Blackberry Creek Home Arts

Healthy, Happy Doggies

Nothing but good news from the vet's office yesterday when I picked up the doggies. Dr. H. said that's Skipper's eye was back to perfectly normal. No scratches remained. I guess Sophie and I are pretty good doggie docs, although I feel like I got more of Skipper's eye ointment on me and the rest of his body than I got in his eye. The boy does not like to be doctored.

They sure were glad to see me. They gave me no trouble about getting in the car. But Skipper would not sit on his side. He insisted in sitting in my lap, and nothing I could do would convince him that driving that way was dangerous and that it might even get us a traffic ticket if an officer saw us. He wasn't taking any chances of me getting away from him again. Sophie rode beside me with her muzzle up against my shoulder.

Sophie got a haircut and nails filed. She looks much more comfortable now. I know, I know, in the photo above she looks humiliated and sad, doesn't she? Don't buy it. That's just her look for when she wants someone to feel sorry for her and give her a treat.

Mary has the "Love Birds" quilt embroidery done. I'm going to pick it up this afternoon. I'll take it to the quilter Thursday, probably. Lena's shop is closed on Wednesday, and I don't have the backing ready to take it today.

Cleaning lady supposed to be here by now. But long ago I learned that she'll be here when she gets here. I think I'll go and have another cup of coffee.

Yesterday

Sunday was full of activity. First to church, then fellowship spaghetti luncheon after. Full and happy, I delivered the "Love Birds" quilt to my friend Mary. She's embroidering the couple's names on the quilt. On the way home, I stopped along the side of the country road that leads from my house to Mary's and picked wildflowers. I got a pretty bouquet for my dining room table (see above).

At home, I rested for a while and then took the doggies for a walk. Back home, with doggies settled inside, I went back out and watered all the thirsty plants. Dragging hoses all over the yard wore me to a frazzle. I was red faced and soaking wet when I got back inside. The dogs wanted to play, but I had to offer my regrets. I could hardly move.

The fibro pain was intense last night. I don't know if it was all the activity or if the Fibromonster just wanted to growl. I took 800 mg. of ibruprofen to get the pain under control and slept fairly well. But this morning I awoke with a burning, churning tummy from the megadose of ibuprofen.

By 8:30 this morning, I had both dogs delivered to the vet's office--Sophie for grooming, Skipper to check his eye inury. I'll pick them up this afternoon. They were so pitiful with not wanting to go, they made me feel awful. I asked them if they wanted to go for a ride. Now Sophie always wants to go for a ride, but this time she wouldn't even come down to the basement to get in the car. I had to force her. I've always suspected that dog could read minds.

At the clinic, when the assistant came out to take them back, they both cried and cried and looked at me with their pitiful little eyes, just begging me not to leave them at the mean old vet's office. I almost cried. I told the receptionist next time I'm getting cats. But she said cats are no better at the vet's.

Oh, and my chair came Saturday. See.

Today is laundry day.

Old Friends

A Piece of Bibbi

I had a wonderful lunch with an old friend from work yesterday, Carolyn S. We talked and talked and talked, mostly about our health issues. But we also updated each other on anything we knew about other friends we had worked with at Southern Progress. Then we had dessert.

Before lunch, however, I stopped in at the estate sale that my friend Billie's daughter-in-law was having. You might recall that Billie was Jesse's other grandmother and that she passed away a few weeks ago. Billie was a queen of shopping. That girl loved to shop, especially for clothes, shoes, and costume jewelry. So there was lots of all that at the sale. I found the cross in the photo above and bought it. I just wanted something to remember my friend by.

Estate sales always make me a little sad, but this one was the worst. I kept thinking how much Billie would dislike all these people strolling through her house and going through her things. There was so much of her spirit in that house. And of little Jesse's, who spent so much time there as a little kid. I even came across a framed photo of Jesse and Sophie. And oodles of toys that Billie's shopping mania had acquired for Jesse when he was a child.

But time marches on, as Truvey said in "Steel Magnolias." And as I recall, she added, "And eventually you realize it marches right across your face." Yep.

I'm waiting now for the delivery of "the chair." It's supposed to be here some time before 12:30. I have it's spot all cleared out and vacuumed.  

Now let's visit Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Party and see what she's serving.

Undercover Dog

Top Dog

UFO Progress Report: Week 20

Yesterday, I finished the main part of the "Love Birds" quilt top for my friend's granddaughter's wedding. I'm going to have a friend who has a fancy embroidery machine to embroider the couple's names and wedding date across the center of the quilt in black. Then I'll take it to the quilter. Then I'll scallop the edges of the border and bind it and make an envelope/label for the back. So you see, I'm not nearly done yet, but I feel like I've reached a milestone anyway.

And I'm right pleased with it, except maybe for the size. You see, it's 67 inches square. I hope that's not too large for a banner. Well, it's what they're getting; no going back now.

I'm having lunch with a old friend from work. I haven't seen her in ages, and I'm looking forward to it. But I better run get ready or I'll be having lunch at Ruby Tuesday in my pajamas. Might embarrass my friend.

Below is Mr. Linky. Please add you link so we can visit you and see what project/s you've been working on.

Backyard Bloomers

These blackeyed Susans come up every year in the wooded area in my backyard. I never planted them, but each year, they are a little fuller and brighter. I just love them. I took this photo after a couple of days of rain, which had bent them over. I think they're pretty much standing back up now.

When Vann and I first moved here in 1996, Vann wanted to fill the entire lot with native oak leaf hydrangea. So we went digging. We found and dug up about half a dozen small plants and brought them home and planted them in the back of the house, which is now the wooded area. Four of them remain. Above is one of them. We never got around to filling the lot with them. In fact, the six were all we ever planted. I'm glad we did. I think of our treasure hunt to find them every time I look at them.

Skipper's digging has made necessary the planting of more shrubbery in the backyard bordering the pebble walk area. I don't know why he won't go away from the dooryard to dig, but he won't. I think I'm going to get Jesse to help me and plant some, maybe, azaleas there--instead of paying Steve to plant them. I think we can do it if Jesse does most of the digging.

That terrier has dug a pure trench all the way down the side of the walkway. It's a mess. Does anybody know Cesar Milan's phone number. I need some serious dog whispering around here.

My knockout roses, which caught a fungus or mold or something, are slowly coming back to life after Steve sprayed them. New growth on all of them, but very few blooms. 

Note to Deb: I see the button you're talking about now. I'm going to do some experimenting and see if I can learn to work it. Thanks.

Note to Jan: No, I didn't spin, but I was sorely tempted. It looks like so much fun when Skipper and Sophie do it.

Showtime! (I'm Going to Get This Posted If It Kills Me!!!!!!)

I have lots to show, which I already posted yesterday and lost it all. I'm still not over my frustration and anger from that, but I'll try to be nice here. First things I have to show are my bowls that Andy gave me for Mother's Day. Those are my MD cards beside the bowls, one from Andy and one from Jesse and the doggies. Can you tell the difference?

Thanks, Deb, for your advice on how to retrieve lost posts. I'm thinking you probably mean my "history" button. Right? Wish I had thought of that sooner. Couldn't find the post under history today.

So now, on with the photos from quilt guild meeting on Monday. Our clotheslines weren't quite as full as usual, but the quilts that were hung were well worth photographing. I don't think I got them all, but then I never do.

May's Blocks of the Month, Disappearing Four Patch. We had 43 blocks turned in, and they were won by Evelyn C. Congrats, Evelyn. That's here second straight win; she also won blocks in April, lucky lady.

These are Nancy M.'s little quilts. The one on the right shows what can be done with twenty Disappearing Four Patch blocks. Thanks for bringing this, Nancy. I can't wait to see what Evelyn does with the blocks she won.

Jane S.'s three-years-in-the making Charm Quilt (no two charms the same). I'm loving the scrappiness and beautiful work of this one.

I think I was "visiting with my neighbor," as my fifth-grade teacher used to say, and not paying attention when the quilter/s talked about these two beauties. So I don't know who gets the credit. But they're great quilts.

Same here. I don't remember who belongs to this quilt, but I do remember that I loved it and it reminded me of one of the first quilts I ever made, although the work on this one is much better than my early effort. If you want to compare the two, go HERE.

Can you believe that Typepad has done it again????? Lost my copy. And even though, I've been saving after every photo post, I still lost the last several photos I posted. If I don't put my foot through this computer screen before I'm done, I'll be amazed.

 
As I have already said a couple of times before, I don't remember who made these quilts nor any of the others that I will show in the rest of this post. Or rather, I'll try to show them if Typepad will stop screwing me. I don't know if it's the stress of trying to get these photos posted or if I just wasn't paying attention and was instead signing up for a workshop and purchasing homemade candy from our guest speaker. (Now I'm sure I wasn't paying attention and that I need new glasses. Lisa A, who made the quilt on the left [Lorrie T. made the one on the right], had to tell me about the deer. I never saw them.)

Changing Browsers in midstream. I wasn't able to post anymore photos, so I changed from Safari to Foxfire. Seems to be working ok--for now.

