Playing Catch-up

Back from a 2 week vacation and got a stomach virus.  So not much sewing getting done around here.

Luckily I finished the second block of the month for our Dearest Boy Sew Along.  This is the first block in the second row.  Block 2 A.

I love this block.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Now I need to start work on the next block, finish the blocks for Land of Liberty, do the next block for Antebellum Album and get caught up on the Temecula sew along.   Whew....I'm tired just thinking about it.  lol

Be sure to stop by and check out what the other Dearest Boy sew along members are doing.  

Karen, Julie, Carole and hopefully Doreen she's working on the quilt but hasn't posted yet.

I hope you are enjoying your summer.  Thankfully the weather has been very pleasant here.

Hugs, Cathy

A Beautiful Day

 Yesterday was absolutely beautiful.  The temps were in the 70's so it was a good day to do some site seeing. 

My parents retired and moved to the Upper Peninsula many, many years ago.  So my family has been in love with the area.  So much so for one member, my son Patrick.  He went to NMU and never came home.  

One of my favorite places is AuSable Lake.  To the left of this photo is a sand dune which is covered in grass.  When the kids were little there was no guard rail.  This is a drop off lake.  We would climb the sand dune then run down the hill, over the road, and dive in the lake at the drop off.

 Things have changed so much.  No more sand dune, no more swimming.  They closed the beach and closed the picnic area.

We left there and headed to Grand Marais.

 They have some beautiful houses up on the hill overlooking Lake Superior.  This one is my favorite.  I could be happy here.

 This is the Coast Guard Station.  It is now run by the National Parks Service.  There is a huge bay area.  In August they have hundreds of kayakers that come for a kayaking class and then they are taken out onto Lake Superior.  They open the High School for sleeping quarters.

Our final destination was 12 Mile Beach.  You drive down this old road that runs along Lake Superior.  We found a spot to pull over and this is what we saw.

The view was spectacular.

We climbed down the sand hill to the beach.

The beach is covered in driftwood that is thrown up on land during the many storms.  The shoreline is covered in stones and rocks.  We have spent many hours looking for Agates.

We had a great time.  We were so tired from all the walking on the beach but it was a good tired.

This morning when we got up it was a shock.  The temperature was 53 and its overcast.  So I plan on working on some applique.  Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer so we can go do some more exploring.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

I'm on Vacation

And I almost forgot to write my post....  We are in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for 2 weeks.  We're house sitting and pet sitting for my son and his family while they are in California.  This is our first vacation in 2 years.

Now for the next Dearest Boy block.

This is Block 1F.  A pear tree.  This completes the first row.

Check out Karen's and Julie's blogs.  And it looks like we might have a couple of new members for our sew along, Carole and Doreen.  Carole posted one of her blocks last week.  Doreen hasn't posted yet but she posted on facebook that she is working on her blocks.

Looking forward to some cooler weather here.  Have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

Back From Vacation

Had a wonderful time and so glad to be home.  We go back in 2 1/2 weeks to house sit but this time just me and hubby.

Got some squishy's in the mail while I was gone.  The balance of my blocks from the New Bee Block Swap I belong to  on 15 Minute Play.

I'm going to make a few more blocks and sash them in white.  I really like these blocks,

Hope your weekend has been a good and that you are keeping cool.  I'm off to go play in my sewing room.  I so missed it.

Hugs, Cathy

Having a wonderful time....

Wish you were here.

We have been so busy.  2 10 year old girls can really keep you going.  My granddaughter Ashley found a quilt I had made her years ago.  I had never taken a picture of it.  Now I have one.

The pattern I used was originally a miniature quilt pattern.  So I just enlarged it.  You can't see it from this photo but I embroidered antennae on each butterfly.

Here are some photos from our vacation so far.

We visited a Pirate Ship in Marquette's Lower Harbor.

Went swimming in Lake Superior on Presque Isle.

Visited Seney Wildlife Refuge.  The above is an Osprey Nest with some babies.

An Eagles nest.  See the Eagle.

We saw quite a few Loons.  This is the only one close enough to get a picture.

And we saw thousands of Water Lilys.

Afterwards we drove down to Manistique to go swimming by the lighthouse. 

The cousins are having a ball.  They really enjoy one another and they really tire out their grand parents.  I'm totally exhausted by the days end.

