Great Weekend

On Saturday morning we packed Mr. Energy in the car for a trip to the Apple Butter Festival at Fenner Arboretum. It was very cold but the sun was shining. Seems like it's been a long time since we've seen the sun. We saw Jackie B and Pam A (and another quilter that I didn't know) quilting on behalf of the CCQG. Cubby wasn't too interested in stirring the apple butter, I think the fire and smoke was too scary. But he loved the music and actually sat still for a song or two.

This is his "I'm at the top of the stairs and I'll be gone by the time you can get up here" smile. Gamma Gamma needed a nap by the end of the day...

On Sunday I drove to Kalamazoo to the Log Cabin Quilter's Show. Cyndee was too sick to go so I drove alone and made a side trip to see my parents. Saw Kari and Dan at the show too. Bought too much hand-dyed fabric from Windberry Studio but I couldn't resist.  The show has moved from the hotel to the fairgrounds. Easy access off of the highway but unfortunately not much improvement in the lighting which was my biggest complaint at the Raddison. Nice show. About 300 quilts. This quilt is by Billie Gunderson and uses Jane Sassaman fabric.

I have quite a stack of Jane fabrics that I have collected. Maybe it's about time...

Homework

I'm taking an online Microsoft Office class from Lansing Community College to update my skills while I am job hunting. This was one of our homework assignments - to create a personal poster using Microsoft Word including an imported image, bullet points, border, etc... you get the idea. Actually, I was surprised at the design tools that are available in Word so I guess I'm learning something.

Durand Quilt Show

Saturday, Cindy and I went to the 10th Annual Durand Quilt show.  It was a small show but it had many very nice quilts. In addition to the quilts at the Methodist Church, there was also a display of antique quilts at the train depot. The depot itself has been restored and is very beautiful.

I really liked this applique quilt. It has that folk art flavor that would look good in wool also.

This quilt was bright and cheerful. I'm pretty sure I've seen this commercial pattern before.I have a sunflower quilt in process (UFO) that has paper pieced petals. Maybe I'll get back to it someday.

Today I went to the Turner Dodge House for the First Sunday Gallery walk. There were several amazing photographers exhibiting their works.  I particularly liked Kim Ellen Kauffman. She scans actual pieces of plants and then photoshops different layers on top of each other. Check out her work.

I also saw John Diephouse who lives in our neighborhood. He has a photo of peppers that I would like to hang in my kitchen. I'll have to wait though because right now it is on display in Midland.  He has a exhibit beginning Friday in Owosso. Maybe a road trip.....

Circles and Orbs

When I was in California, I picked up at fat quarter pack at JoAnn's for something to hand-piece on the 350 mile journey to Monterey. The fabric didn't really thrill me but "grab a fat quarter pack, use my 40% off coupon" was where I was at the time. This is the result. I like the whole much better than the parts.

I'm still getting used to my new camera. I finally figured out how to recharge the battery. I think I've been using the auto focus but some pictures turn out better than others.

Memorial Day Weekend I bought two tomato plants for $2.99 each. Admittedly they sat on my back patio for a month before I finally got them in the ground. Here are tomatoes #3 and #4 from my plants. That makes my ROI (return on investment - I've been out of work a long time...) about $1.50 each so far. There are still more green tomatoes out there. Maybe if we can squeak out a little more sunshine before it frosts, I'll have more.

Floral Baby Quilt

At long last, here is a picture of the baby quilt I worked on the last week of June (my first week of funemployement as Mary H says). I sent the top out to my sister and she finished it. It has a new home with a new baby somewhere in Michigan! The baby's grandma works with my sister. 

Chris machine quilted it in a 2 inch grid pattern

and added a fun pink polka dot backing. Just right for a new baby girl.

This handsome model (my brother-in-law) is showing off my sister's latest messenger bag creation. She's already sold it to someone in her office for a laptop bag. The library is having a craft sale in October (Phyllis check it out). The creative minds and sewing machines are already humming.

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.