How Can Humidity Be This Gorgeous??

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 NIVUK

June's Last Week

As per usual, the last week of the month is pretty busy. This month is no exception.

So here's what's been going on:

Lace

The mystery has been resolved.

This was NOT the lace used in my sister's wedding gown. She looked at it and knew immediately.

First, the lace wasn't white.

Second, the motif was larger in her bridal lace.

Third, she knew immediately that it was the lace Mom used in her dress for the wedding.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it to share, but I can tell you that it was beautiful.

End result, the lace is mine and I can use it for what I wish. I was going to use it in Girls Getaway but have since decided that two wouldn't go well together and am probably going to look for a eyelet that would be more suitable.

Next up, Newton has a job !!!

This is his first real one. The last two summers he's only been able to work in summer youth programs. Almost every job he applied for said he had to be 18, well now he is and nothing is going to hold him back except himself. 

The job is conveniently located as well, right down the street !!! All the fast food and groceries are in the same area. It's about a 5 minute drive. He's only worked two days, but is doing well and I couldn't be more proud of him.

I have been wearing my domestic hat lately. My kitchen has been thoroughly cleaned, I'm working on a bedroom and continuing to experiment with new recipes.

Three cheese tomato tart :)

Honey Do has lost 20 lbs. and I'm down about 5 - he has much more will power than I do and more to lose :)

And almost as exciting as Newton getting a job, my church installed a new senior pastor last Sunday.

Our congregation couldn't be happier or more supportive of him and his family.

And now, it's time to work some more on Scrap Vortex.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with all the things that make and keep you happy.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 NIVUK

When all else fails . . .

SCRAP ! ! ! 

 

Scraps to be sewn . . .

Scraps to be pressed . . . 

Scraps to be sorted !

Last week when I decided to clean up and organize my sewing space, I ran across the scrap blocks/quilt in progress. I try really hard to work on them as leaders and enders, but occasionally I just get caught up in them and go to town.

This week, I was sort of at loose ends with any sewing projects. I took the pile of scraps that are partially sewn together and started working on them.

It didn't take very long to get them under control and make something substantial from them.

* * * * * 

Please excuse the interruption for domesticate responsibilities :)

We were blessed last week with a huge box of fruit and bagels from the food pantry through the school. We don't fall into the poverty level by any stretch of the government's mandates, but because of the school that my son attends we are able to participate. It is unfortunate, that even though there is huge need not enough people take advantage of the programs. So much is still being wasted and most of the provisions need to be used yesterday !!!

After talking to a teacher at the school who manages the distributions, making sure it was okay and we weren't taking what should have gone to another family, we signed up. 

And boy am I glad we did. I spent an evening last week prepping peaches for the freezer. I got three quart size bags sliced.

The next day, I peeled, cored and sliced apples for the slow cooker. We had some on pancakes the next day for breakfast. Three more quart bags went in the freezer.

Yesterday, I took care of bananas and oranges.

And what do you do with a ton (only a slight exaggeration) of bananas . . . you make bread :)

Quality control:  both Honey Do and Newton thought it was great :)

18 oranges later, I have this much zest and a liter of fresh squeezed juice.

There's also a pint of blueberries in the freezer for muffins or pancakes, too :)

Now back to our regularly scheduled program :)

I made good progress on the scrap quilt this week. Even though it wasn't on my monthly goals, when the bug bites, you scratch the itch.

It's covering half of a queen size bed. I'm really hoping to get this finished before next winter :)

Ms. Sugarbeare was quality assurance and it passed her inspection !!

I also managed to get another Sweet Land of Liberty block finished.

I'm a happy girl !!!

I hope you all had a happy productive week. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Ephesians 4:26 NIVUK

Take 2

This has been one of those week's where every thing I planned fell by the way side. And God is laughing at me hysterically :)

I only had one day planned away from home and that was Wednesday. 

(laughing hysterically - soon to be manically)

Monday, I had to get a new router for the internet.

Tuesday, I had to run up to the local hospital to drop off a work permit for my son - yes, we are interviewing and trying really hard to get a job.

Wednesday, planned doctor appointment.

Thursday, a morning with Mom.

Friday, pick up signed work permit and take it to the school board only to be told I had to take it to the school and they are only working half days . . . Monday through Thursday !!!

Want to venture a guess how next week will start?

Add to that, the more on than off rain.

But it's all good. We want Newton to get a job and to have something productive to do over the summer and at long last it feels like he's on board and wants the same thing. It will be a good, positive experience for him. And what feels like a lot of running and chasing my tail will be worth it in the end.

As for the rain, it's a very good excuse to stay indoors and work on something related to sewing or stitching.

Mom gave me this gorgeous piece of lace a while ago. I was putting it away with Girls Getaway when a thought came to me.

This may be the lace from my sister's wedding gown. I called Mom and asked her if my sister knew I had it. She wasn't sure.

I called Sister, she isn't sure, but thought maybe. We are meeting for lunch on Tuesday and I'll take it with to ask her. I don't want to assume it's ok to keep and use if she might want it. If she is generous enough to let me have it, I want to incorporate some of it in my quilt and I'll make something sweet for her from the rest of it as a thank you for her generosity.

With all the running this past week, I wasn't able to get anything done in the sewing department. However, Friday afternoon I decided I had time for something before I moved on to my next goal. I started this block more than a week ago and was determined to get it finished. It's not perfect by any stretch, but that seems to be the issue with all of the kits I purchased years ago from JoAnn's. I don't know if they've improved any. I know the quality of fabric has gotten worse and I stopped buying them. I do have a newer kit that I collected  from their clearance section, but haven't even opened it yet.

And I'm leaving you with this beauty. 

Mom gave me this rose bush for one of my early Mother's days, so we are talking about 10 years ago or so. I was afraid this winter had done her in. But she's a fighter and after a good, hard spring trim, she's coming back beautifully. There are about seven buds, this is the first one to open.

It never ceases to bring me joy and happiness at its beauty.

Thank you for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

Verse of the Day

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIVUK

Goals for Wednesday and Thursday . . . Rolled into Friday - What Got Accomplished

Wednesday started off with a little time in the garden before the rains came.

 

The forecast was rain all day . . . you won't hear me complaining.  I love the rain. Not only is it good for the gardens and yard, it's really good for staying home and sewing :)

Thursday, it was chilly again. I went out in short sleeves, capris and sandals and wished I had dressed a bit warmer. After I ran my errands and returned home, it was the perfect day for sewing.

Honey Do arrived home safely Thursday evening. Plans were to have Friday off to stay home and relax. He did. I continued to work on my projects, making more forward strides on my goal list.

These were my goals for Wednesday and Thursday and ended up in Friday. 

1. Piece backing for Holly Cottage DONE

I'm already two quilts ready for quilting or sandwiching/quilting. This one makes number three. Next year's goals may be all the quilting that needs to get done. But I'm absolutely thrilled to have another quilt ready to finish. I boxed it up and put it away for now. I may even reassess my UFO goals for this year to do just that.

While I was finishing up Holly on Tuesday, I found a charm pack of Halloween blocks. So I quickly put them together. Nothing fancy.

My machine had a really cute "kitty" motif.

I pinked the edges and will use the test strip as a bookmark.

2. Girl's Getaway - finish current sign . . . then only one more to go

This I actually got no time to work on. Guess what I'll be doing over the weekend :)

3. Reorganize my sewing space - DONE

The clutter takes over very quickly, almost of its own accord. So periodically I have to sort and clean up.

 

It feels really good to have a space I can move, breathe and work in comfortably.

As I cleaned, purged and reorganized, I found my stack of scrap blocks I've been working on.

I managed to add another row of strings to each of them.

4. Prep next baby quilt 

Done, yes the whole thing :)

5. Prep next doll quilt

Done - again, the whole thing :)

I used the leftover pieces and scraps from the baby quilt.

6. Prep next doll gown - DONE

I arranged bins with my monthly commitment and got several gowns cut out.

And even got one finished. Isn't it adorable? :)

7. Prep next Believe block - DONE

8. Prep next JoAnn's BOM

I got a small amount accomplished, but not even enough to take the picture.

9. Prep first block for Sweet Land of Liberty

This one will be my weekend project, now that all the other commitments have been accomplished.

It was a very productive first week of the month. I'm organized and energized, ready to tackle the big projects.

I hope you all had as good a week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

2 Timothy 1:9 NIVUK

Wednesday and Thursday Goals

Honey Do had to go out of town for a trade show. This is an annual event, and sometimes I even get to go with him.

Not this year . . . 

My hands and days are pretty full.

My few days will be filled with sewing too.

I spent Tuesday finishing Holly Cottage Christmas. All that is left is to sandwich and quilt.

That's where my goals for Wednesday and Thursday will begin:

1. Piece backing for Holly Cottage

2. Girl's Getaway - finish current sign . . . then only one more to go

3. Reorganize my sewing space

4. Prep next baby quilt

5. Prep next doll quilt

6. Prep next doll gown

7. Prep next Believe block

8. Prep next JoAnn's BOM

9. Prep first block for Sweet Land of Liberty

That's a lot for two days since these are my goals for the month but I'm going to see what I can accomplish since I have no real commitments until after Honey Do gets home.

I hope you have a wonderfully productive day.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 NIVUK

May Goals - end of month report

Let's see what I got accomplished in the month of May.

1.  UFO Challenge #2

Holly Cottage
Began August, 2018  2017- longer ago than I remembered.

The top is finished !!!!

Done for now.

2. 12 Things Challenge #2

Originally this listed my donations, but since I've not had any issues keeping up with them I'm going to continue working on I LOVE HOME from April.

* Backing purchased and pieced, done for now.

3.  "Believe" Block #4

Applique the pieces - DONE

4. "Girls Getaway"

 block 3

 

 

5. Baby Quilt

- choose fabric
-make quilt
-mail finished quilts to Jack's Basket

DONE

 

6. Doll Quilt/Gown
Make one more of each DONE

7. "Gingerbread Village"

Stitch/assemble block #3photos

Pattern downloaded

forgot pictures - DONE




8. Sweet Land of Liberty (SLOL) QAL

- assemble first unit

I'm making this a priority for June now that Holly Cottage is done. I'm really starting to get behind :(

9. JoAnn's BOM 
- assemble next block Done

10. 15 minute stitch challenge

DONE - 100% for the month

That should keep me plenty busy for the month :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour.

Prov. 21:21 NIVUK