 
I really like this Cowboy Tumbler quilt. I have some friends in Georgia who would love this. I'll show you the cowboy quilt I made for them sometime, if I can find the photo. But I digress.

The quilter who made this brought it to show what can be done with just one of the blocks featured in last month's Block of the Month.

This homemade fudge and peanut brittle are products of Shannon Armstrong's Aunt Della's recipes. Shannon was our speaker yesterday. She talks about her Aunt Della and the antique quilt collection her aunt left behind. She brings quilts and photos (and homemade candy), and it's a very interesting talk. Thanks, Shannon.

Now I think I'll go and lie down.

Please Be Patient

I have spent most of the morning posting my blog entry with photos from guild meeting yesterday. Just as I was nearing the end and getting ready to publish, Typepad farted, as it were. It's gone. Every word, every photo. Now I'm just too frustrated to do construct it all again right now. Maybe later today, but maybe not till tomorrow.

I usually save a draft every few minutes while I'm writing a blog post, since this isn't the first time this has happened. But today I didn't.

Mama Mia!

I hope all you mamas out there, and you who have or have ever had mamas, are enjoying a wonderful Mother's Day today.I must say, mine is a little calmer than yesterday was.

At left is my sweet and talented mama, I think she was about 19 in this photo. Mama left us in 2005, and we miss her every day. I miss shopping trips with her, although in her final years, when I already suffered from fibro, those shopping trips could be a pure trial for me and my patience. But I'd do it all again to have her back. We all miss her at family dinners where she would come in, eat, and then ask who was going to take her home. Joanne misses the Scrabble games, of which I think Mama won about 95% of the time. Ramey, well I don't think Ramey and Mama ever really understood each other. Come to think of it, I don't think anybody every really understood either of them.

 Me and my wee bairns, a cat, and a couple of stuffed bunnies, circa 1970.

Skipper Report: The doggie is miserable. He hates that "cone of shame" thing. He can't get through the doggie door to go outside, he can't dig, he can barely eat and drink from his bowls. Heck, he can't even scratch his butt properly. So every now and then he pitches a real Skipper fit and tries to remove the thing. Rolling and pawing and grunting and groaning. It's alarming. Three times during the night last night, he did it. I finally got him calm enough for me to get a couple of hours sleep by putting him beside me and petting him and rubbing him till he went to sleep. This week is going to be a test for both of us.

We made it to the cemetery yesterday, and decorated Mama's and Daddy's graves with some really pretty artificial red roses. Ramey took a notion to retrieve a pretty pot that held Daddy's flowers from last July 4, his birthday, and a wasp who had taken up residence therein stung her on her hand. She grabbed a gardenia blossom and started rubbing it on the sting. When I asked her 'sup? she said that someone, maybe a native person or an artist or somebody, told her that whenever you get stung to rub the sting with any kind of flower. Not sure that worked. Her hand had already swollen a bunch by the time we got home. Thank goodness, she wasn't allergic. She left the pot at the cemetery, along with the wasp.

I didn't make it to the baby shower, but here is the quilt (below) that I gave to Ashleigh when she got back to her mom's house next door. I also included in the gift bag a pair of teeny tiny pink bunny slippers. I had a nice visit with Ashleigh, her husband Thomas, and her mom Jennifer. 

Zoe's quilt. She'll be here to enjoy it in July.

Quilt Guild meeting tomorrow. I have to get everything packed up, and then I think I'll spend the rest of the day reading. I'm reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. I'm only about 100 pages into it, but I knew from page 1 that it was going to be a wonderful book--and it is. I'll review further when I've finished it.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Doggie With a Lamp Shade

Poor Skipper. You might think he partied too hearty last night and wound up with a lamp shade on his head. But no. Somehow last night, just before dark, he scratched his cornea--or something scratched it. After our walk, he and Sophie went out into the backyard and stayed a while. When they came in, Skipper was rubbing his right eye. I tried to look at it, but he wouldn't open his eye for me at all. 

Skipper was pretty restless all night, and neither of us got much sleep. So this morning we went up to Dr. Rachel's office. We saw Dr. Hicks, who, against Skipper's wishes, checked his eye out thoroughly and even showed me how the dye she had put in his eye was showing a severely scratched cornea.

So now we have to doctor his eye with ointment three times a day--a task neither of us looks forward to--and keep him in his lampshade 24/7 for a week. I don't know whether I feel sorrier for Skipper or for me.

