how was your summer vacation????

How in the world could I let this much time go by???? Life, I guess. The Professor is madly writing the last of his dissertation, and working full time here at Mississippi State.

I have recovered from the bone graft surgery on my collar bone, still battling with some

numbness and small issues, but much improved.

We have filled our free time with sdome home improvement projects, a new floor in out dining area, and a little deck under the big tree in our back yard. Bob even built a big flower bed for me to plant some flowers in. He did a really good job.

We have had all the kids here for "Camp Grandbob", did a few renovatoin projects, in preparation for getting our home on the market next spring.... post Job offer hopefully. I also have begun to pack up the unecessary items, or not frequently used items in the dining room and kitchen, as I know how long it takes me to pack things. I am also back to quilting with lots of breaks.

I have missed the creative side of quilting for my buddies. Many girls have been p

atiently waiting for their quilt to come up in the queu. After Camp Grandbob was over, we drove the 3 oldest grands up to Pennsylvania to meet their other cousins, swim and enjoy the Whalen Family Reunion.

They had a ball...and what trip to Sharon would be complete,

without a trip to Daffin's Candy Store.... and see the chocolate room full of huge animals?

Then on to Pymatuming Dam to Linesville and the fish hatchery, the kids, including the Professor, were blown away.

We also couldn't pass up stopping at the Kids Mills Covered Bridge on the way home!! I think the bridge was a hit too. Aunt Birdie, my younger sister went with us, and we really enjoyed the day. Just wish we could have had a little more time to spend in PA. I so enjoy being around my brothers and sisters. Good times with family! Always a plus!

The kids at the "Punch Bowl", Linesville fish hatchery

Some of our Holiday adventures.... and more

It seems to be time to return to quilting. I have been piecing a simple turning twenty for DD, which has just been quilted on the frame and delivered. and working on a stack a posie, and another sister quilt. The professor and I have actually gone to see True Grit, the scene in the cave scared me to death.... I had to cover my eyes! Our son sent us a couple of games for Birthday and Anniversary gifts, so we have been playing those as well. He has just successfully defended his dissertation proposal....so now is officially a Doctoral candidate. Woo Hoo!. Its crazy to think that we have lived in Mississippi for about 2 1/2 years now. We had a very cold spell here, snow and all, no photos... but the kids here sure enjoyed the snow day, and making all those snowmen. I had a valve go bad in my studio...and water began spewing from under the sink, but luckily, I had just gone out there when it started, no damage, I called my hero to come home and help...and stood in the doorway sweeping the water out. I had fabric to throw on the floor to create a mote, and very little water didn't go outside. He managed to shut off the main water valve, then get the defective part repaired. So thankful. I guess all those days under freezing was just too much for the shut off valve to handle. My most exciting news is that I just finished quilting a small quilt designed by DD in LAW1 for a magazine, I believe it will be in the August issue of Quilters World, along with the larger version which I also quilted.Can't share photos until the issue is printed. But very fresh and fun quilt. My DDIL has a quilt in this months Quick Quilt magazine, I didn't quilt that one. And in the April issue of Quilter's World she will have a bag or tote. She is so busy. jEN, our Resident designer...also has a book coming out soon. Can't wait to get my very own autographed copy! Life has given me so many blessings, I adore my wonderful family, and my Grandchildren are divine! We had so much fun with them over the holidays. In Fayetteville, AR we went to see Christmas lights with the Princess and little True, they even rode in the Cinderella coach on the square. The lights were so much fun, we had cotton candy, and it being DS2's Birthday, ate a decadent mud slide dessert at the Market Street restaurant. Yum, I could go for one right now!Then on to Oklahoma for a visit with my mom in law. That was fun as well. We then headed up to Kansas to see another set of Grands, and they being a little older, its a whole different set of things to do. We did a Cookie house, and Elisie Pie made cookies for Santa, there w

ere games every night, and silly hats!!!! Even Grandbob gets into that act. And our sweet little Wee One and new little LuLu, we went to see them recently. Their dad has just deployed, the Wee One is missing his daddy, so DD ordered him a Daddy Doll, made from a photo of his Dad in his uniform.

He loves taking Daddy with him as you can see.

I also have several customer quilts done, these are a few custom ones I have just finished. I love them . I do enjoy seeing these wonderful creations, knowing I would never be able to piece them, but get to work on them just the same. Somethings in life to be truly thankful for, Health, loved ones and getting to do something I love. Thanks for sharing with me.

The latest customer quilts and grandbaby pictures....

This is LuLu and her Grandbob and the Oklahoma State quilt I made for them, it is just a little picnic/tailgate quilt...but shows the school colors!!! These are a few of the quilts I have had the pleasure of quilting during the last 2 + months... I have quilted a lot more. But this is a start of the Christmas rush for me.......It was fun doing each of them...and seeing the lovely work each of these ladies did. I have more to share...and hope to post again soon. Did about 50....since I started back to quilting after the auto accident. In order t

this one is mine... and I wanted th hide the poor piecing with lots of quilting.... It didn't work...but I dont' really mind.

It has been forever and a day since I last posted...but have been very busy. Just spent a lovely couple of days with the grands. The Princess loves her chickens, so I had to get a photo. Also sharing several photos of customer quilts that were finished before Christmas... thankfully.

A FINISH..... finally to share.

Finally finished the quilt started before the accident. A gorgeous applique quilt by Martha Dubard of Louisville, Mississippi. I adored this quilt. She calls it Mama's Garden as it reminded her of her mom's garden of many years ago. I did McTavishing behind all the applique. It turned out very well.I know that these photos were taken before I completed the outside border... I can't figure out where I hid the finished ones on the computer.... hmmmmm. No telling. I am also sharing a few other photos of finished quilts for others from before the accident as well. A grandmothers flower garden, and a darling Sudoku quilt. She wanted the numbers from the puzzle on the quilt to complete the theme. I loved her fabrics too. Most are from guild members from Louisville...as I had several to do for them. I also have just about completed another one for a gal. It is going into the Pine Belt quilt show...for the Log cabin challenge. Will post that one next time. No pictures. I think it is a very pretty quilt.

And how could I not share this silly photo of the wonderful rascal who has been stealing all the bird seed, he has even pried open the 5 gallon pail with all the seed inside...and emptied it! Quite the scavenger , he is. I am hoping to finish the other quilt on the machine tomorrow. Only quilting about an hour a day... so it is slow going. Have a great couple of days.