one last week . . .

Today is design wall Monday over at Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times!

I'd committed to not having anything new on my design wall until the owl quilt was completely finished. Next week, there will be something new here! Last night though, during a rousing super bowl game, I finished up the hand quilting on the owl quilt!!! And since I was so close . . .

And the binding was right there and ready . . .

I thought, "Let's go for it!" I should have quit while I was ahead. Ugh.

When you were younger, did anyone ever get you to repeat the solemn, secret, magical phrase, "Oh-waah Tah-gue Siam"? For me, it was my Pop pop who taught me this little doozy. It ran through my head over and over after I got about halfway through sewing the binding on.

I was really pleased with how quickly it was going and how nice my corners were looking. In fact, I was so please, that just before I got to my third corner, I had the desire to stop what I was doing (stitching), and admire my handiwork. So I grabbed the second corner I'd finished, went to flip the fabric over that corner, and . . .

Fail.

I'd folded it down backwards, so I stitched the binding down into itself! UGH!! Luckily it was a relatively easy fix, and just a few minute spent with the trusty ol' seam ripper.

Finally, the binding is all stitched on (the right way) and ready to be pressed and hand stitched. But I decided I needed to put it down for the night. I never really do my best work after 9 pm anyway!

This owl perfectly reflected how I felt. Grrrr.

Oh what a goose I am!

:)

it's here . . .

Finally, after much anxious waiting, I got the call that my brace was ready to pick up. It looked pretty much like I thought it was going to look, except the brown was prettier than anything I'd seen in pictures, and it smelled like Todd's new coat (which is leather) or a new car (with leather interior). In other words, it smelled like leather. Which it is.

I have to admit that I've been a little skeptical about how much the brace would help. I mean, how could it make the bone-on-bone-on-bone pain quit? I really wasn't sure, even as the orthotist put it on and laced me up.

Then I took my first step.

And I cried.

Yesterday I took the first pain-free steps with my right foot since May 21, 2010. It deserved my tears of joy! I don't think my orthotist realized how significant an event this was for me. Or perhaps, since he's got a wife and daughter, he understood all too well. :)

So, here it is . . .

It's not really much to look at, though there's nothing a little bedazzling and some pink, sparkly laces wouldn't fix.

And I need to get new shoes to wear with it. My tennis shoes (which I've been wearing because my orthotics fit best in them), are a tad snug.

And you definitely need to be in a shoe when you're wearing this thing! Shoelessness is not an option.

Pretty funky, right? I don't care. It felt *good* to walk to today! I still walk funny, because I'm getting used to the brace. It doesn't allow me ankle/flex movement, so I look a little stiff. But who cares? It doesn't hurt! And driving was a little . . . interesting. Because I can't flex me foot to press the gas or brake, and have to move my leg from the hip to exert pressure, especially to accelerate. But who CARES??? It *still* doesn't hurt!!!

I've quilted five of the owls . . . only seven more to go! Easy-peasy. And nice to do while Todd's playing football on the xbox!

I wish the quilting showed up a little better in these photos, but the owls are so cute, I decided to show 'em anyways.

And besides, whooooooo cares?

It doesn't hurt to walk!

:)

by design . . .

When it comes to tying off a quilt with yarn, my motto is:
Walk softly and carry a big needle.

I mean a *really* big needle.

big, Big, BIG. And sharp, too. Ouch!

Down through the front, and then back up . . .

A solid knot and a quick snip . . .

Do that about twenty-five times and VOILA!

The tying is finished!

Luckily (not really -- by design) the batting I'm using has an 8" spread for quilting, so I could be finished with it if I desired. But I'm thinking that to add a little eye interest and dimension, I'm going to pick some of the single owls and outline quilt around them. Different ones on each row for character.

And then, I'll do a matchie-matchie pillow, just like this!

So, that's what I've got going on right now (or at least, that's what I'm concentrating on this week)! I hope to be able to show off the whole kit & caboodle next Monday. Curtains, bumper pads, crib skirt, quilt, and pillow. Whew!

For sure, you should head on over to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times, and check out the inspired workings and goings-on of other quilters!

Today, me and Everett's Owls are headed over to spend a Monday (finally!!) with Sawyer!

Hasta la vista, bebe!

:)

backwards glance . . .

I've been so captivated by the snow and the wildlife (and then getting back to work), that I almost forgot I wanted to share my fun Saturday!

It started with a good-sized crowd of ladies at Fried Green Tomatoes, a little diner out in Ardmore, TN. It was our sweet church's monthly ladies' meeting, and we also revealed secret pals. The first woman sitting down on the left was my pal -- she was such fun to do things for!

We really did have a great turnout, especially for an early Saturday morning fellowship. I think most everyone got the breakfast buffet, and as you can tell be all the empty plates and smiling faces, the buffet was good!

From there, I hustled home to get ready for Jocelyn's baby shower!

Kim did such a magnificent job on everything. I loved the banner for the gift table. And she did a beautiful job setting up the refreshment table, too!

She made all these yummy goodies!

I think my favorite were the cupcakes, with the darling little owl toppers on them . . .

She found the toppers on etsy. Just the perfect touch for Joc's shower (considering Everett's room will be done up in owls)!

Here's my beautiful girl, sandwiched between two of her dear friends, Amy and Adelle!

And of course, what party (in my life) would be complete without my little boo?

He was very interested in what his Aunt Jocelyn was wearing. He loves necklaces!

Evidently, he also loves chocolate! His mommy & daddy had made the wise decision to keep sugary snack from him, at least until his first birthday. Sawyer had other plans. Kim was holding him in the sling on Saturday, frosting cupcakes. Sawyer reached around and found the container of frosting and helped his little self to a handful . . .

Bless his heart -- that fistful went straight to his mouth (and all over his face & mommy)! Of course, he was so *tired* he could barely see straight! Or is that glazed look an immediate sugar buzz reaction??!

I also wanted to share the favors Kim made for the baby shower . . .

Little owl egg warmers! Aren't they precious?!? I actually have them sitting over tea lights. Sawyer had given us the little sign for Christmas -- I thought the dear little owls fit under it just perfectly!! Too, too cute.

I need to finish up the bumper pads, curtains, and quilt for Everett's nursery. Five more weeks . . . guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend!!!

And I'll *like* it, too.

:)

i love tuesdays . . .

. . . almost as much as Mondays! And yes, it's because I get to go through my pictures and relive my Sawyer-Monday. I just can't get enough of him!

Yesterday, for only the second time ever (and the first time since the accident), I put his car seat in my car and we went for a drive! We just headed over to Publix for a quick grocery stop, but it was an adventure nonetheless! We got all bundled before we headed out -- it's COLD here!!

Sawyer was up for it, though. He likes riding in the car, and even enjoyed the trip through the grocery store!

By the time we got back it was lunchtime!

I love this funny little grin where he crinkles his nose and shows off his teeth!

He was serious about his eating. This was the first time I'd fed him bananas. Yummy!

This is his "don't stop now" look.

We went right from lunch to the bath . . .

He loves his bath time! He'd just sit there and splash and play forever if I'd let him.

But I could tell after I'd pulled him out of the tub and got him dried off, that he was a sleepy fellow and ready for that afternoon nap!

So down he went, with his blankie and his animals. He didn't do a lot of talking with them yesterday. He pretty much just fell asleep!

After his nap, we played around for a bit under the tree . . . Sawyer's first Christmas tree!

The red ball ornament is one his mommy got for him specifically to play with, so he didn't feel left out! (Or the need to take one from the tree.)

He was very good about not touching, even though he was very taken with the tree and all the pretty sparkly lights and ornaments. As much as I wanted to snap a picture of him reaching for an ornament off the tree, he would not do it! Kim had told me that he listens to being told "No!" and he really does. In fact, I have to admit, I'm very impressed that he minds so well -- especially since he's only nine months old!

Nine months old!! How has this happened?!? This first year has gone by so quickly! I guess that's why -- even though the kids joke on me -- that I take so many pictures. Time passes and they grow and go . . . I want to be able to hold on to these moments for as long as my digital images hold up. They're too precious to hold simply in my memory (which is prone to fading)!

I'm glad I can also take video, which I'm only too happy to share!

Gosh, it won't be long before he's walking. And I love how when I call him 'bug-a-boo' he slides his eyes over to me with that little grin. Oh yeah, these are the memories I'm holding on to!

And it won't be too much longer before I'm capturing memories with another grandbaby! My picture here doesn't do it justice, but isn't it CUTE??! Kim created these for Joc's baby shower. Too darling!

Life is good. Strike that . . . life is GREAT!

:)

design wall woes . . . winter wonderland

We woke up to a pretty dusting of snow this morning! Even the bird chatter was hushed this morning. The view looked suspiciously like something out of a Robert Frost poem. Very beautiful.

I love the view from the road down to the lower pond; you can just see where the pond is beginning to freeze up along the bank line. It's no wonder, with temps in the teens, and a wind chill factor near zero. We may be Alabama, but it's definitely NORTH Alabama!

Both the paved road and the gravel road were covered this morning. I took the paved road down, because I wanted to catch the picture of the pond, but generally speaking, it's a smarter bet to take the gravel road when it's slick like this!

I don't have anything new on my design wall; I did get my Christmas table topper sandwiched and pin basted, but I didn't have time to do anything with it over the weekend. It was a busy weekend!

I do have the owl fabric, for Everett's nursery, washed and ready to do something with! This is the cutest fabric . . .

The green will be curtains, the white with the owls in the circles will be bumper pads, and then the brown with the owl panels will be his little quilt!'

These owls have a LOT of personality!

She also got a large panel with some smaller panels on it, to cut up and frame . . .

Cute, cute, CUTE!!

This will be a fun set to work and play with . . . after Christmas! Then you'll see it up on my design wall, okay?

Check out the folks who do have stuff on their design walls this morning by visiting Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times. Lots and lots of inspiring stuff out there!

For today, I'll be playing with this delicious creature . . .

My Sawyer bug-a-boo!! We've got a full day ahead, so I'd better get to it!!

Happy Monday from snowy, blowy Alabama!

:)