FastCAT Day...

Elvira

Today's the day! I'm driving about an hour south to watch this sweet girl run her competition. Just look at the joy in her face! I'll be meeting up with my friend, Judy from Tennessee, along with her two Corgis, Elvira and Thumper.

Judy texted me when they arrived at their Wisconsin destination, and informed me that she brought Tennessee  barbecue with them for lunch tomorrow and her host extended an invitation to me. Authentic Tennessee barbecue?! You don't have to ask me twice. I'm in!

I don't have a photo to share of Thumper today, but I'll definitely snap a few pics to share on Monday...plus more of Elvira. It seems like forever since I've seen Judy, so I'm really looking forward to our reunion. I'll be sure to get people photos, too.

Gotta go. I don't want to be late for the races! Have a great weekend.

 

Fields of Gold...

 

We had a great weekend, but yesterday was particularly wonderful. My longest, lifelong girlfriend is in town for our class reunion. She's been here for a week to spend extra time with her siblings. She contacted me Saturday night and asked if we could go to church and brunch afterward Sunday morning.

Cyd and I met in first grade (have I told this story before?) when she walked into the classroom as a new student. Our teacher always assigned a current student to shepherd the new student around school so they wouldn't feel overwhelmed. Our teacher chose me to be that person for Cyd (then Cindy). Well, we hit it off, learned she also lived close to our house, and the rest is history. We've been best friends ever since - a total of 62 years.

I quickly learned that not only did we share a school, but her family was also Methodist, so we also would attend the same church. Our families used to walk to church together, and her parents and mine also  became good friends. We went to the same church until after graduation when Cyd's studies and life carried her away from Fond du Lac, and marriage eventually led me away from town, too.

Handsome and I continued worshiping at that church, as he was also Methodist, and in those years, we had a booming congregation. There were usually 350 people gathering on a regular Sunday and two to three times that on Christmas and Easter. We served on church committees and were active in fundraising for a new building when the church that held our families for so many generations began to crumble. They were good years.

Yesterday morning, I met my dear friend at the church and we held hands as we frequently have through the years. We worshiped together, greeted the other parishioners and looked at old photographs on the wall in the fellowship hall. One photograph showed the then minister with a number of Sunday school teachers and children standing on the front steps of the church. I immediately pointed out my mum and little sister in the photo. Cyd wondered where we were, and I found myself first and then Cyd next to me. We had to smile at the shared memory.

When we got to the restaurant for brunch, we began our conversation talking about the church. Both of us were sad. The pews were mostly empty. I counted fewer than fifty people in the sanctuary...and there were no children. Not one. Most of the people were our age or older. We felt like we were attending a dying church and we talked about it for quite a while.

I know there are many reasons why people no longer attend church. Heck. I've been one of them. We live in a rural area. Things to do at home, and while Handsome and I are spiritual, there were changes in the church that we didn't agree with. Even so, Sunday is going to live in my head for a while. I'm going to discuss it with my husband, and I'm going to pray on it.

I know this isn't at all my usual sort of post, but I'm wondering what you might feel about organized religion and attending church these days. Is church no longer important in our lives? No judgment whatsoever. Please share your thoughts if you're so moved - and thanks in advance.

A Play Date...

 

If you're looking for me today, I'll be at a quilt show in Grafton, WI with my girlfriend, Kathy. I'll share photos of my favorites on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Tuesdays With Tag - Missin' My Girl...

 Hi, Everybody!

I've had a busy week, but it's hard to take pictures of me guardin' the place. So, I want to tell you about sendin' a care package to my GFF, Quinn.

I told Mom that I'd like to send her a few things to let her know she was on my mind. That's what a boyfriend does for his girlfriend, and I'm her boyfriend, after all. I sent her doggie bon bons (biscuits), along with a sample of the food that I eat so she can feel like we're dinin' together, and a fancy, dress up collar in case she has a party or somethin' to go to. (Mom included a few things for Quinn's mom, too.)

Quinn's mom, Miss Carol, sent a few pictures to me after the package arrived. I got to see Quinn checkin' out her presents before they got opened. There she is!!! My sweet girlfriend. Isn't she lovely?

I smiled when I looked at this picture. I can tell that she'd already opened a package by now. I like how she's all perked up waitin' for her mom to give her a taste of one of those crunchy treats!

Quinn must be missin' me, too. I like how she looks in a cap, but I'm pretty sure she's thinkin' about me...or maybe treats...or maybe she wants to go for walkies. Well, either way, I'm positive that she's a pretty girl.

I hope you loved all your presents, Quinn.

Sendin' snuffles and smooches your way.

