My Chick, Gertrude

Yesterday was Wooly Wednesday at Holly Hill Shoppe in West Linn. We do not know until we get there what our project in wool will be. This week, we made a chick, calling mine Gertrude. Here I am stuffing my chick after I had cut the pattern out and sewed it together.

Debbie Busby of Wooden Spools Designs is our teacher and a fun gal to be around. She dyes all the wool, teaches classes, goes on road trips as well as helps with her three month old triplet granddaughters. Whew, that tires me out just writing about it. She does a great job of teaching and helps us with all types of techniques and tips.

Donna sat next to me and we had a fun time stuffing our chicks. This is just about the time mine flew out of my hand and on the floor ... without it's wings. :-)

Dixie and Julie are having fun stuffing and creating their chicks as well.

Marilyn kept us laughing as she worked on her chick.

Across the room, the sky was falling. Sue (not pictured) had a terrible time deciding which way the beak on her chick should be. We thought it might be Chicken Little with it's head turned toward the sky to see what was going on. (yes, she turned the beak the right way after we all laughed with her about it. She wasn't alone though, another person had sympathy pains and did the same thing to her chick.)

Ta Da!!!! Our chicks pose with their owners, me and Gertrude; teacher Debbie Busby and Donna with their chicks. Great time working with wool again. Thanks, Debbie, for another fun class.

New $5 Quilt Project

I joined the $5 Quilt Project again this year. Wasn't going to...say that every year for the last few. But Phil liked this pattern so I am in again. Actually, it is not $5 to do the entire quilt. It is $5 to register; then $14.95 for the pattern booklet/box/insert pages; then you have to purchase your background, accents, focus, borders, backing and binding. You attend one meeting each month (mine is third Wed. at 6pm) and get one miss. Then you pay again when you miss the second, third, etc. time. But you receive the color and pattern for that month and if you don't miss, those items are free of charge. Needless to say, it is not $5 but I am not going to calculate it - - - you really don't want to know exactly how much it really is.

This year's quilt is called "A Season for Quilting" It has a big block in the middle, smaller blocks around and one in each corner. My color is the Autumn season... like I said earlier, Phil liked the pattern and color, so I begin. We are late in starting (usually start in November) so in January we were given the materials we purchased, the pattern for the first and second months and instructions on January 20th to complete the block below before this week when our block needs to be done and shown at class. Here is my finished block to begin sharing with you my quilt as it grows. This center piece is 24" square. We were told it is going to be a hard quilt so I took my time in reading the directions, pressing all my material and making sure to line things up accurately. Turned out pretty good. Stayed tuned to next month when I will share each block as we go along.

After I finished up my square, I made my dinner napkins. We are trying to be environmental conscious and not use paper napkins at all. I purchased some "fat" quarters in two different designs to go with my current placemats. They turned out well and match very close as I guessed at the color. One set is already in the wash after our Valentine dinner last night.

That's it for today. It is back to the usual Monday details... laundry, etc. Look for our "wall" posting soon.

Our Weekend at the Beach

This weekend we went to "the coast" aka the Pacific Ocean. Our friends, the Doels and Kirkpatricks have beach houses in Ocean Park, WA and we occasionally are invited to go there. On the way, we stopped in Clatskanie to visit the Quilt Garden and then to Homespun Quilts in Astoria. Must stops for all quilters on the way.
On our way across the 5 mile bridge between Oregon and Washington, a sign said that "Dismal Nitch" was right, 2 miles ahead. Not having been to the Nitch, we decided to stop. It is actually where Lewis and Clark spent six nights in wintery weather, with strong winds and high waves with no food to eat and dry clothing to change into once the stormy weather passed. Because it was so dismal and the area so flooded, Clark called it "Dismal Nitch". The carving on this monument is really neat.

This is the view of Oregon from Washington at the mouth of the Columbia River. It is what the expedition members might have seen - minus the 21st century improvements.

Saturday was rainy and cool so we took the day to sight see with Bill and Becky. There is a new quilt shop in Ilwaco called "Jelly Bean Fabrics". Andi just opened her doors about a month ago and we had to scope it out for future visits.

We decided to play Mexican train, a form of domino's game with the Doels after our evening supper. Bill won the first game, Phil the second, but Becky and I did go out a few times during the course of the evening.

The train got a little crazy here.

We stayed at the Kilpatrick home and the rhodie was starting to bloom with the warmer weather.

Although it rained most of Saturday, it dried out enough that we could pick up some of the branches in the yard. The beach area had a bad storm with 75mph winds in December and there were lots of trees down. Fortunately, Betty's home has strong trees and only smaller branches fell.

Once this dries out, it will be ready to burn in the spring.

On Sunday, before we left, we were able to get to the beach and enjoy it for a short time.

The waves were crashing in but it was actually warm out.

Phil went out toward the ocean to see if he could find some sand dollars.

The waves were coming in.......

and he got some exercise in running ahead of them. Unfortunately we didn't find any sand dollars, just a few broken bits of them.

It was supposed to be a clamming weekend, but the toxin levels of the water were too high so we were unable to get those clams.

But this picture tells what happens to clam guns that don't perform... they get made into house number plaques by the end of your driveway so people can find you from the road. Thanks, Doels, for sharing our relaxing weekend with us at the beach.

Wooly Wednesday Club

This morning I took a class at Holly Hill Quilt Shoppe in West Linn with a few of my sewing friends. Debby Busby of Wooden Spool Designs taught us to make pin cushions and needle holder. Here are a few pics of our class: Becky and Donna are finished with their pin cushions. We put them in old Kerr jar lids.

Julie and Marilyn are having a great time "hatching" their pin cushions. We had to sit on them so the glue would hold the wool/stuffing in place on the jar lid.

We then started with our needle holders, button hole stitch around the outside edge of the heart shaped design.

Dixie is concentrating very hard on making her button hole stitch.

Our finished project with the teacher: standing: Julie, Dixie, Marilyn, Debbie, Donna; kneeling, me and Becky. A great class, lots of laughs and new friends met. Thanks Debbie for helping us have a wonderful Wooly Wednesday.

Belated Christmas Package

Sometimes we have to wait a little bit for packages to arrive. Patience - not our strongest suit, but well worth it. Saturday we received a big box from the mailman. It was addressed to me so Phil brought it upstairs to my sewing room where I was working. I opened it and saw that it had a few items in it from Kevin and Kerry. A book called "Radical Brewing" (not pictured), a package that had been opened and six bottles of beer.
Kevin had sent his Dad a sampling of the beer that they brew together in August. We had gone to Chicago for two days after Nick and Julie's wedding to spend a little time with Kevin, Kerry and the pooches. Those two days were the hottest - 95 degrees, air conditioner quit and then the transformer blew in the back yard. But they brewed outside and had a great time. Phil said this is good stuff and he will savor every last drop.

I had asked for a wool project from Bird Brain Designs called a "Think Pink Sachet/Pin Cushion", a pattern coordinated with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It had the pattern in it as well as all the wool needed to do the project. Well, the package looked a little battered when I opened the box.

Well, there is a story behind this (always is). Kerry had wrapped the package and put it under the tree. Bill McGill - little doggie - decided to investigate the package - probably thinking it was for him. So he tore into it and helped Kerry rewrap it. They sent it to me as is so that I would know that Bill had a hand in helping Kerry with the wrapping of presents this year. Fortunately the wool is fine, the pattern a little gnawwed at but still readable so all is well. Gotta love him.

Thanks for the great stuff. I am looking forward to my project and I know that Phil is going to savor every bit of the beer. Now, if he opens the book - well that is another story. Have a great day.

Shopping Day with Phil

Phil has every other Friday off and we usually stay home and get somethings done. Today we decided to get out of the house and do some shopping. Not a lot of stuff, just things needed.

We started out at Goodwill, Industries. I have had my eye on some magazine holders and although they were not on sale for 1/2 off (wrong color day), I purchased them anyway. The large one at Staples is &7.50 - I purchased mine for $3. The smaller ones were $.99 each so I had a great by for under $5.

We went to Fabric Depot where I took back some items that I didn't need. While there, we looked for the clips that quilters use for binding their quilts - the same clips we used to use to keep our hair out of our eyes. Well, we looked all over the store and I finally had to ask a lady where they were. In with the pins - not sure why, but at least I know where to look if I need more. I also got some finger thimbles that you use for applique - they work wonderfully. Plus I got over $2 back. Well worth taking back my unneeded items.

