Time Flies - Alligators to Dogs

 How does a whole month go by so quickly?  Well one reason was because two of my daughters and granddaughters came to visit. 

We all went to the alligator farm. We also went boating and for rides in the golf cart. So cool to have them come see where I live and how things are for me here. My life is so different here than in California. I just do different things here. I don’t have the pool and kids around. 

I did work on my Bats and Boos Mystery quilt.  

I almost finished it.  I just lost interest in it. I sort of don’t like it and I need to buy more fabric to finish up the borders.  

But the best news is I have another little love. This is Jovi 

She is six months old and we have had her for 5 days. She is such a lovely little doll!  She is so sweet and sooo soft!  We are working on the house breaking. She has learned come, sit, pick up (for when I have to pick her up) and to walk on a leash. Best of all she sleeps all through the night! That means I get the sleep all through the night!! 

I’m finally working on Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt. I’m so happy to be getting this quilt quilted. Okay so I haven’t actually started quilting it yet. But I ironed the backing! LOL

 I plan on getting the top ironed & starched tomorrow and then my layers pinned. 

 I also need to vacuum the house. And I better get to the grocery store if I want to eat next week. 

What are you working on?

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Bats & Boos - Pumpkin Block

 Blocks of the week or month have always been an easy thing for me. Until the puppy came!

Oh my she takes up so much of my time. Playing with her, taking her out to potty 20 times a day. It all adds up to an incomplete pumpkin block.

Although I much admit I’ve been having so much fun working on it. 

So I need to go sew while she is sleeping.

Happy Stitching,

Linda

 

Bats and Boos Bat Block

 I was so very devastated to lose my Marizpan. I know I need a dog in my life so we found our new little one. She is super cute. 

She’s doing her part to help me mess up my sewing room. That’s what I want. 

Oh my gosh, I decided to let Bruce name her.  He was in no hurry.  It started to drive me nuts! But today we have a name.  MiaJovi which means my joy or my beloved.  We may end up calling her either Mia or Jovi or change it but for now she has a name  

I’ve been working on the bat blocks. They are so cool. 

 And this week I’ve been working on the pumpkin block. I love the block! So I’ll be back to show you those.

 It’s just comforting to get back to making blocks and sewing.   

Now let’s get back to sewing or maybe back to playing with MiaJovi. 

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Bats and Boos Mystery

 Now that I’m in a new place and most of the house is put together I was curious about the quilting shop in town.  Bats and Boos Mystery gave me the perfect excuse. 

Before moving I greatly reduced my fabric. So much of it I was given, had stored for years and to be honest I was never going to use it. The best part was letting my granddaughter come over and take any thing she wanted. I also gave her my mothers machine & cabinet, scissors, thread and any notion I could think of. 

Well back to the Bat & Boos

I love the fabrics I found. I love Halloween fabrics.

 I admit it was fun to cut and label the squares for the bats. It’s been so very long since I’ve seen.  I sewed a little bit and hope to do some more sewing this afternoon. 

This is my daughter Serena teaching a little girl to skate. Check out her reaction when she accomplished her goal. 

We should all be so happy with our accomplishments big and small.

Now it’s ice tea time!

Happy Stitching

See you all soon!

Linda

New Baby and some Finishes

We decided that life is just better with a little furry friend. I’m so used to having a dog that life is strange (and empty) without one. 

I wanted a toy poodle and Bruce wanted a black and white one.  This little girl will be coming home to us this next Saturday. 

I’ve been working on my cross stitch. 

I saw Lori Holt uses her small design boards for her threads. 

Is that I great idea or what? 

Since I don’t have a small one I use my big one. Perfect! 

Doing this cross stitch has been very enjoyable! It is a Durene Jones design. Garden SAL

I finished up the little wall hanging for my daughter. The one where I used the lace from her wedding dress. 

And I finished up the dish towel. I added a little ruffle. To my relief my sewing machine is fine. No damage from the move. Whew!

I’ve been trying to be more active. I go with my husband when he plays golf. It’s hot but I just try to ignore it and walk around anyways. 

We do have fun together. 

 Tomorrow starts Fat Quarter Shops Halloween Mystery Quilt.  I have some fabric. I need a background fabric.  Who else is doing this one?

See you soon and happy stitching,
Linda

 

 

Ups and Downs

This NASCAR race season I decided to have a nice cross stitch project to do while watching the race.  I got this idea from Di of Quilting  is Blissful. 

I was so worried about my sewing items while we were moving. Wondering if the guys that packed me know this cutting mat could not be rolled up. It was a great relief to see it flat. It’s a Lori Holt mat and I so enjoy using it. 

My sewing machine appears to be okay. It was packed upside down. Hmmm very strange. I haven’t had time to use it yet. My fingers are crossed maybe tomorrow I can sew and confirm it’s okay. 

Every Sunday we have a routine. NASCAR and homemade pizza. We have been doing this for three years now. My sister told me she wants to do something similar. Sometimes routines can be good. 

We went to a garage sale this last week and picked this pizza cutter up. 

Makes life a little easier and certainly more fun. 

Life should be more fun. 

We were out on the golf course and I saw this butterfly or moth. Not sure which. But I do know I’ve never seen a pink one before!

We were super lucky to have company come to our new house for an impromptu dinner. It was my Dad’s and the rest of the families first time to see our new house. 

I’ve been busy trying to move in and visit my dad in the hospital. It was such a joyous occasion that he was out and had dinner with us. Unfortunately he passed a week after this dinner.  

And more sad news my little love, Marzipan was ran over. 

She was my little buddy. We took her everywhere!  

Well this is life. Ups and downs. 

Thank goodness we can always count on God to be there to see us through. 

Sorry this is a bit of a downer of a post. 

In the meanwhile, let’s enjoy our stitching,

Linda

 

 

The Silent Treatment

After all this time of being silent I don’t think there is anyone left that will be reading this. 

We have been very busy packing our home in California, selling it and moving to Arkansas.  We stayed at an RV park which was wonderful!

We only paid $650 for the month and that included everything we needed, electric, water and cable. I joked that we ought to just live there forget buying a house.

                           It’s so pretty here and I love walking Marzipan.

Within one month of getting here we had found a home and closed escrow.

Houses are selling like hot cakes everywhere we looked California, Colorado, Idaho, and here in Arkansas.

We have not really moved in. We have a few things to fix and carpet needs to be replaced - carpet guys come tomorrow YAY!

We do have wonderful views.  I asked Bruce that if we moved he would try to find a house with a view as good as our one in Bakersfield.  I do think he succeeded.

In stitching news: I started a cross stitch while we were camping looking for our home, and I'm almost finished with it. 

B

I just have the backstitching to do.

I was planning to hang it up in the RV but now I'm thinking of hanging it in the new home.

Happy Stitching,

Linda

 

Never Say Never

 Okay. I am laughing at myself. Years ago I had a friend who said “Never say Never”.  Well she was actually talking about having affairs. And I knew at age 20 I would NEVER do that, and I haven’t. (Although some of my best friends have.) But when it come to having blue pillows on my bed, I was wrong. 

I so love my new homemade pillows. And darn if those pillows didn’t need that stupid darn blue pillow.  Hahaha

And didn’t I say I wasn’t moving to Arkansas?  Well that falls into this “Never say Never” category too. We have been fixing up our house and have listed it.  So far we have had 21 showings in two days. 5 more scheduled for today. Ugh!!! 

 Actually it’s been fun, we hide out in our motor home, parked in our extra lot and spy on the people. Hehehe.  We some some fun ones,  one mom shaking her head at EVERYTHING.  Even the grass was not good enough for her. lol  

Well I’m stitching news: I’ve finished the camera  and now need to frame it.  I’ve started the wedding dress - flower one.  I’m doing the #ilovetostitch2021 Facebook group. The goal is to stitch 30 minutes per day.  So that is my goal.  I hope to finish this project and start another one before the month is over.  

Happy Stitching!

Linda

Life

 Life never goes the way you think it will. I know this, I’ve been around the block a couple times!  So Arkansas didn’t happen the way we thought. We found a house put an offer on it. It was accepted but before we found that out, we backed out. 

I felt I would be isolated as it was in a hill, with a beautiful view but 45 minutes to town.  Nothing  wrong with that, I’m just not use to it.  Also  I’m used to doing a lot of walking.  It was all steep hills. 

We have now started back home.  Stopping by In New Mexico  

As we were driving I thought this scenery  inspires me to make a low volume quilt.  It’s so beautiful!  

So now we are in Colorado.  We were going to look for houses here too. But things are not working out here either.  No worries.  We are waiting on God and trying to follow His lead. In the meanwhile, We will get to see our daughter.    

I’m still working on my cross stitch - SLOWLY! 

I just need to finish the tree and do a couple flowers.  

Happy Stitching!

Linda