Water Boy

Miss Princess Honey-Do Allegra was busy hogging the water bucket I have hanging on the fence. Thirsty girl.

Tag was thirsty, too...& getting tired of waiting for his turn.

I got him his own little bucket of water.

After drinking (and then spilling most of what was left), he decided to carry his bucket around with him...keeping it away from Allegra. That's my boy.

He would make someone a great service dog. Ohyeah...he already does. Me!

A No-Show!

...cannot show you the other project that I finished today. It's for one of my sisters...to be given at our upcoming Sisters Weekend! At least I got one more thing crossed off my list!

Gonna read and that's it for this evening.


I'll leave you with this photo...will tell you all about it in a few days. Promise.

Block Party!

Nothing but blocks today...so far, anyway.

Here is my first block for the Bee Addicted 3 group. A wonky house in a forest clearing.

This quilting bee is so much fun already and we're just in the first month. Here's how it works: There are 12 members in this bee...it started this month and goes for 12 months. Each of us chose a month. At the beginning of each month, everyone (whose month it is not) gets a package (from the one whose month it is) with fabric and instructions on what that person wants. For example, September is Becca's month. She sent many different fabric scraps and stated that she wanted wonky houses and/or trees. We are to make one or more blocks. By the end of this month, we'll all send our completed block(s) to her and she'll have several blocks, including whatever she made herself. It's going to be a great experience!!!

Did you catch the lady bug in the window...the window with gingham curtains? I thought it was a great idea!!! Makes me smile!!

April 2010 is my month...I'm going to use either the Authentic or Kashmir III collections of fabric. Love them both! Thinking blocks with stars or whirlygigs, but there is lots of time to change my mind.

Also completed my next BOM...this is block 8. I had 2 to do this month and completely messed up the first one. Since I'll only be using 9 of the blocks for a lap size quilt, I will still have 11 to choose from. This block is much prettier in person...and that paisley? It's also a border fabric.

Time for lunch and then back to more sewing. More to show later.

The Chocolate Pup...and Tag E Butt

I've been thinking about selling some of my handmade items online. For awhile. For one reason or another, I chose to not go with eBay or Etsy. What I did instead...I created a blog to use as my selling forum. At the top of my sidebar on this blog, there is a photo of a brown dog with a sewing needle and thread...this is my logo for my little shop. Isn't it cute??? This is actually a logo I used about 10 years ago in another life. Designed for me by Lori Bush...who, I think, was a bit surprised when I told her that the brown dog had to be a boy. Anyway. Just click on the logo of "The Chocolate Pup" and you'll get there. And, by the way...because I have a very small reading audience, any help in getting the word out will be much appreciated. I'll be adding a few things over the weekend and who knows what might end up there?

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Must tell you...
Tonight when I fed the dogs, I grabbed Tag's water bucket out of his crate and filled it with fresh water. I hung the bucket inside his crate and, apparently, neglected to shut his crate door. I was sitting here at my computer and in walked Tag...carrying his empty stainless steel food bowl. Through the dining room, down the hallway, wagging his tail the entire time. As if to say, "hey Mama, I cleaned my bowl...do I get dessert now?" He cracks me up. Can't help it.

OOPS! I forgot!

I never did post photos of what I accomplished yesterday...completely forgot. ~sigh~ Here they are...

This is my second wonky quarter log cabin block. I'm liking these a lot!

Here are the two wonky quarter log cabin blocks side-by-side. Ya know, I try to do random and it just doesn't work. I deliberately did not look at block #1 while putting together block #2...wanted no influence over what I was putting together. So. I think this clearly shows how my mind works. No such thing as 'random' in my head...my mind is too orderly, methinks. It cracked me up when I saw them together. See how all the colors/strips are the same color/pattern? Even the placement of the 'odd' piece in the middle of a strip? I need help. Seriously. LOL
Since I am making 4 of each of the four patterns of this quilt along (for a total of 16 blocks instead of 25 blocks most others are doing), I think I'll make the remaining two of this pattern similar...either as these two are, or use opposite colors and place them diagonally from each other. Know what I mean?

Here's my practice 'maverick' star. It's supposed to be wonky, but I think it might be a bit too wonky.


I have a list of projects a mile long (nothing new for most of us, hey?)...am hoping to get more done today. Soon, I won't be able to show you everything that I'm working on. With Christmas coming fast, I have lots of projects to work on. Seems like half of my family has birthdays in November and December, too.

