November Begins

This was my morning chore today.

  I retied and bundled all the quilts that Pat J. brought to my house on Saturday.  Then I moved them all to one of the bedrooms.    

We have 48 quilts, 30 pillowcases and several bags of magazines to take to the VA Hospital next week. 

We  have a big family party planned for this weekend to celebrate all the fall birthdays.

  I'm making enchiladas, New Mexico style!  One of my dearest friends, Vera Campbell, was from Gallup and I always use her recipe.  The whole family loves them.

They will provide everything else.

We had our first frost early Monday morning.  So I coved my porch plants - still out on the lawn - but we are expecting two more nights in the 20's before the weekend so I may have take them out to the man cave for the winter.  Or I may chance the weather to enjoy them out here awhile longer.

This pepper plant is so handsome I may try to save seeds from it.  I took some cuttings from my favorite begonia too.  I keep telling myself it's time for them to have their winter rest but......

Now it's up to the Sasanquas to hold down the fort for awhile.

A Feel Good Kinda Day

 Pat Jetter and I delivered 63 Patriotic quilts and 40 Patriotic pillowcases to the VA Medical Center in Durham Tuesday.

 They were made by groups from Sew Happy Quilt Shop in Clayton, Pine Tree Quilters and the Undercover Quilters.

Each Veteran who enters the Hospice Unit is given a quilt to brighten their surroundings and it is passed on to family members. They also use the quilts for patients on dialysis. 

Thanks to all the wonderful quilters who give their time and effort for this very meaningful project.

Frienship Star Quilted

The quilting is finished on this Friendship Star Veteran's quilt.  It is 51 x 63".

I had several yards of various plaids up at the lake, leftovers from curtains and bed skirts in one bedroom. They are all combinations of reds, whites and blues so I will use them for backings on my Veteran's quilts this year.  The red binding was some that I had made for another project and then chose something else.  Today I washed both Veteran's quilts so they are ready for giving. 

We had a great time at Connie's for our sewing time on Thursday.  I got out my H Blocks to take with me.  They are so easy and fun to make.  I have almost enough to make a bed size quilt for my nephew and family.  I need about 12 more.  It was a warm day so we had lunch on the deck and took a garden tour of Connie's backyard.  We also got to peep at her stash. Awesome!

I have my Pink Spiderweb quilted and binding sewed on so hopefully I will get it sewed down this weekend. Today I started working on quilting the String Squares.

Veteran's Friendship Star

In January I made a kit for a Veteran's quilt so that I could work on when I needed something to pick up and go.  Yesterday I had a little time so I made a few blocks. This afternoon I had some time to sew so I was able to finish the top. 

It went together real fast.  It measures 51 x 63".  Now I'll need to make another kit!

I like the hollow stars.  Maybe I'll make another with red cornerstones and just use hollow stars.  I'd like to have about four quilts ready for the Veteran's Hospital this year.  We'll see!

Another use for your stash

This is my month to do Worship preparation each week.

This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday and our Pastor asked for the Alter and rails to be draped in white.  We had a couple of large piece of white fabric at church but no where near enough.  So I found a set of sheets, five tablecloths then the stash yielded enough to finish up. 
Wednesday will be burlap and back to purple paraments.  

The Worship Committee has two rooms up on the third floor where we keep all our supplies and decorations for all the various seasons of the Christian year.  But sometimes the Pastor will ask for something different and then we improvise.

Beautiful Fall Day

The view from my kitchen window - 4PM

Sunday afternoon

Yellow Angel's Trumpet - Brugmansia

The colors are gradually turning in our area.  The weather has been cooler especially in the evening after the sun goes down.  I think the weatherman is calling for 50's during the day this coming  weekend.  We are having guests at the lake Saturday.  I'll plan for an indoor day!

I was tempted to buy some of the beautiful mums I saw today but I was feeling in a thrifty mood.

Carole's Patriotic Quilt

We had about 15 at our Undercover Bee Meeting on Saturday.  We had 23 patriotic quilts turned in and we should get several more before we deliver them to the Veteran's Hospital in Durham in early November.  Pat J. who organizes the veteran's quilts made 10.  She is also collecting some from another group.  Hope my car is big enough to hold them all.
 I love that Carole added  yellow to her quilt it makes it so cheerful.  Hope to remember to try that.

Thursday Connie, Cathy and Sally are coming to sew.  I bought the Charlie Brown pattern a couple of years ago.  I think I have enough large and small nine patches made but now I need to work on the sashing.