Turkey & Mystery Clue #1

I own 5 Christmas cactuses (cacti?) between home and work. Don't ask! Each one is a different color and they all blossom 2 to 3 times per year. We've had our first blossoming but this one is my favorite:

We went to my brother's house for Thanksgiving. There was just enough space amongst all the serving dishes for our plates and drinks!

Tom, Rex, Ron, Denise, Tyler, Kristie, Ryan

And what does one do after supper when the triptophan coma starts to kick in?
Spoon with your favorite dog of course!!

Scooby, Shaggy, Ryan

Friday was all about the new Quiltville Mystery Quilt!! Woohoo for Clue #1. Once again I'll be making abut half of each clue until we get to the big reveal when I see if I need more or less units. Half also equates to "this is close enuf because I have used all the scraps currently available" in that size which is what happened with this clue.

Two of the above are not like the others! Guess I didn't finish quite as many as I thought...I set them aside for now and I'll fix them if I need them.

Clue 1 is done and dusted!!

Linking to the Mystery Monday Linky...

Wednesday Weather Report #32 - 12/27/17

12 bowl cozies

For Christmas this year, I made everyone (including myself!!!!) one of the now popular bowl cozies in fabric to match a hobby or preference of each person.

Dad's first thought was that maybe it was an individualized yarmulka with the Wendy's key tag as a Minnie Pearl decoration. Only family...

Christmas Day was run run run: shovel the drive to get out and then run to Mom & Dad's. I was about to run home for a shower before off to the next party when we had an MVA thanks to the icky weather so that meant a run for the ambulance. Then it was actually off to my brother's house.

We had an excellent dinner and fun exchanging gifts.

The drive home was pretty harrowing. It was snowing about 3"/hour and at some point the DOT had pulled the plows off the roads for their safety. Hello? What about the schmucks driving through 6" of snow and there were no tracks to follow???!!!

The 20 minute drive home took about 35 minutes, which I guess isn't too bad. The photo above was taken at 10:08 Monday night. I had been home about 3 minutes when don't you know - it stopped snowing.

I again shoveled out again Tuesday morning. It looks like we got about 15" total. It's currently sunny and blue skies but the lake effect storm warning continue through this evening.

Even Zorro admits that he might have dreamed a little too hard for a White Christmas but he was happy to be snuggled in his Window Box watching Birdie Vision. You'll notice the snow piled on top of the birdfeeder again and hopefully you can spot at least one of the 3 goldfinches in the feeder.

As far as my temperature hexies...I've nearly completed stitching last week's rosette but I have done nothing this week other than pull new dark purples to add some variety. I am pretty sure that tomorrow I'll be pulling out a brand new color!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

ADK trip #1

Since I was 10 years old (just a couple years ago!), my family has been camping at 8th Lake Campground which is a NY State run campground.

The campground is nestled in the woods between 8th lake...

and 7th lake. They are part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes.

Rome, NY
3 FQs and 4 2.5" strips for my pieced hexie project

Inlet, NY
6 FQs, mostly for the pieced hexie project

It's a personal tradition to stop at the 2 quilt stores on the way up to the ADK mountains - an excellent way to break up the 4.5 hour drive.

I enjoy walking around the campground and trails early in the morning, allowing me to see the campfire smoke twisting through the trees.

Mt Sawyer with Tom, Kristie, Tyler and Ryan

Mountain climbing is one of our favorite activities. I don't know that I'll ever be a "46-er" but it's fun to find new mountains for every trip. Most of the local towns have "challenges" that include water falls, fire towers, lakes and or mountains so I have plans, on the next trip, to hike the Tupper Lake Triad which means three (easy?!) mountains in one day. The weather isn't supposed to be great most of the trip so my fingers are crossed that at least Thursday will have nice weather so I can complete the TLT.

The Fourth had a lot of activities this year...

We attended the 39th annual Ping Pong Drop. For the last 38 years a seaplane had dropped the colored ping pong balls onto the field but for legal reasons that part of the tradition is over. The kids are broken into 3 age groups and allowed to grab 3 balls per kid. The balls are then traded in for prizes. I suppose I should not have been, but I was surprised at how many people attended.

