One Last Hurrah!

There are sad sighs happening all around the state this week, as schools are starting all over. We decided that before we had to get back into a routine we would head to the mountains and try our luck at fishing and hiking.

We did well with the hiking..... and not so well with the fishing. It was a beautiful lake, and the weather was perfect, so the no fish thing wasn't too depressing.

This is one of my sons - holding up the world!

Overlooking the lake - from way up high.

Ready for fishing - on land or lake.

And this was the big catch of the day - a Crawdad - Yuck!! Little bit immediately threw him back in!!

Pants and Parades

Last week when I went to pick up my son from practice I was asked to hem a few pairs of pants. So I said ok - thinking I could do it on my sewing machine.... Nope - they had to be done by hand, and it was too late to back out. And you all KNOW how much I LOVE handwork ...(ugh)

Here is the proof that I did it!!!

And here is why:

Saturday was our Towns "days" and there was a parade:

Don't they look cool? They did a great job, and played very well.

And there was BBQ, and Mud Volleyball and lots of sun!

Quilters Accountability 8/11

I am being very grateful for small steps at this point in time! This turns out to be a busy time of year, and I don't remember that it is, until we are back in it again!  I forget that we have to stock up on hay. So far, we have figured we need about 800 bales to get thru the winter - 250 made it into our barns this weekend.... and still there is more to get!

Anyways I got my borders on my quilt - I am really tickled with it. I just LOVE these fabrics. I think I am going to use Black for the backing - but haven't made that decision quite yet. I have the top laying over my rocking chair so I can ogle it some more!

Things are changing around our household so we are doing a lot of learning, rearranging and organization. Well, I guess I don't know that organization is the right word, more like thinking about organization! But it should be fun - the changes that is - I hope ;-)

I do have QA goals for this next week. I got to spend a little time reorganizing my sewing area and I found a project that I have wanted to start for forever, and then I did start it, and then I put it away, and now it MUST see the light of day again.

I am going to call it Bettys Reproduction Quilt. My goal this week is to make some blocks. Lofty huh LOL

If you want to see what others are up to, or even join in this week head over to Bari's Blog    http://crossroadsquilts.wordpress.com/  And check it out!

Quilts Delivered

Some Quilts of Valor have made there way in to the hands of some Vets. I am so excited when I am allowed to take pictures, and love to be able to share them with you. These guys are just awesome. I really like that in this case they got to choose the QOV's that they wanted. But it was just as much fun to watch them decide. Kind of like me in a fabric store - I want it all.... *giggle*

Anyways - these vets are truly deserving, and it was my priveledge to witness the reciept of these Quilts of Valor.

This particular gentleman was truly that - very gentle and kind. He really bonded with my kids, and was very gracious.

This vet was just a kid! But a neat one at that. His family was able to be with him on this day. Those are 2 of his sisters and his niece. They were SO tickled to be able to be there for the presentation. And man, the sisters were so tickled to have their brother back. 3 tours, 2 injuries.

This gentleman wanted an Air Force blanket, and he wanted it out of fleece. So he got what he wanted! ;-) I was totally tickled with this gentleman. He is a Vietnam Vet, flew in the Air Force, and now goes around the state reinacting history as a Buffalo Soldier. How cool is that? He was an honor to meet.

Hope you enjoyed seeing where a few of the Quilts of Valor went, as well as a special blanket.

Waterpik Winner

The Winner of the Waterpik Shower head is:



#4 Sue in Scottsdale AZ.  Sue you didn't leave an email addy - so I hope you read my blog often, because - altho I know I have your email... I can not find it at the moment. I blame the heat!

Email me ( its in the info section) with your address and I will get this WaterPik Shower Head on its way to you.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

For the rest of you who didn't win - be sure to check out Waterpik.com  or Waterpik-store.com .

Quilts of Valor from The Quilter

I met the Quilter a few years ago, and I honestly can't remember how. But since then I got to go to a quilt show with her, had her explain to me where the quilt shop in Loveland was, and even had her direct me to the sewing machine fixer guy. All in all she is a handy gal to know.... you know http://thequilter.blogspot.com ?

Plus she makes quilts - and she made some more Quilts of Valor for us. And they are WONDERFUL!!

I love this fabric line that she used - it is beautiful!
Thanks Quilter *smile*

Champions

We headed over to the Weld County Fair on Saturday to see how everyone did with all their projects. I think they should all get ribbons for getting things done ( each person at the fair, not just my kids). I just don't know how everyone can fit everything in these crazy schedules anymore!

