Bite of Bozeman . . .

Tonight - Wednesday (my favorite day of the week) was the "Bite of Bozeman" which officially kicks off the "Sweet Pea Festival" celebrated here in Bozeman from now through August 3rd. It is an art and crafts festival that involves all kinds of fame, fortune and family. They close off all 12 blocks of Main Street for this special "Bite of Bozeman", set up tables, and various restaurants and others serve wonderful food from the sidewalk as over 10,ooo people from this small town (30,000 population) walk, push strollers, lead dogs, and greet neighbors and friends. It is a glorious evening. We met up with Stan, Rainy and Weston and the "other grandma - Vema" from Colorado had just driven up for a few days. She took Weston home early so Stan, Rainy, Bob and I got to be "adults" for an evening. It was the best of times for everyone. Vema and Weston connected as grandma and grandson and we got to spend a wonderful couple hours with Stan and Rainy as adults - with a couple adult beverages. It was a wonderful evening! The very best "Swett Pea Festival" we have had in our 15 years here.

Butterfly . . .

I followed this Monarch today - from flower to flower and from front yard flowers to back yard flowers. I sat so still it landed on my shoulder and then fluttered away. Amazing! Be sure you click the photo!

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." Maya Angelou

A wonderful visit . . .

Yesterday, my good friend, Patricia came to visit and we had a great time. (You can see her beautiful work by clicking on her name in the right column.) My jaw is sore from all of the talking and laughing we did. We mostly talked about our quilting works in progress, looked at pictures online of quilt show winners and I shared with her the wonders of Hoke (my IQ). She is such an inspiration with her quilting and I love being inspired to "go beyond" the comfort zone as she does consistently.

We then spent a bit of time making these felted wool pincushions following the directions in this book from Betz White. (It is connected here to Amazon.com should you want more info.) It is a fun book with great picture directions and wonderful projects. Here is a picture of our efforts. Now, realize we were in the midst of these late yesterday afternoon when we decided a good drink was in order. If the picture seems a bit blurry it may have been my eyes and not the camera. LOL.

We had a good early morning walk for a couple miles to see the sunrise this morning and then came back to more coffee and breakfast before she left on her way home. It was a wonderful visit with a good friend and we set down some great goals for our quilting this coming year. Thank you, Patricia!

It is going to be a great day . . .

Aren't they all? We used to have a neighbor lady, Annie, who lived about a mile away. She was a wonderful fiber artist and did lots of crazy quilts from recycled materials. She also made the best jams and jellies - the very best orange/lemon marmalade which is my favorite. And - I knew her when she was 90 through 95. One day I said to her, "Annie, isn't it just a most beautiful day today?" Her response to me, "Carol, any day I wake up is a beautiful day".

Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I have a wonderful quilting friend coming for a visit. Patricia will be here mid-day and stay overnight before she heads home tomorrow. I will share more on our visit later.

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Now, I am off to do some chores and then I am heading in to town for an hour of power shopping at one of my favorite stores that is having a 40% off everything sale.

Have a great weekend!

Couldn't resist . . .

It is warm here today and I always think of ice cream. Here is a cute quiz to tell you what kind of ice cream you are . It's fun to do and I love the description - I am not sure it fits, but I like being "luscious and hard to resist" - no one has said that for a long time! LOL!



And - the refrigerator is fixed! It must have known it was only minutes away from becoming someones "smoker" so it cooperated with the repairman on some alternative parts. It has been over 2 weeks without a working frig in the kitchen due to the "original" needed parts being ordered and then - not being available. I already had a new one picked out!

Busy week . . .

We have had a busy one . . . Bob is doing well with his hip recovery and is already driving and has been back at work for a couple hours a day since Wednesday. I was the chauffeur until yesterday to take him to work, physical therapy, the doc, and the lab for blood work. It has been so much easier than the knee replacement. He is "an easy keeper".

One more try to replace the odd circulating motor in the refrigerator this Monday. The replacement part is not available and will not be available for a couple months - what? How can I live two more months without a frig in the kitchen? It has been two weeks and I have not loved using the extra one in the garage that much - LOL! The repairman has another idea that might work. So, if his proposed repair on Monday doesn't work, I am off to shop for a new refrigerator.

Weston has been out to visit a couple afternoons this week. He waters the plants for me - well he waters himself and the plants might get a drop or two. Who needs toys for boys with a hose and some water?

Not a lot else happening here - a little sewing, a little quilting, and some playing with Miss Daisy and Hoke. Nothing worthy of any more pictures - yet. But just you wait . . . I am feeling some new energy coming on. . . just you wait!

Blessings . . .

Just to start - one of my favorite Irish blessings.
"May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful Friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you."

It is so fitting today. Bob is home enjoying little pain and we are both amazed. He had an anterior total hip replacement and there is only a small incision on the front of his hip. The recovery is so easy compared to the bilateral knee replacement that he had done in February of 2007.

And then, I just talked with my SIL in Missoula and my brother has come through his knee replacement surgery today with flying colors. I was worried as he has had a couple really bad heart attacks and has several stints and a replacement valve. He also is diabetic so - I can now exhale.

