This weekend was just plain delightful. Meghan brought Taplin up to visit. She wanted to spend time with her sister and see their new home, and she wanted to visit Panoply. Meghan is painting these days, and she is working on an after school arts program for her elementary students, so Panoply was the perfect venue for her. Taplin loves music. We visited the Huntsville Symphony tent, and he had a chance to try out the snare drum. He also got to sit in a drum circle with his mommy and join in the rhythm with little egg shakers. He's going to be a musician of some sort, no doubt.
This is the Fiber Collaborative Tree Project. The woman spearheading this effort came to our school, and I made a leaf too. I quilted one and it's is on my Flickr page. I cannot imagine what it will be like when they cover the Saturn V rocket. That is in the works for 2010.
Taplin and his Aunt Shannon enjoyed the summerlike afternoon together at Panoply. Tap is such a happy, happy fellow. He talks and talks and points and enjoys himself. He started whispering at things -- Meghan says that Bridger taught him that. Bridger stayed home with Dad for his soccer game. I missed seeing him, but what fun to spend one on one time with just Taplin.
The lake in Big Springs is teaming with goldfish. Meghan tried to get Tap to put his feet in the water, but no, he did not want to do that. He doesn't like putting his toes down on the grass either. We took his stroller along, but his favorite is to be carried. He liked sharing Grandma's cheeseburger for lunch, and then he loved sharing Mom's ice cream later. "More, more..."

After Meghan left on Sunday, Louie had us to himself again. He is such a sweet dog, he just puts up with anything Taplin does. However, he is obviously jealous and wants to get more attention that he does. He had a big weekend of theivery trying to get us to focus on him. He spent Sunday afternoon on Allen's lap watching Talledega while I set to work finishing my block of the month work. I now have twenty-four of the little stars I will need out of seventy-two, and the first four of the larger stars. This is testing my quilting skills. I thought I would think the little stars were easier this month, but not so. It's back to work, Monday morning. But I think there are just three Mondays left this year, not that I'm counting.

Online Spring Quilt Festival

On another blog, parkcitygirl, the blogger is hosting a virtual quilt festival. She called for people to post a picture and a blog about a favorite quilt. I think I will be #399 to add a blog. Wow. I had a hard time picking one quilt -- quilts are kind of like your children after you pour your blood, sweat, and tears into them, how can you have a favorite? I decided to post this one that I named Paintbox, because I had such fun making it. The picture doesn't show the colors particulary well, but on my Flickr pictures, it shows up much better. The quilt is all batiks that I bought last year in Denver. I cut the pieces in the hotel room and hand pieced all of the individual blocks. Then I went to the Great American Quilt Factory in Denver, and a very knowedgable (and extremely patient) salesperson helped me pick the sashing and backing. I sewed the patches and sashing by machine and then machine quilted it. It now hangs on the railing of my balcony, and I just love it.

Easter Weekend

We started last Saturday with Bridger's first soccer game and his debut as a goalie. Three-year-olds playing soccer is a hoot! Then we sped over to church for the Easter Egg Hunt and crafts. Taplin especially liked snuggling with the bunny. The afternoon was shopping for Meghan and me with Taplin to help, and a visit to the Battleship for Grandpa, Bridger, and Justin.
Sunday morning, rise and shine to see if the Easter bunny had come, and sure enough, lots of eggs were hidden for these two handsome fellows. Meghan had them dressed alike, and what a pair they made riding on their cars.

Monday, Allen and I took Meghan and the boys to lunch at DeSoto's in Gulf Shores, and we made stops at the outlet mall and Billy's Seafood. We had to get some shrimp and flounder to bring back to Huntsville, of course. Taplin liked sitting in the oyster shells (and would have used them for teething if his mom would have let him) while Bridger and Grandpa threw the shells in the water.
This is just too sweet! Taplin got to try out his new forward facing car seat. Bridger just adores his little brother, obviously.


The boys and Meghan took a catnap in the car on the way back to Daphne, and they were full of energy by dinnertime. Taplin stuffed himself with spinach at dinner. (Grandma and Grandpa took days to recover.) We had the perfect Easter weekend, and we already miss our beach boys.