As sandles and flip-flops

give way to fall's sneakers, there's the annual fall question: what was happening all summer in this dark, neglected drawer?  Wild parties?  Swapping partners?  Why am I playing Hide & Seek with a cotton sock?  Goldie hrumps -- "See why cats are boss; I have one set of socks, they're always on my feet & a daily tongue wash keeps them nice and clean," in an ecologically friendly way.  And it gives me more time to nap -- a Win Win!

Wordless Wednesday Again

This is the quilt

Goldie was napping on:

Before I returned to full-time work, I did batik.  Actually my quilting grew out of that as a way of using the batik fabric in addition to clothing or wall hangings.  And then I realized that I far enjoyed the quilting using fabric from the LQS and put away the dye pots.  

This quilt was the last batik one I made.  It used scraps and left-overs of the batik fabric, basically color tests. Just squares with a diagonal color set.  Simple "big stitch" hand quilting in clam shell design.

It's my Linus quilt.

Part of the morning routine

You can read the paper now.  I've finished with it.  and Don't rustle the pages; it takes alot of quiet concentration to get in 8 hours of daily naps. 

More Memories

As I was doing the journaling on a scrapbook page about seeing a dance performance at Jacob's Pillow in the early '80s, I remembered the summer that dear daughter (DD) worked as a waitress at the Oakdale Theatre (dinner was available pre-show).  Joan Baez performed there that summer.  Generally I'm not a vocal music person, but she has always been a special favorite of mine, so DD got us tickets for the performance. 

Remembering that event, I went to play a Joan Baez CD.  Discovered that I didn't have one!!

So, public library to the rescue -- today I picked up "The Best of Joan Baez".  If I like the selections, I'll treat myself on Amazon.

Another special memory is also linked to the Oakdale that summer -- Frank Sinatra performed there & requested they provide dinner for him and his staff after the show.  DD was asked to stay late to waitress. Not only was Sinatra very pleasant, he also gave her a $100 tip!  (today using the Consumer Price Index that would equal $260)  Oh, and at that time not yet 21, she couldn't serve him or his staff so much as a glass of dinner wine -- the management gal had to do that.

Simple Pleasures

Mr. Chuck dining in the back yard.  Apparently he's returned to his winter burrow under the utility shed.

The grass seed  where the trench was installed is sprouting.  Last night's brief shower did work wonders.

A slice of carrot cake -- and having the weekly grocery errand done. 

Curling up with a good story - A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff.  That's vintage clothing, not vintage wine & prompted a visit to the Met's Fashion Institute web site.

Wordless Wednesday

Quilt Nights Have Arrived

Tuesday already!  Whatever happened to Sunday and Monday?  As the nights grow cooler, Two Cat Nights?, the feline boss seeks quilt warmth.  Problem: her preferred spot is precisely where my feet go.  This agile, light-footed leaper out does Harry Potter, becoming a magically anchored Two Ton Cat.  

Need I say my feet find another spot? (This "quilt" is simply a Target comforter.)

Saturday Installment 2 - Quick Jaunt

Local Farmer's Market  -- great for some veggies, a local field-ripe tomato - yum - and a bouquet of zinnias.  especially on a perfect fall morning.  There was a lady there with quilts for sale -- appeared to be mostly smaller size, like lap or throw.  Didn't want to juggle my veggies, zinnias and a loaf of zucchini walnut bread to check the workmanship or the pricing.  Off to enjoy a tomato sandwich and a slice of that bread which won't wait until afternoon tea. 

Speaking of fairs

I remembered this one: the Durham Fair 1995 -- that's my Fan Quilt  (one on left)  from an

Lowell Quilt Festival Images IV 1993 class, Fantastic Fans with Charlette Angotti.  She is still giving that class; see her website. http://www.charlotteangotti.com/  Her classes are not only productive, they're great fun to be part of.  I made this quilt for my Daughter; without my knowledge she entered it in the Durham Fair. 

Oh, and the fair is still held every year.  It will be Sept. 23 to 26 this year. http://www.durhamfair.com/  Quickly skimming the current needlework rules, I don't think my quilt would qualify now -- it's not hand quilted.  Perhaps the event became so popular, they needed to limit entries due to space available, which while the popularity would be good, it's rather sad that some must be excluded. 

Anyway, highly recommend Charlette's classes. 

Feet Up, Kindle in Hand, Apple Slices Within Reach

"Wearing a leash?  Being walked like a dog!  Absolutely, Positively, No.  Don't even think it!"  Tri tells me.  Goldie simply ignores the whole thing, feeling distain is strongest No. 

But that's what Diesel, the cat in Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks Mystery) by Miranda James, does.  The "stacks" in the sub-title refers to the Library where Diesel's human works; Diesel spends the day there -- supervising, of course, between naps and snacks.  

 

A fun cozy read.  Good break from putting away the summer clothes and pulling out the fall ones.  Also a well-deserved (if I say so myself) relaxation after a busy week.  

 

Sounds like a perfect fall weekend is coming up.  Great for going to a fair or craft show.  Or the local apple orchard.          

While the calendar

says Fall doesn't officially arrive for 6 more days, on September 22, I got a head start today. My fall banner is up and I've begun putting away the summer clothes.  Actual temperatures are very fall-ish and the furnace even kicked on last night.  

Meanwhile, I've also added another block idea to DGD's purple quilt.  

Unfortunately the morning was consumed by going to emissions -- sputter, sputter.  That's me who's sputtering, not my car which passed with ease.  Would rather have been quilting or scrapbooking.

   

If wishes were

to come true.. then beggars would be kings and kings would have a horse, and

the entry to my backyard would look like this

not like this

had drain work done yesterday.  Area on right still needs some clean-up, and grass seed put down needs to sprout.  (The 1st photo has been in my picture folder for years & have no idea where it originated.) 

Very Busy Week

 

Back in early May this rainbow appeared as we were headed toward the luggage pick-up area.  Supposedly there is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow-- gold I don't want, but if that could be a pot of good fortune, That I would like. 

This week is full of scheduled activity -- today it was trimming back ground junipers, then the outside storm drain, then the driveway resurface.  By weeks' end I'll be joining the kitties in their cellar hideout -- move over, Tri; don't sprawl Goldie; look guys I brought treats ...

Morning Multi-Tasking

Goldie's version: enjoy a sunbeam and supervise the daily tidying up. 
ps: Please admire, but don't touch, my fluffy tail.  We long-haired blonds are just so "hollywood", aren't we -- move over Marilyn, opps, maybe that should be Clark.

Update

Still on my break from quilting, but just before drifting off to sleep last night a block design for my next quilt came to me.  Keep a pad and pencil on the nightstand just for such thoughts -- so I jotted it down.  Just a simple applique for the DGD's purple quilt.  Read about using a washable glue stick to tack an applique down for stitching & think I'll try that trick.  

If I do a sampler quilt for DGD, as my thought is now, it's possible to make a block as inspiration strikes rather than it being a full-time endeavor.  And, as a bonus, I could use multi purples rather than being limited to a few; and the off-white background fabric could also have variety.
Photo of Goldie on Blue & White Sampler Quilt -- result of an internet Block Swap.

 

Because I'd like to draft that simple block before cutting -- to check proportions -- I intended to pick up a newsprint pad at Michaels today.  It's been years since I last bought one -- talk about sticker shock!!  Somewhere among all my "stuff" there has to be some newsprint I can use.  Ages ago one could call the local newspaper & pick up an "end roll" (like the end of a bolt of fabric) for $3.00. 

Have been working on scrapbook pages.  There are quite a few that need only the journaling and/or titles so those are the ones I'm finishing up.   Want to have a number of "page kits" made up for an October Crop. 
  
Reading "Miss Zukas and the Island Murders" by Jo Dereske.  I like Helma and her sidekick Ruth; it's an enjoyable cozy mystery series. 

Just "One of Those"

Should have followed Tri's example and spent the day like this:

After my first errand of the day was completed in record time, I thought I would be able to accomplish a few more on the To Do List -- no such luck, just a lot of running around.  So I'm going to join Tri, after a brief read, a good nap.  We'll make a good pair -- her on the scratch pad, me on the couch.  Goldie's in his cool cellar hideaway spot. 

Starting A-New

Having problems with my Of Quilts and Cats and Books blog on Typepad so I thought it would be a good opportunity to try Blogger, which is the most recommended by the on-line quilting group I belong to. 

This is the photo I was attempting to include on the post.  I do like the way photos upload here & especially the choice of size. 

Ladybug