Update on Zig Zag Quilt

I posted a picture of this quilt on March 11th.

For most people, this would be a good size lap quilt, but not for me.  I love to wrap my feet in the quilt.  I thought a single border would be good, but once I laid it out, it looked blah.  So this is what I came up with!

I put a small inner border on using the leftover fabrics from the body of the quilt.  I then added an accent border of the background fabric and then a larger from more leftover fabric.  I just love the way it came out.  It is now about 60" x 75".  That's a great size!  I used flannel on the back and quilted it with the Drunken Feathers pantograph in Latte' thread.  I will be offering this as an upcoming class at the studio!

Time

Where does time go?  I cannot believe it has been over a week since I posted. 
Jeff and I did get some distrurbing news last Monday so I am blaming that for not posting. 
We found out our son is scheduled for delpoyment to Afghanistan in November.  He was getting married December 1st!! All those plans now need to be changed.  I think they have it all worked out now. 
We knew he might get delpoyed and he told us to prepare ourselves, but it still was difficult to hear.  I know he is well trained and can handle anything that comes up.  I hope his friend Harley goes to, just so I know someone I trust has my son's back and vice versa.

I am so proud of Spec. 4 Hardesty!  I love you Nathan!!!

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring is here whether we're ready for it or not.  The flowering trees & bushes are beautiful.  I just hope we don't get a late frost.

I was at the ironing board waiting for the iron to heat up and looked out the window.  Look what I saw!

Even though it was taken through the screen, it is beautiful.  This was planted 1989 in honor of my daughter, Amanda.  No Mo Chemo!  Both Amanda and the forsythia are doing great!

I used to have an old whiskey barrel in the yard for flowers.  It was full of Johnny-Jump-Ups.  Over the years, the barrel fell apart and the flower seeds blew in the wind.  Walking from the studio to the house, I found the first one of the season.

I few years back I planted 12 daffodil bulbs.  They have multiplied and now make a nice row near the fence.  They are so rich in color this year.  Another one of my favorite flowers.

Today will be another day in the 80's, about 30 degrees above normal.  Thunderstorms tomorrow and in the 60's for the weekend.  Here is my corner of the world, we take it day by day.
Hope everyone can get out and enjoy the day.

On & Off The Machine Today

This quilt is a pattern from Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.  It was published in Quiltmaker Magazine awhile ago.  I loved it and made this quilt.  12 blocks made a nice baby quilt.

I decided to teach it as a class and this is the result made by Kay Knapp.  Kay made 20 blocks for her quilt.

Kay really stepped out of her comfort zone on this one.  I love the colors!  Kay's quilt was the one on/off the machine today :)

Our Next Adventure!

We decided it would not be a good idea to sit around the day after cross country skiing so we went SNOW SHOE HIKING!!!!! 

This was a lot more relaxing then the skiing.  The first time I snowshoed was at Crater Lake last July 4, 2011!  Once you learn how to walk in the shoes, it's a wonderful way to get around. 

We took the trail that lead to Columbine Point.  The elevation there was 8756, the snow was clean and crisp and some places had not been disturbed by even the animals.  There was an open air church at Columbine Point.  Those are the backs of the seats peeking out of the snow!

Isn't that beautiful?  It just takes your breath away. 

Jeff and I decided to venture up Totally Wired, another trail that went higher into the mountain.  UP, UP, UP we went.  I thought we were almost at the top and when we rounded a small tree I looked up and said, "You've got to be kidding!".  We continued to climb more.  I can't figure out why that picture won't load.

This is what we saw at the top of Totally Wired!  Elevation 9200 feet.

This is the lodge we stayed in.  We are about 2 to 3 miles from it.

The peak you see here is the end of Nine Mile Hike snow shoe path.  Jeff and I decided we would not be the first to break through that trail!

Back down and around the trail we snowshoed through a beautiful grove of aspen trees.  I find these trees amazing.  I've seen them in Summer & Winter.  I want to see them shimmer in the fall!

What a wonderful way to spend the day!

I Did Find SNOW....somewhat

Here in Ohio, we had only 12" of snow fall through the whole winter season.  What a difference a year makes when last year we had record snowfalls.  Being one who LOVES snow I found it very difficult to deal with this winter. 

Off to Colorado I flew (with hubby) to go play, ski & hike in the snow. 

Well, I was really disappointed with the amount of snow, but at least there was some!  Colorado only had 59" of snow this past winter, the least since the 1980's.  They too have had warmer than usual days and the people at Snow Mountain Ranch figured the snow would all be melted before the end of March.  How sad.

After all, snow is snow so we made the best of it.  Jeff and I bought cross country skis this past November and hadn't had a chance to use them.  While out at Snow Mountain Ranch (SMR), which in west of Winter Park in the Fraser Valley Region, we took cross country ski lessons. 

Learning and doing this is harder than it looks and boy is it a workout!

Once you learn the 1..2..3 Waltz type glide motion you are on your way!  One of the best things about cross country is the beautiful scenery you pass.  All the trails were groomed and had the groves to follow.  Every now and then you just had to stop and enjoy the view!

I did become an expert on falling and getting back up.  Our instructor was a hoot and told us to TEBOW when getting up.  Hey, it worked!

From this photo you can see all the bare places where the snow has melted.  We had a wonderful day cross country skiing, but after being on the skis from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, we were exhausted...and sore!

Wow!  What a day!.

SNOW!!!

I am off to look for & play in the snow!  Hope you all have a wonderful week!