Celebrating in Omaha

Today is the triplets 4th birthday!  It's amazing how time just flies by.   We are spending the week in Omaha playing and celebrating too!

The weather has been cooler this week so we are outside a bit and went to the awesome Children's Museum here in Omaha.  We would love to see something like this in Bend.

So next week I will catch up on my Comfort and Joy progress,  it is an adorable quilt.  I think I am more ADD than I ever thought with all the different  WIPs I have going.

Head on over to Anne's to see all the Comfort and Joy updates.  She has a wonderful treat from her recent trip.

Summer Blessings from Omaha,

Carrie

Homespun Houses

I've jumped in and joined a quilt along making Homespun Houses.   I'm behind when I start so I will have to make a couple houses the next couple months.   They are pretty simple and fun to sew together,  just wish I sewed my windows on straight.   Argh..... drives me crazy!   Applique will never be easy for me.      There are 10 in the quilt along, their links are listed below:

 Anne,  Sandy F, Anna = www.cottonsnwoolens.blogspot.com
> > 
> > Mary = http://www.quilthollow.com/
> > 
> > Paulette = http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.com/
> > 
> > Sandy R  = http://sandysshowtellquilts.blogspot.com/
> > 
> > Kim  = http://kimsbigquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/
> > 
> > Patti  = http://ponderingquilting.blogspot.com/
> > 
> > Jocelyn  = http://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/

This has been a sad week for us.  My mother in law passed away Monday and 

Joe is working out of town until Thursday.  It makes it harder because he  

is out of cell phone range and no internet.  We do get used to being

connected don't we.  We spent last Saturday night with her and we are so

thankful we did.   

I am going to hop over and check out everyone's blocks, have a great week.

Hugs,

Carrie 

Buggy Barn

I received an email from The Buggy Barn,  it was their newsletter about their Outdoor Quilt show and class schedule.   Yippee!!   April is wonderful for many reasons, longer warmer days is at the top of my list and a close second is Buggy Barns newsletter.

I signed mom and I up for a class with Stacy of Buttermilk Basin.  She has a wonderful Patchwork Leaf table topper.  Wool, embroidery and looks like velvet pumpkins.  I am so excited, and just darn happy to think of such warm weather you need an air conditioner.  How about you!!

Patchwork Leaf by Buttermilk Basin

 

 

 

When I was in Omaha we took a trip to the zoo!!  Here is a picture of us having a good time!

On the way to the zoo!

New playset for the boys!!

The playset wasn't put together when I was in Omaha, but I hear the boys can not get enough.  I can just imagine, can't wait to go play too.

We actually had 60 degrees and blue skies today.  Oh boy I'm so ready for good weather.
Next week it is supposed to be 70,  WELCOME SPRING!!

Easter Blessings,

Carrie

Midwest Visit II

A came to Omaha a couple days before Spring Break started.  This gave me a little time to visit with a friend over lunch, go visit a new quilt shop and spend an afternoon at the boys school. 

I met Sarah last summer when we came to Omaha.  Her husband and mine have known each other for a while and they went on a hunting trip last October to Idaho.  So this was an opportunity to spend some time together and share life stories.  Friends are special,  I value those treasured moments that are so rare these days.  I look forward to more time with Sarah when I visit again.

After lunch I ventured to a new area of Omaha with the help of my smart phone!!  Love the  navigational App, I was looking for a new shop that I saw advertised in Primitive Quilts.

  More Sew For You!!

It is a new shop, 9 months old, you wouldn't know it by all the fabrics, quilts and displays.   I really loved everything about this shop.  Lyn and her staff were friendly and helpful.  Lyn allowed me to take pictures but wasn't prepared that I took one of her!!   I would love to have a box of drawers for my threads like she had.  There was a complete selection of valdani threads and a nice selection of wools.

 The quilt samples were so beautiful, I loved this block of the month with the blue toile as the set fabric.

 Lots of civil war fabrics and quilts.

 I purchased a couple small kits, one is for english paper piecing using black and gold civil war quilt fabric that was quite striking.  A small wool banner like the one in the second picture.  There were the table top hangers too.  I am making it for Krista, and I can add more seasonal ones in the future.
If you live in the Omaha area you are lucky enough to have two very nice quilt shops. 

It was a fun and active week with my son and his family, time always goes to fast.  We enjoyed the zoo, children's museum and I visited the triplets school on Friday afternoon.  They are in head-start and I was so impressed with how independent they are becoming.  And can I say grown up, wow, they just fall into line, get themselves dressed, cooperate very well for being3 1/2, and ride their school bus.   Jaxon loves soccer,  Ethan is walking with the aid of his braces and Hayden loves putting his cars and toys in rows.  Hayden is very organized to say the least. 
The boys had a great time at the Children's Museum,  there was a construction exhibit that was just awesome!!  It was a great time seeing the boys enjoy all the exhibits and interact with the creative experiences.  
I am really hoping that it won't be nine months before I get to spend time with them.  Children grow up much to fast and grandkids are one of life's most precious blessings.

