Sunday, April 26, 2009

Spring at the Coast


Here is our spare room - it isn't really a sewing room, but I get to hang quilts in there. My mom used to have a 'keeping room' out at the farm. Dad would say, "That's old and doesn't go in our house anymore - lets chuck it." And mom would say, "No, let's keep it." and into the 'keeping room it would go! So this is more of a keeping room - not that it doesn't go anywhere else ... just that there isn't room anywhere else. Our desktop computer is in there, the blow-up guest bed is there, the second tv ... and a whole lot of sewing supplies/projects.

Well, the month of May completes our first year at the coast. We arrived here last June 2 or 3-ish. We arrived, unloaded our part of the truck and then immediately drove up to Portland to unload L's part! It was a few days before we were actually residing here. It doesn't seem possible that a year could go so fast!

When we arrived the rhodies were in full gorgeous bloom ... this month we see the azaleas and the very end of the spring bulbs. The summer lower tides are back and I saw the first 'squadron' of pelicans flying this week. I guess it's like seeing the first robins in the midwest. It just soothes the heart! We also are seeing a hawk who must be building a nest close by ... guess she wanted to live on the beach ... the commute from the mountains was too much!!!

I'm nose to the grindstone trying to finish 'Sesquicentennial-ish' by the May 14th deadline. How do I get myself into these marathon finishes??? I have all 13 blocks quilted and am working on the sashings - then of course, the setting triangles and the dreaded sewing of the binding - both sides by hand! [insert scream of frustration here!] So I thought I'd throw in some detail pictures of our condo. I took them just before I went back to Nebraska to show friends and family back there.


My 'neighborhood' moved from Nebraska - there they were spread out between our house and my office window sill. I've added fossils and agates that I've found here. This is a kitchen window that faces our garage/parking areas.


And you all know I got a rock polisher for Christmas! Here's the first two batches I've polished since then. It's really addicting ... and fun to spot the agates and cool rocks on the beach during our walks.

Hopefully, next week I'll be able to show you "Sesiquicentennial-ish" finished before deadline! And I hope to get a picture of my coast shophop run challenge - I entered it into the competition without a picture on my camera. A friend took pictures of it at our retreat ... now if I can just figure out which friend and get a copy from her!!!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Back in Oregon


I'm back from Nebraska - my whirlwind trip! I had a great time. It was just the right mix of family and quilting friends! The photo above is my niece with Mom at cake time.

It's official I had the ugliest rental car in the nation! The "gold" Ford Focus was surprisingly BRIGHT! I was pulled up next to a school bus and compared ... I was just as bright but greener!! G's husband who is a shriner clown said "Egads!" when he saw it! No further validation needed!

I stayed at J&L's "bed and breakfast" There were even mints on my pillow! And it was delightful to sit and visit each night after a busy day. Thanks again!



And here's C, G, and J at the International Quilt Museum and Study Center. We saw the Grace Snyder quilts and a great chintz quilts display. You can see what we saw by following the link. We also visited one of my favorite quilt shops - a rolling party!!

Other highlights included lunch/quilt talk with the gals at the office; my small quilting group meeting; a book club meeting and the quilt guild meeting! It was a whirlwind of fun! Thanks to everyone for making room for me in their schedule!

We're babysitting in Portland - first we took Miss P home with us to the beach. Then we came up and took care of Mr M for the weekend. Monday and Tuesday we babysit our usual gig. We had so much fun at the beach with Miss P. When we went to the aquarium, we went to the Passages of the Deep - and I heard Miss P say "It's [her name], I'm here at nana and papa's." It just melted my heart!!

Mr M was wonderful - he slept thru the night for us. The dogs, on the other hand ... well, not as good! I think they have spring fever! It's green and flowering here - everyone is out in their yards or playing games in the circle - they're not used to spring behavior again yet! Dogs gotta bark!