Quilting In the Garden

I wanted to show you that even though I have been incredibly busy this summer, I was actually able to do a wee, tiny, itsy, Betsy bit of sewing. I had the components already cut out for this quilt and I was able to put this much together when my friends and I got together one weekend for a quilting day. Aren't the fabrics luscious? I can't take any credit for picking them out. One day Sweety and I took a drive down to the Clovis/Fresno area for some quilt and antique shopping for me and a visit to his favorite winery for him. I saw the quilt hanging in Quilter's Paradise in Clovis. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I went back maybe five or six times and finally told myself, "Jean, for crying out loud, just buy the kit!!!" ( I sometimes have to be a little forceful with myself when I'm not co-operating!)

Here is the pattern and the picture shows how it will look when I'm done (cross your fingers everyone!). It was designed by their in-house designer Colette Belt. She has other patterns and kits available and I just love her work. I was a little stymied as to how to do the borders and I was able to call the shop and actually have her answer my questions. How cool is that?

If you are a quilter or a gardener or both or just like pretty things, mark your calendar for the annual Quilting In The Garden Show at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, California. You can read all about it here. It's September 26th and 27th and is a must see event. I'll be the one running around like a crazy person taking pictures with my little pink camera! Stop me and say hi!!!

For some reason my picture of the pattern is not enlarging and is showing a "Google error". Does anyone know what that is all about?

Well alrighty, then.....

Today was our grandson's first day back to school. As I usually do, I drive the 25 minutes to their house so I can accompany them to school. That is after taking pictures on their front porch......













Oh, right. There are no pictures! By the time I got to their house Redmond had already gone and walked to school (three blocks away). My daughter said that he was anxious to get going (a good sign) and didn't want to wait for us. We took Samuel to school and found Redmond in the playground. We could tell that it was off limits to make fuss over him. You know the look. The one that says, "Please, don't embarrass me!" Samuel, also, was making it clear that their would be no pictures. He was just too grown up for that!

So our summer of babysitting the boys is over. We had a great time with them and the days just literally flew by. There were so many things I wanted to do with them but just didn't get around to. Places I wanted to take them, projects I wanted to do with them, lessons I wanted to teach them.

But when all is said and done, I believe that Sweety and I did accomplish the number one thing on our "to do" list for summer. Let the boys know that they have grandparents that love them. After all, that is the most important thing we could do, isn't it?

Julie and Julia

Ok, I'm going to jump on the Julie and Julia band wagon. Sweety and I went last weekend to see it and we had a wonderful time. This movie is great! Everyone in the audience was laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. I highly recommend it. I give it a Five Scotties rating!

This is my copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Actually, I had given it to my daughter, but I have borrowed it back. There is a chicken dish in the movie I would like to attempt to duplicate. It was a gift from a friend and she wrote such a nice inscription in the front. Problem was, once I opened the book, there were a number of pages out of sequence and missing. The publisher had me return it and they sent me a new one. Fine, but now the sentiment isn't there anymore.

Notice the copyright of my copy? Yes, I've had it for years. I used to watch Julia's cooking show religiously. Sadly, her cooking prowess didn't rub off on me, but to this day I love to watch cooking shows. Sorta like, "oh, that is what the kitchen is for!" Tee Hee!


Watching the movie, I had no idea there was such an intricate and complex story behind the book. The years of disappointment and perseverance that it took to get it published is amazing. It got me to thinking. Every book that you read, every movie that you watch, every quilt pattern that you buy has a story behind it. Someone has had a dream of creating something worthwhile and they have put the effort into seeing that dream to fruition. In fact, sometimes the story behind the story is more interesting than the finished product itself.


What should we do? Well, for one thing, when I find an author whose books I enjoy, I write them a quick email and tell them. I have done this numerous times with authors and they always (always!) write me back and thank me. Most all of today's authors have web sites (and blogs) and have contact information. Artists (like the rest of us) all like to be appreciated and what they have done validated. Besides, it's the polite thing to do.

So go out and see the movie and then hop on over to Julie Powell's blog and say hello. Or finish that book you've been reading and let the author know how much you enjoyed it. Or just tell someone in your life that they mean something to you and you appreciate all you do. It's the easiest way I know to make yourself feel good, too.

Pink Roses

Beautiful roses from a beautiful lady!

Thank you, Dory.

I love you!!!

My Boys...

Sitting between them

on the sofa,

I read aloud

from their favorite books.

It's been a full day

for two tired boys,

and their little heads, heavy with sleep,

lean against my shoulders.

The story is only

halfway read,

when I know they both

have slipped away

to their dreaming place.

But I keep my voice low

and continue to read.

Should one or the other

partially wake,

as sometimes happens

when sleep is new,

I want them to think

that nothing's changed

in their little world,

so they'll feel safe.

Or maybe I just want

to lengthen the stay

of two small heads

leaning on me,

while I pretend

my world, too,

hasn't changed.

~Rae Turnbull

Lovely is as lovely does.....

The Lovely List is a new and unique blog dedicated to all things lovely. Read all about it here. Click on the "what and why" button at the top and Brandy will tell you all about what she hopes her blog will be.




And to make it even better, she will be giving away a cruiser bicycle once a month! How terrific and lovely is that?! Can you just see yourself tooling around town on this?

Lovely, indeed!

Pat Sloan's Apron Challenge

Pat Sloan of quilting fame is having an Apron Challenge. Read about it here. All you have to do is post a picture of your favorite apron, old or new, on her Flickr account. She'll draw a winner on August 10th.

Here's my entry. It's a promotional apron from Kellogg's Cereal Company of Battle Creek, Michigan. I was raised in Battle Creek and it seems like my entire family at one time or another worked there. My Mom and I like to collect Kellogg's memorabilia and she recently gave this apron to me.

Look closely, ladies. It's PLASTIC!!! Hilarious! I'm sure that Mrs. Cleaver, Beaver's mom, didn't wear a plastic apron.

See, I told you! An apron of heavenly, plastic loveliness! The back of the envelope the apron came in says:

With bib up it's practical in the kitchen - tuck bib down and it's smart for serving

Embossed Pique Texture!

Smart Floral Pattern!

Cleans with just a damp cloth!

I'm guessing that this is from the 1950's. Look at the address on the envelope. All they needed was a name and city and it was delivered! I wonder if Mrs. Chester Webb of Taylor, Arizona or her family know that I have her apron!

Now all I have to do is figure Flickr out and I'll post my entry! Easier said than done.......

Happy Anniversary

Happy 41st Anniversary, Sweety!!! Here's to 41 more years together!!