Monday morning musings

So it wasn't just a one time thing last week when Ozzie decided to plant himself on my head. He climbs up there whenever he can now, especially if he is not feeling too playful and I'm sewing. Pretty sweet sewing pal. No, Ozzie, it does not make up for having a little pile of an accident in my sewing room under my chair. Yes, the chair rolled over it. It is a very good thing you are generally a good fellow.
We had just a wonderful, lazy Saturday and Sunday. Rainy, quiet days make for good sewing. My basket is getting full. I have about five sets left before I can put them together into blocks. I was figuring out the number of pieces in this quilt. [( 9 x 4) + (3 x 4) + (6 x 4) + 4] x 25, I think. You do the math. I know why I teach English, but there sure is a lot of math in quilts.
I've been wanting to make a needle book or pin book, as Sue Spargo calls it. I saw a sample one at the Country Living Fair back in September made from a Sue Spargo pattern, and then I ran across a pattern for one in the October issue of Patchwork and Quilting. I used felted wool for the outside and the pages, and just part of a fat quarter for the insides. Hers did not have the pocket on the right, but I felt like I would use it.
Here's the front cover. The whole thing is about 6" by 10" opened up. I think maybe I need to figure out a way to fasten it when it is closed, but I haven't settled on a plan for that. Anyway, it's Monday morning, and woo-hoo, no school today. Unfortunately, I do have a dentist appointment this afternoon, but that is just for a check up, not a major deal like the last times with two (Expensive) crowns. Also unfortunately, Allen had to go to Decatur today, but maybe I can think of something for dinner. He's been the chief cook lately, and that has been a treat. Shoot, we had a turkey dinner on Wednesday. Ozzie's still sleeping, so I might sneak in showering and getting dressing before his puppy activities begin.

New project

Cold and icy outside, cozy in my sewing room. I started a new quilt this weekend. It's a pattern from the most recent Quilt magazine. I have component parts for four blocks made so far...
out of twenty-five blocks altogether. I usually make scrappy quilts. This one has all batik fabrics I've got left over from other quilts except for just a few and the white batik background. I only have off-white and beige-y leftovers, but I wanted the bright colors to pop against a white background. Not usually my style, but I thought it would look just right this time.
The pattern for the block looks like this, but I plan to mix up the colors, not all one color in a block. We'll see when I am farther along. It was just plain fun to sit in my sunny room and make such quick progress. I will not enjoy a make-up day for Friday, but I loved this unexpected 3 1/2 day weekend.

BCS Game Tonight

Another big snow in Huntsville. Schools closed at 11:30 today, and of course, I made it all the way home in just about two minutes. However, as innocent as this looks, as I am writing this, roads are slick, and quite a few major thoroughfares are dangerous and icy or closed altogether. For a while this afternoon, we had several cars stuck in front of our house - couldn't go up the hill, couldn't go down. And so the result is no school again tomorrow, and a stay-home evening instead of going to Shannon's to watch the Alabama -Texas BCS game.
Here's Ozzie's big snowball adventure. The big problem is that he likes being out in the snow so much that he forgets what he's supposed to be doing. He is not much of a walker. He likes to go out and generally does what he is supposed to do, but then when he gets tired, he sits down or refuses to move. But snow, now that he enjoys.
Meanwhile, this week I have been working on a little hand-sewn quilt. I am in the process of quilting it now.
This is a from a Windham kit that I bought, and it is a Gees Bend quilt pattern. I totally enjoyed putting it together quickly. It was kind of like a puzzle getting the pieces I cut according to the directions to fit into the right place. I will have to think about what to do for the backing and how to quilt it. Although Ozzie likes the snow, now he is sitting on the couch just waiting for kickoff tonight. Roooooll Tide, Roll!

Holiday Wrap Up

What a wonderful week we have had. Here's Ozzie, waiting for Christmas. He has had an attention filled week. What choice did we have? Without eyes or hands on him, he was scouting for trouble. He's actually doing very well training us (well, Allen) to take him outside at all the right times. Ozzie's a smart little fellow, especially if stubbornness is any indication of intelligence.

Ready, set, open! Shannon and Nathan, Meghan and Justin, Bridger and Taplin, Jean and Allen -- that makes for lots of presents. The big fun, of course, it watching the boys. Bridger was appropriately excited about his Lego table from Grandma and Grandpa, and Taplin seemed to like his little oak table and chairs too. I was most excited to give Shannon her Red and Cheddar quilt. I think it took almost two years, and it has a gazillion little one inch squares in it. I don't have a good picture of it yet, but I'll post on when I do. I still have to put a label on it, but I was happy enough to have time to sew on the binding after my quilter returned it to me in the middle of December. Looking down, you can see Taplin climbing on it while Shannon tries to fold it up.
The day after Christmas, and all is well. Meghan has a rare, quiet moment with her little angels. They are busy little men, on the go most of the time.
Taplin keeps us all in stitches. He is one fun fellow, and he sure likes pizza.
Bridger is getting so grown up, most of the time, that is. What a good lookin' guy!
TaDa!! My block of the month, designed by Sue Garman for The Quilt Show, is complete on this last day of 2009! One year in the making. I finished it just this morning. I have never made anything this complex or challenging. It has its problems, but I am pretty dang proud of myself. Now we will have to take a road trip to Franklin so I can get the backing, and then off to the quilters.

Christmas on Bluff Drive

We enjoyed Christmas lunch today with our dear Shannon and Nathan, and Nathan's mom and dad too. Shrimp and clam chowder are traditional family favorites.
This year, I also made cornbread in our Christmas molds. It was a perfect lunch, I thought. We had a picture perfect view through the dining room window of snow flying while we ate. Crazy weather - high winds yesterday and snow flakes today.
Ozzie and Allen and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! See the stockings hung by the chimney? We're waiting for Meghan, Justin, Taplin and Bridger to arrive before we dig into presents.

Christmas is Coming

What?? Eight days until Christmas?

Welcome Home, Ozzie the Pug

We are so excited that Ozzie has come to live with us. He is the cutest little thing. We went to the breeder's home on Sunday afternoon to pick him up. We were lucky enough to be able to see Ozzie's litter mates and his dad. Goodness, it's no joke, Ozzie really was the beefcake of the bunch. He was half again as big as the next biggest puppy. His dad is one handsome fellow, very strong and sturdy and squarish looking. Ozzie rode home in the carrier provided as part of the purchase package. He whimpered a little and slid around, and then he finally just found a spot and sprawled on his back the rest of the way home.Here's Ozzie in the yard at home. He is a silly boy who loves the outdoors. Nothing like a romp in the leaves. I love you, Allen.
Shannon got to meet her little fur buddy Sunday afternoon too. Big day for a big pug puppy!
After his first day at home, what's a pug to do but snuggle in for a nap on me. Sweet, sweet.What's this?? Oh-oh. Allen had to work in Decatur Monday through Wednesday this week. The first two days were probably long for Ozzie, and I guess he cried some, but today when Allen got home in the afternoon, the Wizard of Oz had escaped. He jumped and struggled so much that he tore open the stitching and let himself out. Allen went into the bedroom to put his things down on the bed when Ozzie came flying out of our bathroom. He figures Ozzie went into the bathroom to play with the throw rugs and fell asleep there, napping happily until he heard Allen come home. Shannon to the rescue -- she brought over Louie's old smaller cage that they'd borrowed for Spike The Cat. Just try to escape from that, Mr. Oz.After a day of adventure, Ozzie is asleep on the couch cuddled against Allen's leg.Look at those sweet, innocent little crossed paws.
Meanwhile, yes, we are loving the finished kitchen. Shannon brought me a little "kitchen warming" gift, a monogrammed tea towel. We still have a few little finishing issues that Lowes has promised to take care of, but at least we are finished enough that we can enjoy having our newest family member at home. We both keep stumbling and calling him Louie, but Ozzie is certainly his own little self. He is a pug, for sure, but we can already see a special, different personality. Stay tuned for the Adventures of Ozzie.