Shop Demolition Saturday Number Two.

Today we worked on taking out the old cooler. The white parts are porcelain so, we tried to save what we could to see if we might have some use for them when we get to the rebuilding part of putting the shop together.

Pretty scary taking all this stuff off.

This is as far as we got today. Just getting the porcelain off and getting the paneling and frame off of the top, which was used for storage. We found a wire basket that I think I can clean up and use to put patterns in. It is interesting. We found a really old metal tape dispenser and an old air compressor. Nothing that we could sell at auction for lots of money so we can retire. Oh, well we will continue to look.

First Fridays.

On the first Friday of the month there is an event downtown called "first Friday" There are bands and vendors and the shops are all open. It is fun. Last night we walked downtown with the dogs and ate at a place called Blue Sky. We ate out at tables on the sidewalk, since we had our dogs with us. Drew met us there after a long eight hour work day. (yea! eight hours of work!)He drove since he was on his feet all day. Amazingly he found a parking place relatively close to Blue Sky. It was a beautful evening and we ran into people that we know which is always fun. Our worhip leader Jason played with one of the bands it was great. (Jason is on the right) Anyway, we stayed for a while and kept the dogs with us instead of sending them home with Drew. A good time was had by all. The dogs were both so tired from all the walking that they came home and "fell out" on the couch and in the hall. It was funny.

Bathtub dreamin'

Look the master bathroom is coming along. The open door is the water closet. The door is on and the plumbing is ready to be hooked up. We decided to just put a primer on the walls, as I'm not sure what color I would like to paint the room. I think I am going to wait until we get the master bedroom done and play off of that.


Look cool new dual shower heads. (I tend to hog the hot water) Now, we can share nicely.









Though the shower is nice, I really can't wait until the tile is done and the tub is in........
Doesn't it look nice now that it is no longer the yellow tubmarine.

100 things.

I read somewhere that on your 100th post, it was tradition to make a list of 100 things about yourself. I actually made this list a couple of years ago and just revised it for 2007.

