I Like Thursday #181

Welcome once again to my I Like posts on this Thursday. I like that we are going above freezing today after 12 days of not! So many of those previous days we struggled to get to 20 degrees C that this is going to be wonderful!! And that is just the first of my I Like post. I love that there is a group of us that share likeable things on Not Afraid of Color's blog. Check it out and see what's happening in other worlds!

As I mentioned earlier, we've been incredibly cold for quite some time. Check out this icicle I found in my neighborhood on one of my morning walks with Gracie.

Longest Icicle EVER!

Last weekend was my sleep-in-your-own-bed monthly retreat. Oh, how I like them!! Since we don't meet in November or December, it's been a long time since I sewed with my quilty friends. I really needed it this month!

Here's a picture of the quilt my friend shared at the retreat. Isn't it a beauty? I really liked how she added the words on the top & bottom too!

Please Pardon the Sunny Rays!

Another friend shared that the bike trail had been plowed. I had not been up that way, assuming that it was like other snow storms and not touched. Gracie & I braved it one morning to check it out. While the trail from the subdivision to the trail was not plowed, once we got to the main trail we discovered that a good portion was! We couldn't go on some of our familiar paths, but we were able to go on the main trail. WE liked that!

Thank You, MCT, for Clearing
Some of the Trail!

You know I love my birds. Here's a close-up (through the screen, sorry!) of the feeder outside my kitchen patio doors.

Mr. Cardinal and Mr. Goldfinch
Sharing Sunflower Seeds and Dried Meal Worms

Our prompt this week is did we share Valentine's Day cards at school? Yes, we did. I think we did that maybe through about third grade. We made our "mailboxes" for our friends to "mail" cards to us too. Sometimes there'd be a card that wouldn't go through our decorated shoebox because there was a sucker or Tootsie Roll attached. Those were my favorites!

I hope you have many things that pleased you last week and my wish for you is many this upcoming week! Don't forget to see what others shared HERE.

I Like Thursday #138

Howdy to all of you! I got quite a few compliments on my horses embroidery. Thank you all so very much. I am loving working on these weekly Red Threads blocks but I am a couple weeks behind. I'm sure I'll catch up all in good time. The next few seem to be botanical so not as exciting as the critter blocks. Lol!

Look what I finished Tuesday, February 13th! Just in time!!

The pattern is from Primitive Gatherings and is wool applique on flannel. It is soft and beautiful. It was also a lot of stitching. The real problem that had me taking so long to finish though was the "Covered Zipper" backing that I wanted to make. Lisa Bonjean of Primitive Gatherings has a tutorial but I seem to be allergic to sewing zippers. I get so nervous because I'm very unsure of myself. It turned out pretty good and I'm thrilled to call it a 2024 finish!

Sunday, February 11, I spied this fellow, a sweet bluebird of happiness. Also just in time for Valentine's Day. He was perched on our back deck railing. Isn't he gorgeous??!!

Recently I've acquired a silly "Like". Every morning I look forward to watching a "Matlock" rerun. Andy Griffith just makes me smile. He seems like one of the most personable fellows ever, to me.

Yesterday and today I will be enjoying my "bestest like" -- retreating with friends and fellow quilters. I'm home in the late afternoon to watch Jeopardy at 4:30 with Mom & Fred. After sleeping in my own bed, I'm heading out the next morning to take up where I left off the day before. Isn't that a most splendid way to spend a day?

I hope you have the most splendid day yourself. Don't forget to appreciate those around you and don't forget to love yourself.

Sharing with others at Not Afraid of Color.

Quick Check-In

Just a quick check-in this morning. I'm retreating with friends I haven't sewed with since September! It's a very kind group and it does me good to sew with them. You may recall me talking about this retreat in particular -- I go home to sleep in my own bed with two full days of sewing on either end.

So what am I working on in Mascoutah? I had every intention of seriously working on the paper-pieced sashing for Red Threads. I had a whole basket full of triangles for the job. However I needed more background fabric cut to be sure I had plenty to work on. UGH! I cannot find that fabric!!!! Has this happened to you? I guess when I cleaned up for the holiday company it got put away in a safe spot. So what's a girl to do? I pulled out a UFO from a LOOOOONNNGG time ago that was started at a guild workshop. No pictures because it's still at retreat & I'm home but pictures to come.

