Fun and games

It's finished!  I started this quilt back in November but with the move and all, I have only just gotten it finished.
Actually, I'm making an excuse. I basted/pinned this quilt before we had even packed.  I could have finished it weeks ago if I had wanted.  Truthfully, I've simply been terrified.
You see, I love the colors and design of this quilt so much, I've been afraid to start quilting it for fear I would ruin it. I thought such a special quilt top required mind blowing free motion work.  Work that is far above my skill level.  So, I just kept stalling.   Finally, Kade asked me when I was going to get to it and I admitted to him I was afraid.  He gave me some good advice and told me I was over-thinking it. He told me to just do what I know and it would look wonderful.

So, I went with a simple meander stitch and, what do you know?  He was right.  It does look good.  I'm very happy.

I think the back is pretty amazing as well.  

Of course, this is the real reason Kade wanted me to get it finished.  Yep, he's always been my blanket baby.

In other news, my little quilt group and I had quite an adventure this week as we participated in the Wasatch Front Shop Hop.  We visited 13 quilt shops in one day starting down in Springville and ending up back here in Logan.  The theme was board games and anyone who really knows me knows that theme is right up my alley. 

Some of the shops did more than others.  Here are my favorites:

Corn Wagon Quilt Shop in Springville.  Their game was Monopoly.  They had a giant game board on the floor and even a jailer sentencing unsuspecting shoppers to the hoscow until they had added some stitches to their charity quilt.  Fun!

Quilts, Etc in Sandy had Where's Waldo. After finding all the Waldo's hidden around the shop, you got to go eat at the pizzeria they had set up in the back of the shop.  Yum!

Pine Needles in Gardner's Village was decked out for Twister.  Right foot blue, left hand green!

Elaine's quilt shop in Highland truly did justice to my favorite modern games, Ticket to Ride. Check out the ticket quilt in the background.

 And, Quilter's Haven in Bountiful tickled me with their send up of my very favorite vintage game, Mystery Date.  Every 15 minutes shoppers had to stand on a numbered square and if their number was called they got to open the door and pick a mystery prize.  Just like in the game, it was a gamble whether or not you got a good prize or a dud. So, cute!

My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe in Logan did a delightful job with Candyland.  They even had Queen Frostine inside giving away sweet treats made from fat quarters.

It was a fun day, well worth the 12 hours of driving from shop to shop and back home again.
'Bye for now.

P.S.  Here's a peek at what I'm working on now.

Signs of summer

We decided to spend the Memorial Day Weekend on a family camping trip.  Now, I can't remember the last time I actually went camping but hey, I'm game.

Sleeping in the tent was actually quite comfy.

Even though it dropped down into the upper 30's at night, the gear Damen equipped us with kept us warm and toasty.  As you can see, I was all smiles in my mummy bag.

We feasted on breakfast burritos in the morning and burgers and brats for dinner.

Of course, the icing on the cake was hanging out with Mason again.  He got his cast off just in time for the trip. Yay!

The only downside of the entire trip was the nasty latrine.  Let's just say I held it...alot.  

It was a great weekend.  I loved it.  The dandelions were blooming all around the campground.  I usually blow on them and send my wishes out into the universe. 

 But, I guess I don't really need to to that any more.  All my wishes were granted 5 months ago.

On the homemaking front, I got some fun gifts for Mother's Day. 

First, I got a Nutrimill Grain Mill.  

Since I started eating clean, whole grains have become a huge factor in my daily diet.  With the mill, I can grind my own.  The nutritional value of fresh ground flour is so much better than what you purchase from the grocery store.  

I was able to grind this whole wheat...

into this finely ground, pastry grade flour in less than 3 minutes! 

Then, I put the fresh flour into gift #2, my new Bosch mixer!  

I made these delicious currant/cinnamon loaves and rolls in under an hour.  Yummy!  Yep, I'm pretty sure I'll never buy store bought flour or bread again.