1. When I feel sad or sick I take hot bubble baths, which I think cures just about all that ails you.
2. I still get goose bumps when Robert kisses me on the neck.
3. I like to read, but I read slowly so sometimes it feels like work.
4. I have never read a book twice, but I think I might this year.
5. I love to be creative in quilting or painting, but I do not feel confident in either.
6. I love the pinks and yellows of a cloud filled sunset. I imagine Jesus stepping out to call me home.
7. I sometimes still miss talking to my Mom so much it brings tears to my eyes.
8. I like to sleep in one of Robert’s shirts when he is away.
9. I feel like God has blessed my socks off when I think of Robert, Megan and Drew.
10. I have been to Kyrgyzstan, Ireland, England, Mexico, Guatemala, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia and Kenya. Pretty amazing considering I used to cry when I got on a plane.
11. I do not have any house plants.
12. I would like to sail.
13. I think some songs are just better at a LOUD volume.
14. I love to seemy friend's and family's numbers come up on caller i.d.
15. I enjoy seeing Megan and Drew as friends and not just siblings.
16. I can’t sleep with the closet door open.
17. I love having my adult children as friends.
18. Sometimes when I am mad at one person I take it out on another.
19. Having my dog Tallulah sitting on the bath mat while I am taking a bath makes me happy.
20. I love to touch fabric.
21. Quilting and painting are always more fun with friends.
22. I am a good listener.
23. I am terrible at keeping a surprise, a surprise.
24. I think I would like to have been a pioneer wife.
25. I can be judgmental.
26. I share the same birthday date as my Dad and my friend Bliss.
27. I have a secret box with a few items from my childhood.
28. I love the beach, but prefer to swim in a pool.
29. I like the mountains.
30. I miss the west, but when I am there I miss Georgia.
31. I have been blessed with a few great and deep friendships.
32. I want to learn to dance.
33. If I could learn to play an instrument it would be the drums, which would be hard as I have no rhythm.
34. I still keep in touch with my best friend from third grade.
35. I have had sex with Robert in almost every vehicle we have owned.
36. I’m a little obsessed with blogging.
37. I like thunder storms.
38. I love having a red kitchen.
39. I have a love hate relationship with Petsmart.
40. I sometimes wish I was more of a girly girl.
41. It makes me smile that Robert and Drew have the same shaped lips.
42. Sometimes when I look at myself in the mirror I see my Mom.
43. I am a rule follower, they make me feel safe.
44. I am so glad that I played with my kids.
45. I am shy until I get to know you.
46. I am a procrastinator.
47. I wish I was organized.
48. I tell my kids to wear sunscreen, but I do not practice what I preach.
49. I am glad I know how to drive a stick shift.
50. It hurts my heart when people take the Lord’s name in vain.
51. I am a morning person.
52. It is hard for me to confront people.
53. When my nails grow long they curl under.
54. I prefer beer to wine.
55. I like to read in the bath tub.
56. I own and ride a motorcycle, which makes my kids angry because I worked as a rehab nurse and called them “donorcycles”.
57. I would like to retire from nursing and own a quilt store.
58. I have grown my bangs out to the same length as my hair, I don’t ever remember not having bangs.
59. I prefer vanilla to chocolate.
60. I love coffee.
61. I hate to be late.
62. Gifts from the heart make me cry, like the scrapbook for my 40th birthday and the painting Megan painted for me and the book Megan and Drew gave me for my birthday this year.
63. I loved serving in Kyrgyzstan with my family in 2005.
64. In the 27 years we have been married I have not always been in love with Robert, but love him so much now it sometimes takes my breath away.
65. Breakfast in bed in one of my favorite indulgences.
66. I hope we never have a fire, because I don’t know what I would try to save.
67. I love to shop for clothes with Megan, but not so much for myself.
68. I do not consider myself a leader.
69. I used to love the Denver Broncos and now I love the Georgia Bulldogs.
70. I was born in Roswell, New Mexico, “the Roswell”.
71. If I had more cabinet space I would have lots of dishes.
72. Fall is my favorite season.
73. I am impatient.
74. I would like to own a convertible, but for now rolling down my windows will have to do.
75. I am afraid of heights.
76. There is nothing better than laughing or crying with a good friend.
77. I like to play cards or dominoes, but don’t get to play either very much anymore.
78. I bite my nails.
79. I love the sound and smell of the ocean.
80. I don’t like scary movies, they really scare me.
81. I love a good practical joke.
82. I got married when I was seventeen.
83. I like to bake, and I grind my own flour.
84. I have nativity sets from Kyrgyzstan, Ireland, Guatemala, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico and Kenya.
85. I would like to take a photography class.
86. I wish I had black and white pictures of my children.
87. I love sounds of the saxophone and the trumpet.
88. I like to listen to books on tape in the car.
89. I wish I was taller.
90. I go to the movies to be entertained, not made to think.
91. I was more politically informed with last election than ever before.
92. I love Mexican food.
93. I love my Bible and take notes in it. It is hard for me to buy a new one.
94. I hate to fill my car up with gas.
95. I love Christmas letters and pictures.
96. I am addicted to home improvement shows.
97. I stick out my tongue when I am concentrating.
98. I have a terrible sense of direction, which is a big joke with my family.
99. All in one day I can wonder if I will ever gorw up and how come I feel so old.
100.It was more fun making this list than I thought, as I am really not a list person.

Faithful dog.

Tallulah being a herding dog really struggles when all of the us, (her herd) are not in the same room. It is a little easier in this house, as it is all one level. Here she is laying outside of Drew's bedroom door, because Robert and I are each working around the house. She tries to keep an eye on all of us at the same time, but sometimes a girl has just got to get some rest.

Fall is in the air.

After his walk the "Florida Beagle" can be found snuggled into the quilt. I think maybe I need to make him a quilt so he will quit using mine. A nice flannel quilt with a wool batting, should me just the ticket. I do love this weather. It has been nice to need a jacket. Speaking of needing a jacket, I will need to get one for riding my bike to work on these crisp mornings. Yea! I'm excited that I still get to ride my bike to work. Though starting back up after a three week hiatus may feel like starting all over again.

A couple of quilting projects I have finished.

