Good dog

After the previous post, I decided to take Ivy for a walk down Main Street.  That's our usual route, walk all the way down Main Street and then back home.  It's a 2 mile round trip and a good bit of exercise.

When we got up to Main Street and started walking down it, I noticed that there were quite a few people out.  I remembered then that it was just about the time that they have the Homecoming Parade.  It's not the big parade that they have during the Homecoming Carnival in June, it's the one the high school kids put on for the Homecoming Football Game.  Well, we had already walked far enough that I wasn't about to turn back, and I thought this would be a great test of Ivy's temper.  The crowds, the noise, the sirens - all would make quite a commotion and I wanted to see how she did.

This dog was fantastic!  Lots of little kids (and a few big ones, too!) came up to her and wanted to pet her.  She allowed everyone to pet her and was very good.  The fire truck blew it's extremely loud horn and she wasn't bothered by it, nor was she bothered by the sirens!  I am so pleased!

My nephew is a sophomore on the football team, so he was in the parade.  We thoroughly embarrassed him by waving wildly and acting all silly.  I sure hope he gets to play tonight in the game.  And I hope they win!

Johanna breezed in and out tonight, and wasn't here long enough to do any baking.  I'm making some of the cookies now, but I may go over to her place tomorrow and make another batch with her and the little guy.  Or they may come here.  Either way, I'm having cookies...  :)

Still windy

That ol' wind just blew all night long and it's still blowing!  Guess the cooler weather is moving on in.

Took Ivy for a short walk this morning to the post office.  Getting ready to take her for a longer walk when I'm done here.  Want to get that all done then settle in for the night.

Nick has to d.j. the homecoming dance tonight.  That ought to be fun for him.  His cousin is still in high school, so I'm sure he will think Nick is just the coolest person on earth tonight.  Hey, everyone deserves a little hero-worship now and then, right?  haha.

I tempted Johanna with the promise of 7 layer bar cookies if she came over tonight with the little dude.  Don't know if they will come or not, but I need to get over to the store and get the ingredients for them.  Might walk the dog over there.

Going to get moving on that quilt again.  Kind of slacked off these past couple days, but I'm ready to rock and roll on it tonight.  Hey, I'm on vacation!!!!  yeehaw!

Windy afternoon

At the risk of everyone thinking I am a slob (cough, sputter, shrug), here's a pretty cool picture of a plant that I have been growing at work.  This was from a clementine seed, from a clementine I was eating at my desk!  It's gotten quite tall and is looking really healthy.  And yes, that's my messy desk...

It's been quite windy this afternoon, and I'm wondering if it's going to blow in some rain! We could use some, but please don't rain the entire time I'm off on vacation!  I won't be working tomorrow because I have to go to a funeral (distant relative), so after that I will be relaxing and enjoying my time off.  Really looking forward to going to the cabin we have reserved down in the Shawnee National Forest.  That's going to be really neat and Ev and I are really looking forward to it!  I think Nick is really looking forward to having the house to himself!  haha.

I'm trying to decide what, if any, sewing I should take to the cabin.  We are going to do some hiking the first day, and I think we may do some the second day also, so maybe I'll just take a small hand project or something in case I get bored. 

I was noticing the really cool colors in nature right now around here.  The corn is dried up, ready for harvest, and the stalks are a beautiful light tan color.  The soybean leaves are turning yellow and orange and look very nice.  And the trees are just starting to turn.  I'm hoping that that trees on our hike down south next week will be at peek colors!  I'm also hoping to get some apples from an orchard down in that area.

Something I want to mention about this blog.  There are many times throughout my work day that I think, "Oh if I put that on my blog, no one would believe it!".  Most of the things I think this about are negative.  What happens, usually, is that I get home and by the time I'm ready to blog, I have dismissed the negative things that have happened at work and am ready to write a pleasant post.  Usually this is the case, but I have slipped some negativity in recently, just because I've been so burned out.  This upcoming vacation will help, I believe, and the support of all my friends, seen and unseen, really helps.  The blog is therapeutic for me...a release of the days tension and emotion, and a place for me to share my thoughts and dreams.  So thanks, blogland friends, for reading my blog and for your encouragement every now and then, even if it's just to say "hang in there!".

