rocking stitch

Life Goes ON!

2009-09-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

What can I say?

2009-04-04T13:55:00.001-07:00

Many Trips To Go.

2009-03-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

I hope to finish hand quilting this sometime before the century is over. It is 120" X 120". egads! That's a lot of stitches with these tiny needles.

Christmas Tree

2008-12-24T12:56:00.001-08:00

Vista

2008-12-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

Stuff like this just lifts my soul. I can't imagine living in an urban area where one could never look out at the mountains. The desert brings a person to prayer. Silence. There is no better silence than in the desert. It is the best place to hear that still small voice.

At Rest

2008-10-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

It was a long and stressful weekend. We had a graveside service for Mom in that little country cemetery back in Iowa. Mom used to mow that cemetery! What a character... one time she mowed over a bee's nest and got a bajillion bee stings! She was liberated woman long before anyone had a word for it. She ran a farm after my father died. Then she drove a semitrailer truck hauling livestock for 20+ years! Maybe she wasn't educated, but she was one smart woman.

June 3 1912--July 16, 2008

2008-07-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

My mom died last week. Here we are 2 years ago, quilting a Jewel Box quilt for son and daughter-in-law. This last month has been a blur. I can't believe she is gone.

Book Meme

2008-07-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

One book that changed your life: "Song of the Sparrow" by Murray Bodo. I'm sure it's out of print now, but it set me on a completely different direction in my life.

One book you’ve read more than once twice: "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman. I carried this book everywhere with me when I was a daffy teenager.

One book you’d want on a desert island: "Divine Intimacy" and the Bible. Oh, and how about "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I could reread that into oblivion.

One book that made you laugh: "The World According to Garp" by John Irving had me in stitches. I find his later books to be way too dark for my taste, however.

One book that made you cry: "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

One book you wish you had written: "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens.

One book you wish had never been written: Oh... most of Stephen King.

One book you’re currently reading: "Jesus of Nazareth" by Benedict XVI and The "Hamstead Mystery" by John Watson. I love the old, OLD mysteries on Librivox.org

One book you’ve been meaning to read: C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity"

Lots of Dogs Quilt

2008-06-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

I made this pretty quickly so I'd have something for Project Linus this month. I think it is sort of cute and hope some child will like it.

Orange Crush

2008-06-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? This is how the quiltville.com mystery quilt turned out for me. If you look carefully, you can see that there is a four-patch turned the WRONG way! I'll have to fix that (or not) before I quilt it. It was fun to sew along with dozens of other quilters around the world. I wish I had chosen different colors for my own quilt, however. What was I thinking?!

Scrappy Bargello

2008-06-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I didn't know why I was making this quilt. Then, via the internet, I got reconnected with my old friend Glenda in NC. She now has Parkinson's! Now this quilt has a purpose and it will be in the mail tomorrow. The pattern is from Bonnie at Quiltville.com.

A Little Cloud in the Valley

2008-05-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

It has been cold, wet, and rainy here, but we got to babysit the grandchildren this weekend, so who cares?!

I Came and Went

2008-05-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Highway 50 across Nevada and Utah. I-70 to Denver, then I-25 to Pueblo. Photo was taken in Nevada. I love this state!

Brush Fire

2008-04-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

1200 acres. Yesterday afternoon in 70+ mph winds. More to come, I'm sure. Another season of fire? And how 'bout those earthquakes? What's next? Locusts?

Wind Aloft

2008-04-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been a windy spring here in northern NV, but we do get these terrific cloud shows when the wind comes off the mountains.

My creation

2008-04-09T17:06:00.001-07:00

The Big Cloud

2008-03-26T18:26:00.001-07:00

We had some glorious lenticular clouds yesterday.

Finished!

2008-03-01T08:20:00.001-08:00

I finally got the hand quilting done on Sophia's baby quilt. I will give it to her on her one month birthday. I hope she likes it!

Dusk near Gold Hill

2008-02-12T16:06:00.001-08:00

It was our 41st wedding anniversary. We didn't want to go too far from home because of the eminent new baby situation, so we just spent the day and night in Virginia City. Since they roll up the sidewalks at 5 PM in the winter there, we ended up driving down to Carson to eat. We had a lovely day and brief respite from our real life. Happy anniversary to us!