So, here I sit makin' sure our house is safe from intruders - and thinkin' about how I can get a ride to Quinn's house. Honestly, I'd hitchhike, except I can't. No thumbs, remember? Dang! I gotta learn how to drive!

Well, I'd like to tell you I saved the world, or a cat, or chased off an armadillo this past week, but it's been pretty quiet. Maybe next week. 'til then...

"Wag Like Ya Mean It!"

Tuesdays With Tag - My Brown-Eyed Girl...

 Hi, Everybody!
(SORRY THIS IS LATE. PROBLEM WITH AUTO UPDATE)

Well, it's finally time for me to tell you my great news!

Did you notice in my post a couple of weeks ago that I sneaked in

a little question for my long-distance, pen pal, Quinn? I asked

her if she'd go steady with me. Guess what? She said "yes"!!!

So, today, I'd like to introduce you to my new girlfriend, Quinn.

 This is my girl when she was just a puppersnapper.

She came to her family from a breeder in Ohio, Lehan Corgis.

 Her pedigree name is "Lehan Brings Good Things to Life". 

I'll just call her "Quinn" and she'll call me "Tag".
No need to be formal, I don't think.

She has five dog brothers and sisters. 

(I don't even know how many I have. I never got my papers from 

the breeder. Let's change the subject or Mom will say bad things.)

She also has a person sister named Hayley and brother named James.

They all live in Massachusetts, not too far from Boston. I'm hopin'

that the next time Mom and Dad go to see our family on Nantucket,

we'll be able to go see Quinn and her family, so we can all visit!

 As she got bigger, so did her ears. We seem to have that in common.

She was a beautiful puppy, don't you think? Her mom said that they

started looking for her when they read about our Fezzik every week.

(I hear he was a great guy and sure wish I'd been able to meet him.)

 This is what she looks like now. Isn't she lovely?

Isn't she wonderful? 

(I'm thinkin' Stevie Wonder songs now!)

 When Mom was takin' my picture yesterday, she said,

"Tag. Look handsome for Quinn." and this is what I did.

(It's my handsome, inquisitive pose...my camera face!)

Actually, when she showed me all these pictures on her

laptop over the weekend, I stood right up on my hind legs

and stared at Quinn's pretty face. I was quite taken with her!

 Quinn's really lucky. She got her picture taken with Santa!

Mom hasn't done that with me yet. (Hint. Hint, Mom.)

 Quinn lives with an American Foxhound mix named Witherby.

Looks like a nice guy and it's good that she has someone to keep her 

company beside her people family. I hear that he was abandoned in the 

woods. Miss Haley found him and brought him home to live with their

 family. He's a lucky, older pup but he doesn't like to frap with Quinn.

 It's a good thing I'm not the jealous type. I mean, I can still talk to
other girls, and as long as he's good to her, Witherby is just fine by me.

 Now, all you girls out there, don't worry. We're not gettin' married or 

anythin'. We're too young for that - and there are no puppies in our 

future, either. But, it's nice to have someone that I can send presents

to and write little, sweet nothin's to from time to time. I mean really. 

How could I ever resist a pretty face like Quinn's? She even sent me 

long-distance kisses! So, this song is for you, sweetie. I hope you like it.

 direct link: http://youtu.be/kqXSBe-qMGo

I hope you're all happy for us. I'll be back soon to tell you all about my travels.

'til next time...

"Wag Like Ya Mean It!"

I've Got Plans...

Brynwood April Hibiscus

  I had so much fun with my class yesterday. Every one of my students "got it". By the end of the day, they all went home with a great start to their own projects.   If you've taught someone else a technique you love, whether or or not it's sewing, quilting, needlework or something else, you know that sense of satisfaction one gets when you see the light go on in your student's eyes. It really never gets old.   I'm looking forward to watching these students become even more proficient in hand applique'. Perhaps we'll even get together again for a more advanced class.
Monday will bring another class, but today I'll visit with my Coffee Club  girlfriends. We got the "memo" that the shop will officially close in two weeks. We try not to think about it and just enjoy what time we have left in the shop.   It's a really good thing that we'll see each other A.S. (After Shop) or we would  have a much worse time coping with this new phase in Kathy and Nora's lives.  While we wish them all the best (and of course, we do), we can't help but lament  the loss of another wonderful quilt shop in our area. So, I'm off to catch up with them and hear more about what they have planned for their retirements.
I hope all of you savor every moment of your weekend. The weather is getting nicer up North, and Florida is starting to lift a little higher out of the ocean as our beloved snowbirds pull up stakes and head back to their northern homes.
See ya later, friends. Gotta run and get this weekend started!

