Florida vacation

We just returned from a week in the Florida panhandle (Destin) sunshine. The beaches have the most beautiful white sand and after Labor Day they are NOT crowded at all. We spent the week going to the beach, eating, going to the pool, reading (I read 4 books!) and walking. I did manage to work on Nadia's Christmas stocking also. That's my idea of a great week!!

More things for Nadia

This week I finally got off a package of things for Nadia. In addition to the rainbow blanket I made for her (see July 21 post), I sent this piggy bank. Her sisters each have a large pig bank. I wanted hers to be a bit different. I found it at the Hallmark store in Clarkston.
I went to my local favorite quilt shop and saw this adorable diaper/tote bag all made up. There was not pattern, so I took some pictures (with permission), bought the fabric and made it. The inside (not visible) is a pretty pink flowered fabric with pockets. It was a challenge to make something without a pattern.

Dudley is here

We have our puppy and his name is Dudley, not Quincy. He is so soft and fluffy and very young (6 weeks) which means getting up with him in the middle of the night. We are going to a graduation/birthday party today and he is going along (lots of teenagers to play with).
Oscar, our 6 yr. old Golden, isn't too sure about this intruder. But he needs a playmate as soon as Dudley gets bigger.

Another puppy photo

This is our new puppy we will get next week. We are thinking of naming him Quincy!

Projects completed

Our church sent a group of people on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic in June. I organized a small group of people (5) to make bears for the kids. We sent 200 bears! I made about 20 of them. They are either knitted or crocheted. This was a fun project to work on!!



These are the baby hats I sent to Lil' Troopers in June. They go to military hospitals for the babies. I really love making these. These are the hats I made during my hospital waiting times, plus 2 made when I got back home to my stash!!

I also made 3 more hats while in PA but they went off to St. Louis for the grandkids before I could get pictures. Hopefully DS will send them.

I made this bag of counting fish for Cory when I went to Boise. As soon as his brothers and sister saw them they wanted some. They even put in their color requests!

So I worked on more fish (great stash buster) while at the hospital. They still need their eyes. I used several different patterns so I wouldn't get bored!
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While still in St. Louis, DS asked me to make a valance, crib skirt and diaper stacker for Nadia's room. It has a "rainbow" theme. I had to wait until I got home to do them (no fabric or sewing machine with me in PA). I did not have patterns, just the "old" ones. They turned out surpisingly well.
My one trip to a LYS (I was without a car while in PA) turned up this wonderful yarn which I think goes well with the rainbow stuff for Nadia. The pattern was free with the yarn purchase. It only took 2 skeins of Plymouth Encore ww yarn. I got to the halfway point and started on the second skein only to discover that the striping did not match (the COLORS were different, despite the same color code and dye lot). At this point in time we had to make funeral arrangements, then the funeral, then July 4, so I could not get back to the yarn shop. I did call them, but they said bring it back. Well we headed back to Michigan before I could do that. Once settled back home, I took everything to my favorite LYS in Davidson and she helped me. She had to order more yarn, but I got it within a week and finished the afghan for Nadia. It will be in the mail soon (I am sewing a diaper bag for her mom).
Not sure what will be on my needles next--I have tons of ideas!!

New puppy

This is the new puppy we will be getting next week. He is a Golden Retriever and will be 5 weeks old tomorrow. We don't have a name yet. Suggestions? Our other Golden is Oscar who is 6. Names we are considering: Humphrey, Bentley, Yogi. My life will be on hold as we train this puppy. Thankfully it is summer!!

Missing...

You may have noticed that I have not posted much in almost 3 months. It's called LIFE!!! I will try to catch up. In early June we went to the mountains of western North Carolina for a vacation of hiking. It was very beautiful and relaxing. Here is the sunset from our deck. The rain cut our trip short and we returned home 2 days early.
A view of Linville Falls that we hiked to.


The I was off to St. Louis for a wedding and grandkids fix. We had lots of fun at the Magic House. I spent a day in Kimmswick with Ellen. We ate at a great little shop and it was almost like old times--the Blueowl was too crowded! But Mary is opening a new shop (it has since opened) selling candy, and sweets. She has really done so much to keep Kimmswick going.
I also spent a day in Hannibal with Roberta and Sherrie (mother of the bride). We ate lunch at a great Italian restaurant (I sure do miss good Italian food in the Detroit area) and spent time at a wonderful quilt shop.
I planned on staying in Missouri until Wednesday, but got a call from my brother in PA that mom was in the ICU of the hospital and not doing well at all. So I flew to Philadelphia where I spent the next 2 and a half weeks. It was very stressful and neither of us got much sleep. Mom had pneumonia and congestive heart failure. She was on a ventilator and a feeding tube. They had her in a sleep induced "coma" of sorts. She did open her eyes occasionally, but I do not think there was any recognition. We finally had the tubes removed, she continued to breathe for another 4 hours, then went home to be with the Lord on June 26. The funeral was a week later (our son could not get there until then). It was a lovely funeral service. I am at peace with her passing, but there will always be a void. I am so very thankful for my friends who have given us support during this time. This is my favorite picture of Mom, taken before I was born!!
I had lots of time on my hands while being at the hospital 4 hours a day and did make stuff. That will be in another post.

Busy hooks and needles

While in Boise I kept busy making more things.

I made this cropped top for Elise. It is really a light purple but looks bluish in the photo.
Then I made her this watermelon hat. I wasn’t able to get a picture of just the hat, but got several of her wearing it. She loves it and it was fun to make. I bought the pattern at http://YouCanMakeThis.com .

Easter "fun"

What would Easter be for kids without coloring eggs? I haven't done this in years! It was a two part project--first we colored the eggs, then we did the tie-dye the next day. I was the only one who cracked their egg...

The day before Easter we took the kids for an Easter egg hunt. I am glad I don't have to do this

every year! It was a madhouse.....

Something for ME!

I went on a quilt Shop Hop in mid-February that was very inspiring and lots of fun. I bought several patterns and actually made one! This purse is called the Maison Purse and the outer layer is reversible and removeable. I plan to make more covers to use for the various seasons! This pattern had LOTS of pieces and steps and was a challenge for me. It includes a zipper.

I lined it in red and added an inside pocket and a weighted (removeable) bottom. I plan to use this purse for a long time--I hope it holds up!!