My BroBro

Today is BroBro's 27th birthday and, though he may never read this, I still want to wish him a very happy birthday.

I will be taking a birthday cake to him later this week. He asked me several months ago to bake him a checkerboard cake. I have the pans, I just need the will to bake. I keep asking myself do I really like him that much?

Of course I do!!!

Oh Goodies!!!

This is a picture of the fat quarters, charm, and pattern that I got on the Rocky Mountain Fever Quilt Shop Hop 2009. There were 4 mountain patterns, fall, spring. summer, and winter. Mom and I decided on fall. It was just to pretty to leave behind. My next favorite was the winter mountain pattern.

This is the fabric that I bought for my Snowman quilt that I have started. You can see that the batiks are the perfect color not only for the snowflake flannel but for the colors I chose for my Snowman quilt. I started Winter Wonderland the last week of June. I have finished 2 blocks, one I finished twice because I wanted to change a color. I decide to learn how to embroider on this pattern and work on it while my mom works on her Hocuspocusville.

"I like that guy. He says 'Okey-dokey.'"
"Looks like mister Okey-dokey is okey-dokey." Dean Winchester Supernatural

Quilt Shop Hop Day 2

Day 2 of the Rocky Mountain Fever Quilt Shop Hop started out at The Quilter's Studio. They weren't a part of the shop hop, but we were there at the crack of dawn for our Saturday Sampler meeting. Boxy and Mingo became fast friends and were extremely hard to separate when we had to leave.

Yes, that is me holding Boxy. He isn't too steady on his feet that early in the morning.

The first real shop we visited on Day 2 was Fabric Expressions. Boxy is as much of a ham as his owner, NoJo. The shop was not nearly as stressful inside as it was to find. I was, unfortunately, the navigator on the trip. I can't follow a map to save my life. We ended up on a road out of no where. I still don't know how it happened. We made it, eventually, safe and sound. I bought a charm pack and a blue batik to go with my Snowman embroidery quilt that I am stitching.

It was someone's birthday and there was cake there. It looked quite good.

The next stop was The Creative Needle. This was not nearly as hard to find as Fabric Expressions. Their shop hop quilt was by far the best. It was also the most cramped shop. I bought a purple batik to go with my Snowman embroidery quilt. Mom got a fat quarter of the specialty fabric.

You can imagine the looks I got carrying Boxy through the shop, but neither one of us really cared.

The next stop was Holly's Quilt Cabin. This is a shop that both my mom and I were looking forward to visiting. The fabric here is the exact replica of our personalities and tastes. I got three Christmas fat quarters and a Halloween fat quarter.

Now, the next stop was one we planned to do on Day 3. But since it wasn't yet noon we decided to just suck it up and visit the last two shops, get done, and stitch on Day 3 instead. I hadn't gotten directions to The Great American Quilt Factory from Holly's Quilt Cabin. So we sat in the parking lot and figured it out. We spent a lot of money last year so we went in very wary. We made it out with out spending a dime and we were really proud.

Our last stop of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Fever Shop Hop was High Prairie Quilts. Here again my very lacking skills of following a map or reading street signs failed me. We had to turn around at least twice because I missed the street or read the directions wrong. Here mom found several things to buy. I was excited to receive my pin for finishing the journey.

We were back in our home town by 4 so we decided to go back up to The Patch Works to buy the flannel that I wanted. Boxy had other ideas in mind when he laid his beady eyes on the flannel I was going to buy. He clearly said to mom and I, "It's Mine!!!"

Man, does that turtle have a mean streak.

"General, without meaning, this time, to sound like a smartass, are you cracked?" Jack O'Neill Stargate SG-1

Quilt Shop Hop Day 1

Every year my mom and I try to go on the Rocky Mountain Fever Quilt Shop Hop. This year we did go. We got in the car to start and I found a stowaway. Boxy is my nephew NoJo's stuffed pet turtle. Well alright we said there is always room for one more on the road. Especially since Boxy doesn't talk or eat ... so he was excellent company.

