Those dang computers...

Well, its been quite a week around here. It all began last weekend when my dear daughter and I decided to watch Hulu to catch up on some show we had missed. We got the brilliant idea that we should be able to connect the laptop to the tv and watch the shows. WRONG! Our old laptop crashed and we ended up taking it in to have it resusitated at Staples. While we were there, we purchased a Sony Vio so we would have a laptop for daughter that would support gaming and hopefully take care of her into college. ( we may be living in a dream world around that idea...).

So the last several days we have been spent trying to get 3 laptops (2 older and one new) back into our 'network'. Hubby and I are too old for this, evidently. We finally got a friend of a friend (who is significanly younger) to come over and help. Of course, in less than an hour he had everything up and running and gave us a list of things we need to improve our network!

In the mean time, I traded in my Brother embroidery machine for a newer model. Wow! what fun! (Also has its own 'learning curve'...) So yesterday a good friend came over and helped me start my first project. I'll try to get a picture of my dish towel. It Worked!!

Wednesday I am going to Des Moines with friends for the day. We will be going to the AQS Quilt Show. It promises to be a fun day. Unfortunately, after this week, I will have no money to spend there...nuts! Oh well, it will be great just to see all the quilts and new products.

Ta ta for now!

How About Those Hawkeyes!

I'm not usually a huge football freak, but I think those Iowa Hawkeyes deserve my support! They are doing very well this season. I guess I'm a 'fair weather' Hawk fan.

I quilted a quilt at the shop yesterday. I'll try and get a picture of it when it is bound. I started this quilt 2 years ago when I went on a quilting weekend to a lake in northern Missouri. It was a beautiful setting in late October (about this same time of year, but MUCH warmer). The quilt was from a Better Homes and Garden Quilts and More called Exclamation Point.

Wow, we had our first snow of the season yesterday!! That's just not right. We've been trying to 'winterize' around here. Taking in outdoor furniture cushions, Goodwill runs, etc.

Time to get back to my sewing room. I'm working on a quilt for the shop. More later!

Cool, Crisp Morning

I guess Fall is officially here. The morning is cool and crisp. I need to go for a walk in the woods...or at least on the trail behind our house.


Had a great weekend. Worked a couple of hours at the quilt shop on Saturday. Worked on the New York Beauty quilt at home. Gosh, that quilt just goes on forever! I hope I can finish it in my lifetime!

Saturday evening was the Homecoming dance for daughter's school. They had a great time.

Sunday, dear daughter and I went to Des Moines Civic Center with my brother and sister-in-law to see Wicked! Had a very enjoyable day! The show was staged beautifully, but I did not come away from it wanting more. Sorry to say, but it just didn't do much for me. From all the hype, I expected to be awe-struck, but wasn't.

After the show, we went to Jordan Creek Mall and did a little shopping. Ate dinner at Pangs(?) Chinese restaurant. Very tasty! Finally got back home at 9:30.

Get this, my dear hubby had cleaned the carpets on the first floor while we were gone! What an angel!

Last night, as I watched House and Lie To Me, I worked on the cable vest for my daughter. I am making good progress. It should be done before she graduates...from college! Why do I even start this stuff? It takes for ever...

More soon.

Early Morning Thoughts

Tuesday morning. Not much going on. Just finished breakfast and gearing up for for morning walk with hubby. He just needs to wake up...

Finished hand sewing the binding down on the Bento Box quilt! I put 'minkie' on the back of this quilt, so it feels yummy. I also quilted it myself with a pumpkin-themed meander..looks great! I also bound the Birthday Banner from Patrick Lose's book, Poster Quilts. Its really sweet. I quilted it with silver metallic thread...not as easy as it looks.

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning and everyone is still sleeping. The weather has been so fantastic this last month that its unbelievable! Mild temperatures, mild humidity and no rain...wonderful! Yesterday hubby and I planted some mums in the front yard. We went to Menard's (hubby's favorite store) and got 4 weird pumpkins for the front entry, too. We also put a new screen door on the doorway that enters into the garage. There is a wonderful breeze into the house if the garage door is open

Didn't get any sewing or knitting done. Still working on dear daughter's vest and a New York Beauty type quilt. Both will take a while. I'm already tired of both and want to start something else....and probably will. Such is the life of a knitter/stitcher.

Today is shaping up to be productive, also. We need to complete the screen-door project by adding the hardware,although Hubby keeps trying to convince me that it works just as well without it. I think he's ready to stop working on this project...

Thursday night thoughts..

Had a good day at work today. Sold lots of material and got to do a little satin stitching on a shop project.

Hubby had a physical and passed with flying colors. Darling daughter was not friends with anyone arrested at her school for drugs today, thank god.Dog had no accidents in the house, that we know of. So, all in all, it was a great day!

More soon! I promise to write more often than not.

Why do I do this?

Why do I do this? I'm terrible at keeping up with my blog...I certainly apologize. Here it is September and I haven't even LOOKED at this blog for months.

I'm in the throws of a quilting and knitting revival. I have been making small quilt projects alot lately. Took a fun class at my local quilt shop with Patrick Lose, quilter and author from Phoenix. Really improved my satin stitching...thanks Patrick!

Took a one-day bus trip into Chicago for a visit to Midwest Stitches. OMG! Could have spent sooo much money there..Managed to keep it under 500, barely. I'm working on a vest for my darling daughter. Got it at the WEBS booth. I've already ripped it out once....oh well. Got MORE sock yarn...what was I thinking??!!? and some beautiful hand-dyed yarn for a vest for me, and some soft and yummy alpaca for whoever.

Hubby retired this last summer! Two weeks before, he fell off the ladder while painting and broke his arm! He is getting back to normal and hopes to take up the planned fishing he said he was going to do when he retires. Its great having him around. We are walking more and getting alot of cleaning and moving of 'stuff' accomplished.

Getting back into the swing of fall. Had our first Gourmet for this year. YUM! Good food and great conversation. And wine to boot! I volunteered to do December.

Daughter is a junior this year! Yikes! Where did the time go? She is now driving herself...what a relief! She is currently volunteering at the Natural History Museum and hopes to go into Archeology. Also planning on going to France for spring break with French class. We are so proud of her!

My mother is doing well. She was living with us for about 10 months. She is currently in an assisted living facility and getting along fine. She celebrates her 90th birthday in November!

The pictures show some of my new paint colors in our condo. You can hardly see the soft yellow in the 4-season room, but its great! The sweater is the one I made at Crazy Girl knit shop. I accidentally felted it..oops!! I can't wear it but daughter can.

Signing off for now. We'll see how long between entries next time...