Later we spent time at the Inlet beach listening to an excellent Springsteen cover band.

And watching the sun set on 4th Lake.

Eventually the barge headed out to set up for the fireworks show.

I think this was about the time that Tyler asked if I ever get tired of hexies. Uh...no!
And when I said I would be posting his goofy pic on my blog, he told me that
only lonely ppl write blogs. I don't think so Dude!

But we continued to goof around with lightsticks and music.

We weren't the only people ready to watch the show - many boats were in the middle of the lake.

That gorgeous tree was in the way for photographing the fireworks which meant I could enjoy them for the fireworks and not be fiddling with my iPhone.

I think that pretty much covers trip #1 and trip #2 is right around the corner.

I'm changing the travel plans up a little this trip with a stop at the Syracuse-AQS Quilt Show next Wednesday. Is anyone else going to be there?

Thrill Seeking Sarah!!!

Sorry for the late post this week - it appears I'm getting bronchitis again - so I'll just let the photos speak for themselves.

But first check out this other post by the local news service.

Of course, I requested a purple jump suit! 

Nephew Ryan kept saying I was crazy.
He later admitted crazy in a crazy, cool kind of way!

Not sure what the Danger notice was for since it's on the BACK of my rigging...

I'm ready - let's get this plane on the ruunway!!!

What 'chu lookin' at??
This tandem dive was a gift from coworker/Airport Manager Ken Moses who was driving the pickup.
Julia is the passenger and the lady who posted the article in the link above.

Coming in for a landing...

The Eagle has landed but she can't wait to do this again!

Proof - this will be framed!

With room for more dives...saving my pennies!

Design Wall Monday - 11/16/15

Today I have 2 things that don't happen often on my blog - I'm sharing photos of family stuff and a finished quilt (top) that was sewn entirely by machine. LOL.

Both of my nephews play hockey. They play with the Livingston Blues in two different age groups (PeeWee & Squirts). It just so happened that both the boys had games one right after the other yesterday at SUNY-Geneseo (their home rink) so the whole family went to watch them.

This was the first time I have gone to a game when it was 50+ degrees outside *** so when I made the mistake of dressing for the outside weather I was a little chilled. It's ok because cheering for goals (and ringing my antique cow bell!) warms the heart and hands. LOL.

R to L: Mom, Barb (family friend), SIL Kristie, brother Tom, Dad
and down at the pink arrow is older nephew Tyler (Squirt) with his teammate

Ryan (PeeWee) getting his gear on.
Already has his lucky red and blue socks on!

And this is a class sample. Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving I teach an easy, scrappy class that could be a donation or a gift. Mine was completed in a day, including figuring and making notes for the directions. Not sure what to call it but it was a fun quilt and I can't wait to make more with batiks or whatever. Linda from Art in Search allowed me to use her idea! Thank you Linda!

Can you believe I did rake the yard once? Doesn't look like it...

Somebody had his burlap underwear on yesterday but did allow me 5 minutes for this photo.

Don't forget to pop back in tomorrow and link up your hexie projects to HeLP for Hexie-aholics!!

*** Yes, it's mid-November and expected to be (near) 60F most of the week. Last year at this time was the huge Snowvember storm. What a difference!

Small Town America

When I was preparing to move back home to rural Western NY from the big metropolis of Miami, Florida, some of my acquaintances were quite concerned. The closest mall is nearly 60 miles away and the local pizzeria doesn't deliver. Well shiver me timbers because I can walk to get my pizza and the last place I want to be is at the mall. On the other hand, I would rather spend my time looking for something new to try at the grocery or quilt stores...but that's an entirely different conversation.  LOL.

In trying to put today's post together, I was trying to find a common thread and pretty much realized these are all things that could be considered Small Town America. As an unannounced whim I thought I would add a linky party so that you could share a post (old or new!) regarding something that happened in your town.

And now...Small Town America in and around Wyoming County, NY...

#1
Two weekends ago we had a very momentous occasion...enough for many people to congregate at the local train crossing. One person had a camera drone and some random person driving through town asked if that was why we were congregating. Hah! for a much better reason!

