Ending the Quilting Hiatus

I knew I wouldn't get to spend much time sewing the first half of the summer due to a conference and a trip but even after I was back home things (like broken fridges) conspired against getting any sewing done - or even started.

So today, finally, I sewed this New York Beauty block. I have high hopes that this will not be a false start and I will be making headway shortly on my current list of projects.

New Fridge

So here is the new fridge. Its about the same size as the other one, but about an inch higher. We have a bit more room, as this one doesn't have the ice maker or water dispenser - neither of which we ever used.

I didn't have huge expectations for my birthday, no party, no cake, no going out to dinner or even fireworks, but what I had hoped for was a single day of me doing what I wanted to do - no housework or other required drudgery. As that did not happen I have decided I get a birthday re-do this year. Some day this month I will take a vacation day and just do what ever I want to do.

Happy Birthday to Me

To celebrate it looks like I will be going out and buying a new fridge. The last two days we have noticed the fridge seemed to be getting warmer (the freezer is fine). Damon cleaned all the coils and I found a web site that said to check the connection between the fridge and the freezer (ours was iced over). But even after addressing both issues the fridge doesn't seem to be cooling down any. So I plan on going out and looking for a new fridge later today.

In other exciting and uplifting news the rain continues, and continues, and continues. Yesterday we had 3 downpours and 2 showers. Today (and its only 7:30am so far) we have had 1 shower with more predicted for later. It felt like a real accomplishment on Thursday to rush out and actually get half the lawn mowed before it rained again.

The plants don't seem to mind so far, but blight has been reported in the area and if it stays this wet for much longer we may have some garden loses. In the meantime you can see we are pretty lush and green, if damp.

Highlights from the Oregon Coast

We visited several towns along the coast including Cannon Beach, Tillamook, Newport and Florence. We also visited several lighthouses. Pictured here is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse just north of Agate Beach. We also visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Just about every town along the coast has a bead shop and most have quilt shops. Thanks to recommendations I made a few quilt shop stops. The Center Diamond shop at Cannon Beach was wonderful - big selections of fabrics, books and patterns. We also stopped at the Latimer Quilt & Textile Museum in Tillamook.

Other Quilting related stops I recommend (but not on the coast) are the Pine Needle Quilt Shop in Lake Oswego, OR and the Button Emporium & Ribbonry in Portland.

Highlights from Portland, OR

Started vacation in Portland Oregon during the Rose Festival so of course we needed to visit the International Test Rose Garden. Just about everything was in bloom. There were rows and rows of different varieties and colors. Most were hybrid roses with almost no scent, but every now and again we would come across a heirloom variety with a beautiful scent.

Across the way from the Rose Garden is the Japanese Garden. The garden is located were the old Portland zoo used to be. (The current zoo is just a few minutes away.) Along with including all the traditional elements of a Japanese garden, it includes several recycled items including the old stone steps from the Portland municipal building and several ballast stones from the port.

As is typical in the north west the weather was warm, but cloudy and a bit hazy. Only had a few minutes of light showers in the afternoon, but nothing to cause us to miss these outside attractions.

What Spring?

Don't let this beautiful flower deceive you! It is safely living in the living room. The plants outside are miserable! Its been cold, dark, cloudy and rainy for a week and we had yet another frost warning last night.

This is the only sign of spring (not holding out much hope for summer) that we have had.

The Spring Gap

It happens every spring; between the end of the semester, professional conferences, annual reports and vacations the time between mid-May and mid-June zips by in a blur - so this is my excuse for the lack of posting lately.

As a way of partially catching up here is a picture of the summer placements I made for my sister. They have been done for a month and shipped to her a couple of weeks ago.

All quilting is on hold for a bit, but I should re-group by late June when I have a full schedule of classes at the Vermont Quilt Festival.

Well I can't dawdle online today, the rain has stopped and I need to tackle the jungle that used to be my yard. I am going to attempt to mow the whole thing in one day. Wish me luck.