COOPER, COOPER, COOPER!!!!!

HELLO...I'M COOPER!! WHY IS SHE CONSTANTLY TAKING MY PICTURE!!!!

It's true, I am obsessed with this little dog!! He is only 3 1/2 months old and is a Yellow Lab. He does some of these silliest things and is ALWAYS getting into something, but that face, oh that face, would melt anyone's heart! Here are some more of "Cooper" playing with his toys and out in the backyard..

So, this is why I am not getting enough quilting/sewing time in! Speaking of which, that Missouri Star block I am attempting to do....WOW, it is really HARD!! I have the Y seams down, but then when I go to sew the squares/triangles to set the block - it sure doesn't look like it should! So, had to recut and resew again. Then cut out a second one. Now this Block does not have the center yellow circle in it yet, just all the Y-seams are sewed together. For me, has become a REAL CHALLENGE!! So, will keep plugging away until the blocks look like the ones in the magazine!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend and Keep Sewing,
Hugs,
Mary

MAY 23, 2008

QUILTING LINDABEE TAGGED ME!!! MAY 16, 2008

OH MY GOSH, I HAVE BEEN TAGGED BY LINDABEE.

THE RULES OF THE GAME GET POSTED AT THE BEGINNING. EACH PLAYER ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEMSELVES. AT THE END OF THE POST, THE PLAYER THEN TAGS 5-6 PEOPLE AND POSTS THEIR NAMES, THEN GOES TO THEIR BLOGS AND LEAVES A COMMENT, LETTING THEM KNOW THEY'VE BEEN TAGGED AND ASKING THEM TO READ YOUR BLOG. LET THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'VE POSTED YOUR ANSWER.

OKAY, I'LL PLAY...

1. WHAT WAS I DOING 10 YEARS AGO? 10 YEARS AGO, I WAS 39 ABOUT TO TURN THE BIG 40, SO...MY YOUNGEST WAS 4 AND WAS GOING TO BE IN KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL, SO...NOW, BACK 10 YEARS AGO, "THE LITTLE MERMAID" WAS A BIG TIME MOVIE AROUND HERE, SO TOOK ALL THREE OF MY KIDS TO BUY MY YOUNGEST A SALT-WATER FISH, LIKE "FLOUNDER" IN THE MOVIE, (THIS IS A TRUE STORY), WELL, I NEVER BOUGHT THE FISH, BUT I DID BUY A 3 MONTH OLD BLACK LAB/MIX PUPPY. ONCE WE SAW THE PUPPIES, THE IDEA OF PURCHASING A FISH KINDA FLEW OUT THE WINDOW. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE BEST 10 YEARS WITH MY BUDDY, "OREO"! I WAS ALSO QUILTING AND CROSS-STITCHING AND BUSY WITH A SON WHO PLAYED HOCKEY AND OLDEST DAUGHTER JUST MADE THE CHEERLEADING TEAM IN JUNIOR HIGH. SO MY MAIN JOB BACK THEN WAS THAT OF A TAXI. (I REALLY DO MISS THOSE DAYS...NOW 2 OF THE 3 KIDS DRIVE!)

2. WHAT ARE 5 THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST FOR TODAY (NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER): WORK ON MY MISSOURI DAISY BLOCKS, DO SOME HAND APPLIQUE ON MY SUE SPARGO HOUSE QUILT, THROW LAUNDRY INTO DRYER, MAKE DINNER AND SHAVE MY LEGS.

3. SNACKS I ENJOY: ROLOS ..REALLY ANYTHING CHOCOLATE/W/CARMEL CANDIES, POTATOE CHIPS (HAVE TO BE THE WAVY KIND, NOT BARBEQUE), HOT CARMEL SUNDIE, SPINACH/ARTICOKE DIP AND I AM ALWAYS CHEWING WRIGLEYS SPEARMINT GUM!! HAVE TO HAVE MY GUM!! OH AND THE BEST... ARE YOU READY...ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA (FROM PANERA) WITH MARSHMELLOWS (THE BIG ONES ON TOP)!!!!

4. THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A BILLIONAIRE: 1ST PAY OFF "ALL" MY BILLS, 2ND PAY OFF ALL STUDENT LOANS FOR COLLEGE AGE KIDS OF MINE (2), TRAVEL SOMEWHERE WARM AND THEN BUY A HOME THERE SO I COULD GO THERE WHEN IT GETS REALLY COLD AND YUCKY HERE, HIRE A FULL TIME MAID/COOK (LOVE THAT ONE) AND BUY MYSELF A "GEORGE".

5. PEEPS I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT: QUILTING IS STILL MY PASSION, SISTER'S CHOICE.TYPEPAD, AUNTIE'S QUAINT QUILTS BLOGSPOT, STELLA BELLA QUILTS, THE QUILTING BOOKLADY.

PLEASE DO NOT FEEL THAT YOU HAVE TO PLAY, IT IS JUST FOR FUN!

SPRING IS HERE AT LAST!!!!!

MAY 13, 2008

YES, IT IS TRUE, FLOWERS AND BUSHES ARE FINALLY BLOOMIN!!! I TRIED TO CAPTURE THE COLORS THAT ARE BLOOMING BUT A CAMERA JUST CAN'T QUITE MAKE THE COLORS THAT GOD HAS MADE! MY HOSTA'S ARE BEGINNING TO GET TALLER AND MY YELLOW PEONIES ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW THEIR COLORS, AND THE AZAELEAS, WOW, IS ALL I CAN SAY...

HAVEN'T BEEN POSTING MUCH LATELY AS I KINDA BEEN IN A "FUNK" AROUND HERE. LOSING MY 4 LEGGED PAL, "OREO", IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT. IF YOU OWN A PET OR HAVE LOST A PET YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. AND THEN THE NEW PUPPY, "COOPER" IS IN PUPPY "BOOT CAMP" FOR TWO WEEKS AS HE HAS NO MANNERS WHATSOEVER, AND IS GROWLING AND BARKING AND, WELL, EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH A NEW PUPPY. SO I AM NOW MISSING HIM...ONE WEEK DOWN, ONE TO GO...HE IS AT AN ACTUAL TRAINING CAMP FOR PUPPIES AND I WON'T EVEN TELL YOU THE COST, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 35 YEARS AND TRAIN POLICE CANINE DOGS, SO, HUBBY BROUGHT HIM THERE BECAUSE HE WAS GROWLING AND WENT AFTER OUR 15 YR OLD TWICE. SO FAR, HE IS DOING GOOD, BUT HE IS STILL ACTING VERY AGRESSIVE, SO THEY HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM. (PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS!?!?!?)

NOW TO THE QUILTING PART OF MY LIFE...AM WORKING ON THIS BLOCK CALLED "MISSOURI STAR"- IT WAS IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS POSTS AND AM HAVING THE HARDEST TIME WITH PIECING IT...IT HAS Y-SEAMS. THAT PART IS OK, IT IS WHEN I ADD THE BACKGROUND (SQUARES AND TRIANGLES) THAT THE BLOCK DOES NOT END UP SQUARE...SO STARTED ALLLLLL OVER AND WILL PIECE THAT THIS AFTERNOON. I REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS QUILT, AS I AM USING ALL 30'S FABRICS AND LOVE THE ANTIQUE LOOK OF IT, SO WILL POST MY PROGRESS.

I ALSO, WAS AT MY LQS AND FOUND SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL CIVIL WAR FABRIC. I HAVE A PATTERN(S) FOR SOME JO MORTON BLOCKS, SO I ALSO WANT TO GET BUSY DOING SOME OF THOSE BLOCKS.

THEN, IT IS ON TO SPRING CLEANING AROUND HERE...DO YOU HEAR YOUR CLOSETS CALLING YOU, WELL, I DO!!! NEED TO BRING THE SUMMER UP FROM BASEMENT AND WINTER DOWN TO BASEMENT, THEN ADD THREE KID CLOSETS AND HUBBIES AND I WILL BE UP TO MY ELBOWS IN PLASTIC BINS...OH, I LOVE SPRING, BUT HATE THOSE CLOSETS!!!! SO BETTER GET A MOVE ON HERE...

