The Wisdom of Children

What a wonderful chat I had today...Katie called on their way home from Hampton's kindergarten orientation.  They told me all about his classroom, his teacher, his tour of the school, who he was going to sit by and a dozen other things.  He was so excited...made this Mamie's heart sing...I shared with Katie, forgetting that Hampton could hear what I was saying because they were in the car and she was on the Bluetooth, that our neighbor's son was in kindergarten when we moved here and now he's starting 8th grade...then I said "Oh our Hampton will be in 8th grade in no time."  His sweet voice came through the Bluetooth..."It's OK Mamie, I'll be in kindergarten for 100 days and then I have to go to 1st grade...so it will really be a long time before I'm in 8th grade."  OH my word, how did he grow up so fast?


I got love...Mamie

back from my wonderful quilter and got the binding on during the Olympics...finally took it outside for a picture...

it's a happy quilt! 

Back to Nature

I just realized that it's been a week since I posted...oh my...I feel like it was just a day or two ago...here we are in the middle of August...I can finally write 2012 without thinking about it and it's going to be 2013 before we blink...where oh where is this year going?

We've had some bird visitors back...this one was hanging around down by the pond behind our house yesterday looking for lunch...

I love how I got his reflection in the picture...one might think I really meant to do that and got a pretty good picture...truth is, it was a pure happy accident.

This guy flew in and landed in the top of one of the cypress trees down by the pond

...he stayed there for a long time surveying the whole area...I have no idea what he is...anyone know?

I've been working on a project that is very special to me...here's a snippet of it

...I'll share the whole thing when I finish it and I'll tell you the story.

I'll try to get back sooner...I better keep a better eye on the calendar!

New Mode of Transportation

Just had to share what I did this morning...after seeing Cheryl's post back in May with her Dots riding on their Plasma Cars and really having tons of fun, I knew Hampton and Camden needed these.  So off to Amazon I went and ordered them...I had really hoped that they would arrive before I drove up to see them back in June, but no luck...I've been flying ever since so they couldn't go with me.  Well, when I head up to help them move into their new house I'll be driving...so this morning I put these fun cars together...

OK, I'm ready to head to Birmingham now on a moment's notice...as soon as the loose ends get tied up I can head up the road...Can't wait!

Irons...I Love 'em...I Hate 'em

If you've known me for a while you know I've had some iron problems over the years...I've had several very pricey irons that sputtered and spewed all over my ironing board and quilt pieces...I've bought cheap ones and decided I'd just replace them when they died...but every iron drives me nuts when it shuts off after a few minutes of not using it. I hate 'em.  When I want my iron hot, I want my iron hot...so my friend Gloria told me about a Rowenta

that was on sale at All Brands...my ears perked up...I was very interested...on sale, no shipping and no sales tax and the very best of all...It doesn't shut off...I ordered it even though I said I would spend money on another iron.  I have followed every direction and so far I LOVE it!  It has 1700 watts so it gets super hot...awesome steam (I'm a big steam girl) and I used it all afternoon and it NEVER shut off...Ladies, I'm in LOVE!

I also saw this starch alternative in my grocery store yesterday...made by Bounce...and I really, really like it...it makes the fabric nice and crisp like spray starch but no flakes...and it smells really good.

Before I close I want to thank all of you for your amazing comments on my Blog Birthday post...that you for looking back on the past 6 years with me....we've all come a long way...here's to 6 more years!

The Sun Came Out

...and I got a picture.

Gosh I love this quilt...I love the fabric and I love the design...Thank you Fat Quarter Shop and all the designers for bringing this quilt to us...LOVE it!

We Have a WINNER!

First, thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments and blog anniversary/birthday wishes...but most of all thank you for your reflections on the past 6 years..I think the consensus was, they went by really, really fast, there were tragedies, heartaches, joys, achievements, babies, grandbabies, travel, life changes...but in the end everyone agreed Life is Good...Life is really Good and we are all very, very blessed.  Thank you from the very deepest part of Me, for sharing yourselves with me and each other...thank you for taking the time to reflect...to look into that past...and know that we've come to the present stronger women for having had those past experiences.  You are all very, very special and I certainly count myself very, very blessed to have you in my life.  Let's continue to reflect, not dwell, on the past events in our lives...time does go by so quickly that it kind of all becomes a blur...we will continue to grow and become much, much stronger...and we'll do it together!

Drum roll please...from the big bowl of comments...

Deb Silva is the winner...

...Congratulations Deb...send me an e-mail and I'll let you know how to redeem your gift certificate at Green Fairy Quilts.

Hope you all have an awesome Friday...I'm going to try to be back later this afternoon with a finish...I got the last of the binding on my 2011 Fat Quarter Shop BOM last evening watching the Olympics...it's a big one...so I need to get it outside to take a pic and right now it's a bit cloudy...hope to see you later.

It's a Party...

yes it is...I'm having a party...are you saying "I wonder what she's celebrating"?...

I'm celebrating my 6th Birthday in Blogland...WOW...6 years...the time has flown, so much has happened and I've met some of the most wonderful people in all of the world.

Andy's been out of town for a few days and is coming home in just a bit, so I've had some quiet, alone time to reflect on the past 6 years...some very wonderful things have happened, some incredibly sad things have happened,  some of the most joyous times of my life have happened...I had my quilt shop when I started this blog, Andy retired in April of 2007, I decided to close the shop and retire in August 2007, we've been blessed with 3 beautiful grandchildren, our son and family moved from Chicago to Birmingham (Lots closer for Mamie), we've taken trips that we've wanted to do all of our married life (Alaska, Maine, New York, Washington DC), spent time with dear, dear friends...Lost my dear friend Jami, lost my sweet mom, started taking better care of myself, eating better, working out...started working on designing patterns, got some people out of my heart and life that were just simply not good for me, met wonderful people because my heart was now open...I think I could probably go on and on, but you all get where I'm going here...

So to celebrate my 6th Blog Birthday (Blogiversary if you will) I have a treat for you...I'll be drawing a name at 9a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) Friday, August 3rd from the comments to this post...you don't have to jump through any hoops, just do one thing for me if you will...take a few minutes to reflect on the past 6 years of your lives...the good and the bad and the stuff in between...leave me a comment. 

The winner will receive a $50 Gift Certificate from Green Fairy Quilts...they always have a great selection of MODA precuts...and they get the very newest stuff really quick...and they're delightful to work with...I love to support small business!

So get busy on your assignment!  Have a wonderful day!