UFO's

So far this summer my book reading has been murder, mayhem and detective books, so I decided to look up one of my favorite "fluff" writers Jennifer Chiaverini. She writes a series about the Elm Creek Quilters. I love, love, love these books.

As I was reading one of her first books that I hadn't read yet, (I don't know how that one got by me)it got me thinking!!!

Like all quilters I save all pieces of everything that I think someday will "be a quilt!"

The bottom of my closet in my sewing room is full of bags of scrapes and UFO's.

What you ask is a UFO?
Unfinished objects - the remnants of quilts not done or squares not used.

I keep telling myself that I am going to make a scrape quilt, for me, of pieces of the quilts I made for everyone else. Sounds like a great plan right? I think so too, so for the past few days I have been sorting my stash.

I guess I didn't realize just how many quilts I have made. This one looks like it's going to be #40.

As I am sitting here sorting through all these bags of scrapes I CANNOT wait to see the finished project.

I will for sure post a picture, but give me a few weeks - I just got online and found 4 more books of Chiaverini's I haven't read yet.  Wooo Hooo!!

Needs no Title

So I am at Joanne's (no surprise) standing in line to check out. The lady in front of me steps up to the check out. Behind the counter is a young boy, high school age. I am sure he applied here because his Mother told him to one: get a job, and two: why not at Joanne's for the 20% off employee discount. He clearly did not want to be here. He asks the lady if she has any coupons and she pulls out her ipad. Huh? Really? She wanted the online discount. I snickered and went on my merry way while he tried to tell the lady those are just for online purchases. Poor Thing.

**********

So, I decided to go with Mike to Dylan's baseball game. My comment on the way there was "I hope he plays more than one inning". See he NEVER plays when I show up.

Second inning he gets pulled. Going into the top of the fifth (we are visitors) his Mother is pacing and grumbling about Dylan sitting for 4 innings. Now there are only 10 kids there and it's 94 degrees out. Most coaches would rotate players right?
I heard enough so I stroll over to the dugout and ask Dylan if he is hurt.
 "No Grandma, Just a little tired."
 "Of course your tired, it's 94 degrees out and I am sure all the kids are tired."
Well, the coach hears me (yes, I meant for him too) and tells Dylan
"OH, sorry I'll get you in next inning".
Dylan plays and the team wins.
No, I am not that parent or in this case grand parent. I usually sit down the side lines and behave myself and leave the complaining up to the moms and dads.

**********

I can't decide what is better -
sipping a glass of wine in front of the fire, snuggled under my quilt, after shoveling the snow
OR
enjoying a beer on the back deck, sweating, with the sun on my face after finishing mowing the lawn

Weekend

Bryan asked me to watch Roger for a weekend so him and Mary could get away.
Of course I said yes.
"Roger can be a handful Mom - he is very active."
Yeah, Sure, No Problem...

Yes, he was active. I think the only time he stayed still, beside his naps and nights, was our walks (he loved the sprinklers we walked through and the LOUD motorcycle that stopped at the same garage sale we did)
 and when Grandma would read to him.

 He thought that since Daddy and Grandpa had left pieces of the new flooring out, it was fair game for him to bang around and make some noise.

Mike showed up to spend the day with us on Saturday with a new toy. He thought that if he pushed Mike out of the way he could have all the balls to himself.

He figured the toy out pretty quick and had a ball. I just loved to hear him laugh. And I think now he knows why the other grand kids call Mike "Papa Down". He's willing to gets right down on the floor and play.

What I figured out pretty quick was Roger doesn't like when you leave the room without him. If you were going, so was he. The same can't be said for when HE leaves the room though.

I am in the kitchen washing up the lunch dishes - He is supposed to be in their new family room (right off the kitchen where he can still see me) playing with his toys - I turn around and that little bugger is not there.
Nope, I found him in his parents bedroom doing this.

Bryan asked me if Roger was anything like him when he was little. There is so much that you don't remember. All I saw was Roger being a little boy, until I gave him his first ice cube. Then I saw Bryan as a little kid, everytime I would rattle my ice Roger would coming crawling as fast as possible for a cube. He wanted to drink out of my glass and shame on me if I didn't have "soft" ice cubes for him to eat. Then it hit me, Bryan, that little boy is like you in so many ways.

I had a great time with Roger, Bryan and Mary had a relaxing time with each other.

Yard Work Complete

At least at Stacy's house. I still have work to get done at Bryan and Mary's.

We trekked into Chicago to pick up the leftover stones from Bryan and Mary's. Brian had his truck loaded down. While Mike and Brian were hauling the stones I got to work on The Flory's back yard flower beds.

They were so over grown that I only got 1/2 way through before the stones were loaded and the boys wanted to get going and started on Stacy's backyard.

What a difference...

Before

 After

 This is the path I made to cover the dirt between the patios. Now they can get to their pool toys in the bins without going through the mud. YAY.

As we were sitting around admiring our work Stacy was whining that she wanted to do something with the evergreens that were clearly over grown on the side of her house. So I ask "Do you want us to get them down today?" She gave a big grin and said "YES". She stills know how to work that parent child angle.

Mike got the chainsaw back out and out came 3 of 6 of  the trees.

Before.

 After.

She is on her own for trimming the last few trees. - That is until she gives up and calls Mike.