KATE'S VISIT

Kate visited me in early June.  It was way too short of a visit. 

Kate was at a craft fair in Tennessee selling her new product.  After it was over, she drove an additional
3 1/2 hours down to spend time with me.  Now, that's a friend!  She was smart and left here mid morning and made the trip back to the Milwaukee area in two days.

Kate designs Practically Ribbons  Check out her website.  These pretty ribbons (wired ribbons) have grommets in them and can be used with clips and/or hooks, such as the hooks used to  place ornaments on the Christmas tree.  The ribbons, which come in a variety of colors and themes, can be used for ornaments, cards, scarfs, etc., - the uses are endless.  They can hang from almost anythings (such as a curtain rod) by using a shower curtain hook.

Below is a picture of one of the ribbons Kate gave me as a gift.  I have five total, all holiday ribbon,  and plan to use them to display my Christmas cards.  I think they will work perfect in my dining room window and make that area look festive during the holiday season.



I used one of the ribbons to display some
of my birthday cards in my front window

I think these ribbons have lots of uses, especially in places like assisted living facilities and health care centers.  They could make hospital rooms cheerful by easily displaying pictures, cards - you name it, while not taking up much space.

I loved having Kate here.  We had some great talks.  She has always been there for me, always supportive.  I miss you, Kate.  Wish we were closer logistically but, I am not moving back!.

A Walk in the 'Hood on a Fall Morning

Most mornings I walk Sam up the hills to the far end of the subdivision, about 2.5 miles round trip.  I finally remembered to take my camera along.  Due to the clouds, the mountains can't be seen.  However, the clouds are beautiful in these pictures and you can click on the pictures for a better view.  The pictures are in random order, not our specific route.  Too hard to move pictures around when posting,  Anyway, come along and enjoy the walk with me.   



Looking down the last hill before we turn around to come home.  This would have the best mountain views, if not for the clouds. 



First hill we climb (view is looking down).  Don't be deceived, it is a huge hill!

 

Houses in the area are decorated for Halloween.  This is simple and my favorite



Scarecrow "love birds" at a house in the 'hood

 

You might have to double click on the picture to see this house all decked out for Halloween



After over a month of walking this hill, I am still out of breath at the top



Looking down to my street.  You can't see my house, but it would be on the left.

 

This house always is landscaped beautifully



First of two round-abouts we walk around.  Now if Americans would only learn how to drive around them!

Another pretty view

I love living here!



My street

 

Witch cat statue in front of my friend's house.  Too cute!



Fall Decorations

A scarecrow to welcome you

Two of the things I really enjoy in my new home here in Canton, GA are my fireplace mantel and my front porch.

Almost every day I sit on the wicker love seat and watch the world go by.  When the humming birds were still here I would spend hours watching them at the feeder.  Now, I am seeing the winter birds arrive.  Although more skittish than the "hummers" some are getting use to me (and Sam) sitting within 10 feet of one of their feeders.



Sam and I both enjoy sitting on the front porch

And, I decorated my porch to fit the season.  The love seat is now covered with a fall colored cloth (actually a tablecloth) that I think looks great and adds warmth to the porch.  The wagon I "won" at the silent auction benefiting the Cherokee County Humane Society.  It was loaded full of garden items - too many to mention.  I really was fortunate to win this item and all of the goodies in it.  A scarecrow, fall leaves, a pumpkin and a wreath on the door complete the decorations.  More Halloween-ish decorations will be purchased after October 31st when they are on sale and they will be carefully kept until next year.  I think a couple witches will grace the tree in 2011.

   

Witches for Halloween



Decorated for the fall

 

My fireplace mantel is also decorated for the season.  And, yes - those are really candy corn pieces in the glass jug.  Ha!  It was full a week ago.  I just changed some of the items out for a couple of weeks and add my collection of witches and my quilted witch panel.  After Halloween I will add some Thanksgiving items and the fall panel will return. 



Moved things around a little

My dining room table has a fall runner on it along with a basket of harvest items.  My coffee table has fall colored candles in a wooden bowl.  Other little fall items are spread out throughout the house.  Even the table in my back screened porch has a fall tablecloth on it. 

The last few years in my house in Milwaukee I hardly decorated at all for the seasons and holidays.  Only the wreath on the front door changed every few months.  Maybe because I usually spent Christmas and Easter here in Georgia with family, that I lost interest in decorating for the seasons in Wisconsin.  This house really calls out for seasonal decorations and I am looking forward to Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and the rest of the holidays. 

Halloween door

Fall Door

Almost every house in the subdivision has some fall decorations gracing the front porch or yard.  It is fun to walk every day and see them.  

It doesn't take much effort to decorate for the seasons (well, expect for Christmas - I have a ton of stuff).  It changes things up a bit and makes the house more interesting.  I enjoy it and I hope you do, too!

Almost Over, New Beginnings

My wonderful brother-in-law, Marlon, all tuckered out after playing Santa

Another holiday season comes to a close. If you are like me this year, it is a relief! That isn't to say that I didn't have great holidays . . . I did. But, it will be nice to settle into a routine again.

