Noodlin' the noggin.

I've been listening to Jan Karon's books for awhile now. I highly recommend the series, especially if you want to update your phrasology vocubulary and meet some truly wonderful characters, like Uncle Billy.

Now Uncle Billy is older than dirt and it's his job to provide the town with jokes. When he can't think of one straight off, he tends to "noodle his noggin".

In other words, think about it awhile.

Kinda like my new quilt top using 3-1/4 inch squares. Of which I had far too many.

The "thinkin" part comes down to using plaid strips in between each section. Simply because I have some plaids I need to use up.

Or maybe solids. . . I have a few of those lying about also.

Sigh . . . I'd best get back to "noodlin".

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Quilt carpet conundrum

I'm trying to teach Dolly NOT to lie on the pieced rows of the next QOV top. Evidently, my method of waving her away while I sit at the sewing machine is not working.


Did you notice her hair is shorter? She went in for her first bath and trim today.

The groomer called me with this question, "Is this the first time Dolly has been in for grooming?"

Evidently my wee pup did not like the sound of the trimmer. Still hooked to the table, she jumped off and pulled table and all right through the swinging double doors. We're talking heavy steel table here.

I can only imagine the clatter that caused.

My reply to the groomer . . . "Yesterday I was training her to pull small trees across the yard. Evidently she took it to heart."

Okay, I know, it's hard not to laugh at this one.

Luckily no one was injured, including the table.

To compensate, I took the groomer, Michelle, half of my chocolate birthday cake. She was most appreciative.


On the fence front, here is Mr. Treecutter hard at work. Small trees not getting enough light, half dead ones, and some larger around-the-perimeter trees came down. More limbs need to be cleared and leaves raked and burned, but we're making progress. The good news after all this is said and done is that there will be fewer leaves next year!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Happy Mom's Day

May your day be filled with flowers and happy hugs.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Question: What word often follows "Spring"?

Answer: "Cleaning!"

Since December, I've been trying to get the carpet cleaning guy to come and do the upstairs. With this tiny "109-pound" puppy a vacuum doesn't always do the job.

After wiping down the baseboards and stairs, I decided to bring out this flower arrangement that belonged to my mom.

Even my office got done!

When I finished this quilt, I applied 2 sleeves, one to hang it vertically and one to hang it horizontally. The string squares were pieced on telephone book paper (6 inches, trimmed down to 5-1/2), then set together in a streak of lightening pattern. The trick is to use pieces as small as 1 inch wide to get the overall effect.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Wednesday update

Many thanks to all of you who have checked or continue to check on Dolly's well being. She's doing somewhat better, but still not eating as well as she should. I finally decided to try canned dog food and she liked the chunky chicken, but would only eat a little bit this morning. However, she did request a bite of my breakfast sausage.

We've been walking 2 to 3 miles a day in good weather and she's showing improvement insofar as not wanting to pull me into a tree, just the pond. So far, I've managed to avoid getting my feet wet.

Yesterday we rode over to Lake Chatuge, which is one of my favorite places. As we walked around the edge of the lake, the excitement of smelling so many woodsy critters overrode her senses and she was in doggy heaven.

Plans for her fence are underway, more to keep other critters out than to keep her in.

Thanks for being there.