Courageous in 2014

Happy New Year!   This year has started off with some unseasonally warm weather.  I have enjoyed the opportunity by visiting my mother in the valley with clear driving conditions.   My mother stayed home this winter from her usual trip to Arizona.  It has been so nice to spend time with her over the holidays and in January.

We went to a favorite quilt shop "Something To Crow About", in Springfield.  They are a small shop but full of my favorite things, and they had some finished quilts that are on my "list".     

This first quilt is from Primitive Gatherings,  I have this kit, but it is the first version which was a smaller scale.  

This next quilt is a summer freebie from Primitive Gatherings,  so cute!

Live Simply from Buttermilk Basin,  I can say I did not buy this pattern set but Love it!!

Primitive Gathering Block of the week for 2013!   I love this one, also on my "List".    I love the theme of this Quilt, and will not start it until many other  quilts get finished....

But this block:  "Courage" I may do because this is my word for 2014!     My oldest grandson, Tylor, enlisted in the Marine Corp and graduated from Boot Camp in December.  We were honored to attend the graduation and share  in his success and hard work.  I am so proud of Tylor,  he is a wonderful person and the most kind-hearted young man.  He was absolutely committed to achieving the highest position possible in his unit.  He was successful and received a meritorious promotion, and was chosen to carry the Marine Corp flag during the ceremony.     I am so very proud of him!  These times are very scary for me and I have been very worried about his decision.   Listening to all the Drill Sargents and Officers at graduation ceremonies I heard them sa, "Courage does not mean you are fearless!  It is what you do in spite of  fear etc."  So I embrace Tylor's life choice and will be on my own path to "Courage"  this year!

Oh how we enjoyed the 70 degree weather,  it was below zero when we left Oregon for San Diego!

  

Watching your grandchildren grow up is a wonderful experience and I am so glad I had so much time to spend with Tylor in his  youth.   I miss him everyday but my heart is full!  I am looking forward to growing in Courage in 2014!

Baskets of Courage!

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

My quarterly update!!

I guess I am an all or nothing girl. I haven't accomplished a post in way to long. One big thing at a time, it can be so consuming.

February and March I spent most of my time responding to job listings. I became one of the innumerable ( is that a word) people looking for employment. I sent so many resumes to positions exactly matching my work history. When you don't get responses you really begin to wonder if your resumes just are floating in lala land somewhere. Or worse.......

When I did get one response, they wanted my credit score and they even suggested which company to use. All I needed to give them was the number for the interview. So I did it and guess what....no response! Hmmm, kind of ticked me of if you know what I mean!! And it was a good number to but who needs to check that just for nothing.

So......, after two months of THAT, my DH and I started talking about what is the next fun approach, to you know making money and paying bills.

So to make this story not as boring as my life I will just get to the point. We have decided to invest in a purchase of a Subway restaurant. Aha!!!!! If they won't give you a job, buy one!!

Oh my goodness......I have spent the last three weeks training on all the in and outs of Subway. Starting at 5:30 am most mornings, well all mornings I think and until 3 or so, on Tuesday's coming back for inventory. I come home to Bend on Fridays and back to Eugene on Monday.

It has been most interesting and I am getting the hang of everything pretty much. Did you know how many different sandwiches they have........lol. I always order tuna or turkey/ham. So I even had to study those different portions a bit. My brain is not the sharpest pin the cushion. I can convert fat quarters, to yards much faster or figure how much yardage needed for a border or whole quilt for that matter .......well that is not to be, its "Welcome to Subway!"

So I will have more stories on that later I'm sure.

Other than that I have had some quilty fun!! My DH had a field trial up by Spokane so that meant I got a trip to The Buggy Barn. Woohoo! Love them! I got a refreshener on my needle punch, bought a couple new patterns for needle punch and some new Jo Morton fabrics too.

This store is full of inspiration, and one inspiration is there painted red cabinetry. I want to remodel my office in these gorgeous handmade pieces each time I see them. Someday!!

I am really looking forward to their quilt show and classes this year, Barb and Alma from Blackbird Designs are returning for two days of classes. I signed up for the autumn quilt class, I am really looking forward to meeting them. I love their quilts and love their blog. Speaking of their blog. I was a very lucky girl and won one of their engagement calendars for 2011. It will make next year fun, filling in all those Subway appointments etc. LOL........

It really is a wonderful calendar. The Buggy Barn had some for sale when I was their in April. If you love the pictures on Alma's blog you will love using this too!

In April I spent five days in Omaha with the boys. Mom and Dad went on a trip and us two Gramma's spent 4 days playing and having a wonderful time with the boys. Grammy Terry lives a couple hours away and spends almost every other weekend in Omaha. So the boys were very comfortable and didn't miss mom and dad to bad.

They loved going outside when the weather allowed. They are growing up and are so much fun.

From left, Ethan, Jaxon and Hayden. It was sport shirts day. Hayden is a Nebraska Cornhusker, Ethan is the Oregon Duck. Jaxon sporting his 3rd pair of glasses is the all around sports guy!!

Here is Grammy Terry and Jaxon, outside on the back deck doing puzzles.

And laundry is so fun when you are folding cute little clothes. Hayden keeping me company.

I am looking forward to July when they come out to Oregon, it will be a couple days before their 2nd birthday so we will have a very fun party. Can you just believe that they are going to be two already. They change so much, and man do I love watching their cute little bodies walk around, that and seeing their personalities develop.

Hayden is pretty independent and he loved walking up and down the sidewalk, hand in one pocket. Till we meet again sunshine, I love this picture of him.

So that is a little update on me. I need to get back to paperwork and get ready to leave for my last week of training. When I come back I will have some pictures of my quilty projects and to tell you about a couple of projects I just couldn't resist and joined for this summer. They of course have wool. Also, I will have some completed projects to show, now don't fall off your chair there. I am going to stay on track and get last years BOM completed.

God bless each of you dear bloggy friends, and primitive spring blessings too!!

Fondly,

Carrie

Visit with Mom and Quilt Show

Well I was so excited to go out to lunch yesterday I did not look at my post very closely.  Oops…..I didn’t upload any of the quilt show pictures.     Lol….guess that gives me a good reason to come back today!!

Like I mentioned, the weather was quite rainy, 1.89 inches in twelve hours.

Here is the rain pouring off the patio,  the best thing is mom had no leaks.   Mom did some updates to her park model in Yuma, it is the perfect size now for her and guests when we come to visit. 

We were going to go up to Tucson for a couple days but changed our plans because of the weather.    We did find a local quilt guilds quilt show with a nice vendor attendance.   These first two quilts were the viewers choice winners from the previous year.

quilting detail.

I love this one!!

 

These next two had the same maker and were hand quilted.  So beautiful.  I chose this first one as my viewers choice favorite.

 

If I had to choose a favorite, or which one would I want for my home this one would be my choice,  I loved the colors and the raw edge quilts are so cuddly.     And I just had to keep my sister in the picture.  :))

We enjoyed the vendors attending the show.    My goodness I was mesmerized by Liberty Homesteads booth.  They had been to the Road to California show and are attending some small shows on there way home to Kansas.   I have never seen there quilts in person and fell in love immediately.  We purchased some of their dyed muslins.    Books or pictures never do justice for the real item do they.  They asked for us to not take pictures of there booth so sorry no pic’s.

One day we ate lunch at this bakery/deli restaurant that I can not remember the name of to save my life.   But….here are some pictures of their desserts of which we did not indulge.     I would today if I could have a take back.    Do you make desserts like this?

These strawberries are so big!

OK enough of that stuff, yum!!  

It’s super bowl Sunday this weekend,  are you watching the game, having a party or celebrating at your local quilt shop.   We haven’t been real big football fans the last few years but I am sure we will watch some.    We are going to make some homemade Pizza.   I will share the recipe and pictures. 

Prim Blessings,

Carrie

Here I am!!

Happy 2010 dear blogging friends.   It has been a very long time since I posted and I appreciate hearing from you letting me know I’m missed, MIA and receiving your encouragement.

We, like most of you, had family visit us over the holidays.  It was wonderful and very fun.  We were so pleased to have Joe’s whole family with us over New Years.     My house was filled to the brim,  Joe and I still talk about how fun it was to have everyone in our home.

Last month my sister treated me to a trip to Yuma to visit our mother.   We were really looking forward to some warm sunny weather.    LOL…….how about some sun and lots of rain, wind and  a fun time anyway.    As it goes, the day we drove to Phoenix to catch our plane it was sunny and getting warm.    

It was sunny on this day, we were in Old Town Yuma for the Lettuce Festival.   We purchased some fresh fruit and Asparagus for dinner.    It was so windy we didn’t spend to much time but opted for a nice warm restaurant for lunch.

We looked up quilt shops and while visiting one learned about a quilt show.    We went and I took some pictures:

 

This week we have a friend staying for the weekend.  Meka is staying while her owner is off  to Sun Valley Idaho.    

It’s a bit crazy here with our 5 lovable GWP’s,  my daily conversation’s go like this…..”put that down” , “give me that”, “that’s not yours”, “take that out of your mouth”, “Hey! Bring that back “,  “Off the table”, “Off the washer” and “Where did you find that?”      And that is just with Casey!  Joe calls him our demon dog, but really, he is just the youngest and is still in the VERY busy, nosey, destructive stages of puppyhood!!

Casey, Pepper, Meka, Slide

Casey,Meka,Slide,Pepper and Jake

 

Daisy Mae,  its just impossible to get them all in one picture.

This weekend we will take a few walk abouts, maybe a couple will get a haircut.    Pepper needs one,  but don’t ask her and Meka, well you just don’t come stay with Carrie and not get some grooming.   Poor thing,  she always thinks she is in trouble.   I will take some pictures because I know you are dying to see more pictures of my dogs.  LOL……..

I have been finishing up details on my BOM blocks getting ready to set them together,   they have been so much fun.   I love all the wool, never never get tired of working with wool.   So pictures of that too coming up.

This year I have really resisted joining a multitude of wonderful projects and will focus on finishing my BOM first.    One thing I will keep up with is my Jo’s Little Women group at Sew Many Quilts.         Then late spring I am going to sew along with the Wool Crazy girls.   If you visit this link today you are in for a real treat.    I’m so looking forward to this project.   I have the wool  that’s for sure,  are you Wool Crazy too?     I have been following the posts and wow, they are looking wonderful.

Well my DH is here now and he is taking me out for lunch!!!    It’s Thursday and  Baldy’s has Baby Back Rib special every Thursday.   Yummo!!!   There the best ever!! 

God bless each of you and have a wonderful week.

Prim Blessings,

Carrie

Friends are one of life’s treasures.

While I was in Omaha last month I took an outing to meet up with Kindra, who was just by chance participating in a local craft show. Kindra and her mother are a crafting team. So I was so pleased to meet both of them, and see there booth. There booth was full of wonderful handcrafted items and I enjoyed finding a couple special items. It was near the end of the day when I got there so it was slow and we had time to visit, bloggers are just the nicest people and Kindra it was a real treat for me to meet both you and your mom.

I wanted to buy the big star that Kindra made out of reclaimed wood, no way it would fit in my bag so I bought the cute tree that was still there. It will be fun to find the perfect spot for it this Christmas. I love the hand towels Pam makes, they are wonderfully soft and embroidered, I love baskets and she had some done in red and green. My favorite colors. Then there was this wonderful saltbox scene that just pops. Well Kindra, it was one inch to tall but I carried it proudly in my carry-on bag without any problems.

