A YEAR OF QUILTS

I've been a quiltin' the past year.  Some of my own design and some as part of the Saturday Sampler group that meets at The Quilt Shop on Main in Jasper, GA once a month.  Here is a sample of what I've been up to:

I worked every month on the Block of Month, Women of  Courage quilt and it was well worth the work. 

 

 

The colors are vibrant and rich.  It was easy to put all of the blocks together.  I also received a history of each woman the each block represents. While it was fun to learn about all of these women, but the blocks to not represent them in the literal sense, so it was a little disappointing in that respect.  Still needs to be quilted.  I think it will grace my bed when finally done - which may be in 20 years or so!  LOL

 

*****

 

When Karen at The Quilt Shop on Main offers a projects for the Saturday Sampler, you always have two choices as to the fabric.  Cotton, batik, solids, etc.  Below are two exact quilts that I made.  The project was called "Tea and Cookies."  While I like the batik quilt, I love, love, love the cotton quilt!

 



I guess I should have made sure they were both held up in the same direction so that it is more obvious that they are the same "quilt" as far as each block is concerns, but you get the idea.  Both need to be quilted.

*****

The above "Jiffy Nine Patch" was another Saturday Sampler.  Jiffy?  Glad the picture of this little quilt isn't a close up!  I had issues with every block and had trouble putting the blocks together.  Whoosh!  Just happy it is done.  Still needs to be quilted.

*****

 

This little winter themed quilt will be given to my friend, Martha, when completed.  I just used a couple of charm packs, added borders to each individual 5" square and a border.  Click on the picture to get a better view.  Making it went really fast.  I'm not happy with the border.  I might cut it down to 2" and add another 5" border.   But what fabric?  Hmmmm.  Still needs to be quilted!

*****

Here is a little doll quilt I made for my great-niece, Shannon.  I used 1930 fabrics and the pin wheel pattern.  Except for the border and backing, all of the fabric used was scrap fabric from other projects.  It is modeled by my sweet, little neighbor, Meredith.  Her mom, Lisa is the other "arm" in the quilt pictures and her daddy, David, was the photographer.  Big brother Keeton decided to stay out of the pictures.  I have great neighbors!

I currently have three quilts ready at the shop waiting to be quilted.  I have two more Saturday Samplers just about completed.  I think I need to win the lottery in order to have enough money to have all of the quilted! 

BEAUREGARD

Here's the trouble I have with fostering dogs:  I tend to fall in love with all of them!

Mostly Mutts (MM) posted on their private Facebook page that transport was needed from the Cherokee County Animal Shelter to MM's main office.  All I knew was it was a little boy dog, Yorkie mix.  I had the day off, so I volunteered since I live relatively close to the shelter. 

Well, when they brought out this little guy it was love at first sight. 

His name was Peanut, although at MM we changed it to Beauregard.  I strongly feel that if a dog is to be in your life for a long time, it is one of the family and should be named as one of the family.  Hopefully, Peanut is not given as a human name very often!  I suggested a "good Southern" male name.  After tossing around several names, Beauregard seemed just right.  Beau for short.  I think it fits him perfectly.

He is a hot mess, though.  Hernia, growth on right eye lid, questionable moles on his body, rotting teeth and a slight heart murmur (probably due to the teeth issue).  At seven years old, he was an owner surrender.  Now, don't get me started on why an owner would surrender a wonderful, little guy like Beau and let him get into such bad shape - but, I am not them and try not to judge.  I try, it's hard.  But, he is heartworm negative, which is one thing in his favor.

He goes in for surgery on all of issues this Wednesday.  I am sure he will come out just fine.  Then he will be ready for adoptions. 

Will I?  Hmmm.  . . .

2014 GARDEN

I'm not big on growing veggies or herbs.  I prefer my flowers, trees and shrubs. 

Since I moved Georgia, I have started growing herbs. It is fun to be cooking, walk out the back door, snip some fresh herbs and add them to the pot.  Mint in tea is great, too.

Since I have boy dogs, I need to keep my herbs, ahhh - elevated - if you get my drift!  While I don't go to Walmart very often, I was in there around the holidays.  They were offering herbs growing in these cute little pots.  I purchased four of them.  The herbs died rather quickly, but I knew I could use the pots for my summer herbs.  The bench was purchased for $15.  It was in rough shape.  I sanded it down, put two coats of oil based primer on it and spray painted the heck out of it.  It is really more of a purple color.  I think it all looks rather cool.

