Family Room Done

Another room complete. How good it is to get this much accomplished.

Since Lem uses what would be the dining room as his office, we eat in one end of the family room.


This shot if looking from the other direction. It is so unusual to see the area around my chair clear. I usually have it covered with projects. I am learning to only have one out at a time. Not easy for me.

It does look like I could have moved that blue massage pillow before I took pictures...



And last of all the fireplace.

Remember the Blue Room

I finally have one room finished.... well, almost.... there is one more thing to do. I need to hem the curtains. Especially the ones behind the bed because they are on the heat vent and it will soon be cold enough for it to come on again.

So if you remember the BLUE BEDROOM.... Here it is transformed.

The walls aren't really that white. More of a linen color. This is from the hallway looking in.


And from the other side of the room.....


I got all of our folding clothes into these three drawers. It is amazing how much less laundry there is when you have fewer clothes...... But we have all we really need...........

My little duckie is from Rebekah. When you squeeze it flashes colored lights for a few minutes.

The tea cup was made in USSR and was a gift from my dear friend Lu.......

Lem just needs a lamp and a clock.
I added the quilt from my International Round Robin..... Every room needs a splash of color.

August Pickle

Tuesday is when the Pickle meets again and I haven't even posted the picture from last month. I have no idea where the time disappears to..........

Left to right we have Susan, Barbara, Jean, Vickie, Joan and Jean.

Tea was poured by Barbara and we sat and we chatted and we discussed and we said good by to Jean................ Perhaps she will visit the Cape and be here for another Pickle.

We Are In The Homestretch

This picture is really too dark. I will try for another one later.

We are finally near the end of this adventure. There were days when I doubted we would ever get everything done. At last I can see the end. I might even get to sew again. That too was in doubt.

Vicky came over yesterday afternoon with her staging tips. This morning I got a few things hung in the master bedroom and Lem and I moved a few pieces of furniture.

The electrician was there yesterday and will be back this afternoon to finish up. The painter will have to come again because we changed the light fixtures in the kitchen and dining room and the new one is smaller..........

There is still clearing out and sorting to do but I hope to get at least 9o% done by next Tuesday when the Pickle meets at my house............ Which reminds me, I never posted the pictures of the last Pickle. Let me write that down.

Another Block One

Just to let you know that I did acturally finish Block One, here she is................

Block Two

I have been doing a little bit of sewing.... Not all clearing out and sorting.

I completed block two of Judy's BOM. If you did not sign up for it you missed a great project.

She is planning another Quilt for an Hour project that begins Sept 15th. You will not want to miss this one.





Some over achiever out there mentioned that she was doing two of them. That sounded good to me.......... I selected a cream fabric for the background that i will use through out the quilt. The other fabrics were from my GRAB BAG fabric. I will use it till its gone and then select more for other blocks.......... I am just not up to coordinating all the blocks at this time so this method will have to work for now.

And The Lucky Winner is Wisconsin

Tuesday night we had a farewell dinner for our Dear Jean Mello. She is going to Wisconsin to be with her sister......... (Jean is the third from left).

Jean I met first at a class on tablerunners. I usually avoid classes. There is always one annoying person and they usually sit beside me.......... This class was great fun..... Mostly due to Jean. She is quick witted and always has a pleasant word for all.... We met again an a class last fall. Once again she was a boon companion.......... We are in the Saturday Sewing Society together. It just won't be the same around here with Jean.



Her dear friend Lynn organized the good by dinner and the gift.



And we are all waiting for her to open her present.





And we are still waiting.

Enough says Lynn and lends a hand..........


We got a Cape Cod Bracelet for her. (pictured here........ It comes in all gold or all silver but the most popular is the silver and gold. Here on the Cape we tend to be less into fashion and with the combination of gold and silver it goes with whatever you might be wearing. It does not slide on but the ball unscrews. My husband says it takes three people to get one on. The idea is never to take it off.)


Now Jean will have us with her always..............................

Empty at Last

I promised Rebekah a picture of the first EMPTY space in the basement and here it is.........



All the shelves were full, the table was stacked almost to the ceiling. You could not see the door because it was full to the top with Rubbermaid Totes............. I mean FULL.............

I kept looking at that space and groaning. I really did not want to clear it out. Well, it is done now. Most of the things were given away. I still have the other 3/4 left to clear but that will not be as bad. In fact the other side of this back section is almost done.

I am starting to feel as though there will be an end to all this activity and I can get back to my stitching schedule.

And She's Off

My Dear Kate has joined the army.................. She is on her way to basic training for nine weeks..

Her mother retired in May two years ago. Now Kate is following in her footsteps.

Rebekah and I selected fabric for a quilt to give to her when she graduates from basic training. I wish I was a good with words as some of my blogger friends but when I sit down to write they just aren't there. Rebekah has never had Kate gone for as long as she will be away this time. Prayers are appreciated.

Love This Block

This block was not the easiest thing to make at first. I really couldn't understand all the problems I was having........... Other people made this block and no one mentioned any problems.


Reading the instructions correctly might have helped me. After I went back to square one and read them again I realized I had cut some triangles 5/8 of an inch too big............. This will really make it hard for the block to come together. I tossed the incorrect parts into BOB and cut them out correctly. After that it was a piece of cake................ I knew the problem was with something I was doing. I have NEVER had a problem with anything Judy has designed.........


