Can you stand some color?

Hey! It's Clematine season. That's reason to celebrate. You have to appreciate the small things, right?

I have been wanting some red fabric for window toppers for a while. I found a pretty good deal at JoAnn's a few weeks ago and as soon as I'm done with this entry I will be heading up to measure out the pieces. These things don't take long to make-straight sewing-no sweat. The trick for me is to measure out all the hems and mark them well. The all you have to do is flat finish the seams and you good. I really need some red in my life.

I stopped at Tuesday Morning last week to see what I could find. Recently we found some Santoku knives at a close-out place while we were in Pennsylvania. The knives were dirt cheep and I have no problem just tossing them when they are no longer sharp. I remembered seeing some similar knives in TM a while back but they were a better brand and a little more expensive. Sure enough, I found a great one by Cuisinart that is nicely balanced and works well. Again, it's not so expensive that I will cry if it stops splitting hairs. The only problem I find with these knives is that they are sooooo sharp that one can easily mince the fingernails. Suffice to say I need to pay more attention to what I'm doing and I need a manicure. Anyway, while I was perusing the place, I noticed a display with Olfa cutters and quickly took the last 2. They are the $24 ones and I got them for 7 bucks and change. Whoooot!

Today I'm going to have dinner with an old friend. We were best pals in Jr. High and High School back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. What's amazing about this is that we live about a mile from each other and haven't seen each other much in 20+ years. How the heck does that happen? I had to get in touch with her about a legal problem that we are trying to resolve regarding my citizenship and immigration. She works in that area. She could not have been nicer and her voice was exactly the same. I can't describe it but she has a kind of throaty smoky voice and I could pick that voice out anywhere. It's very comforting. Anyway, we made a date for girly dinner together and I'm very happy about that. Now I just need to go find something to wear. That essentially means I need to iron something.

I feel better about things today than I did in my last entry. I'm sure it will be a roller coaster for a while but maybe...just maybe, we can breathe again. All this holding my breath is making me feel faint. I believe I'll have a drink with dinner.

Talk to you soon.

Barbarians at the Gate?

Apparently we have a small band of revolutionaries right here in our midst!!

Please click on the picture to see what they're up to and bring your sense of outrage and humor with you. This is the back page of the local....(I hesitate to call it a newspaper since they have a computer so old that it clearly doesn't have spellcheck)...fish wrap journal...bird cage liner....meh, let's call it a paper. Can't really go wrong there. I am DYING to know who this group of parents are, DYING I tell you. This place is always a little better when there's drama afoot. A few years ago a man who I grew up buying my ice cream sundaes from, took on politics-badly. So badly that it nearly finished his business. One that had been around for nearly a hundred years. His position was coming from a good place but misguided by people who were surrounding him and did not have his best intentions in mind. He went after a very, very popular Police Chief and in no time at all his name was Mudd. The more stubborn he stood his ground, the worse things got for him until one day he was really hated. After the Chief's son was killed in Iraq, he was advised, even by his own advisers to make an end to it. I can't look at him to this day without thinking of how often I used to go into his shop for ice cream and the best burgers and how far he fell by his disregard for public feelings and stupid pig headedness. But that's small town life and so when I finished reading the ..ahem...paper in about 4 1/2 minutes I turned it down and noticed this back advert. Hooahhhh! It's time to sharpen our knives and take to the field of discontent.

I rarely speak about politics in this blog because I'm sure that I have many delightful friends in blogland that are of very differing opinions. I like my friends for a lot of reasons-none of which are political. I may admire a person for they're adept position and knowledge but I'm an equal opportunity friend. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors. The biggest thing they have in common is that they are passionate about the things they say, or do, or feel. I long ago learned that politics stinks out loud. No matter which side you pick, at some point you will have to hold your nose and realize that if a politician is talking they are lying. I can't stand one side of this years disgusting brawl and I'm un-convinced that the other side is much better...only different. I guess that's what comes of living to 60 and living with a husband who has had to deal with Washington for a number of years. There is only one way that I will not be disappointed and that is because they all reveal themselves in the end. You just have to hope that before the crap hits the fan in front of you...you can move to a safe place and not a lot lands on you. The past week has made me literally sick to my stomach. The moron in power keeps babbling about "Our Nation" and what we need to be patient about, meanwhile, he's going out in the golden parachute of all time and will never have to answer for what he has done....NEVER. Or perhaps eventually he will answer only to the God that he stands so righteously before all the time. As for me I think there's a special hell reserved for both him and his cronies.

