Oh my SQUASH!!!

(This was written on Thursday, but somehow didn't get posted until this morning - Saturday.)

The Hubs planted our garden this year.  He asked about a few things I wanted and then just went to it.  I didn't realize he was planting Butternut Squash.  I don't like them, but he does.  I don't mind fixing one occasionally, but they are so difficult to cut up.

Of all the things for the garden to produce in abundance, it was the butternut squash.  We predict there are at least 100 out there.  He just keeps saying, "I only planted 6 seeds!"  Here is the wheelbarrow load I picked last week and brought up to the deck to wash off.  Now, I try to carry a handful to the basement every time I step outside.  

Goals!

I'm so excited............an ENTIRE day at home!  I have 3 goals for the day:
1.  Banana Bread
2.  Blog
3.  Sew with Cici

We can check off number 1.  I made banana bread first thing this morning.  DD loves banana bread (I put chocolate chips in mine), and requested some.  We are heading to Rolla on Sunday for a short visit so will take it to her.  She wants us to go to church and hear the bell choir (which means an early morning for us since church starts at 9!).  Then we'll take her to lunch and to Walmart (ugh!) and visit just a little before heading back.  She has 3 big tests so needs most of the afternoon for studying.  We'll stop for a short visit with cousins on the way back and also at a REAL (not Walmart) grocery store in Columbia.

While the banana bread was baking, I spent some time cleaning up emails and watched 3 Missouri Star Tutorials!!!!  There are so many things I want to make.  AND, fellow guild member and friend Gina told me that I NEEDED to start more things so I would have more UFO's for my list next year!  Remember that New Year's resolution about finishing more things than I started?  Well, I think it was successful because I have about cleared the UFO list.  Everything on my list of things started before the beginning of the year is either finished or off to be quilted!  

So, what am I working on?

Welcome Lizzy!

I did not need another sewing machine, but when this bargain opportunity came along, I just couldn't pass it up.  Meet Lizzy!

Lizzy is a Singer 201.  The machine was in great shape and runs wonderfully.  Lizzy has a great stitch.  Notice the cute little pin cushion I found in one of the drawers.  I got the silver polish out and shined it up!  The cabinet (which I love) needed some cleaning and a little repair (thanks hubby for the repairs!).  And, I have moved further down in the attic room.  As I was doing a little work on Lizzy yesterday (sorry, I was having too much fun with Lizzy to blog!), I got to thinking that if I moved DD's books out of that book shelf, it would be a great place to store quilt books and maybe even MORE FABRIC!  Friend Gina and her hubby Dennis stopped by to give Lizzy their stamp of approval and Dennis commented on my stash.........it's not very big!

The Eclipse is OVER!!!!!

Yes, I survived the eclipse and all of the activities at the community center and museum.  Due to the cloudy weather, not all of the planes came in........none of the jets showed, but this helicopter did.  

And lots of other small planes as well.  

We had a huge crowd and everyone seemed to have a good time.  We have deemed it a success because just before totality, the clouds parted and we did get to see it!

I was in charge of carving the shark watermelon for the brunch.  As I was working on the teeth, I wondered if this was how my dental hygienist feels?!  I even massaged some fruit fresh into his teeth and gums to help prevent plaque buildup.  It was definitely a hit at the brunch.  

Fortunately someone texted me a photo, because I didn't get to take any photos that morning.

DD did make it back to school............here is the last morning at home, with Jason, her favorite kitten.

Both he and Cici seem to be having "Sarah" withdrawals.  Cici has gone back to attacking the stuffed animals and knocking them down the stairs.  I have been letting Jason in when I am home.  He's a good sleeper!

And yawner!

I got my red nine patch quilt back from quilting.  Cici immediately put her stamp of approval on the quilt.  

There's nothing like a good stretch on a quilt!

The binding is all finished now.

Since I wasn't home to make eclipse food, I made alien jello cups for DH on Wednesday.  They were pretty cute.

We also had a "date night" in the sewing room Thursday night.  (We've had date nights where we drive to all the corn fields and check moisture, so I figured we were due for date night in the sewing room.)  He helped me lay out and trim some battings for quilts to be quilted.  He even did a little ironing!  Then Friday, he took me to Columbia to shop for piano music for my students, and to purchase a backing and batting for another quilt.  He found the perfect flannel for a backing.  I just need to get it sewn together now.  

I am actually working on this blog while we are waiting in the ICU at Boone Hospital.  DH's mother is here.  We found her unconscious on the floor last night and they took her to Columbia via air evac.  She had gotten choked on something and passed out.  We were lucky to find her when we did.  She has food particles in her lungs, so they are doing a procedure now to remove them.  She will probably be here a few days.  DH's siblings are all trapped in Texas now due to the hurricane flooding.  When it rains, it pours!  Literally!

We are in charge of the feeding of the cats at their house now.  I snapped this photo of the cute little kittens hiding in the flower bed.

So, even though the eclipse is over, I am still looking for a little down time.  I did get some cleaning done and went through my closet to purge it of clothes that don't fit.  I'm also really missing DD and all the house cleaning she did over the summer.  Dusting is next up on my list.  I didn't dust all summer!

Have an amazing week! Christi

State Fair, Back to School, the Eclipse, and Quilts!

It has been a busy week.  I have been working taking reservations for people coming in to see the Eclipse next Monday.  There are about 100 plane reservations to fly in to the little Marshall airport (including 3 jets and a helicopter), and over 200 people coming to brunch in the Martin Center.............the visitor from the furthest away will be Melbourne, Australia!  I probably won't get a blog done next week, but will have many stories and photos to share later.

We had a quilt guild meeting this week and had a trunk show from Liz Granberg.  She does some beautiful work, very different from anything I've done.

Aren't these interesting!  They are much more "art" quilts than what I do.  

Happy Birthday!

You know you are getting older when your baby turns 20!!!!

Isn't she cute...............

And here she is on her birthday, modeling her new cargo overalls!  Not the same cute little girl in the sweet little dresses.

Quilt Parade!

A few weeks ago, I was filling out forms to enter some quilts in the state fair.  I was trying to remember what quilts I had and was digging through the piles, nooks, corners, closets, and couldn't find one of my quilts.  I didn't remember giving it away to anyone, but just couldn't find it anywhere.  So I told the Hubs that we needed to get all of the quilts out and take them outside and take photos of them and then keep track of where they were stored.  Well, that's what we did Sunday afternoon.  I had no idea what a big job this would be.  I even had my mother-in-law come over and sit and watch so that she could tell me about the quilts from hubby's side of the family.  I started in the upstairs and worked my way to the basement gathering the quilts.  We took 63 photos - quilts, wall hangings, table runners, everything (except that missing quilt!).  

What a pile to have to sort through and put away (in an organized manner this time so that I might know where everything is!).  

Cici was in her element............surrounded by quilts.  She didn't like it that we took them outside though.