Monday, October 29, 2012

HEALING HEARTS


Sadly there has been a need lately for some healing heart quilts within both, my friendship group (Wednesday Wackos) and with my Yahoo friend group. 

Wrapping up with healing hearts just has to make a difference.  I know it did for me when I received my healing heart quilt.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, October 28, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS (10-28-12)


 
I had company from Australia this week.  Therefore, my Sunday Snaps are going to be about my wonderful visit with Khristina and Glen. 

First off the “Weather” was just about as perfect as you could get for late October.  It was clear and in the 80s all week.

One of my photo challenges was “People”.  How lucky to have “People” visiting me. 

We spent time visiting “In My Town”.  And this was the view “Looking Back” from my seat while dining.  Khristina and Glen enjoyed great food and a great view looking forward.

We were fortunate to score some good tickets to Two and a Half Men to watch the taping of a future show (yes, Ashton is very cute in person).  We also got a private tour of Warner Bros. back lot.  So, here are a couple of pictures of “My View There”.

 
And, the next “Morning”, after breakfast and a cup of coffee, my Aussie friends took off for a three-month journey of North America.  I really had a terrific time with them.  Have a wonderful trip you guys!

 
Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, October 21, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS


Don’t you just love leftovers?  Dinnertime” becomes easy and helps make life just a little bit easier.

 
My shopping list is “Something I Wrote”.  Doesn’t it feel like we always have a shopping list going?

 
Not much of a selection in the “Fruit” dish this week. 

 
This “Made Me Smile Today”.  My Gracie loves to sunbathe.  I’m always threatening to put zinc on her nose because she is an albino dog, and I worry about sunburn.  Still, she so loves to get her vitamin D this way, I let her for a limited amount of time.
 
This weekend was the very last quilt retreat for Two Wacky Women.  We held out first retreat in the Embassy Suites in La Jolla, California; and, our last retreat was held at the Embassy Suites in Palm Desert, California. 

The photo challenge word is “Letters”.  The 2nd photo is of our signature quilt from our first retreat held in September, 2004.
 
 
“4 O’clock”   on day two of the retreat.
 
And, last the“Calm” and a touch of sadness, when we packed up for the very last time and said goodbye. 
 
Quilt happy,
Marilyn

Thursday, October 18, 2012

TWO WACKY WOMEN QUILT RETREAT

Almost ready for our last Two Wacky Women Quilting Retreat. 

Name tags ready to go.
 
Tula Pink's laminated cotton selling for a great price.
 
Planning on having a wacky good time.  See you Sunday after the retreat unless I see you there.
 
Quilt happy,
Marilyn
 

Monday, October 15, 2012

ALL THINGS PUMPKIN


  

When did all-things-pumpkin become so popular:  a flavor for almost everything?  Was it Starbuck’s yearly Pumpkin Latte that started this craze for all-things-pumpkin?  I read that the pumpkin latte is so popular that they have been running out at some locations. 

Oh, I know we have always had pumpkin pie, and maybe even pumpkin bread and pancakes.  But, I recently received my TJ’s ad and this is a list of pumpkin items in their latest advertisement.

Pumpkin Bread Mix

Pumpkin Ice Cream

Pumpkin Ravioli

Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Greek Yogurt Flavored with Pumpkin

Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea

Pumpkin Macarons

Organic Canned Pumpkin

Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Pancake & Waffle Mix

Pumpkin Spice Chai

Pumpkin Chocolate Mousse Cake

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin on a Stick

Pumpkin flavored Dog Treats

Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin Spice Coffee

And finally, Pumpkins

 
Maybe I’ll go take a drive and pick up a



Maybe I’ll even come home and start to work on this free little quilt from Pecks Pieces.

 
And for those who want to make their own Pumpkin Latte, you can find recipes at these sites: 
 
RecipeGirl
All Recipes
 
Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Sunday, October 14, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS (Part 3)


Here is the last of the Sunday Snaps from Australia.

We took a backstage tour of the Opera House.  We saw almost a sea of “Red”. I’m not used to seeing theatres empty and seeing it this way was great fun.  Jolene even got to conduct for a minute.









