Midget Madness (1&2)!

Yes, we have Angela to blame for Amy having yet another (most likely) UFO in the making! ;0) Angela posted this site (Midget blocks) the other day and I haven't been there in forever; I'd simply forgotten about it. Then, when I revisited, I saw that only 92 blocks were STILL only posted ..... so I said.... NOPE! Not gonna spend allll that time with these blocks if all 187 aren't going to be posted. But then, Angela informed me that Sentimental Stitches HAS been posting blocks lately---they just haven't been added to the Midget Block page.

So........After a training on paper piecing and a sample...I was ready to tackle my first ever block with Paper piecing!

Midget Block #1: Ohio Star was paper-pieced, while Midget block #2: Indian Star, Kansas City Star wasn't (icky measurements, though.....1 5/8" squares). Both ended up being a smidge smaller than 5" (4.5" finished), so if I continue just being a smidge shy with every block, I'll be just fine....


And then comes block #3....another paper-pieced block...
.............

Okay-----I'm REALLLLLLLY HOLDING BACK MY SCREAM!!!!

You have GOT to be kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diligently (and SLOWLY), the block WILL see a finish today! But, this is as far as I got---my body needs refueling, so I'm up making some lunch (good ol' classic pizza) and giving my blog an update...

Quilted MIL quilt...

Here is one of four that I need to quilt up for MIL. The pattern is from Quick Quilts June/July 2010. One for the Toad. 36.5" x 43.5". Very simple pantograph here---the same as I used on Jen's quilt on Monday: Curly Q by Lisa Calle.

I worried about what it would look like quilting over the frog; I don't think it looks that bad.

I used heart and swirly decorative stitches on the binding. I like how the hearts look.

MIL had some "vintage" 80's fabrics that she used in the blocks.
One down.....

Here's the one that is currently in the frame. No panto for this one. I'm branching out and playing...

Happy Birthday

Okay, I figure if I sneak this post inbetween some of the other needed posts this AM, no one will notice.
Don't these candles look yummy! Imagaine making a quilt with fabrics like this.....














Anyway, yeah.....
Amy's age: (7 + 4) x 3 + 16 ÷ 8
{{make sure you follow the Order of Operations}}
PEMDAS
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication/Division (L to R)
Addition/Subtractio (L to R)

LOL----leave it to a math teacher, huh????

School is right around the corner!

Running log - 8/4/10

**knock on wood**

I've found some motivation somewhere and have actually pounded the pavement twice this week! I've tanked my plans to run a marathon this Fall, but am striving to run a Half this October. The course is the same as the Marathon; "Whistlestop" up in Ashland, Wisconsin. I haven't run the course since 2008, though :0( Volleyball claimed my life last Fall and I sadly backed away from my running. BUT----I don't want that to happen this year!

These are some pics from the 2008 race; my sister ran the shorter 5K in the morning and then came out to some of the spectator spots with Cassie in tow to cheer me on. It's not a highly spectated (?) race unlike some other Fall marathons (Chicago, Twin Cities), but the course is GORGEOUS and a great surface to run on.

2008 had PERFECT weather!!!! Look at those trees!
2007 had OKAY weather
2006 BIT THE BIG ONE!!!! It was my first marathon and it was COLD, WINDY and slightly SNOWY!

Anyway---the real reason for the post...
The numbers.....
Monday's run (my first back in almost a month)
1.83 miles -- 18:52 -- Max HR (heartrate) 190 -- Avg HR 175
Thursday's run (same course)
1.83 miles -- 18:20 -- Max HR (heartrate) 189 -- Avg HR 173

So, being the mathematical person I am, here's my analysis....
If I follow the simple formula that some runners use to determine maximum HR (220 - age), that would put my suggested maximum HR at 185. {{{ummm....okay, so my heart is getting taxed!!!!!}}
HOWEVER, with one run down (Monday), my heart was already learning how to handle my added exertion of running. My HR (Max and Avg) went down even though my time was faster! So........hypothesis: "The more I run, the easier it will get!"


