King Crab

is the best dinner ever; much better than lobster. Look at the size of that claw! Yum!! (DH is exaggerating, but they are tough to pull apart and their nasty pointy things are sharp!)

What's not to like???

Part of my Christmas present from DH: He's a keeper!

You never know

what's gonna happen. Yesterday I went to the dentist for a filling and came out with the tooth gone. Hmmm, that's what happens when the option is a root canal or pulled and the tooth that WAS under the bad one is already pulled, so no sense spending a bunch on a tooth that isn't functioning anyway cuz his partner is gone. And no, I'm not opening wide for a photo--it's the very back one on the top left. You'll have to use your imagination!

Finished in December

Hopefully this one won't be the last--we'll see. DH gave me the fat quarters for this 2 or 3 Christmases ago. It's from a Moda line I liked. And I practiced another edge to edge. This put me over 100 yards from stash. Hooray!

PS. Forgot to say the block is a monkey wrench set on point

It's beginning to look

alot like Christmas! This flamingo is the ornament my sister in law from Texas sent me for my birthday.
And I finally have a fireplace to hang the stockings. However, if Santa can squeeze down my stovepipe, he'll have a big surprise trying to get out of my fire box!!

Quilty update

Well, where to start?!? That's the trouble with long pauses between blog entries.... In October I went to the Northwoods Retreat in Homer. Had a blast, did some work (a top, 3 aprons, and lots of arranging and some making of military donation blocks.)
In November, a dear friend came over and showed me how to do an edge to edge the easy way (Becca wasn't here to lead me through the ropes of a new machine!! waaah!). So this one is finished. It was leftovers I cobbled together from an inset circle class with the intention of practice quilting. I am also in the middle of many more, (of course!!)

Deck update

Oh My Goodness!! Things have changed! But it HAS been over 2 months... Ooops!

On my deck

are these lovelies.. Summer is finally here!

Gifts

from Becca!! Photos as promised.... She made these awesome necklaces with her own two little hands, and they are superb!! (and green!!) She also sent me a very modern tray and votive cup centerpiece. I need to get some candles for them as our days are getting shorter :( and it is time to break out the light. Thank you so much Becca--I LOVE them! ( By the way, saw Jer at Mykles last Tuesday night.)

Another job

associated with Lith. If we had to do this by hand, we might get more exercise, but this log splitter is the only way to go!! 2 weeks worth of wood in 20 minutes....and all i had to do is operate the lever! Well, then there IS bending over, picking up, bending over, stacking, bending over, taking into the house, bending over.....

Lith

is what I named our new soapstone wood stove. When he is used this winter, I will only have to burn 2 loads a day and the whole house will be heated. We still have to finish the tile around him. Ain't he a big boy?!? And the lizard (AKA moi) can snuggle up to him on the bench and warm my bones!!

And I received a wonderful package from Becca--but that's for another posting after pics are taken. She absolutely blew me away with the gifts she made!! They are beyond fabulous!!

I'm a slug

and I have no valid excuse. I think I have the lazies. all I do is lounge around unless I'm at work or church. I have no ooomph.
So I will show you the fabric tulip I painted in a class last month--I cannot take credit for the drawing of it--Trish Stuart whipped it out in less than 10 minutes; in fact, I believe it was closer to 5!!
Hopefully I will find some ambition this week.

Cold summer plants

My lilac bushes have never looked so good! They must like to be shivering! The peonies always do well since they are snuggled up against the house on the south side. (also this is the first year for the dark one and she was ready to bloom when planted!!) the light one is absolutely loaded with LARGE buds.

Fabulous ink class

I attended a great class taught by Trish Stuart today. She will be teaching 4 more classes, as our Quilting on the Kenai featured artist and teacher. She is the nicest lady---a lot of fun and my kind of gal! I didn't get a photo of any of my attempts (After I get them closer to a finish--and much more practice!! you MAY see them). Here are just a couple: There were 21 ladies in the class, and as you can tell, there were a few artists in the group!
I'll tell you about the Art to Wear Fashion Show at a later date. I'm hoping to snag a photo from someone that was there as a spectator. I was one of the many models and have to say, one of my outfits was......well, you'll have to wait!!!

Gertie's Playground

Well, it's not done, but it is what it is!! The space in front of her that is now housing a table and my ironing board will be my scrap booking counter eventually. I think the rest will work as is, if not, it can be rearranged except Gertie is in the only space that she will fit!

Gifts part II

I have been sloughing off on the blog updates. Mea culpa! Here are the photos promised eons ago. Fabulous souvenirs, huh?!? My sister loves me. The gown feels wonderful, as only silk can, and it's cut on the bias, so just flows . The pearls are drop dead gorgeous. I admit it, she spoiled me!

Gifts galore!

I have been blessed with goodies in the mail! From my SIL (the one we saw in Houston in
April) I received these cute Flamingo corn stickers--but as she suggested, I am gonna put them in my plants so I can enjoy them.
And from my sister, I received this VERY CUTE bag and souvenirs from China, which will be shown in another post. (They are very awesome!) So I scored big time . I'm smiling.

Oh! For crying out loud!!

It's June 7th!! Already! I have been busy setting Gertie up ( or rather DH has!) and working 3 days a week to get ready for the Quilting on the Kenai Quilt Show. Also found a home for Henrietta--she now lives with the nice ladies from Kenai Piecemakers who make charity quilts.
Photos of my rearranged studio will happen once I get it organized and clean. Gertie is a much bigger girl then Henrietta--the 2 feet in length is nothing compared to her extra large girth!!!