Anyway, that's the news from around here this weekend. Hope I havn't offended anyone who matters a lot to me. I'm cynical and hurting. We played by the rules and we're screwed.I'm allowed to be pissed.

I'll be back with quilty stuff tomorrow-time to move on.

Busted??

I hardly know what to say. I'm not a financially savvy person so my opinion is really based on worry about our future. We're fine now based on the fact that we live very simply and well within our means. No major debt to speak of except taxes and the cost of living. That should give us a lot to be grateful for but right now I'm still in the angry phase. Roger has worked hard his entire life and, like some others, we have played by the rules. Paying our bills and putting something aside for the day when we could enjoy a peaceful, simple, sort of retirement. I can't even imagine having all the money that we've lost in the past weeks. So much for a comfortable retirement?? I hope not. I took this cartoon from a fabulous political cartoon site-Darryl Cagle's site. If we can find anything funny about what's going on, it will appear there. I have had many a chuckle there but it's hard to find the humor in these awful days and the cartoon above about sums it up in a nutshell.

Today I am waiting for a mattress to be delivered for James. They are supposed to be here before noon but that time is slipping away quickly. I hope there's not a problem. In the meantime I'm writing some letters for the Food Pantry and reminding myself that there is always someone who has it way worse.

We are having a small summer weather return with temps in the 70s. Not complaining but the change from 45 to 70 is a bit of a pain. You just never know what to wear and I was really enjoying a return to fall. One thing is for sure. In mid October these days will not last much longer and I am trying to appreciate the warmth while it's here.

Wish I felt more like sewing but I can't seem to get my head around it right now. I've noticed that a number of people who blog regularly are not either. On the positive side of things to think about I have pounds of fabric and winter is coming so I won't be lacking in material to work. Even if my pocketbook is bare, the shelves are pretty full.

I hope things in your world are not too bleak. Talk to you soon.

odds & ends

I've been doing some mundane things that are not even blog worthy. Most of which is involved with the Pantry business which has become the bane of my existance. I'm weary from dealing with stupid people. Hopefully we have managed to straighten out a few problems and things can get back to normal.

The days just seem to get away from me. There are a couple of things I didn't want to show but now that they are in the mail and on their way to friends I can concentrate on the things I am making for the holiday that shall remain nameless until after Halloween. I did manage to make a couple of small pieces that I will use for that holiday instead of giving them away. I don't know why I always do that to myself. I make things that would bring a festive feeling to my own house and then give them away.

These are the scones I made for the girls of the Thursday night quilting group. I made some extra for the guys since it hasn't been very delicious around here for a few weeks what with the no-salt rules and all. Everyone needs a little treat sometimes. I could be way worse than scones and the guys really love these.

Most of my time when not finishing things and cleaning etc. has been taken up with reading and watching dvds. I've also been checking what's new on Amazon and the book above is one I really think will be just right for me. I love history and the history of food....well...what can I say but yum. Food and NYC...well, that's just more goodness overload.

I promise to try to be a better blogger. I've got to spend some time sorting out my pictures and blog fodder. I've got so much stuff loaded into pictures that it's a mess like you wouldn't believe and I can never find anything when I want it. Like the pictures I would like to show you right now but can't find. I will return tomorrow with an meaningful entry and, hopefully, those pics...hmmmm, now where did I file them....

This and That

Sorry I don't have much to show but I'm working on finishing little pieces that are either gifts or things I've already shown. Rather than bore you with the same-old same-old I'll just show the fabric I'm using for one of those items. I found this a while back and it's very pretty. I love me some stripes and these are very nice. I promise to show more when it's done.

Today I am dealing with some Food Pantry issues that need attending to and I made a stop at the Library to visit my best pal Terry. There is so much I could say about each of these events but now I'm unsure who reads my blog and, while I'm brave enough to spout off myself, I don't want to be the cause of any additional angst for any of the people involved. Terry used to be the Director of the Ecumenical Lay Council which is a group of churches in our community who do................something.......escapes me right now.....but I'm sure they do something.....really. The Pantry existed for over 20 years without them and will go on unimpeded should we not have them to do whatever it is they do. Anyway, I enjoy keeping her updated since I enjoy seeing her eyes bug out and hearing her bellowing laughter. The Council is a fascinating study in humanity and an even more interesting study in organized, pompous, religious, gasbags. They appear to be so full of the proverbial crap that they may blow themselves up any time.Sooner would suit me fine. The bottom line is, as I've said before-often, no good deed goes un-punished.

