May RSC is PINK!

In case you couldn't tell by my new header picture and overall color of my blog, May's Rainbow Scrap Challenge is pink. I only just learned the new color when I read Angela's post yesterday and knew I'd better get my blog updated. How do you like those peonies? Gracie and I found them on our walk this morning. 

I apologize for getting so far behind but my sister came up from Texas for a visit. So busy and so much fun! While she was here, she took care of Mom & Polly (Gracie was kenneled) so hubby & I could take off for a 5-day Cousins Reunion which was held at a lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama. It was a peaceful, beautiful location. Look at the view from our patio!

Here are also a few pictures of the gang.

All the cousins and their spouses

The cousins that were able to attend

The spouses that were able to attend

The group representing the FEHoover Family

After returning home, my sister was able to spend a few more days with us before driving south again. Of those last days, she and I managed to escape to a LQS to spend two days sewing, chatting, laughing, and catching up on anything and everything. Each late afternoon, we returned home to fix dinner and share company with Mom & Fred.

So now that you're all caught up with the social part of my current life, let's see what I've manage to sew. One thing I can tell you is that I sewed up another gift that needs to be shipped out. Until then, there's no picture and you'll just have to take my word for it. Ha! Red Threads embroidery blocks have progressed though.

Plus two more blocks were completed for the Lori Holt "Vintage Christmas" SAL at my local quilt shop.

A Christmas Present

The Drum

While I got another week behind on the Twilight Stars QAL, I did manage to knock out a non-current week. Two more stars to add to the growing pile.

And there was also progress made on my EPP project.

I'm sure this will come as no surprise but .... I started another project. It was a SAL with Gundrun Erla. The pattern is Strips & Nachos. I believe I mentioned it in an earlier post but now sewing has begun.

While Linda was here, we started a jigsaw puzzle together. It's 1000 pieces and has been proving quite challenging.

Mom & I enjoyed the Kentucky Derby yesterday. What a wonderful photo-finish to commemorate the 150th Kentucky Derby! Thank you for our hats goes to our used-to-be neighbor Karla and thank you goes to my BFF Vickie for visiting Churchill Downs and gifting me official cups for our mint juleps!

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend. I think today we'll be loving no rain here for a change. Maybe I'll get those daffodil bulbs I swiped from Mom's house planted in my own yard today ... before the next expected rain!

Sharing with Angela and the other RSC quilters at SoScrappy and also with Cheryll and others on Friday Night with Friends!

I Like Thurs #113, PHD April Report, RSC Orange, and FNwFs

I have been off-grid for 2-1/2 to 3 weeks due to trips. April 11 or 12 through the 17th I was in Del Rio TX to witness my nephew earn his USAF pilot wings. He was selected for fighter pilot school next which takes 6-9 months to achieve. We are so proud of him and the time I spent in TX was wonderful. There will be pictures later probably but I have other things to talk about right now.

Mom & Me with my nephew.
We are standing in front of the airplane
 hon which e has already qualified

I had barely finished the laundry and caught my breath when off Fred & I left for FL on April 23 by way of Savannah GA. We met my BFF and her husband there and spent the afternoon & evening of the 24th on the waterfront. The next morning we caught the trolley for the historical district tour and then drove on to Cocoa Beach FL for the guys' military reunion. Too much fun to go into but here's a picture of the four of us ready for dinner at the Patrick AFB Club.

We finally made it home on May 2 but not before visiting Chickamauga Civil War Battlefield on the way. Located on the border between Georgia and Tennessee, it was the perfect opportunity to stop and spend an afternoon.

LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color gave us the prompt -- Do we like to sing and, if so, what & where? Yes, I like to sing! I probably mostly sing in the car or while I'm cooking. I don't always know the words to the song so I'll just make up what I am currently feeling or what may rhyme. I also sing a lot on the bike trail with Gracie. I usually rely on songs I learned in 3rd grade. My dad was stationed in Germany at that time and my wonderful, piano-playing teacher (Miss Brueggeman) taught us all sorts of patriotic songs. We learned all the anthems for the military branches, a load of America songs, and some fun ones like Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree, I Love to Go A-Wandering, and of course a few songs my mother taught me like Oh Dunderback, The Cannibal King, Oh I Walked to Toledo, and more. Piano music in our house led to even more singable songs like There Is a Tavern In the Town and so many other silly songs. Gracie seems to enjoy them all!

Gail @ Quilting Gail is working through her Projects Half Done (PHD) and has encouraged us to join her. I didn't do too bad this month. I started and finished a "secret" project which I'll share later after the recipient receives it. I also completed a UFO. It wasn't on my list but the top was done and I turned it into a quilt this month when I rented time on the long-arm at my LQS. The binding was also applied, of course!  Here's a picture of Harmony, designed by GEDesigns. I pieced this during a COVID QAL.

