I Like Thursdays 4-27-23

I like my kitties! Toby is the "bather" and sometimes the others like it (sometimes not so much!)

Today I am joining LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color to list my likes for the week! This morning is reconstructive surgery on my nose, and I like having having good dermatologists and surgeons nearby. We are only about 15 minutes away from the hospital, so we won't have the stress of traffic.

LeeAnna has such fun prompts for our posts. This one made me think:

Do you speak more than one language? What was is like to learn it? Is
there a language you'd like to learn, please tell us why. Are there words in other languages that sound fun to you, or even English words that you like and make you happy? 

I had two Spanish classes in high school, and that was it for languages. I enjoyed it because Spanish alphabet is more definitive than our English one, and words are pronounced one way instead of so many variations. There is a language I would like to learn, but it is actually English with a dialect called "Scots", and 1.5 million Scots claimed to speak it in 2011. My husband relies on me to interpret words spoken with British and Scottish accents on television - lol! I do have 25% Scottish DNA, so of course I want to sound like a native!

Let me know in the comments if you are knowledgeable or fluent in or want to learn a language, and be sure to check out other affirmative posts at LeeAnna;s blog.

APQ Reboot on To Do Tuesday 4-25-23

Orphan blocks!

In my last post I introduced my blocks for the American Patchwork and Quilting QAL and mentioned my uncertainty about my scrappy fabrics. After making eight very scrappy blocks, I decided that the scrappiness was a major distraction from the quilt design. So those blocks went to Linda's Home for Orphan Blocks for a future quilt, then I happily picked out some fabrics from stash. Cutting went much faster than picking out and trimming all those little scraps!

New pull for APQ

Since this quilt is for my daughter's new father-in-law, I chose dark reds, rich golds/browns, blues, and dark green. 

Group A blocks complete

Ready for Group B blocks

I finished the six group A blocks and am now working on six Group B blocks. Now that my "too many scraps" angst is gone, I can enjoy the process. 

My pull for the RBD Needle Point block, pattern by Janet Wecker Frisch

My To Do Tuesday goals last week:

✔1. RBD block for the week - Pieces cut but not sewn

✅2. APQ scrappy quilt blocks - Group A blocks done

❌3. Play with machine embroidery - Did not do

Winging It QAL fabric pull

✔4. Winging It QAL starts on April 20 - Fabric pull is ready

❌5. Start quilting Rose Colored Glasses project - Did not start

Today is my final MOHS surgery, this one toward the tip of my nose. The surgeon thinks it won't be as deep as originally thought, I hope he's right. There will be no stitches today, as I will have a consultation with the plastic surgeon this afternoon, and plastic surgery is scheduled for Thursday morning. With that in mind, I am keeping my list light for the week.

Goals for the coming week:

1. Winging It first four blocks

2. APQ Group B blocks

3. RBD block for last week (no block for the last Tuesday of the month)

I am joining Carol at Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday - check out all the posts right here - and Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for her Sew and Tell linky!

Beautiful Mini and Scrappy Celebration on Sunday

Melva who blogs at Melva Loves Scraps recently had a birthday and celebrated by giving away some beautiful mini quilts she had stitched together. I entered her drawing and was among the lucky winners! She sent me this beautiful mini quilt, and I am blown away by her artful work on it. I love the fabrics she used, and the stitching/quilting is magnificent.

Here is the back - I love this delicate print

Look at that this colorful matchstick quilting!

And guess what - it perfectly matches the accent color on my Janome and is just the right size for my scissors and rippers! Thank you so much Melva!

All People Quilt publishes a magazine called American Patchwork and Quilting, and I was a subscriber many years ago. I still have a few that I just cannot throw away. I have recently become interested in them again, but now I purchase the digital copies. Scrappy Celebration Quilt-Along celebrates APQ's 30th anniversary. I resisted joining in until I saw that Carolyn of Quarer-Inch Capers was belatedly joining, so that gave me the push I needed!

The 63-1/2 inch by 72-1/2 inch quilt is from a pattern by Lissa Alexander aka Moda Lissa and is available in the April 2023 APQ magazine. It consists of 12 groups of 9-1/2 inch blocks, and I am currently on group B.

Group A blocks

Although the pattern calls for matching the fabrics within each set of blocks, mine are totally scrappy. I was not sure I liked my decision when I saw the wild scrappiness of my group A blocks, but they have been on my design board for awhile and are growing on me now.

