World's Longest Spring Break Ends!

 

I spent 5 days in St. Louis with Sarah as she is finally starting her new job.  Yes, it was the longest spring break ever............she came home for spring break in March and never went back to college due to Covid.  It's hard to believe that she was interviewing for this job a year ago.  We had made a couple of trips prior to this one to take care of the major furniture and things, so this time it was just her and I with 2 cars loaded down............and Dory, her cat.  Dory is settling in slowly.  I think she cried most of the way there.........she had enjoyed the long spring break with no travel.  She slowly explored the 4th floor apartment.  Her favorite spot is either on Sarah's bed, or in one of the low window sills gazing down on the street below.

We spent a lot of time with my nephew, Jacob, who is attending Concordia Seminary there.  We also made it into Trader Joe's!

We only purchased a couple of things.  Sarah tried some fresh pasta and I bought some brown Basmati rice to bring home.  This was only one of the 6 times I was in a grocery store while in St. Louis.  Sarah and I shopped at Walmart and Menards............yes, Menards.  It's a huge 2-story store with EVERYTHING!  This is where we did the majority of her shopping for groceries.  Then I was with Jacob and we stopped at a Schnucks to get some food for one of his friends who was in quarantine.  Then, Jacob wanted to cook supper in Sarah's apartment, so he and I went to the Schnucks close to Sarah's apartment to get what he wanted, and then Sarah thought chicken parmesan sounded good on Sunday and would make good leftovers, so she and I went to Schnucks AGAIN!

Sarah had gotten reservations for the zoo for Saturday morning for the 3 of us.  

The penguins were out and waving to us!

And my favorite was the polar bear.  He was enjoying playing with his snow.

Jacob and Sarah............ Sarah was leading us through the things she was most interested in, so of course, we saw lots of cats............Big ones!

Obviously, it was getting close to lunch time as this guy was licking his lips!  So we left, lest we become his dinner and headed to a pizza place Jacob said was good.  

Delicious!

Then, I finally convinced them to take me to a fabric store..........Jackman's Fabrics.  I told them it would have a large variety of fabrics.  Sarah was groaning inside, I'm sure, but since Jacob was driving, she had to go along.  Jacob had been talking to me about the robes and stuff he would need when he finishes his seminary and how expense they are, and maybe we (me) could make them.  He had taken me to the Catholic Supply Store to see some and they were very pricey.  Even the fabric and patterns were pricey.  I introduced him to pinterest and we had looked there and he explained the types of things he liked.  I learned new words like chasuble and I taught Jacob terminology like pieced vs. applique and paper or foundation piecing.  

Well, Jackman's was the Jackpot!  Sarah found backing fabric that she liked (finally!) for her BB-8 quilt, which we will go back for later as I didn't know how much we needed, and Jacob found liturgical fabric that he liked that was more reasonably priced.  He even got them to give him swatches that they attached to little cards for him.  

They had all sorts of machines, everything from embroidery to long arms.  We were looking at the long arms and a lady came over and turned one on for us to try.  Jacob was impressed with my long arm skill.  

And of course, there were amazing displays of quilts and fabrics!

I would have bought the pattern for the bat quilt, but they were out.  And Sarah hates spiders, so she put the kabash on my purchasing this pattern.  So, I left without any purchases.  But, we will return!

It was definitely nice to return home on Monday.  I think my pets missed me.  Cici showed her displeasure at my absence by terrorizing the rosemary plant on the counter.

She knew she was in trouble, so wasn't available for photos as she was skulking under my bed.

Willow looks so much older...... and the cats seemed to be glad I was back.

It's good to be home.  The hubster was probably too busy in the field to miss me, but I think he's glad I'm back too.

So, it's empty nest time again here!

Christi

Time Flies!

Welcome Willow!

 I just can't believe that it's almost October!  And, my last post was just after Labor Day.........where did the time go?  Well, a lot of time has been spent with Willow.  She is my new golden retriever puppy.  We got her just after Labor Day at 6 weeks old.  She is so cute and fluffy.  She loves the kittens and they are waiting for her to be let out of her pen every morning and tackle them in greeting.  Where did she learn to tackle so well?  Probably from watching Jackson's football games on the computer with me.

And now, a parade of Willow pictures.......

