Sunday, January 27, 2013

Winter Days

The snow has arrived in Ohio, along with the cold.  Fortunately we still have some activities to help the winter days go faster.  When my grandkids, Toria, 11, Nick, 11, and Zoe, 8, were here the past couple of weekends, we played Apples to Apples & Scrabble, visited Flicka and went sled riding.

Flicka the cat belongs to Mrs Dilly-Dally and is often featured on her quilting blog as the sewing room supervisor or resident "Wing-Nut."  Zoe, who is eight, is already well acquainted with Flicka and adores her, but this was Nick's first visit to the site.  I wasn't sure he would be interested in a sewing room cat; however, I was wrong.  It was so funny, because as Nick read all the posts and looked at the pictures, he was totally laughing out loud!  If you want to meet Flicka, click on this link and visit her at Dilly-Dally Days from Cordova, Alaska.

Zoe and Toria playing Scrabble 

Nick and Zoe ready to go sledriding

Let me think - what was that word?

Toria looks happy - maybe she is winning, or she is happy because her mom bought her a new Kent State hoodie sweatshirt.

Nick and Zoe were glad to be outside!

Hope you are enjoying the winter days sewing or playing.  Every season does have its own beauty.

BY WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS
All the complicated details
of the attiring and
the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among
the long branches.
Thus having prepared their buds
against a sure winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.






Sunday, January 13, 2013

Easy Street - Two Blocks on the Wall

I have been amazed by the postings on Quiltville showing many of the Easy Street quilts already pieced together.  There are some awesome quilters out there!  As for me, I am plugging along and finally have all my pieces made.  Now, I can start sewing blocks.  I know this will take me some time too, but am very happy so far with the colors and the scrappy look.  I wish my wall was big enough to put the entire quilt up before I sew anything together.  That way I could move colors around.  Better not get ahead of myself.  Here are the A and B blocks so far . . . 



I

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Cuppa Coffee Wall Hanging

This Christmas my sister-in-law Michelle took time from her busy schedule to design and quilt a lovely coffee cup wall hanging just for me - smile, smile.  We have shared so much laughter and many family stories over a cuppa coffee; the wall hanging reminds me of our friendship.  It's so lovely and fits perfectly in my kitchen.  See what you think . . . 

Michelle also gave me the fancy rod for hanging 




The quilting looks like the cream swirling in the coffee right before it is stirred.  

Thank you so much, Michelle!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year 2013

Blog - Web Log - The official dictionary definition is "a Web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites."

The definition above does not include how much keeping a blog has enriched my life bringing new experiences and friends.  My New Years resolution is to keep blogging in the up-coming year.  I want to thank my audience for visiting my blog and taking an interest in my ramblings and quilting adventures.  Happy New Year!   

 Ann Landers' Perpetual New Years Resolution: 

 Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time.

Call up a forgotten friend.  Drop an old grudge, and replace it with
some pleasant memories.  Share a funny story with someone whose sprits 
are dragging.  A good laugh can be very good medicine.

Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep.  Pay a debt.  Give 
a soft answer.  Free yourself of envy and malice.  Encourage some youth to 
do this or her best.  Share your experience, and offer support. Young people
need role models.

Make a genuine effort to stay in closer touch with family and good friends.  
Resolve to stop magnifying small problems and shooting from the lip.  Words 
that you have to eat can be hard to digest.

Find the time to be kind and thoughtful.  All of us have the same allotment:
24 hours a day. Give a compliment.  It might give someone a badly needed
lift.

Thing things though.  Forgive an injustice. Listen more. Be kind.

Apologize when you realize you are wrong. An apology never diminishes a 
person.  It elevates him. Don't blow your own horn.  If you've done 
something praiseworthy, someone will notice eventually.

Try to understand a point of view that is different from your own.  Few 
things are 100 percent one way or another.  Examine the demands you make 
on others.

Lighten up. When you feel like blowing your top, ask yourself, "Will it 
matter in a week from today?".  Laugh the loudest when the joke is on you.

The sure way to have a friend is to be one. We are all connected by our
humanity, and we need each other.  Avoid malcontents and pessimists. They
drag you down and contribute nothing.

Don't discourage a beginner from trying something risky.  Nothing ventured 
means nothing gained.  Be optimistic.  The can-do spirit is the fuel that 
makes things go.

Read something uplifting.  Deep-six the trash.  You won't eat garbage - why 
put it in your head? Don't abandon your old-fashioned principles.  They 
never go out of style.  When courage is needed, ask yourself, "If not me, 
who? If not now, when?"

Walk tall, and smile more.  You'll look 10 years younger. Don't be afraid to  
say, "I love you". Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.