I'd better get back to work. I have much to finish and a great suggestion from Kay for a new read. I looked on Amazon and Gillian Bradshaw has a bunch of books. I love finding a new-to-me author with lots of books. Thanks Kay. I did get a book today while at the library. It's "Vermeer's Hat" The Seventeenth Century and the Dawn of the Global World. I know what your thinking."She must be really fascinating to chat with!" In my best Ned Flanders voice I say...indeedleedo. I also found "America's Hidden History" by Kenneth C. Davis that is chocked full of historical detail about famous events in history and their true story rather than the cleaned-up, dumbed-down school textbook versions. There is a chapter about the Salem Witch trials and Columbus as well as other interesting things that grab the attention of a history geek like me. I remain a fountain of useless knowledge.

Back with more news soon. Try to contain your excitement.

Staycation, Part Deux

Here's a couple of shots of the harbor taken last week by my husband. There's someone enjoying an early autumn sail. Lots of boats have already been taken out for the winter. We always loved this time of year best since all the tourists have gone home and you can actually get to the launches with your boat. Plus the crisp fall weather makes everything look so pretty looking back to the shore. Leaf peeping at its best.

We hightailed it back to the Old Mill for lunch on Wednesday.

Good move. Another really wonderful lunch. The food was delicious and the scenery couldn't be beat. It was the last of the beautiful weather for the week so I'm happy we went back. We had clam chowder(New England)that was very good and different than the day before. Roger thought it was very much like mine and I'll take that compliment and run with it. We had the frito di mare and it was all so crisp and fresh you didn't taste any of the oil it was fried in. Crunchy and sweet scallops and shrimp and a big piece of flounder on a bed of super crisp skinny fries. Dessert was panna cottta for me and cheesecake for my boyfriend. I just read that the place was taken over a couple of years ago by a group of people including Greta Van Sustern of CNN. Greta wasn't there when we were-unless she's the fry cook and didn't feel presentable to meet us. Ah well, perhaps next time.

We awoke today to a real honest to goodness rain storm with wind and torrential rain. Haven't had any of that for a month. It's been very dry. This will bring down a hail of leaves from the still full trees and vines. The temperature has been nice and so cool in the evenings that it makes for good sleeping weather. Here's a last shot of the Macari Vineyards entrance.

I didn't really enjoy any staycation yesterday since I had to do laundry, grocery shopping and with the many tomatoes from out east, I made eggplant caponata. We had it over pasta last night. I didn't put salt into it but a large handful of chopped green olives added a little more flavor. This cooking without salt is a challenge. With fresh ingredients like those it did taste pretty good and I added some grated locatelli on mine.

Since the weather is not good for anything else, I will do some reading and sewing today. Picked up a copy of "The Duchess" the biography of the Duchess of Devonshire and am enjoying that-it's a good history fix but the writing is a little dry so far-can't wait to see the movie. There are some historical writers that somehow put a little more punch into the telling. Still, it's interesting and I'll stick with it.

Hope you have a good day. Talk to you tomorrow.

A Vacation at Home

Here's where we're headed today for part deux of our vacation at home. Yesterday we drove out to this restaurant called The Old Mill in Mattituck for lunch thinking it was safe since it was Tuesday and most restaurants close on Mon. Nope, not so for The Old Mill. As we were informed by an Old Salt who was working away with a bunch of power tools, "Tuesday is cleaning and fixing day". So today we are driving back out that way to go to clean and fixed Old Mill. The menu looks fun since along with the usual seaside eating type foods they have a menu with political dishes named after candidates currently running for office. I will come back with that info later. When we found this place closed we headed off to another very nice place called The Old Barge-not to be confused with "The Barge" right around the corner. Ick to The Barge and yippee skippee to the Old Barge. We had a fabulous meal from soup to nuts as it were. I had a crab & citrus dish to start we both had clam chowder and then I had a Lobster Roll and Roger had scallops on a melange of beans and corn sort of succotash. Everything was very, very, fresh and super delish. Oh, I almost forgot, Roger had a pile of steamers to start. Needless to say I didn't have to cool dinner last night and I'm aiming for another repeat this evening. Since this is our vacation and we are not in Maine spending thousands on accommodations we have decided to splurge on gasoline and food right here. We took a road that lead us past one of the vineyards and so I had to shoot some grapes for you all. They were in the process of the vendange but instead of people taking the grapes off the vines they have giant machines that travel up and down the rows plucking those sweet babies right off their vines.

