no surprise here . . .

I saw this on the Quiltville! blog and immediately checked it out. The result?

80%

Only 80%?!? Not all that surprising to me. (And probably not to people that know me best, like my darling husband. One of my first questions to him at the end of the day is generally, "Did you read my blog?!) I have a fairly good sense that I'm not alone, either . . !

This weekend will be fairly quiet -- I'll spend most of tomorrow finishing curtains and bumper pads and quilts for the new nursery. If I have time, I'll also zip up the two blocks for the P&S BOM! Anything I don't finish on Saturday, I'll have the opportunity to finish on Monday. It's a holiday and Kim will be off, so I won't get to spend my day with Sawyer. Boo!!! I'll have to console myself with sewing, old movies, and chocolate. Seriously -- I think I'm having grandbaby withdrawals! So I'll swap my Sawyer-boo photos for finished product photos. :)

In the meantime, a last look at our lovely snow event. Truly our area has not known how to deal with the snow & ice -- city and county schools have been out ALL WEEK! Tomorrow, though, day time temps are supposed to get up into the 50's and rain is in the forecast for early next week. From snow to flash flooding, no doubt!

As of yesterday evening, though, this was the road leading out from the camp. I took this after I'd come down it, heading home last night. Let me just say that had I wanted to stop on the way down, I would not have been able. I tried. *shudder*

This is the pasture to the side of that snowy road -- something about a field blanketed with snow drifts is just breathtaking to me!

Even the sun-kissed hills are holding on to their snowy covers!

In another week, it'll all be MUD-kissed!

:)

and a few more . . .

No need for many words with this one . . . loved my snow day!

:)

full blown . . .

Yes, a full blown SNOW event! What a simply glorious sight to behold this morning!

It took a little bit for me to get the door open this morning -- I had forgotten that might be an issue! But it's light, powdery snow, so I was able to get it pushed aside. I wanted snow, but I couldn't have imagined getting this lovely blanket!

At first I panicked because I couldn't find my yardstick. And then I thought, "Wait a minute, I'm a quilter. I have RULERS and lots of 'em!"

Ten inches here. It's still flurrying a bit, but I think for the most part, it's moved out of the area.

My poor little Princess Buttercup. Her first owner lived in Florida, so I'm sure she lived a much sunnier life on her first go 'round. I've never been able to understand, in light of that, why she has heated seats, but I'm so grateful she does!

Gosh, I hope there's nothing in the car that I may have wanted . . . !

Here's a view out the door to the side. I love snow-covered trees!

And how the snow evens the playing field, so to speak!

Out our back window, the birds are out in full force -- and very loud! The feeders were full -- all seven of them -- and the only one that's rather out of commission is the tray feeder, since it's completely covered by a mound of snow. Though as I look out at it, a titmouse is playing 'king of the hill' trying to figure out where his regular food source has gone!

The little downy woodpecker found some snow-free suet. Usually they're a little skittish when we're near the window, but not this morning. Evidently the snow emboldens them a bit!

They're saying we may have another inch or so coming in -- and our official total for New Market is 11 inches. The temps are to go above freezing today or tomorrow . . . not until Friday, actually! It'll be interesting to see what this does to businesses and schools. EMA is reporting all roads are impassable.

With a view like this, who would want to go anywhere?!? I just hope my darling Todd can make it home, if he's even relieved.

As for me, I've got books, movies, my laptop and plenty of fabric. I imagine I'll do just fine!

:)

. . . SNOW?!?!

This is Dan Satterfield, one of our local chief meteorologists. He's my favorite, as a matter of fact. I like that he's really passionate about weather, and very animated when we're experiencing severe or extreme conditions! Right now they're calling for 6 to 10 inches of snow in our area. That's near crippling in our little southern town! And though we've not yet seen the first snowflake, schools and a lot of businesses are already closed for tomorrow. Suits me just fine!

And he's poking fun at all us locals with his photo (which he uploaded to--and I downloaded from--his facebook). And you can hardly blame him. I've been in the grocery stores on Friday, Saturday, and today -- three different stores, mind you, and in each one, it was the same story. The bread shelves were EMPTY! LOL!

We're good -- plenty of propane, hot chocolate/coffee, water, toilet paper, bread, popcorn, cheese, chili makings -- all the snowbound essentials!

I have lots to share; I had a wonderful time yesterday and want to share it with you all tomorrow. Baby showers, grandbabies, ladies' breakfast, and all kinds of fun surprises!

For now, I found this on my quilter's yahoo group --

Jinny Beyer is offering this pattern for this most DARLING patchwork football! I have lots of football fans in my life -- this would be such a darling gift to share with them!!! Especially if it was decked out in crimson, gray and white -- with elephants and ROLL TIDE on it. *grin*

You can find the pattern (it's a pdf) by clicking HERE.

Maybe I'll play around with it if we have a snow day tomorrow.

:)

Merry Christmas!

From beautiful, snowy Alabama!

I hope your day was as blessing-filled as mine.

I spent Christmas 2010 knowing my eternity
is secure and my family is well and happy.

And making snowballs.

Merry Christmas!

:)

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!

:)

march comes roaring in!

Well, it wasn't completely unexpected . . . March certainly does enjoy playing at all ends of the weather spectrum! We woke up to this snowy weather, and it's not let up yet! I think "Nick" the cardinal looks so pretty in his wintry white backdrop!

It truly would have been the perfect day to stay warm and cozy up at the campsite, and work on quilts and bake cookies, or something, but no, it's off to work I go!

Yesterday, I had a great opportunity to get a couple of shots of the red bellied woodpecker who's been visiting our suet and bird feeders. He really is one of the most handsome birds we have visiting. And Todd's favorite!


I think he was posing for me! I love that I can be sitting on the couch, look out my window, and take this shot.

In a desperate attempt to both hold onto the promise of Spring and keep as long as possible the flowers Todd sent me for Valentine's Day, I salvaged this small handful of pretty blooms . . .

And finally, as promised, I did continue to play around with my new-found Star Puzzle pattern and the wedding quilt fabrics! I wasn't really happy with the neutral fabric, though. It was fine when it was the backdrop for a guest's signature and sentiment, but not so much in the particular block. I was going through my stash, and found a beautiful white piece of fabric with lavender and gray leafy accents . . . it's PERFECT!!! I love this fabric and it just makes the star POP! I may have to do the back of the wedding quilt in this fabric!! :) The photos simply do not do it justice.

I also tried it using a starker white fabric in the center. It looks dimensional here because, well, it was! I've not cut anything . . . I'm just folding and playing for now . . .

I may have to do a whole 'nother quilt with this!

On another note, Todd's dad is not feeling too good. He was ill enough to call Todd yesterday morning and ask him to bring him some medicine and agreed to a doctor's visit. Today he called Todd and said he thought a trip to the ER was in order. He was right; he's got pneumonia and they've admitted him. He's in good hands now, and is starting to feel some relief. God is good!

:)

happy valentine's day!!

My best friend and valentine . . .

And the pretty & snowy view out our window

this morning. The table is all set for a romantic,

candlelit breakfast before heading to church!

Today is a day to enjoy . . .

Vive l'amour!

:)

another *sweet* surprise!

Have you ever just randomly googled your name? I do, just every so often, not out of any sort of vanity or anything, but just to make sure my name isn't being used--or rather, misused--in some bizarre fashion. I did that earlier in the week; Tuesday, I think it was. The search results come back fairly lickety-split, because there aren't that many of them out there to find! One or two in connection with the blog; a couple from back in the day when i was posting on newsgroups, like rec.gardens, one from some Rugrats page where the list owner included (by permission) a comment I'd make on alt.books.stephen-king (ages ago) about cartoons pandering to adults as much as children, and one hit came back from the list of participants in the Quilt Gallery's fall-inspired mini-quilt swap. A few are offerings with variations of my name, so they're not really me, and some have nothing to do with me or my name at all. It's not, by any means, a wowzer set of results; like I said, I do it as housekeeping, more than anything else!

But . . . this time . . . about halfway down the page one of the items caught my eye. I knew it was recent because it said Denise Panter of New Market, AL, and I've only lived here since November. Intrigued, I clicked on the entry, and guess what?!?!

I. won. again.

I didn't even know it! I'd entered my name for random drawings Planet Patchwork was doing on New Year's Day, and evidently, I won in the third hour of their drawings, a copy of Make Your First Quilt with M'Liss Rae Hawley courtesy of C&T Publishing. LOL! I don't know what it is with me and winning things. Anyway, Planet Patchwork's website said winners would get their prizes within 30 days, and that no other communication would be forthcoming. I'm glad I found that--I'd forgotten I'd even entered; that book would have come in the mail and I'd have had no *clue* why!!

So, I share all that to say that today, I think it came!!! How's that for definitive? We checked our po box after hours today, and in the box was a slip that said, "You have a mail item too large for your box." Which means I have to wait until Monday to find out for sure, but I think it is . . . I hope it is . . . I'm *sure* it has to be! Yay!

In other news, our snow turned to rain by yesterday afternoon, but temps have dropped today and it's snowing again. It's snowing HARD! I don't think we're going to get five or six (or even two) inches, but it's sure pretty coming down, especially with all the woodland creatures flitting in and out of the trees. My favorites are the cardinals and the blue jays; such pretty splashes of vivid color amidst the snowy white backdrop. I'm sure the deer will move in soon.

I got to Hobby Lobby this morning and got the remainder of the fabric I need for Sawyer's quilt; I got the orange for the borders and sashing, a lovely brown flannel for the back, and a really dark brown for the binding. It's all in the washer/dryer (I think it's moved to the dry cycle--the RV has stopped shaking) so I'll be able to press and cut it tonight/tomorrow.

I also finished cutting all the strips for another baby quilt I'm making for Kim's friend, Kim, who's having a little girl in February.

Julia e-mailed me a picture of the Rooster, hanging on her wall. Yay! It's nice to see him finally at home.

Todd's working on his Sunday School lesson for tomorrow, I'm quilting and puttering, the coffee pot is on, and nature is -- surrounding us! I'll put a pot of minestrone on for dinner tonight, and we'll just be cozy, warm, and happy.

I do count it all joy.

:)

you know what this is good for?

Ummm....what are these spots all over my picture? Is my camera lens dirty? Gross!

Wait . . . what is this I see out my window?!?!?!

Could it be??

It is!

SNOW!!!!

The perfect quilting weather. I think I need to go home now.

*grin*

:)