First we headed into the vegetable. Wrangler Man entered some of his veges from his garden. This was his first year - and he did well! His Spaghetti Squash got a first place. And it tasted good too, or so the kids tell me. ( I had gingerale) He entered tomatos and pickling cucumbers too.

Then we headed into photography. Middle Bit decided to enter a photo this year and he took 3rd place. Not to shabby. Now he wants to take pictures of everything. Our favorite was taken by a lady we knew - is was an eagle landing on a tree with its arms outstretched. Beautiful.

Next it was on to the quilts. In the 8 to 13 yo class, Little Bit won first and Middle Bit won second. It was fun to watch her judge them, because she had a horrible time making a decision. It came down to... the star on the black and red quilt was left unquilted, and she said that it would affect the integrity of the quilt in the years to come. *Now, in my mind* I wonder how she knew that for sure, since so many of todays batts say they can be quilted as far as 12 inches apart without any problems.

In the 14-18 class Big Bit took first place with his quilt. Which led Little Bit and Big Bit to be in competition for Grand and Reserve champion. ( plus a 3rd quilt, but I didn't know that kid....sooo....) 

Big Bit won Grand and Little bit won reserve in the youth division. Here was the bummer tho - the fair labeled my oldest sons quilt with his younger brothers name on it. And even though we pointed it out, they did not change it. So for the week the quilt hung there - no one saw his name. He was a LOT dissappointed. So was I.

Oh - and they had project board for archery and .22 sports, with their record books. They did well on those too - but I can't remember who got what. I was trying to hard to remember the others!!

All in all - it was a good fair I believe!

Quilters Accountability 8/4

My goals for The Last week:
 

• Put the Borders on My Green and Black floral quilt. ( I did manage to buy the fabrics remember?)
  
• Make a backing for the wildlife quilt and get it prepped to quilt in the near future - okay at least by the end of this year!!

We may as well get this out of the way - How did I do? How much did I get done? NOTHING NADA ZILCH!!

It was a crazy crazy week, We spent 2 full days at a swim meet, 1 full day at the fair, 1 day at the museum, and 3 days with the flu... which by the way, started in one child and went to the next and then came to Mama.... Not a gift worth recieving. So my couch and I became friends.

I did pick out fabric from my stash to be the backing for my wildlife quilt, and it is still sitting here waiting to be sewn into a backing. I guess I shall just roll over the goals from last week and make them for this week. And who knows - they may get done. If I ever start eating real food again.....

Waterpik Giveaway

I have been given the opportunity to do another "give-away" on my blog!!!

This one is Thanks to Waterpik

What does Waterpik have to do with quilting you ask? Well.. speaking from personal experience a LOT! After you have spent lots of time at the sewing machine, and ironing board, and working so hard - your muscles get sore. Well this shower head has powerspray and circular massage settings on it. You can get in the shower and get relief for those tired muscles. Then get back to quilting!!

It has eight different setting on the shower head. Just so you know, we got one too, and all of us had to check it out. I think that might be the first time the boys *wanted* to take showers!!

Anyways - my favorite was the Circular Massage.

We are on a well - and don't always have a lot of water. So I am always concerned about water usage. There is nothing I love more than trying to get a drink of water and finding out we are out. Cuz, when we run out of water it sometimes take 6 hours to fill the cistern up again. But I digress....

This thing has OptiFlow -and it is an advanced technology that increases the water force, but uses less water. I am not an engineer - but that's pretty cool

 And the best part - installs in minutes on any shower arm without needing pipe tape. And I can prove it, cuz Wrangler man installed ours in like 3 minutes!

So HOW CAN YOU WIN THIS?

Leave a comment on this post between now and August 8th at 7pm.

Tell me your favorite part of quilting. For example - putting on the binding?

Good Luck!!

Quilt of Valor Quilt Show Continued

Welcome Back to the "Rest of the Quilts" - is that like Paul Harvey and the REst of the Story?

Again - these are the Quilts of Valor made by the Columbine Quilt Guild.

I really enjoyed looking at the various Patterns they used. Such a great variety.

 The Strippy one really intrigues me - and I found a free pattern for it at:

http://www.qovf-um.org/Portals/0/QOV%20Weave.pdf

I may just have to try it!!