Picture of the Front

And the Back

Any and all of my RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) projects suffered last month. April's designated color was purple and there were no purple pineapples pieced. May's color is orange so that will need to be completed this month also. My May goal is to get both sets of RSC pineapples sewn.

As for miscellaneous projects, I did manage to finish the Lucy Boston block from English Paper-Piecing Club.

I picked out fabrics for Uptown but not one little piece was appliqued down. Zero progress on that. Ugh!

Tonight is Friday Night with Friends, brought to us by Cheryll @ Gone Stitchin'. I started this morning (which was of course evening by Australian time!) with Oh My Scrappy Stars. I managed to get all 25 of my star blocks finished up. The pattern only uses 16 blocks but I wanted mine to be a little larger. The sashing is the next step and I've got some 2-1/2" strips set aside for that.

I'm also working on a Spring SAL cross-stitch project. Melisa @ Pinker 'n' Punkin' offered this freebie up on her website. I've been enjoying working on this in the evenings.

Early Evening

Late Evening Progress

While we were driving to & from Florida, I was working on the next EPP block. It is called Buzz Saw. Here's a little peek into my project box which worked very well while traveling.

All in all, I didn't do too bad considering I wasn't with my sewing machine much last month. However  some progress was made. Let's hope May is more cooperative but I don't know about that. The yard and gardens need much attention now too. It just never ends!

Have a great weekend!

In case you missed the links, here's a recap where you can see what all my quilty friends managed to do:

I Like Thursday - LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color

PHD April - Gail @ Quilting Gail

RSC April - Angela @ So Scrappy

FNwF - Cheryll @ Gone Stitchin;

The Last Half of October (Part 2 - MD)

We had so much fun in October that it necessitated two posts to break it up. The first part of our vacation was spent at my brother's house in NC. This next post will deal with the second part of our vacation which we spent at my son's house in MD.

I'm sure you can guess that the highlight of this part deals with kids & grandkids. Brody is fascinated with pushing the buttons on watches and seeing them light up. Mom had a good watch!

Our youngest grandson turned 6 months while we were there. I got to go to his 6-month check up. He is already well over 18 pounds! Check out those cheeks and thighs! Ha!

My dear DIL made us eggs benedict -- so yummy! She cooked the eggs in the sous vide method and actually made the muffins and hollandaise sauce from scratch!

Here's our little Jacob. Isn't that a sweet face! So many smiles and laughter from this little guy!

While we were there, we managed a trip to a local winery called Robin Hill Winery. It is located in Brandywine MD. We picked a very good day to go as the sun was shining which warmed the Fall air.

I loved their logo. Sarah, Mom, & I each had a flight of all their wines. We got to keep the glasses so now I have three more wine glasses! We actually sometimes run out of them at the holidays so I was grateful for the bonus inventory.

Grandpa and Brody enjoyed walking about the vineyard.

Here's our group sitting at the picnic table enjoying the outdoors. Check out the color of those Autumnal trees in the background and the blue sky. Sunglasses on and wine glasses in hand. Perfect afternoon.

Jared has off from work every Tuesday so he takes Brody to Skyzone to play. We went to see what it was all about but unfortunately it was the day after Halloween so I think that was why there was barely any kids there that day. We had fun anyway, of course.

Lots of balls to play with on the trampolines.

The areas with lots of blocks are fun too. Brody was trying to make friends with this little girl.

 

Where's Brody? He's buried in the foam blocks. Thanks, Dad.

We were thrilled to have company on the night before we were leaving. Kelli & Alex came to see us one last time and to meet Jacob. Kelli was also showing Jared her brand new 2022 car. She and Alex got a dinner out of the trip which is always a bonus!

A last couple of pictures before we hit the road.

Jacob working on his abs in his bumpo seat.
Look at those toes!

This is where I'd find Gus most mornings when I got up

Gus cozied up on our coats as we were packing out to go home

We left on November 2 with Harrisonburg VA in our sights. Lori at Humble Quilts had her Buhl-Bushong quilt hanging in the Virginia Quilt Museum. It was a beautiful exhibit. The only damper on the stop was Fred's blood sugar crashed and he had to recuperate while I explored the quilts with Mom.

Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg VA

Me in front of the museum

Mom & me on the museum steps

Missy Carpenter-inspired quilt. Gorgeous!

The original Buhl-Bushong quilt which inspired
the various interpretations

I loved all the hand-quilting in this one

Lori's gorgeous quilt

I loved the squirrels in this one

This quilter used Kaffe Fassett fabrics

I loved this Halloween medallion quilt

We made it home on November 3rd and got Gracie out of the kennel on the 4th. Our family was all together once again!

I hope you weren't bored out of your minds but I wanted to document our vacation. Next post will be an I Like Thursday one. You know, the regular!

Have a great Wednesday!