Home Sweet Home

Retreat was exciting and productive as usual.  It was great fellowship with a wonderful group of women.  We sewed.  We laughed.  We ate wonderful home cooked meals and decadent desserts and way too many M&Ms.

The critters are happy to have us home.  Teenie and Tink are in the bed under my sewing machine.  Together!  Wow!

Finished Up Another Top

I just finished up quilt top number two for this weekend.  It really helps that I did the bulk of the work for both of these at the last retreat.  

This one is made from a pattern called Lucky Stars.  I used a lot of scraps for this just to use them up, but it came out pretty good.

Now that I have finished up my work from the last retreat, I get to start something new.

Retreating this weekend!

Woohoo!

Six of us are having an intimate quilting retreat this weekend.  We've been sewing and eating and chatting and having an all around good time.

I finished up this top last night.  It's made from Bonnie Hunter's Pineapple Blossom pattern.  Love how it turned out!

Got Creative Today!

I spend a lot of time with my Nook HD.  I've read over 140 books since the first of the year.  When I go to the doctor's office with Mom or anywhere I have to wait, I always bring it with me.  That's all fine and good but I don't have a case to protect it.  I like to stick it in my purse, but I need to protect the screen from getting scratched, etc.  So, today I delved into my creative side and here's what I came up with.  I learned a lot and there are things I would do different next time, but in general, I did pretty good the first time.

What a week!

On Sunday, I got the crazy idea to move every piece of furniture in the house.  Big mistake!  On Monday, I could barely move.

Back in January, we had opted to put our sewing room in the master bedroom of the house.  That includes lots of furniture with fabric and project boxes, 2 sewing machines and tables, a cutting table, a big ironing board and a 10 foot frame and Tin Lizzie.  Meanwhile the 2 beds, dresser, bedside tables, etc. were in the dining room.

On Saturday evening, we discussed the fact that we didn't seem to be sewing as much since we moved the stuff back there so on Sunday, I decided that we needed to put the beds back in the bedroom and the sewing stuff back in the dining room.  Lots of furniture and lots of fabric and lots of cords and I did all this all by my lonesome.  By the end of the day, I just had to keep moving because I was afraid to sit down and get all stove up.  Well, when I finally did, guess what happened.  I got all stove up!  I took some Tylenol proactively so that Monday morning wouldn't be so bad.  Now we just have to deal with the aftermath of those things that no longer have a place and are stacked on top of everything.  It won't be long and we'll be back in business.

My part time job is not so part time right now because the full time assistant is in Nepal on a mission trip, so I've been filling in.  I've been falling down on the job lately and getting behind in lots of things, so this week I started trying to schedule all those things I keep putting off like doctor's appointments, vet appointments, mammograms, OB/GYN appointments, etc.  

Retreat this weekend.  Woohoo!  It'll be the perfect thing to get me back sewing on some of these outstanding projects I have.  Need to start moving some of this stash outta here!

My schedule is getting really booked up for a supposedly retired person.  When did I ever have time to work?

Rest in Peace Pepper Dog

He was my PepperDoodle!  I will miss him.

Computer Fixed

I've been without my computer since practically Mother's Day.  The screen was messed up with staticky lines on it.  Dell came today and replaced my screen.  

Hallelujah!  

Back in Business!

Last Day

Well, it's my last day here.  

I got up early and hit town to check the mail one more time and to pick up some gifts for Mom and Mike.  Had lunch in town and came back here to make sure all the feeders were full and did some laundry, some cleanup, and started packing.  Ann and Vance called earlier and they'll be home around 5:00pm.  We're gonna go out for dinner.  My flight is at 7:00am so it'll be an early start for sure.

These little guys are big eaters.  They empty this feeder every single day.

This Western Tanager loves grape jelly.  Isn't he beautiful?

Busy, busy, busy.....

Waiting his turn at the feeder.

Looking for scraps falling from the bird feeders.

Don't know what this is but I bet it is beautiful when it is all in bloom.

Isn't this gorgeous?

Snake River

This is the Snake River between Jackson and Wilson.  Some of the float trips take out their boats near here.  It is beautiful!

Idaho Scenery

On the Idaho side of Teton Pass, there are lots of National Forest campgrounds and little creeks all along the sides of the road.  Most of them have really simple names like Fish Creek, Fox Creek, Trail Creek, Beaver Creek, etc.

The Tetons look a little different from the Idaho side.  They are actually on a fault line, so they shoot almost straight up on the Wyoming side, but they have foothills on the Idaho side.

Driggs, Idaho

High Country Quilting was a pleasant little quilt shop in an old house in Driggs, Idaho.  She had lots of variety and seemed very pleasant.  I didn't ask why, but the lady was on some kind of oxygen and she had a long leash of tubing that would reach anywhere in the building.  It was really unique.

While I was there I saw MD Nursery and Gifts.  They had some lovely plants and flowers.  I never knew peonies were so pretty.  And they had so many different colors of Columbine.  They even had a really dark Calla Lily like I have never seen.

Well, it is Idaho and you know how they love their spuds.  I think it's even for sale.  Are you interested?

Teton Pass

Today, I took a little drive over Teton Pass to Victor and Driggs, Idaho.  My purpose (or my excuse) for this trip was to visit High Country Quilting in Driggs, Idaho - about 35 miles or so.   

Teton Pass has about 5 miles of very steep road.  It is a 10% grade and there are runaway truck ramps spaced regularly along the sides of the road.  There are slide areas where you are not allowed to park and are supposed to look for falling rocks, etc.

 Near the top of the pass, snow is still in evidence.