I had these scraps neatly stacked, but Toby didn't like my stacks, so he took a swipe at them

I plan to do more color groups, and hopefully this project will be good to reduce the bulk in my scrap bins - but you know how that goes!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

I Like Thursdays 4-20-23

I'm joining LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color today to celebrate our likes for the week! My first like is Rosie, who "hid" in the towels as I was gathering them for laundry, then made muffled meowing sounds until I "found" her.

Letterz Solo

I like my son's new game in the app store! He has been a complete computer nerd since the 1980s, and now he works for a company that writes programs for other companies. In his spare time, he created a Scrabble-type game for his wife's family and our family where we can all play against each other and decided to release the solo version to the app store before he releases the multi-player version. It is fun to play against the computer, and you can choose Easy, Normal, or Hard. I have beat Hard a couple times - yay! If you enjoy Scrabble and don't like ads, download this and play it! Be sure to search for the exact title - Letterz Solo - otherwise it will take awhile for it to pop up in the search.

I like my little garden. I miss my big gardens but not where they were located (south Texas). It doesn't look like much so far, but I planted four tomatoes and two bell peppers and will plant Scarlet Runner beans, zinnias, morning glories, and a few herbs. It will be crowded but fun!

Confederate Jasmine

LeeAnna's prompt for the week?

Make a list of some of your favorite smells or scents. What do these make you think about? Was there a special memory associated with one of them?

In no particular order:

Cinnamon. This smell takes me back to the smell and taste of my fraternal grandmother's cinnamon rolls. When we visited her in Chelsea, Oklahoma, she always had a pan of them sitting on her stove, which was right next to her back door. My cousin Weezie and I played and ran in and out of her back door, always grabbing a roll as we passed. Granny didn't put icing on hers. Instead, the rolls were allowed to cool in the pan, and the cinnamon/sugar filling oozed out and formed a soft crust on the bottom. I can "almost" replicate her rolls, but they will never be quite like hers.

Coconut. Years ago Bath and Body Works had a scent called "Creamy Coconut". After years of wearing perfumes, I began to use Creamy Coconut body lotion and stopped using perfume. It really worked with my body chemistry, and I had many compliments on the light and pleasant scent. Alas, B&BW stopped making it! I still miss it. Now I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter, and I do like the fragrance.

Hamburgers grilling or griddling. This smell makes me instantly hungry. During my childhood our family occasionally indulged in burgers from a little drive-in called "Vick's". Their cheeseburgers were cooked on a griddle, simply dressed with mustard, onion, and pickles, and wrapped in a foil wrapper, which somehow enhanced the flavor - at least in my memory!

Star Jasmine. Often called Confederate Jasmine, I have planted this vine n many of my past gardens These dark green leaved, fast-growing vines bloom prolifically with small white star shaped blooms that smell absolutely heavenly - sweet and pleasant. The photo above is one I grew at a former residence.

How about you, do you have a few favorite scents? Be sure to visit LeeAnna's blog and check out other "Likes" for the week!

To Do Tuesday 4-18-23

It's Tuesday again! Time for another round of To Do Tuesday when we review our accomplishments for the past week and share our plans for the upcoming week. For more of these posts, click right here to visit the linky party on Carol's blog, Quilt Schmilt!

Today is my second MOHS surgery for a smaller skin cancer on my cheek. The surgeon believes he'll probably do little or no stitching on this one. Thank all of you for your positive thoughts and prayers! I am healing well from last week, stitches will be removed today, and the bruising is fading. The final one is next Tuesday, and that one will be followed up with a visit to the plastic surgeon.

RBD block pattern "Moab" by Amy Smart

Here's how I did on last week's goals:

✅1. RBD block for this week - Done (see above photo)

✔2. Finish Rose Colored Glasses project - It is sandwiched and ready to quilt!

✅3. Work on blocks for APQ scrappy quilt - Done - six A blocks made and pieces cut for block B

❌4. Play with machine embroidery - Still haven't tried it out!

Here is what I have planned this week:

1. RBD block for the week (issued later today)

2. APQ scrappy quilt blocks

3. Play with machine embroidery

4. Winging It QAL starts on April 20

5. Start quilting Rose Colored Glasses project

I can't wait to see what you've got going on - have a wonderful week!

I Like Thursdays 4-13-23

It is Thursday and time to list likes and gratitude for the week. The event is sweetly hosted by LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color, and I like the fact that it has made me conscious of finding things I like during the week!

Toby the nurse

On Tuesday I had surgery to remove a skin cancer from my face, and I like that Toby decided to help my husband take care of me. Toby rarely sleeps with me, so this was a treat.

This is the door that opens from our bedroom to the patio.

