Crazy, Busy Week

(image from Yahoo)

It has been an extremely busy week, but that doesn't mean I didn't get things done.

Bible Study has begun and so has the preschool program for the Monday Leaders' meeting. Every other week, I take charge of these sweet little cherubs. We had a great time starting off the year with

A fun little story to start off the week.

Tuesday is my Bible Study group meeting. We are studying the Book of Acts this year, and I have learned that just means the starting point and you will be all over the Bible - the best way to study.

Wednesday had me at school for several meetings and a volunteer opportunity. The school receives a shipment of fresh produce once a month. It is cases from the local food bank. It is divided up and distributed to a local church for distribution, among the staff and students. We have been blessed by this program and I do my best to use everything we receive. Unfortunately, sometimes the produce is too ripe and unusable. It breaks my heart to see how much is wasted before it can be distributed by no fault of the school. I'm not sure if it's just timing or bad management. But we use everything we can.

To that end, I have been baking in the morning. The weather has turned ugly. It's been hot and humid for the last week. Upper 80s and into the 90s. Some rain, not nearly enough.

My very first scone - nectarine.

The first of two different apple cakes. This one headed for the freezer to enjoy over the fall and winter.

Banana Bread

If you are going to make one, you might as well make two and put one in the freezer. How does toasted sound slathered with a bit of peanut butter with your morning drink of choice whether it's tea, coffee or ice cold milk?

I was finally able to begin the last block of Girls Getaway and have been keeping up with it. It's such a fun, happy block to stitch.

These are the first two rows of Joann's 97. I was really liking how it was coming together. 

I've managed to assemble the entire top. I'm adding one more border, in a darker green to bring it up to the size I want. I can't say it was the most enjoyable journey with all the odd sized blocks, but I made it work and I have to say, I'm happy with the end result. My goal is to get this one sandwiched and quilted this month. It may be at the expense of one of my other goals, but it will be worth it.

I have decided on a new quilt. I will be using up some of my flannel leftovers to make a new quilt for my bed.

 

 

Tea Roses

 

Rose of Sharon

The garden is still in full bloom. It's been too hot, even in the early morning, to work outside. There is still time to enjoy the beauty.

Thanks for stopping by,

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

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalms 59:16 NIVUK

September Goals

Here are my goals:

1.  UFO Challenge #5
Fall Into A Quilt

- assess status
- complete blocks/top assembly

2. 12 Things Challenge 

- Complete a gift

3.  "Believe" Block #9

Applique the pieces (when it arrives)

4. "Girls Getaway"

 block 5 
- continue stitching, dead line is October

5. Baby Quilt

- choose fabric
-make quilt

6. Doll Quilt/Gown
Make one more of each

7. "Gingerbread Village"

Stitch/assemble block #5, 6


8. JoAnn's '97
- continue assembling the rows
- add border, determine size
- add second border, if necessary
- sandwich, quilt, bind


9. Scrap Flannel Quilt
- choose fabrics
- cut blocks
- begin assembly
Deadline December


10. 15 minute stitch challenge

11. Garden Angel
- Finish assembly

Thanks for stopping by,

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

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’

John 7:38 NIVUK

August Goal Report and HQAL

August has come and gone as one big blur. In fact, that pretty much describes my whole summer. 

Yet I'm not discouraged. My sewing/stitching/quilting projects suffered in August. Some things got done, some progressed, others were left by the way side for their eventual time in the future. Disappointing that I couldn't keep up, but other things did get their turn to shine.

I'm spending more time outside and the yard and gardens are finally showing appreciation. I'm finding the more I do, the more I want to do and the better it looks.

Fence borders are cleaned up and looking much healthier.

Flower beds are healthier and much more inviting.

The herb garden is also thriving. It is so nice to be able to go out and pick fresh herbs to use with dinner.

A honey bee I saved from drowning. He was still covered in pollen when I fished him out of the dogs' water bucket in the back yard. God's timing is perfect !!!!

We've had some rain and even storms, but mostly August has been very pleasant.

The full moon didn't disappoint either. 

And all the pups are enjoying the time in the yard as well.

I've made the difficult decision to let one of my flower beds go. I'm giving in to the grass and going to stop using all my energy to try and keep it clean and maintained. I've drawn up some tentative plans where to move plants. 

Now that it's September, I'm going to start moving the plants I want to keep and have room for to the other gardens. My goal is to spend 30 minutes each morning working on it. By the end of the month, it should all be completely moved and looking good. Here's hoping everything survives the move.

I'm doing a joint post. It's time for new goals for September, a recap of August and HQAL. Follow the link to see what everyone else got up to the last three weeks.

 Here goes . . . 

1.  UFO Challenge #1
Busy Bee
- assess status
- complete top assembly

Absolutely no progress. This is the first month all year that I haven't worked on my UFO goal. I got side-tracked with another project. More on that below :)

2. 12 Things Challenge #1
Sweet Land of Liberty
- Complete Unit 1 
Another project that got left by the way side due to a distraction . . . 

3.  "Believe" Block #7

Applique the pieces

Not only did block 7 get done, but so did 8. Now I'm waiting for 9 to arrive in the mailbox.

 

4. "Girls Getaway"
 block 4
- continue stitching, dead line is this month

DONE

5. Baby Quilt

- choose fabric
-make quilt

DONE

 

Front and back of a quilt for a baby boy. It's almost reversible :) I love using what I have and seeing it turn out cute and pleasing to the eye :)

6. Doll Quilt/Gown
Make one more of each

DONE

 

7. "Gingerbread Village"
Stitch/assemble block #5

No progress here, either. I'm starting to get overwhelmed with projects, so I'm not sure how far behind I've fallen on this project. 

8. My Country Week (Cheri Payne)

- Draw off, cut out blocks 
- Begin assembling "Monday, Tuesday" blocks

DONE - all seven blocks are ready for embroidery

 

9. JoAnn's BOM 
- assemble next block/November
And this is the culprit of my distraction!!
Not only did I get November (block 11) done, but December (block 12) also.

This was a kit from JoAnn's from 1997. Unfortunately, I didn't work on it when I purchased it. Most of the fabrics, if not all, are no longer available. The other problem I was having is that none of the blocks made up to the correct size of 12.5 inches square, so I had to add fabric to bring them all up to size. Having done that, the rows are in the process of being assembled. All this extra work has been time consuming and now I just want it done. I think I might even like it by that time.

10. 15 minute stitch challenge

I'm probably as 95 - 98 % compliant at this by now. There have been days that I just didn't want to do anything, let along think about what I was stitching. I'm still very pleased with how much time I do spend.

11. Finish quilting, binding dinosaur quilt

DONE, and being delivered this week.

The month didn't feel as positive as this report, so I'm glad to have done as well as I did, even though some projects didn't even get looked at. They will get their time. I keep reminding myself that I can't do everything, I can only do what I do well. And that's more important.

Thanks for stopping by,

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

Heal me, LORD, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for you are the one I praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 NIVUK