Springfield

Today I had to go to Springfield for some job training.  We are getting a new computer system and I had to go to learn how to use it.  It was a nice break to be out of the office for the day.

One stitch at a time

That's how I'm going to look at the quilting part of the 36 patch - one stitch at a time!  Today before work I went upstairs and did a little quilting on it.  It's coming along pretty smoothly right now.  I just hope as I get farther into it, it continues to be this easy.

Tomorrow I have to be out of the office for a workshop in Springfield.  It will be a nice change.

Another Monday

When I left for work this morning all I could think of was "Four and a half more days of work, then I'm on vacation".  I'm just so tired of my job.  I'm tired of the people that come in and lie.  It is so hard to stay compassionate for people when so many are trying to dupe you.  I'm not going to get into it anymore here, but I am just burned out with this work right now.

Didn't do any quilting today.  Maybe tomorrow.  Probably will do a lot of sewing next week on vacation.  But if I don't, I don't.  Not going to stress over it, that's for sure.

Ziplining!

We did it!  Wow!  I didn't take my camera along when we ziplined because I was afraid it would drop, but we sure had a great time!  Now, though, I'm a little bit sore...  Not used to all that physical activity, I guess!

It starts...

I started quilting the 36 patch quilt today.  So far so good...

Excited about going ziplining tomorrow!  Probably going to eat at the Spaghetti Factory too.  Gonna be a good day, I hope.

A mountain of dishes and a free pizza

My darling husband and I have a somewhat unspoken agreement that if I do the cooking, which I do, he does the dishes.  This is during the week.  On days when he has to work 12 hours, I can completely understand why he doesn't do the dishes.  If I had to work those kind of hours on my feet doing physical labor I would not want to stand at the kitchen sink and wash dishes.  Yes, we are the last house in America without an automatic dishwasher. 

Well, the last couple of days he has not done the dishes, which is forgiven because one of those days he worked 12 hours.  However, I didn't feel like I should have to cook and wash dishes tonight, so I ordered a pizza.  Luckily I had a coupon for a free large pizza from the local pizza joint.  Now the dishes are done, I'm fed, and he will have something to eat when he gets home.

Oh, and we also don't have a garbage disposal.  A dishwasher I wouldn't mind having, but I have an aversion to garbage disposals and do not want one.  There was one in the sink when we moved here, but I broke it early on and had a local plumber remove it.

Dog gone it

You know, I try to do my best and keep my dog on a leash or inside my fenced in back yard.  I try to be a responsible pet owner.  It really bothers me that I have to find a route home from my friend Lori's that doesn't have dogs on it.  Well, I should rephrase that.  There are dogs on every block in this town, it seems.  However, there seems to be a high concentration of mean dogs on this one stretch between mine and Lori's house.

Tonight Lori and I walked for an hour and to add a little extra to my walk, I decided to walk home with her and then back to my house (we usually meet and then walk).  When I started to go down one street I remembered that they had big mean dogs but I figured that as long as they were tied up, which they had been in the past, I was okay.  Well, how was I supposed to know that the place right next to that one had two dogs, one of which looked like a nursing mother and the other a fierce, medium sized dog.  The nursing mother came shooting out of the yard towards Ivy and I.  She didn't get real brave until the other dog came out of the yard.  The other one came up behind me while the female was along side of us.  I really think they were going to gang up on Ivy.  The people that lived there were coming out, but not fast enough.  I turned around to the fierce dog and hollered at it to get and kind of stomped at it, then kept Ivy moving on down the block.

Well, a young boy was coming towards us on a bike, I would say he was around 7 or 8 years old, and he saw the mean dogs and he saw Ivy.  He asked me if he could pet my dog.  I said yes, but that we should walk away a little further so that the mean dogs wouldn't get to us.  I didn't want him to ride down that street right then because at this point, one of the owners was beating one of the dogs, in the middle of the street, with a rope.  I just hate that.  I really hate that.  Ivy let him pet her and then he went on his way. 

