Barb, glad you're back from your trip. hope you get a chance for some sewing therapy this week.

I think I've finally got all the quilts for our show tucked into a spot on the spreadsheet. That was a lot bigger task than I had imagined. It's all I've done each evening this last week.

Beautiful weather still holding here in the northwest. chance of rain this afternoon. I think I'll plant some lettuce in my "salad box" today. I can't believe the price of seeds!

When the rain starts, I still need to get my three quilts ready.... binding and sleeve on one, and sleeves on the other two.

It will be a crazy week for me, set up on Thursday, show Fri, Sat, Sun.... I will make sure to post lots of pics.

Thinking of you Barb

Pam

Thanks Pam for the good thoughts.

Denise, try to enjoy the quilt show even though it's going to be a lot of work. HOpe the weather holds for you. They are predicting showers here from Tuesday through the weekend. Just hope it's not raining when I take Howard back to the doctor Tuesday.

Planning on getting into the sewing room tomorrow for some fabric therapy.

Barb Mcf

I forgot to mention that I got a new yard toy this weekend. I mentioned to DH that I thought a chipper would be a good investment. He's been looking on craigslist this week, to see what's out there..... On Friday, he found a brand new Troybuilt 8 horse unit that was less than 1/2 the price of new! some guy had planned on starting a yard business, but got in trouble with a DUI, and had to sell the chipper to help pay legal costs.....

I spent the afternoon getting aquainted with it.... that baby sure does chop stuff up! I have the beginning of a compost pile now.... Now, if I can just catch up with what I already have in the cans, barrels, bags, and yard debris pile that is already started. I'm sure I was quite the site with goggles and ear protectors on!

We are back in Michigan and I'm back at the library so I finally have a chance to catch up on all the posts. Al is at the doctors office, down the street, getting his checkup.
Hugs to everyone needing them, I'm so sorry to hear of so many losses
Barb, Howard, Gerda, Pam and Milica

Denise, LOL... I can just imagine you running that piece of equipment. It sounds like a riot! I love making mulch I'm very jealous of your new toy. That should clean up the yard fast! I'm with you on the price of seeds.. they've gotten SO expensive. I usually order mine from Guerneys (did I spell that right?). And the packages are usually good for a lot longer than the date stamped on them. I grew tomatoes last year from seeds that were 3 years old. If they're kept in a box or jar in cool, dry, dark place they store for a long time. I usually save some seeds from everything I plant.. save seeds from the best tomatoes, etc. I even saved the seeds from a tomato my friend had on a salad. The tomato was so sweet, I just have to give it a try this year. If you need any thyme, oregano, lavender, chives or mint I have little starts I could mail you. My garden "OVERrunneth" with them ...LOL

I've got to say the weather isn't half bad up here. We came home at the right time. It's sunny and fairly warm (40's). We have a HUGE pile of snow sitting in from of the front walk so we half to park farther down the driveway then walk on the grass to get to the door. Don't think that pile will be gone till June.. it's about 5' high. Today I'm hoping to visit my friends that I haven't seen in AGES... feels like longer than 2 months since we left.

Deb, glad to see that you made it home safely. I had hoped that we would have a garden this year but since Howard had the foot surgery, I'm not sure we will make it this time. The pansies around the mailbox from last fall are starting to bloom again. Need to get out and trim them up a bit.

Denise, I can just see you in goggles and ear protectors. That machine sounds like a good investment. Just be careful with it.

Howard got the stitches taken out of his foot this morning. There were a lot more stitches that he thought he had. Between having the stitches taken out and then having the foot redressed, he was hurting pretty good when we got home. Since it was an early appointment, we did go out for a late breakfast. He went to bed and slept most of the rest of the day. I spent it doing lots of laundry. He has another three weeks of not gettting his foot wet or driving. Will see about the driving when we go back in three weeks. That is the thing that is really bugging him. He's so used to being completely independent. Having to depend on me to take him anywhere is really getting to him. Oh well, we'll get through this.

I'm really planning on sewing tomorrow. I need it for my sanity. When I was out briefly this afternoon, I stopped by the LQS and signed up for a jacket class. I know I could do it on my own but this way I know I'll get it done.

Have a good evening.
Barb Mcf

Ever hear of the man with the golden touch? Well, yesterday, I night as well have stayed in bed because I was the antitheses of Midas; everything I touched turned to crap instead of gold. Hopefully today will be better.

I am going to attempt to get some sewing done and finish up the laundry. Gotta run now, have to go beat a loaf of bread back into submission so it can do its final rise before baking.

Hugs to all who need them.

I have my granddaughter Haley here today - poor kid spent most of the night throwing up! Mummy got little sleep, so after I took Maya to school, I brought Haley up here - mommy is home sleeping for a couple of hours. Haley is feeling better - she was talking my ear off! No upchucking now for at least 2 hours, so she may be on the mend. I just hope Maya doesn't come down with it. Apparently stomach flu is making the rounds here.

I hope to get a little bit of sewing in today, even if it's just hand applique on the BPS blocks.

It's a sunny day - foggy this morning again - and supposed to go up to around 38F or so. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

gerda

Gerda, Hope your granddaughter is better soon.. and DON'T YOU catch it! Doesn't sound like fun. I mailed off a letter to you.. found another returned envelope in my mail that was waiting for us at the post office. I think it's the Xmas block you won... So now you'll have two from me

Barb-I think that's one of the hardest things for a man.. to have driving taken away. Taking the TV remote away is another ...LOL. Hope his foot mends quickly.

Meg, LOL I've had those days... Hope today is better.

I just came back from quilt guild. Sure is nice to be home and see everyone. We had some AWESOME show and tells... it got me thinking of more quilts I want to make. AND THAT's not a good thing! I've been buckling down and working on UFOs. I'm VERY determined to finish up the ones that are started. The LQS is offering 20-40% off of fabric purchases for finishing up UFOs. That's a great incentive for me. They got in 4 or so new lines of fabric while I was gone and Im dying to buy some.

We did something new at the guild tonight. We brought in 6 or 7 quilt shops and had them demo products they sold that they really liked. It was so interesting. A lot of times a notion will sit on the wall and not sell because nobody knows what it does. My LQS sold out of her needle threader cassettes. You load 7 or so needles into the cassette and pull out threaded needles as you need them. I bought one to take to AZ with me for sewing in the car. Works great!

Woo Hoo, I finally made it into the sewing room and actually sewed. I was going through withdrawal. LOL I got my blocks made for the Favorite Block swap and just love that blue and yellow and white color scheme. It's just so fresh looking. I may have to make a quilt in those colors. I also got the blocks cut out for a swap in another group so tomorrow I can just go and sew.

Gerda, that was so nice of you to take your Haley so her mummy could get some sleep. Hope mummy and you don't get the stomach flu too.

Meg, sometimes we all have days like that. Hope tomorrow is better for you.

Deb, I see you are back and busy as ever. I'll bet your mind has lots of ideas for new quilts from the show and tells. They can be very inspiring.

Howard has had a couple of rough days with his foot. The handling of it while taking out the stitches yesterday and then redressing it has really caused it to hurt. And, his leg isn't wrapped from toe to above the knee with the ace bandage. He did get in the kitchen and cook breakfast so it was ready when I got home from my 8:30 dentist appt. He made a lucious hashbrown casserole. There goes my diet. LOL

Today was very spring like but tomorrow may bring thunder storms. Hope it's not too bad. One of the dogs is very scared of storms so I usually have to sit and hold him. Oh well, he's getting to be an old man so I guess he's entitled to his eccentricies.

Have a good evening, Barb Mcf