sand piles & mud puddles

We are simple folk.





Give us a big pile of sand and we can play for hours.





And re-enact scenes from Alaska Experiment.






And if Uncle Jeff walks straight through the mud puddle . . .





then Licious will too.




It really doesn't take much to entertain us.

-dana

It does a heart good

It does a heart good to be with family for Thanksgiving.




It certainly does my heart good.





To play cards. Make music. And see my daughters' wide eyes at the Japanese hibachi style restaurant.










To eat. And play.






And to love.





-dana

Wonky stars

These are for Amber for A Notion or Two. They were fast to come together and I see some for myself in the near future.





But first, Thanksgiving. May yours be merry.

-dana

Eight

You are eight years old today.

Eight. Years. Old.



Eight years in a blink of an eye. From soft, pink newborn to long, lean girl in a matter of moments. Good moments. Special moments. Quiet moments. Loud moments.

Frighteningly fast moments.

Moments I want to remember forever.






Because your birthday falls so close to Thanksgiving each year, your birthday celebration seems to last for weeks. One for school. One for us. One with grandparents and aunts and uncles. Three cakes. Several different gift opening sessions. And you never, ever focus on the gifts. It is more than that to you.







Of course you like the gifts. What eight year old girl wouldn't? But you like the coming together of people. The song and laughter and fun. When your friends are here for a birthday slumber party you make simple rules that you are sure to enforce. . . 1) No one feels left out; 2) No one gets their feelings hurt; and 3) Don't be nervous cause you're not at your house. Simple rules really. But so telling of your spirit.







You love to be outdoors riding your bike, jumping rope, swinging on a rope swing or playing with your hula hoop. You love hiking and blazing new trails. And building new forts and bouncy trees far up in the woods. You love to draw and create things with paper. From cards to critter homes to crowns or doll clothes. You love making up new songs and singing them just right. You have a quick wit and easily make those around you laugh. You are competitive yet gracious. Proud yet humble. Compassionate. Thoughtful. And kind.

And breathtakingly mine.

Happy birthday.

Love,
Mom

Enamelware love

I love old enamelware.



And I have alot of it around the house. Serving various and assorted purposes.










My favorites are the polka dots. I am always on the hunt for more. But not on eBay. Just yard sales, flea markets and thrift shops. Someday I hope to find an old European salt box. Well, that isn't the whole story. . .

Someday I hope to find an old European salt box at a yard sale price.

-dana

Gnome any slackers?

Upon my kitchen counter sits a bowl of jalapenos. That I grew. That I grew with the intent to can them. That I grew with the intent to can and enjoy all winter long. The poor jalapenos have been sitting in a bowl on my counter for so long that they have turned red and are beginning to dry up.

Pitiful.

At least they look cute next to the kitschy gnome sign I found at a local thrift shop.

Can you say slacker?

-dana

How To Make a Quilt

Below are links to each step in the process of making a quilt.  This particular quilt is a Rail Fence type quilt and here you will find every step in the process.

Supplies You Will Need

Cutting Instructions

Sewing Your Blocks

Assembling Your Quilt Top

How To Free Motion Quilt

Binding Your Quilt


Join our continuing quilting saga at Flickr here!


Thanks for always playing.
-dana