Tucked in the yarrow are two pots of herbs - my rosemary and mint.  The dogs don't like the yarrow and the pots are big enough that they herbs are safe from "extra watering!"

I also decided to try my hand at tomatoes. 

 I choose heirloom tomatoes.  I have four pots, two large and two smaller  In the large pots I added petunias.  Not sure if they will alter the taste of the tomatoes, but they look pretty.

I also recently had my fence power washed and painted.  I think it turned out great and is a good color to highlight my flowers and flowering shrubs.  It's been either too rainy or too hot to sit at my little bistro table.  Maybe one morning I will be able to enjoy my coffee out there.

Watching the tomatoes grow has been fun.  I am looking forward to when I can harvest them! 

Considering my yard looked like this when I moved in four years ago, I think I am doing pretty good!

FOSTER MOM

I love dogs.  Always have.  I grew up with an awesome Springer Spaniel named Sugar. 

Sugar, the dog I grew up with, waiting for her dinner

I can't tell you how many of my little girl tears were dried on Sugar's soft, floppy ears.  Thus began my love of dogs.

 

Diva Gracie

A few dogs have come in and out of my life over the years, but in 2000 I adopted my Gracie, who was simply the dog love of my life.  In 2005 Lucy Lou joined us.  Both died in 2010 within three weeks of each other.



Sweet Lucy Lou



I then adopted my Sam and a few months later Oliver wandered into my heart.  I love my doggie boys.

My sweet Oliver

 

Sam the Man with the playtime plan

 

Two dogs are enough.  More than enough.  Yet, I still yearn for another dog.  Jeez!  And, dogs seemed to start wandering into my life.  Many dogs were found as strays in my subdivision and somehow ended up at my house.  Fortunately, all have either been returned to their homes or adopted by residents or friends.  Since I enjoyed the short stints with these dogs,  I started to volunteer with animal rescue groups as a "foster mom".

Murphy was my first official foster.  A sweet, little older gentleman.  I had him 2 1/2 months before he found his forever home.  I really considered adoption him myself, but kept holding back.  I regret that decision - he was a sweet boy.

 

Mr. Murphy

Ellie May was another foster.  Still a lot of puppy in her, she and Sam became good play buddies with Oliver sometimes joining in the fun.  After almost two months in my home while her health returned and she was spayed, her first time at adoptions she was adopted by a young couple with another younger dog.  They adore her.


Elly May

Recently I've had Maci.  A border collie and three years old, she is full of energy.  Sam is intimidated by her.  She is a great dog, but I am not sure just how long I will be able to foster her.  Her high energy and need to play so much makes my Sam upset and he cowers under chairs and tables.  She is just a little bigger than he is, too, which doesn't help the matter.  Hopefully, she will find her forever home very soon.



Miss Maci


The rescue groups I work with are amazing  - dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly for homeless dogs and cats.  I am proud to be associated with them.  My only concern is that one day a little dog is going to be given to me as a foster and I will fall in love with her/him and not be able to give her/him up - like what almost happened with Murphy.  Then I would no longer be able to foster.  But, there are a lot of other things I can do to help rescue groups so that option is always open!

www.mostlymutts.org

www.angelsrescue.org



FACEBOOK -VS- BLOGGING

Obviously I have not been blogging.  And, I feel bad about that.  I am not the best writer in the world, but I do enjoy writing.  I miss blogging.

When I moved in Georgia in 2010 I became hooked on Facebook.  It is a quick and easy way to stay in touch with the friends I left behind in Milwaukee and those throughout the States and the world.  One or two sentences, hit post and updates are complete.  I can use Facebook no matter where I am or what time it is.  I don't need my computer or a tablet - my phone can do it all.

But, the thought process, the feelings can be lacking with Facebook.  Similar to the attitude of why pick up the phone to connect to those we care about when we can shoot them a text or a post on Facebook.  Sometimes you just need more, that voice.  Well, that is the way I've been feeling about Facebook.  I need to write more.  I need more of a connection, more of working out my thoughts, more input.

Maybe no one reads my blog.  That's OK.  I am going to start up with my blog posts anyway.  It makes me feel better, helps me work things out (there are lots of my "posts" that have never been officially been posted) and I really enjoy it.  Yes, I will continue to use Facebook, but maybe not so much.  Who knows?

It's good to be back in blog land!