Checking In

Yes, I'm still here.  But how did it get to be the middle of August already??!  Wow, the summer is just flying past, and I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I posted.  Need I mention that I've been pretty busy?  I mean, who hasn't been busy, right?  But really, this is ridiculous.  It must be because I'm on the downhill side and gaining speed.  But downhill of what?  I'm not sure.

We haven't been traveling to fun and exotic places, but we've been busy.  The Potter had his big summer event and did very well.  So well, in fact, that now he's scrambling to have enough pottery for his two big events in September plus a LOT of custom commissions as well.   Plus the stores he's supplying are wanting more stuff too.  He's hardly been out of the pottery studio for two months.  I've been telling him that this is a good problem to have, but I'm not sure he believes me.

I did take a day trip over to Vashon Island a couple of weeks ago to celebrate some quilting friends' birthdays with lunch out and a trip to Island Quilter quilt shop.  If you're in the area, I recommend a trip over there.  The island is beautiful, Vashon (the town) is cute and fun, and the quilt shop is wonderful!  Lots and lots of great fabrics and everything is $9.99 a yard.  Even the new fabrics!  The Hardware Store is a great place to eat too.

My sister visited us last weekend for her big 6-0 birthday.  We dyed fabric, played in the pottery studio, went to see Despicable Me 2 and generally had a great time.  And we ate really well too!  Lots of fun was had by all, except for the kitties who were pouting because The Kid and The Dog were visiting too.

But, I have managed to get in a little sewing here and there amidst all the summer fun.

I've shown this panel previously here way back in June.  I'm supposed to make this into a Quilt of Valor.   That blog post prompted Sue over at The Magpie's Nest to offer me a collaboration!  She sent me some blocks that she had and that she thought might work with the panel.  Wow!  These are just a few of the 40 or so blocks she sent.  It looks like it might take some creative planning, but I think these will work just fine.  Thanks, Sue!  This is all the farther I've gotten and I need to get busy working on this.  It's supposed to be done by early October, and at the rate I'm going, that will be a challenge.  

I finally decided to add a small border to my Low Volume quilt top.  Just enough to finish it nicely, I think.  So now this is at the flimsy stage, and I'm working on making a back to go with, so I can get this to my quilter P.D.Q.  It needs to be done for the guild quilt show in early October.

Here's a better view of the small border.  I think this lower-volume print goes well.

Of course, this is the way my photo shoots usually go. . . . 

because of this not-very-wee-anymore beastie.  He's such a help.  Yeah, right.

Yesterday I found that we have a visitor to our back deck.  Froggie has taken up residence in my "bird bath", which is really a plant pot saucer (made by The Potter) that I filled with water for the birds.  They usually get a drink of water and/or take a bath here, but now Froggie chases them around the dish whenever they get into the water, which upsets the birds terribly.  It is hysterical to watch!  

Here is where the bird bath lives, on the back deck.  I believe Froggie is not a tree frog but is one of the many, many frogs that live in the pond.

Looking up from the deck, here is how far away the pond (that big shiny white blob in the distance) is from the deck.  What a long trek for a little froggie!

Then, last night, I discovered that Froggie has a friend now.  (And isn't it amazing how dirty the water got in just a few hours?)  They're just hanging out in the water or on the deck.  I wonder how long this will go on?  

The fun never ends around here!