Long Time Gone

[Long post - sorry]
I haven't actually been gone, but life has been right up there with frantic for the past several weeks - not all bad, just incredibly busy. So apologies for being gone so long and hopefully I can get caught up.

The second week of October was all sorts of things: have the carpets cleaned, Stone Soup, haircuts, take the RV out for service, lunch with a friend and pack as 5:30am on Monday morning the shuttle arrived to drive us to the airport. We were off to San Antonio, TX. The national body of our women's RV organization was having their national meeting. Now 97 and 97 (heat and humidity) was just a bit too much for this web-footed girl - that was Monday through Thursday. However by Friday it cooled down to a very comfortable 77` with a bit of breeze.

BBQ buffet -either brisket of beef or chicken. Pretty tasty.


Pretty lake, but watch out for Water Moccasins - snakes!

















Got home and had the early part of the week to do some catch up and pick up the motorhome. Tuesday night we got a phone call from my SIL that my daughter and grandson (6 y.o.) had been taken by ambulance to a childrens' hospital about 30 miles away, as they suspected that he had appendicitis. Nana stayed with Mama and the little guy until he went up for surgery at 1:30am. Turns out that his appendix had burst, so he was on several days of heavy antibiotics. Thursday we left for Rockport, WA - on the North Cascades Highway. A very nice campground right on the Skagit River. As I have been the president, this past year, for my Washington state Women's RV group, I really had to be there for the last meeting of the year and election of next year's officers. My cellphone didn't have any reception but bless the gal right next door and with her service I got regular updates on how the little guy was feeling.

> Old cabin located on the grounds.




Cascade Foothills




Skagit River







Returned home as early as we could on Sunday and Nana went to spend the night at the hospital (Mom was home with the other 2 kids and dad was working). Now it is not a surprise to many of you that one cannot possibly actually sleep in a hospital. Either the alarms on the machines delivering the medications are sounding or the nurse is coming in to check on the patient, as well as the respiratory therapist and the gal doing the blood draw. And the vinyl chair/bed provided was well. . . . . . less than desirable. But we did make it and he was finally released about mid morning, with 2 more weeks of antibiotics at home, plus one tired Nana!

However, I have also managed to find a bit of time betwixt and between to do a few sewing projects. YEAH:
Wim finally has a nose and eyes. I started him at Caroline's in March and at last he is 'whole'. Don't you love the little sweater that Caro's mother made?


These are stitched (I have made 4) and then backed and stuffed and made into a little hanging pillow. Very cute - again thanks to Caro for directions.











A little something (wall hanging?) for the "grands". I had bought the one panel with several grandchild sayings and then have used scraps from friend Ronda for the borders and bindings. Use it up!

And on Friday, big hurrah, I am off for 3 days of sewing. The CTA gals are having their annual sewing retreat - this time at Camp Houston, in Gold Bar, WA (if that means anything to you). I believe there will be 30 of us. And my plan is to attack (with vigor) my collection of Christmas things. I have been keeping them together ready to finish up. So several table runners and a wall hanging, at least, should come home completed. (I hope)










With luck, all will now begin to slow down. I have also been preparing a couple of things for an exchange partner but cannot show you that, just yet. Hope that fall is treating you well, all are healthy and it feels like life is under control. Life is good!

Doin' stuff

Oh it has just been a lovely day. I started the morning deciding that I would make some bread. As you may have noticed we are a pretty "Dutch" household and this is one of our favorite cookbooks (if you don't know, this is what you say to fellow diners at the start of meal. Loosely translated as 'Enjoy your meal' - in Dutch) I found a recipe that said it was for Sweet Rolls and Saucijzebroodjes (Pigs in a Blanket). I made half a recipe and still had enough for a dozen sweet rolls (cinnamon and raisin) and probably a like number of sausage rolls. (I couldn't find the best shape for them, so tried several versions - as you can see)











I can't wait for breakfast time to try the sweetrolls- or might I need a late night snack with a cup of tea?

As autumn is moving in, we have been having some marvelous sunsets, so you can enjoy the view out my front window this evening:



In between kneading the bread (it required 3 risings!) I worked on some Christmas ornaments I'm making - can't show you just yet, as they are for an exchange. Also I'm reading the latest Diana Gabaldon book, "An Echo in the Bone". She happened to be in town on Tuesday so I was able to go hear her. Much was a repeat of what I've heard her say before about how she got started, but enjoyed her reading a part of the book. I didn't need to have my copy autographed - the lines were much too long. Oh my - busy doin' stuff.

Ain't life good?

Beautiful autumn day

I just couldn't help it. Today was simply too gorgeous not to be out taking photos at the Washington Park Arboretum. Really lovely.









Earlier in the day we had gone to visit my long-arm quilter friend, Alayne and to see what she was up to. This was hanging on her design wall. She had also just finished the quilt my Stashbusters group has made as our annual donation quilt. (we make and donate the quilt to "pay" our rent for the year)











We each were responsible for one of the rows and then they assembled it all while we were away in August and early September. Very cute! Today was even warm enough to sit outdoors and enjoy a cup of coffee. I must remember this in mid January!!!

From my last post

I sent Deborah[Chief Art Brokeress] a copy of the photos and my blog post after the fabric sale. She wanted me to make a note to you that The Art Brokeress is actually the name of the larger organization and her group is specifically called: Our Fabric Stash. (see below)


Our Fabric Stash (www.ourfabricstash.com) is a division of The Art Brokeress

So any northwesterners - keep your eyes out in the spring for the next sale.

Where is my kite?

Today is a perfect day to be outside flying a kite. It is cool and crisp, a very blue sky and quite breezy. Really just lovely.

It was also the perfect day to take ourselves to the movies (bioscoop) - perfect in terms of there being the right break in activities and plans to put that in the schedule. Hurrah! And the perfect movie for a blogger, we went to see "Julie and Julia". How grand!

Yesterday was a very fun sewer/quilter day, too. A group which I didn't know but they put on a consignment stashbusting sale. Photos below - there were several tables of fabrics. Many cottons but even more cotton blends, polys, knits, and home-dec fabric. There were also tables for knitters, sections for books and patterns, tools, accessories and "what nots". There even were a few tables of by-the-pound scraps. The business card of the proprietor lists the business as The Art Brokeress and her title is Chief Art Brokeress. It was their secoond effort at this kind of sale and they will have another in the spring. What a clever idea -if you have things to sell, you rent space for $10. Otherwise, you come and buy. I know, I know - I don't really need anything but found some baby fabrics for $3, some fabrics for a quilt I want to make for my daughter ($5) - even found the 3/4 yard of "really ugly fabric" I will need for our Christmas exchange.




















I have finished my blocks for the Christmas mystery - now just to wait for the final installment of that. I have finished a crazy exchange (a new gift) and finished a return gift for our crazy exchange friend in Brazil. All will be revealed - eventually. And like Paula I have been doing a bit of bartering. I had donated a dinner for 4 to an auction (actually I donated 2 and have provided one. The gal who bought the second one really wanted a blanket, just like one I had made, donated and someone else bought. It was sooooo difficult (fleece applique) that I said 'sorry, no' but did say I would make her a throw if she liked. I got to choose the pattern, she chose the color(s). So that one is making its way to the head of the list. I'll keep you posted on that one, too.

In just 5 months (which will pass very quickly) 3 Dutch quilting friends are coming to Seattle. You are sure to be hearing more about that, too. Life is good!