Have a great Sunday!

All Better!

Allegra's chemistry profile came back...everything is normal! YAY!

So. Pyelonephritis that we caught early enough. The little Princess Honey-Do Allegra will be on antibiotics for a month, but that will ensure that she is completely free from infection.

Thank you, once again, for all your good wishes for my little girl.

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If I get my butt in gear, I'll have several things to show you by tomorrow night. I hope. I hope.

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Wanna see a cute puppy?

Hop on over to Bren's blog...click HERE.

Allegra is feeling better.

She's eating and has gained a bit of weight.

We're thinking pyelonephritis.

Here's information:

Merck Veterinary Manual

She found her barker...

I now wonder why I was so upset

when she wasn't barking?

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I managed to get one wonky quarter log cabin block done today.

Better Days are here...for now, anyway.

An update on Allegra...

Her fever is gone.

She's on antibiotics.

We're waiting on lab work.

I don't think we're in the clear, yet.

She still has some very distinctive yet puzzling signs/symptoms.

Once we get the chemistry profile back,

we should have the rest of the pieces.

Hope so, anyway.

Thank you so very much for your prayers and good wishes.

I will let you know when I have some answers.

Couple of Things...

Most importantly...Allegra is not feeling well. She has a fever and has been having a few problems. The last few days, she has been exhibiting some bizarre (yes, even for her) behavior. She's not barking, either. For those of you who know her, you'll understand how much she doesn't feel good by that statement alone. I took her in late this afternoon and we're sending blood and urine off to the lab. I'll keep you posted...am very worried about my little girl.

Other news...I got the quilting frame all set up on my spare table in the sunroom today. Here's when I had the frame and track all set to go. The leaders are on the poles (just muslin...the top and backing are pinned on to them).

In this photo, the Big Bad Boy is all set up and rarin' to go! See how it works? Rollers ride the tracks and rollers of the piece the machine is on rolls forward and backward. With a ~9" throat, I'll be whipping these quilts out faster than you can say "Big Bad Boy Janome"!!!
See the paper pattern? There's a laser to follow the lines of the pattern. It'll take some doing to get that under control. haha. One doesn't need to have a pattern...just if you want.

The quilt that's on the frame is not mine...it came with the set up, so I'm using it to practice.

See this cute Scottish Highlander baby??? Larry (of Larry & Lois that I bought this set up from), sent me this photo...his son and DIL (or is it his daughter and SIL?) have a farm where cattle, sheep, chickens, etc., etc., are raised. See their Christian ministry here.

The Big Bad Boy has arrived....

Meet my new (to me) machine...the Janome 1600P DB.

He just does straight stitch - up to 1600 stitches per minute

(though I hardly think I'll be going that fast)!

wheeeeeee!!!

He brought all of this with him.

I should have everything set up tomorrow.

Hopefully, I'll get in some play time!

That's all for tonight.

It's been an exciting but long day.

Time to sit and relax.

A Great Afternoon...

for a motorcycle ride!

My son, Matthew, and his wife, Jesika, stopped by to replace my tv's converter box, which had gone kaput a few weeks ago. Wasn't that nice? Course, I had begged and begged for two weeks...telling him he was the only one who could do it for me. ~grin~

Here they are...just arrived! Matthew has a Honda GoldWing (his Harley-riding Grampa would roll over in his grave if he knew his grandson was riding a Honda!)
Cracked me up...as soon as they got off their ride, they both checked their phones for messages.
And, while they were here, they helped me move some furniture around. I had just found out that I'll be getting something new (to me) tomorrow, so the timing was great! It was so nice to have two strong young people to help. Course, you know, about all I did was say, "I want the sofa sleeper here, the antique dresser in the office (more on that at some other time), and the table in the sunroom."

So. That's that.

Now for the quilting news. I cut and sewed and trimmed and ironed all day yesterday. Got a quilt top about half done! woohoo! Sorry, no photo, yet.

Today, I started on my wonky log cabin quilt. It involves a lot of cutting/pressing/trimming, but it is a lot of fun! And, one can be as 'wonky' as one wants to be. (I think I'm kinda medium wonky.) Here's my first block...
That's all I have today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for some really fun and awesome news!! (for me, anyway...~grin~)