**crossing fingers**

Plans gone astray; top done; cleaned carpet area; and canning clarified

Okay-----plans for the day??? I planned out the next three BOM patterns for September. {{yeah, yeah---nice try zooming in! I purposefully had the August side facing up, 'cept that middle block. Choose not to do that one for August.}}

BUT....as soon as I headed downstairs, these Star Struck rows were still staring me in the face from behind the machine, so I took care of them first off. Then, like many days downstairs, one thing lead to another....

The rows were pieced and were ready for borders. BUT, I really didn't want to schlep up and down the stairs to work on the borders. The carpeted area was still cluttered with tools and all my quilting stuff that hadn't made its ways into my new room. I started tidying up a bit---I really wish I would have taken a BEFORE shot to make this slightly cluttered after-shot look good.

Two hours later : getting sidetracked paid off. Notice the little table towards the center-left of the picture; the one with the blue table-cloth? That's Cassie's sewing area now. She took over my quilting space yesterday and made a MESS of the room! Oh yeah...that's right....I needed to spend 30 minutes right off the bat this AM tidying up the sewing room. Forgot about that! Anyway....on the top-center of the picture is my old sewing table; now house to the little TV setup for the girls to hang out downstairs. Caitlyn's scraps are cluttering the carpet; she'll be cleaning those up before too long! So, the carpeted area is now clean and tidy and ready for me to layout quilts as they get to border stage.

See? It paid off! :0) Star Struck top is done. I haven't measured it yet, but this pic is taken on my design wall which isn't all that big.

I also had an Ah-HA moment-------My Juki98 (used for quilting) uses a different size bobbin and I was starting to get low on bobbins. I didn't want to simply unwind the thread...what a waste! Then it kinda hit me in a "duh-moment"---Use it as top thread since I make so many scrappy quilts anyway.

Part of my carpeted area cleanup involved hoisting a cabinet up to the kitchen (right of pic). With Cassie's help, the cabinet is in place to give DH a lil' surprise when he gets home. We talked about needing more counter and cabinet space. This cabinet was an "OOPS" on DH's measurements when we built in 2004 and we simply chose not to return it for some reason or another; it sat collecting dust for a couple of years downstairs before I threw together my initial quilting space back in Jan 2008. Now, it's up in the kitchen and will be loaded full very shortly.

Finally, for Amanda. I think "canning" is an American term, but definitely not solely an American concept. I use Kerr or Ball glass jars; pickles only require hot-water-bathing while carrots and green beans need pressure-cooking (my pressure-cooker is still on the stove and can be seen in the above kitchen pic). Wait 'til those tomatoes get ripe---this place will look like Christmas with all the red and green :0)

OH! And, I tested the rellish today on top of a hot dog at lunch. It passes inspection! Actually, it tasted just like bread-n-butter pickles; afterall, all the incredients are virtually the same.

Back downstairs I go....maybe NOW I'll actually get to work on the Sept. BOM blocks...

A busy day yesterday...

SO BUSY that I didn't even take any pictures!!!!!! {{sorry}}

From 8:00 - noon, I actually quilted! I loaded up a quilt of MIL's on the frame and finished 'er up and then loaded another. I have 4 in total from MIL that I need to quilt up; all are just little crib quilts, so they quilt up kinda quick. However, the one currently loaded may take a bit more time because I broke away from pantographs and am doing some custom work. {{GASP}}..... I know!!!! Hard to believe, huh???

DH arrived home from work at noon, so it was time to shut everything off and get to work in the kitchen and outside. For the rest of the day, I canned, pickled and canned; spent some time (3 hours) out on the lawn mower, and then spent some more time in front of the canner.....I finally shut the burner off at 11:00! In the end.....{{going from memory}}.....3 quarts & 4 pints green beans, 3 quarts dill pickles, 14 pints bread-n-butter pickles, and 6 half-pints of cucumber relish. {{yeah, the list doesn't sound all the impressive---why on EARTH did it take so peckin' long then?????}}

The relish is a first for me; found a Cucumber relish recipe online to try out, but chose to cut it in half. I had plenty of cucumbers to make a full batch, but I really don't think I wanted 12 half-pints of relish in the event I didn't like it. DH gave the thumbs-up, though.

