Applique blocks

Some time ago I took a Hawaiian Quilting class from quiltuniversity.com.  I appliqued and hand quilted another one of these, and it was done in a green batik.  I enjoyed it, and decided to do another.  So this one is now ready to be sandwiched and hand quilted.  The size will be approximately 20 inches square.

 I saw this Lori Smith pattern in the current Fons and Porter magazine and knew immediately that I wanted to make it.  I hand appliqued it, and it also is ready for sandwiching and quilting.  My current thought is that I will hand quilt it also, but that could change.  It measures 12-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches, so isn't a very big project.  I thoroughly enjoy hand applique, but readily admit my skills definitely need some  work.

Hubby and I have been very, very busy with our four grandchildren.  We had two of them over the long weekend, and then between the four of them, there seems to be at least one sporting event every evening and several on weekends.  Mind you, we're not complaining.  We love them all dearly and are very, very thankful that they all live so closely.

Little of this and little of that

Every time I tell myself to write on my blog more often, I fall down on the job once again.

We took three of the DGC to the beach last Thursday. We had a lovely time, but Friday was so windy, rainy and cold, so we found things to do indoors. We'll have to try another time when we can spend more time outside.

I looked back at my blog and find I didn't post anything about our trip to Florida in December. We were gone for 12 days and had a fantastic time. DH and I spent the first 7 days traveling around by ourselves. We went across alligator alley (and yes, there were LOTS of alligators), visiting the Everglades, going down through the Keys to Key West, walking on the Atlantic beach, going to Kennedy Space Center, etc. On December 19, we joined up with our son and his family and our DIL's parents and spent several days at Disney World. What a fantastic time that was!

This guy was big!!

Our son, DIL and grandchildren

Hubby and I in Key West

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse-beautiful!

Covered Bridges

Sunday we drove down to Cottage Grove, Oregon, and spent the day there walking and taking a scenic drive looking at the covered bridges in the area. There are several, and it's always a treat to see them. As you will see in the following photos, when we were walking in town, we saw an old Studebaker pickup. That struck a nostalgic note with us, so we had to get a picture of it. My parents had a Studebaker (not a pickup though) at one time, and you hardly ever see one any more.  The river picture is the Row River, which is just one of several very scenic rivers in that area.  Our car is shown coming out of the only covered bridge still in use for car traffic.

Weekend in Washington

We had such a lovely weekend. My sis and her husband from Tucson were visiting my niece and her hubby and baby this past week. It was easier for DH and I to go visit them than for them to travel to see us, so we went up on Friday and came home today. My niece is a top notch cook and spoiled us with delicious meals. While at their house, we visited Kayak Point park and went to Whidbey Island. The scenery was just beautiful, but the best part was being with family, and getting to know my darling little great-nephew Brayden. He is such a happy, sweet baby.

This is Deception Pass in the Puget Sound. It is really a breathtaking sight.






And this would be my sister, her hubby, and baby Brayden.








And now my niece, her hubby and Brayden at the Deception Pass Park.






And finally, DH and myself at Kayak Point.