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

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

Happy New Year!

This year has just flown by for me!!   Managing our Subway restaurant really has been a life change.  Blogging  definitely has been more about reading than posting.   I have misplaced my camera for 3 months now and it isn't as much fun to post without pictures. 

Joe and I spent a wonderful week in Omaha for Christmas.  It was such a good time spent with my son and DIL and of course the triplets.  They are really growing and changing.   They are pretty good talkers too!!  That makes it even more fun, and words are always so cute when they are shortened.    Ethan loves snowmen, he calls them "man!".    And this time of year they are in abundance and he would exclaim "man" whenever he saw one.  So cute!!  Ethan is walking in a walker, he just amazes me.  He has the best attitude and is getting along so well.   He is just getting started on his walking crutches and they will give him even more mobility. 
We took a picture at church on Christmas Eve.   It was the best gift to spend Christmas in Omaha with them,  such a cherished memory.

Hopefully I will find my camera soon and will show some pictures of my trip to the Buggy Barn in August.   I took two very fun classes. 

Wishing you a very Happy New Year and may God richly bless you and your loved ones.

Winter 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

Merry December

WOW!! The Month is half over and I am writing my first post. Good thing its not my job huh, I’d be let go…….given the boot…..adios amigos!

Time just goes by and another day goes by and I don’t get this done. It is fun once I sit down and get going it must be the starting thing, unlike my quilting projects, there its the finish thing.

Anyway Thanksgiving was quiet and very nice……..gee I won’t go on about the last THREE weeks and bore you but it has been that long. Bad Girl!!!

Did you see the blocks on my header. I LOVE them, Kindra made them for me as a gift. Isn’t that just so nice of her. I have seen them around in blogland and spoke with her about them and she up and surprised me this week. I love surprises, they are so fun!! Thank you Kindra, I will treasure them.

Not to be to corny but our blog name kind of becomes our “brand”. It’s been fun this past year sharing my ordinary life like it was book worthy. LOL…….but really life is a big deal!!! I could get real philosophical about the whole thing but suffice it to say we all are worth it. Right…….I mean I spend hours reading all of your wonderful blogs and it is amazing how we all become so important to each other!! Where am I going with this? I have no idea……. but I know those blocks make me smile and blogging wasn’t even something I new much about 18 months ago.

I finished a fun project this week, I had to use a life line and phone a friend about the little noses! Yikes, I haven’t done alot of embroidery and this project had TWELVE noses……

As you can see they are somewhat of a focal point and I was wanting them to be perfect………well I got over that and just jumped in because my lifeline has her own life and has been very busy!!! She did call me today and reminded me we have a mutual friend who I could also have asked. Thanks for the call, it meant alot!

This mat is a Christmas gift and will be off Monday with the rest of the gifts to Omaha!! It is a Primitive Gatherings kit called “Love Ya Man!” It was so much fun to make, working with wool is wonderful.

We are enjoying a kind of heat wave today……..it is 50 degrees warmer than last week. We had more than a week of below zero temperatures and today we are 45. Its awesome!!! It is blue skies and sunny!! It’s almost like summer.. lol!

When we get cold weather we have the biggest icicles, they are pretty cool. I was loving them until I watched the news and they showed pictures of house with ice damns ruining there roofs causing $$$ of repairs bills. So I went out and knocked them down, changed the channel and watched something less scary. There were alot homes and businesses with broken pipes this week and I am so thankful we were not one of them. It kind of makes average temperatures something to be thankful for!!

A friend has started a new blog!!! Michelle of Mocha Moochell used to live in Bend and found mister wonderful and now lives in Portland! She has recently started quilting and is finishing up her teaching credentials. Go over and welcome her to blogging, she is having so much fun with her quilting and has some wonderful quilt shops to share with us!! I will get over to see you, your quilt shop sounds wonderful!

A little update on my boys……

Here they are with Mom at the piano. Krista is a music teacher, doesn’t she look happy!! We will miss them this Christmas, they are growing so fast!

Hayden is walking and is just adorable. They were so fun to shop for this Christmas. Look forward to more videos on Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy all the festivities leading up to Christmas. My week is full of parties and decorating, I can’t seem to get it finished this year!

Prim Blessings,

Carrie

I need a second home……..in Omaha!

I had the best time…….again! Seems like its been to long again but we got to do some fun outings. I know it is going to be just more wonderful each time we visit the triplets. So I am dreaming about having my own home where I can go spend unlimited time, be at there beck and call, one short call away for filling in for anything, anytime they need a hand. Yeah, I said dreaming……but that is what I think about all the way home after a fun, action packed trip to visit the triplets.

Here is a picture of my son, the boys and myself at the farm we we visited. We went for a tractor ride to the pumpkin field, petted animals. The weather held out and didn’t rain on us and we made the outing short for the boys. Short and sweet…..perfect!

I love Denise, didn’t get a picture but she is the boys Nanny!! Just love her and the boys do too! She is a real sweetie and so much fun! Really has a heart for caregiving and teaching. She has some fun ideas for activities and learning, it is going to be so fun to hear all the stories.

The first lunch, meatballs with a yummy sauce. The boys are pretty much eating everything it seems. And boy did they love these meatballs. And boy oh boy were they messy!!! Lol…… gotta get a picture of this. Denise fed these a couple days earlier and she had her hands full getting them all cleaned up….and herself too. Lol… here’s Jaxon’s favorite face…..reminds me of a pirate face, but with meatball sauce….priceless.

