Raven and Ruby's New Lounging Spot

Now, Raven and Ruby have taken a liking for the chaise cushion, the one that I just bought fabric to make covers. I have several yards of beautiful solid red fabric, of which I think Black Labs would look beautiful .....but........oh my, this is a dilemma, as they frequently play in the rain, or go swimming in the lake and then come lie on the chaise.....at first, just Ruby. Now, both of them have taken to the chair. They left the doggie cushion I bought on the floor. Yep, they prefer this cushion better.

Good Morning, Friday

Good morning Friday! I'm ready to try to get some things done today that I have been putting off for the entire week. Its rainy and gloomy here and we are expecting storms here in Ga. tomorrow. Our neighbor called and just purchased a new weather radio getting prepared for these storms. We have generators in case the lights go out and plenty of food in the pantry. My fear is the wind and the damage that can occur from trees falling on our house. Cross my fingers on that one every time because we live right smack in the middle of forest.

Planning to go to the library to see what books I can get to take with me on the trip next week. I also want to see if they have the book "The Shack" because I've read and heard so many good things about it. When I finish the small project "Bloom Where You are Planted" then I'm going to work on "Frieda Freedom". It has been in my stash for about 3 years. This will tide me over until I can get some "Presidential Blue" for the dutch sampler from The Sampler Girl. I don't have that particular color in my stash and its really tempting to maybe ride up to Hawaisee today and just get what I need......we'll see. It looks like it may storm this morning so I hesitate to ride "over the mountain" today. Oh, I'm getting excited about maybe going there now, shouldn't have thought about it........LOL

Here's hoping you have a great Friday!

My progress today

Here is a pic of my progress on the little freebie from The Sampler Girl. I changed the words in the pots to a light color so there was more contrast to read them. I just grabbed whatever I could to finish the flowers. I hope to mat the frame with the fabric above and the frame I think is pretty. So, what do you think? Which fabric looks best?

Jennifer

A Bittersweet Day at our House Tomorrow

This has been in our bedroom for a year now, waiting for the day, reminding us to pray for your preparation.
This has been hanging on the refrigerator for years because when I see smiles like those, I know we are on the right track.

Precious baby boy, all grown up and we can't protect you anymore, that's what makes me sad.

This is Ren and me saying prayers for the United States, Brandon, and at home for peace.

Brandon, he wanted to go to your send-off but won't be able to make it so he's sad . He is 15+ old now and I'm hoping he will be here when you get back too.

But this is Brandon, with a good smile while was in training. The military makes him happy and he is doing well with it. We will be there to celebrate with you tomorrow. ( with water-proof mascara, I will warn you)

P.S. You know you aren't my "blueberry lovemuffin" anymore cause you are all grown up but you are still the most handsome one there. You show them Afghannies Brandon!

Remember us here at home, praying daily, or really twice a day.......every day for your safety, your peace in your heart, the endurance that you need to withstand the elements. And a heads-up here, you will be getting alot of letters so hang in there. You've got a beautiful wedding waiting for you when you get back. God loves you Brandon, never forget that.

Good Quilt shop in Hawaisee Georgia

Yesterday, we were talking about a good quilt shop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where I visited back in January and couldn't remember the name of it........know that sounds strange. Most of the things in this store were finished quilts. Even though I'm not a quilter, I like to look around at the different fabrics in these kinds of stores, just plain eye candy if you ask me!
The LNS nearest where we live is in Hawaisee, Ga, called The Dogwood Patch. The owner, Terri is just the nicest person you will ever meet and almost always has whatever you need to kit up a project. Conveniently located next door is a quilt shop, Log Cabin Patchworks and you an go to the website here: http://www.logcabinpatchworks-quilting.com/index.html
I have been in there a couple of times and the prettiest fabric is a whole wall of Confederate Period fabric, beautiful fabric, very vintage. The colors are so overwhelming beautiful that it would be hard not to get more than a few fat quarters. I actually haven't gone to their website until today but I thought I would share with all those quilters looking for special fabrics. I think they have a log cabin just entirely devoted for sewing retreats and quilting classes and Deb, thought of you when I saw all these quilts!!
There is no better place to relax than the North Georgia mountains and was part of the reason why we moved here 8 years ago.
Terri at the Dogwood Patch also has stitching camps and her website is here:
http://www.dogwoodpatch.com/
Stay safe and until next time,
Jennifer

My first Pair of Real Scissors!

