ad nauseam . . .

Okay, well, maybe not as extreme as my post title would indicate, but this is week three of the same stash reporting numbers . . .

Not that I'm complaining, mind you.  I've already finished up two big projects this year, so my usage numbers look fantastic (for me).

I hate to say this, but I'm *still* working on the hand quilting on my commemorative block . . .

I meant to do a post on the curved cross-hatching I'd decided to do (thanks to a post on Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals), but it's just been too busy. Plus, I finally finished off a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection, only to find myself on another round for a bladder infection, of all things. So I guess it's understandable that I've been feeling rather puny. Anyway, I finished cross-hatching three of the corners and only have one corner and to echo stitch around the final border left to quilt. The binding is ready to be stitched on, so hopefully this project won't drag on too much longer.

Spring has finally arrived at the camp, as is evidenced by all my favorite blooms making their respective appearances . . .

I love these sweet purple flowers from the ground cover in the turtle sanctuary.

And then there are these tiny little purple flowers, all over the in the grass!

And of course, my favorite Spring flowers, the daffodils!

The chipmunks have been enjoying the milder temps, too . . .

They're here, there and everywhere!  They're such fun to watch.

And speaking of enjoying the milder temps, we had some two-legged visitors to the camp this weekend, too!

Sawyer and June love to get out and run and roam and ride. Sawyer is showing off his muscles--that was a pretty big limb he had over his head.  And June wanted to climb with Pawpaw to the top of the monkey bars -- she's a daddy's/pawpaw's girl! And little Miss Olivia is happy to see the sights from her snuggly spot!

With all the snow and rain we've had in the last month, both ponds are full to the brim.

The upper pond has a drain down into the lower pond (pictured above).  Then the lower pond has an overflow canal that runs down the side of the hill . . .

And underneath the road where it runs a very windy path through the woods . . .

Until it reaches the big creek. It's rare to see it so full and running so fast through the woods!

That's it for me for today . . . enjoy your Sunday!!  Linking up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts.

:)

busy, busy, naptime . . .

I picked Sawyer up last night for a sleepover. It was supposed to be a Sawyer *and* Ellie sleepover ... and Todd was supposed to be out of town (his conference got cancelled because of the weather) ... but things happen and so Sawyer and I rolled with it!  Kim said he woke up yesterday morning asking if I was there yet, and then asked if it was time a thousand times throughout the day!!  What's so funny is that we hadn't gone 500 feet in the car and he told me how much he missed his mommy and daddy, and he need to go home because they were missing him too much.  Silly boy!  Gotta love him!  :)

Anyway, I picked him up yesterday afternoon and first things first, had him try on his scarf.  He was so excited!!  I'm pretty impressed he wore it with no issues!!

We went to have dinner, the two of us, at a relatively new restaurant called "Supper Heroes".  Sawyer went in his Buzz Lightyear costume!  Sawyer thought the place was great and loved all the cartoon super heroes on the walls and tables. But what really made an impact on him was our next stop for dessert . . .

KaleidoScoops! Sawyer picked out an ice cream that was as yellow as his scarf, and fittingly called "Playdough".  I went for the classic Rocky Road, myself. 

The boy power ate his way through that cone -- he mastered it like a boss! Very few drips and not a sprinkle to be found on the table!

Would you believe that after a quesadilla, french fries and ice cream cone, he still managed to eat an entire bowl of popcorn all by himself?

And thoroughly enjoyed his first viewing of Snow White.  He was very captivated by Dopey (and Dopey's ears).

Today our plans involved taking advantage of the warming trend and sunny day and head outside.  First we headed up to the field to see if the cows were out. Nope.  Then we scouted for deer.  Not the first one.  So then we headed to the pond, with bread in hand, hoping to feed the fish . . .

Ummmm . . . on frozen pond!  

Both ponds were solid ice ... so we settled for throwing rocks and laughing because they stayed on the top!

Sawyer wanted to check out the ice a little more closely, so we headed down to the shallow end of the pond.

It was pretty solid!  I was tentative about putting my weight on it, but we were both able to stand there! Sawyer was a bit braver than I was and wanted to go "ice skating" in the middle, and tried his very best to drag me out there . . . 

But I know better than that and we stayed right there at the shoreline!

Down at the lower pond, where it overflows into the stream, we found some running water to jump in -- an activity always good for the little boy's soul.  :)

So we'd seen no cows, no deer and no fish . . . and Sawyer could ice skate in the middle of the pond.  On a hunch, we rode the golf out of the camp to our neighbors' property.  They also keep cows and sometimes they're close to the road.  We were in luck!  Not only were the close, they were REALLY close!

Susan even had an apple so Sawyer could feed Scarlet . . .

Scarlet was very happy to have an apple!  You forget how big cows are until you're standing up there next to them. Big ol' bulky things!!

There were a couple of relatively young calves out there too, but they're shy and wouldn't come say hi to us!

I think I wore him out sufficiently.  We came home, had a bite to eat, and he *asked* to take a nap!  LOL! I can't say as I blame him -- I was tempted to crawl under the covers with him!

When he gets up, we'll head back to his mommy and daddy's house ... tonight's the night of the big gender reveal party!!!  Ties or tutus?!  I wish I had a clue -- anyone want to take a guess??!!  Sawyer's definitely hoping for a brother!

And since it *is* Feline Friday, Leia wanted to pop her fluffy self in the post today and share how much she enjoyed the finished My Orange Crush . . . 

Actually, she didn't enjoy it and we had to PUT her on it and hold her there. Which probably explains her expression. Stinker. If only I'd been working on it or something. Linking up to sarah did it!

TGIF -- enjoy the weekend!!

:)

out of the grey . . .

Yesterday, the fog (both internal *and* external) started to lift and Todd and I ventured as far as the golf cart for a ride about the camp.  *Anything* to get out from the tiny walls of the RV for just a bit and allow some "clean" air in to clear the cobwebs!

Serenity Pond, looking off the deck.

From the deck of Serenity Pond, looking down onto Silty Bottom Pond.

It was a lovely afternoon.  The clouds finally started to break apart and a bit of sunshine can do miracles!

I'd also run out of bread the day before . . . but neither of us had the energy to leave the camp.  Luckily I had the makings for bread.

Give a gal a loaf of bread and her family eats.  Teach a gal how to make bread and her family will never go hungry.  Isn't that how that platitude goes??! Something like that.

Okay, so the final design wall of the year is still sporting Grandmother's Choice blocks.  I went through and did all the easy ones, so now it's back to the tougher blocks.  Or rather, the more 'involved' blocks, I should say.  I'm determined to do all of them.  No excuses!

Sarah challenged me to have made some progress on this one before evening's end (yesterday).  I'd say I accepted the challenge!  ;)

I popped in a DVD while whipping . . . 

If you've not seen any of this series, it's quite good!  There's some fascinating information and history.

I also ran across this foundation paper piecing block (actually, it's a set of blocks--called "Spike Your English") at Quilting on the Square.

It reminded me a bit of a snowflake (and as an added benefit, it finishes in the shape of a hexagon!!!!), and I had the urge to give it a try.

Originally, I was thinking about using batiks for it . . . 

But now I'm not so sure.  One of the things I love about this design is the simplicity and consistency.  I'm a little afraid that using batiks would make each triangle different, and so you wouldn't get the same sense of 'sameness'.  Any thoughts?  Linking up to Patchwork Times.  

Today I *have* to go to the grocery store.  Wish me luck.

:)