Baby quilt #4 is done

Well, it's done and ready for the washing machine, anyway! This baby quilt finishes at 54 inches square.

Does this Look like Spring???

We went to Anchorage on Wed. This is what it looked like in Thompson Pass. Gives you warm fuzzies, right?? NOT!!! I'm not real pleased with our weather--I hate global warming! and then Becca rubs it in--and my sister tells me it's in the high 80's in Minnesota....arggghhhh!
I've been working at my paying job so will hopefully post the finish of another baby quilt early next week. We are having a sale at the shop while Pat is at Quilt Market in Minneapolis, so my stash increased--a bunch---but most of it is earmarked for projects, which is a good thing...I think!

Meet Gertrude

Today a friend and I made a road trip to Wasilla to meet Gert. And she now belongs to me!!! DH and I will go up to get her on his vacation--we will need to rent a trailer with a 14 foot bed. She also has a 30 inch throat. She's a big girl and sweet as can be. I can hardly wait!!

Another finish

This baby quilt was pieced at the retreat. The next is now in the hand binding stage and the third is still in its plastic baggy.

I still can't wear a shoe--this is getting very old! How did you stand it, Jan?!?

DH is going back to the Slope a day later than normal (Dr. appt) so we are going out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate our anniversary. 27 years!!! Where does the time go???

Crafter's retreat

was this weekend at camp. I was terribly organized. I took my machine and paraphernalia, 3 baby quilts cut and kitted, and one to bind. I got 2 of the three ready to quilt, and just finished the binding on the pansy quilt.

What goes bump in the morning?

As I was getting ready for church this morning I heard something bump against my bedroom wall. Looking out the window I was eyeball to eyeball with a yearling bull moose. (I could tell he was a he by his antler bumps!) I grabbed the camera and stepped out onto the deck. Of course that spooked him, and Mama and sibling joined in the mass exodus! " Which way should we go?? She's pointing a camera at us!!!"

I'm Back

Just a quick note before church. Texas was warmer than here--but breezy on the gulf, and of course, i packed for WARM!! But we had a good time and enjoyed ourselves! This is a photo of where we stayed in Kemah.
The second day there we did the amusement park--the Bullet (wooden roller coaster) was awesome--rode it many times! On one of the treks up to it, DH stepped on my bare flip flop shod foot. He stopped to turn to me and I kept going. It still hasn't healed enough for me to wear a shoe ( my baby toe was scalped and the next one is sporting a black and blue spot where it attaches to my foot). So the 5 pair of shoes I hauled down there with me stayed in the closet while I wore the clod hopper flip flops everywhere!! So the evening out outfits weren't worn either--are you feeling sorry for me yet?!? Then on the morning we were leaving (4:00 AM) He did the exact same thing on the exact same place!!! Now, may I have cheese with my whine? So here in the snow covered land called home, my feet are exposed!
More adventurous tales will follow!

And she's off!

No, not off my rocker...well, no more than usual! DH and I are headed to Houston tomorrow--a combination visit and business. DH's sister lives in Houston and his company is sending him down to tour a plant they do business with, so we are going a week early to see Lynn. I am hoping for nice weather, but as DH say's "Even the rain is warm in Texas during the spring". (It is NEVER warm here--not even in summer!!!). So I'm taking my lily white body and hoping to catch a few rays!! I keep telling myself white is healthy even tho it looks like death!! I'd rather be tan!! One good thing is that I do tan quickly and if sensible, don't burn.

So I will be gone for awhile--unless I snitch DH's notebook when he's not looking!

Recipe was wrong

I hate that!! DH likes the bars ok--I don't like them at all. #1. I don't like chocolate, but a thin layer on a butterfinger is tolerated. #2. They are a cookie/cakey type bar--NOT a butterfinger. Oh, well....next recipe.....

The home front

is starting to feel like spring--now if only the snow would GO AWAY!! Nothing exciting is happening here--had a deep muscle massage, so will be sore tomorrow. After church last night DH put together one of his thoughts--squash soup . I was the assistant (which only means I did the grunt work--washing, chopping etc!) But it is smelling fabulous and I will now attempt to make butterfinger bars. Supposedly they will taste like the candy bar. We'll see.

New hair do

as per your request, Queen Becca:

Still snowing

so I finished another quilt, after spending a couple of hours getting beautified. Well, my hair get some attention! This used fat quarters and will be a gift as a baby girl quilt. There are a few ladies at church who are expecting--children, that is! this one was a fast no-brainer and as I have no baby quilts tucked away, I must mush. ( By the way, I am now blonde--lots of highlights!)

Ain't Spring Grand?!?

This is what's happening here today. and playing with my new iTouch. and working a tad on a binding. and reading. A very satisfactory lazy day with DH, who finally came home!

Baby Quilt

shop sample is done--a new pattern by Maple Island Quilts. I almost have a fat quarter baby quilt done--just have one more side of binding.

April 1st happenings

Well, first off, DH wasn't April fooling me--in fact, he may have to stay until Sunday. I wonder if the flights are operating on Easter?
So here is what I've been doing instead of making my bed (the sheets are ready to put on!)
Three baby quilt kits were made up for our church's crafter's retreat the end of this month, baby girl backing pieced and top loaded on Henrietta, and tiny triangle left overs ready to press and trim. Those I brought into the house to work on in found time. The mosiac top only needs the top borders added and it will go into the pile that needs quilting, but it may wait awhile since it looks like fall and I want to quilt maple leaves in the big square spaces.
Now I think I'll have a cup of tea and read awhile!