I'm excited to share with you my first pair of "good scissors"! I've had lots of dollar scissors but when it comes to cutting fabric, just makes a mess so I found these on ebay and couldn't resist. They came in the mail yesterday and they are so nice. I got a great deal on them. I love the little ones for cutting stitching threads. A pair of Gingher scissors has been on my wish list for a very, very long time.

Also, my new patterns from The Sampler Girl! The colors are awesome!

Monday mornings

Its so nice to wake up on Monday and not have to go to work today. We stayed up late last night watching a movie from the library. Its second in a series of 7, of which Love Comes Softly was the first. It was really good and now I"m ready to get the third one. Between the first two movies was a span of 10 years (in movie time) so will be interesting to see what the plot is for movie # 3. The name of the movie is Loves Enduring Promise. This sequel is based on a book, Love Comes Softly and Missy is the main character this time, grown up now for 10 years, she meets 2 guys of totally different character but both are interested in her. One is a wayward son that had been away from home for 6 years. He is all grown up now and comes back to resolve issues with his father. In the meantime, Missy finds out what true love is and chooses the guy without money but alot of love and duration. The actor Kathrine Heigl was in this one again as Missy's mother. She really did a good part in these movies, I think more so than Gray's Anatomy.
I read a little each day from The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck and it is a very good book. I can only digest small amounts of it each day, it's just one of those kinds of books. The original copyright is 1978 and some sections look familiar like I may have read through it a long time ago. But anyway, it's good reading now again.
Today's mission is to find 40 count Silver Fox linen somewhere online for the project "Dancing by the Light of the Moon". So far, haven't been able to find it. So here's off to another cup of coffee and a mission............

Trip to Washington, D. C.

Work is sending me to Washington, D. C. for a Women's Health conference and I am excited to go, not only to get updates on women's health issues, but also to do a little touring around, specifically to go the Smithsonian. We are going to take a trolley tour one evening that week and I hope it stops at Arlington. This will be my 2nd only trip to Washington ever and there was so much to see last time that I couldn't get much done while on a business trip. This time we are going a day early to mosey around.
Since my time is limited, I am perusing online to see what is THE best stitching shop in Washington or nearby, and have gotten some good names through an online stitching group that I participate in. Its always nice to go window shopping in big cities, but then its also nice to come home to the country afterwards. I am definitely a "homebody" and the older I get, the worse it gets.
Right now we have electricity by generator because about an hour ago, for some unknown reason, power is out here. Electric company says it will be off until 6pm tonight. That's ok with me because its so pretty outside, perfect temperature and sunny. My stitching table has plenty of light coming in right now and beckoning me to finish the little project I was working on. My mind is skipping through "I shoulds" today but my body wants to rest.

Our old faithful friends

My DH and I woke up to find our two Labs residing on the back screened in porch. You see, they already kinda broke the screen last year and just slide in and out whenever they feel social with us. Last week, I got one big doggie cushion but it still wasn't big enough for the both of them, so Raven made claim to it. She lives on this cushion now and Ruby, well, Ruby got a little jealous and chewed a small hole in it. Now her new thing is to lounge in the chaise chair above it. That's where they slept last night and this morning we laughed at them when we looked out and they were sound asleep. They were sleeping so hard that you cold tell they were having doggie dreams of running.......they were just jumping in their sleep.

Meanwhile, Ren is snoring in his little bed. Maybe he needs a sleep apnea machine......no, just joking........anyway, we talked about how animals are so loved because they love you unconditionally and that's hard to come by in this day and time.