Again...

Just wanted you to know that we are still enjoying our snow shoes! Now that there is finally enough snow to use them that is.

Learning to Quilt

So... since I have been known to be somewhat crafty with smaller projects (right Mom?) I decided it was time to learn how to make something that might be around for awhile.
I am not a knitter, nor am I interested in being one, so I decided that trying quilting would be cool. You know you're old(er) when quilting is cool. Anyway there was a class being taught locally so I signed up. After the first few classes I decided that this was something I could do and I asked Nick for an early Christmas present- a sewing machine. This one has all the bells and whistles needed for quilting- start to finish. Cool, huh?


This is probably hard to see but it is the first pattern I am learning- it is called "split rail".


This is the mat you cut fabric on. It provides multiple measurements and is cut proof- even with the sharp razor edge.


That is the razor you cut fabric with (also known as a rotary tool) and a ruler that provides more measurements and a straight edge for cutting with the razor. No scissors needed for this type of quilting!


This is 4 pieces of fabric sewn together with 1/4 inch seams. This is the back side. It is called strip piecing- or if you are saying it too fast as I have done in the past strip teasing- LOL. Every time you finish a piece like this they all need to be ironed. There is a LOT of ironing involved in quilting. That's the part I would be happy to skip. BUT my instructor is teaching me the right way so....... I iron.


This is after ironing- back side again.


And this is the front side of it after the strip piecing has been cut into 8x8 subsectioned pieces and then sewn together again- see how the blocks are going in different directions now?


More ironing after those sections are sewn together.


Then you sew all of those pieces together and guess what- iron it again! Looks like Boomer was taking credit for making this quilt! Hmm..


But it is all mine. Look at the maroon and the darkest green- see the steps the patterns makes- thats split rail.
TaDaaaa!


I still have to make the border, add the batting, and do the backing but due to winter weather and holidays quilting class has been on hold. I don't know enough about it to try it on my own.
And that is why I will be taking a trip to JoAnns soon. I will pick out new fabrics to start a new quilt with the same pattern but different colors. By the time I have that together quilting classes should be going again and I can learn the rest of the process. Cool, huh?
Thanks again for all the JoAnns gifts cards for my bday! More quilting to come........

Time for some holiday family fun!

So Aunt Tam decided that it was time for some holiday family fun. In the beginning it took some convincing to get John, Allie, and Nick to join in but then they decided it wasn't so bad- I think.
I already did one ginger bread house by myself so I decided to recruit help with the second one I had.


And then they took over and all I had to do is take pictures. Johnny had a hard time getting the shutters to stick but they eventually did.

I think they liked to taste the house decorations more than using them on the house.

Hey- is this a picture of all three of them smiling together? What's up with that?

Team work made the roof like great- both sides.

And the end product

Like I said- tasting is more fun! and then Nick took off with a GIRL so the rest of us went outside to make a snowman. Too bad the snow wasn't packing so we had to change plans. After a quick snowball fight we went...

sledding on the hill out back that we used when we were kids! There's Allie

I think the hill is smaller than I remember because they kept landing in the prickers and trees- no major injuries though!

The end result

And here comes Johnny

Johnny in the prickers and trees

But going up the hill for another run!

Grandma- where's the hot chocolate? John got us some from Tim Ho's because Grandma needs to stock up!
They were all good sports for putting up with Aunt Tam- we lacked boots, gloves, ect but we made what we had work. And we had a good time doing it!

Since we live in NY

Per the out-of-state family request- here is the NY snow! Enjoy!!


Still not enough to go snow shoeing though- maybe by next week.

We couldn't wait to decorate

For some reason I have been excited about the idea of decorating for Christmas. Nick is too and has helped with putting ornaments on the tree, placing trees throughout the Christmas village, and decorating the barn.

This is a picture of my Christmas village being invaded by some really big ducks.
Scary times when the ducks are flying south for the winter!

I still love a traditional looking Christmas tree. You can't see it very well but there is a toy train around the bottom of the Christmas tree.

And since we spent all that time painting the house this past spring we decided that it was time to decorate the outside for the holiday season.

Another view...

And it wouldn't be the country if we didn't decorate the barn too.

Merry Christams to all, and oh yeah- Happy Thanksgiving too :)

Cabin camping at Allegany State Park 9-24-10

This is our cabin on the Quaker side of Allegany State Park- Nick, Chris, Jamie, and of course Boomer ready to have some fun! Nick and I have never cabin camped together before. A big group of people reserved all 9 cabins on one of the paths. I think there were 25 people or so. The cabins have electric, stove, and fridge.


Jamie inside the cabin. Those bunk beds are pretty noisy when anybody is rolling over in bed. I don't think any of us got a really good nights sleep but we still had a really fun time and it was great to see Chris and Jamie again!

Julie, Jamie, Tammy, and Deb with Boomer- on the cabin porch hanging out.


Nick liked hanging out on the porch too.

Jamie and Chris- aren't they cute?!?

Tammy and Nick. Not as cute as Chris and Jamie :)

Nick and Boomer. Boomer really liked my bed.

Not sure why I didn't take a bunch of scenic pictures but here is one. It'd be nice to drive through the park during the peak time for leaves to be changing colors. It's coming up in a couple of weeks.

Our week long camping trip

We camped for a week at Colden Lakes. We have been there before but this is the first time Nick and I went camping by ourselves.
Overall, we had a good time and we wanted to share some of it with you!
Nick and Boomer playing fetch.

Boomer is allowed on the bed in the camper but not at home.
Doesn't he look cute?


Usually Nick and Boomer are wrestling around but this is a cute cuddle picture of them.


Rick and Sally stopped over and tried out our tandem bike. Rick liked it better than Sally did! Being on the back seat is hard because you can't steer or brake so I understand Sal! But once you get used to it the bike can be great fun.


Here is our camp site for the week.


Nick, Rick, and Sally.

Boomer and Tammy by the fire.

Tammy in the camper.

Now is that a sexy look or what? Hands off ladies. This hotty is all mine!

Nicky discovered the wonderful world of smores on this trip so we ate at least one each night. Yummy!

Of course the pool has certain rules- for everyone's safety. right?

Hmmmm

Yep- the braker of all rules.

It was a great way to cool off but initially you had to jump in or you weren't getting in.

Boomer enjoyed his duck while camping.

And Boomer decided he was too good for lying on the ground. What a goof!

Colden Lakes has many seasonal campers so they had a golf cart parade and a pig roast the weekend we were there- just for fun. The food was yummy.

This was the Wizard of Oz Cart. Everyone got dressed up like the various characters- cute huh?

Yes that is a sail boat pieced over a golf cart-sail and all. A Buffalo Bills cart follows, then a garden theme, and Hawian theme.

This is Scotty and his gang with the Hawian themed cart. They are friends of ours that have a seasonal site there.

And look who we encountered. Does this little one look familiar? Maybe a smaller version of Maxwell? Boy was Nick happy to see Maxwell Jr. Too funny!