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Friday, August 31, 2012

Build a Bundle (#3) with Fat Quarter Shop


The last week's winning bundle was lovely!

Below is my bundle for this week's challenge. I just kind of threw it together as I am feeling really tired from being sick from a migraine in the night. I like it; but, I have a feeling it will only appeal to the few (including me).
My creation
1. Bukhara-SELLA-94-MULTI-450, 2. TimetoHarvest-22834-ORA1-450, 3. MichaelMiller-CX4831-WATE-D-450

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Wordy Wednesday {Update on House}



All this custom cutting is slowing the process down. This is the hall closet. We have finished the hall closet, master bedroom closet and bedroom #3 closet. We still have another hall closet, the linen closet and bedroom #3 closets to do!

On a positive note, the flooring in all the rooms are done. And, we have started moving stuff over to the new house. We took a truck (F 150 size) load of boxes over last weekend. Dan wanted to move some boxes out of the office to make room for dismantling his huge computer desk workstation. We just did not have room in the tiny rental house to put it all. So, we decided to start moving crap. It will certainly make the moving costs lower by moving some stuff ourselves.

We'll be taking over more stuff this weekend and this time, it will be some of my stuff from the sewing room that I don't want the movers to handle. We will also be doing some yard work in addition to finishing up the flooring in the closets this weekend.

I am still packing. Yes, I am slow as cold molasses. But, I am finally getting excited because I can see the end is near! Hurray! I will post whenever I can; but, no guarantees. I have a HUGE pile of links for a Link Roundup (Saturdays). I just have not found the time to do that as it involves much more intensive editing work on my part. So, the links just keep on piling up. Ha!

I also have a huge pile of pictures to go through including the ones from our camping trip. Speaking of pictures, my card for the camera got full over this past weekend which tells me I have been lazy! Fortunately, I had another backup card to use.

Until next time,

Piece,

Monday, August 27, 2012

Once Upon a Time... {Long Pictorial Story}


Once upon a time... Actually, it was this past weekend... But, no matter... Let me restart...

Once upon a time, I spied this:
I immediately thought "Black Widow" and went to take a closer look.
It was only a black beetle. What is strange is that these beetles do not fly. At least, I have never seen one fly. So, how did this one get up there? My mind still said "Black Widow" because I know they are powerful spiders. So, I did a little "investigating" and looked around.
I spied this about four or five feet away from the dead beetle and immediately screamed! I KNEW it was a Black Widow and a female one due to the obvious egg sac.

Here is a closeup shot:

{To see a slightly bigger picture, go here.}

Doesn't it have pretty markings? Do NOT be deceived.

I calmly went inside and interrupted Dan in his work (putting down flooring in closets). I asked him to come with me. I showed him what I first saw (the black beetle) and explained to him that I thought "Black Widow". I took him through my steps and told him my reasoning in still thinking "Black Widow" and then showed him where the spider was located. I think Dan was a little startled.

Dan happened to have a long piece of flooring in his hand that was ready to be cut (which is why I was not helping him -- he was doing custom cuts in the closets). He used that piece of flooring to gently persuade it to come down.

Its behavior definitely screamed Black Widow. It would dashed behind the egg sack and curl up in a ball. And, then dash back out onto the web. Then it would repeat the cycle all over again. I was screaming at Dan to be careful the whole time.

Eventually, he got it down on the grass; so, that we could see the proof in the pudding.

The trademark red hourglass.

Note: Both Dan and I absolutely hate killing critters unless we KNOW it is venomous. Many Spiders are beneficial critters. There are only FIVE poisonous spiders in the states out of thousands species. Yes, five. Most people think four; but, there are now five due to the Brown Widow spider making an appearance quite some time ago in Florida and has since been found in all southern states.

This was only our second sighting of a black widow and I think we now can be positively sure that whenever we spy one of these, we know it is a Black Widow. We will immediately kill it along with destroying the egg sac if one exists. As much it saddens me to kill a beautiful critter, we cannot take chances. And, we do NOT want babies running about.