I really think I'm going to avoid that street from now on.  In some ways, it bothers me to do this, because I think people purposefully have mean dogs so others don't come around, and this seems like I'm letting them win.  However, I will not put myself or my pet in danger just to prove a point.  And even though I'm going to avoid that street, I'm considering carrying pepper spray or a big stick on our walks in the future.  I still haven't forgotten 'Moose'.  That was the Saint Bernard that ran out and attacked Wrigley and Ivy when I was walking the two of them when Ivy was just a pup.  That man had to actually tackle that dog to get him under control.

A little batty

Would you believe that I saw a bat this evening on my walk?  Ugh.  That's one critter I can do without seeing, even if it can't see me!  Ivy and I were walking around 7:30, just at dusk, and one flew above us.  This does unsettle me a little because there was an article in the paper a couple weeks ago that a rabid bat was found in town. 

Gave my coworker the baby quilt today.  She didn't open the box, of course, but did thank me.  I'm sure the mama will like it.

A finish!

 Here's the baby quilt I made for a coworkers great grandchild.  It's all made from stash.  Alternating 16 patch blocks with solid blocks.

 The quilting is simple straight lines.  I used a walking foot on the older Kenmore to machine quilt it.

The label was simple.  I just folded the material and free motioned the baby's name.  Then I put it in the corner and sewed the binding on.

I may have mistakenly said this was my coworkers first great grandchild in a previous post.  I forgot that she has one already. 

So now I don't have any excuses not to start the quilting on the 36 patch quilt.  Other than the one that I'm terrified of ruining it by messing up the quilting.  Sigh.  Got to get some courage up for this project.

Inch by inch

Little by little, I'm getting the baby quilt done.  I have all the quilting finished on it, and the label is ready to be attached.  I have to put the binding on and that's about it.

Made a big dinner tonight.  Beef roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, cauliflower, corn on the cob, homemade bread, and baked apples.  yum.  Made Nick a vegetable stew with dumplings in it.

And speaking of squirrels

I was just commenting recently on the squirrels in my neighborhood and how I liked them to someone when I happened to look at my cactus plant out on the front porch.  Can you see in the middle of the cactus?  It's a walnut with it's hull still on it.  Those goofy squirrels tried to bury that nut in my cactus!  I was sitting in the front room with the door open and saw a squirrel come up on the porch.  Curious to see if it was just checking on the walnut, I continued to watch and wouldn't you know it, that bugger removed the walnut and took it away to hide somewhere else!  Hmfph.  I guess my cactus plant wasn't safe enough for it.

Went down to visit with Johanna, Ben and Johnathon for a couple hours today.  Ev had to work this afternoon, so I left at the same time he left for work.  Had a nice visit and got to spend some 'grandma' time with Johnathon, even though I'm not an official grandma, yet.  Sure do love that little bugger.  He really is a joy to be around.  And Johnathon, when you get older and read my blog, I want you to know that I mean every word!

Took Ivy for a couple walks today.  She is really getting good at walking.  I still have to use the pinch collar (and I still hate that I do) but she is getting better every day about pulling.  Just small amounts of progress, but with time I'm sure I'll be able to use a regular collar again.  She has started to do her 'business' now when we walk, so I have started carrying plastic sacks with me.  ugh.  The things I do for this dog...

I worked on the baby quilt some more today.  I only have a few more lines of quilting to do on it, then bind and label it.  Looking good for getting finished this weekend.

Tried two new recipes tonight

I tried two new recipes this evening.  One was from Judy Laquidaria's blog, Patchwork Times.  It was her VegAll Casserole.  It was pretty good.  I made it mainly for Nick, but Johanna and I each tried a bit of it and liked it.  Definitely something I will make again.

The other recipe was from our local paper.  It was a taco casserole with fritos in it.  It was funny because Ev was just telling me a few days ago that he wished I would make that frito casserole I made years ago.  I didn't even remember ever making something like this, but I guess I did!  It was a pretty good recipe also, so it's a keeper.

Took Ivy for a walk again tonight.  It started to rain on our way back, but not too bad.

Got some sewing done.  I was upstairs for about an hour and a half tonight.  Pieced that batting, then pin basted the baby quilt.  I started machine quilting it.  Got about half of it done.  Really want to finish it this weekend.

