Unexpected Silence and July Schnibbles

"No internet connection"?????  How can that message be legal?  Thus it has been for the last few weeks.  All of the phone trying to translate "chatting" with the no help line has resulted in changing our server and once again being up and running.  The strange thing was that we would have sporadic connection, but it would cut off mid sentence.  Soooo.......I am back!!!!!!!  Now, where was I?

After complaining about our miserable summer, DH and I decided we had enough and went in search of some heat.  Having no destination is mind, we headed north.  We ended up traveling more than 2700 miles and saw some of the most gorgeous sunny and warm sights.  Our journey took us through Oregon, Washington. Idaho, Montana and Nevada before returning home.  It was delightful.

Great scenes from eastern Oregon.

Oregon is great for a full car service when you gas up.  LOVED it!!!

Endless open roads...ahhhhh!

But....you have to keep your eyes open!

I think it is time for this baby to fly the coop.

Streams everywhere.

Fields of wheat in eastern Washington.

I found this design very interesting.  Sorry that the picture was taken through the buggy window.

 

Chief Timothy Bridge

We followed this river all day along Hwy. 12 through Idaho and into Montana.  It was just gorgeous.

The Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho.

Loved this collection of mailboxes in the old mining town of Cherry Creek, off Hwy. 93

The times have changed for them.

I wish I knew more about geology when I look at this range of mountains.

We DID find the heat......

Just as we reached Las Vegas.

We came home to a few days of nice weather, but it has once again returned to the same gloom.  It is really sad to see people wearing sweatshirts all day long.  SIGH!

One thing about having no internet is that it does allow a little more time at the sewing machine.  I was concerned about not completing my Schnibbles quilt for this month considering that we were gone and there were sixty snowballs to construct, but...ta-da!!!! 

This is the Eden line of fabric from Moda.

There is lots more that has gone on around here, but I will save it for another post.  I will leave you with this picture.  How many muscles do you think it takes to get nto this position?  I think it would be great for my abs.

Where is Summer???

Where is summer?  While many of you are enjoying your warm summer weather(or not), we continue to be covered in a marine layer of cool, damp air.  My flowers are not enjoying this and neither are we.  We were fortunate enough to have some sunshine and temps into the mid 70s for our big 4th of July party, but the sun has been hard to spot lately.  It gets rather depressing to look at the five day forecast and only see temps in the 60s for all five days.  I feel the need for heat!!!

Our SIL put together a video of our annual tug of war at out Independence Day party.  It was such a great party and our daughter even came with the newest family member - only 4 days old.  You can watch it here if you would like.


I have managed to get some sewing in which always lifts my spirit.

Jelly Roll Quilt Along Block - I was a little late on this one.

Another Jelly Roll Quilt Along block

Quilt Barn Block for July

What is IT?????

A take along chalkboard, of course!!!!

What could make a day more sunny that this precious bundle of pink?

I'm off to search for some sun.

The Story of the Two Princesses

This is a tale of two princesses - one flat and one chubby.



First of all, we have a new little princess in our family.  We welcomed a new granddaughter yesterday afternoon.  All 8 pounds and five ounces of her will now join her mom, dad and big brother to make a perfect little family.  She is gorgeous and good as gold (so far)!!!!

The second princess story is about the Flat Girl that came to visit Southern California from Tasmania.  It was such a delight to entertain her for two weeks.  I hope that she enjoyed her stay as much as we enjoyed  having her.

She received lots of attention, oohs and awws wherever she showed up so I have decided that she should be called a Flat Princess rather than a Flat Doll.  She was so beautifully made by Nerine and if you have not checked out her blog you need to do so.  Her work is just stunning. 

While the princess was here she was spotted all about. 

She attended the wedding of my nephew and enjoyed a little champagne.

She went to the farm store with some of the grandchildren,

attended my 45th high school reunion and

joined me on the Southern California Quilt Run.  She was even lucky enough to get her picture taken with the Quilt Run Raffle Quilt.  The shop owner, Eileen, loved her!

Do you think she was looking for a house to live in??

She loved hiding in the fabrics.  I think she wanted to stay there.

As well, I saw her popping her head out at the weaver and spinner's 40th anniversary party.

She did join me in a little yard work when I planted an iris garden.  I will have to send her a picture when they bloom next year.

Can you spot her hiding in the iris????

The princess enjoyed taking in the smell of orange blossoms and picking her fruit for her breakfast each morning.

She absolutely loved Toy Story 3 while wearng her 3D glasses.  I think she shed a tear or two as well.

The time flew by and she joyfully packed her bags and headed off to Canada to join Peas Corner.  It will be so much fun to follow her adventures as she travels about the world.   She bid her farewells and left without her friend who accompanied her on the first leg of her journey.  I will constantly have a companion to always remind me of the fun I had with the Flat Princess.

Schnibbles and Good Bye June

Wow!  Has June flown by as quickly for you as it has for me?  It is amazing.

Let's start off with my June Schnibbles.  It is the pattern State Fair and I really enjoyed doing this one.  Not only did I love the fabric in this charm pack (Wrapped in Paisley), but it went up quickly and I think turned out beautifully.

Also this month I completed my barn quilt block which was done in the Pineapple pattern.  Pineapple has always been one of my favorite quilt patterns so I was pleased to see it as this month's selection.

Another project that was in the works for this month was my Snowballs.  These were blocks that I received last year when we did a novelty print 5" swap.  I think that I may sash them with a black and white fabric.  I also think that this will make a fabulous I Spy quilt. 

Family life has been busy as well for June.  We had a wonderful Father's Day brunch with most all of the kids and grandchildren.  The food was delicious, but the company was so much better!!!

One always has to admire little boy's attraction to water - a puddle or a fountain makes no difference.

We celebrated the wedding of our nephew and his new bride.  It was a lovely wedding with a lot of Hawaiian traditions as the bride's family has some Hawaiian blood in them.

As well, I attended my 45th (gulp) high school reunion.  We had a very small class of about 70 girls.  It was an all girl's school and it was fun to reconnect with the ones that made it to this one.  It's funny how your teachers always seemed SO OLD when we were in high school.  Now we are all in the same age "group".  I mean....they were in their early 20s and that was OLD!!!

Momma tortoise was busy laying not one, but two batches of eggs again this year.  This is the third year in a row that she has laid two batches.  It never ceases to amaze me when I look at the size of those eggs and then look at her.  Guess it is much like having a human baby. 

Speaking of babies, our daughter and SIL are expecting at any moment now.  We are all on baby alert, but I am fairly sure that the doctor will not let her go past her due date which is Thursday.  She really wants to make it to the 4th of July party here.  We will see.

The garden has been busy providing me with lots of extra chores like making jams and pie fillings.  As you can see, boysenberry season is in full swing around here.

Yesterday was another granddaughters birthday.  Ms B turned nine and requested skirts made by Grandma.  I gladly obliged her request.

Is it ever too early to get a granddaughter interested in sewing?  This one seems to love my selvage edges that a friend gave to me.

One question.....did anyone else get teary eyed when they saw Toy Story 3?  It was sooo good and I will not ruin the story for anyone going to see it.  We took a few of the kiddos and saw it in 3 D.  Excellent!!!

I have enjoyed entertaining the Flat Princess for the last few weeks and will do a complete post about her later this week.  I put all of the names in a pot and chose one out to see where she would be off to next.  She has packed her bags and is now winging her way to Canada to spend a few weeks at Peas Corner.  Please be sure to check her out there and put your name in if you would like to entertain her next.  I just wish that I could have gone with her as she continues on this fabulous journey.