A new year and a new computer. My old computer (acutually it was only six years old) left a lot to be desired. It crashed often, and was more frustrating then fun.

Now I really don't have much of an excuse not to get to work on my website...that is going to come as soon as I can figure out what how to use the new computer.

The weather here has been definitly winter, but I can not complain when I see the news. I will be glad when the spring weather is here to stay, but don't want to rush time along any faster then it already goes.

I have quilted a lot this last year and have had some fun adventures. I am looking forward to going to more quilt shows this year. Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show is on the calandar. It will be fun. The drive is about seven hours to get there, but when you are with a bunch of giggling girlfriends, the miles just fly by. I made my secret pal a table topper, and our baby Ben a quilt, Amanda a high school graduation quilt, I started several that are very time comsuming, and put them away to be finished another day. One is a quilt for the 4th of July. I am working on a Christmas Pickle Dish, when that is finished, I have to get back to the 4th of July quilt. It is pretty, but ohhhhhhh does it take time. I have a fall quilt that is about half finished, and that will be finished before fall. In our new home I have the perfect wall behind glass french doors to hang the different quilt. Our group exchanged Snowmen blocks at the fall retreat. We worked on them for a year. The quilt turned out so pretty. I just finished it, and my husband is going to hang it for me.

In a little over a week I am having a quilt retreat for my quilt group. They will be here for three days and two nights. I am still thinking of all the treats I am going to prepare for them. They pair up in two to a group to prepare different meals. I will fix breakfast the last morning.  Eight are coming so that takes care of all of the meals. I plan on baking orange rolls for them the first morning that they are here.

I hope that all of you are still quilting and enjoying it more each time you plan your next project.

Barbara

It does not seem possible that almost a year has gone by since I last wrote on this site.

We finally moved in our new home right before Christmas. That was an adventure I hope never to repeat. I am getting to old for this stuff!!!!!!! While my sewing room was still a big mess, and I was going through box after box I finally found the Christmas project I was working on for my secret pal. I did finish it on time...just the nick of time, wrapped it and sent it on it's way. I was unable to attend the Christmas party as our family was coming for a short visit the day of the party.  I forgot to take a picture...but I am making me the same quilt for my fall table. I will put that on the site as soon as I finish it.

My gradson Ben, had his first birthday in April, and I also finished his baby quilt. That I do have a picture of. 

I made a quilt for our eldest grandaughter's high shcool graduation in June... I have a picture to post.

I will get to the website shortly and upload pictures. I just wanted to let you know that I am still here.

We had a whole yard to put in, and it has been some much work. We still are working on, but hope to have it all finished by the end of the summer. We had to have rock walls put in to make the grass area level. Anyway...I have not stopped quilting, just hit a slow spell this last year.

A friend of mine introduced our group to knitting. OHHHHHH no! I thought ok...I will give it a whirl and make a couple of scarves. Now a year later, I have to admit my addiction for sitting down and making those needles clack. I took a sock class last Oct, and an advanced one in April. My friend Mary told me we were going to have to change our socks twice a day, just to wear all the pairs we have knitted. There are so many beautiful patterns out there, and the yarn is gorgeous.

Well, quilting is my first love...by far, but knitting has a diffenent hold on my heart too.

I hope that you all are having a great summer....it is HOT here.
I usually spend Friday mornings with our twins...Hannah and Jack. They are three now. The pool is closed this summer for open swim. Their mother has been taking us to Green Bluff to pick berries. The week before last, it was strawberries, last week raspberries...and this week we are going to take the time off as  mom is out of town on business. I have lots of freezer jam made...and a few desserts extra.

I am thinking...what else has kept me out of my sewing room??? We have had lots of company too. I also have had several events at my home this spring and summer. We had the tea party in May, and a quilt day. Next Thrusday night, the knitting group I belong to is coming for a potluck barbeque. Life is just busy, busy, busy, everyday!

The quilt show is over for another year. It was wonderful as always. For months I look forward to the show, and am hard at work finishing the quilts I have entered. This year only days before the opening of the show, my husband had to be in Seattle for four days. This was not on the agenda!!!! I had to make a snap decision...in about three minutes. I could go with him, and visit our daughter and her family...or stay and enjoy all three days of the show. It really was no decision at all. Even though I had been to Seattle only ten days before, and spent a week, I wanted to return and spend time with Ava (2) and Ben (6 mo). I felt as if the show will be there for years to come, and those babies will only be little for a short time. Ava was thrilled that Ama had come back to "my house". I had a wonderful time being with them, and did make it back to Spokane for the last day of the show. I took my grandson Ryan (my quilting buddy) and looked at the quilts twice, and visited many of the vendors more then that.

We have been so busy, but then I think everyone is. Life is busy.  We are in the final stages of our new home. This has been a very long process!!!!!  Things seem to be on track and moving right along,  We should be moving by the 12 th of November. I have been packing, and right now my current home looks like a storage unit!  Our youngest daughter, her husband, and the two babies are coming to spend five days with us at Thanksgiving.  I am so excited!
We have waited for this home for several years...and been building it for the year.

My husband and I returned  from the Oregon Coast on Tuesday. We spent five days there and had a nice visit with our elder daughter and her family. They have three children. Amanda is 17, Taylor is 14, and a baby girl named Carlie. She is only 8 months old. She is so cute and sweet...and what a little miracle. All babies are miracles, this one was never ever expected. Her mama is a cancer survivor and told that she would never have any more children...and here she is!
Next June Amanda graduates from high school and we will go down and spend time on the ocean after the graduation.

My friend Cheryl and I will take our annual adventure to the Wenatchee quilt show in another week. She has graciously allowed me a way out, since we will be close to moving. NEVER! I will need to have a fun weekend. We always go to the show, then there is a wonderul antique mall a few miles away. We spend hours there, and on to Leavensworth. The town is made to look like a swiss village at the bottom of a mountain range. It is alway fun to spend the afternoon there. We will spend the night, and come home the following afternoon.

I have Ben's quilt all ready to start, a stack of fabric that needs to be cut for the fall retreat in November, and I am still sorting ideas in my head as to what I am going to make for my secret pal for Christmas!  I need to get started!  Right now though, I am going to get the coffee on, and wish you a very beautiful fall. I hope that you are getting a lot of quilting done, and enjoying every minute of it!

Barbara