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. 

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.