Look closely at the dark spot on the far top left above the door - do you see it?

It's a starling barn swallow nest, and here comes Dad after me!

Mom and Dad decided to watch and see if I was a threat with my iPhone camera

OK, I like starlings (they are barn swallows - thank you Judy and Jocelyn!) and yes I know that they are messy and territorial, but this is the second time they have nested on our patio, and I just can't shoo them away. Our neighbor was horrified that we allowed them to build a nest the first time, told us to just tear it down because "they will be back!" 😆 My husband would probably prefer to get rid of it, but I noticed he didn't, and he cleans up their mess with no complaints. Our kitties are happy about it too, and they spend hours chattering away at them.

LeeAnna's prompt for today is this:

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
What do you like about being this way?
Would you prefer being different?

I would say I am both, and I like it! When I was young, I stayed up until midnight reading books and then slept late. My parents were early risers, and I would sleepily wake to the sound of them quietly talking and the smell of their coffee and then doze again - it is a cherished memory. The atmosphere was cozy and pleasant, there was never any grumpiness, even when I didn't get up until 10:00! When our kids were little, we went to bed late and got up early, even though we craved sleep! As the kids got older, they slept later, but I liked being up early and getting a head start on my day. I also enjoyed being at work before anyone else, especially my boss!

Even though I am retired with no little ones at home, I still like getting up early. We go to bed at 10:00, watch news and Seinfeld until about 10:45, then fall asleep around 11:00. I am usually awake between 5:00-5:30 and itching to get up. Just like when I was young, I love waking up to the smell of coffee. Ours is on a timer and starts percolating around 5:00. I would not want to be different and sleep too late because I might miss something - lol!

What do you like about being a morning person or a night owl?

If you would like to read a few more positive posts, go check out the list on LeeAnna's blog right here.

To Do Tuesday 4-11-23

 

Toby reflects our state of mind on Easter Sunday!

Today I am linking up with Carol at Quilt Schmilt to talk about accomplishments and goals for the week.  Thank you so much for your cheerful and gracious hosting, Carol!

I hope all of you had a nice Easter weekend. We caved in to some cravings and had burgers, baked beans, and deviled eggs on Saturday for our pre-Easter feast. The homemade buns were good!

This morning at 8:30am I have the first of three scheduled MOHS surgeries this month for some little cancers on my face - two on my nose and one on my cheek. I expect to feel just fine but will not want anyone to see me for awhile! After the last surgery on April 25, I will consult with a plastic surgeon to see what kind of repairs will be needed. It would be nice if he would get rid of my chin wattle at the same time - lol!

RBD challenge blocks

Let's see what was accomplished last week:

✅1. Finish up RBD blocks - Done and caught up!

Rose Colored Glasses blog hop sneak peek

✅2. Work on my Rose Colored Glasses project - you can find info about it here  Done - my project flimsy is complete.

✅3. Decide on a pattern for new quilt - Done - it will be the Winging It QAL starting April 20 with Wendy Sheppard at Ivory Spring - information right here. This quilt will be for me!

❌4. Play with machine embroidery. - Did not do

Although the actual QAL is nearly over, I've joined the AOQ Scrappy QAL thanks to the influence of Carolyn of Quarter Inch Capers as well as photos of finished quilts on Instagram and Facebook.I'm looking forward to using my scrap bins on this one! Once it is finished I think it might become a quilt for my daughter to gift to her new father-in-law.

Keeping my list simple for the coming week:

1. RBD block for this week

2. Finish Rose Colored Glasses project

3. Work on blocks for APQ scrappy quilt

4. Play with machine embroidery

What have you got going on this week? Feel free to add your post to the linky party right here, or just go visit and be inspired!

I Like Thursdays 4-6-23

Good Thursday morning - today is the day that LeeAnna of Not Afraid Of Color hosts a group of grateful bloggers - go check out these positive posts! My first like is the rainbow above - taken after a thunderstorm last week! There was also lightning occurring, but I wasn't fast enough to capture it on camera. I really like turbulent weather, so you know I was happy!

I like cake. This one was especially good. It is Pecan Upside Down Cake and is made with a cake mix. That topping - it is so good I was picking it off to eat by itself with no shame! You can find the recipe right here.

I like my "new" used chair in my sewing room. We made a few changes in my husband's office last week and I inherited his office desk. It serves as a combined sewing table/laptop table and left room for a chair. We found this one on Facebook Marketplace for $15.00!