If you want the bread recipe just let me know and I will post it. 

And finally, I finished Jodi's quilt.  

The dogwood quilting turned out great. I'm very happy with it.

The back makes me happy, too.  

I pieced the binding to match the fabric in the quilt.  I hope she likes it.  

So, on to the next.  Here's a peak at what I'm quilting now.  This baby has been pinned since November.  I should have it done by the end of the week.  Stay tuned for the big reveal! 

The Scoop

A lot has been going on lately and I just have not had time, until now, to sit down and blog about it all.

To start with, Mason bwoke is 'lil leg!

He took a small tumble off a jungle gym and fractured his tibia. It was pretty traumatic for everyone involved.  A little good did come of it when Damen and Christy called to say they needed help managing with Mason in his cast. They came to stay with us for about 5 days. It was great to spend some time with them and help where we could.
 

  

We watched hours and hours of Thomas, or as Mason calls him, "Choo". We all went to the park and to the zoo.

We perfected our meager billiard skills.  Even Mason got in on that action.

Although he got cranky a couple of times, after all lugging a cast around is no fun even for an adult, he really did quite well.  Kids really are very resilient.
Just look at that face!  Don't you just want to eat it up?

Here he is in his new walking cast.  He is much happier now that he can get around on his own again.

Speaking of billiards, check out our newest home improvement.
The previous homeowners didn't want to move their pool table, so they left it behind for us.   We were excited to get it but hated the ugly, worn out navy felt. We've since been on a mission to get it recovered.  I say mission because it's not like there is any place here in the small town of Logan that could handle the job.
We ended up calling the local pool hall to find out who does the work for them.  They pointed us to a little specialty shop in Salt Lake that came right to our house.

In one afternoon they transformed it from this...

to this...

Nice update, huh?  It's amazing how great the grey wool looks.  In fact, both of the boys have puts dibs on  the table after we pass to the great beyond.  I'm not sure how they're going to settle it, but I think I heard them say that after the paying their final respects, they would play for it.  :)

Earlier this month I gave myself a great treat when I attended Women's Conference with my best friend/sister from another mother, Jodi.  See that beautiful face?  That is the face of one of the most wonderful woman I know.  She is wise, funny and just a little quirky.  We laugh like a couple of mad women every time we get together.  And, every get together is an adventure whether we intend it or not.  One of the many blessings of moving back to Utah, is I get to spend as much time with her as I want.  

I've always wanted to attend Women's Conference and it did not disappoint!  Every class was uplifting and edifying.  Coming back to the BYU campus after an absence of 30 years was inspiring.  I loved it when I was there, but I know now I was too young to really appreciate what a privilege it really was. 

I know this is a terrible picture but this is President Henry B. Erying giving the address at our closing session.  To be in the presence of such a spiritual giant was awe inspiring.

Because of traffic, he arrived 20 minutes late.  We spent that 20 minutes singing hymns.  It was incredibly moving to raise my voice in praise with about 20,000 other women of God.  I have to admit that I choked up more than once.  

And of course, in between all my various escapades, there is always copious amounts of quilting.  This scrappy little number is one I've been working on for a while now.  The top has been in my UFO closet since before we moved.  It's given me a good palette on which to practice the paisley pattern I learned.  I'm doing the smaller squares with a dogwood pattern found here.

I'm thinking this quilty-poo will soon be in the possession of one previously mentioned best friend/S.F.A.M.  Shhhh!  Don't you tell now. 

This is a quilt top I'm  putting together for the realtor who helped us buy our house.  During the process, she found out I was a quilter and asked me to help her with some quilt squares she inherited from her grandmother.  She wants to give the quilt to her daughter as a present.  Of course, I'm more than happy to help.  

The squares are a bit traditional and her daughter is a thoroughly modern girl, so we decided to punch it up with some lime green. I think it works quite well.  

As I was buying the lime green border fabric, I saw this little sign.

Yep, I'd say that purdy much sums it up.