My Thanksgiving was awesome - spent in Mesa, Arizona with gal pal, Nancy. Christmas week was in Atlanta. Suzanne, Marlon, Paul and I had a quiet holiday, but nice. The week was very busy.

Caroling in Suzanne's subdivision. It was fun, but I lip synced!

This New Year's Eve will be spent at home, quilting. My gal pal, Amy, was going to come up, but I have a cold and am not sleeping well. I'm tired and just want and need to be alone. Amy, too, is not feeling well. I think we both will spend most of this weekend in our jammies. I know I will be quilting and resting. I hope she starts to feel better, too.

A wild New Year's Eve at my house. Suits me fine!

I need to reflect on what I want to be, where I see myself a year from now, what goals I need to achieve. 2010 will be a banner year, with retirement in August, selling my house and moving to a different state. Throw in a very troubled relationship and it makes an interesting mix.


A big portion of this mix will be resolved within the next week or so. One way or another it will have huge impact on my life. I've been stalled at this fork in the road for a long, long time. Soon the path will be clear and time to start moving forward.

When I "googled" New Beginnings, this picture came up. It is awesome and very appropriate for me! I love it!

No resolutions. Life can change too much for that! Just goals, more hopes, aspirations and dreams. A new direction, a new reality. I think I better fasten my seat belt. 2010 is going to be be an interesting ride.

A Visit with Santa

One thing good about hanging out with a three-year old is that you get to visit Santa and, as in this case, Mrs. Claus, too!


Every year the Milwaukee Fire Department sponsors a Visit with Santa for all MFD members and their families. It is held at the Survive Alive House, which is a wonderful place where all city of Milwaukee school children can come and learn about fire safety. This is the third year my great niece Shannon, Pam (her mom) and I have attended. It is a nice event.

One of our firefighers makes balloon shapes for the kids. Here Shannon is getting fitted.

Shannon and her Rudolph hat!

Big brother, Aaron, gets in on the act!

Shannon and her new friend, Grayson. Grayson's Dad is the Audio Visual Specialist for the MFD.

Shannon asked Santa for puzzles, toys, an Abby Cadabby doll and a healthy little brother or sister, which is due to arrive next summer!

Home Again

Here is what I have to say about my vacation:

Wonderful. Fabulous. Relaxing. Fun.

I traveled to Mesa, AZ to visit my dear friend, Nancy. Nancy followed her dreams and moved to Mesa, AZ in April after a long and happy career as a teacher with the Milwaukee Public School system. She told me she misses teaching every single day. I think she does. She is a master teacher. She lives in a charming 2-bedroom apartment that includes a beautiful club house and pool.

Nancy was a great host. She loves to entertain and her passion is cooking. Thanksgiving dinner was awesome! She also likes to explore new places and restaurants. Ahhh - a woman after my own heart! I ate well on this vacation! (Marcie - we never made it to Tia Rosa, but will on my next trip).


Highlights include the a great lunch at the Olive Mill in Queen's Creek, meeting up with Pam (another teacher we knew when we all worked together at Eighth Street Middle School where I was the secretary) and her husband, daughter and grandson to watch the Packers on Sunday. A trip to Urgent Care to get meds so I could survive Nancy's cat, Lucy. Only my eyes are happy to be back in Wisconsin! Drives to ruins and up to the mountains. Singing to Peter, Paul and Mary at the top of our lungs. Watching TV in our jammies. Going to the date and nut store where Nancy negotiated a great deal on a bench for her porch (where I had a yummy date milk shake) and visiting on quilt store (had to do that).

Nancy & her great deal of a bench!

We also saw two musicals. The 25th Annual Putham County Spelling Bee was just a hoot. It was funny and included four people from the audience participating in the "bee." One had to spell Kinnickinnic. Well, being good Milwaukee girls we laughed so hard as we were probably the only people other than the actors who knew how to spell Kinnickinnic within 1,000 miles(Kinnickinnic Parkway, Kinnickinnic River, Kinnickinnic Avenue - you get the picture!). The other musical was Meet Me in St. Louis at a dinner theater. It was fun, too, and we all enjoyed it. I love the songs, but somehow the Judy Garland movie will always be the best.


I spent time with my sister, Linda. She moved to Mesa in October and lives in a very nice trailer park 10 minutes away from Nancy. She still is unpacking a little, but I can see where she will love living there. Her trailer is very nice and the park has a great community room with a nice large pool and hot tub. She is already involved in many activities.

More on this wonderful trip later. Today in Milwaukee it is overcast, in the low 50s and very, very damp. Where's the sun?

Panel Hangings

Here a a couple of holiday panels I made in October and finished this month.

I love the Santa with the polar bear. I added a border to the panel. Of course, it is in blues, which is one reason why I love it. I love all of the animals, too.

The cat panel is a Christmas gift for my doggie sitter, Mary Sue, from Gracie and Lucy Lou. Mary Sue is really a cat person, but she loves all animals and adores my "girls." I have always given her dog themed Christmas presents, so this year I saw this cat panel and decided to go with it. I added border to this, too.