Ivy is getting spoiled

Well, she probably was spoiled a long time ago, if we are going to be truthful.  Now, though, she is getting spoiled because I'm taking her on a lot of walks.  Since I started walking with her, I have only missed doing it two days.  Once was because I wasn't feeling good and the other time was because it was raining.  I still have to use the pinch collar, which I really hate, but it's the only way I can get her to walk without pulling my arm out of the socket!  Getting her out and walking not only benefits me by the exercise, but I think it helps to wear her out for the evening.

Tonight when I got home from work I put together a couple of chicken bacon ranch subs for Ev and two pieces of pizza bread for Nick.  After they were done in the broiler I took Ivy for a walk.  It was earlier than I had been going, but since the temp has cooled down it was a good time to walk.

After I got home my friend Donna came over to visit for a while, so I didn't get upstairs to do any sewing.  I did get up there later last night and finished putting the top of the baby quilt together.  I also picked out some backing fabric and pieced it together.  Then I dug out some batting scraps.  They need to be pieced together, but that's no big deal.  This baby quilt will have come completely from my stash.  The due date is September 30th, so I've got to keep moving on it!

I'm going to have to find a good sale on batting pretty soon.  I'm all out of full batts, and my scrap bin is pretty thin, too.  Maybe if Joann's has a 50% off sale I can get down there and pick up a few.  I really like to use the 100% cotton batting.  I like the weight and feel of it, and the drape.  I also like how it puckers when the quilt has been washed and dried.  I guess the price of it will also have gone up, since the price of cotton went up so dramatically.

Middle of the week cool down

Today we woke up to rain and cool temperatures.  Love it!  I have a big pot of chili cooking for dinner, just because it seems like good cool weather food.  I'm even thinking of pulling out the hand quilting and doing some of it. 

Nick and I were looking for things in the cedar chest last night and I found some pieces that were embroidered.  I didn't really get them out to see exactly what they are, but I do want to get them out soon and maybe put them out somewhere.

Harvest Moon

Took my evening walk with Ivy and was rewarded with a beautiful Harvest Moon.  Sure was pretty.

Made breakfast for dinner tonight.  Hash browns, scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage.  Pretty good eats.

Today it was pretty warm.  I think it got up to the 90's and it was humid.  I didn't do any sewing today.  Want to get up there and finish that baby quilt, but giving it another day.  Tomorrow it is supposed to cool off considerably.  I sure will be glad when this summer is really over.

Monday squared

Felt like an extra strong dose of Monday today.    Didn't go to work, was sick.  Still a yuck day.  Well, tomorrow is another day.

A day in pictures

 Ahh, the smell of barbeque pork chops!  Ev grilled a package of the chops from the meat bundle we bought yesterday.  We had them, some potato salad, asparagus, and corn on the cob for dinner.  Was a very good meal.

 We put the cover on the pool today.  Yesterday we ran the winterizing chemicals in it and today it was ready for the cover.  Still have to take the filter and pump inside, but that's not a biggie.  We got the cover on early this year, which is a good thing.  Got it on before the leaves started to fall.  We weren't going to swim anymore, most likely.  The water temp would be too cold, even if we had a hot day here or there.  We had an absolutely great year with the pool this year. 

 You have heard of the cat in the hat, well here is the cat in the box.  Shadow loves to lay in box tops for some reason.  Here she is in one on the back porch.  If she isn't in the box top, she is on the top of a small step ladder that is leaning against the wall and forms a platform for her to look out the window.  Silly cat.

 Baked a peach pie today.  We all had a piece after dinner, but it really wasn't one of my best pies.  I didn't add enough sugar or the peaches were exceptionally sour.  This was the last of the peaches from the previous year that were in the freezer, so that might have been part of it.

 Bought a watermelon at the grocery store today.  I'll be sad when winter comes and we can't get good watermelon.  That will be one of the few reasons I'll be sad that this horribly hot summer will be over.  I'm going to cut Mr. Melon up like I did the last one and keep it in the fridge to nibble on.  Yum.

 Something productive here.  I made pretty good progress on the quilt top for the baby quilt I'm working on.  It's got 25 blocks in it, each 8" square.  The 16 patch blocks have 2" squares in them.  I've got all the rows put together and just have to sew the last 2 rows to the top and it will be done.  Not sure what I will use for a backing, but I know I will find something.  Want to get it quilted this week if possible.  Baby is due in a couple weeks, I think.  It's for a coworker's first great grandchild.

And lastly, there is the humongous 36 patch quilt, all pin basted and ready to be quilted.  I'm letting it age before I start on it...that might help me wrestle it through the domestic machine.  Sigh.  It is quite intimidating but I will be tackling it soon.  Promise!

I do want to mention that it was nice to see the memorials that were occurring for the 9 11 tragedy anniversary.  We should never forget those who died.  The world changed forever that day....  May God help us.

Looky what I got

Lots of pork!  Pork sausage, pork patties, pork steaks, pork chops, bacon, ham, and pork ribs!  This was the order I had placed a few weeks ago with a meat locker a couple towns over.  The price was great.  Now let's hope the meat is good.  Tomorrow Ev is going to grill some chops, so we will see!

Haven't done any sewing yet this weekend.  Been busy doing other little things, and did some running with Ev out to pick up parts for his bike.  He was supposed to work today but got called off.

Three walks in a row and one tired dog

Ivy sure likes taking an evening stroll!  Then she likes to take a long snooze!

Didn't do any sewing today.  When I got off at noon today I went straight to Johanna's and we went to lunch.  Had a great time, visiting and eating.  She and Ben are going up to visit Mom this weekend.

Baked a batch of cookies when I got home.  I noticed there was one missing when I came home from my walk, so I'm thinking Nick had one before he headed out to his buddy's tonight.  Since I ate late with Johanna I didn't cook, just brought leftovers for Ev and had a coupon for a free pizza so that was what Nick had.

Tomorrow morning I have to go pick up our pork order in Carlinville.  Anxious to see how much there is and if it's good.  I sure hope it is.  This will load up the freezer for a while, hopefully!

Just a walkin...after dark....

Two nights in a row I've been out after dark, walking with Ivy.  I can't say that I will be doing this every night, but I'm trying to start a new habit here.  Not necessarily after dark, just the walking part.

I went upstairs before work this morning and made six more 16 patch blocks.  That makes a total of 8 blocks for the baby quilt.  I need 13 total of the 16 patch blocks.  Shouldn't be a problem to get this top finished up and ready to quilt soon.

More stew

Made two pots of stew tonight.  One with meat and one without for Nick.  I think he really likes getting home cooked meals all the time now!

Went up and did some sewing after work tonight.  Instead of more 36 patch blocks, I'm making 16 patch blocks.  I had enough strips of two colors of blue to make 13 blocks.  I'm going to alternate them with 12 - 8 inch blocks of a juvenile print.  I sewed all the strips together and then cut into twosie units.  That will give me something to sew in the mornings for a couple days.

Stew fixin's

I admit, this is a picture from the last time I made stew.  But I intend to make stew again tomorrow, so I thought this picture would be appropriate.

I have decided to make 6 more 36 patch blocks, maybe 12.  I'm going to make a baby quilt for a baby boy that is due for a co worker's grandbaby.  Actually, it will be for a great-grandbaby.  Don't know if I have enough fun kid fabrics, but I know I have enough blues.  Does it sound like I'm procrastinating on starting the quilting on the big 36 patch quilt?  sigh.  I'm caught.  It's so BIG!  I'm intimidated!  But I will do it...yes, I will...right after I make this baby quilt.  The baby is due in a couple weeks, I have to make this first!  Really!

Went to the movies tonight with Donna and her sister to see "The Help".  It was a good movie.  Parts of it made me laugh, parts made me mad, and parts made me cry.  All in all, a good movie.  I may get the book to read.

Basting pics

Here was the first layer, the backing, of basting my quilt on the floor.  Next I put the backing over it.

 And finally the top went down.

It was two hours of crawling around on my kitchen floor, but it finally got pin basted and is now ready to be quilted.  Today I didn't do any sewing, but I did oil the machine and wind ten bobbins.  Also cleared off the tables so that I can dive right into quilting.

I made two lasagna's for dinner, one with meat and one without.  In Nick's I put slices of zuccini to give it a little punch.  We had salad and garlic bread with it.  I had cut up a watermelon last night and we have been eating it like crazy.

Basted and ready to quilt

Ev and I moved the kitchen table and chairs and I mopped the floor today.  Then, after it was dry, I taped the backing down and set to pin basting the quilt.  It took almost two hours, but it's done and ready to be quilted!  I've got pics on my camera, but haven't uploaded them to the computer yet.  Maybe tomorrow I will start quilting it.

The weather cooled off enough that we turned the air conditioning off today.  It's nice to have the house opened up again.

Up and at it early today

Would you believe I was up in the sewing room at ten minutes to seven this morning?  On a Saturday?  I've got the bug now, to keep moving on the quilt.  I sewed together the pieces for the backing, pressed the back and pressed several seams on the quilt top that needed it.  The backing was from a bolt that was 60" wide, but the folded edge had an age line, so I just put a seam there and cut off the age line!  It worked just fine.  I also pieced together two batts to make a large enough piece for this quilt.  I have everything ready to be pin basted but still trying to work out where to do it.  I really don't feel like going to the church hall, dragging chairs away from tables, pushing them together, washing them down in case they are dirty, and then pin basting the top, and have to put everything back the way it was.  My tables at home are occupied, but I thought about it and even if I cleared them off and brought them out to the patio, they aren't large enough!  This quilt is over 8' wide and my tables are only 6' long!  sigh.  So what I'm leaning toward doing now, is clearing a space on the kitchen floor, make sure it is clean, and pin basting the quilt enough that it will lay correctly, then take it upstairs to one of the tables and pin baste it even more.  At least, that's my plan.  I might attempt this tonight if Ev goes uptown for a beer and Nick goes out to his friends house.  Or maybe I'll wait until early tomorrow morning and do it before anyone gets up.

Caught another mouse last night.  Reset the trap and hope that if there are more, they will get caught.  Have I mentioned lately that I HATE MICE?

Johanna and Ben brought Johnathon over to swim today.  We grilled some burgers and bacon dogs.  Also put a couple veggie burgers on for Nick.  Had beans and chips.  I bought some potato salad but forgot to put it on the table.  duh.

Top is done!

I finished the 36 patch top this afternoon.  Found some material for the backing and intend to piece it together tomorrow morning.  I have a full size batting and another almost full size that I think I'll piece together to make a batting big enough for this quilt.

Took Uncle Ray to dinner tonight.  He sure likes that fish!  I had a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich.  Wasn't in the mood for fish.

Sure am glad it's a three day weekend!

So close

I am so close to having the 36 patch top done, it's exciting!  Does that mean I'm a nerd because I get excited over things like this?  sigh.  Anyway, I sewed rows together and pinned more sections.  Dare I say that I would like to get it basted and attempt to machine quilt it over the weekend?  I have no illusions that it will get completely done, but it would be nice if I got a good start on it.  I have those big tables that I bought to baste on upstairs, but they are in use, so I don't think I'll be using them to baste quilts on!  Maybe I'll take it to the church hall.  Or clean off the tables and bring them out to the patio.  I don't know.

This morning when I got up I checked the mouse traps in the kitchen.  One had the bait stolen and was not set off.  Another still had the bait on it.  And the third was missing.  Yes, missing.  Since it was right next to the stove, my guess was that the mouse drug it under the stove.  Woke up Ev and told him, so when he got up he moved the stove and yup, one mouse in a trap!  I reset the traps, in case he had friends....  Have I mentioned I hate mice?

I made our reservation for zip lining down at Meremac Caverns later in the month.  It is going to be so cool!  Me, Ev, and the kids are all going to do it.  Should be a lot of fun.

Made two taco casseroles for dinner tonight.  One with meat and the other without.  I had some of the one without meat and it was pretty good.  I put black beans, corn, and tomatoes  in it, along with sour cream, taco seasoning, crushed tortilla chips, and cheese.  Nick liked it.

Tomorrow is my short day at work.  Uncle Ray wants to go get fish for dinner tomorrow night.  Guess we will do that.