Almost Time...

Block One - Chickadee & Sunflowers

 The gals in our Coffee Club are going to be creating a new monthly for 2014.

The first block is "Chickadee & Sunflowers". I'm planning to do mine in wool.

Cover Image

 Although we're set to begin in January, there may already be some

work in progress. I'm looking forward to finding out if anyone else

is going to work in wool, or which fabric combinations are planned.

Supply List and Design Details

 This is the back page of the multi-page pattern. You can see what we'll

need for fabrics, and I wanted to make sure that you could see all the

pattern information in case anyone else would care to join us on our

year-long project. Patterns can be ordered here on Brandywine's site.

If you're looking for me this morning, I'll be at Sandy's Quilt Shop

with the Coffee Club. I've missed my girlfriends and am anxious to

see them again. Funny how a few weeks can seem like forever!

I hope all of you have a fun weekend. 

Rest up before the New Year celebrating begins!

I Knew It Would Be Perfect...

 My Coffee Club girlfriends celebrated my Birthday last Saturday.

It was my turn to receive a collaborative wall hanging from the girls.

They chose one of the few French General fabric lines that I don't have.

(They know how I adore Kaari Meng's fabric lines!)

 They fussy cut the coffee mugs and tea cups, satin-stitched

the appliques' and chose the most wonderful quilting designs

to finish the piece. I love every little detail. There's so much to see!

I can't tell you how delighted I was to see my gift. The fact that I
 received the wall hanging wasn't a surprise...we make one for each
member of the group on their special day. I knew it would be perfect for
me, but they really outdid themselves! These girls really know me!

To Kathy, Nora, Brenda, Joni and Fay:

Thank you. I'm so blessed to call you friends.

I'm looking forward to more happy days and years

of shared projects and experiences with each of you.

Love you all to bits!

xo

A Slight Change of Plans...

 My original plan was to show you another finished table runner today. I

 forgot that I had a class to teach yesterday when I wrote my last blog post.

So, rather than play in the studio, I headed over to Crazy Quilters and shared

my pattern and techniques for creating Shabby Totes (pattern available here). 

Don't get me wrong. A good time was had by all, and beautiful totes left the shop. 

I just can't show you another completed table runner and matching napkins today.

 Guess you'll just have to wait until Monday! 

I'll be heading over to Coffee Club this morning. 

It's always nice to see the girls. 

Later, I'll be found stitching these pretty plates onto the ground fabric. 

When I finish doing that, I'll be able to put together this table runner set. 

I'm thinking I might have to make something else with these fabric choices 

after the holidays. They're so soft and sweet, and they feel like "happy" 

colors to me. The world needs more soft and sweet, don't you think?

I hope you enjoy your weekend, my friends. 

Tuesdays With Tag - My Florida Girlfriend...

 Hi, Everybody!

I'd like you to meet my Florida girlfriend, Megan. She's four years old. 

I guess that makes me her Toy Boy. lol

Her Grandma Deena is a friend of Mom's from the quilt store in Harbour Heights. When Deena visits Sandy's on Saturdays after Coffee Club, she usually brings this sweet little girl with her. Isn't she just the cutest thing you ever saw? She's crazy 'bout me, too!

A little while ago, my girlfriend moved with her Mom and Dad to Georgia and I was sad. You know how it is when you and your girlfriend live in different parts of the county. It's so hard to maintain a long-distance relationship! I feared I'd never see her again.

Mom happened to run into Deena, Megan and her mom at Paneras last Tuesday night and couldn't wait to tell me about it. The first thing Megan said to Mom was "Where's Tag?". Mom told her I was at home and would be at the shop on Saturday. I couldn't wait!

When we got to the shop, Mom kept me out in the Explorer until Megan got there. She came runnin' into our coffee room and scanned all the faces until she saw Mom. She said, "Where's Tag?" and Mom got me and took me into the shop. Megan grabbed my leash and took over from there.

Her mom was so surprised. "A Corgi? I thought Tag was a big dog!" Imagine that! She thinks I'm a little dog! I decided to be especially good so that Megan and I could go for a walk together. I sure love this little girl. I love my Wisconsin girls (Granddaughters 1 and 2), too, but they're family, you know?

When it was time for them to leave, Mom said she'd take me back out to our car, too. Megan said, "Can I get in the car with Tag?" and Mom said, "Sure. For a little while."

She got up into the car with me and before she left, she cuddled me and whispered in the sweetest voice, "Bye, Tag. I'm gonna miss you." I think Mom sniffled a little bit. I think I did, too. Megan's mom said they won't be back until October. Wow! That's a long time for this Corgi and his girlfriend to be apart, but I'll try to stay busy 'til I get to see her again..

I'll be sure to share my adventures with you each week and hope that Megan will get to read about them, too. I'm gonna miss that girl. Mom's singin' "My Girl" to me right now, so I'll close with a little music. See you next week! 'til then...

(http://youtu.be/ltRwmgYEUr8)
"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

Birthday "Boo"...

Fay's Birthday Quilt

There are seven women in our Saturday morning coffee group. Fay, Kathy, Nora, Flo, Joni, Brenda and me. I am so honored to be a part of this group of beautiful and talented women.

This year, when one of us has a Birthday, the rest of the group creates a quilted hanging with a Sunbonnet Sue depicting the Birthday Girl's special interest, or in keeping with a theme that fits her Birthday month. October is Fay's Birthday month, so the group created one with a Halloween theme for her.

Each member completes a different part of each hanging. My job is to create the special label for the back of the quilt, and then to hand sew it to the quilt. Mine are always the last pair of hands to work on the quilt. I get to see everyone else's work before it's gifted to the recipient. I think that's pretty cool. The girls really outdid theselves this month. Don't you agree?

We'll present Fay with her Birthday quilt today at the shop. I can't wait to see the look on her face!

Spinning Wheel Decor...

My sweet friend, Tammy is planning a move to Virginia by the end of this year. Her husband has accepted a position in Quantico and they'll be transferred by December. I'm not particularly happy about this, you understand. Tammy was the driving force behind the knit/crochet/quilt group that first met at Books a Million in Port Charlotte, FL, and then moved across the street to Paneras.

In anticipation of the move, Tammy and her husband have been purging some of their possessions. Being a spinner, she (naturally) has a real spinning wheel, but she also had two "faux wheels" that she used in her decor that she wanted to leave behind.

Last week, she called and asked me if I'd like one of those two wheels. One was more realistic (even though it's non-functional) and the other was a planter. I told her I'd love to have the one that was more realistic-looking. She took it with her to Paneras on Tuesday evening where we transferred it from her vehicle to mine. I was surprised by how heavy it was!

Yesterday, I brought it into the house, took the wood cleaner and mineral oil to it, and it shined up like the treasure it is. Now, it sits outside the hallway to my studio. (Only because I have so much crap in there that there's no floor space don't have room for it in the studio!)

Thank you, Tammy. I'm grateful to have this beautiful gift from you. I'm going to try not to think about the fact that you'll be leaving before this year is over. Yes. I don't think we'll be talking about that for as long as I can avoid it. There!

My Best Friend...

Wednesday night, I flew to Wisconsin and my best friend, Lee picked me up at the airport. We had dinner together and then went to her home, where I spent the night. We sat up and talked until after two o'clock in the morning, and it was nearly three by the time I finally fell asleep. (Well, it was actually more like I just passed out from exhaustion!)

When we both got up this morning, we shared breakfast and talked over coffee, and later, we shared lunch together. By late afternoon, she and I finally got back in the car and drove to my mum's house. Mum had been anxiously awaiting our arrival and we were all glad to see each other again.

Rather than just drop me off, Lee sat down and visited with my mum. The reason I'm at Mum's this week is to help her clear, destash and stage her home to put on the market to sell. Once it's sold, she's going to move down to Florida so she can live near Handsome and me. Lee knew that moving furniture was on my agenda, so she immediately pulled up her sleeves and said, "I'll help. Let's get this furniture moved."

We unhooked the wiring for Mum's television and Lee marked the cables so we'd know where everything went for the "replugging". We moved furniture, big and small and then revamped the window treatments...all the while calming down Mum and assuring her that this "look" will help sell her home faster. We know that the whole experience is more than a little traumatic for Mum, but Lee helped me bolster her so that she could feel more comfortable with what was going on. Afterwards, the three of us had dinner and then Lee left to go home, care for their dogs and get some rest before going back to work tomorrow.

If you're very fortunate, you too have a girlfriend like mine. You may not speak with each other regularly, but you can rest assured that if you're thinking about her, she's thinking about you. You know that she's missing you just as much as you're missing her. And, you know when you see her, it will be like no time has passed at all since your last visit...even if it's been months or years. Today she shared my burden and made it lighter for us all the way around. Thanks, BFF.

The photograph of the two of us was taken when Lee was at our home in Florida. Instead of standing outside in the warm, Florida sunshine, today was windy, wet and cold in Wisconsin. When you're with your best friend, it's easy to find your own sunshine. So, in spite of the weather, today was just perfect!