The weather has been pretty good.  One day of heat and humidity, one day of rain and today it is beautiful.  It is in the seventies, sunny, slight breeze and at 10:30 in the morning the girls are still sleeping....lol

I've managed to work on my applique project I brought with me.  Again I can't show you as it is part of the 4th Quiltmaker Scrap Squad Quilt.  But soon, I promise.

I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Hugs, Cathy

Going on Vacation

We leave tomorrow to go to the Upper Peninsula to visit my son and his family.  We are going to take my granddaughter Cassidy so she can visit with her cousin Ashley.

This is what they looked like 2 years ago.  They have both grown so much.  I will post a picture of this duo next week to show how much they have grown.  We always have such a good time when we visit.

Last week I showed you the blocks I designed for my New Bee swap on 15 Minutes Play.  Well here are the first set of blocks I have received.  I am going to make some more so I can have a large quilt.  I think I am going to use white sashing between the blocks.  All these blocks are made from made fabric.  We have taken all our scraps, sewn them together and then cut them into our patterns.  I thought this would make me use up my scraps but they seem to multiply instead.  lol

Weather here is beautiful hope it is the same tomorrow when we cross the Mackinaw Bridge.  I will be sure to post pictures of our time up north.

BTW...I finished my latest Scrap Squad quilt.  Just waiting to hear when it will be posted on Quilty Pleasures Blog (Quiltmaker Magazine).  As soon as I hear something I will let you know.

Hugs, Cathy

Back From Vacation...

It was really hot up north.   We cooled out by riding around and visiting waterfalls.

These are Agate Falls.  I had not been here since I was a kid.  My son decided we needed to go off the beaten path to get a better view.  I am not a mountain goat.  But I went.  Had to be pushed back up.  LOL

These are Bond Falls.  Years ago me, my husband, Mom and Dad visited these falls.  We had to climb down a gully to get there.  This time was much easier.  They have built a very nice boardwalk which made it real easy to get to the falls. 

We took a short walk near the edge of the falls.  Made for a nice picture of my GD Ashley.

My son pointed out this little critter.  Well maybe not so small.  But he was a nice looking Snapping Turtle.

Up above the falls while enjoying Ice Cream in the shade we came upon this mother Duck and her 6 Ducklings.  They were so much fun to watch.

On our way home my husband spotted this eagle.  Earlier in the day we had stopped so Ashley could go swimming.  The area was home to quite a few eagles.  I saw one soar down and catch a fish not far from where we were standing.  Unfortunately my camera was in the car.

Next day my son Patrick too me, my husband and Ashley for a full day Jeep ride. (I'm telling you my underside still hurts).  We went down roads that I never thought any vehicle would make it through.  We barely did...lol

We had to climb down to see these No Name Falls.  Small but sweet.

We headed back into town and walked along Lake Superior in Marquette.  In the background are the ore docks.

Off again to higher elevations....

This is the view from Marquette Mountain.  It is so beautiful up there.

Although it was very hot we had a great time.  Lots of quality time with the family.  The only quilty part of the vacation was Ashley picked out the pattern for the next quilt she wants me to make her.  It is going to be a plaid quilt.

We got home late Saturday, and vegged all day Sunday.  Today I get to get back to quilting.

Wishing you all a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

1st Day of Vacation

You know years ago when we came up north to camp it would be on the cooler side.  We  would wear long pants and sweat shirts.   Fast forward many moons......OMG  it is soooo hot and humid.

We started the morning off going for a walk.  We weren't alone.

This little guy tried to keep up....

Saw lots of wild flowers.

Now the Marquette area is know for its Iron Ore mines.  There were lots of them back in the day.  Our walk led us to an old mine.

Loved this scene made out of slabs of ore.

My lovely granddaughter Ashley....

Behind Ashley is the mine.  There is a big iron gate so no one will go in.  At this point we were dieing from the heat.  We had only gone a 1/2 mile so decided to go back to the car.

On the way to the car Ashley found this little tree frog.  I don't know about you but these old eyes would never have found it.  It was so tiny.

We stopped on the way home and had a picnic. (no photos)  And once home we went in Ashley's pool.....(definitely no photos)

Tomorrow another picnic and a day at the beach on Lake Superior's Shore.  Hopefully it won't be as hot. 

Keeping up with my blogs...but not too much quilty stuff.

Enjoy the day....

Hugs, Cathy