I think I'm DONE with cucumbers, though!!! Green beans are just startin' to really come and they are so easy to can, just takes a bit more time because they need to be canned under pressure. We ran out of green beans REALLLLLL early last year, so I'll can as many as we get. Next year, we need to plant a few more plants; I think we have about 12 plants out there that actually lived :0(

Anyway...the day is pretty open today with NO CANNING on the schedule!!!! :0) Cleaning-schmeaning! I think I'll be downstairs for much of the day.

Happy Wednesday!

Design Wall and Jen's quilt quilted

Wanna see my design wall?

;0) Kinda bare, huh? That's because the rows have been sitting idle behind my machine for a good week now.

Maybe tomorrow they'll see some action once canning is done. More beans and cucumbers are calling my name....

Last night, I received a call from my lil' friend Jen {{remember her a couple of weeks ago?}} She was finished with her top, so we worked out a schedule for her to get her lil' tushy to my place this AM to get it loaded and quilted up. After an hour of pressin' and loadin', we were rockin' and rollin'; I had her jump on the frame (not literally) to quilt the 2nd pass---however, I think she was happy when I asked her if she minded if I finished it up when she needed to head out at 9:45 to get to work.

I can't remember the measurements, but roughtly 79"x85". She will be gifting it away this weekend to a friend for a wedding.

The pantograph used was Curly Q by Lisa Calle. I think this panto has risen to the top of "Amy's Favorite" list!

I ended the evening with a softball game at 7:00, and a 2 mile run at 8:30. All in all, a good day #1 of my final 2 weeks of summer vaca :0)

Happy Monday!

Back home with things to do...

Entered the driveway about 2 hours ago, back home with 2 of the 3 girls, and have been on the go-go-go since turning the ignition off. Sadly, I haven't even unpacked the car yet; it was the immediate fight for the bathroom after a 2.5 hour drive, and then animals to feed and water, and a garden that hadn't seen me since Thursday.

Oh boy. As badly as I just want to keep my feet up on the ottoman and relax, it ain't happenin'!

Originally, I was meant to be home last night already while DH stayed through today so he could work for his sister, but DH's family reunion kept us entertained, and it got later and later and later. THEN, once I decided at 7:30 that I would be staying the night, he said..."GOOD! Let's go out!" He had lunch with MY HS best friend on Friday and she informed him that "the hometown" was having a street dance Sat. evening. I am not much of a party-person; I enjoy my home-body life; kinda strange because I come across as an extreme extrovert to others. Anyway---after sequestering my parents for yet one more night of watching the girls, DH and I headed out to just see what would come to be at this street-dance. My HS best-friend is the head-organizer for the event, and it truly ended up being a BIG success! The live-band was great; the crowd was HUGE; and no big need for the ions of bicep-buldging security guards posted along the entire perimeter of the "beer-fence". {{yeah, many females were oogling and googling over some of those biceps. They were quite yummy looking, I'll admit!}} I found myself people-watching a lot (and yes, even had one beer)---I saw a good amount of my HS classmates; a couple I was estatic to see and others not so. I even ran into my Dad (parents are divorced, so I don't see him much). The band played until 11:00, and DH wasn't ready to have the evening end yet, so we strolled into one of the local establishments where my Dad said he would be. Finally, around 12:30, I gave DH the puppy-dog eyes and asked if he was ready to go. NOT that I wasn't having an okay time, but.....I was STARVING!!!!! So...off to the "afterhours" eatery for a later-than-midnight-snack. ;0) We finally rolled back into my parent's yard at 1:30. I haven't been out that late in awhile; definitely not a spring chicken anymore, but it WAS a fun evening.

Anyway---I don't know if I foresee a lot of quilting this week. I really don't have any plans set. I figure if I can tackle some canning tonight and some laundry, tomorrow could be a cleaning day....{{shrug}}....we'll see.

Happy Sunday