Sophomore Year

I remember sophomore year in East Quad (the hippie dorm) at U of M.  I was lucky enough in the dorm lottery drawing to score a single room on the second floor.  A tiny white cell with (for you MSU fans) a green accent wall. You could also climb out the window to a small balcony which was actually the roof of the bay window of the lounge below.

As I said in my earlier post, we took my nephew to begin his 2nd year at CSUMB. The land has been leased from a 77 year old military post. It is rather eerie driving around looking at old, no longer used, abandoned buildings imagining what life was like when it was teeming with soldiers. There are also many new buildings which the college has built since 1995.

A couple of enterprising management companies are leasing the old base housing to students. Here is my nephew and his new roommates in front of the 3 bedroom house they are leasing. My sister and I both agreed that it was much nicer than our first student rentals.

Here's a closeup of the crew. 

Has everyone seen Julie & Julia? Did it inspire you to cook anything? Cyndee made 4 or 5 different muffins and quick breads to take to her sister's, Irene made Sheperd's Pie, I was going to make plain old spaghetti but was inspired to make a Ham Rotini Bake instead.  How about you?

Timmy and Matt go to Chicago

Here are Matthew (shotgun) and Timmy (driver), my sister's Collies, ready to drive to Chicago.

When we were kids and used to go to the bank or other errand with my dad, he would leave us in the car (back in the days when you could leave kids unattended in the car). We would climb through the bucket seats - our Dad drove a mustang - and sit in the front seats and pretend to drive to Chicago.

Last week I was in California and we moved my nephew the 350 miles back to CSUMB (Cal State Univ Monterey Bay). The "boys" apparently thought it would be fun to go along. Sorry guys, not enough room. Notice their dapper, cool summer haircuts.

Auntie Lisa also taught them a new trick. While getting ice out of the frig for my beverage, a few cubes landed on the floor. I just threw them into the dog water dish like I do at home. Matt and Timmy thought dunking for cubes was great fun and now expect it every time they hear the ice dispenser. Sorry sis. 

Aren't they Great!

Here's the troop on the 4th of July. I wasn't there but Claire shared the picture. Although sighted very rarely, this is Ian and Liz with Claire and Cubby.

My sister flew back to LA today. We had a nice but short visit.  Went to see the Lugnuts Friday night.  13 innings! (they lost) but we had to stay to see the fireworks.  It was in the 50's. What happened to those hot summer nights?

About that baby quilt top......I gave it to my sister to take back with her and finish for a coworker's grandchild and I forgot to snap a photo first. My sister promised to send one. You'll have to wait a bit longer...  She brought my 5 yards of Jane S. fabric that she bought on sale for me. Maybe I'll have to bop over to Jane's blog for some ideas.

Drive on!

Here's Cubby at the Ft Wayne Zoo.  I know, his hat says  Detroit Zoo but we were really in Indiana. He's becoming quite the zoo traveler. He's driving a jeep in the African safari exhibit. It's very cool.

I had planned to show the completed top for the baby quilt I'm working on.  I realized that I hadn't prewashed the border fabric so the top is not finished yet.  I don't always prewash my fabric, especially for wall hangings but on baby quilts that will be washed frequently, I think it's a good idea.

Sooooo, you'll have to wait a little longer.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Drum roll please.... Last Thursday was my last day at work. After 30 years, it seems totally strange to not get up and drive out Grand River. I was just thinking last week that I didn't have to watch the speed limit signs along the way because my car KNOWS exactly where each change occurs. I've always pondered what I wanted to be when I grew up. Now is my chance to totally change directions... or not. Do I take the first job I find just to have a job? Do I go back to school and start something totally different?  Stay tuned......

I was trying to think of some analogy to a snake in the grass but I couldn't come up with anything. This is me petting a snake at the 

Ft Wayne Zoo so that Cubby wouldn't be afraid. Be brave, try new things...

I wished that I had more time to enjoy the summer which seems to be flying past (it's July already!) Last Friday we took Cubby to the water park and enjoyed time in the sun and a picnic lunch. Today I spent some time working in my long neglected garden. 

Be careful what you wish for.

More Views from Sauder Village

Jan, this picture is for you. Our friend Jan G has been working forever, hand quilting on a wonderful quilt that uses these same bunnies. Jan's quilt has the bunnies hiding among flowers. The first time I saw it, I thought it was an antique top that she was finishing. It has a wonderful old time feel.  I also seem to remember being on the hunt at a quilt show when Ruth D was looking for the pattern.  The are so cute they have universal appeal. 

Daisy, this would have made a good entry for your Drunkard's Path challenge.  Louise could have made it since she's into strip quilts. Look closely. There's a weird shaped curve that's kind of intriguing. At first, I thought it was the background showing through the "hole".  But I think it's another half circle appliqued on top.

For those of you who haven't seen Cubby in awhile, he's becoming quite the little man. Here he is at Sauder.  The lady in the little church played him "Twinkle Star" on the organ.  He was so excited! That's not what he usually hears at church!

It's Been Awhile

It's hard to believe it's been a month since the Sauder Quilt Show. Where did May go? We've also enjoyed the East Lansing Art Fair and the Capitol City Quilt Show.  I'll admit, when it was announced, I wasn't enthused about the change in venue to the Summit but the show was beautiful.I think the talent in our Guild just gets better and better.

Here's a photo of my quilt "Leaves Redeaux" hanging at the Sauder show.  I won a 3rd place in the Mixed Media, hand quilting category. At the CCQG show I bought some wonderful hand-dyed fabrics in autumn colors (you'll like them CarolSc and Daisy). There may be another leaf quilt in the future... and I always thought I was a 'brights' person...

On the subject of being open to new things... I have never been a big fan of stack-n-whack quilts but I thought this quilt a Sauder was wonderful! 

Here's another close up shot.  Lots of machine quilting.  Lots of beads.  My kind of quilt!

My sister called me this weekend. Big sale on Jane S. fabric at Michael Levine's in downtown L.A. I told her to buy me a yard and she bought 5!!  She's bringing it out with her in July. Can't wait.

It's been pouring rain all day so no yardwork this evening. No Cubby. No meetings. 

So here I am!