Fall Fun

Last Saturday we travelled to Lowell to the Fallasburg Fall Festival.  It was a blustery, rainy day so I didn't bother with the camera. Despite the weather, we had a great time.  There was a play structure with a 10 foot climbing wall, three slides, a fire pole, a bridge and lots of nooks and crannies, just right for an almost 4 (!!!) year old. We also drew a scary face on a softball sized pumpkin and Cubby had a Jack-O-Lantern painted on his cheek. He's getting to be an old pro at this face painting thing. He managed to get through the day and all the way home before he"accidentally" splashed water on it. 

Look what came home with me! I couldn't resist this happy face. He's going to find a place in my garden if I ever find my garden. Oh, well. There's always next year. For the older crowd, there was an arts and crafts show, music and lots of yummy treats including warm baked apple dumplings with whipped cream ...mmmmm!

 
I won't say it's been awhile since I've mowed but.... look what's growing in my backyard.

Now who planted these?

Fall Into It

Sounds like everyone has the same idea. Now that we've thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful Michigan summer, it's time to get back to indoor creativity. Attended the MQN show yesterday and got "reinspired". "Two Men and a Trunk (and one in trunks)" was hilarious.  Actually came home and cleared off my cutting table (before watching the overtime of the MSU game - wow! - even from a "Blue" fan).

Country Stitches block of the month is due this week. Then there's the Habitat for Humanity small quilt and the Charm attic window challenge. I think this is the first year I have all of my block exchange blocks done  before the last meeting of the year. - hooray!  I'm also determined to learn how to knit socks this winter. 

Time to get movin', movin', movin'!

Blue Bayou

This is a glass sculpture from the recent glass exhibit by Craig Mitchell Smith at the MSU Hort Gardens. It was a beautiful evening. The glass sculptures were incorporated into the gardens - a surprise around every corner. We've decided that this is the same local artist that created the overhead installation in the Riverwalk Theater lobby and the wall sconces on the way into the theater.   It was fun to see the exhibit at MSU and see a Michigan artist get well deserved recognition. On the 24th we're going to see the Chihuly glass exhibit at Meijer Gardens which from Ruth's pictures looks fantastic.

Gennie and I walked this morning before it got too muggy and hot. This hydrangea is growing in you-know-who's backyard. Gennie likes to stop there for a drink and a roll in the lush, cool grass. It's really much "bluer" than this photo.

Cubby's Got Wheels!

Yesterday, Cubby went to the store and picked out his Toy Story big boy bike. I liked the red Disney "Cars" bike with the flames on the side but he wanted Toy Story. This photo was taken with Claire's cell phone. I'm sure Gamma Gamma will take many pictures the next time he shows up in my driveway with his new wheels.

Pharmacy Tech-The Home Stretch

Here's half of the 'Get a Skill, Get a Job' Pharmacy Technician Associate Class. The other half decided not to get in on the frivolities. At 9:30 on a Friday night after a whole week of class and 22 hours working at the pharmacy, you get a little silly. We're at LCC, standing in front of the Horizontal Laminar Flow Hood (which is obscuring half of my face, oh well...). The hood blows air at 90 miles/min outward so that no particles get into any medications that you are mixing in the sterile area within the hood. That's our instructor on the far left in the lovely chapeau.

Only 2 1/2 more weeks to go. I feel like I've lost touch with everybody but as the 'govenator' says, "I'll be back"!

Here's a photo I took awhile ago of Cubby Batman at Post Oak. I think he's already grown several inches since then. Yesterday we went to the Meridian Farmer's Market and took turns being a troll at the Meridian Village Gazebo. (The troll said that I couldn't pass unless I hit 3 imaginary baseballs - I love 3 year old imaginations). Then we stopped by Cindy's to see her kitty and chase the bees out of her yard with Cubby's Black and Decker power sander. I'm not really sure why you chase bees with a sander, but if I were a bee, I'd run.....

Sauder Village 2010

Okay, so I'm a little behind. Finals and all that. I snagged this picture off of Ruth's blog just because I wanted to have a record of our annual trip to Sauder Village. It is always such a great day.

My sister drafted and appliqued a mallard duck block for Deb's block exchange bird quilt. Chris, I thought you might enjoy seeing these geese.

I loved this folk art applique quilt. See the rooster in the bottom row? One of his relatives may find his way into my "chicken quilt". I've been gathering fabric and several ideas have been incubating since December. Black, white, yellow and red polka dots. Stay tuned.

This Piece-O-Cake-esque applique just seemed so fresh to me. Ideas for wool applique maybe?

Herding Cats

Ever try to get a handful of 3 year olds to all do the same thing at the same time? Not the easiest task for sure. Cubby had his second soccer game on Saturday. They ran back and forth and practiced kicking but never actually got around to playing a game. Their opponent, the Green Team was on the other side of the field but it was picture day and there was more chaos than usual. Cubby had his own agenda and had more fun tackling one of his teammates - maybe he thought he was playing rugby?

It was quite the blustery morning but at least the rain had stopped by gametime. After the game we went to the playground at Post Oak (Eileen, we saw Costas and Thomas roaming the neighborhood) and then played hide-n-seek with Gennie. The little ball of energy finally took a 30 minute snooze around 6pm and then was up and ready for more! Gamma and Gennie crawled into bed early Saturday night.