Goodbye, Dear Blog….

Today is the 6th anniversary of my greenquilts blog - WOW! I am ever so grateful to all of you who have been faithfully following me and reading all my posts, through thick and thin, doggies and a big move, house hunting, kids, etc.

It is with mixed feelings that I'm ending my posts here. Truly, this blog has changed my life. It has opened up my quilting world globally. I've made friends across the world and grown closer to those nearby.

So what's the deal, you ask?

As most of you know, I started The Hexie Blog last year. As I track the statistics on both blogs, this blog doesn't get as many readers on a good day as The Hexie Blog gets on a bad day. And it's really a challenge to keep two blogs going strong. So I'm going to concentrate all my efforts on The Hexie Blog. If you don't already follow me over there, PLEASE do!

I'm planning to expand The Hexie Blog to include some of the non-quilty stuff I share here, including an occasional recipe. And yes, even some non-hexie quilts!

This blog will remain here so you can continue to find my old posts if you wish.

Now move on with me to The Hexie Blog!

Walking...

Here's Cooper (AKA: Cooper Dupe, Super Duper Cooper. Coop, The Dupe), playing with some of his sticks in the back yard. His vet visit went well but was very surprising. The vet is treating his stomach issues conservatively, with a shot and some pills for me to poke down his throat. I can't hide them in food - he's too smart for that!

The good news is that his stomach seems to be feeling better. He has an appetite again and is keeping his food down. Yay!

The surprising part of the vet visit? They said he's very overweight! I had no idea!!! He weighs in at 92 pounds (!!!!!!!!). And the vet would like him to weight 75. He needs to lose 17 pounds! That's a lot for a dog! Heck, it's a lot for me…

So I've started cutting back on his food a bit - not too much though. Instead of 2 cups per meal, I'm giving him 1 1/2 cups.

And I'm recommitting to walking him.

Here he was on walk 1 of 2 yesterday. He's doing better on a leash now.

The walking is good for me, too, of course. So hopefully I'll keep this up. I saw this video on Mayo's Facebook page yesterday. I urge you to take a few minutes to watch it. It's all about how most of us sit too much. I know I'm very guilty of this. Watching the video really got my attention. I think I'll buy a new Fitbit today. And maybe I need to start making hexies while standing?

Is it a Stick or a Tree?

Cooper has a new toy - he found this yesterday and love to prance around with it. What fun! Unfortunately, he's been feeling a bit under the weather in the last few days. He's got some sort of stomach ailment. I'm going to take him to the vet today if possible to let them check him out.

I don't have anything quilty to share today because I've been doing quilty computer work. However I'll have some BIG news to share soon. I just have to lay the groundwork first and that's what I've been doing.

More computer work on tap today. Plus I'm going to start laying out piles to pack for Chattanooga today - lots of kits, samples, and supplies. Good thing I'll be driving there - too much to take on a plane!

We did get my mother back to Augusta Friday. We were on the road for 9 hours due to a minor traffic accident in Atlanta that back up traffic. I think she had a good time while here.

I'm ITCHING to get back to sewing - if I can get a lot done, maybe later today I'll pick up a needle…hoping and wishing...

Computer Time!

Prince is my helper! All good until he starts pushing keys - no telling what he will type!

I've been doing lots of quilty work on my computer this week while my mother is visiting. I can sit and chat with her and she doesn't even realize I'm hard at work. I'm getting lots done - yay!

I finished my little contest quilt except for hand stitching the sleeve - maybe I'll do that today in between computer work.

We have lots of friends in town because today is move in day for the university - I have a feeling some of them will stop by to visit.

I'll be driving Mom back to Augusta in the next couple of days - dread the all day drive! But it's been worth it to have her here for a visit. So glad we've had this visit before football season begins.

A Bit of Quilting

Oh boy, I finished a quilt top today! I can't show you the quilt yet, but here are the scraps. A pile of yumminess! I started quilting it, too - should finish in a few days, I hope. My mother will be here for a visit starting Friday. I told her I'd have to work some while she's here and she doesn't mind. Most of my work can be done will sitting and chatting with her. She's really ready for a visit! We will spoil her as usual!

Good old Cooper Dupe - he's had two days in a row without destroying anything! Good boy! Let's keep it up!!!

Other news: I'm working with a design firm to come up with a new logo. I have to make a final decision tomorrow. If you are so inclined, I'd love to get your opinion: go here to vote and rank your favorite.

Leo in Progress!

Happy Monday! I realized yesterday that I'd never shown the picture of my little Leo quilt. Above is the right side of Leo before the quilting and perle cotton hand stitching.

And here is the left side, all quilted and hand stitch with perle cotton. I love the difference a bit of perle cotton makes!

And here's the entire quilt. I'll be taking it to Chattanooga only half completed as a class sample.

I've been SUPER busy over the weekend, working on the slideshow for my lecture! Truthfully, I've been more nervous about the lecture than all of my classes put together. But my slideshow is coming together SO WELL, so I'm not concerned one little bit about it now. At first I was worried about filling an hour of time talking about hexies. But now I'm only concerned I have TOO MUCH info to give! A good problem to have!

My goal is to finish the slideshow this week so I'll have plenty of time to practice. YAY!!!!  I have several hexie businesses sending me door prizes for the event - it's going to be a good mail week around here.

Despite all my Chattanooga busy-ness, I started another quilt. Oh. Yes. I. DID! Am I crazy or what???

Probably so!

You see, there's this contest I saw…I already had the fabric…I had an idea…yadda yadda yadda…couldn't help myself. Deadline is less than 2 weeks away…oh my...

The Charity Quilt and CAKE!

Here's the charity quilt I've been working on (with the pile of ugly fabrics). Just goes to show you, even ugly fabrics have a place in the world. Somehow these fabrics play well together and will provide someone with a warm cover. One more block to make before I sew them together. I'm thinking I may tie this instead of quilting it. We'll see….

And now for that cake recipe I promised. This is a Blueberry Banana Pound Cake and it is absolutely DELICIOUS! You'll find the recipe here:  http://randlefarms.net/recipes/#banana

By the way, it calls for oat flour. One of my friends suggested grinding oatmeal in the blender to substitute for the oat flour. I did this and it worked like a charm - much more economical that buy that specialty flour.

Okay - go make it NOW! You won't regret it!

This afternoon I hope to do the perle cotton stitching on half of the kitty cat quilt. And some hexie appliqué. And maybe I'll clean off the dining room table. And maybe, maybe a load of laundry. And maybe, maybe, maybe I'll work on the class notebook I'm developing to organize all the classes I teach. And maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe….