It's been a While....

I've been busy with this and that.  The weather has either been hot, hot, hot or cold, cold, cold.  I don't have anything to show you because I have been working steadily on my latest Scrap Squad quilt.  Lots of hand applique.  As much as I love hand applique it gets a little boring when you are appliqueing the same shape over and over.

I've also been working on my weight and diabetes.  The weight is coming off slowly.  I'm averaging 1.5 lbs. per week.  I started on insulin 4 weeks ago.  My blood sugar levels are coming down so I guess the insulin and the addition of a new medicine is helping.  However, being on insulin is making me hold water and causing my legs to swell.  They said this would happen and that it would be harder to loose weight once I started the insulin.  So I take water pills and this seems to help.

We have been going for walks.  I've got a few pictures for you.

This couple was taking their 5 kids for a walk.  They didn't care for us being as close as we were.

I thought I had my hands full with 4 kids but this family had 14 young ones.

Lot's of geese with young ones.  But we've only seen one pair of swans with a baby.  This swan has been setting on her nest for a while.  I hope they will be a baby soon.

The park is full of Red Winged Blackbirds.  They have such a beautiful song.  They often follow us hoping for some bird seed.

As I've told you before I spent 4 years in the Upper Peninsula taking care of my Dad.  When he passed away in 2010 my husband suggested that we dig up my parents Peony bushes and bring them home.  I'm am so glad he did. 

There are 2 different types.  This one blooms wide open.  The other which has buds but no flowers yet is a deep magenta and  the flower is tighter.

Every time I look out into my backyard and see them I smile and think good thoughts about my parent.  So many wonderful memories.

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial weekend.  Stay safe and enjoy yourselves.  We are staying at home.  I'm going to try and get some sewing done that I can show you...lol. 

Hugs, Cathy

A Finish, A Start, A Walk, and A Quilt Show

WARNING:  PHOTO HEAVY

A while ago I showed you a little basket quilt top that I made.  It was a Cheri Payne quilt-a-long.  Well here it is finished and hanging up on my wall.

I machine quilted it doing squigly lines across the quilt.

Here is another Cheri Payne quilt-a-long.  It still needs to be quilted.

You know how much Terry and I love walking at Lake St. Clair Metro Park.  Well it's been raining so much lately we haven't had a chance to walk.  Yesterday the sun was shining and a nice breeze blowing...so we took off to the park.

We came across this couple having a picnic.  They were so lucky to find a spot with a private swimming pool.

Mom was taking her new borns out for a stroll.

This Mom had her hands full.  The babies are growing so fast.

I love this time of year.  The flowering trees are so beautiful. 

Everytime I go to the park I have wanted to get a picture of this weathervane.  So I finally did.  It is made of copper.

And now I saved the best for last.  Last week we went to the Macomb County Quilt Guild Quilt Show.  There were so many beautiful quilts.  Enjoy!!

 Look closely and you can see that the entire quilt is made from 9 patches.  It is so beautiful.

And of course they had sooooo many vendors.  However, I only bought one thing.  A new book.  I won't be starting this quilt till my year with Quiltmaker Magazine is over.

Speaking of Quiltmaker....go to Quilty Pleasures Blog and see my fellow Scrap Squad member Jennifer's Ladder of Success.  Another beautiful quilt.

Wishing you a wonderful sunshine filled day.

Hugs, Cathy

In Just One Week.....

We've had 80 degree weather, 32 degree weather, a quilt show, a walk, and health issues.

First the Quilt Show.  A week ago, my husband and I went to the Oakland County Quilt Guild Quilt Show.  This show is special to me.  I used to be a member of the guild and I got my first 1st place ribbon at this NQA show.  Here are some of the quilts I saw.

It was a really nice show.  And they had tons of vendors...I did shop a little.  It was nice to run into some old friends too.

We went for a walk to Lake St. Clair Metro Park (formerly Metro Beach Metro Park) and it was beautiful out.  I made sure I took my camera hoping to see some wild life.  And I did.  The temperature was around 80.

These 2 Terns were flirting quite a bit.  We had to turn away at one point....lol

We saw so many swans.  There was a flock of 10 swans that flew over us.  Not sure where they were headed.

My first site of baby geese for the season.  They were quite small and as you can see the parents were very protective.

We went walking yesterday and it was only 32 degrees out.  I swear I saw snow flakes.  It must have been dog walking day.  There had to be about 80 dogs there.

Now for the health issues.  I've had Type 2 diabetes for years.  Tuesday I went to the Doctor's for my regular check up and my blood tests showed that my diabetes is out of control.  I am now on a new additional medication (which is playing havoc with my system) and I will need to start on insulin.  But thank goodness it will be a pen.  She said I could possibly get of insulin and some of my medication if I loose some weight.  That's not an easy task with diabetes and thyroid problems. 

So she suggested that I join weight watchers online.  I did.  From counting points I realized that I was eating too much and all the wrong foods.  I weigh myself Wednesday morning to see how much weight I have lost during this first week.   I will keep you informed on how I am doing.

Woo hoo....I finally finished my Scrap Squad Quilt.  I have to do my write up on the process for Quiltmaker's Blog and take a picture of my quilt.  I'll let you know when it will be posted on their blog.  Already got the pattern for the next quilt.  Trying to think up some ideas for it.

Well this has been a lengthy post and lots of photos.  I hope you enjoyed then and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy 

Pink Lemonade and More

I've been working on my Pink Lemonade quilt. 

I got my half blocks done.  Yesterday Lori posted the corner block directions so I plan on finishing up my quilt today.  This has been so much fun.  I can't wait to finish it.

I'm also working on another quilt-a-long.  This one is with Kathleen Tracy at "A Sentimental Quilter".  She is doing a Miniature Quilt a month from one of her books.  This month's quilt is "Crosses Mourning Quilt" from her book "Prairie Children and Their Quilts".  She has posted pictures of her quilt on her blog.

The quilt calls for 9 blocks but I think I'm only going to do 6.  Hoping to work on these today also.

And I continue to work on the the Scrap Squad quilt.  I have seen a quilt that a squad member has made.  It is beautiful and very different from mine.  I can't wait till the magazine comes out so I can show you mine.  I have all seven rows sewn and now I need to sew them together.  Then I need to quilt it. 

The sun was out today and it wasn't too cold or windy out so we naturally went to Metro Beach (Soon to be called Lake St. Clair Metro Park) to walk.  Of course once we got there it was windy and colder.  But then it always is out by the lake.  The geese were flying all around but not much water for them to land in.  The canals were frozen over.  After our walk we drove over to the marsh area.  Guess what we saw.....

This pair of swans happened to find a hole in the ice.  Just big enough for the two of them to move around without bumping into each other.  It was close to shore so it was shallow enough to feed.  They are so beautiful.

Well, I'm off to my sewing room.  My list is growing with projects I need to start and finish.  Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

51 degrees out on January 6th

Oh my goodness I can't believe this weather.  19 degrees high one day and then 51 degrees the next.  We went for a wonderful walk (and long) at Metro Beach today.  I'll show you pictures later.

With all the hub bub at Christmas I forgot to tell you about...

I won a charm pack from Pat Sloan.  I was so excited but totally forgot to

tell everyone.  I guess it was the excitement of the holidays.

This is the block I made for Katherine in my New Bee at 15 Minutes Play. 

 It is made with made fabric.  I really love this block.  Can't you just picture a

quilt made from this block.  I'm going to have to draw it up on EQ.

Speaking of EQ....I just got EQ7.    Woo Hoo...  I'm so excited.

I have EQ5, but have found so many patterns that can be

downloaded directly into EQ7 but not EQ5.  It just came

yesterday so I haven't had much time to play.

The other project I've been working on is the quilt for Quiltmaker Magazine

with the 2012 Scrap Squad.  Can't show it to yet.  But I will

once the next issue comes out.

Now for our walk.  As I told you before this park is on the shores of

Lake St. Clair.  The sun was shining and the wind was blowing.

It was beautiful but brrrr it was cold with the wind chill.

Can you walk on water?  These guys can!

These guys were also walking on water.

Now I know it is warm for January but this guy was nuts.

Sitting on the ice all huddled together.

Coming in for a landing.

I love my new camera.  And I really love the program that came with

it.  It makes it so easy to crop and enlarge my photos.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed yourself.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy