M.E. Monday Is Upon Us Again

Birthdays have always been a BIG think with me since the birth of my 3 children.  The day of their birthdays was always “THEIR DAY”, and each one could have his or her own way all day long. It was a BIG DEAL and so much fun. Whatever their demands I granted. The other thing I did and continue to do is, in addition to their present, I give them their birthday number in dollars though I think I am going to put a cap on that one at 50...which is not that far away. They always had carrot cakes as children, and Gene, my 39 year old “baby” still gets one to this day.  He lives in Richmond which is only 2 1/2 hours from here so we try to have a celebration for him here on the creek...that way he gets 2 birthday parties...all the better for Eloise, his little 5 year old and my only granddaughter. Why carrot cakes I do not know, but it is now a family tradition with Gene, Buddy, and me. For my 71st in February little Eloise treated her Baga to these precious shiny placemats and Birthday Girl Crown. I meant to take the placemats to work with me and laminate them, but of course forgot it until tonight... oh, well, I will do it when school starts back in August. Now,I have started a new tradition for Eloise....overtime we give her mommy or daddy a present I always have one for her, too.  Boy! Did she ever catch on to that one quickly....Baga just has to spoil her a little bit. Here’s wishing all of you a most happy M.E.Monday and a great week with some cool weather thrown in to make all of our lives just a little bit easier.

Before signing off, I want to thank Brenda at Cozy Little House for featuring my blog on her Welcome Wagon Friday posted on July 8th. She also included Jamie over at Freckled Laundry which is wonderful fun to read and Megan and Rebecca’s Blog Out Loud. Theirs is full of informative, easy to read, and most helpful info for us that love blogging.  Again, thank you, Brenda, for your kind words.  If you all have not visited these sites, please drop by...you won’t be disappointed.

P.S.....Believe it or not, I met my goal of completing my quilt at 11:47PM tonight!  It has been washed, dried, and I have it pinned up on my wall looking at it. I cannot believe I actually pulled it off.  Will post photos tomorrow when the light is nice outside.

And the Waters Rained Down From the Heavens......FINALLY!

Over the past two days, we have gone from no rain to two HUGE monumental storms.  They were so impressive I decided to try to document our little spot on the creek in photographs.  Here we go!

7/04/2010...Creek with Little Water-Rocks Exposed

7/8/10 - Creek Water after Rain #1-Hoodoo with Fewer Rocks Exposed

Genie’s Cooling Chair with Rock Table after Rain #1

Limbs of Tree Touching Ground from All the Rain after Rain #1

Close-Up of Tree Branch after Rain #1

NOW GET READY FOR THE BIG CHANGE AFTER RAIN #2

7/9/10 - Partial Hoodoo with No Rocks Exposed 

Genie’s Chair but No Table Exposed 

How in the world my cooling chair managed to survive that onslaught of rushing water without ending up in the Maury River I will never know....guess I was just lucky! It is amazing what two HEAVY rains in less than 24 hours can do for an almost dry creek.  We were desperate for rain, and it finally came with a vengeance.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! Our prayers were answered.  The birds, bees, flowers, grasses, trees, and of course, Buddy and I, are so happy.

Our family and friends delight in building hoodoos in our creek and along the river.  In a good year, before they are washed away, we can have as many as a dozen all up and down our creek.  If you are curious about the “hoodoos”, here is the definition:

A hoodoo (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney, and earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos consist of soft sedimentary rock topped by harder, less easily-eroded stone that protects each column from the elements.

~And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. Gilbert K. Chesterton 

My Friday Favorites

My Friday Favorites -
Originally uploaded by buttonsforbaga

This is my first attempt at putting together a mosaic of different girls’ projects from the “Seams to Me” group on Flickr. The pictures are of twelve “I Want One of Everything” bags by Anna Maria Horner’s pattern found in her book Seams To Me. These are ones I thought were extremely colorful and creative. To reach the list of the links to the girls who made the bags, click on the mosaic and you will be taken to my Flickr page.  There, under the collection, you will see the list. From there you can check out the bags more closely. I have made a number of these bags for myself and for gifts and absolutely love the pattern and the way it calls for the interesting mixture of fabric designs.

“On The Road” Quilters Kit

Since I decided to try to try to finish a quilt top I started last summer, it was necessary to pull out my quilting supplies.  Looking at this little case I made to take with me to school or in the car, I thought I would share with you how I made it.