Spring blessings,

Carrie

Midwest Visit

Yesterday I left Central Oregon to light snowflurries and flew to the Midwest with temperatures near 80 degrees.   I am taking myself a Spring Break with my son's family in Omaha!!!  WooHoo!

I arrived in Omaha at 2pm and this time I rented a car,  a cute little red Toyota.  This way Chris didn't have to leave work and I can do some running around today.  I used my navigation app on my smart phone,  so cool, when I got close to home I thought I'm kinda hungry so I turned up 120th.  Went a ways and when I got to Center Street, their was Country Sampler Quilt Shop.  I think I have a built in GPS for that shop.  So forgetting my hunger I went shopping instead.  I love this shop, they carry so much fabric and wool and also very cute gifties.

This display just inside greats you with the sweetness of Spring.

 The cover quilt on Kim Diehl's Simple Graces made up with kit available, so very tempting

And a Bonnie Blue quilt with kits available,  also tempting.  I'm never very strong in a quilt store.

I purchased some new Jo Morton selections in reds and tans with red, some 3-strand valdani, and sweet smelling candles. I left behind the kit for Kim Diehls quilt and some Need'l love wool.  I have to save some $$ for later.    They have a wonderful selection of reproduction fabrics which we don't have locally so it was fun picking select pieces.
After this sidetrack adventure it was off to see the main attraction in Omaha.  

Hula Hula Hula

See Ethan,  I am so impressed, he has been walking since December.  His new braces and his amazing will has him keeping up with his brothers!!!

Today I am meeting a friend for lunch at Cafe Annie's,   their salads look wonderful.    Then I am going to visit More Sew For You.  I will let you know what I find there.

Tomorrow I plan on visiting the boys school, the first round of the NCAA Tournament is here too, Chris is a Creighton season ticket holder so we are going to take in a game this weekend!!!   I didn't even know,  so cool!

Talk with you Soon,

Spring Blessings,

Carrie

Will it be finished this Christmas?

A few years ago I started making a Christmas Quilt from a Needle Love book.   I wasn't crazy about it at all so it was layed aside.  After much shopping for and collecting wools I decided one day early this month  to give it a peek.  Yep, I still didn't like it.  So  I began pulling basted pieces off, it was really pathetic but I knew my knew stash was going to make me much happier.

I needed to felt the wool pieces for one thing,  the poinsettia leaves were cut from a wool piece I purchased but it had not been felted!   Gasp!  I know, how could I have been so naive.  :))

And how about some overdyed plaids, :))) for some of the poinsettia leaves,   yes it is looking so much better, a little sprinkle of textured green plaids for the holly.  Be still my heart,  my stash of wools are so fun to cut up I can hardly stand it.  

If you ever saw a kit and said, " I'm sure I have enough at home to make this, I don't need the kit."  Well let me say I have said that but I KNOW that is never true.  $$$$$$$ dollars of wool purchases later I am finally satisfied with my choices for this quilt.    But I have about 4 Buggy Barn trips and multiple other wonderful quilt shop memories collecting all my wonderful wools.

I  decided it needed a little tweaking, moving pieces out and centering better but I love it now and even if it doesn't get finished for Christmas I know I could visit one here in Bend that is finished and mostly likely decorating a wonderful families home!

We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving with family in Seattle.  My niece had a baby boy Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  My sister is a grandmother and I am a great-aunt.  Isn't that just the greatest thing.   Holding Davis, who was born at 7lb 2 oz.  I kept thinking he is 2 pounds bigger than Ethan and 3 pounds bigger than Hayden but is so small.   I swaddled him with such ease, nice to know I haven't lost my touch.   I am so happy for them and will enjoy all their Facebook posts giving me my Davis updates.

My last post was so long ago,  and about my precious Slide girl.  I must tell you she passed away mid June, breaking my heart.  I'm a total sap and still cry when I talk about her,  you never know how much a pet or a person can mean to you until you lose them.

Until next time....God Bless and Keep You!

Carrie

Man's Best Friends

In 2005 my son and I got ourselves a wonderful friend.  Black Pearl's Treasure aka Dublin's Mudslide aka Slide.
She has been such a mate, she is definitely our dog and very much my dog.  She has so much desire to please, which makes her fun to train.  A bit sensitive but she is a girl after all.

This last year she was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy.  She has a very large heart and all the complications which go along with that.   I'm afraid she is going to break my heart!!    

So I want to share a few good things before this happens.  Each day is a gift because you just don't know when the inevitable will happen.

Some of my favorite puppy pictures.....

 Hunting as a pup on the Malheur.....

 Hunting as a pup near Condon, such beautiful country, she is showing her natural ability to honor another dog on point. Slide held her honor until the shot, I was so tickled with her.  Joe was really in heaven on this hunt.  A young pup learning from Daisy Mae, his beloved veteran dog.

I started Slide in Hunt Tests and had such a good time,  she loves her bird hunting and we have had some great times together.   February we will take part in the club hunt at local preserve hunting pheasants.

We are hoping for more time with Slide and taking each day, one at a time.   Her  medicines are  treating the issues in her heart but this will only work for a time.

I don't even want to think about the Rainbow Bridge, for now I enjoy the special companionship that my girlie gives me everyday.

Have a wonderful week.

Carrie