HAPPY QUILTING,

HUGS,

MARY

MAY 5TH - HAPPY BIRTHDAY 15 YR OLD

MY 15-YR OLD'S BIRTHDAY WAS TODAY, SNAPPED THIS PICTURE WHEN SHE CAME IN FROM SCHOOL!!! THEY DRESSED HER UP AND HER LOCKER...OH HIGH SCHOOL...THE MEMORIES!!!

TOOK SOME MORE PICS OF "COOPER"......CAUGHT SOME REALLY CUTE ONES OF HIM AND MY 18 YR OLD... NOT GETTING TOO MUCH SEWING DONE, THIS PUPPY IS KEEPING ME RATHER BUSY, LIFE AROUND HERE IS A LITTLE CHAOTIC, BUT FUN!

MISSOURI DAISY

SAW THIS BLOCK IN THE AUSTRALIAN PATCHWORK AND QUILTING MAGAZINE AND THOUGHT I WOULD TRY TO CONSTRUCT ONE BLOCK AND SEE HOW IT LOOKED. IT HAS BEEN A FUN BLOCK TO CONSTRUCT. I AM ONLY HALF WAY DONE, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE A PHOTO OF IT SO FAR. I USUALLY DON'T LIKE Y-SEAMS, AND HAVEN'T DONE THEM IN AWHILE, BUT I JUST LOVE THE LOOK OF THIS QUILT, SO TRIED.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO ADD THE SQUARES AND TRIANGLES TO FORM THE BLOCK. HERE IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN BLOCK IS STITCHED TOGETHER.














WILL POST MORE BLOCKS AS I GET THEM DONE.

ALSO, HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE "NEW" MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY. HIS NAME IS "COOPER" AND IS A 12-WEEK OLD YELLOW LAB. HE REMINDS ME OF THE COTTONELLE COMMERCIAL...HE IS SCARED OF STAIRS, BUT LOVES HIS NEW BED AND WE ARE COMPLETELY TRILLED TO HAVE HIM HOME. OUR HOUSE WAS JUST TOO QUIET WITHOUT "OREO", SO HAD TO FILL IT WITH ANOTHER LAB!!

I STILL MISS MY "OREO" BUT I THINK HE WOULD BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH "COOPER"!

HUGS,

MARY

APRIL 24, 2008 +++OREO+++

THIS POST IS NOT ABOUT QUILTING/SEWING BUT MORE ABOUT A SPECIAL FRIEND WHO I LOST TODAY. HIS NAME IS OREO AND HE IS A LAB/MIX. HE WAS THE BESTEST FRIEND I COULD EVER HAVE WISHED FOR, HE WAS MY DOG.

I BOUGHT OREO WHEN HE WAS 2 YEARS OLD FROM A PUPPY STORE AT THE MALL. I HAD NEVER OWNED A PET BEFORE, SO WAS VERY NEW TO THE WHOLE PUPPY PROCESS. AT THE TIME, 10 YEARS AGO, MY THREE KIDS WERE OFF ON SPRING BREAK AND WE DECIDED (THIS IS TRUE) TO BUY ONE OF THOSE EXOTIC FISHES BECAUSE MY YOUNGEST EMILY WAS ENTRALLED BY THE MOVIE, "THE LITTLE MERMAID" AND WANTED A FISH THAT LOOKED LIKE "FLOUNDER" FROM THE MOVIE. SO IN WE WENT, MYSELF AND KIDS, BUT YOU HAD TO WALK PAST THE PUPPIES TO GET TO THE FISH...WE NEVER MADE IT BY THE PUPPIES! THERE WAS ONE LITTLE BLACK PUPPY WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES THAT JUST SAT AND LOOKED AT THE 4 OF US WITH THE SADDEST EXPRESSION, SAYING WITH THOSE EYES, "PLEASE TAKE ME". AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID! WE BOUGHT HIM ON THE SPOT! THEN, I CALLED MY HUSBAND ON THE WAY HOME AND SAID, WELL, WE DIDN'T GET THE FISH, BUT WE GOT A PUPPY!!

OREO WAS NOT A PURE BREED, HE FLUNKED TWICE OBEDIENCE SCHOOL, BUT HE HAD A HEART THAT WAS MADE OUT OF GOLD AND KINDNESS. HE NEVER ONCE SNAPPED AT ANYONE AND WAS JUST SOOOO HAPPY TO BE AMOUNG KIDS WHO (IN THE BEGINNING) DOTTED ON HIM! THEY SOON TIRED OF THEIR NEW TOY, BUT I NEVER DID. HE WAS AMAZING TO ME. HE WAS MY PAL AND WHEN EVERYONE WENT TO SCHOOL, IT WAS JUST OREO AND ME. HE WAS MY SHADOW, MY TRUE BUDDY, MY LOVE! I LOVED OREO LIKE I DID ONE OF MY KIDS. HE BECAME PART OF MY FAMILY SO FAST.

A WEEK AGO HE STARTED GRADUALLY NOT EATING AND THEN ON LAST FRIDAY, URINATED BLOOD. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIM TO THE VET WHERE THEY PERFORMED BLOOD TESTS AND TOLD ME HE WAS EXTREMELY ANEMIC AND THAT HE HAD A DISEASE THAT IS SIMILAR TO LUEKEMIA IN HUMANS. THE PROGNOSIS WAS NOT GOOD, BUT THEY REFERRED ME TO AN ANIMAL MEDICAL HOSPITAL ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY, WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIM THERE, WHERE WE FOUND OUT THIS DISEASE HAD DAMAGED HIS HEART AND THEY GAVE HIM OXYGEN BUT TOLD US WITH THE RIGHT MEDS, HE MAY HAVE ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO. THERE WAS HOPE, HE CAME HOME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, BUT EACH DAY BECAME WEAKER AND WEAKER UNTIL TODAY, AT 2:57 HIS HEART STOPPED BEATING. HIS HEAD WAS IN MY LAP AND HE WAS LOOKING AT ME CRY AND THEN HE JUST STOPPED BREATHING.

THAT'S THE TYPE OF DOG OREO WAS. NEVER WANTING ANYTHING, ONLY YOUR HAPPINESS. ALWAYS WANTING TO PLEASE.

WE WERE SPARRED HAVING TO HAVE HIM PUT TO SLEEP, GOD JUST CALLED HIM AND LIKE THE GREAT DOG HE WAS, HE WENT QUIETLY.

MY HEART IS BROKEN, BUT I KNOW HE IS IN THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE, WITH GOD AND MY DAD WHO, WHILE HE WAS ALIVE, ALSO LOVED OREO!

I WILL MISS MY PAL, BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE ALIVE IN MY HEART. YOU SEE, OREO, YOU CAN GO, BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME...I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT BUDDY.

SECRET SWAPPER IS REVEALED!!!!

TODAY I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO RECEIVE MY SPRING SWAP FROM MY SECRET SWAP SISTER....DEBBIE IN NEW YORK!!!! WHAT BEAUTIFUL "SPRING" THINGS I RECEIVED. COASTERS, T-TOWEL, PINCUSHION AND LOTS MORE!! IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS IN APRIL!!!!

WEATHER HERE IS FINALLY GETTING WARMER, SO AM BACK AT WALKING MY "OREO" AFTER DINNER AND IT FEELS SOOOOO GOOD! MY NEIGHBOR'S DAFFODILS HAVE ERUPTED AND THEIR COLOR IS SO BEAUTIFUL! MY DAY LILIES ARE STARTING TO PEEK OUT OF THE DIRT, SO AM ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL. ISN'T IT FUNNY THAT LITTLE SURPRISES CAN MAKE YOU SO HAPPY?

