I'm a Winner...

Connie notified me this morning that I was the winner of her latest giveaway! Yahoo....haven't won anything in quite a while...thanks Connie....can't wait for the mail to come!

Pretties....

I just discovered that the trumpet vine transplanted from some Terry gave me in the Spring decided that it would show me what the flowers were like before winter set in. I can't wait for next year when it will show me a lot more!

Then walking around the yard I saw that the violets don't want to call it quits yet either. It always amazes me when I see things that come up in areas where they weren't planted.....by me that is!!
But then I see colors like this down the road from me and realize it is just a matter of time before the trees are bare and "old man winter" will be upon us. Hope it is a light winter this year....last years seemed to go on forever!

Cool Giveaway

Wow wee!! I love these fabrics and want them really bad....but....I have to blog about it and let you all know that you can visit Brenda and sign up for this sweet deal also!

Also, let her know that you came from my blog and I will get an extra chance.....;o)

Pin Basting

I have to say that I had a very relaxing hour this afternoon pin basting my Fall tablerunner. I was also trying to decide what type of quilting would look best on it. Still don't know for sure.
I probably wouldn't be "as relaxed" if it was a queen/king size quilt......

I have not tried the spray baste.....anyone have pros or cons on the product??

More travels

This was the shop that I had been waiting to visit. Oklahoma Quiltworks. An amazing shop with every kind and style of fabric that you might be interested in. Many patterns, notions and samples everywhere....a huge classroom also. This wonderful beauty is located about 20 minutes from my son's house....yahoo! I am sorry to say that I did not get one picture of the inside....I was so excited on Saturday when I went with my DIL that I was back out in the car on the way home when I thought of pics. Then on Monday when I went back to use my card that was filled on Saturday for a free $20 in purchases, (grin) I left my camera back at their house. Grrrr.I bought several yards of the Route 66 fabric, a kit Little Cruisers on Rt. 66 by Quilting Belle, 2 Crabapple Hill patterns, green yardage for the back of my HNP tablerunner, some pink FQ's and the most adorable kit, The Poky Little Puppy, which I am sure we all have had that book. The sample in the shop just blew me away so I went for it!

Last but not least is fabric that was the first thing I saw when I entered the store...Kiwi by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures. Lately lime green has really called out to me and this combination of the green and black and white really called my name. I just love it. BTW, the folded fabric is 5, 1/2 yard pieces that the gal actually cut as one.....10 layers....wow, that blade was sharp!!!

And this is what I had for the first time....Fried Green Tomatoes....yummo....I brought the greenies from Ohio, but Debbie did the frying. Thought I had died and gone to heaven!

Heading West

We decided to take an extra day of travel on our way out to see our son and his family in Oklahoma City. I had never been up in the St. Louis Arch, so that was something we were going to do. This is a shot standing underneath it on a beautiful Autumn day.

Here I am up in the top middle sitting on the carpeted seats that you can lay on to view thru the windows. I was surprised at how small this area was...and the only part of the arch with actual windows.
Hubby took a minute from picture taking to pose for me.

I thought this was one of the best pictures that I took. I loved the look of the lake/pond and how the shape showed up so high. I didn't realize until I looked at the picture afterwards that the shadow of the Arch showed.....very cool. We were VERY high!

Security was very tight....which I really don't mind. The line was not long for the checking of everything, but it still took a little time....especially when your hubby carries everything but the kitchen sink in his pockets. He ALWAYS sets off the scanners you walk through even when he has practically undressed. It was exactly the same type of procedure as the airport.
When we purchased our tickets for going up in the Arch the gal asked if we were claustrophobic....I didn't really understand until I was confronted with this "pod" that you ride up in. All I can say is that you were very CLOSE with strangers. Our strangers were a lovely couple with their son...going up and coming back down. If they are reading this, hope your new job in Virginia goes well and you don't miss Nevada too much!

Goodies from Missouri

Traveling out to Oklahoma, I made sure I had my trusty (but might have errors in it) quilt shop directory. A thick book chocked full of quilt shop ads and how you can find them! I wouldn't go off your main route too much though without calling ahead first. We have gotten to empty store fronts a time or two.
This one was right off I-70 in Columbia, Mo. A great stop with lots of friendly ladies inside!

I asked about picture taking and was told that they are pretty open to anything so it was not a problem. They had lots to offer and a huge classroom. The storefront doesn't look really big, but it is quite large inside.

Every colorway had a lot to offer...bolts and bolts. Their samples were everywhere and very inspiring.

And this is what I bought. The black and pink yardage is from Lakehouse Fabrics.... I love every piece I have ever seen produced by them. They were on sale too! I was thinking a purse would look pretty in this fabric. Some Halloween goodies, a couple charm packs that looked interesting (I love working with the pre-cuts) and then an assortment of fat quarters.

I held back from buying too much because I knew the pie'ce de resistance was waiting for me in Oklahoma City!

Quiet Sunday in Oklahoma City

On a cool, rainy Sunday in OKC, we decided to play a game that Jared bought with his birthday money from us, Grandma and Grandpa. A game that any Buckeye fan (us) would be proud to own.
This is what we played, and played and played.....a good 2 1/2 hours....Jared won, which made the new game even more fun!! Great to be 12 years old!

This is what we snacked on when we were finished.....yummo....homemade salsa.......wonderful with bagel chips!

And this is what that homemade salsa was made from......Ohio grown tomatoes and peppers...brought with love from Ohio!

More traveling posts to follow in the upcoming days!

Blessings....

Laurie, over at A Yankee Quilter, is having a great giveaway for our dear friend, Terry, whose husband was injured very badly at work on Tuesday. She will be putting together a quilt from all of us who care for Terry and her family...head over to see how you can help.

Cutting is work!

Look at how this gorgeous stack of Kansas Troubles, Seeds of Time, is getting shorter. I have had this for quite some time. Several years at least. If you remember I made September's Quilt Guild block from this fabric and made an extra one for me. (I knew I wouldn't win) I then decided to make a quilt for me with a lot of these fabrics....love, love, love them. Don't know how big it will be, but did a lot of cutting the past few days and have enough to make 35 blocks. They are 9" finished. We are leaving for a weeks holiday out to Oklahoma where my son and family live.....this will be the first thing on my "to do" list when I return.

I just love Queen Anne's Lace....I know that it is considered a weed, but when I find it growing around the yard, I usually leave it alone. I didn't get a really close-up shot of it, but it is made up of these tiny little flowers.....God gave us beauty with his free flowers!

Will post over the next week from different parts of the country....hope to have fun with hubby along the way!

Another giveaway....wow.

I love this one and really would like to win it, but I have to share and give you all a chance to win this great stuff! Head over to Paulette's blog and enter too....what a nice booty!

Giveaway...yeah

This is what you will win, plus the pattern designed for this fabric over at Green Fairy Quilts.
I'm actually going to win it, but you can go look anyway!

Another Saturday

When I stepped onto the front porch this morning I was greated by more Morning Glories.....they really are blooming a lot lately....must like cooler nights because that is definitely what we have had lately.....low 50's, high 40's the last several nights!

Here is the backside of grandson, Ethan. He didn't get his picture included for Saturday football several weeks ago, so here he is tonight...a 7 P.M. game and believe me it was pretty chilly by game's end....50's!

This was the gorgeous sunset that was happening in Wayne County as we were watching the game....what colors! And they won too!!!

Australian Designers

Nine talented gals from Australia have joined forces to offer all of us in blogland a little bit of their designing expertise over at Among the Gum Trees. Head on over to "read all about it"! Sounds like a lot of fun is in store for all of us.

Almost done....

Eight down and one to go!!! I love this Gail Pan Design. Don't know for sure how I will finish this wallhanging....hers is quite busy with mulitcolored borders. I like the affect, but maybe with only several colors in the border for me. We will see.

Reflection

I hope everyone in blogland takes a moment or two to reflect on what happened eight years ago to our country, the USA.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the thousands of people that lost their lives and also with the survivors of this catastrophe that live with this memory daily. God Bless You all!

Fall Colors

Last night was Quilt Guild meeting for September. Our block of the month was this pattern done in Autumn colors. Whoever wants to make a block (or more) does, brings it to the meeting and we put our names in a basket and someone draws the winner of ALL of the blocks. I don't think my colors show up real well in this picture.....the outside color is a deep green and I think it looks more bluish here. Well, I didn't win, but enjoyed making this block and I LOVE the colors, so am making a bunch for me to perhaps have a lap quilt. The fabric is a LARGE stack by Kansas Troubles for Moda that I have had for quite some time. If you know Kansas Troubles color palette, then you will know why I love these. I don't have the name of the fabric line....it was a while ago!
I really like the way the pattern Disappearing Nine Patch turns out. I had a charm pack of Tranquility by Sandy Gervais for Moda and decided it was "Fall like", so used that. I really like the look of this table runner....so much so that I took it for Show and Tell last night.....a first for me! It was just the top, but I really love it. Now I just have to find a piece for the backing (hopefully in my stash) and get this done for my dining room table. Hello, Autumn!

New BOM

This looks like a cutie. A new BOM from Dorothy Baker Designs. She is also having a giveaway...go see what is happening!

First Friday

Kaaren is going to start something really cool for us lovers of stitchery/freebies. Starting this friday she will feature an original design of her own and post these on the First Friday of each month. Thanks, Kaaren, can hardly wait.

Saturday

Today, as in most Saturdays in the Fall, we spent the afternoon watching our 2 grandsons, Graham, age 12 and his brother Ethan, age 11 play (what we used to call) PeeWee Football. This is Graham's 5th and last year in the league. He will get a HUGE trophy for playing 5 years and will have to be on the Middle School's team next year if he continues to play. He is below....#77. They always have their backs to you!!

I didn't think about the camera during Ethan's game, so sorry E-man, no picture of you this week. I did include the cute cheerleaders. They cheer their hearts out even if most of the people paying attention to them are only their parents....good job girls!

When we got home and I parked the car in the driveway I spotted this little "self seeder" in the gravel of the drive. A sweet little purple petunia....don't remember if I even had this color last year, certainly not this year. Things like this truly amaze me and I marvel at the miracle of nature and the cycle of seeds....wherever they may drop from!

And along with putting my quilt together, I am working on these for something special....can't say now though....stay tuned.