On the agenda for today was supposed to be a baby shower (for which I have a quilt to give the mommy-to-be, the girl who grew up next door to me, Ashleigh) and going to the cemetery to decorate graves. Some of you probably know about the old southern tradition of Decoration Day at the cemeteries. Well tomorrow is Decoration Day at Pleasant Ridge, the country cemetery where much of my family, including my mama and daddy, are buried. My sisters and I are planning to go this afternoon to decorate for tomorrow. So something has to go, probably the baby shower. I'll just take Ashleigh's quilt over to her mom next door. Then we have to go and buy artificial flowers for the graves. 

I wish I had hand made something for the decoration. I remember when I was a little kid, my mama used to make flowers from crepe paper and dip them in wax and that's what we'd decorate with. And then I think she made some one year from dyed nylon stockings and florist wire. Or maybe that was for jewelry. Anyway, if I remember, I might try some handmade flowers next year.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone. I miss my mama and grandmamas and mamas-in-law. 

UFO Progress Report: Week 19

I have two blocks of the four-block wedding quilt finished and joined together. The other two have their parts fused on but still have to be appliqued and joined.

The black-and-pink pindot hanging to the left of the blocks is something I was auditioning for borders. Not sure yet. Sometimes I like it; sometimes I don't.

At left is Blogless Barbara's progress photo. This quiltlet, entitled "4th of July," is part of a block exchange of seasonal blocks that Barbara will use for seasonal decorations.

Now look below for Mr. Linky and link up so we can visit your blog and see what you've been about this week. 

I want to thank everyone who participates in this challenge. You don't have to be signed up, by the way. If you have anything quilty or crafty or sewy or artsy that you'd like to share, please add your link so we can visit you.

 

If It's Not One Thing, It's a Bother

I still can't come up with any lively and interesting chatter for a blog post. I'm still just too fibro-sluggish to be creative. I had several errands that needed attending yesterday, and I just sort of went through them robot-like. I even took the dogs for a walk when I was finished errand-running--rather, they took me for a walk.

I know this limp, lethargic, ballon-out-of-air feeling will go away, but it doesn't feel as if it will. Just trying to keep my mind off things till the FibroMonster finishes his visit, packs up his family, and goes somewhere else.

I will have a report tomorrow for UFO Progress Report. It's not a UFO, but it's progress. Hope some of you will join us.

Have a great Thursday, everyone.

Funerals, Fun, and Fibro

I've been so busy the last few days, I haven't even been upstairs. Thus no blog posts. When I haven't been cleaning, cooking, mourning, or socializing, I've been on the couch resting up from doing those things. I find that if I don't spend at least an equal amount of time resting as doing, the fibro monster really acts up. Well, he does anyway, but you know.

We buried my sister-in-law on Saturday. On Sunday, we celebrated my niece India's birthday with a party at my house. And yesterday, I attended quilters bee at my friend Sally's house. And mixed in with all that, I shopped, cleaned, and cooked. This morning, I finally made it up the stairs. I hope my energy endures a while longer so that I can get a little done in the sewing room, but right now I'm not feeling hopeful. I feel like a two-week-old mylar balloon, all out of air and altitude.

ME

So I'll close now and go into the sewing room and look around and then, we'll see.

UFO Progress Report: Week 18

This is not a UFO, but it's what I've been working on this week, the wedding banner for my friend's granddaughter. I have one of the appliqued blocks finished. And the rest of the pieces are just stuck up on my design wall for auditioning. I think it will have a scalloped border, but I'm not sure. I haven't decided if I really want to make and sew bias binding yet, and a scalloped border would require bias binding. We'll see.

Don't forget to add your link to Mr. Linky below so we can all share in what you've been doing this week.

Red Face and Rain

It started raining last night around midnight, and it's still coming down. Less than eight hours before the rain started, I was out in the yard dragging around heavy hose pipes and watering thirsty plants. I should have checked the weather first. I could have saved myself some misery. My neighbor stopped in front of the house and expressed alarm at my appearance.

"Miss Suzie, your face is red as a beet," she declared. "Are you all right."

I told her I was almost finished and was going inside in a few minutes. She drove away with a troubled look on her face. That's why I hardly ever do yard work (sure it is), because someone is always stopping to express alarm about whether or not I'm up for the task. That, and because extreme exertion makes my face as red as a beet. That's what comes with being a severe caucation in genetic material. Everything has the tendency to turn from white to red at the least provocation--like when I take a sip or two of wine.

I don't know if the rain is the reason, but I seem to be feeling lots better, at least painwise. The energy level is still flagging, and I'm about as jittery as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. But I do feel like I'll get some sewing done today--much needed sewing.