The pic oft the boat and channel are from outside the Old Mill. We are getting ready to go now so I have to take off before my man James beeps the horn in the limo(har)

The rest of the week looks like really rainy weather so it will be back to stuff around here. Hope to get some sewing done then. Thanks for stopping by. Restaurant review to come.

Quiltathon???Not So Much.

Perhaps I should call it Bindathon. That's really what I accomplished most. I just can't seem to settle down when the family is around. There's always something to take my attention away and as we all know, if there is any shiny object placed in front of me I will immediately look at it and never look back. I just need to put a couple of rings for hanging on the kitty and he can go to the recipient for the little one to come. The Christmas houses need a couple of buttons here and there of a festive nature and maybe a Noel and the year embroidered on it. I finished a PIF doll quilt that will find its way to a new home soon.

This was Cow Harbor weekend. All I can say about that is that it has turned into a political and Real Estate festival. Both of those things make my stomach turn so I avoid the whole thing and Judy couldn't have picked a better idea than a Quiltathon this weekend. Normally we would have been in Maine right about now endangering lobsters statewide but since we are experiencing technical(medical) difficulties the lobsters have been given a reprieve.... for now. Roger is on vacation this week so we will try to enjoy the peace and quiet of our small world instead. Maine will have to wait till next year and Oh, how we'll will miss it till then. I'm hoping to get some sewiing done this week but the place I set up is in the kitchen and when it's time for meals I have to clear off everything and then those shiny objects appear and..... OOoooo look a shiny object......

Lucky Me!

Lookeeee what popped up in my mailbox! A beautiful painting by Melody. I am going to see about having it framed today. I really love her paintings and nasturtiums are a favorite flower of mine. The only unfortunate thing was that our friend Rich was right about the postal service. If you put "Do Not Bend" on an envelope that is the one they will use for soccer practice. The mat was crinkled. I'm happy that's all that happened since the envelope looked like a truck ran over it. Most fortunately, there was no damage to the picture itself. Thank you so much Dear Mel.

If, like so often is the case with me, you are looking for a way to avoid doing the things you need to do, here is the Sarah Palin Baby name generator. Gerrie had this on her blog today. The name they came up with for me is Rink Debate. Nice huh??? Gerrie has more about this on her political blog. You can get there by visiting her art blog here.

I had bloodwork done yesterday for my semi annual checkup and, since it bears repeating, getting old sucks big time. I'm sure the Dr. will have much to say to me this time since I have not paid one bit of attention to anything important this time around. I will tell him that I will try harder for next time and then jump for joy when it's over. My Dr. is wonderful but he is about 30 and looks like 15. It's really hard to connect with a guy who looks like Opie Taylor. Anyway, needless to say I will be in a super grumpy mood Friday a.m. Nothing like getting a good talking to first thing. I really do appreciate what he's trying to do and I mean it when I say I will try. Again, getting old sucks but the alternative is suckier. I saw a woman in the clinic yesterday who was 99. Lord let me live that long if I can be that sharp. She was really funny and right on with her comments. Seeing someone like that should be a good reason for behaving oneself...right???

Well, if I hope to get to Target and other errands today, I better get going. Talk to you soon.

Addendum: I'm answering Gerrie's comment here because I admire her, love her, and didn't want to leave the impression that I don't appreciate the gifts I've been given. I'm very happy with certain aspects of this stage of getting older. It's all the things I shouldn't do that are catching up with me-those things suck. I am more at peace than I have ever been with myself. The simple, and awful truth is that I really hate having to behave myself with regard to food. I love to cook and, Lord help me, I love to eat. If it wouldn't kill me I would eat pasta three times a day and follow it with pastry. I am a slug. If you look up sloth in the dictionary there is a picture of me wrapped around a branch eating Fritos. I hate to exercise and further hate the time it takes out of the day. Getting sweaty and smelly working out is not my thing. By the time you shower and do the hair half the day is nearly gone. I resent that and will avoid it like the plague. As for growing old-I'm really o.k. with that most days and I count my blessing that so far I haven't managed to kill myself with carbs, whipped cream and whining about getting old. I think we should all hope to be as amazing a woman as Gerrie is, at any age.

The Koi and I

Here's a picture of one of the 20 or so vineyards on the far north eastern tip of Long Island. Yesterday we went to visit our friends who own a house just past this vineyard in Mattituck. In the distance you can see the Atlantic. Everytime we drive out to see them I am so happy to be in this last, best, place on the island. Even though it's so over developed and populated more recently by famously obnoxious and very wealthy Hollywood types, it still remains, particularly at this time of year, a sort of wild place. I understand that during the season you can't, and frankly, wouldn't want to be here. Many of these wealthy people come out here and treat the natives very badly. For all of their money they have ot managed to buy manners.

When I was a younger woman you could come out here and not see anything but potato farms and vegetable farms for miles. It's not far to Montauk which is the tip end of the island and all there is between here and Ireland.

There ws a Japanese man who lived out here for many years who had a farm where you could by the most beautiful bonsai and fabulous trees and plants. He sold out and I hope he's growing beautiful things somewhere else still. It was truly a precious piece of land. In recent years it has, unfortunately been discovered. Farmers found that they could not afford to turn down offers for their land and so a number of housing developments sprang forth where miles of green growth used to be. It's no different a story than a thousand others you can hear about land developement. More recently, the members of families who have lived here for centuries have begun to question their mistakes and put more thought into just how much of this place they want to be developed. I'm happy to read about that. The best thing that has been developing for many years now are the vineyards. For years the wine was so so but now they are putting out a pretty good vintage. At least that's what I hear. What I like best about it all is that you can drive for miles and see nothing but grape vines on either side of the road. There's something wonderful about that.

Our friends have a pretty little house down a dead end road that is very private and sweet. In their backyard is a Koi pond that is brimming with fat, hungry, Koi. I could sit there all day and just watch them. They sense your approach and follow you wherever you stand...just waiting for you to throw them some delicious pellets.

They all but stand on there tails half out of the water waiting. I adore the Koi and wish our friends were closer. The pond is covered with a net that is nearly invisible and keeps out the racoons and other critters who would like to make a meal out of the Koi. The pictures are clickable.

While we were there we had a nice lunch and a visit. On the way home we stopped at one of the hundred farm stands and bought the most perfectly round, deep red tomatoes. Perfect for slicing and BLTs. Can you guess what we had for dinner? We also stopped at Briermere Farms for the best peach pie ever! It costs a fortune but it's really great. and bursting with real fresh peaches not that gloppy crap you get in the store.

I hope you are all having a good weekend and I'm thinking good thoughts for those of you who are in the way of that big wind from the gulf. Talk to you soon.

Here kitty kitty....

Whipping up a little something for a little one who is on the way. I thought this one block with a little bit of a checkerboard border will be a cute little something to hang in the kidlets room. Big cat lovers so this should hit the spot.

There's a rather loud storm heading our way. I can hear the static on the radio and the thunder in the distance and I'm thinking I don't want to turn on the Viking until it passes. Not sure what a power outage would do to the innards. I think it's plugged in to a power surge protector but maybe I'll just hang out and wait for this to pass.

I've been doing a lot of cooking lately and trying to make things with less salt. Salt is really delicious...sigh. I know, I know, you can substitute lots of herbs and spices, all very well, but the missing salt is hard to get used to. It's good for us and especially Roger since he's having an issue with swelling of the feet from his meds.

I'm walking on the treadmill daily. That's a good thing since I haven't done a lot of good for myself all summer. I'm sure the Dr. will have plenty to say about that in a few weeks when I go for a check-up.

I'm going to sign off now since I just saw lightening...eeeeeek. Talk to you later

Color Riot for Late Summer

The hibiscus is providing a little shade for my happy little Buddha. The coleus is nearing the end of its beautiful cycle. Those were the smallest plants when I put them in. I really love coleus. You really get your moneys worth and very big bang for the buck.

