Early Summer

Since last I blogged I found out that Sew Neat in Joplin (that I visited just 3 weeks ago) was destroyed by the tornado.  I've heard that the owner is not going to try to build it back.  So sad.  My quilt guild (Green Country Quilters' Guild) has sent 40 small quilts over to help those in need in Joplin.  If you have a desire to make one, I'd be glad to get it there through our guild or other shops in the area that are helping.  Joplin is only an hour and a half from my home and is located in my home state of Missouri.

In other news:

My tennis elbow was a good excuse to get my daughter over here to do some weeding and planting for me.  (That, and the fact that I hate doing it and she doesn't mind).  She got a little help from the youngest member of the family.

He started out on the blanket....

....but that didn't last long.

There's something about dirt that attracts boys.

He likes rocks, too.  It comes from being the grandson of a geologist and a rock collector.

He'll be walking soon.

Recently we celebrated my second daughter's birthday.  Since it's so unusual to wrap a present in this family (in anything other than a Wal Mart bag) we thought we should get a picture of it.

Yes, I AM still sewing.  This is the next to the last border of my applique quilt.  The last one is almost done, too and soon I'll be putting it together.

In the meantime, I started the quilt that I'll use for my bedspread.  Nothing else matches since we painted the walls this past winter.  3 blocks done....78 to go.

The flowers are blooming...

These lilies are doing well.  The ones in the backyard are being eaten by a family of rabbits.

Somehow they managed to bloom anyway, even though they have hardly any leaves left.

This hydrangea survived the winter.  It's partner 2 feet away did not.  Sigh.

Skippy, our cat watches tv...

...for hours sometimes.  She changes positions from time to time and gets up for a snack and a bathroom break occasionally.

woops...more flowers.

My oldest grandson "graduated" from 5th grade and will go to a different school next year.  The second one finished kindergarten and tells me he'll be skipping 1st grade.  Since I don't have a picture of either, I thought I'd post a picture of my high school graduation some....years....ago.  Thanks to Jeff Neier for posting it on Facebook for all the world to see. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I thought maybe I could get my cat Skippy to participate in a little St. Patrick's Day greeting... She has the green eyes and I prepared a green bow for her hair...

Doens't she look festive?

So Happy St. Patty's Day....I HAVE to say that! I have a son-in-law named Patrick Michael Murphy. It's my duty to celebrate.

More later...I was so busy with company last week that I didn't have time to blog so I'll try to start catching up soon.

Quilt and Cat

Remember I got this kitty on New Year's Day. Remember she only has 3 working legs?
My daughter warned me that she likes to steal food from her kids' plates and I foolishly said that there was no way a cat with 3 legs could jump up on my counter-height table. She made herself at home very quickly. She seems to like quilts (don't all cats?). So much for the higher table. I'm keeping all the chairs pushed in now and hoping she stays on the floor. By the way, we've changed her name again. Our son-in-law, Patrick always greets her with, "Hi there, Skippy". It just seems to fit. So from now on she's Skippy.