Just a little over a month left until my guild's Through the Looking Glass Challenge Quilt Show, in which I hope to enter my "Mama in the Mirror" quilt (which is about half quilted). I have until August to finish the wedding quilt for my friend's granddaughter. But time passes quickly at this stage of life.

I do have something to show today. Below is my spread for one of the journals in the circle journal round robin that I'm taking part in. This one belongs to Nancy and it is entitled "Wise Words." I chose some Mary Englebreit images. I love ME's art and her wisdom.

Off to work now.

Wear Purple, Please

May is Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month. If you or a loved one or friend suffers from this life-changing, often debilitating condition (they won't let us call it a disease), please wear purple this month to call attention to the need for research and treatment.

I don't own any purple clothes. I've never been fond of the color purple (which is appropriate, because I'm not fond of fibromyalgia either). So I'm going to make me a big old purple fabric flower corsage to wear all month. I might not be able to find any purple fabric in my stash, which will mean a trip to the fabric store. But that's ok. Besides for thrift stores and yard sales, that's about the only kind of shopping I like to do

I do have one of these bracelets, and I'll wear it too.

Please join me and wear whatever dab of purple you might own. Let's get everyone all over the place asking, "Why is everyone wearing purple these days?" We who suffer from this monster need help. We need more research to find causes, treatments, and cures.

So come on, everyone. GO PURPLE IN MAY.

 

May Day! May Day!

I'm having a freak out here. Whenever I'm in the throes of a full-blown fibro flare, I have to resist panic. Maybe that goes along with the condition, I'm not sure. Ever since I've been dealing with this thing, whenever I have a severe flare, I feel this absolute acertainty that it will always be this way and I'll never feel better.

I know, of course, that isn't true. I know I'll have good days again. My brain knows that from experience. But that emotional uncertainty still locks in and I have to fight hard. It even makes me afraid to go to bed or spend too much time on the couch--afraid if I give in, that will be the end of my life as I know it. I'll become my Aunt 'Rilla, whom I saw only one time in my life out of her bed, at my grandmother's funeral. Or my friend who took to her bed a few years ago and has settled for that as her life. That's not the life I want.

So whenever the Fibromonster growls, I fight and fight and fight and get more and more exhausted and the pain gets worse. But in the end, FM wins, and I take up a prone position from which I barely move for a few hours. When will I learn?

Well, not today, it seems. I have already done a ton of housework (moaning and groaning throughout the process). I'm out of milk and yogurt and craving avocado, so I hope I have a few more hops in me. I'm planning to make a trip to the grocery store to stock up--but not to Walmart.

On a more pleasant topic than pain, exhaustion, and grocery shopping, blog reader Sandra C. wanted to know the name of the book from which I got the pattern for the wedding quilt. It's Garden Magic by Blackbird Designs.

I've had the booklet for a long time and don't even remember where I got it. It might well be out of print by now. But if you follow the link in the paragraph above, before the book gets sold, there's a copy of it on Ebay for sale. The booklet also contains a second pattern for a churn dash quilt.

Something has happened that I no longer get email notification of the comments on my blog. Well, no, that's not exactly true. Every now and then, I'll get an email on one of the comments. But for most of the comments, I don't.

I have corresponded with Typepad about this problem, but so far, they haven't been able to solve it. So if you have a question of comment that you really really want me to respond to, please email it to me at suscleve@yahoo.com.

Happy May Day to all. Rabbit Rabbit.

Sisters Gone South

Beautimous sisters, Ramey and Joanne

This past weekend, sisters Ramey and Joanne and handsome nephew Jed traveled down to Fairhope, Alabama for the spring awards meeting of the Alabama State Poetry Society. I didn't go for several reasons: 1) I wasn't asked, 2) I didn't feel like going (massive fibro flare), and 3) I'm not a poet (and I know it) and not a member of the society.

As it turned out, I sort of wish I had been there. My sisters were fine representatives of our family and I would have loved seeing them accept their awards.

Joanne won a first prize, a second prize, two third prizes and two honorable mentions. Ramey won a first prize and an honorable mention. If she had entered more poems, she would have won more, states Joanne emphatically. And I believe it.

This amazes me. My baby sister Ramey looks as young as my handsome nephew Jed, Joanne's son. She's not. She's a couple years older.

This is so ironic. As I was writing this post, I received a call from Andy with more sad news. Another sister has also gone south in a very different way. My sister-in-law, Andy's aunt, Susan Wright, passed away this morning. Susan was suffering from lung cancer but was doing well with her treatments. Apparently she had a heart attack at about 4:00 this morning. Before the paramedics could reach her she was gone. And so am I--back to bed. Toodles.

