Paper Piecing Progress

Confession: I did not add more segments to our super spring break, and I don't see that happening at this point. However, I have added more of our pictures on Flickr, and I am trying to label and organize those for anyone interested. I took lots of pictures. Lots. It is taking me a while to upload them all.

Meanwhile, I have been steadily working away on my block of the month project. I added the green border and the pinwheels this month, and I did another set of the stars that will eventually be the outside border of the finished quilt. It now measures about 41" square. I am learning quite a bit from this pattern, particularly the importance of being precise. I thought I was pretty detail oriented, but apparently, I have much to learn. In any event, I finished the March assignment with days to spare before April's is posted.

I am glad that Allen is home from his week in the Denver blizzard. We are currently under a tornado watch, and we've had the emergency vehicles on our street for a tree that downed a power line. Hope that is the extent of Saturday excitement and that March goes out like a lamb.

Super Quilts, Super Store, Superman, Super Vacation

Allen and I had a busy, fun week! Louie spent his time at the doggie hotel, and he had a good week too, it seems. We were worried because on Thursday before we left him, he somehow managed to be out of his cage during the day, and he opened the pantry door and consumed three boxes of crackers. His little tummy was pot-bellied. At first he seemed okay, but by Friday, not so much. What goes in, must come out, if you get my drift. However, by Saturday when we left him, he was back to his silly self.

We helped Shannon and Nathan with their new house Friday and Saturday (Shannon and I painted the living room while Allen worked on the craft center in the laundry area.) Sunday, we drove to our first destination, Paducah, Kentucky. The broken trees are leftovers from a monster ice storm that ravaged most of the state back in January. It was really kind of dismal to see the damage.
On Monday morning, we headed straight to Hancock's of Paducah. I don't know what else to say besides wow. The problems were where to start, what to pick, and how to restrain myself. I was pretty overwhelmed with the selection. Allen solved the problem suggesting that we go on and come back for a second shot at shopping later in the day. I spent plenty and came home with a fun stash and several projects.

Then we headed to the National Quilt Museum. Allen really is a patient man (sometimes), but I don't think he had to work too hard at being patient in the museum. We were both taken in by the craftsmanship, the colors, and variety. They have about 185 quilts on display, some from 1800's, some brand new, some miniature, some full size. We spent a couple of hours strolling through the exhibits. I like my own quilting, but oh my, my quilts pale in comparison.


After a fun lunch at Whaler's Catch, we walked down to the Port of Paducah and watched the local folks, the gulls, and the tow moving the barge along. The port is just about at the convergence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Sitting on the bench and soaking in the day was a luxury.After a second trip to the quilt store, we drove over to Metropolis, Illinois to see what there was to see. We could have gone gambling, but we just took in the Superman statue, the Superman Superstore, and the Superman on the building. We had a super first day of our Kentucky trip.

I have decided that I can't blog about the whole week in one entry, so maybe I can add a bit each day. Check out my Flickr pictures too. I am posting them a bit at a time as well.

In Like a Lion

My porch swing is the epitome of a southern porch. It's the perfect spot for sipping iced tea on those steamy afternoons when the air is thick and everything seems to move in slow motion. Today? My red swing is iced in snow frosting, and the wind would blow wet flakes in my face if I dared to sit a spell.
That's my boys, coming home from the first walk of the day.
This is Louie's first snow ever. He was basically nonplussed by it all except that he kept shaking to get the flakes off.
I think the great snow storm of 2009 is just about over. It's very windy and cold for a March morning in 'Bama, but it's fun for a lazy Sunday when we can stay in.