Margy's Quilt...and more!

This is my sister Margy's Spiders'-Web and Stars paper-piecing quilt which is to be hung at her favorite quilt store. I'm so proud of her; I could just bust my buttons! She's been quilting for only a year, and is SO talented.

While I was visiting in the west of Oregon and Washington Margy and I trekked to McMinnville for some shopping at a store called Boersma's, a HUGE store on one street for quilters and another across the street for knitters.

This jungly quilt on display caught my eye with its engaging colors and style.

I spent my time chosing sock yarn which Isabella wanted to fondle and count and hold. She has ordered up a pair of purple socks for herself. They would match these pajamas, of course.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Displayed in the comfortable loft were these knitted treasures I couldn't help but photograph for future ideas when I max out on socks.

The three women in the store were immeasurably helpful and encouraging, pointing out the best books, showing me new techniques, and laughing with me about my knitting foibles.

'Baby Blueberry' Blooming!

Last week I flew to P'land in Oregon where I visited with family (sister Margy, daughter Kimber, granddaughter Isabella) and attended a Beth Moore Conference with my dear friend, Margaret. All my 'playdates' were held in sunny, warm locations. Below you will see a picture of Mount Adams from the plane window. Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood were equally stunning.

Isabella and I played in her yard where I swung her, taught her to 'pump' and discovered a vast array of blooming shrubs.

One of the highlights was attending Isabella's gymnastics class with her. We were forced to sit above the arena in a railed yard for parents. I got a kick out of the little ones doing pretty advanced moves. Below, Isabella is warming up with her crew of peers before going to the trampoline and the beam.

The main reason I took a flight was to be with my daughter at her first ultrasound appointment. Her DH has begun his training for a year in Afghansitan, so he isn't home for the joys of this pregnancy. Kimber's doctor is careful, needing to know if this baby is doing well. At seven+ weeks we have a strong heartbeat and development at the right pace. The baby is the size of a blueberry right now, so we refer to it as Baby Blueberry. You can see Isabella holding Kimber's 'Blackberry' with the photo. A recording of the heartbeat on the Blackberry is to be sent to daddy too. The yolk sac is the bottom circle, and the baby is above it.

To help Isabella (age 4) with all the news, Kimber got out her baby book to look at the same pics of her at this stage. We enjoyed looking at baby clothes she wore when she first came home at just 5 pounds and smaller than the doll I'd bought her.

Because daddy will be out of the country for the duration of the prenancy and early life, I've signed on as a helper, to 'be available' when the need arises. I look forward to the budding and blooming of my daugther and of Isabella as a big sister as well as Baby Blueberry. Kimber tells me the next stage is 'grape'. I am amused by all the names chosen before they finally land on the real one, which I know, but I'm not allowed to use yet.

...to be continued

The Weather Outside is Frightful!

As I write this post there is a blizzard going on outside with 2 inches of snow in the forcast. On the flip-side, just last week Rachel and I visited Connie's warm and sunny garden as a 'pick-me-up'. It was almost as refreshing as that first cup of coffee in the morning after a long night.

Connie is able to begin early with her pansies.

And this baby Lupin is just forming up.

Of course, the prettiest blossom in the garden was Our Rachel!

How about this darling bit of spring to lift our old and tired spirits?

And the final bit of sunshine in MY garden bed on Easter were these bouquets, brought in for the porcelain vase and toothpick holder I brought back from China.

As I said, it is blizzarding outside. The advice I gave to my daughter-in-law, who called to wish me Merry Christmas this morning, is to take a bowl of popcorn and a cup of hot chocolate to the lounge chair and watch a movie in her pajamas. And then she can pull out a gardening book and make plans for July.