Sorry for the odd angle but I had this one draped over a chair. I had enough Holly Jolly pieces to make another little wall hanging and there are still more to make other things with. It's really amazing how much you can get out of those little charm packs and a couple of fat quarters. Roger is taking Fridays off until the end of September. He has some days off coming to him and needs to take them or they will be lost. A 4-day work week sounds like a great idea for him right now. Long weekends are wonderful. I plan to sew the bindings on the mini quilts and put this last one together for binding. That should keep me busy. Well, that and the usual crap like laundry...

Books & Late Summer Light

It's that time of year when the light changes and turns a little blue. Our Chestnut tree is dropping leaves and chestnuts like mad. You can just stand there and watch the leaves fluttering to the ground, all yellow and transparent. Like rice paper. So different from the strong, green, opaque, leaves of summer. While not really a "summer" person, I can't help being a little melancholy about fall. If things go as usual, we will have warm weather well into November so it's not about the temps at all. It's just that even though January is supposed to be the beginning of the year, to me, fall is really the end. Winter is much too close.

I have a couple of books to look forward to though. "The Guernsey Library and Potato Peel Society" looks to be a winner. It's about the German occupation of the isle of Guernsey during the second world war. The book consists of many letters written by residents of the island and I'm looking forward to reading it. The second book is not out yet but I put the picture up for gratuitous yumminess. Your welcome. I don't think Gordon's book is out till November.

I've got a lot of letters to write today for the Pantry so I better get to the grocery store and take care of other errands so I can get to that. Not much sewing going on today. Maybe tomorrow.

Laid back Labor day Weekend

This morning, while it was still quiet, I was catching up with the blogs. I noticed Libby, one of my favorites, showed some adorable, very simple, small pieces she was working on. As she noted in her blog, when you cut pieces for one of these it's nearly impossible not to cut more than you need and wind up with enough for at least one more-possibly two more. Here are the two I put together the other day and they just need binding. I have another not quite put together yet so there will be three. I just wanted something fast and something to do a little bit of handwork on. Simple and fast and cute..no??? I needed to have some small pieces for gifts and this will get me pretty much done in that department. I can move on to finishing other things after the Labor Day hubbub.

We are having a nice weekend just enjoying each others company. The weather is delightful and my BIL Bob has gone into the city for a trip to Ellis Island with friends and then on to a great Italian restaurant. James and Dani are off to Target and other errands. I'm just checking in to say Hi! while I have a moment. Hope your weekend is as much fun.

I'll be back with come book talk soon. I found a bunch of great books on the horizon and that is exciting since, in my opinion, the book world is a little bleak lately. Fall looks to be a bit better.

Talk to you soon

Good book, but now I'm hungry!

I'm currently reading several books. That's nothing new but it drives my husband crazy. How can you read many books at once??? You keep some upstairs and some downstairs and they are very different so you don't really mix up any story lines. I'm a big fan of biography and auto biography. I think there is almost nothing better than a book about someone who lives in another country writing about their life there. Can't begin to name ll the great books that I've read along those lines. Many have a lot to do with travel and cooking. Those are my favorite. This past year I have read several that were really so interesting that I would go back and read them again. "Heat", by Bill Buford is one. It's the story of his year spent cooking in the kitchen of Mario Batali. A very fun read. Mario is just enough of a nut job to make it even more fun. I'm currently reading "Last Days of Old Beijing" by Michael Meyer. It's the story of his life in Beijing in the years leading up to the Olympics and how the government transformed the area surrounding the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square by razing the hutongs where thousands of people had lived for centuries. In his descriptions of various scenarios he records his daily life there as a teacher in one of the remaining hutong. An old woman who lives in the courtyard nearby cooks for him and daily serves him steaming bowls of noodles or dumplings in hot broth. On another say he visits the noodle shop where another family is waiting the fate of their business. They make shaved noodles in pork broth with scallions, mushroom and spicy bean curd. I don't recommend this book to anyone who is not really interested in the minutia of the changing China. Parts of it are fascinating and parts I have skipped by to get the the noodles and dumplings. All in all a pretty good read though-if you like that stuff and I do. Yesterday I picked up a copy of Sue Grafton's latest, "T is for Trespass" and I'm enjoying it so much I could hardly put it down last night. I read 3/4 of the book yesterday and that should tell you how much other stuff I got done(0).I was happy to find that I really liked it since the last couple have left me kind of cold. This one moves right along and the story interests me because it has a story line that is all too familiar to me right now. One of my friends has an 82-year-old father who is in the throws of dementia and a younger woman has moved in on him and of all things, they went and got married last week. Within 3 days there were thousands missing from a bank account and things are not looking good. Anyway, I had no idea what the plot of this book was but when I started reading I said, WOW does this remind me of that situation. My friend's father lives down south and they are holding their collective breath until they can get down there in a week or so. That'll be some hot time in the south! But I digress....the book is great and an interesting read.

We are getting the house ready for a visit from our dearest friends from Pennsylvania. They were so wonderful when we recently had our problems and hospital adventures that I can't wait to see them and spend some serious time making a fuss over them. For the time being, I'm really not doing much sewing. After our friends leave I'll get back to work again. If you don't hear from me don't worry. Roger seems to be doing well on his meds and we're in a holding pattern for now.

I only have one problem right now and it's not having access to those dumplings you see above. They are soup dumplings and if you go into lower Manhattan to Chinatown you can get a bowl full for a couple of bucks. They are very big and when you bite into them there is soup inside. It's all a big messy thing but my mouth is watering thinking about it. Unhappily for me Chinatown is 45 miles of horrible roads away. Hmmm.

We're home & Main St.

I finally got Roger home and he's doing well. They have given him new meds and he will take a couple of days to see how that goes. Fingers crossed. Both of us are really beat so I'll keep it short. Thanks to all of you who left nice comments and private e-mails. You really made me feel good.

I've gotten nothing accomplished so I have a few pictures of the village to fill the void. This is a picture looking up from the harbor. Today is Tuesday and if it's Tuesday here it's Family night in the village. They close off the lower part of town and allow some antique car owners to park there for show and have many different types of fun activities. If I'm not mistaken tonight is ugly hair night and I imagine there will be some really wild & hairy folks trying for the prize. There's usually some music-various local groups and , of course, no party would be complete without food vendors and junk food of some sort. Of course if it's Italian night there may be zeppoli and they are great. For those who don't know what zeppoli are-they are fried dough in the manner of doughnuts covered with powdered sugar and in a brown paper bag. The farther away you are from the purchase of the zeppoli the more the bag will be covered with oil and then they are basically belly bombers. No one in their right mind would touch a cold zeppoli. However, hot and crispy, they are the bomb.

We will not be attending this since we have no will power and don't want to wind up in the hospital with zeppoli-related injuries.

I'll talk to you soon.

Take two

We are back in the hospital again with more of the same and no definite answers. Roger is still in A-fib and it's not returning to normal this time and staying there. He's understandably down in the dumps and needless to say, no matter how nice they try to make the hospital experience, it's still an icky place to be. They gave him a hamburger of unknown origin yesterday and a package of artificially flavored no- salt Ketchup substitute...hmmmmm. A hungry Roger is an unhappy Roger.

I'll be back with news when I can. Meanwhile I have errands. My new glasses are in so, on the way to the hospital I will stop and pick them up. Maybe things will look rosier through new glasses?Thanks for all the nice thoughts and comments from last time. It's great to have friends.

oooops! & More Holly Jolly

As you can see by looking at the blocks here, just when you think you're being soooo careful-lookee what happens. This is a perfect illustration of why working with stripes is a little hairy. I even cut out all the components in advance and laid them out in the pattern and still screwed it up. Well, even though they probably wouldn't have me, I guess I may qualify for the Quilt Mavericks group without even trying. Wonky blocks are us!Gwen Marston would be proud. I will keep going and try not to screw up too much more although, in the spirit of having at least one more wonky block(just to make it seem like I meant to do that-Haa!)I may screw up another this afternoon. Watch and see, now that I want to make a wonky block I won't be able to do it to save my life.

In the process of getting all the pieces cut nice and neat and lined up I committed a cardinal sin of quiltmaking. Thou shalt not leave they rotary cutter open or try to do something with it open in your hand. I gave myself a good nick on my left index finger by doing just that. The thing about a cut with a rotary cutter is that initially a small itty bitty nick goes almost without notice until the bleeding starts. You would have thought I hit an artery for cripe sakes. I am now bandaged and I think I'll have a cup of tea and a calming break before I begin again.

Since I couldn't wait to break open this fabric till I had an actual plan-I goofed around and made this little star. I will probably make a multiple bordered little quilt out of it just for fun.