She is pretty well behaved for a puppy.  She did stop eating for a couple of days after her first round of shots and that scared me.  But a trip to the vet and a shot to settle her tummy helped.  Now she is eating us out of house and home.  She somehow managed to trick us into giving her breakfast twice this morning.  David fed her when he left to do chores, and then I fed her when I went out to play with her before church because her food dish was empty.  

The only one she really annoys is Kenzie, David's border collie.  Kenzie is very jealous.  Willow tries to be friends, but I'm not sure that's going to happen.  The inside cats, Cici and Dory, keep a wary eye on her too.  

She paid a visit the the Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum where I work this week.  

She enjoyed the DC 10 plane seats and seemed to have lots to say at the propeller shop.  

She doesn't mind getting wet, even if it's with soap in a bath!

Anyway, life is definitely exciting with Willow around!

Christi

Labor Day Weekend Fun!

I spent Friday evening watching Jackson's football game on my computer.  There was no sound, so I had the radio station app on my phone on.  There was a little bit of a delay, so I watched and then the radio announcer told me what happened.  They didn't win, but he had a good game.  I stuck my finger with my needle when he got an interception.

I was working on another of the Appalachian Memories blocks.  I actually got it completed during the game and then did some cutting on other blocks.  

This makes 7 complete!  Only 5 more to go.  This is definitely my oldest UFO.

I forgot to show this photo in the last blog post.  This is the program from the football game we went to.  

Does this kid look like he could possibly weight 260 lbs.?

He might be 6'1" though........it's been all the boys' goal to get taller than Grandpa.  I think Jackson is the one to do it!  It could just be the hair.  Grandpa's is getting a little thin on top.

He's definitely taller than Grandma!.  We had our annual family gathering at my parent's for Labor Day weekend.  There weren't as many people there due to Covid.  

Sister-in-law Karen has purchased a new sewing machine and plans to start quilting.  I introduced her to online shopping at Missouri Star!

Sarah spent some time reading..........

Jackson spent some time recuperating from the football game and Tucker took some time to recuperate from the bath he got after he jumped into the pond that was covered with green slime.........the golden doodle was GREEN!

David checked out Dad's new tractor.

When we got home Sunday, there were some critters waiting on the deck for attention.  I tried to get a photo with both of them looking, but.......

Here's Charlie looking........

And here's Wicket looking.  Love the blue eyes.

Today is so weird.  Yesterday was a holiday and I had to be at work at 6:15 this morning for an early event, so I've been "off kilter" all day.  I need a nap.

Christi

 

Sewing Room Update!

 

I can't believe it's September!  I unearthed a copy of Quiltmaker Magazine when I was cleaning up my cutting counter and this pattern was in there.  I dug through my scraps and made up this pillow top in one evening!  Trust me, this did not make a dent in my Halloween scraps.  

I also updated my UFO list because it seemed that I had so many projects going.  Well, I do.  However, only 4 of them are left from before the start of 2020, so that means I have finished a lot of projects and am not letting them linger around the sewing room for too long.  And right now, there are several things hanging out in the "To Be Quilted" closet.  So that means that things are getting done.  

I recently added 3 projects to the TBQ closet.  This is my Jelly Snowflake Mystery Quilt.  I really like how it turned out.  

This pattern is called Sha La La.  It makes a nice throw-sized quilt.

And this is my interpretation of a modern rainbow.  It's all made with 5" squares.  

There were also some updates and improvements in the sewing room.  The old blue counter top that was pieced together from the old kitchen was replaced with a new dark counter top that is all one piece!

Cici is inspecting it.  The surface is just a slight bit different and she has had a few mishaps getting on and off the counter.  But, I think she approves.

The nephew at UNI is now recovered from Covid.  While he was in quarantine, I sent him a care package that included these pillow cases for the pillows on the futon in his dorm room.  Apparently he did lose his sense of taste for a day or so, but the dill pickle flavored sunflower seeds I sent brought it back!  Yuck, but if he likes them, ok!

 

I also made 20 of these little pouches for my sister to use in PT.  Patients who have joint replacements use them to hold a little battery pack.  They just attach them to a lanyard.

I think this will be my new Friday Night Lights project.  I will be using these fabrics to make the Star Junction pattern which is the new Sew Sweet quilt-along.

Remember this photo from the birthday girl blog archive?

Morning hair has not improved with age...........

Christi