Both panels were quilted at The Patched Works.

I added crystals to both panels, which do not show up on the pictures. On the Santa panel I added over 60 clear and blue Swarovski crystals and amber Swarovski crystals to the cat panel border, trying to place them on the stars. I bought the crystals, which are flat on the bottom and have heat activated glue on them, along with this tool that heats up and affixes the crystal to the material. The tool really doesn't work as it should. You can purchase these crystals in all different sizes and the tool comes with "bits" to match the size of the crystal. The instructions say to place the crystal right side up on the material and place the heated to (with correct size bit) over the crystal for 15 seconds or so. Well, I found the crystals would stick inside the bit of the tool and it was hard to get them out. So, I placed the crystal where I wanted it and pressed the side of the bit to it and hold it in place. This works as far as heating the crystal enough to get the glue to stick, but it also moves the crystal a little. I had crystals flying all over the place!

Anyway, I am very pleased with the way they both turned out and thanks to Jen who gave me the idea to add the crystals. It adds a little something extra and special both panels.

October Accomplishments

Well, I quilted my little heart out in October.

I added my "to do" list to the side bar of this blog. It was really fun to "check" things off as I completed them. I can't believe I got so much done considering one weekend I didn't quilt at all and I have a home to maintain. I did a lot of yard work, too.

I wish you could see the metallic thread I used on the stems of the fern.

Underground Railroad blocks 6 & 7.

Carpenter's Wheel on the left. Bear Claw on the right.

I'm posting of a couple of wall hangings I finishing binding in October - Jars Aplenty and the small fern piece. My witch wall hanging is shown in a previous post. I also finished my two Underground Railroad blocks, and am I am on a roll with making more this week.

This month I am gone for a week to Arizona to visit a good gal pal and my sister. Both recently moved out there and, unbeknown to each other, moved within a few miles of each other! Small world. So this trip will "kill to birds with on stone" so to speak. I will be staying with Nancy and she invited my sister Linda over for Thanksgiving dinner. This way we will both be with family. I think my sister is feeling the effects of moving so far way from her son, daughter-in-law and grand kids. Even though we are not that close, it will be good for her to be with people she knows and feels comfortable with.

I am so ready for this trip to Mesa. However, my quilting accomplishments will suffer. Oh, well. . . .

On the bright side, Nancy has already located quilt shops in the area!

A Whole Lotta Witches

My Halloween panel

Church ladies without me

Last night my "church lady" friends came over for our annual celebration of Halloween. It is a tradition we meet at my house for Halloween (Joanne's for Winter Solstice, Kristin's for Summer Solstice, Janet's for Lammas, etc.). We try to meet according to the Earth-based spiritual celebrations. While many of us consider our spiritual paths Earth-based, not all of us do. We have a wide variety of spiritual beliefs (Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Earth-based to name a few) and we respect each others individuality. Our gatherings are always meaningful and fun. Halloween is the one time we "dress up." What fun!

Church Ladies with me (and Gracie, Lucy Lou being camera shy)

We had a great surprise when Nikki showed up! Nikki, a founding member of the Church Ladies, moved back home to Chico, California about 2 years ago. Although we all communicate via our yahoo group, it's not the same as having her here with us. It was great to see her.

It was also a very special night was we had another surprise for one of our group, Lori. More about that on my next post.

Amy & me show off our great hats we bought together at Cracker Barrel.

We had a great potluck, we checked in with each other and we honored the holiday by talking about our experiences with loved one who have passed. Lori read 2 beautiful poems.


I will never be able to express how much these women mean to me. To quote a song, "They are the wind beneath my wings." I love them one and all.

Look Familiar?

I made this lap quilt for my nephew, Patrick's, family. Pictured are Pam, Aaron, Patrick, and little Shannon. If the quilt looks familiar it is the same pattern I gave to my Aunt Virginia last month while I was in Colorado. The only difference is the backing material. This quilt was part of the mystery quilt group I participated in earlier this year. At first I thought I would make one large queen sized quilt, but then decided to make 2 lap size quilts and give them away. I had the recipients in mind already. I hope both Aunt Virginia and Patrick's family take a lot of good naps under these quilts!

And, just to show off sweet little Shannon, here she is with the holiday dress her Aunt Suzanne and I bought her. We have started a tradition of purchasing her holiday dress every year. She got it a little early this year. Truthfully, I was afraid I'd forget to give it to her as we bought it a year ago!

We tried to get Shannon to pretend she was sleeping, but she wasn't going to "nap" pretend or not! Here's the Halloween pillowcase I made for her.

I'm Feeling a Little Witchy

I love Halloween! I do believe it is my favorite holiday.

When I found this panel kit in a catalog I just had to order it. However, upon receiving it I decided I loved the backing material too much to use it where it would never be seen. So I added it as a border and am very pleased that I did. I have enough left for binding and I thought that it would look great. However, Terri suggested an orange fabric for the binding. If I can find it, I think that is an even better idea.

Now I just have to purchase the binding and backing material, have it quilted and hang it on a wall in October.