Bargello Challenge

2008-02-07T18:52:00.001-08:00

bargello superbowl challenge,
originally uploaded by herdogannie.

Bonnie on Quiltville ran a Superbowl bargello challenge. This was what I came up with. I really like how wild it turned out! I'd do it again. It really went together fast. I just need to see what lies in the stack to use for a border.

Is winter nearly over?

2008-02-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

I hope so! We have had enough of this snow that happens every other day. What is up with that? Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know it's pretty. It is also heavy and wet and makes driving difficult. We did get to Mass alright this morning and I am now settling down for an afternoon of sewing my bargello quilt. All's right with the world after all. Where are my seed catalogs? It is time to look at seed catalogs too, isn't it?

Cookie Monster!

2008-01-06T18:11:00.000-08:00

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.

You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.

You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking

How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Progress

2008-01-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

Okay. I finally got the new bunny quilt assembled. I think I'll be able to get it hand quilted before the baby arrives in late February. I love having a project to work on when it is storming outside. Yes, we are still in the midst of the mega storm. I hope we can get to Mass in the morning. The snowplow has still not come into our neighborhood. We will be taking the jeep, for sure.

Dinosaurs

2007-12-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

I spent the morning making another Project Linus quilt and listening to the rest of Kite Runner. It is really a good book, but I don't think I would have read it in book form. Somehow, hearing the author read it made it more compelling. It seems like I don't much enjoy reading violent or sad stories anymore. Maybe I am too old? I think it might be because I've seen enough of my own sadness and don't want to spend time in make-believe sadness.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T10:32:00.001-08:00

We worked really hard on Sunday afternoon to get the church ready for Christmas. It was awesome at the 10:00 PM Mass.

Lovely Lady

2007-12-15T17:59:00.001-08:00

Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue

Lovely Lady dressed in blue teach me how to pray!

God was just your little boy, tell me what to say!
Did you lift Him up, sometimes, gently on your knee?

Did you sing to Him the way Mother does to me?

Did you hold His hand at night?

Did you ever try telling stories of the world?

O! And did He cry?

Do you really think He cares if I tell Him things-little things that happen?

And do the Angels' wings make a noise?

And can He hear me if I speak low?

Does He understand me now?

Tell me - for you know?
Lovely Lady dressed in blue teach me how to pray!

God was just your little boy, and you know the way.

Fulton J. Sheen

Thomas Train Charity Quilt

2007-12-05T11:51:00.001-08:00

I know.... I am not good about posting. Yesterday, I thought I'd get something done for Project Linus since I didn't make anything last month for them. This is a quickie quilt. It is tied, not quilted, but I still think it came out alright. At least, that is one thing done for them this month!

Even More Bunnies!

2007-11-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have decided to do lots of bunnies and then choose the ones I like best for the grandkidlet's quilt. The others I will use in a quilt for Project Linus. The bunny patterns are from Darcy Ashton's applique pattern book Grandma's Bunnies. Aren't they just the cutest!? I love using the reproduction 30s fabrics.

bunnies

2007-11-02T08:01:00.001-07:00

I have been busy making bunnies for the new grandbaby coming in February.

Houndstooth quilt for Project Linus

2007-10-19T14:18:00.001-07:00

Princess Dress

2007-10-10T13:41:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to get this little project behind me, so I could move the sewing machine back into my sewing room. The weather has cooled off enough that I can tolerate being in the upstairs room again!

I Just Got Back

2007-10-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Colorado. Maybe now I'll get down to some serious sewing.

2007-10-03T21:19:00.001-07:00

creeper

2007-09-20T11:15:00.001-07:00

Wow! It feels like Christmas. Today we woke up to snow on the mountains, red and green in the Virginia creeper and the news that we are about to have another grandchild! Does it get any better?

Sky

2007-09-18T19:03:00.001-07:00

We had some fun clouds today.

Well hello!

2007-08-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

I am just playing around here and may throw in the towel at any moment. This is my first attempt at a post and I can't think of anything to say. I'll just stick it up there and see where it lands. The bunny quilt was made for a fundraiser auction. It is hand applique and hand quilted using 30s reproduction fabrics.