I found this pattern in a quilting magazine and loved it. The three sunflowers were kind of like making three tiny quilts and attaching them to the larger quilt. Complete with quilting and binding. I love the 3D effect. Which you can't really see in the picture.

Here is a shot of the quilting, which I did on my Bernina. I didn't enjoy it as much as using the long arm, but I'm also not sure I could have done this kind of quilting with the long arm. I would like to blow up one of the daisy patterns and make it into a larger wall quilt. I think it would be a good way to show people how to be creative with the patterns the buy.

I never finished the complicated paper pieced nativity quilt that Beth and Debbie and I worked on on one of our quilt retreat weekends. Debbie and Beth both have theirs done, and they are beautiful. Anyway, I bought this the last time Beth was here for a visit. We found a quilt store next to a yarn shop in Aiken SC. Woo hoo. I love the buttons. All of the fabric is from my "stash" which makes Robert happy.

I finished the binding for these quilts in the car on the way to Atlanta for our flight to Houston. My friend Debbie would be proud, not only are both of these quilts applique, but the binding was done by hand. Now if she could just talk me into needle turn applique.....

There is something to be said for small wall hanging quilts.

To Quilt Market and back.

For my birthday Robert gave me tickets to the quilt market in Houston. He and I left on Friday not knowing really what to expect, but knowing we needed to go. We got to Houston in the afternoon and registered for the market. Bright and early on Saturday we headed out to our adventure.
The weather was wonderful, and since we are now downtowners in Augusta, we wanted to find a place downtown to eat. We found a Tex-Mex place with a second floor balcony and had dinner. The salsa and patio was wonderful and the dinner okay.

What do you call this many quilters waiting for the doors to open? I'm not sure, but I wouldn't want to be in their way.

A peek at the booths. Being with Robert, we decided to go through this event with a system. We started at the right side and went down both sides of the isle to the other end. When we got to the end of the first isle Robert said, " If we are going to go down every isle in the next two and a half days I thinks we can only spend about 30 minutes on each isle." "And we have been in this first isle for an hour and a half." Time flies when you are looking at patterns and touching fabric!

We met a quilt shop owner that knows my friend Connie who has a wool shop in Colorado. Connie, is one of the people resposible for me being a quilter.

And we met a couple of ladies that have a quilters camp retreat in Arizona. The summer one is in Flagstaff and the winter one is in Pheonix. One of them lives close to Robert's parents and they both know his Aunt Evie, from the quilt store in Sedona.

The first distributor that I talked with happened to be the guy who handles Augusta for Checkers distribution. I love small worlds.

We were so, overwhelmed and exhausted after lunch on Saturday that we found a sports bar and watched the Georgia/Florida game. It was one of the best UGA games all year. We meet a couple of guys who were in Houston (not on quilting business) who were from Savannah so we all cheered the Bulldogs on to victory.

Sunday we mapped out a better plan for all the fabric companies I wanted to talk to. So, that day was better. But, I was toast by 3:30p.m. and we went back to the hotel to rest and then out for a good Texas steak and ribs that night.

All in all the trip was a good one. I think that it has given both of us a better idea of what is ahead of us. Now we just have to sort through the 20 or 30 pounds of flyers and info that we gathered.

Kathy gets a job.

The good news is I was offered a job today. It is with an outpatient cancer clinic. I am really excited about it. Of the five jobs I interviewed for the last three weeks this was one of the places I wanted to work. So, a change from pediatric nursing to grown up oncology. I know it seems like a stretch, but I think it will be a good one.
I have to go through all the HR stuff and orientation so my first day is not until November 12th. So, I am a lady of leisure for a couple of more weeks. That means I can help finish the bathroom and maybe get some quilting done.
Woo Hoo!

Wow four posts in one day. It was either a really exiciting day or I had too much time on my hands!

The difference between my dogs.

Today was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. So, Sabueso spent his afternoon basking in the sun on the porch.


And Tallulah........







spent it inside on the cool tile.

Most of the time I'm with Sabueso, but with beginning the peri-menopause occasional hot flash thing, sometimes the tile is the way to go.