You have to watch Hayden, if he likes it the mouth will be overflowing…..yeah Gramma I only have five bites…see…….

Ethan thinks they are just finger=likin good!! Mealtime is one of there favorite times and for me too. They are terrific eaters! They are growing like weeds so I can totally understand the appetite.

Friday night I got to be the babysitter during the adult Halloween party. Pebbles and Bam Bam were decked out from head to toe. OMG when they came downstairs I about choked…….I couldn’t stop laughing, they just have so much fun!!!

Everyday is fun fun fun!! The dinning room is the romper room with many fun toys……Ethan loves to play peek-a-boo and read books. He is going to be my little genius!! Love those little toes!

Do you think boys know what “NO” means at 15 months old. I think so!! Jaxon likes to take his little glasses off and boy oh boy I think he knows exactly what he is doing, and….that he really shouldn’t. You tell me!!

OK Gramma I was just testing, aren’t I just the cutest!!

Do you think they like to pose……smile……be still my heart! My photogenic triplets love to pose.

See!!!!

Now why is Hayden so happy……..because this is the couch and he loves to throw all the pillows off and go up and down, roll off and you catch him. Just his most favorite play area…..the couch!!! Here the squeal! He loves his teeth too, that tongue is always rubbing on it.

We went out to lunch before the Pumpkin Farm trip……yes to Grammas' favorite place, Panera’s. This is actually their first trip to a restaurant. We had a blast and they each ate a whole grilled cheese sandwich!!

Ethan loved people watching, he loves people. We were sitting right by the entry and he got to see everyone and then followed them to the counter!!! Getting to know the personality of the boys is one of my favorite things about spending time with them.

Jaxon kept me entertained even when I had my favorite Panera meal.

Hayden is the one who loves animals, this friendly little goat really wanted us to feed him but it gave Hayden enough time to warm up to him.

We tried to get pictures in the pumpkin patch but this is the only one that turned out with their pumpkins, and trying to get them to pose was out of the question.

They are drinking out of the little cups and trying to get a picture with all three bottoms up…….well this is the best I got. Hayden looks like his juice is spiked…lol!!!

OK thanks for indulging me if you are reading along, all you Grammy’s know how special your grandkids are to you so I know you forgive my indulgence.

I did get out of the house a couple times. I visited Country Sampler and took a drive to Lincoln to meet a fellow blogger Kindra. I will share about this on my next post along with what I am sewing on.

I need to catch up for sure….but for now I am off to have lunch with my girlfriend Linda. We just shared a fat quarter bundle of Rouenerries. I have so many patterns I could use it on, I will have to choose! There is a linen piece that I fell in love with so I am doing a make over that I will share too. It is the perfect red, perfect print and I found the perfect place!!!

Have you seen Karen’s new additions to Farmhouse Woolens, I love her taste and can not resist having just a little each time she adds something new!!!

This is a wonderful time of year to focus on Thankfulness. For us, it is the end of our busy business season. We are thankful for God’s blessing this work season. The economy is very slow and we are so thankful for everything we have received.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we are going to be home this year. First time in over 14 years. So we are looking forward to spending time at a community kitchen and having our son at home for dinner. It is an opportunity to really look outside ourselves and give to others.

God Bless,

Carrie

Sweet Treasures and Textures of the Garden

I found a cute pattern while shopping in a local shop.     The shop sample was in soft peachy, Fig Tree fabrics and I loved the texture from the small, close quilting.     I bought the pattern not really knowing when I might make it up.  

I have been thinking about an upcoming wedding and what to do for the gift.     While going through my fabrics for the IBOL  package I came across some flannels and  got inspired to sew them up using this pattern for their gift.

They both love the outdoors, hunt, ranch.     I really liked seeing the wildlife fabrics on hearts…..Joe helped me pick the center pieces,   it was way to busy so we chose two fabrics for the center squares alternating the colors.

Greens will go around the outer perimeter to make it look similar to the pictured quilt.     Its been fun making this quilt, the hearts are raw edges and it is sewing up fast.   I will do some of the quilting then take it to  a local quilter to do the background for me.

 

Here are a couple recent purchases,  Karen of Farmhouse Woolens had a sale and I got these little bowls.  Bunnyhill Anne had these spools on her website and I fell in love with them.

Put a couple on a tray with some of my ribbons, love them.      The chickens were a gift from my sister a few years ago.   The are blown glass,  I just love them,  they have some pretty fancy feathers in there hats. 

The garden is coming along, slow but it had to start over on June 15th after a freeze.    The zinnia’s are blooming.  Love them.    We have a few green tomatoes,  the deer are coming in and eating them,  now that’s a first,  even found one they  stepped on today.      Buggars!!

The pumpkins are running over the garden and have very little pumpkins, so I started cutting the plants back to hopefully get the fruit growing.   After I took the pictures I went back out and carved three little names on pumpkins……….:))   wish they were coming to pick them with me.

I took these pictures on macro setting on my little pocket camera,  I was having fun finding circles in the garden and little star shapes.     And big star shapes!

The Schnibble pattern was revealed today and I spent way to long calling quilt shops and searching on line for the pattern.    So I finally found it and didn’t like the shipping amount so I ordered three patterns to justify the shipping…..LOL…..   I don’t know why that feels better,   I am gambling on those patterns may be used this year and I will have them on hand.  

Can you believe it is September 1st……I can’t  yikes where has this year gone……I love Fall,  I love Fall……I am going to keep saying that and maybe time will slow down a bit.

Late Summer blessing dear friends,

Carrie