I Take This Quilt

A long-time good friend has asked me to make a quilted banner to be displayed at her granddaughter's wedding in August. The only guideline she gave me was the color scheme: black, silver, and pink. For some reason, I've had a difficult time figuring out just what kind of quilt I'm going to make. For a long time I was stuck on a plan to make a four-ring wedding ring quilt with machine embroidered centers, but I was having trouble getting that idea to mesh with the decidedly modern color scheme. I think I have a plan now--unless I change my mind. 

My next problem was fabric. If you could see my sewing room, you'd wonder how I could ever have a problem with having enough fabric. The pinks I have in abundance, but precious little black, and no silver or even grey. So I went looking on the internet and found just what I needed at Fat Quarter Shop. As you'll see, some of it even has a built-in wedding/marriage theme (see photos above and below).

Language of Love

Black is beautiful--and so is silver, grey, and white.

Even better combined with some of my pinks

And here is the design that I'm going to make (I think). I'll use four of the circles, and in the center of the quilt will be the names of the bride and groom and the date. What do you think?

Now let's link up with Beverly's Pink Saturday blog party and see what's happening over there.

UFO Progress Report: Week 17

Thank goodness for Patti J., one of our blogless UFO busters. Patti sent me a good UFO Progress Report this week. Now I've made progress myself, continuing the big-stitch quilting on my "Mama in the Mirror" challenge quilt. But I've shown that quilt nineteen ways from sundown here, and I'm really out of ideas for photographing it until it's at least finished.

So here is Patti's progress:

I love Patti's quilting on this baby quilt. Wish my machine quilting was that pretty. I also love her fabric collection, Lily and Will (by Moda, I believe). The two main characters in Ramey's book are Willie T. and Lily Claire. So this collection reminds me of them. This is a UFO that Patti is finishing up to welcome a new baby.

Speaking of Welcome, Patti also got her wool Welcome wallhanging pin basted for quilting. This is so pretty, Patti. I can just see it hanging on the front door of The Yellow House. Teehee. Patti also took a couple of UFO quilts to the quilter. Congratulations, Patti, and a great week, UFO-wise
***

Have you ever tried to photograph the back of your right arm, with nobody around to give aid? Well I did, and here's what I got. I discovered this huge bruise this morning. The thing is, it's already fading. I have no idea how or when I came by it. I'm notorious in my family for being clumsy. I hardly pay attention to my thumps and bumps anymore.

Gotta run. Skipper and I have an appointment with Dr. Rachel in just a bit. Skipper also has a boo boo on one of his appendages. His left hind leg has a sore place, which I've been doctoring and Skipper has been licking incessantly, but it just won't get well. So we're going to let Dr. R. work her magic. Skipper won't let me photograph it though.

Look below for Mr. Linky and link up to show us what you've been up to this week.

 

Let Us Drink Wine Together on Our Knees

Thanks so much to everyone for your support and comments on the Walmart withdrawal. I was surprised that so many people agree. I was afraid I might hurt some feelings with me rant, but apparently a lot of people are fed up the that retail giant.

At right is my sister Ramey and her Drunkard's Path quilt. Please note that while she is drinking wine, she is not on her knees. I know she would want me to point that out.

She needed some new photos of her quilt for her new publisher, and so she came over last night for me to do the honors. The new group, Vanilla Heart Publishing, is already doing a great job in promoting Ramey's book Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge.  Click on the link there and watch the new video. It's wonderful.

Ramey and our other sister Joanne made the Drunkard's Path  quilt, and I put the borders on it. The publishers will use the photo of it in some of their promotion material, or maybe in the newly printed book--I forget which. Or maybe both.

After the photography was done, we had a glass of wine in celebration of something--whether the quilt or the book or just life, I'm not sure. I had half a glass (not even), and my ears and face turned red and I felt like I was broiling, as usual. But it was worth the symptoms. Good wine.

Since "Justified" is off tv for the season, we had to resort to a couple of episodes of "Ancient Aliens" to keep us entertained for this Tuesday evening. My niece India came by but only stayed for a few minutes. Her critique of our choice of tv show was, "I don't hold with that philosophy."

India's grandmother, my mama, would have disagreed strongly. Mary Ramey believed adamantly that aliens have and still are visiting our planet--and settling down to raise children. "Where do you think all these people came from?" was her argument. She believed that it was biologically impossible for the number of people on earth when she was a child to turn into the billions that now call themselves earthlings. Maybe, Mary. May-be.

Got to get back to working on quilts, art journals, quilt plans, and the like. It's going to be a very busy spring/summer season here at the Yellow House. I've let my gander get too full. (It's a family joke.)

Is There Life After Walmart?