Needless to say, after I took the closeup macro shots, every nerve in my body was standing on end and that feeling lingered for awhile. It was VERY scary for me to be so close to a venomous spider; but, I was determined to take closeup (macro) pictures.

I think I understand why people get hooked on that adrenaline rush feeling from events like bungee jumping. I have never really experienced that rush before to such an extent; but, that feeling is not for me! It took me awhile to calm down completely.

Now then, I want to point out something.

Anytime you see one of these egg sacs, always assume Black Widow even if you don't see the spider. Do NOT attempt to clear or clean until you are 100% sure the spider is gone. Some Black Widows are nearby.

By the way, do you see that curled up black thing in the last picture above? That is a LIVING spider. Do NOT assume they're dead. NEVER ever assume they are dead.

I have more spider pictures (different ones) and will show those later. I think this is enough for now, don't you think?

{Participating in Macro Monday, I heart Macro, and Your Sunday Best.}


Friday, August 17, 2012

Build a Bundle with the Fat Quarter Shop


DesiSmileys.com
Heads up people!

I interrupt my blogging break AGAIN. I know that there are some of you who would love to hear about this latest and greatest adventure (contest). I just had to pass the news onto y'all.

Fat Quarter Shop is have its first Build a Bundle contest. You select two fabrics to coordinate with the Fat Quarter Shop Staffer of the week’s pick. This post tells you all about how to create a mosaic bundle. Go check it out. It is easy peasy!

At the end of the contest, the FQS staffer will pick the winning bundle. The winner will receive “ONE YARD of each fabric in their winning combination”. How cool is that?!?

Personally, I love doing these things. They challenge and stretch my abilities. I first chose to go with a light yellow and a dark green color and started looking for fabrics that read as "yellow" and "green". Look at what I ended up with!
First Build a Bundle
How in the world did this happen??? I think it turned out to be lovely. I also think it would make for a cute quilt.

From Left to right:

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Verton W. Lenfest Sr.


I interrupt my blogging break. I just had to post. My family received sad news. I just... I just had to write. And, I just had to post.

My Uncle Verton, my dad’s eldest brother, has passed away. Upon hearing the news, the pain of sorrow hit me like you would not believe. This surprised me big time; but, it should not have.

{Picture dug up from my dad’s archives as my album is packed away. One of these days, I'm going to scan my pictures.}

This is how I remember him. My earliest memory is of him meeting my mother, my brothers and me at the airport. He was smiling, laughing and waving. I immediately fell in love with that man. I believe I was about 4 years old at that time. He always had a sunny disposition, and always happy and joyful in all things. I met him many more times since then and loved him each and every single time. He and his wife, Elizabeth who passed away in 2009, were always people to meet whenever you can.

Verton Jr. and Merle Sr.
{Picture dug up from my dad’s archives. Taken around their Mother’s 91st birthday}

This is how I remember them – Uncle Verton and my dad. They were always laughing and bickering –all in good humor. They both had an immense love for one another and for all things family including their younger brother and sister. And, they both gave BIG hugs.

I was always planning on going back to Massachusetts and Maine; but, I never did. If you ever get a hankering to see and visit with family and friends, don't put it off. You may regret it.

I can see Uncle Verton in my mind's eye having a grand o' reunion in Heaven with everyone who has gone before us. He will sorely be missed by those who are left behind.

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.

~John Taylor
Uncle Verton’s Obit

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Blogging Break


I am taking a blogging break and I do not know when I will return. It most likely will be several weeks. It has been a struggle these last few weeks with many things including the new house, exhaustion and more. I am still taking pictures; but, I am missing sewing and crafting very much.

Boxes are everywhere. Most of our stuff is packed up; but, we have to wait a few more weeks before we can move into the house. It has been very slow and it is frustrating.

I just have not found the time to write up posts and honestly, sometimes, I just do not feel like doing just that. Please bear with me while trying to get my act together. Thank you for hanging in there with me.

Piece,

Monday, August 6, 2012

Macro Monday {Walking Stick}


Popping on for another Macro Monday.
I heart Macro.
Your Sunday Best.

