Weeds and WILD

It's very sad when good property is allowed to go to weed.... The photos below are from former pastures on opposite sides of the road...two different parcels of land with two different owners. At one time, both had cattle grazing.

Now...nothing but weeds with purple flowers...

...and yellow flowers.

I think these are golden rod, but am not certain. Good thing I am not sensitive to this stuff!!

Can you guess that this is the "wild" part of today's post? :) This was one of the classes at the quilt retreat I attended in Branson MO a couple of weeks ago. It's a block of white fabric. I drew on it...well, I made marks on it with permanent markers - Sharpies. Placed it on a couple of layers of paper towels then sprayed it was 90% alcohol...check the bottle label some is 70%. Remove the towels, place another dry towel or two under it to keep it from running all over the place. When it's dry enough...I even picked it up and waved it in the air...the alcohol tries pretty quick. Voila! My very own, one of a kind, yougly ;) fabric!

I think this would make a great kid's art project!

Oooops.

So. I'm leaving the grocery store the other day. The young man who sacked my groceries for me was pushing the buggy (I'm from Texas - it's a BUGGY not a cart). This car starts to back out...I looked at Young Man and say, "Wow that's sure an ugly car. What is it?" I look at the grill on the front. "Fiat. Is that a Fiat?" 

Young Man says, "Looks like it." 

Driver of said ugly car puts the shifter in Drive. I see her grinning from ear to ear. Then I see the driver's side window is down about four inches.

I look at her and mouth, Did you hear me? 
Still grinning, she makes eye contact with me and nods her head, Yes.

Ay-yi-yi!!

I guess I gave Young Man something to tell his mother about when he got home that evening.

My Grandson is a STAR!

Newest Kindle Cover

 I recently returned from a quilting retreat - COF (Circle of Friends) in Branson MO. Months before the retreat, all participants were send a FQ (fat quarter a piece of fabric approximately 18" x 22") in a beautiful leaf and fern print. If I'm not mistaken the fern is the state plant of Missouri.

The FQ challenge was to make a project, put it in a paper sack, and submit it to be voted on in several categories.

I made a Kindle cover. I didn't even vote for it myself. While I believe it is definitely pretty. And I used almost all the FQ provided. The other projects were so far superior in design that I could not vote for my own.

The next retreat is June 2013 in Harrisburg OH. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend.

C*H*O*C*O*L*A*T*E and Other Less Important Stuff

Sam won a bag of goodies at the last HOG (Harley Owner's Group) meeting. The bag contained HD straws, napkins, beer bottle opener, coasters, and a HD ice cube tray. Of course the tray was not in the shape of cubes, but the HD emblem.

I have an ice maker so wasn't too enthused about the ice tray.  That is until I thought CHOCOLATE!  I melted a bag of dark chocolate chips, spooned it into the compartments, jiggled the spoon around hoping to fill all the crooks and crannies. I tried to unmold one at room temperature...that didn't work so I popped the tray in the refrigerator. That worked! They popped out perfectly! 

I told Sam that I'd make some for the next meeting he attended for a door prize.

WHAT? Someone had to take care of the QC department! 

Yes. It is a sacrifice but somebody's gotta do it. :D

I made English muffins this afternoon.

And finished my COF table topper by adding some decorative machine stitching to some select rows.

COF Quilting Retreat in Branson MO

 I had a blast in Branson MO at the 2012 COF (Circle of Friends) quilt retreat. We met, visited, talked, played games, learned new techniques, attended the Springfield MO quilt show, won door prizes...so much in just 3-4 days. 

I finished my Prairie Points...but that's it.

I did learn the basics of the Chevron Placemats, but finished sewing them together (quilt-as-you-go) this evening after I got home. Just need to make seven more and bind them...and hope I have enough fabric for a table runner.

I got the Table Topper sewn half together...finished it when I got home too...except for the backing and batting.




How about some Missouri clouds?

 

This Evening

 It's been quite awhile since I pulled out the camera for cloud photos. These were on the way home from work this evening. We've had rain for a couple of days now. The result? Great cloud formations!

For supper: Texas Gulf brown shrimp on a bed of mixed greens. Half a sliced avocado. Drizzled with Sam's homemade red sauce. A dollop of homemade tartar sauce.

ANY Weekend Spent with the Grands...

Is a GRAND weekend!

Pool Time Can be Tiring...

Isn't Cain just THE sweetest little boy?! Poor baby...I think he's being starved. ;-)

BIRTHDAY Time!

Grand niece's birthday. Brianna is now officially 6 years old!

This is poor preemie Ty. He turned a year in June. Awful skinny isn't he?! ;-)

He is in therapy to help develop his motor skills.  Looks as if it's working!

Here's Isabel in the dress I made...showing one of her many tricks.