Talk about out of my BOX.....

So I've been MIA for a week.  What are the odds of getting the flu even though you have had a flu shot?  Something like 50%?  I don't know but I did get it anyway.  I want my money back!

One of my latest projects that "jumped" in line is this quilt that is SSSOOO out of my box.  The Married One volunteered me to make it.  The baby is due November 22 so I HAD to finish it.  I wouldn't let myself work on anything else quilty or crafty until it was done.  What a struggle!  Why is it so hard to make myself sit down and work on something I really don't like?  I guess we have all been there.

Regardless of how I feel about it, the mother-to-be absolutely loved it.  I have washed it once so it should be good to go for the new baby.  It really went together quite easily. 

Last week before I got sick, I had two big things to do.  First was finish the above quilt by Saturday because Saturday was The Married One's big 30th birthday party.  The mom-to-be was at the party and I wanted to get it to her (and out of my house).  Son-in-law was handling the party himself.  I felt kind of sorry for him.  He was so out of his element!  So along with finishing the quilt, I did all the decorations for the party and all the desserts and a couple of side dishes.

Here is a picture of The Married One 30 years ago last week.  What a sweet, little girl she was (is)!

Now that I am amongst the living again, I plan on catching up with blogging and quilting.  I have so much to finish and share!

Blessings, Cathi

The Old Parsonage hits 100.....

100 followers, that is!  And Leann has decided to have a giveaway to celebrate.  Jump on over to her blog to see what you could win.  She has a wonderful blog that is just as charming as her personality. I should know, I've met her before!

Blessings, Cathi

Fun new Christmas Blog Hop.....

I came across another fun Christmas Blog Hop on Wendy's blog this morning and thought I would share.   It's the Cross-Country Christmas Quilt Designer Blog Hop.  Quite a mouthful but it sure looks like it will be fun!

It's a group of 12 designers from Minnesota and beyond that will post one FREE pattern everyday for 12 days starting November 9th!  Gudrun from GE Designs is the hostess with the mostest.  Hop on over to her blog to see who the other designers are.

Don't forget to keep visiting the GumTree Designers.  They are on week # 5 of their free Christmas pattern giveaways.  AND this Friday is the next First Friday Freebie from Kaaren at the Painted Quilter!  What wonderful Bloggers there are out there!

Blessings, Cathi

A little stitchery finish.....

Some quick pictures of the stitchery I finished and where I put it.

And a close up.....

This was a freebie stitchery pattern from Robin at Bird in Hand Primitives.  I just love her work.  I changed it a little bit by putting shingles on the roof and stone on the chimney.  The frame was 99 cents from Goodwill.  Can't beat it!

I think I might make a sign to put up above the two framed pictures but haven't decided on what phrase or word yet. Maybe something tongue-in-cheek and bathroom appropriate!

Blessings, Cathi

Boone, NC .....

Dear Hubby and I went to the mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC) this past weekend.  We went last year around this same time.  You'd have thought we would remember to check the Appalachian State Univ. football schedule!  We didn't last year and we didn't this year.  Yup, home games. Traffic was nuts.  At least this year we checked the game time.  We ate sometime during the second quarter so there was no one in the restaurants.  We weren't so smart last year!

We stayed at the KOA in a Kamping Kabin which was great.......except for the 38 degree weather we woke up to.  Luckily, KOA had put little space heaters in each cabin and we did take sleeping bags and extra quilts.  Still.......getting up at 4:00 in the morning to run to the outhouse wasn't as much fun.  Ok, so it's not really an outhouse but it was a separate building with no heat and no shower.  Think of gas station bathroom.

We did a lot of sightseeing along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Most of the leaves had changed but it is still beautiful.

We stopped at an apple orchard somewhere along the way.....

 

And of course we had to eat breakfast at the Dan'l Boone Inn .....

some of the best country cookin' in the Carolinas!

We even did a little hiking!

 

All in all, a lovely relaxing weekend.....

Almost forgot......remember the vacation from he** ......when Dear Hubby decided to take me to Green Park Inn for my 50th birthday?  Well, they have closed and are in foreclosure. Imagine that?!  They closed in May, were up for auction in August and had a winning bid of $800,000 which didn't even meet the reserve.  Such a shame after 100 + years in business and visited by dignitaries like Margaret Mitchell and US Presidents.  You can read about it here.  What a grand lady she was back in the day!

Blessings, Cathi

Happy 4th of July.....Huh?

Well, this was supposed to be finished by the 4th of July!  It was a little kit that I have had for about 8 years.  Thought I'd whip it up in time for the holiday and I had even finished the top in time.  Quilted it all but the star part, then put it away........huh???  It must have gotten stuck in the middle of a pile somewhere.

I finished it this week.  I'm going to look at this as a glass half-full kind of thing.  I'm 8 months ahead of time for the next year's celebration!

Blessings, Cathi

My Christmas Wish.....

is to finish my Christmas quilts!

Here is the next one that is ready to finish.

 And the fabric that I am going to use to finish it.

No, I haven't finished the HoHoHo quilt yet :<(  Or the other three Christmas quilt tops I have. But I'm optimistic!

Blessings, Cathi