On the internet I found the sweetest little pattern for a tea pot, so I pulled out some of my favorite remnants of flannel and appliqued them to the top.

The little kit is basically a sandwich made up of a top, a middle of batting, and a back out of a coordinated flannel.

As you can see, this little kit hold a whole lot of “Stuff” every quilter needs.  I stitched different sized pockets to hold the different tools I always need.

These are all the items I am able to carry in the kit, and I could even add more if needed.  It really does work well.  When I designed it, I did not take into account the size of the cutting board so it does stick out a little bit above the edge when the kit is closed over on itself and tied. Hey, no one is perfect...right????

I used the material above the pockets for pins, needles, and safety pins.  I cannot do without them close at hand. This area is basically my pin cushion! Once I completed the little project I still had some pieces of the flannel left over so I decided to make myself a pin cushion.  Well, I LOVE IT!  I use is all the time. 

I did not have a pattern for any of this...it was a “do as you go” project which turned out to be one of my favorites and most useful.  Only the teapot design came from a pattern. I have lots more tools that are not in this kit, but it does hold everything I need if I am on the road or anywhere away from home and want to sew or quilt.

Summertime Is Time to Finish Quilts Sitting In the “To DO" Basket

     Ever since school let out for the summer, I have been cleaning and playing on my computer.  I’ve made some more of my "100 Dress Challenge” dresses for Little Dresses for Africa, some squares for "Rainbow Around the Block", several of Anna Maria Horner’s “I Want One of Everything Bags”, but sadly, my quilting has been put on the back burner.  Today I got up and told myself to get out the pink lap quilt I started LAST summer and see if I could finish it within the next week. It would be a way to keep mind off of the fact I’m covered in chigger bites and they are itching me to the point I am ready to scream. I wonder which will end first....the new bites appearing and itching or the quilt getting completed. We shall see.  Sorry about the quality of the photograph of the quilt top, but I have not as yet figured out how to properly photograph quilts in progress. It is made from Moda Jelly Roll pieces of fabric, but I do not remember which collection I was using.  It is pale yellows, greens, and pinks, and the backing is a lovely little yellow print which will blend in well. I put Prairie Points on along the top and bottom edges.

The Backing

Prairie Points

I was fortunate in that WallyWorld...AKA WalMart... is now carrying a 80% cotton/20% polyester batting at $11.00 for a double bed sizing so I did not have to drive 100 miles round trip to Michael’s to buy the cotton Heirloom batting. That put a smile on my face.

So here is where I am at plugging away.  I’ve cut out the batting and because I am old and used to doing it “my way” dating back 50 years, I hand basted the batting to the top with a dark blue thread starting at the top and working down every two inches to the bottom.  After that I cut out the backing strips and have them sewn them to either side of the backing and across one end. I refuse to buy more fabric to equalize the strips of the back because I made a promise to myself that I would use only what I had on hand...with the exception of the batting which I needed. Now let’s see how far I get today. That answer is up for grabs!

Genie’s Thrifty Thursday Bargains

Boy, did I hit the jackpot this week!  I’m appalled at my finds and am already using some of them. It just tickles me so when a find a REAL bargain. Our antique mall was having a 25% off sale because of the big holiday so I even saved a bit more.

               Number 1:  Decorations for the Fourth of July - Total=$4.00 less 25%

I used the two Dr. Pepper bottles to hold some of the flowers out of my garden, and we ate pop corn from the holders while watching the fireworks on TV.                        

                                  Number 2:  Linens - Total=$3.00 less 25%

The lady that always has the cheap linens had brought in a few more, and once again I got each for $1.00 but this time less 25%.  Now I am up to 5 of them. She has larger pieces in squares and rectangles, but they are $8.00 so have left those for someone else.

                   Number 3: A tall box with a slide-up door - Total=$45.00 less 25%

I do not have a clue what this was used for, but i got it put store all my thread. Unfortunately I did not have any spools with me to measure by, so my son is going to need to make some modifications so the spools fit a bit better and do not fall out.  Still it is so much better than the boxes I was using before. You can see from the lower picture that the way the lip is constructed the small spools will fall out and the thicker one will not fit at all. Thank goodness the person who owned it made the door for the front that slide up and out.  That way it doesn’t look so messy and the spools stay in place. My husband thinks it was a room key box, but I don’t know if I buy that one or not. Anyone have any ideas? The price for this was $65.00, but I did my usual begging and pleading and got it down to $45.00 + the 25% discount.  I think it was a good deal for what I need it for.

                          

                               Number 4: Easel for Eloise...and it was FREE! 

I cleaned out some cabinets and was taking odds and ends to Goodwill but was so tired I decided to just go up to the dumpsters and leave the things there in their box. As I drove in I noticed a child’s double-sided blackboard/paint easel standing there just waiting for a taker.  I snatched it up for my Eloise, and then placed my box of freshly washed and ironed place mats, table linens, some clothes, and a bunch of cups and plates. Before I could drive away one of my former students drove in with her garbage. I rolled down my window and told her about the things. To make a long story short, she was just as happy to get my linens and dishes as I was to find the easel. I guess the saying is true ....One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

JULY’S FIRST REDNESDAY!

OH, BOY!!!  Rednesday is here again....the first one for July of 2010.  

HERE WE GO!

There is nothing like fresh tomatoes from our local farmer’s market raised and sold by a fellow retired teacher.  These were grown in their greenhouse, but they tasted as if we had picked them right out of our own garden. Buddy and I love our tomato sandwiches on pumpernickel bread with freshly picked lettuce, a little horseradish, and fried bacon....YUM!

This is a plate I made for my husband while I was out in Poulsbo, Washington, at a little ceramics shop. I went there with my daughter-in-law and her two boys to make presents for their daddy, my son.  The little banks are ones I brought back from one of my many trips to England.  I absolutely adore the British Isles, and our home is full of books and other momentos from our trips across the pond.

This last photo if of my trusty fan which has been blowing on me all night long, night after night for a week, now.  Usually it sits on my desk at school, but in the summers I bring it home for safe keeping.  It is just too cute to lose. Boy...is it hot here in Virginia!

Hope you all are surviving the heat wave and enjoying our first July Rednesday!      

Kathy’s Wonderful Giveaway

Over at Kathy’s beautiful blog named “A Delightful Life" you will learn all about her GREAT giveaway of Victoria inspired items. You can click on her button in my sidebar, and you’ll fly non-stop directly to her site. I cannot get over how lovely all of her things are....an absolutely beautiful collection. The giveaway will be running from July 5th through August 3rd so stop by, pay her a visit, read her lovely blog, and enter her giveaway. The person who wins is going to be a very LUCKY gal!

Good Morning, ME Monday

When I am down and out feeling like I can’t put one foot in front of the other due to the aches and pains of older age or the hand life has dealt me for a given day, this little book of Mary’s always brightens my spirits. It keeps me marching forward with a smile on my face and more “umph” in my steps..  How she does what she does I do not know, but her drawings and inspirational quotes continue to alter my drooping moods for the better.

Here’s hoping all of you are have a happy ME Monday!

“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do it keep on walking.”

~Buddhist Proverb

The Lexington Fourth of July 2010

Buddy and I had a wonderful 4th today.  This morning we ran errands, cleaned out our barn and horse stall, worked in the yard planting more marigolds and picking up fallen branches and twigs, went into town to see the tethered hot air balloons' lighting firing up in pitch black darkness, and got to see two of our grandsons out at camp Maxwelton,  Finally, we came home to watch the DC 4th of July Celebration on PBS and the annual Boston Pops show. Here are some photos from our day.

I do not do a lot of decorating anymore but did put out a few little things to make our house look a bit festive.  On the left  is uur little kitchen table which was given to us by the mother of one of my former students, and the picture on the right are my decorations on our dining room table.  

 

VA flag, American flag,and VA Horse Center Flag                  Flag Flying at VMI

These are two of the many hot air balloons on the parade ground of Virginia Military Institute last night in total darkness.  They were tethered and then lighted up for the audience to enjoy.  We had a great time watching them.                                                                                           

Here flies our VERY, VERY old American flag which I refuse to part with hanging from a column on the front of our house. The thought of having to burn it breaks heart so I patch it up where it fits through the wooden pole and keep on going! Here’s hoping all of you, my blogger friends, had a wonderful holiday in the company of loved ones.  It was certainly a special day for Buddy and me.