I like cats and have liked them since I was a small child. I currently have four rescued kitties. Katy is the oldest, and she is 11. She mostly stays under the bed snoring - lol! She is a beautiful black longhair, and we have to keep certain areas shaved because she has become a bit lax in the self-cleaning department.😉

LeeAnna's prompt for the week is this:

Do you have any fun or special memories of getting or giving an Easter basket? 

I honestly don't have much in the way of Easter basket memories. I did love to dye eggs. I remember the vinegar-y smell and mixing up colors in Mom's coffee cups, then in little glass bowls for our kids. We do have good memories of fixing up baskets for our kids and hiding eggs and that kind of thing.

Here are some of my random memories about Easter.

When I was 13, Mom made me two new spring dresses - one for Palm Sunday and one for Easter Sunday. They were two versions of the same pattern - the aqua one had a straight skirt and the light purple one had a gathered skirt - both with bolero jackets. I loved those dresses!

Another Easter when I was about the same age, we were sitting in church and started hearing thunder. It got louder and louder as the service ended. People begged us to wait until the storm passed but Daddy was hell-bent to get home! As we got into the car it started pouring, with loud thunder and wind. Driving home, we crossed some downed power lines (scary stuff!) and the car was buffeted and it was hard to see for the heavy rain. By the time we got home it had passed, and we went inside breathing a sigh of relief. That is until Mom realized the wind had blown the front door open, and the rain had come in through the screened porch and soaked the carpet and part of the wall paper! What a mess!

My most significant memory of Easter was when I was 8 and became fascinated with a magazine called Ideals Easter. It was probably very similar to the one above. It had a lot of beautiful pictures and drawings. I pored through it every day and asked Mom to read the story in it over and over. It was the Easter story, illustrated with drawings and depicting Jesus' last days and His agony on the cross.

One night I got very sad and started crying. Mom asked me what was wrong and I told her that I was sad because Jesus had died. Mom said, "but Honey He lives!" And just like that my tears stopped and I was happy again. I didn't question how or why He lives or even care, I just believed what Mom told me.

Over the years I have come to realize that is true faith - no doubt about the how or the why, just simple childlike belief. And that day in my 8 year old life was the foundation of my belief to this day. I am so grateful to my Mom for giving me that good news, and I don't think I ever told her that. Several years ago before Mom came to live with us, she mailed me the Easter Ideals pictured above - knowing I would love it - along with a sweet note. I treasure it!

How about you - any Easter basket memories or other happy Easter times you'd like to share?

To Do Tuesday 4-4-23

Today I am linking my post with Carol at Quilt Schmilt. Thank you Carol for hosting this fun linkup! Go check out other posts - you'll find a lot of inspiration (or squirrel-spiration!)

"Turn The Beat Around", my Cross My Heart finish

Last week's goals:

✅1. Finish Cross My Heart - Done and posted here and see the photo above! Susan LOVED her "blanket", and we had a great time with the family in Dallas on Saturday.

RBD block pieces ready to go

✔2. Finish RBD blocks - Not finished yet, but all pieces are cut!

✔3. New quilt planning - I think I've narrowed it to two patterns and have a few fabrics pulled

✅4. Prep spring gardens - There was a kink in my participation, but Hubs is getting it all ready for me! See photo below 🠟

Ready to plant!

Last week I had a little skin cancer excised from my chest. The restrictions are "no bending, no heavy lifting, no strenuous activity for 2 weeks", and the doctor said "no" to exercising or gardening or housework! So my husband is not only vacuuming, he is getting my garden ready for me, and he will help me plant the four tomatoes and two peppers plants I purchased last week at Home Depot. I normally buy Bonnie's Plants, but they have skyrocketed to $5.98 per plant, and I found these from Burpee for $2.98 each - yay!

I have three more surgeries scheduled for April 11, 18, and 25. Following the last surgery I will have a consultation for plastic surgery. Along with each of these procedures will be restrictions, so it looks like I'll be "forced" to do nothing but sew and read during the month of April into May - haha! I do heal quickly tough, and I don't always follow my doctor's orders to the letter, but I will be careful.

Janome 200E

Last week I casually searched for "Janome" on Facebook Marketplace, and this Janome 200E embroidery machine popped up for only $200. After a quick discussion with Hubs, we traveled to a nearby town to purchase it! I am looking forward to getting to know it this week. My Janome 4120 QDC does have embroidery capabilities, but the designs and letters are limited and small.

So here is my list for the coming week:

1. Finish up RBD blocks.

2. Work on my Rose Colored Glasses project - you can find info about it here.

3. Decide on a pattern for new quilt

4. Play with machine embroidery.