Friday, May 26, 2017

Trip Planning!


I am beginning to plan a trip!
Guess where!
Australia!
It will be this time next year, at the earliest or perhaps next September.
Amazon delivered the first guide book today which I hope will help me decide where I want to go exactly, Australia is a very large place.

One little doll outfit finally finished!
I have two more needing only a bit of hand work.
There's one more outfit cut out as well.
Tomorrow I'll be finishing up and cutting out more.
Hope Nora likes all these!


Thursday, May 25, 2017

New Patterns!

I added some new patterns to my collection!  Just what I needed-more projects!
Chookyblue will be happy to see that I broke down and ordered the Lucy Boston book and templates.
Now to find fussy-cutable fabrics, that may take a while.


The other book in this photo is also English Paper Piecing designs and patterns.
I do like doing English Paper Piecing as they are so portable. 
And the designs are forgiving.



On the camping trip I went into Carrolton and visited a new quilt shop, these three patterns
along with a few fat quarters came home with me.
All of them will help me use up my scraps!



The last pattern is for a Christmas Swap or for me if there isn't a swap.
I have a feeling a couple of my girls might want one as well.

I have been sewing most every night, 
working on a quilt for a friend in blue and green.
I've also been making doll clothes.
I swear they are just as time consuming as clothes for people!

Monday, May 22, 2017

Long over-due post!


I've been quite absent from blogville lately! 
 So sorry!
Sometimes I just don't have any thing to share, sigh.
Last weekend I went camping with Beth, Lucas and the boys (also Quinn and Zoe.)
It was interesting.
First off I tried really hard to beat the incoming rain to the caves where Ceili is stored.
I almost made it.
So, hooking her up to the truck was accomplished during pouring rain!
A feat made more difficult due to battery deadness. It charged.
I have a power tongue jack and while you can raise and lower it manually it isn't easy-
especially since I'm short.
End result was that I was drenched to the skin and
the dogs had fogged up the windows with their panting!

Arrived at Wallace State Park and after much trial and error with Lucas 
FINALLY got Ceili backed into my site.
Did you notice I said BACKED?
On my own I always get a pull-through.

Rained off and on Friday and Saturday but it did stop long enough for a campfire
and S'mores!

Missouri has average rainfall of 34 inches a year. 
(Only 6 inches less than "rainy" Seattle!)
Scott says it's basically a swamp with a few feet of dirt on top.

All that rain is great for vegetation!
This is the view from the back of my campsite.



In another month the green will be darker and the forest impenetrable.


Filled with trees, shrubs and lots of


 Poison Ivy!  
The great giver of itchy rash-
and for those foolish enough (or extra allergic) to touch the leaves and then touch you face
eyes swollen shut. 
Happened a couple of times to me!
In really allergic folks it can cause the throat to swell shut.
Then it's off the to Emergency Room for treatment.


There's a lovely lake at the park.
In search of 10,000 steps we all set off on foot .
Once at the lake we took the path around it-Yes, it was muddy!


Kolby admiring nature below the dam.


Ethan, always on the look out for fish.


I think Brayden might be getting a tan on those winter white legs!


This is where Ethan always is-running way out in front!
Dang, I wish I could bottle some of his energy!
Those way out in front missed out on the amazingly HUGE frog I saw-big as my hand.
We hit the road back to the trailer-ALL up hill, even the dogs were dragging tail.

This being my first time out it was a shake down, clean Ceili trip.
Loading all the stuff in I had taken out last fall.
Only a few more things are needed.
Mostly, propane!
I was completely out!
Will get some on the way out of town on my next camping adventure.

Got home in time to buy a pizza, shower and crash!


Sunday, May 14, 2017

Graduation!


Yesterday was a very BIG day for our family!
This woman graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City!
We are all so happy for her and proud of the "6 Years & Thousands of tears" that brought her to this day.

I feel like she needs the shirt that says #Shepersisted!

So, Congratulations once again to Tanya R Fines
Elementary Teacher!