 

This is Day One of the rest of my life without Walmart. I'm taking the cure. I've had it. The company is distinctly unethical, unAmerican, and uncaring, and unshopper-friendly. 

There are so many reasons why I'm fed up to here with Walmart, I just don't know where to start--or even if I want to start.

I remember Sam Walton's Buy American campaign. What happened to that? Do me a favor; try to find something in Walmart that was made in America these days. Check Walmart labels, and you won't have to wonder where the jobs are; THEY'RE IN CHINA!

And try to get down those maddeningly narrow aisles. A mouse in a maze has more room to maneuver than Walmart shoppers. And there must be something about being in that store that causes a person to turn into a donkey's orifice. I stood in an aisle yesterday for a full five minutes while some woman studied the doggie treats. Or maybe she was in a trance, I'm not sure. She didn't move, blink, or breathe the whole time; and her buggy coupled with her ample frame took up the whole aisle, and then some. People will plow right into you and keep going without so much as a pardon my stupidity. And I have waited at the end of an aisle, trying to merge into oncoming shoppers for longer sometimes than I wait at the traffic light at the intersection of 280 and 119.

And do you know anyone who works at WalMart? Do you realize how they treat their employees? Like paid slaves. Not to mention how the animals and plants from which their groceries come are treated.

And now the bribery charges. That, along with my latest sojourn into the swamp that is WalMart yesterday, brought on a resolve in me that I haven't had since I made up my mind to quit smoking. I'm not going back, not ever. At least, that's my plan. 

I know there was a time when I got along just fine without every-other-daily trips to Wally World. But just like when I decided to stop smoking and couldn't imagine life without a cigarette hanging from my mouth, it's difficult now to see how I'm going to carry on without the goods and services offered by that definitely un-august establishment.

But I'm making a plan. We have two small grocery stores in Leeds that are very nice. And there are two Publix, each about 15-minute drive away. There are pharmacies and dollar stores and farmer's markets. And there's always the thrift store. I think I can do it. Wish me luck.

Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, below are a few scenes you might encounter while shopping at Walmart.

I don't believe that's how it goes, M'am.

Too big for her britches?

Who knew Cousin It shops at Wally?

Something is definitely backwards here.

Applying for a job as greeter perhaps?

Why are pants made in China always too little?

I'm too sexy for my shoes.

There are more, but I think these should suffice.

Weekend Treasures

On Saturday, on the way to the grocery store, I stopped off at a local yard sale. I found a few things I might use in upcoming Circle Journals--the little Language of Flowers book and the repro vintage Christmas postcards in the photo. I never really know until I sit down to work what will turn up in journal pages, but these are possiblities, and surely inspiration.

Yesterday afternoon, Ramey and I made a late run to the thrift store. We didn't have long to shop, but I did find that cute little birdie wall hook. Got to find a place for him.

I'm drawing a blank when it comes to clever blog patter; so rather than sit here trying to come up with something, I'm going to get busy on one or two of the many, many projects on my plate. Happy Monday, everyone.

 

UFO Progress Report: Week 16

Here's a peek at my big-stitch quilting on the "Mama in the Mirror" quilt. My blister is almost well, so I'm going to try to get back to it today. Just couldn't stand the pressure while the blister was new.

Blog reader Wanda D. gave me a bit of valuable information re. big-stitch quilting. If I ever do it again, and I might, Wanda says BIllie Lauder recommends using #8 perle cotton, not number 5. The #8 goes through the fabric easier. I was going by a video that I found online, which recommended #5, I don't know why. So that's what I'm using. But I think Wanda and Billie have it right. No. 8 it is, next time. Thanks, Wanda.

Steve came yesterday and doctored my roses for their disease. I hope they spring back to full health now. He also weed-eated (weed-ate?), anyway he and his helper cut the weeds down in my little wooded area, so now the doggies don't have to take machetes when they go back there.

We thought we had lost Blue Toy in those weeds, couldn't find him anywhere, and Skipper was distraught. That's the only toy he plays with, adopted it immediately when he came to live with us, won't let anydoggie else play with it. But we found it yesterday in a basket in the living room under my iPad box. Phew!

"Just so you know, Skipper, that toy is really mine," says Sophie. "Paul gave it to me a long time ago when you were just a gleam in your daddy's eye. And I didn't name it Blue Toy. It doesn't have a name."

"MINE!"

Below is Mr. Linky. Link up, bloggers, and let us see what you've been doing this week.

 

The Chair

Today, I went back to the La-Z-Boy store to return the fabric swatch and confirm my order of the chair. While I was there I took a picture so I can show you what the whole chair looks like. It won't arrive here at the Yellow House for two or three weeks.

