Wednesday, August 08, 2007
August Bleah...& visitors on the way
Monday, August 06, 2007
Monday....again! Oink

Thursday, August 02, 2007
Triangle madness and blog censorship.
Boy Oh Boy...Dog days indeed! We've been spoiled by the very sweet summer temps that have dissolved into the soup that is August. You can cut the air with a knife and a general lethargy has settled in around here.
I'm working on some doll quilt pieces that are gifts and so I have sewn up hundreds of triangles. Not sure what will become of them yet but it's a kind of mindless thing that makes me feel like I have accomplished something. They will be turned into little pieces soon as I have a couple of gifts due soon for various things such as friends birthdays and such. I used the half square triangle papers that I printed out from some on-line thing like Block Central a while back.
I notice that so many bloggers are either on vacation or just as out of it as I am so there isn't a lot going on. A few people, who are a lot more serious about their work than me have posted about wonderful things learned at classes. My good friend Gerrie took a class in Shibori dying last week. If you get a chance go and look. You have to scroll down a bunch but it's worth it. Gorgeous stuff. I am beginning to thing that Portland(Oregon) is the most amazing art mecca. In fact it seems that the left coast is an amazing place to be an artist in general. So many great art quilt groups and shows and classes Oh My! It seems to be a very nurturing environment for that type of thing. I'm a life-long New Yorker and I love it but what you have to do in order to get to anything resembling art in NY is a death defying feat. It's all much further in towards Manhattan and I'm, frankly, not up to it anymore. There is are a couple of guilds here on the island and they are big and eventful but the women I have met so far are not very friendly in general and they stick to a fairly traditional type of work. Independence is not nurtured. In fact the last quilt show I went to the members were trashing fellow members work as being "out there" as I was walking by. Not my kind of thing at all. Again, the Manhattan guilds are just too far away.
On a related subject, why are women sometimes so mean to each other? 99% of the bloggers I encounter are the most helpful and kind people but there seems to be the one or two factions who are waiting somewhere for someone to say the least little thing that displeases them so they can jump out of the bushes(anonymously_very brave) and bitch about it. What has happened to our sense of humor and ability to laugh at ourselves and be lighthearted. It's so bad that a couple of friends have removed posts from their own personal blogs rather than be slammed about something they wrote. In essence they had to censor themselves to please a few cranky witches. We are living in scary times when that happens.
Well, I need to get some laundry done and sew up some more triangles and think about what's up for dinner. It's almost too hot to grill anything-I may just make spaghetti and skip the grill. Hope everyone has a relaxing and pleasant day. Lets continue being nice to each other. There is something wonderful about the company of women and those similar experiences that draw us together.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
More forgotten orphans unearthed & a walk in town
This blue piece is another tiny paper pieced doll quilt I made back in the 90s. The yellow one is, I think, the very first thing I ever tried to make. I had a bunch of 4 inch squares I got from some mail order thing and just put them together randomly. The blue log cabin has pieces as narrow as a half inch. I don't remember what on earth I was thinking but by the time I was finished I nearly lost my mind. It remains unfinished because the edges are so narrow I gave up. I will just put a pillowcase finish on it and turn it inside out to finish without batting. I've been sewing up a storm today using a print-out from the computer for half square triangles that finish at 2 inches. I working on a couple of gifts for friends. Just quickie doll sized littles.
Monday, July 30, 2007
A Little Finn-ish & Village stuff
I'm really posting these shots for Finn of Pieces from my Scrapbag. If you haven't seen some of the quilts that Finn has been putting together from orphan blocks that so many people have sent her go on over and have a look. I hesitate to call myself a quilter of any particular style. I'm into whatever floats my boat at a particular time. For a long while I made Amish reproduction type miniatures and wall-hangings. That came about because when I saw them in PA Amish country I fell in love and knew I couldn't ever afford to buy one. So I dove in headfirst and decided to try my hand. This, of course, gave me a new-found appreciation for the work done by real Amish women with actual needlework abilities. Awesome work and work I can only dream of since I also found that I'm just too lazy to make anything as perfect. I made a few that are just fine. People say they are very beautiful-my family loves them-but I know where the Amish leaves off and the Dee begins. Anyway, all of this is by way of saying that I really admire so many of my fellow blog ladies who pick a style and then go about perfecting it. Finn is one of these. She has taken these mismatched blocks so nearly child-like in their delightfully playful style and colors that are so far off the mark together that they come full circle to look wonderful together. That's a gift. That's a woman with a natural and playful talent. I look forward to seeing what she's up to daily. Here are a couple of simple things I did a long time ago-before I knew better and during a time when I just wanted to try stuff. The blocks are all very small-2, 2 1/2 inch or so. In retrospect, I wish I had known about more primitive work and tea dying because I now see what doesn't go with the casual doll quilt primitive look. Too bright borders for one thing! I should stick those in a tea bath and see what comes of them.
On another front-I sent out my crack photography team to the village yesterday(Hi Honey!) to take some harbor shots. It was a hazy hot day so everything looks like it's in the mist. He did get a good shot of the church where our Food Pantry is. It's a very pretty church and they are kind enough to let us use the basement for our needs. that little door thingy on the right side down low there...that's the Food Pantry entrance. Try lugging groceries down that thing sometime. It's better than a morning at Curves.
Here's shot of the entrance to the park looking across Main Street. Lots of houses up on the hills overlooking the harbor.
Well, I have some cooking to do and the usual boring stuff around the house. I hope to get some sewing done tomorrow.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Where the hell have I been???

Oh well, I hope anyone who is still awake will forgive me but I need a shower and some breakfast. Our company is returning for the night before flying out of LaGuardia in the morning. We'll do dinner tonight and then they're outta here. Hopefully I will have something quilty to report soon. I notice that not many people are really enthused right now anyway so I'm in good company. Hope to get at the machine next week, if not sooner. Just because I'm not sewing doesn't mean that I don't have umpteen things started. Is there such a thing as sewing schizophrenia?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Rumblin' in the Jungle and 12x12x4
Friday, July 13, 2007
Lazy Summer Days
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Pay It Forward
Sounds like fun doesn't it?
Monday, July 09, 2007

Tuesday, July 03, 2007
let's walk some more& Got Onions????
And now, in the spirit of complete lunacy-my husband is a great lover of sweet onions. We used to buy the Vidalia's, before they became popular in stores around here, from the farm in Georgia and have them shipped to us. They are delicious and they don't make you cry when you peel them. Love them onions. We also bought Walla Walla Sweets one year. This year, Roger decided to get some Walla Walla and have himself a treat. Here is what we have. I give you...da da da daaaahhh.. This is what 40(YES I SAID 40) pounds of onions looks like.
Everyone we know is getting a bag of Walla Walla Sweets and then we'll still have too many onions. Seriously, there are so few things that drive Roger to order anything for himself, so I'm happy when he's happy. You may be sure that our July 4th will include onions...in some form-or in many forms.
I'm still playin' around with fabric-woefully behind on everything including my 12x12 which will be done in the next century if I don't high-tail it soon. Roger has taken the rest of the week off-so I'm gonna just chill as well. Haope you all have a great 4th and, this is for Janet-we are fairly traditional for this one. burgers- hot dogs-homemade macaroni salad-root beer floats. There will be more onions than usual though. Here's where I'll be most of the time. Pardon my snoringzzzzzz.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Quick pics for Monday
On our walk we can stop and say Hi to BIL Bob who has chosen a very Gerrie Lime green shirt to blend in with the scenery around his park bench. It's funny but I think there are less boats in the water than usual. Maybe the big money that is usually puttering around in large yachts has been scaled back? I'm happy to see it the way it is so I'll just enjoy the view.
The other picture is of a portion of Main Street that leads down to the park and harbor. Last week was the Prom and the sign down at the end is congratulating the graduates. They have their pre-prom party thing at the park.
While we're on the subject of "Gerrie of the Lime Green" I am playing around with this stuff and it makes me think of her even more than usual.
Not sure what is happening here but I'll let you know as soon as I do. I fused a bunch of small pieces of fabric I really loved and I've been playing around with a very small piece that clearly involves circles (flowers?). Not sure-I'll keep playing. More tomorrow plus Kim tagged me for 7 things and I may do that as well. Have a great day.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Fondling fabric

Boogie Shoes for the Hot feet
Just a little fun for your viewing pleasure while I get a little sewing(gasp)done.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Take Two...cha cha cha


Monday, June 25, 2007
Hot Stuff
I got my act in gear today and went to Curves early. Got


I know, I know....again with the food. Made a tall cool drink and nibbled(o.k. snarffed) it all and took a pain killer. That's when things got really interesting
I fell asleep and dreamed that this guy was in my yard singing

I'm going for the exact same meal tomorrow. Sigh.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Pavlova & Jelly Rolls


Last night was the quilting friends night and since I am blessed (or damned-depends on the weight gain) with two friends who are the best bakers around these parts-We had Pavlova instead of traditional birthday cake. I'll take a repeat of that any day. I'm really not much of a cake person but this stuff is like cake and pastry and candy all in one-with fresh fruit. How can you get any better. Anyone not familiar with it-it's meringue on the bottom, fresh whipped cream and mountains of fresh fruit on top-strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi-in fruit sauce. OMG this is the best dessert I've had in years and further proof that buying your friends expensive baking books insures goodies galore. This is from one of Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa books I gave Pam. Good girl Pam.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Take two.....

Have a great evening and thanks for the kind comments-I just really have nothing to complain about and can't stand it when others bitch and moan-so it's even more annoying when the sound comes from my general space.
Talk to you tomorrow
Monday, June 18, 2007
Big finish

Just a short missive from General Hospital. We are doing fine and my job as Nurse Ratchet is nearly done. Staples out tomorrow and hopefully we are on the road to Wellville.
We had a lovely Father's Day dinner last night of fabulous Italian food from Intermezzo-I had the gnocchi and the guys had some linguine with shrimp and some other pasta with sausage and artichokes. Rice ball shared to start and fresh strawberries from the farm stand courtesy of my BIL Bob. It was a quiet day-Yippee!
I long for my sewing machine and hope to commune with fabric sometimes soon. I got a quilt for donation in the mail from Suzanne for binding and I'll try to get to that tomorrow or Wed. We have the Dr. in the late a.m. so I don't know how much of the day I will get to accomplish anything. Have a great day and I'll catch up with you all soon.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Checking in
Roger's arm is still in a sling and everything is very tender, to say the least. He has metal staples in three places on the shoulder but virtually no scar. The openings look like little belly buttons(innies) but they are clear and clean-that's good news. Back to the Dr. next week and no driving- so we're having an unexpected vacation of sorts. Not one we would have planned but life could always be worse. I like "the glass half full" attitude right now. Besides, I kinda like having the old bear home. Thanks, again, for all the nice wishes. I'll leave you with a shot of the harbor from last week-there are twice as many boats now. Talk to you tomorrow.