Big-A Gigantic Monster Walking Stick

I have never seen a Walking Stick this big. I have discovered that everything, I mean EVERYTHING, seems bigger at our "Ranch House". The first big insect I closely examined was shaped and acted like an ant. While examining it, I made a comment to Dan who was standing next to me that it "looks and acts like a Big-A Gigantic Monster ant". We both laughed at my description and it now has stuck with everything we see that seems abnormally huge. Just yesterday, Dan said to me with a look of surprise amazement in his eye that he just saw the weirdest, biggest-A, gigantic, monster bumblebee.

Anyway, here is another picture of the walking stick for size reference:

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Link Roundup


Source: 55his.com via Lee Ann on Pinterest

  • Tutorial: Thread Mini-Samplers, Part Three Embroidery
    experiencing different thread types

  • Gourmet Feathers Kitchen Wall Art {Tutorial}
    I think this can be applied with any cute fabric panels.

  • Traveling Pincusion Tutorial

  • How to Love Your Home {Even When You Don’t Like It} Inspirational
    While it would be helpful and even so much easier to feel the love for a home with more funds or mad DIY skills, I think there is a middle ground for the rest of us on a budget of time and money – the art of creatively living with what you have. Whether you rent or own, you can love where you live and still keep your current priorities in order.
    Living intentionally and creatively makes it possible to love your home no matter what kind of house you have or what your budget is!
  • Castles, gratefulness and why you might kiss your carpet Christian; Inspirational
    Jon Acuff shared, “Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

    I’d take it one step beyond that and say, “Never compare your middle to someone else’s happy ending.”

    And know that if we’re longing for someone else’s “castle” we’re also asking for all the effort, energy and emotion it took for that to be built in their lives. Do we really know what we’re asking for?

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Thursday's Thoughts

Let's see, What has happened since my last Thursday's Thoughts post?
  • I went to a quilt show. I posted about it here.

  • The flooring at the house is slowly getting done. We estimated that it will take us a weekend to complete a bedroom. Three bedrooms equal three weekends. So, I added a weekend making it four weekends total. This means that we should be finished just before Labor Day weekend. Is that being realistic? Or is it too optimistic? Ha!
  • Dan adding the last piece of flooring in the Den

  • I really love the flooring! The above picture doesn't really do it justice. I am glad we are doing this because it is so much warmer than the hard cold tile.

  • The pain-the-butt hallway is almost done. There are seven doorways that Dan has to fussy cut the flooring slowing the process down tremendously.

  • Speaking of fussy cut, Dan asked me what I meant by that term. After I explained the term to him, he smiled in amusement and said "Men do not fussy cut. They custom cut.". This made me bust a gut! I can't help it if I have quilting terms stuck in my brain and use them in reference to other things besides quilting. Ha!
  • We got more done than indicated in this picture. Do you see that door way down at the end of the hallway? We have flooring put down all the way up there. But, since we are working from left to right, the flooring isn't down from the first door on the right (which you can barely see in this picture) towards the end of the hallway.

  • The door at the end of the hallway is to a closet. Both doors on the right side are to bedrooms. The two doors you can see with doorknobs on the left are closets. There are two open doors on the left side further up that goes into a guest bathroom and the master bedroom.

  • We should call this "The House of Many Doors" instead of the "Ranch House". Ha!
    "The House of Many Doors" sounds like a horror movie (or book). It shall remain the "Ranch House".

  • I have not gotten much accomplished with other things such as packing. I got so exhausted that I started to feel sick Monday and had to rest Monday. And then, I woke up with a migraine on Tuesday. Headache lingered throughout Wednesday. So, I'm just trying to take it easy and gather up my strength for another busy hard weekend at the 'Ranch House'.

  • I am planning to do some shopping for needed supplies for the 'Ranch House' and some groceries this morning before it gets real hot out there.

  • I need to come up with some lunches besides the same o' boring ol' peanut butter and jelly or lunch meat sandwiches to take with us to the 'Ranch House'. Anyone have any suggestions for quick and easy meals? We have a refrigerator at the 'Ranch House'; so no worries about keeping things cold.

  • Piece,