The Top is Done!

I'm done with my part of this quilt. I have had to get creative with the borders, though. I couldn't find any more of the red background fabric, so I made a "folded border" with the little bit I had left over. It gives the impression of a triple-matted picture in a frame.

Then, because I added an extra row of blocks to the length of the quilt, I didn't have quite enough blue fabric to have a six-inch border all around. So, the top and bottom blue borders are only four inches in width. I think it actually gives it a more vertical look anyway!

Now I just need to contact a quilter who will sandwich and quilt my top with the batting and backing. A friend from church gave me the name of an individual who has helped her in the past. This may do it for big quilts for the time being. I can manage baby quilts, and may even try my hand at a wall hanging. My Janome sewing machine isn't ready to retire just yet!

Gems from my Garden

For some reason - and everyone seems to have a different idea - my garden this summer has been exceptionally good. We have tried to grow tomatoes every summer for several decades. Some years we had good crops, other years, not so good.

I remember the tomato plant my Daddy brought me, back in 1986 (that's the date on the picture) - that came from some seeds my uncle had planted. I put it in a sunny spot back of the pool and watched it grow. And grow... and grow! We had five inch tomatoes that summer. I even photographed one, just to keep my story honest.

As I recall, they were pretty tasty too.

Fast forward to this summer. I asked my yardman to take out a lot of grass that had not survived the drought and severe winter and make me a nice flower bed for roses. It turned out to be big enough for us to plant four tomato bushes and a pepper plant among the rose bushes. Knowing we would be on vacation for two weeks, I also placed a soaker hose throughout the bed, making sure that every plant would catch some water. Then I left it on low and we went to France.

Here is just a small sampling of our harvest from one week. We get enough to eat two or three every day, share a few with friends, and look forward to more on the morrow.

One of the casualties of winter this year were my potted bougainvilleas. I had three and they all looked as if the freezing nights had taken the life from them. I cut them all down to the dirt and set the pots back behind the pool. And then the spring rains came and two of the three plants were resuscitated by the life-giving rain. Only one of them has bloomed so far, but it is a real beauty!

Not only are my plants thriving, but the little cicadas are coming out of the earth and presenting themselves in chirping choruses. This little guy caught my ear and stayed on his perch long enough for me to run in a get my camera! His companion flew off before I could get back.

There's an awful lot of life going on in the back yard. I'll keep my camera handy for more "proof!"

A New Quilt

Back in May, before we left for France, I got a hankering to make another quilt. All I lacked was a pattern and some inspiration. I looked through a few quilt books, and then we left for France and all thoughts of quilting were left behind.

Once we got home, and I finished the cross stitch birth announcement for Andrew, my hankering came back and sent me off to the fabric store for some ideas. While there I saw the most beautiful quilt hanging in an area with the packet of instructions for a patriotic quilt that didn't look at all like the one I admired. I discovered, after talking to a saleswoman, that it was indeed the patriotic pattern, only done with a selection of multi-colored fabrics.

Thinking that I would be making this quilt for Graham, I picked out a pre-cut package of fabric strips in vibrant colors of blues, reds, greens, browns and tans. After a few more trips for accent features, I finally got started on the quilt on Monday. Here is my progress.

With about 35 different fabrics in the six colors I'm using, I wound up with several different strips of three. Each panel gets cut into 12 1/2 inch pieces. The accent pieces utilize a deep wine red with yellow and blue tones. They are then cut into triangles.

The next step is to sew the triangles onto the end of each strip. Once that is done, I'll make 12 inch blocks. Then I just have to decide how long to make the quilt. Stay tuned for updates.

Family Reunion 2010

Well, we did it! We got a large part of the Wilson family together for a Reunion/picnic over the weekend. Thanks mostly to Judy and Pat for planning and preparing Pat's place for about 35 relatives from near and far.

We came in from Seguin, Boerne, Austin, San Antonio, and as far away as Virginia! We had grandparents, Moms, Dads, aunts and uncles, cousins, and a trio of the newest generation. Oh, I almost forgot brothers and sisters!

One major mishap prevented the Gatelys from joining us as Reagan took a nasty tumble off his bike at Pat's gate and they spent the evening in the emergency room getting stitches. But we have vowed to do this again next summer and hope to increase our numbers and triple the fun.

Here are some random photos from our day.