Louie probably took a nap while we were gone

What to do on my first day of vacation?? Sleep late, take our time getting up and moving, and then head across the river to Cajun Cafe for a Saturday lunch. What could be more relaxing? I had the fried catfish, but nothing beats their boiled shrimp, red beans and rice, and vinegar slaw. We promised the owner, Kathy, that we would get her all the food pictures from Shannon and Nathan's wedding. We saw the annual sign on the door today: "Closed the week of the 4th." We are still glad that they catered for us during their vacation last year.Plastic gators stapled to the ceiling, boiled peanuts, and zydeco music complete the experience. Before we moved here fifteen years ago, I don't think we would have expected to call this restaurant a favorite. However, it is a treat to have met the owners, and it's always a good meal.
We took a drive down Hobbs Island Road and found D & D Greenhouse and Hardware. We've passed by before, but they've never been open. This is a much bigger operation than we had expected, and their plants were wonderful. The owners' horse was enjoying the day too.Check out the huge sun fern we brought home for the porch.And this Swedish Ivy. It is actually blooming. I am more than ready to sit on the porch and enjoy some summertime reading.We thought about driving to Guntersville and then Boaz or heading up to Tennessee, but we decided to stick around Huntsville, and I'm glad we did. A quick stop at the farmer's market netted us the promise of a good meal. My new favorite way to prepare potatoes is to cut up red potatoes into about 1" size cubes, stir them with a bit of olive oil, and bake them at 400 for about 20 minutes. Allen has some chicken marinating in a curry sauce that will go well with the potatoes. Oh boy! No school until...July 31 when I have to go back.

Another weekend

Another weekend come and gone. We decided we would update the bedspread this weekend, and I think it looks pretty good. At least it looks good without pug hair, pug toys, pug licks, and pug whatever. Lucky for us he can jump off the bed, but he can only get up with people help.
Weekend quilt cutting...
I like the way the batik quilts look from up here. The box is from Allen's new radio for his desk in the living room. He can't play it during the oodles of hours of conference calls, but in between, he'll enjoy NPR.
There he is, hard at work.
There he is, hard at work.

Louie, the thief, spends some time in jail. Actually, he just loves sitting on the steps, but seriously, he can't resist his people's things. This morning he started off by stealing my sewing out of the sewing basket by the couch in the family room. He steals the TV remotes when Allen showers, and he totes around Allen's big old tennis shoes if he gets a chance. He brought Allen's back-scratcher up the steps to me, but it didn't fit between the door and the cabinet so he had to drop it to come in the room.
It's not like he doesn't have his own toys. By the end of the afternoon, these are the toys that he had accumulated by Allen's desk.Louie didn't get to even have one little nibble of last night's chicken that Allen roasted. I only have seven days of school left until summer vacation, but if he wants to continue as the head chef, it's alright by me. I could get used to being served dinner without even having to think about it. However, we might have to hire a maid to clean up after dinner. Want to know what happened while I was writing this blog? Bridger called to talk to me on the phone! He told me about helping give Taplin a bath. I can't wait to see my little guys in person. Meghan has posted some new pictures on her Kodak gallery.

Saturday Fun

What to do on a free Saturday...Hmmm...Allen and I decided to take a drive to Decatur to see a quilt shop I haven't been to yet. We took a side trip to Swan Creek so I could see where he goes to target shoot. It's a pretty area in the Wildlife Management Area. We waited for this train at a crossing, so I took the picture through the car window. Then as we drove back into Decatur, we saw the crossing the Norfolk Southern Tennessee River Bridge. A barge was waiting for the train to cross so the bridge could open. It was a busy day on the river for lots of private boaters and fishermen.
We quickly found the Quilter's Refuge, a nicely organized shop where I had no trouble finding some treasure. I have no doubt that I will visit again. I have started cutting out Shannon and Nathan's quilt, and I discovered that a few more reds wouldn't hurt. Besides, I can always add to my stash. Allen is very understanding about the addictive nature of a hobby.
Back in Huntsville, we stopped at the Farmer's Market. We bought veggies for the week and plants for the deck. The trick for me is to buy enough but not too much. I planted a few planters and hung up three ferns. Louie hasn't ever spent any time on the deck (yes, we have to wash the deck floor) but he is going to enjoy it outside this summer. He can't be left alone with the plants, though, because he wants to eat the dirt. Silly boy.

Oooh! New grill! Dinner will be ready soon. The first meal will be hamburgers. Simple but wonderful. Did I say how silly Louie was? He followed Allen outside and then ran to come in. Unfortunately for Louie, the back house door was open but the storm door wasn't. He ran headlong into the glass. He'll have to learn the ins and outs of the deck, won't he!

It's All About Louie

Hmmm. Why did Allen have to close the door to our bedroom? Does it have anything to do with sweet Louie?
Oh, the door is closed to keep the little angel out of the bathroom. Chew in the mouth isn't enough entertainment, he has to drape the paper too!
Louie thinks everything is about Louie. He can't see how his nap on my lap might interfere with sewing. I guess he's right. If I can figure out how to sew with him draped across my legs, how is he interfering at all?
What's that, Louie? Oh, you want Jean to hold your chew for you? Of course, how could I forget that we exist to take care of your puppy needs.
In spite of all of the attention Louie garners, I finished this quilt. It's called "Stacked Blocks" because of the square on square appliqués. I have the fabric ready to go for the next quilt. Yes, Louie, you'll have to let me work some.

Louie, it's your day!

Check out the Pug-a-Day site. Louie's big day is today!
http://www.pugaday.com/?entry=widget

Pressing Matters

This week in class, my students read a Robert Frost poem that made me think of my mother.

"A Time to Talk"

WHEN a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don’t stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven’t hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

I guess it's not that obvious why this would make me think of Mom. Mom had to iron all of our clothes, not just Dad's dress shirts that he wore six days a week, but everything down to his handkerchiefs. She'd iron my brother's and my play clothes and dress clothes, and then her own. She'd start with a laundry basket full of the whole week's clothes and sprinkle everything with water, and then she'd lay a towel over the top to keep them damp. The next morning, she'd start. I can picture her most clearly on a steamy, St. Louis summer day with the window open and the black oscillating fan set up to sweep past her every few seconds. She'd listen to KMOX talk radio or hum along when familiar songs were played. I can picture the finished piles neatly stacked and folded and the hanging clothes draped around the room. However, when the neighbor-lady Rose would venture out to her garden, Mom would unplug the iron and head out the back door to stand at the fence and talk for a while. I was not welcome in these conversations as they were "adult only" chats, so I was shooed away to play. After a while, she would head back in and get back to it. No one helped. Ever. Not my dad, surely, and not me, not even when I was in high school.

Ironing Out the Wrinkles:
My have times changed. I iron what I need when I need it. I rarely iron even when I need to pack for a trip because there is always an iron at the other end. I only iron my own things - Allen irons for himself, and Shannon and Meghan learned to fend for themselves early on. I know they iron only when necessary, and my sons-in-law apparently iron their own shirts too. (Way to go, Justin and Nathan.) Obviously, now days we have air-conditioning, and we have a wonderful, new Rowenta steam iron that makes the whole process easier. Plus, most of our clothes is either permanent press or it gets tumbled in the drier. Actually, I even enjoy ironing (or rather pressing) when it comes to my quilt work, and to make life even easier, I have not one but two irons -- one in the laundry room and one in my sewing room. I love the portable board Allen built for me. Best of all, I have a great little pug helper in Louie!