him as "Mr Fat 'n Happy"

Second Japanese House block

I got my second house from the Japanese Block Exchange. This one was made by Narita Keiko. It goes well with house number 1...........

It is hard to wait each month for the next block......I am excited to see each one. And the blocks for my friends too.

This is a very special exchange.

My Poor Garden

The deer have really done a job on my poor garden. Despite all the sprays guaranteed to keep the animals away, the fencing, flags, wind chimes, etc---- my green beans were topped, ALL the tomatoes were topped - even into the center of the garden, and even carrot tops were eaten. The piles of deer poop around the area have been quite a job to shovel away!!!!!!

It is very defeating - I look out my kitchen window and don't even want to go out to see the latest damage.

We did, however, each get 8 spoonfulls of melt in your mouth peas last Sunday - and then I pulled the vines out. Last evening we had 12 beans each for dinner. I have picked 9 little cherry tomatoes to have with lunch next week - and there will be a few more. The yellow pear tomato plants that I was so delighted to find after many years may give us a few little ones!!!!!

I have put some fencing over the area - making picking a real challenge to me!!!! I am looking into 6 foot fencing for next year - but realize that I have to be able to get into the area, too.....so that poses a problem......

I am soooooo discouraged..........

Fun in June

We just enjoyed a visit from the grands for just over a week. Alexander is 8 and was a great help to his grandpa trimming shrubs around the house. Allison is 5 and had trouble falling asleep because she needed to know how many days until she starts kindergarten!!!!!!


Fathers' Day was a nice dinner with TWO sets of Great Grandparents - these kids are lucky!!!!!! The pictures I took are a real treasure.

We started the week with a Mystery Trip - to Binder Park Zoo and a 5 minute tram ride to Africa to see the wild animals. You can feed biscuits to the giraffe - they have really long tongues that wrap around the food and pull it in. Alexander wasn't feeling well, so we came home after our picnic lunch. He had a fever of 103!!! He wasn't himself for a couple days - taking naps and getting better.

Wednesday I worked at the library and they spent time with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Thomas and then dinner with Grandpa John.

Thursday they came to the library with me for Baby Story time and Science Alive - got to hold a large yellow python; pet a chinchilla, alligator and armadillo; and watch a porcupine move around. This program is always a hit.

Friday was shopping and getting ready for a weekend trip to PA for a family graduation party. However, Allison got sick. Saturday morning she was in no condition to travel, so we did not make the party (which we heard was great). We got our little pool out and the kids enjoyed that and chalk in the driveway. The Thomas greats came for dinner on Sunday.

Monday we went to the big pool at Grand Ledge Country Club - and Alexander went off the diving board - such confidence!!!!! Allison just kicks around in the water and loved to be pulled on the noodle.

Tuesday they went home - with a stop at Cabalas in Dundee - what a field trip for us!!!!!!! There is so much to see.

We all enjoyed the visit and left with big hugs and a promise to see each other in August after the new baby is born.

Japanese Block Exchange

I am very pleased to be part of a Japanese Block Exchange.

There are 8 ladies from the US and 8 from Japan. The ladies in Japan are in a small group with my friend Liz and she is the one who helped get this started.

Each person has selected a theme or certain block for the exchange. I like houses - and married a home builder - so requested houses - japanese style and japanese fabrics. This first house is silk - and some antique kimono fabric. It is WONDERFUL!!!!!! Behind the house is a piece of fabric from Konishi-san, the maker of the house block.



I will keep you posted when I get more houses - another month!!!!!

National Quilt Association

My friend, Cindy, and I have just returned from National Quilt Assoication Quilt Show in Columbus, Ohio.

We left Lansing Tuesday morning and stopped at Quilt Trends - a nice quilt shop in Columbus - lots of bright fabrics - and we each left with a large shopping bag. We stayed at the Hyatt downtown. We had dinner at a bar in the Arena District - great hamburger and fish sandwiches.

Wednesday morning we went to the Nationwide Insurance Company Headquarters - just across the street - to investigate what looked like an atrium. What an atrium!!!! Palm trees and bird of paradise plants, many other types of palms, stream, and ground covers..........it was beautiful!!!!

Wednesday afternoon our class started - with Phil Beaver. We painted our fabric. People had the choice to made sunflowers or poinsettias. I choose the pinky-purple and Cindy did the yellow-green. That evening we went to the preview dinner and party - got to see the show and vendors - mostly vendors!!!!!

Thursday and Friday we were in class most of the day. We cut flower petal templates and then cut into our beautiful hand painted fabrics to make our flowers. It took a long time to cut and design and then place them on our background fabric. We went to view the show after class each day. We now have another unfinished project to finish!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very happy with my pointsettias - will add a pieced border when I get yardage of the fabric you see on the edge - had to order it from vendor - who lives in Colorado!! It may be a little while before I get that.....luckily I have other projects to work on!!!

Lunch was a daily treat. North Market is fantastic!!!!! Food from all corners of the world, fresh flowers and fruits and vegetables........anything you would want to eat - it's there!!!! The best treat is Jeni's Ice Cream - flavors like Blueberry Lavender, Passionfruit Sherbet, Coffee with Cream and Sugar, Bourbon Butter Pecan, Dark Chocolate Gelato, Buttermint, and many more. We had ice cream dessert after every lunch!!!!!!!

We left Friday late afternoon - stopped at another quilt shop - I had to get a new free motion foot for my sewing machine. I got Cindy home about 11 pm and I arrived home in time to tuck John in as he had to play golf early the next morning.

We plan to attend this show next June - it's a great get-away.