Anyway, my RSC green month didn't really materialize. Here is a start to that Pine Tree Point table runner that I wanted to make. (Pattern by Bonnie Hunter.) I'll get it finished one day because I really want to make this.

I did, however, finish my Heartstrings table runner. (Pattern by June Pease, kit by Itch'n To Be Stitch'n.) I set it out on the dining room buffet. I love it, especially the supplied backing. I think the whole thing turned out so sweet!

Finished at 12"x 48"

Oh! I love that sweet backing fabric

I've kept up with the Twilight Stars QAL.

And I finally finished the Red Threads block from last week. That was a lot of stitching! I understand the next one, which is a cute Mama & Baby Horse, is another one that'll take quite a while to do.

As we are getting close to the end of the month, it wouldn't surprise me to find Angela announcing the RSC color for February. Check out all the other Rainbow Scrap Challenge makers' projects HERE.

I Like Thursday #128

Well, it's been a while since I posted on I Like Thursday but there is always something happy to find. Some days you just have to look a little harder is all. One of the best ways to feel good is to read about what others have found "happy" and that's what I'll do too. Just hop on over to LeeAnna's blog where other happy-sharing folks link up too.

We recently took a trip to see family. Who could not be happy here?

Brody watching Wheel of Fortune with Grandpa
and eating gummi bears

I got love from Jacob

Brody likes his back rubbed. Grammy is good at that!

Brody went to the pumpkin patch and brought
home a Giant Pumpkin

Anniversary Date Night
(Grammy & Grandpa watched the kids)

Grammy got to play Monster Trucks with Brody

Grammy took Sadie & Jacob for a walk.
Jacob likes to stand in the wagon to
see where he's going

Brody & Jacob's Halloween Costumes
Brody - Ghost Buster
Jacob - Slime

Family Portrait
before we hit the road

We also visited my brother's family.

Mom, John, Fred, & me
checking out John & Karen's
future homesite

A Boy & His Mama

Jennifer & Chris

Kelli & Hunter
The girls had a wedding to attend

Picture of my Garden
Before we left on the trip

We did not get to see my brother's son but there was exciting news to be shared!

Will you marry me?

She said YES!!!

Lovely Rock!
Of course she said yes. Lol!

John III & Katharine - So Happy

I love Fall. I love being outdoors in the cool, sunny weather even if it means raking Mom's yard.

Lots of leaves

Filled the can with ground-up leaves

 

Looks good!

Right before our trip, my BFF came to visit for a week with a 5-day retreat scheduled in there. We went to Kinderhook Lodge with about 15 others and enjoyed our time together. Kinderhook is located in Illinois but very close to the river. On the other side of the river is Hannibal MO, home of Mark Twain. Vickie & I took a walk to see the Mark Twain statue on the water and check out this river cruise boat. We agreed to do this one day.

Mark Twain Statue
American River Cruise

Polly sort of liked Vickie - Lol!

I usually find something to admire while I walk Gracie. On this day I spied these lovely asters. Aren't they a beautiful shade of purple?

I'm sure LeeAnna gave us a prompt but, the renegade that I am at times, I won't follow today. This post has gone on long enough. Hopefully you can understand why I've been so neglectful of my I Like Thursday posts  now.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week. We are looking forward to another nice weekend here IL!

RSC = Red July

Hello, friends, and welcome to another edition of Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The color chosen by Angela this month is Red Hot Red! Perfect color for the season for those of us in the northern hemisphere. We are actually enjoying a couple days of high 80s but the mid- to upper- 90s are in the forecast and will last for a week straight or more. Ugh! I'm happy to say that I have an upcoming sew day PLUS a sleep-in-your-own-bed retreat later this week so I should be able to escape the heat.

Last week I spent a couple of days sewing with some friends at their retreat. I sewed mostly from 10am - 4pm for my 2 days. I got quite a bit accomplished. Besides catching up with my friends (I hadn't seen most of them since February!) on one of the days I cut and sewed up  "Summer Blue", a Quilt Anthology pattern from Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts. Although it's beautiful in blue, RSC color is red so that's what I used to make mine. I downloaded the pattern when it was a freebie, but you can go to her website HERE and get a digital download now.

Summer Blue Pattern - 11.5" x 13.5"

For a long time I've loved the red fabric that I used but could never find the right project. I also only had a fat quarter of it. I think it worked wonderfully in this tiny quilt which is based on an antique doll quilt. Isn't it sweet? I'll share it again once I get it quilted. I believe it will be my entry for the Table Mat Challenge.

On the other sew day, I worked on my scrappy Quadrille. This was a mystery pattern offered by Carole at her From My Carolina Home blog. She offered it in several sizes from wall hanging/baby size all the way up to king bed size. You can get the monthly directions for free on her blog until the end of the month. After that you'll pay a nominal price. So, here's my scrappy version, a baby quilt that I'll probably donate to Projecf Linus Quilts through my guild. It's mostly webbed; I just need to sew the rows and finish it off. I'm looking forward to quilting it.

And that is all from here. I'll continue working on my sewing machine furniture this weekend. In between I've got some yard brush to burn and I told Mom I'd take her to The Produce Patch right here in town. Mostly I'm hoping for a laid-back weekend after my busy past week.

I hope you have a good weekend planned ahead. I'll be linking up with the rest of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilters HERE.

I Like Thurs #108

Thursday is a Like-able day. Let's get smiling and, if there isn't enough for you here, you can check out more HERE.

How about Birthday Ice Cream sent to me from my daughter? Oh my! Look at those flavors!!!'

These will go nicely with the Black & White Cake from Rock Recipes that I made. It was so good! The marshmallow frosting had me nervous to make but it came out perfectly and tasty! Pretty sprinkles too!

And from my son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons I received this sweet bird feeder. The boys painted it and each side of the rooftop has a handprint!

Speaking of grandsons, here's Jacob sitting up all by himself. That giggle just cracks me up but oh! That hair! Grammy wants him to get a haircut!!

My wish was my command! Haha!

Look at that sweet face!

Of course Gracie & I like our walk and there is always fun & interesting things to see while outside.

I spied this kitty in the bushes. Gracie did not. Ha!

Daffodils starting to bloom around here

While on our way into P/T, Mom & I looked up and saw these beautiful formations of geese on the move. There were so MANY and they were so gracefully swerving in the sky! (Ugly-looking sky, though)

I really like retreats, especially this group that gets together once a month. We sew all day Friday, go home to dinner and sleep in our own beds, then sew all day Saturday, and then go home for good. Last weekend I said good-bye to my friend Phyllis. She works every month on the same quilt that only comes out for retreat. I've enjoyed watching her piece this one and have lamented with her over a couple of oopsies she made along the way. We've shared a sewing table several times and she & I have gotten to know each other pretty good. We both like to chat a little and sew a lot, which is good because we are both slow at the sewing machines. I wish her well!

Atomic Starburst by Violet Craft

Here's a wonderful Halloween quilt made by Karen. I just love how the birds overlap into the piecing. The pattern was called Blue Jay Way by Abbey Road Quilts. You can get the pattern on Connecting Threads HERE.

I put together the twelve 24" blocks of the Illusions Sampler BOM that I constructed all through 2022. There are two borders left to go and this beast will be done .... then will need to be quilted obviously.

We went out to lunch the other day. I'm not sure if I LIKED or didn't LIKE this. An older couple were each playing on their phones. Great that they're still "young" enough play with smart phones. Sad because they are communicating with each other the way I hate seeing young families communicate today.

I'm still enjoying the book "Murder in the Secret Garden". I do find this book to be a little "Hallmark-Channel"-ish. With just under 100 pages to go, I should be done this week.

As for TV watching, I happily watched all two hours of Survivor last night! Yay! Love that show and this will be the 44th season. I will confess that I didn't watch this show in the beginning but I have liked it for lots of years.

No picture of the 1500 HARD puzzle that I'm still putting together, but progress has been made. I hope to finish it before summer! Ha!

One last "sweetie" picture and I'm outta here.

Have a great week and I'll see you next Thursday for more "Likes"!