A Picnic and some Dear Jane

Saturday, August 24, would have been my Dad's 92 birthday.  We lost Dad in 2010.  Well to celebrate his birthday Terry and I went on a picnic with my Baby brother Steve and my sister-in-law Dawn at Kensington Metro Park.  We had a nice time.  Good food and good conversation.  I brought along a photo album of pictures I took while I was Dad's care giver.  They hadn't seen them.  After we had lunch we went over to the Nature center and then took a walk around the lake and through the woods.  Here are some of the pictures I took.

This color of this Goldfinch just popped against all the green.

I've got this thing for mushrooms and fungi.  Don't know why but I do.

These turtles were on the other side of the pond.  My brother spotted them first.  I was really happy with how the picture came out from such a far distance.

This beautiful Sandhill Crane was just sitting by the Nature center.  There are signs all over that say don't feed the cranes.  We learned the hard way last year when they chased my husband trying to get food from him...lol

These butterflies were every where.  So beautiful.

There were lily pads all over.  These were close to the board walk along one side of the lake.

You can see above how many lily pads there were.  If you look real close you might just see a Blue Heron.  There were quite a few flying around.

We couldn't have asked for a better day and we plan on doing this again real soon.

I got a little sewing done.  I stress little because it has been so hot that even with air conditioning in my sewing room I dripping.

Here is Dear Jane Block 4....

And Dear Jane Block 5....


I also make a 12" x 12" memory quilt that I was commissioned to make.  Can't really show it to you because of the pictures.

Other than that....Oh I forgot.  I won a giveaway from Kyle at "Timeless Reflections".  I won a Clover needle dome and some needles.  I'm so excited.
Other than that not much going on here.  To hot and humid to do much.

Hope your week is going well and thank you for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Drum Roll Please.....

......And the winner of the book "Making Quilts" is:

Sharon @ Indigo Threads

Congrats Sharon.  I've sent you an email.  

Thanks to all that entered and to all that follow.  Stay tuned....Next month I will be having another giveaway.  Yep...going through my books I found another double...lol.

Hugs, Cathy

Fantastic Weekend (Photo Heavy) + Giveaway Reminder

Before I show you camping photos I want to show you my only finish for August.

I made this table runner a couple of years ago.  Finally got it quilted.  This is going to be a Christmas present...not sure for who yet...lol


I also got another Dear Jane block done.

This is block #1.  I now have 2 blocks done.  At this rate my descendants will have to finish it.  


Don't forget the giveaway.

You have until Saturday the 24th.  I will pick a winner on Sunday the 25th. Please be sure to leave a comment stating you are a follower and you will get a second chance if you blog about it.  Make sure I have an email address to contact you.  

 I think this will be the first project I am going to work on.  So many wonderful quilts in this book.

Now for our camping trip...  The weather was beautiful.  We camped at Algonac State Park which is on the St. Clair River.  

It was so relaxing.  Lots of freighters went by but I was too lazy to get up and get my camera out of the trailer.

Those of you who have read by blog for a while know that I love to go for walks and take pictures of wild flowers.  Well get ready....

 We found wild grapes, red berries, white berries, black eyed Susan, Queen Anne's Lace, and so much more.  

The last picture I have for you is a guest we had come by at every meal.

She wasn't shy.  She would jump up on the picnic table begging for scraps.

We had such a nice time camping even if it was only 4 nights.  Lots of relaxing, reading and quilting.  I got another 2 squares of my Henrietta Whiskers quilt quilted. 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for stopping by and come again.


Hugs, Cathy

Going Camping and the Giveaway

Going camping for a few days or more.  I want to remind you about the giveaway.  You can leave a comment on the previous post or this post.  Just let me know that you are a follower.  Get a second chance if you blog about it.

I've already picked out what quilt I'm going to make.  I'll show you when we get back.

While we are gone I'm going to be working on getting some more hand quilting done on this quilt.

Hugs, Cathy

Enjoying the Summer and a Giveaway

I've been lazy lately.  I've done a lot of reading and watching movies and watching the Detroit Tigers win.

But I've also done some sewing and shopping....

Here are some of the projects I've been working on.

1.  Lori and Randy's Quilt a Long.

I decided to do a scrappy final border.  I have 2 cut out and plan on working on it today.  Then I need to pull the fabrics for the applique.  I'm slowly getting this done.


2.  Joined at the Hip BOM.

Here is the latest block.  I can't wait till the end of the year.  It is going to be a really nice sampler quilt.


3.  This and That Monday Mystery #6.

I love these Monday Mystery's.  I haven't done all of them but I do print up the patterns.  My favorite time of year is autumn so this is one I will definitely finish.


4.  Dear Jane.  Like a lot of you I was fascinated when Dear Jane came out.  I worked on it religiously.  I took it up north with me when I stayed with my Dad.  Some how when packing up to come home I misplaced my blocks.  I've been meaning to work on it again but just kept putting it off.  Well I recently bought the EQ Dear Jane program.  Wow!!!  it is so much easier to do the blocks.  I started with block #2 and have printed up all the rotary and or templates for the first row.

Now I told you I went shopping.  DH and I had received a gift certificate for Cabela's.  Last week we decided to go to their Saginaw store.  We picked up a fire pit grill to use when we camp.  While in Saginaw we decided to go to an antique store.

I'm always on the look out for an antique quilt.  I got lucky.

Isn't it beautiful.  There is some where and some of the fabrics are disintegrated.  But the colors are still very vibrant.

The fabrics look like they are from the CW Era.  It will be hanging on my wall for a while.

My second shopping trip was a visit to Amazon.  I preordered a book and then ordered it again.  DUH.... but since I got such a good deal I decided to give the second copy away.

I saw this book on different blogs and just had to have it.  (Like I don't have enough books...lol)

So here is what you need to do to be entered to win a copy.

1.  Leave a comment on this blog letting me know you are a follower.

2.  Blog about it for a second chance.

Now that is easy.  You know it has been 2 years since I started this blog.  I have made many friends through blogging.  This is my way of saying thank you for all your inspiration.

You have until August 25 to enter.  I will pick the winning name on Monday August 26.  Good Luck to all.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy