Finally, A Couple of Finishes!

Well, I haven't fallen off the world yet. It's been so busy around here, and also life just keeps getting in the way! Taxes, another classmate's funeral, two more church friends' funerals---one of them our best hand quilter, bad spider bites on both arms while cleaning flower beds, GS here a week during Spring break to quilt, but didn't get to quilt much for helping bandage my arms every day; BP up; you name it, it's happened the past two months! BUT, I'm going to try to get on with life; make that on with quilting!

I do want to share a picture of the decorations at our church "Golden Agers" (old folks like me!) Valentine's banquet.  My friend/neighbor did all the decorations, with the help of a few teenagers. She did a beautiful job, don't you think?  We had about 100 people there.  I helped with the dinner and clean-up.

For the Golden Agers' St. Patrick's Day dinner, my dear quilter friend and I cooked all the Irish Stew and cornbread muffins for 100 people.  That was a BIG job that I'm not accustomed to, but she is younger than I am, and a real work horse!  Everyone thought it was all delicious.  (Usually we have Chicken Express, BBQ, or turkey and dressing, so everyone was really happy with the menu change.)

I guess by now you can see why I haven't posted anything lately.  So, now let's get to the quilting!

 I did get the borders on DIL's quilt, and most of it quilted except the floral blocks. No picture yet; can't decide what to do there, but will get back to it soon hopefully.

I have finished a couple of table mats that will be donated to the church youth auction, and may make another small one with a fishing theme. The powers that be decided that we quilters should make table mats for each holiday through the year. They will all be placed in a big gift basket for the auction in late April to help teens go to church camp this summer. You would know I'm making the patriotic one for July 4. Well, I made this one first; it is 40" square. Then our leader decided it needs to go in the live auction separately because it is larger than the mats made by the other quilters.

So this weekend I made the second one, same fabrics, but only 24.5" square, and a different star; I'm sure it will be more compatible with the others in the basket, and it was really easy.  Actually I had fun with both!

My SS class is to make up a basket for the auction that is to be filled with fishing stuff --- hooks, fishing poles, reels, whatever.  (Each class will be putting together a basket with different themes; we've never done this before; hope it works!)   I have one small fish panel that I may make to put in the basket for the fisherman who places the highest bid for that basket.  It will require a trip to the store for some border and backing fabric, but I have a couple of weeks.

Then I'm really wanting to get my large bird panel together for my sunroom.  So many birds of all kinds are gathering in my yard right now, including a red-headed woodpecker, so if I'm ever going to get that one ready, the time is now!  I've had it a couple of years.  I'll have to get a backing for that too!

I just can't close this out without an update on Mr. (Mrs.?) Bushee.  Actually there are four squirrels playing around all the time, but one (I think it's just the same one) keeps robbing the bird feeders even though I have a bowl on the ground for the squirrels.  I think maybe you'll enjoy these pictures.  Quite a show!  (Of course, he is destroying the feeders!  Bad boy!)

The Acrobat, hanging on the pole by one leg.

Contemplating a Steal!

Oh, this is going to be S-O-O-O good!

I'll just stay here to eat it; no need to jump down; then I'll be ready to steal some more!

Well, I guess you've put up with enough of my foolishness, that is, if you are still reading here.  Sorry I had to do a two-month catch-up.  Until this week-end, I really didn't have any quilting to show, and I really didn't have time to post "nothing" before.  I'll try to do better.  I've tried to keep up with all your blogs, and have really enjoyed them all.  Hopefully all the cold weather is past for most of us, and Spring is on the way!

Happy quilting to all!

---"Love"