Krista was not able to make the trip, my son was sick that day, so she stayed home with the boys. I missed sharing the trip with her but she loved the towel so I am going to order some for Christmas gifts. I will make it a point to take the trip to see Kindra again on another visit.

I finished this Schnibbles, Winter White, last month. I used the Blessing line by Brannock and Patek from Moda. I am not keeping up with the schedule at all, but that's going to be ok with me I want to enjoy the process and not make a burden out of it.

A few more embroidery stitches on a couple blocks and then I will be ready to sew the blocks together. Karen showed the finished quilt on her blog and it is just so cute with the scalloped wool border. I will be sewing it up soon.

Anne of Cottons and Woolens was so generous and did some shopping for me at quilt market. I gave her some cash and a wish list and bless her soul she got everything on my list.

Maggie Bononami’s new book Nature’s Offering, it is full of wonderful projects big and small. I am definitely putting a few on my 2010 to do list. Primitive Gatherings new pattern along with a bundle of their new brushed wovens. They are fabulous and yummy!! Anne I am going to copy you on your sashing and post’s, they say it is flattery :))!! And a bundle of Jo Morton’s Toast II, and…… three bundles of Andovers Wuthering Heights. Holy Moly this is better than Christmas. I love them Anne!! You were so sweet to take that extra luggage and share the joy with others!

This is a sad time for Anne, know I am keeping you in my prayers. I know you are being surrounded by friends and family who will be a strength for you!! Hugs!!

I went shopping at Country Sampler in Omaha too, I knew Anne was shopping for me at market so I was very good and boring. LOL… its not fun. They have Fig Trees Mill House Inn in flannel, boy that really had my attention but I do not have a little girl to make a quilt for and I just couldn’t justify another bundle to decorate my sewing shelves. They have so many wool kits and goodies there that it is the most fun. I have a couple kits to make up for gifts so I didn’t need to indulge, but its fun to see them made up and not just pictures. What I purchased was there embroidery threads, they carry Weeks and I needed some colors for a couple projects. No one locally carries it so I was tickled to find some. I bought Krista a yummy scented candle. I found some primitive light strands in brown for my mantle that I will use soon. It was fun to browse the store, they have so many wonderful samples it was a treat!

We are having some cold Fall weather with snow in the mountains. Many people will be traveling the passes for the football and basketball games in the valley, my youngest son is going over for basketball so I am nervous for safe driving conditions. The pass is such a beautiful drive, I just don’t like packed snow and ice at all. This doesn’t get better with age, you know what I mean!!!

Tomorrow a local quilt shop, Stitchin Post, in Sisters is having their pajama sale. It’s a big deal with 30% off between 6:30-8:30 am and an extra 5% if you were pajamas. It’s a lot of fun and I am going to meet my girlfriend who lives there and we will see what we can find. You know you can save online tomorrow too, they are giving a 25% discount to online sales. Yeah, I like to share the love with you!! Then we will go out for our favorite coffee shop and have some breakfast too! A girl works up an appetite with all that excitement!!

I am thankful for my friends, blogging has brought many new wonderful people into my life and I count you as my friends. I hope I get the opportunity to meet you in person too. God Bless and have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Carrie

Catching bugs and catching up!

Oh, I am a very bad blogger.....I can not get words together. After a long fortnight of a very nasty bug. Sore throat, cough, more sore throat I am feeling so human, sounding human too. But thats no excuse, my mind will not stay focused enough to get anything done. I am behind so I am going in circles.

Last weekend my daughter and oldest grandson came to visit for my birthday. It was so nice to have them. Tylor is a bundle of energy and just the nicest young man. He entertained me with antics in the yard. Oh to be 14 again, or just energetic...
This one better... and one arm.....I would break my neck I think.

Ty and Casey playing some frisbee....

