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Saturday, August 08, 2026

Running This Way & That Way -


Yesterday was one of those days where I had only a certain amount of time to try to fit it all in within a certain time frame and it felt like my feet were running from the moment my feet hit the floor.

Or more like - from the moment that son Jeff dropped off grandson Casden and our crazy day together began.

We needed to do all of the morning things before 12:15pm so we could go back to the cabin and pick up Grandpa Dave and head out toward the airport in Blountville, TN so he could catch his flights to Atlanta and then on to Boise.

Feed Hazel. Done. (It's great to have a bit of help from a willing grandson!)

Friday, August 07, 2026

Hanging With the Tada's!


Lunch on the porch while the thunder rolled?  Yes, please!

They arrived late Wednesday afternoon - I really didn't have a chance for much visiting while they were moving everything on in, so seeing everyone busy retreating yesterday morning was wonderful.

And an invite for lunch? Accepted!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - to walk in through the back door, make my way through the kitchen to the hallway leading to the Quilting Quarters and hearing the sound of machines humming and the conversations and laughter overriding everything - it's just a wonderful feeling!

And to see new projects out and being worked on:

Thursday, August 06, 2026

That Last Stitch -


I took the last stitches in my hexagon quilt assembly.

Stitched my way to that last corner, did a couple of stitches in the corner to anchor it tightly, and then did what I always do when ending an EPP seam...take a few stitches back again toward the center of the seam and knot away from the corner to keep the corners secure and tight.

Two stitches in every corner, then stitch away from the corner for three stitches and then knot.

There is no way my corners are ever going to gap.  

And then...it was done.

Wednesday, August 05, 2026

Where Did Tuesday Go?


Sunny then rainy. Sunny then rainy.  Such was on repeat-for-days during our retreat.

But the needed rain was a welcome event, and even those attending said how much they enjoyed the sound of the rain while sitting on the porch - just listening to it "ting" on the metal roof above.

Rain in the night sure makes for some good sleeping too when you hear it above your head all while you are tucked in cozy and warm beneath a quilt with sweet dreams of future projects dancing in your head.

Tuesday, August 04, 2026

To The Last Minute


You know that feeling when you finally see the last border when quilting?

Or for those who are quilting on a domestic machine, or hand quilting - when you finally move to the last section and the end is in sight!?

It's hard to stop.  Just two more rows, please. Can't stop now. I'm almost there.

"Hi honey, dinner will be late tonight!?"

Let's get this thing off of the machine!

Monday, August 03, 2026

Weekend Quilt Warriors!


What is happening on the porch?

Something I haven't seen done since I was in Camp Fire Girls in the 1970s.

Decoupage!

The ladies were applying little dried and pressed flowers and other fun motifs to Oui yogurt jars and turning them into the prettiest of votive candle holders.

So easy and fun for all and everyone has a little memento to take home after their fun week on retreat.

Saturday, August 01, 2026

Dirt Road Hikes and Quilt Borders On!


This is what a quilt GANG looks like!

We had so many opting for our morning dirt road hike that we had to take two vehicles to do it!

That's the thing about living where we do.  The two-lane highways are fairly narrow and winding, blind curves included. There are no sidewalks, no shoulders to the roads that are walkable really, so we have to load up, drive to where we can walk safely, do our thing and drive back.

But it gives me the opportunity to share a bit of our "Road Less Traveled" area with folks who are visiting from other places.