We made our way through the north shops on Friday. We started at the shop where I first learned how to quilt, Tomorrow's Heirlooms. Boxy was more than excited to join us on our little trip. I could almost hear my nephee-poo on the road with us. "Are we there yet?" "Two more shops?" "Can we get something to eat?" "Do I get to buy anything?" "Do we have to go in there?" Yes he is like all kids. I love him in spite of that.

Next stop was The Patch Works. Boxy enjoyed the scenery out side more than the shop itself. I did find some flannel that I thought might work for my Snowman embroidery quilt that I have started. So I bought a fat quarter to bring home to see. And it's perfect. As it turns out it happens to be at the shop that has the dark green batik that is one of the fabrics specially made for this shop hop. I know where we will be heading up to in a couple weeks.

Our last stop on Day 1 was Harriet's Treadle Arts. Boxy was overwhelmed by the traffic and had to sit down to get his photo taken. I love this shop. It was a bit crowded for my taste but still fun. I bought my grandma a birthday card there. Her birthday is Sunday and I wanted to get her an exceptional card found on our annual journey.

"I think I cracked a rib, too." Jack O'Neill
"Why didn't you say something?" Samantha Carter
"I was afraid you'd try to put a splint on it." Jack O'Neill Stargate SG-1

Half Birthday!!!

Most of the blogging world knows that my family celebrates half birthdays and today is my mom's half birthday. SO...

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY DEAR DIANNE!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!

Chirp!!!

As most of you will know my mom went nuts buying cereal a couple months ago. Well by the time we got down to the bottom of a box the cereal would be stale. So she would spread them in the grass for the birds to munch on.

For some unknown reason birds don't like me at all. When I go out side they dive bomb my head and are down right mean. I have no shame in admitting that I have no love loss for Woodpeckers. Those godawful birds make all my neighbors stand and laugh as I go running out of the house, arms flailing, trying to scare them away from my precious trees.

One day I was walking past the open front door and I heard a racket going on right outside the door. I looked out to see what all the hullabaloo was about. A teeny tiny finch was fleetingly bouncing and pecking at the mat in front of the door. As I stared stupidly at it, it decided to tell me what I was to do.

"Chirp, Chirp" it said sweetly.

My momma didn't raise no dummy. I knew what it wanted and I wasn't going to be fooled. "No! I am not going to give you any food." This bird wasn't going to give up without a fight.

"Chirp, Chirp" it said sweetly again.

"No! I said I'm not going to feed you!" Realizing I wouldn't budge, it pulled off a remarkable hop-turn, giving me a clear view of its butt and giving me a piece of its mind.

"CHIRP!!!"

At that moment I realized that I had just been cussed out by a teeny tiny bird. When mom heard of the altercation she had to sit down she was laughing so hard saying that the birds like her.

This is really a sparrow who was looking for food the other day, whicht reminded me of the finch. Mom took this picture because they fly away or ram the door when they see me.

"The Bird Man took a deep breath and put his hands on his hips. 'I give up. We have been trying all day, and it is the same as when we started. Richard With The Temper,' he announced. 'you are the worst bird caller I have ever seen. A child could learn it in three tries, but there is not enough breath in you for the rest of your life to learn it. It is hopeless. The only thing your whistle says is, 'Come, there is food here.'" Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

Ain't He Grand!

I got a wonderful surprise today when The Great One came over to visit. I haven't seen him in over a year and I missed him fiercely. I love hearing his stories. Being my favorite Uncle I have an image of him being very civil. I always have to bite my cheek from laughing every time he says something that I don't expect him to say.

He was talking about taking his daughter's dogs to the groomer and said that all the groomer needs to do is "trim Mac's pooper and she's good." I am no stranger to the word "pooper" but not from The Great One. He let out at least one more mention of Mac's poop and I was giggling.

He made it clear that he was here to see his favorite niece not just his sister.

This is The Great One giving me one of many hugs at my sister's (the Glamazon) wedding last year. He is not a hugger in the least but I am special in that way. He even gave me a nickname , Mill.

"It's called a lance, hello!!!" Wat A Knight's Tale