Oh dear Pepper wants to get in the fun and this went on a while. Pepper is an athlete and no one caught her until she was ready.Flowers are starting to bloom and my lilac will be pretty for a short while, it has a blight of some sort that ruins the bloom. Next spring I have to do some spraying for it. But for now it is heavenly in the evening and early morning.

I planted radishes and they are sprouting, the cool mornings haven't damaged them yet.

A pink tulip in the garden, the moles get my tulips in this area so I am glad to see a small clump made it after last summer.

My sister sent me a gift, sisters are the best. And I agree with her on this, she is my best friend.

She is always sending me some wonderful yarn, and a couple years ago she bought me this plate.

I love antique dishes. And some very delicous chocolates, with caramel inside. Yum!!

The yarn is silk and merino, so soft. I believe a scarf with cable would be perfect, but we'll see.

Yellow petunia basket from Matney and Tylor. I just love yellow and these are so pretty.

Tylor took pictures of some other creatures living at our place. Joe and friends made a new flight pen recently for these Chukar. They are in the partridge family. The enjoy there rock pile.

And Pilgrim is our TWH we use for field trialing. He is pretty sweet, but right now he isn't very happy about being taken off the green grass. Darn!! Yucky old hay when the fields are so rich and lush. Mean old people anyway!!

I went to Sisters to a little handmade merchant mall... looking for something good for my porch swap.
I have enough benches around the place but they sure had some fun ones out front.

Cute birdhouses, can't have to many of those....
Crazy yard art too...
Then one afternoon this guy came into my backyard....

This is my DH Joe, bringing me some good soil for this abused flower bed. Between the mole, the dogs digging for the mole and putting in a new irrigation pipe it is ruined. New rich soil to get ready for a new tree and shrubs.

This is our business, delivering topsoil, sand, mulch and rock products for construction, landscapers, homeowners etc. It really is a big guys toy. Joe just loves this business. I mean its just a remote control 70,000 lb toy. And it makes your job easier, he places the material most the time right where you want it, or over the fence anyway. Makes people very happy!!

And he loves meeting people and making them happy.
Now I know most people can't have the darn truck drive through their back yard and it surprised me too... I love living out of town and having space around me.

Next time you see this flower bed it is going to be looking so much better!! Right dogs!!

While Matney and Ty were here we went to the Pole, Peddal, Paddle event. The finish is in the Old Mill District, it was a beautiful day and outdoors so I could go and keep my cough to myself...

The last event is paddleing your canoe, kayak whatever then running to the finish line a short distance away from the river.
Don't you just love this guy paddling this big board...
Both sides of the river were lined with people, restaurants enjoyed business side with many people dining on the patios watching the event.

Our friend came by and shared his strawberry from crashing his bike....ouchee Gary!!

Yes, even the pets came.... this little pot belly pig didn't hold still for a picture....hey if a pig can go I surely can go with my cough..... And sitting back and people watching was very fun, we were not disappointed......... I wish my legs looked like hers....but then I would have to run 40 miles and bike 100 miles a week probably and thats not likely going to happen any time soon.This group was very fun and mixed sexes let me tell you this much....
those arms on the right are not a ladies....trust me....Ty wasn't brave enough to get a face shot...LOL....

Yeah it was so fun getting out and dreaming about next year.....Oh yeah DH we are really gonna do this next year....LOL .....

I have been catching up on my BOM and finishing a couple swaps so next post I will give some pictures of quilty things. I even went shopping and spent my birthday money at The Stitchin Post, who has everything 25% off for their birthday sale. Online to...so if you want to browse them just click on the link.

I have so enjoyed the many blogs sharing about quilt market last weekend. Oh so funny!!!!

And Anne celebrated her birthday and it wasn't!! The ladies really know how to celebrate their short time together. If you haven't read through the saga from market this year do.....I so enjoyed it so much, I even shared it with Joe and the kids while they were here.

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We are so blessed to be able to live in a country with so much freedom. God Bless!

Carrie