SPRING IS SUCH A GREAT TIME WHEN ALL OF NATURE SEEMS TO START OUT WITH A CLEAN SLATE! I WISH HUMANS COULD DO THAT EACH SPRING, WOULDN'T THAT BE SO COOL? JUST WIPE CLEAN ALL THE MISTAKES YOU MADE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND START NEW. MAYBE I SHOULD TRY THAT...MAYBE THAT IS WHY GOD GAVE US SPRING. TO HAVE NEW OUTLOOKS, SEE PAST PEOPLES IMPERFECTIONS, SEE PAST OUR IMPERFECTIONS, CHANGE BEHAVIOR (LIKE GAINING PATIENCE), OH THAT WOULD BE A GREAT ONE FOR ME! BE KINDER TO ONE ANOTHER, LAUGH MORE, PRAY MORE! APPRECIATE EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, MORE! MAYBE I WILL MARK MY CALENDAR (AS OF TODAY) TO START "MY" SPRING CLEANING... YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD THING TO DO! AFTER ALL, YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE...

LOTS OF HUGS TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS BLOG....AND A SPECIAL "THANK-YOU" TO DEBBIE IN NY...YOU BRIGHTENED UP MY DAY WITH ALL YOUR "SPRING" SURPRISES!

MARY

SPRING SECRET SWAP WITH PAT SLOAN'S YAHOO GROUP

HI FELLOW BLOGGERS!!

HAPPY FRIDAY! TODAY I FINISHED MY COASTERS TO BE SENT TO MY SPRING SECRET SWAPPER! I ALSO ADDED SOME "SPRINGY" THINGS TO SEND TO MY SECRET LADY! THIS SWAP IS BEING DONE BY PAT SLOAN YAHOO GROUP, AND ONCE WE GOT OUR "SECRET SWAP QUILT SISTER" WE WERE TO MAKE EITHER A T-TOWEL OR COASTERS. SO....I PICKED COASTERS! I HAND AND MACHINE APPLIQUED THESE LITTLE DARLINGS AS MY SWAPPER LOVES FLOWERS. THEN I FOUND IN CRATE & BARREL THESE T-TOWELS, AND WELL, I JUST HAD TO BUY THESE FOR HER. I ALSO FOUND THE BLUE BOX AT MICHAELS AND HAVE BEEN FILLING IT ALL WEEK WITH "SPRING THINGS"!!
OH SOOOO MUCH FUN! I DID ADD SOME CANDY, BUT COULD NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT, AS THEN IT WOULD GIVE IT AWAY.

I WILL POST NEXT WEEK HER FIRST NAME AND WHY I PICKED THE COLOR "BLUE", HINT, HINT AND THE FLOWERS, ANOTHER BIG HINT, HINT.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

HUGS,

MARY

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO!!!!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Happy Saturday!! Hubby took Saturday off to spend some quality time with family. Yeah! The two oldest were home from college for weekend and youngest did not have anything planned, Yet, so we took them to the Art Institute!

Because I am "digital" here are some pictures from our day.

The first two are "lovely children in car"... (why are there two pictures? you ask, because Oldest Diva had to take sunglasses off)

Now, back to the road, Oh Wait! We must stop for breakfast...they have to have their Mocha's and Pie, so... here we are at Baker's Square...why are they hitting one another with the menu's? Oh, sooo much fun, did I tell them they were young adults? Oh, I must have fogotten to tell them...Darn! I knew I forgot something to teach them!

Now on to the Art Institute... Here is the front, some inside shots of exhibits, one of my and the girls, and now that we have been "cultured", we are heading home...

They are now screaming for me to put away camera, but they didn't know I was behind them and took this one anyway...

Oh, and I forgot lovely shots of Lake Michigan...

This one I just have to add, before we left I took this picture of a man's backside on a bench. I call it "Butt on Bench" (actually did not know camera was on...and I snapped it, mistakenly), yeah, right?

So stayed tuned for next month's adventure when "Hubby takes Off Work" where we will end up!!

Hugs,

Mary

Opps, Oldest says I never put her on my blog...well, here ya go Sweetie!