And some pictures to further convince you of our blessings. The first one if of our Meagan last Friday at her first play in Portland. She played Tilly the Mouse in "The Tale of Ginger and Pickles". She has been taking acting workshops last week and again this week. She makes a really cute mouse, don't you agree? Today is her Daddy's birthday and my heart and love are there to help them celebrate.

The next picture is of Weston out hiking and collecting "wish flowers" - dandelions that have gone to seed and you blow the seeds away and make a wish. The next picture is of he and his friend at a "potty party". They have been good friends since they were born close to the same time and they are now potty training together. I love it! He will come visit with Grandpa and I tomorrow.

Thank you all for your prayers, warm wishes and love.

All is well . . .

Bob is doing very well and all looks great with the hip and no problems with the heart! He is up and walking and will be home tomorrow - Sunday. It is pretty amazing!

Just an update . . .

Bob had his hip replacement surgery this morning early. There has been a little complication with some kind of heart issue and he is in ICU for a couple days. The hip surgery went really well and it seems there is no heart damage so it looks good. He does not have any history of heart problems so this is kind of a surprise. I will add an update later. Thank you for the prayers and love sent our way.

Just some stuff . . .

Here is a picture of Weston and Meagan watching one of their favorite movies. It was taken when Weston was out in Portland visiting last week. It is the first time the "cousins" have met and he was totally mesmerized by her. I think Meagan thought his adoration was a bit much at times. She is 4 and a half and he will be 3 in a couple months. Aren't they just precious?

Today the refrigerator repair man came. Guess what was keeping the freezer door from closing tightly - yup - that little orange "1" plastic magnet that Weston has on the refrigerator. Wouldn't you think we would have noticed that? Well, the circulating motor is fried and it is a "one of a kind". Here is the interesting part - the refrigerator is an Amana and is about 8 years old. Amana was bought out by Maytag and Maytag was then absorbed by Whirlpool. The motor was made by GE. So, you never really know what you are getting, huh? But it will take a week to 10 days to get the motor in as it is one of those "I have never seen this before" kind of things.

Here are a couple pics of a pretty patriotic themed flower pot on our kitchen patio and the "old stove". Every year we say - we are going to haul this old thing away in the fall and it is really heavy - and every year it is still here so I put flowers in pots on it and in it to try to cover it up and then I actually like it. It has been there for 14 years and I think this is "really" the last year as it is starting to "dissolve" from rust. The pink wave petunias were left over from some other planting and I think they will fall down over the top more. If so, I will take a picture at the end of the summer. Our summer here is just getting started.

I am working on the QOV quilt - didn't like the fabric choices I made so I had to put them on the design wall and talk myself into continuing. They are not as nice as the EQ6 plan, but it will be okay - it will even be better when it is done. I will post a picture of it tomorrow. Of course I am going to have to find a border fabric so that means a trip to town in the morning.

Getting started . . .

Today was to be a full day in my studio. And then life happened. . .

We awoke to a refrigerator that was not working this morning and it is the one in the kitchen. We also have one in the garage for "overflow". I think the freezer door was not closed tight all night as we had lots of folks here and made margaritas so the ice drawer was in and out a lot and obviously not as "in" as it should have been to get the door closed properly when we went to bed. Bob is a great "trouble shooter" and has diagnosed the problem and will get it fixed and/or order the part tomorrow, but it was most of the day of emptying it out - had lots of food as we are having more company tonight. Fortunately the one in the garage could take up the extra. It is now off, every shelf and drawer totally cleaned, doors propped open and waiting until it gets a new little circulating fan. It is one way to get a clean refrigerator!

But, I did get started on my first project. I am making a QOV and I want to "design" it in EQ6, piece it on my new Pfaff CV, and then quilt it with my IQ and make an embroidered label back on the CV. Well it is not original, but here is my first effort, I did a "Warm Wishes" using fabric from the fabric library similar to what I will use, printed it out and am feeling pretty "puffed up" even though I know it is a very simple first use. I will post updates as I work through this first integrated project and keep learning.

Our 4th of July has been fun - lots of folks coming and going and we even got in a little road trip through some country "off the beaten path". Bob is having hip replacement surgery this coming Friday so our weekends will be pretty "low and slow" for a while following that.

"Nobody says you must laugh, but a sense of humor can help you overlook the unattractive, tolerate the unleasant, cope with the unexpected, and smile through the day" Ann Landers

The IQ is here . . .

My "Miss Daisy" has a new driver - guess I will name him "Hoke". Helen and Tony Baczynski just finished the installation of an Intelliquilter on my A1 a couple hours ago and they have headed south traveling home with a trip through Yellowstone Park. Thank you so much for making an exciting time very rewarding!

I have now spent some time with the system on my own. I am truly inpressed! I will be able to do more than I even expected. It is easier than I thought it would be and is very intuitive . . . and I love "intuitive". The second picture is a closer look at my playing - I mean learning. There are some nice designs that come with the system.

I am off to Missoula tomorrow for a couple days so I am going to take the tablet with me and make some designs with the geometric parts that come with it. It is an amazing technology. I will do more practice tonight and again in the morning before I go.