At Mt. Alford, where the quilt retreat was held, there was an enormous chess game as part of the landscape.  Here are some of the chess pieces as “Something up Close”.

Most of my friends know that my absolute favorite comfort food is Fish and Chips.  And that is exactly what was “On the Table” when we had lunch with Diana in Bargara, or was it Bundaberg?  No matter, it was about as good as it can get.


 
And for “Landscape” here are a few of my favorite picks.
                                               Maleny

 
                                       Mt. Alford

                                           Bargara
We stopped off at Queen’s Park in Toowoomba.  What a gorgeous spot.  When I look at these two photos it “Makes Me Laugh”. 


 
Look at the way they planted these flowers.  Do you see a quilt pattern?


Speaking of quilts, for the last of the “Part 3” pictures I want to show a little about the quilt retreat itself.   The photo challenge word is supposed to be “Shadow” and try as I might, I cannot fit it in.  But, seriously. . . .

Linda’s gorgeous flimsy.

 Another gorgeous "Little Twister" flimsy of Anita’s.

I took hand quilting and enjoyed making some progress.

 We did go for a quilt retreat after all.  And, so much more.

 
 Hope you had a good week.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

Saturday, October 13, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS (Part 2)


Still trying to make that photo challenge work.

“Angle”, I think these pictures work for angles.

We thoroughly enjoyed the “QVB” (Queen Victoria Building).  We ate our breakfast each morning there and the shopping was great fun.  Just look at all the color. The woman in the red dress is singing opera.  Love it!

 

 
 
And then of course the wonderful “angles” of the Sydney Opera House with the bridge in the background is almost unbeatable.

 
Several of us took a road trip to the beautiful seaside town of Bargara to visit one of our C-R-A-F-T friends, Diana.  On the way we made a pit stop at Ettamogah Pub. “What I Read” just about says it all don’t you think?

 
Here is a picture of “Where I Stood” with the ladies in Bargara in Queensland, Australia.



 At “Lunchtime” Diana took us to the most amazing spot for a great, fresh fish lunch. 

  
Just look at the early morning “Light” in Bargara.  This view was from our room.  Khristina, C-R-A-F-T list Mum, did such an excellent job in finding perfect places to stay.  Not only beautiful countryside, but, enough room for all of us together and still feel comfortable.

 
“This Happened Today” :  An Aussie Road Hazard.  You know, one of those nice men with one of those funny guns that clocks speed?  They must be everywhere.

 
“I’m Thankful For”, so very thankful for being able to meet all these wonderful women and the journey itself.  Here we are having lunch in Toowoomba.


 

Part 3 - Tomorrow

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

Friday, October 12, 2012

SUNDAY SNAPS (part 1)


I’m back from fishing.  Actually, I’m back from a fabulous trip with my daughter all the way “Down Under”.  What a fabulous experience.  I belong to a wonderful Yahoo Group “C-R-A-F-T” and each year they hold a quilt retreat in Australia.  So, this year I was lucky enough to join them and also have a great trip with my daughter, Jolene.  I am going to try and make my photo challenges fit with the trip.  Now that is a challenge and a bit of a stretch. 

 The first challenge picture is “Three Things”.  I made one of these little selvage bags for each of the retreaters and a few extra:  sixteen in all.  Then Jolene and I stuffed some “American” things inside.
 

The “Frame” photo is of my Tablet charging.  It was used for internet connection, and proved pretty darn successful most times. 

 
Australia felt so “Near” by the time we got to the airport.  We left on a late night flight, which was perfect for sleeping.  There’s Jolene guarding our easy-to-spot luggage.

 
It was “A Good Thing”, no, a perfect thing that we took a backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House AND saw the opera, Madame Butterfly.  I can’t tell you how wonderful the Opera House is to see up close and personal.

 
 Another “Me Then” picture was a challenge photo.  So, here you go….the two of us with the Opera House behind us. 

 

We were on a mission, or “Errand”, to see a Kangaroo during our travels.  Our first spotting was of all places, on a golf course (Sorry I cannot remember if we were in Ipswich or Brisbane). 

 

 
 




Aren’t they amazing?  Part 2 - tomorrow.

 
Hope you had a good week.

 
Quilt happy,

Marilyn