We went to lunch at Shari's - it is like a Bob Evans back in the Midwest. When we were seated and ordered, we looked around and realized we were the youngest ones there beside the waitresses. That was scary.

A trip to Staples was needed as my printer ink is all out. I know that Walgreen fills some of the Dell cartridges, but not this size - of course. So, now I am ready to print off the baby shower invitations.

Before Christmas I had purchased a few items from VanHeusen in the Outlet Mall. Well, the two tops that I had picked out for me, didn't fit so I returned them. I had tried to get Phil a couple of shirts, but they didn't have any that he liked. So, I found a blouse for me and am happy.

Next was a stop to Home Depot. Phil has a gift card that is burning a hole in his pocket and so we needed to check things out there. We looked at the step ladders, boards to make a frame for our window, etc. But Phil said that he needs to think on this stuff so we didn't purchase anything. BUT, I found some strapping that they use to keep the wood together and picked up some for the ladies who are making scrap bags.

On our way home, we stopped by a new Auction House and shop. Lots of antiques, odd looking things and stuff. Lots of Stuff. But it was fun exploring the aisles to see if there may be a treasure that we needed. There happen to be a blue/white crock that I may go back and get - my large spoons/spatulas, etc need a new home - those darn handles are too wide for the current large mug I am using. Sounds like a great excuse to go back.

We then stopped into Burns Feed Store. They have lots of items for horses, seeds, stuff and more stuff. While there, these two girls were running throughout the store. They went out the back and then came back through the front. They then said "We caught it!" A customer had a rooster that it didn't want any more so he put it in a box and brought it to them to see if they could give it to anyone. While they were getting the cage to put it in, it got out of the box and was running around the store, both inside and out. They had been trying to catch it all day and finally did. I wish I would have had my camera - he looked so harmless....once he was in the cage.

We are now home, and will eat dinner and then relax with TV (if there is anything on). I will get my stitching out and all will be well in the world. Hope your day was a good one as well as our was. Enjoy your weekend.

Customer Service

Customer Service seems to have gone on the wayside. You call on your phone and you have to press 2-8 buttons before you can even get the message to press "O" for operator. You go into a store and if you are lucky, you can find someone to at least take your money after you have spent lots of time looking for the item you needed. You wait in line to only have grumpy people waiting on you.

Well, not at the Tollgate Inn and Bakery.

Phil and I order a special made "All grain, raisin, walnut bread" for breakfast. Besides what the name says, it has wheat flour and is pretty organic. Because of our sensitivity to sugary items, it fits us perfectly. I call to order six loaves so that I can put it in my freezer and to make it cost effective for the business.

I am on my last loaf. I call this morning. The girl answers the phone "Tollgate Bakery". I say "hello" and she immediately says " Hi Teri, are you ready to order your bread?" She says it with a smile and is very personable. It makes me smile and know that I am not just a sale. We chat a few minutes, she tells me the baker will be in tomorrow and will probably make it then. She inquires if I need to have a call reminder when it is ready. She tells me to have a nice day at the end of the conversation. I hang up.

This is so refreshing. She brightened my day, I brightened hers by being friendly. I enquire as to how her day is going (she has been there since 6 am - can't be fun to wake up so early and be friendly to demanding people), tell her to have a nice day. We have had at least one person be nice to us today.

I just saw on the Internet about the airlines raising their baggage fees, long lines, TSA workers taking a long time with checking things, people not putting their shoes on the belt but taking up containers, etc., etc., etc.
The last time I flew - before Christmas - it was busy. I was at PDX by 5 to make a 6:30 am flight. The lines were long, the training meeting ran over, the employees were a little stressed. All I did was smile, have my identification ready, follow directions, be patient and tell everyone helping to have a nice day. My time was stress-free, and I hoped to make their day a little brighter - even for just a moment.

So why this blog: Well, it only takes a little bit of effort on our parts to make not only our lives easier, but others around us. Be kind to those who do have to put up with rudeness. Be patient when they have to continue to ask those dumb questions. They are only doing their job and we can help make their days a little brighter. Who knows - the next time you deal with others, the customer service may just be friendlier than you expected. Have a great day. :-)