I haven't disappeared . . .

I've just been either away from home or swamped at work or trying to catch up on my sleep. It's been over two weeks since I did much of any quilting - and that alone can make me crabby. It's been almost two weeks since I picked up my new featherweight cabinet, and it still sits in the hall waiting for me to clean the sewing room enough so we can take it in. The next three days are all mine - I've probably got at least three times as many things on my "want to do" list than I'll have time for. It'll be fun trying!

We spent last weekend with all our kids. The six of us piled into Jeremy's and Chelsea's new Pilot and headed down the Oregon coast to Coos Bay where we spent the night. Sunday morning we headed on to Bandon so we could reach the West Coast Game Park when it opened at 9:00 a.m. Jeremy and Chelsea discovered this place on their honeymoon and went back last summer. They had a new baby cougar this year so the Cougars in the family - Jeremy and DSIL Rick - decided we needed to become personally acquainted with the new baby. This was an amazing place - dozens of animals roaming freely. Lamas, sheep, goats, chickens, deer, peacocks, a donkey and more all begging for attention from the humans - or at least the food we bought to distribute. The wilder animals were in large cages like a zoo. At regular intervals the staff brings out babies for petting and photographing. We spent a good 3 hours exploring and communing with the animals. Lots of babies everywhere, and soon lots more will be on the way - judging by the behavior of the animals. We had lots of fun, but came home very tired from 5-6 hours in the car each day. I'd hoped to appliqué while we were driving, but I was in the very back and there just wasn't enough room back there.


I've had "It's a Wonderful Life" spread all over my cutting table for the past two weeks, trying to get the appliqués for the border cut out. I started working on the "winter border" corner and got stalled there. I just didn't like how it was going. I cut out some of the other border pieces but didn't pin them on as I didn't want to move the top until this corner was all ready to stitch. I haven't had time to do more than look at it now and then, but each time I looked I really didn't care for what I saw. I finally realized last night that I just don't like the design in the corner. The red claw-like things are supposed to be pomegranates, and they do nothing for me. I like the pineapple and the holly, but it just looks scrawny anweirdrd to me. Then I had a revelation - you can't imagine how daring this is for me - I realized I could change it any way I wanted to! This is a very bold step for me, as I always seem to follow patterns to the letter. I'm thrilled that I've finally "grown" enough in my quilting life that I feel comfortable doing this. I can't draw - but these are folk art shapes. I can draw those! So I think I'll leave out the red claws and add more holly leaves and clusters of holly berries instead. Now I feel re-energized and ready to get it all prepped for finishing. Jeanne, aren't you proud of me!!!!

I'm so far behind on both my blog and my email reading. I'm going to try to catch up this weekend. I want to get my featherweight cabinet moved into my sewing room. I want to start prewashing the Mistletoe Manor fabric. I want to put away the summer decorations and get out the fall things. Unfortunately I also have to do laundry, grocery shopping and a couple more less pleasant things. And hopefully I'll get to see the Mariners beat Tampa Bay at least twice!

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Gratitudes:

1. Three day weekends
2. Fall - my favorite season - is almost here
3. Cool nights
4. Family fun
5. Blue skies

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