The first weekend in August was to be the very last time a steam train was to go thru the area using the *old* train trestle in Letchworth State Park. The trestle is train worthy but it requires all trains to slow down to 10 mph so they are going to tear down the old bridge and replace it so they can maintain their traveling speed.

The last time we had a steam train come thru was 1985. I already told Denise that I was not going to look up any pictures that might include me in my teenage years :)

I also have a video if anyone wants me to email it...I'm late with this post and have yet to figure out videos on Blogger...

#2
My family runs the Griffith House at our county fair. The early 1800s house is in it's original position and just happens to be on the fair grounds. It houses the antique entries each year and also has an original fireplace where we can do open hearth cooking. Each year, a week or 2 before the fair starts, we offer a cooking class for a small fee. The class is for anyone interested but we do hope to attract newbies to cook during the fair.

Mom moving coals under the dutch oven which contains a steamed brown bread.
The spider (front) contains the bacon for bubble and squeak.
The kettles have beans for ham hock soup and taters for the B&S.
 Maybe you can pick out the "poor man's rotissery" chicken that spins on cotton string?

This year we had 7 students - 4 women, 2 men and a 10-year old boy. It's the most men we've had in class according to my lousy memory! The guys are going to cook together at the fair so maybe I'll remember to take more pictures when I'm not "teaching."

We had a pretty ambitious menu for class but we managed it all and actually finished early thanks to a great group of students!! Yumm! I might even make the ham hock soup when I cook on Sunday...I don't think I've had that before. I was also impressed with the green breans and tomatoes. Both veggies were from mom's garden. I'm not a fan of green beans but the sauce made it wonderful, as did the bacon!

#3
Dad and I attended a car show. It's the 48th year in that location and accepts any age car or truck - there were 25 classes to break down cars and trucks by age and production versus modified. Can you imagine the types of cars at the earlier shows? And that those people couldn't even imagine the types of cars we would drive now?!

"new" cars/trucks covering more than a football field or two

"old" cars/trucks - we were lucky to be in the shade!

Dad and his 1929 International farm truck - the second oldest vehicle present.
It's max speed is 35 but we generally only go 30mph.
It's fun to see people's faces as we drive by on the way to events. Especially when we honk the "hooooga" horn.

Dad won first place in his class!

OK my friends - please join in with any old or new posts that share an activity in your home town here in the USA or any other country. Please list your name and location on the link instead of the post name. I'll leave this linky open until the end of August so maybe there will be time for a lot of people to join in! And keep on your toes - I just might surprise you with another Small Town linky some day...

An InLinkz Link-up

Feline Friday - 3/20/15

Let me get close so you can hear me despite my laryngitis...

IT'S FINALLY HERE, MOMMA!!!! SPRING!!!!!! YIPEEEEEE!!!

It's about time, even if it is currently snowing....

PS - Surprise!! grandPoppa is coming home today!!!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Design Wall Monday - 3/16/15

Well, if there is any bright side to spending the last 4 days in the CTICU before, during and after Dad's open heart surgery it was plenty of time to work on hexies.

I don't know about you other hexie-ologists, but I use a needle dome to pre-thread 10 needles at a time. I finished 18 threads which for me is a ton of stitching. Luckily, I didn't break through my callous until just before heading home yesterday. I would guess that these domes would work for other stitchers as well. I think Clover makes them and they are about $10. Don't tell but I have two - one for home and one for travel projects.

Besides pacing, eating, more pacing, talking, more pacing, long daily drives and a birthday party, I was able to finish the outer 2 rounds on this rosette....

...and the light inner row of sashing on each of these half-rosettes and even add the central "darker" sashing row to the top half-rosettes. I wanted to add some of the inner sashing just to see how it would look. Me thinks I like it!

Dad is doing well - he feels better, sleeps better and can keep food down but his heart rhythm still is irregular. Because he is on a temporary pacemaker he can't get out of bed yet  Lunchtime update - he's out of bed! WooHoo!!! It's still one day at a time but there has been progress :)