Not much else happening here-the weather is stormy again and it's starting to affect my sinuses with a big time headache. Maybe I'll have a couple of tylenol with that tea. Later gators

Holly Jolly quilt & Good Reads

I got all my packets of Holly Jolly fabric out and decided I needed a little bit of a challenge. So many of the things I've made lately have been simple squares and quick fixes that I wanted to make a block with these fun fabrics that was a little more complicated. It's a modified flying geese and I'm having fun. It takes a bit of paying attention. The picture is clickable. Complicated is a good thing since it keeps me away from snacking and food in general. I'm trying to set a better example for the family. That's really hard. Anyway, I know this little quilt will be very bright and cheery for the holidays. Which holidays are yet to be seen since if you're familiar with my work habits that could translate to some Christmas in the distant future. I'm trying to keep it real and hope to see it up on the wall this year.

If you're a murder mystery fan like me, here are to of my favorite standbys. Janet's books are like eating popcorn. Nothing fancy about them and they make you laugh in the bargain. She's found an interesting formula, in the style of Sue Grafton's ABC Murder series. These are much less complicated and the sort of thing you want to read when your brain hurts. Faye Kellerman is a big favorite of mine and I've loved nearly everything she has written. I'm not crazy about the series that started a couple of years ago which highlights the daughter of the detective in her other books. Can't say why, but I just didn't love it and I love Faye's books otherwise ever since she wrote "Ritual Bath", one of the best books describing that Jewish tradition as part of the mystery. I spent some time as a child living with a Jewish family who kept Kosher and followed the wonderful, rich, tradition that is followed in that faith. Faye Kellerman knows her stuff and has, in my opinion, added a very rich layer to an already great murder mystery. This is a good one. In fact, in recent years, I think Faye has outdone her husband Jonathan Kellerman, another of my favorite writers. The last few books of his were good but a little ho hum. These are, as I said, fun books. A bit of light summer reading.

I must get back to the flying geese and the Holly Jolly....and, of course, the omnipresent laundry drudgery.

Hope you have a laundry-free day and a good read!

Stormy Weather & Quiltathon

This is about all I accomplished for the Quiltathon. Life has just gotten in the way. I began this as a piece for over the bed in our room several years ago. It has been a learning experience for what not to do and why the rules are sometimes very important. I am the Queen of not reading directions and also the Queen of carelessness. Does it matter if you do paper piecing and not all the paper is off the seams-YES! yes it does. Especially if you plan to hand quilt it. Does it matter if you don't trim the multiple layers behind the paper carefully? YES! It does matter and if you don't you will have a big hairy mess of fabric to try and pull a needle through resulting in many un-lady-like angry words and bloody fingertips. I have a dear friend who loves this piece and it is pretty so I can't seem to let it go. Stitches have been ripped out and it looks like I may just tie it to death. Possibly just outline quilting the lanterns. It will always remind me of how important basics are and a shortcut will cost you in the end. "Sloppy work habits are us!" That's my new motto. Well...that and stop eating crappy food, but I digress. This is the only Quiltathon-type work I accomplished but I was sewing along with you all. Sorry about that Judy. I will be prepared for the next one.

Yesterday, we had another wild summer storm. Not all that unusual for summer by the sea. This one, however, was very violent but not in the usual way. First it got so dark I couldn't see from one room to the other. It was like midnight. Then the wind kicked up and thunder & lightening....but wait....what's all that noise??? Wow, it's walnut and quarter-sized hail coming down in buckets. It banged and pinged off of the roof and the noise of it hitting my car didn't make me feel too good about the possible pits in the gelcoat. The yard looked like it does after a hurricane. Branches and leaves and actual walnuts all over the place. I grabbed the phone and a pillow and got ready to head to the basement since they were warning of tornadoes. It was a doozy. I never had to go to the basement, thank goodness, but it did give me the creeps..a lot!After it ended the air was so clean and it was chilly. The temp. was about 63. That's unheard of in August on the Island. Real crisp fall-like air. Just beautiful. When Roger came home he found the garbage can but the lid was about 3 blocks away in a stormy puddle of leaves where someone had kindly run it over several times.

The picture is clickable and that is big white blobs of hail. We didn't lose the power so I kind of enjoyed all the excitement.

I'm aiming for a more quiet experience today with some possible sewing thrown in.

Thanks for stopping by.