In fact, I like this fabric together soo much that I ordered more to make the Army Reserves Star for my daughter. It is a block I found on Quilters Cache and I have been wanting to work on it since she retired from the Reserves............... I can add that to my stack of "Want to make" quilts.

The house is still in a bit of turmoil. Things not yet where they are supposed to be. It is getting better. I might get to answer email and read blogs again one day.

A Stitch or Two Here and There

This morning I cut out my first block for Judy's Star BOM. Several people have their block done already. Check them out.

I washed the fabric Saturday and did not finish ironing it until this morning.

I have it all laid out beside my machine and ready to stitch. I hope to get it done today.

I am slowly moving things from the basement to the second floor. I am going to enjoy having my studio upstairs......... Much brighter and looking out the window at the treetops is much preferred to looking at a cement block wall.

I got the Duchess set up on an old army field desk. I have a small three drawer rolling cart to keep supplies in. Hmmm.....that would also be a great place to keep the Leader Ender pieces I am working on.




A folding table under the eaves for cutting. I have not decided yet if I am going to get something to raise the legs or not. My Alto's Cutter is on the left. I am still learning how to use it to the best advantage. I was delighted to find it at half the price from a friend that did not use it often and wanted to get rid of it.



The Janome is on the other wall. I can move it to the cutting table when I machine quilt. On that small desk it is all set up for regular sewing. Another small plastic rolling cart holds thread and other things needed for that machine.




This is the view looking from the cutting table to the ba k of the room. I will probably move the ironing board somewhere else and I am thinking of setting up the Duke (Singer 99) somewhere in the room for paper piecing.

There is still lots of things to be sorted and brought upstairs but I am hoping to keep fewer projects in the actual sewing room.

Fabric for Judy's BOM

I have finally gotten my fabric together for Judy's BOM........... It took awhile but I am pleased with the choice so far.



Anyone out there interested in joining us? Then go on over to Patchwork Times for the information. Also check out the fabric choices of the rest of the group.

I am still working on the house............. We seem to spend a lot of time moving things from one place to another. The kitchen is almost done......... I sure will be glad to have my home with no workman walking in and out..........

Hello out there

Saturday was Sewing Society day. What a treat to leave the destruction of my home and be among like minded people. There were ten of us and as always we had a grand time.



Barbara was adding the final borders to her quilt.

She really gets into her work............. She was also pleased to have that top complete.



I took my sewing mascots and the rabbit was given to my daughter by the child of a friend. We have taken the rabbit with us everywhere and taken its picture.

Rebekah plans to make a photo album to go with the rabbit and return it to the child.



I took two days off of work on Tuesday and Wednesday. We cleaned out the basement. 75 totes we lugged upstairs and opened and sorted. 70% of it I gave to Rachel for her yard sale. The rest is to be shipped.


That explains all the boxes in the living room. The will be moved to the garage but we needed to wait for Rachel to show up with her truck to take off her booty............


I also had to get a shot of TJ as he became a living neck warmer for Rebekah. That dog sure does love her.

Kitchen Fix-Up Day One

The first two pictures are of the kitchen before Sergio began. Sunday we took everything out of the kitchen except the items in the pantry. It is all now in the living room. Sure makes life interesting.................

Then we went to the beach for a couple of hours.

It really doesn't really look too bad in the pictures. They don't show the 16 years of wear and just how bad the floor has aged. Except for that spot in front of the sink. I ask you, why would anyone ever put a seam in the floor in front of the sink. That space gets more wear than any other area.


I came home to the strong odor of primer. All the counter tops are gone except for the sink. They did leave that so I could function on a small level.

The biggest difference is the wall being gone between the dining room and the kitchen.

We used the dining room as Lem's office. We filled in that area and put in a door. He had a tax prep business at home. Now with that wall gone it looks so much bigger.


After work, Rebekah and I went to the beach for an hour and a half. She went into the water. I was not that brave. It was wonderful to sit there and soak up the beauty of the day.

When I got home and Sergio left, I put some leftover beef tips in the oven to warm and cooked some rice. That with green beans and fresh sliced tomatoes (our own home grown) made a wonderful meal. It really isn't easy to do much cooking with the limited space and everything all over the living room but we are managing.

I might even get to stitch a little next week.

At Last Another Room Done..........Almost

They had to take the closet doors off to install the carpet. Now the doors need to be trimmed. They will come back on Monday to finish that task................ But at least I do get a good picture of the closet all neat...... I think it is wonderful to have only the clothes that I wear and are all ready to put on hanging there. It is so much easier to put things away when there is room.



And where did all the blue go????????

Such a change. Yes, we will have to shop for a spiffy bedspread and curtians but it is so clean and neat an I am so glad to get back into my own bed.

Sleeping upstairs was difficult. It was on the other side of the house and the outside sounds were different. Plus the bed was regular size and we are accustomed to a queen. I wonder how for 30 years we slept on a regular bed.........

Here is the spare room. Such a difference. I am getting organized at last.

Still a lot to be done but a good start. I even emptied 5 boxes from the garage.

Today I did laundry including the sheets from both beds. Rebekah is coming on Tuesday so I need to get clean sheets on that bed and perhaps some fresh flowers for the night stand.

I will finish the laundry and unpack a few more boxes. Tomorrow however is my day to rest.

I Am Blue - But Not Much Longer

It was a great idea in the beginning. This blue was toned downed with a wash of white and lots of white accessories.............. Still way too much................


Sergio showed up this morning and in 48 hours it won't be blue much longer..................

Imagine, a totally empty room. Now to get a few more empty.........