Spring Conference

Returned last night from a quick conference in Minneapolis.  I did get a few good ideas (so identified in my notes), and was also able to see my extended library family, including my parents, my cousin and Ashley.  Location was also working in my favor, as I got to see Newman, her bf and Buddy her ginormous golden retriever.  My travel companions were also fun and I am still sleepy this morning.  That’s what you get for catching the 6:30 am shuttle to the conference.  This PLA was my dad’s last, and my first.  Talk about passing the torch.  Yikes!

Back home to rain and rain and rain.  I may curl up and read all day, but I will have to head out at some point for groceries.

Frenchy Bag

My three day Easter Weekend is wrapping up and I have a tote bag, 1,000 quilt show flyers, a finished baby quilt, and a whole bunch of leftover homemade broccoli and cheese soup to show for it.

Also?  My NCAA bracket is shot to hell.

Spring Sprung

My yard has many bulbs coming up, but nothing has bloomed just yet.  This picture was taken on my walk home this evening in a neighbor’s yard across the street.  South facing yards are having some better luck.  I can’t wait for all the spring color around here.  I forget how gray/brown the winters are here, but after living through one, you get bonus points.  Spring.

Also NCAA March Madness time but even they’re no fun this year as the Big Ten sucks.  Sorry Cyn, I think I even have M State losing in the first round.  And of coure the Final Four are in San Antonio again, right after we leave.

I am looking at the eve of a three day weekend which pleases me to no end.

Spring Break 08

Tim is getting close to wrapping up his first Spring Break in seven years, while I lived vicariously through him for the week, in part inspired by a few days of glorious weather.   We worked in the yard, slept, watched hoops, had movie marathons, read, slept, played pool, discovered the card game Killer Bunnies,  worked a little, went to Bedford, made crazy dinner combinations and slept in some more.

Thiên and Mark have received their quilt today!  This is the fourth queen sized quilt I’ve ever made, and the third I’ve mailed.  Talk about stress.  When they ask at the post office how much to insure it for, I want to tell ask them what two years of sweat, tears and love really costs.  Oh and hundreds of dollars in supplies.  I know unwrapping a black garbage bag isn’t very glamorous, but it beats water damage.

Little crocuses are popping up everywhere here, I can’t wait for spring to start for real!

Horizons and Roots

Its huge! Inspired by Denyse Schmidt’s Roots quilt, this twin sized quilt is perfect for cuddling in the living room.  Even though its March and Spring Break is in session, there is still snow on the ground.  I wasn’t sure about the brightness factor of the yellow, but I am pretty happy with how this turned out.  Now it just needs some more use and maybe another wash to really break it in.

Snowy Night

We had our biggest snow of the season, oddly coinciding with the first day of Spring Break.  More snow than a dusting, but still considerably less than a blizzard, for which I was hoping.

Finished Thiên’s quilt today!  Will try to take some good photos tomorrow and then mail off on Monday.  This has been about a year and a half in the making.  I am so happy for it to be done and almost on its way home.

Waves of Binding

I finally sat down tonight and after careful measuring and some inventiveness, the sticking point on Thiên’s quilt is solved. The binding (the last step!) is cut, pressed and sort of carefully folded waiting to be sewn on.  My fingers are crossed that there is enough binding.  Lord knows my math has been known to be wrong.

I am updating my booklist, rediscovering crossword puzzles (who knew Tim and I could be a good team?), and hoping that all my Texan friends go out and vote in the primary tomorrow.  Yay voting!