While I was in Irondale, I made a quick trip through the Lovelady thrift store. And look what I found (photos below). About 7-8 yards of 100% cotton RJR quilter's fabric, just perfect for backing a quilt. At today's prices, that's well in excess of $70 worth of good fabric. Guess what I paid for it? $3.98. There were a few more bolts available, but this is the only one that I liked and thought I could put to good use. I have to to-be-made project that I think I can back with this.

Gotta go. Don't forget UFO Progress Report tomorrow.

In Which She Talks About a Chair, Two Altered Cats, Spiked Coffee, and Gastrointestinal Misery

Had a busy day yesterday. First a visit with Doris, my tax accountant (a confusing meeting in which we decided to file an extension, which I don't like). Looks like I'm being credited with lots of income that I haven't actually received. My tax bill this year might well top my income. Life is a challenge, isn't it?

After Doris, I went chair shopping to replace the English country chair that I got rid of because the dogs kept it all mashed down all the time and it looked horrible. So I gave it to Andy. It looks great in her living room and her kitties aren't heavy enough to mash it down.

I've been looking for another chair for months, and the only ones I have found that I liked were very highly priced. I recently received a sale notice from Lazy Boy so decided to check it out yesterday, since I had some time to kill before picking up the Andy's kitties at the vet (more about that later).

Lordy be! Talk about chair overload! When I walked into the showroom, my vision was accosted with myriad chairs in various styles and colors, mostly ugly. Of course, I was immediately accosted by a sales rep as well. I asked her if I could have a few minutes to take in the sights, so she went away. I went through the huge showroom once, twice, and was on my third circuit when I saw it, a chair that I actually liked. 

At about that same moment, the sales lady appeared again. I learned that the chair was on sale in a price I could actually afford. After checking her records we learned that the chair was not in stock but one was expected in in early May. 

I took one more last circuit of the showroom but didn't see anything that I even sort of liked. So I told the sales lady I thought I wanted the chair. I told her my only worry was whether or not the red in the chair fabric would clash with the red in my gingham couch. She suggested I check out a fabric swatch and take it home to see. I did, and it doesn't (see photo--the sage green even matches my little Queen Anne chair that Daniel made the slipcover for), so in early May I should be the proud owner of a new chair. It's a recliner, and I normally don't like recliners. But the reclining feature is well camouflaged in this chair. I didn't even realize it reclines until the lady told me. It's really a beautiful chair. Can't wait to show you.

After chair shopping, it was on to the Alabama Neuter and Spray Clinic ("It's Hip to Snip") to pick up Andy's kitties from having had their "procedures." Mr. Boots seemed no worse for the wear when I got him home, but Miss Ruby seemed a little nonplussed. She went immediately under the sofa. Boots went immediately to the back door and wanted to go out. Sorry, Boots. You guys have to stay inside for a week.

 Back home, Ramey called asking me what we were going to do for our Tuesday night get-together now that "Justified" has come to an end. We decided that she would bring a movie and we'd have cake and ice cream and watch it. Little Sister arrived with the movie and also with a small bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, which I love in coffee. I brewed up a pot and poured me a cup--half coffee, half Bailey's. Ramey had hers with milk and maple syrup. Sounds yukky to me, but to each her own.

I know what alcohol does to me. No, it doesn't make me take my clothes off. It makes first my ears and then my face turn tomato red and burn. I've even had to give up my favorite wine, white zinfandel. So I don't know why I drank that stuff, except that it's sooooo goooooooood! Does alcohol do that to any of you?

So with burning ears and face, I sat and watched one of the most boring movies I've ever seen, "The Ides of March." Even the presence of the ever-gorgeous George Clooney didn't help matters. That movie is a dud, I tell you. If you haven't seen it, don't bother--unless you are really into the boring, unethical, and sometimes downright dirty aspects of politics--'cause that's all it is. The description on the DVD package called it a nerve-wracking thriller. But, just as in real politics, they lied.

The past few weeks have worked on my innards, folks. One of the first and most noticeable effects of stress on my body is always tummy troubles. Yesterday, I thought I was all better, but today the bothersome symptoms are back. I probably sent my digestive system into shock with that cup of Bailey's and coffee, especially after it was still recovering from all the death and mayhem of the past couple of weeks. 

But today is laundry day. I've put it off as long as I can unless I want to go and buy new undergarments, sheets, and towels. So I'm going now to sort laundry, start the washer, wrap my blistered finger in a bandage, put on my soft thimble, and get back to quilting my "Mama in the Mirror" quilt.