Antebellum Album

I've been meaning to share a photo of this block with you for a while.  This is block 9.  3 more blocks to go.

I need to think about how I am going to put this quilt together.  I have a couple of different settings in mind.

I went to the Doctor's on Monday.  I was told that my sugar levels were high.  I had to start eating better and get more exercise.  She said walking would be good.  I started out walking on the treadmill because our weather was raining and cold.  Thursday it was still cold but the sun was shining and the sky was clear.  We decided to go to Metro Park by the lake.  

We took our dog Sammie with us.  She loves the park.  She gets so excited.  Usually early in the morning the park has few walkers.  Thursday however they were hosting a Cross Country event for all the local High Schools.  Sammie doesn't do well with lots of people.

She started running and barking and going one way and then the other.  And ran right in front of me and I fell.  Well not just fell....I slammed down on the ground, just missing the paved walkway.  My head hit the ground.  Broke my glasses.  Skinned my nose, cut my cheek and bruised my lips.  Oh and I had a nose bleed.  Needless to say yesterday I had the mother of all headaches.  But today I woke up feeling so much better.  Didn't even have to take any pain pills this morning.  So hopefully I can get some sewing done.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

One Down...3 To Go

Earlier in the week I got 4 quilts pin basted and ready to quilt.  One is a wall hanging, two are table quilts and the last is my Westering Women quilt.  I started with the smallest quilt.

Here is my Patriotic Sampler.  It consists of Swap blocks and orphan blocks.  The quilt top was finished years ago just waiting to be finished.  It feels good to finally have finished it.

So Monday and Tuesday was spent pin basting quilts.  Wednesday we went for a walk at Lake St. Clair Metro Park.  It was overcast and cool walking by the lake. 
The canal was frozen with lots of water on top of the ice.

I love the reflection of the houses on the other side of the canal.

The ice has captured all the falling leaves from the fall.

Today I am planning on getting some misc blocks done.  I have the latest block to test sew for Quiltmaker Magazine.   And maybe I will try and get another walk in at the park.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Have I told you.....

How much I love Autumn?  Today has been such a beautiful Autumn day.  The sun is shining and the colors are glorious.

We took Sammie out to Wolcott Mill Metro Park for a good work out.  We thought the workout was for her...but we are the ones that got the work out.  I'll show you some pictures of the park but first I want to show you what I have been working on.

I came to the party late....I didn't see Lori @ Humble Quilts latest QAL until the third round.  I'm pretty busy with other projects but I did want to do a smaller version of Lori's block.

 I had this chicken blocks and was always going to make more and have a queen size quilt.  Best laid plans.....  So when this project came along I thought this block would be perfect.  The red borders has these spots that remind me of eggs.  The pieced border was made up of triangles that were trimmed from projects.  I save them in a box and when I have a bunch I used them in other projects.  The 3rd border is chickens.  My quilt measures 13" and will fit perfect on my table quilt stand or on the wall in my kitchen by my chicken collection.  I have 2 tiny buttons for the eyes that I will add after I quilt it.  Thanks Lori for another fun QAL.  This is something I will definitely do again.


I got caught up on my Hip Chicks BOM (Joined at the Hip).

 I am surprised that I have been able to keep up with this.  It is going to be a nice quilt when finished.


I also got a couple of table runners made for Christmas presents.

They are the same size but at the angle I took the picture, one looks longer than the other.  Does it look familiar?  I made another one earlier and have a picture on my left side bar.


Now for our walk.  Wolcott Mill Metro Park is a bit of drive but on such a beautiful day it was enjoyable.  We took a longer drive to get there that took us through the country and down dirt roads.   All of a sudden my husband stopped and said look what is in the front yard of this house.

At first I thought he meant the pumpkins...then I saw them.  PEACOCKS!!! Then Sammie saw them too and started barking and they took off running.

This is the mill that the park is named after.  We've been here many times.  Once a year they have a quilt show.  

I love how they decorate the mill buildings with Scarecrows.

 After we checked out the mill we went for a walk.  They have quite a few hiking trails.  Sammie took us on a real hike.

 It was such a lovely walk.  The trail for the most part was covered in leaves and went up and down some hills.

We came across this tree that was hollowed out at the base.  There were all these tiny mushrooms.  It looked like a fairy garden.

On the way back to the car we missed our path and ended up in a field that had this mess covering it.  We almost stepped on this cute fuzzy caterpillar.

That was the end of walk.  Sammie didn't want to get in the car while Terry and I were dragging our butts and couldn't wait to get in.

I'll leave you now with this picture.  I loved how this leaf was shining against all the brown curled up leaves.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Hugs, Cathy

One Down Three to Go...

I had chosen 3 UFOs to work on for the month of February.

1.  Make 10 Log Cabin Bow Tie Blocks. So far I have 5 made for a total of 31.
     Only 89 to go...lol

2.  Get my Autumn Plus Quilt quilted.  I finally got the backing pieced.  Will
     sandwich it this weekend.

3.  Finish the applique on my Henrietta Whiskers Quilt.....Ta Da!!

I added my initials and the year.  Hopefully this will get sandwiched this weekend and then I can start hand quilting it.  So I'm doing pretty good with my list.  I'm already thinking of what UFOs to work on next month.


Yesterday we went to Lake St. Clair Metro Park.  Should have gone today because it is bright and sunny out.  Yesterday it was very gray out.  But we had a nice walk.

They were out ice fishing on the lake.  And as you can see we weren't the only ones walking dogs.  Sammie barked at the St. Bernard.  If he would have barked back I know she would have hidden behind us.

After walking the board walk we drove over by the boat launching area.  We usually see swans over there and today was no exception.

This pair was between us and the Island.  They are so beautiful and serene.

About 100 feet away in the canal we found another pair of swans as well as some ducks.

We almost missed seeing them as they blended so well with the ice.

They swam over to the other side of the canal.  Then the one swan spied a duck and didn't like the looks of him.  The chase was on.

As quickly as the chase began it quit.  I guess the swan had better things to do.

I hope you enjoyed by walk at the park and the swans.  I really love watching them.

I hope you are having a wonderful and productive week.

Hugs, Cathy