Friday Finishes!

Actually these both have been done for a while but I might have finished them on a Friday!


The first is a little Santa. It's only about 7 1/2 inches square. The fabric squares were ironed to a fusible grid then the vertical and horizontal seams were sewn. I have a much larger project to make like this and wanted to try out the method. I think he's kind of cute!

I purchased everything for this second project last fall at Country Threads Quilt Camp. It is from their book, Country Threads Goes to Charm School. I thought this would be a good project to work on while traveling. I started it on our trip to North Carolina last fall and then it just sat. I picked it up about a month ago and it went together rather quickly. The piecing was all done by hand as was the quilting. 

A trip to Madison

We were in Madison today to get my brace adjusted and to do a couple of errands. The highlight of the day was lunch. The lady at Meriter Home Health suggested lunch at Bonfyre. It was awesome. We will be going back!


We both had the $10 lunches. Ray had Jambalaya and I had wood-fyred Jumbo Shrimp. My shrimp might be the best I've ever had!

Update - 6 weeks

Six weeks is my first milestone! I saw the surgeon this morning. 

The strength in my legs is good - I am progressing fine. In the next 8 weeks I can push to walk a little longer each day. I can eventually try a gentle bike ride! And I can go swimming (but can’t really swim). I can also get out more which is wonderful - I'm getting tired of being home all of the time.

I told him I got very tired and he laughed saying that would last for quite a while. So I still have many naps to go - right now I get at least three naps most days. I always thought taking a nap was something special. Now I look at it like a preschooler - naps interrupt important stuff!

The downer is that I cannot go visit my mom. I originally thought I would be home bound for 3 months so I didn’t think I would see her for some time. The problem is infection. When I do finally get to go see her (hopefully in 8 weeks), I have to come home and shower with chlorhexidine to cut down on the possibility of infection.

My restrictions are pretty much the same but the report was a little better than I had hoped so I'd call it a good day! In 8 weeks, there will be x-rays that will affect the next report and hopefully some restrictions will be lifted. Physical Therapy begins Monday.

Needed: More patience...

A new granddaughter!

Ivy Annalice was born May 27, 2011.

We won't be able to see her for a while but she will feel our love in her new quilts. She should have received them today.

The summer quilt is soft and simple.

There is no piecing and no quilting. This is more like a sheet.

The warmest quilt has Minkee on the back. Ray picked out this pattern.

I like the colors. The background is a light turquoise.

Here's the back. I've never used the Minkee dot before.

We came across a pattern using 1930's reproduction fabrics. The reproductions are not really my taste so I've always ignored them. Ray loved the fabrics. I liked the pattern and thought our son and daughter-in-law would like the older look of the fabrics. And I really like it!

The pattern was for a queen size quilt with six plain borders. So, of course, I changed it! I had to make the 'pinwheels' smaller and I added the colorful border.

And in one corner, within the heart, there is a piece of Boston Ivy with Ivy's name it it. 

In case you are not aware, the ivy at Wrigley Field, home of the favored Chicago Cubs, is Boston ivy.

And here is the back. 

I can't wait to hold our newest grandchild!