Meineke Car Care Bowl

Go Deacons!

The score board tells it all.

Today we went to the Carolina Panthers Stadium for the

Meinke Car Care Bowl.

Wake Forest University vs University of Connecticut

Fun was had by all those present, except maybe all the UConn fans who traveled to Charlotte, NC to cheer their team on. At half time the Deacons had not scored! (UConn 10 - WFU 0). It was looking bad for the Deacons.

However the team came out gang busters in the second half and scored 24 points!

Pre-game activites

Here the Deacon is riding in on his motorcycle.

Touchdown & the Deacons get on the scoreboard!

And the crowd went wild!

Yes it was a great day for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons!!!

I am my fathers' daughter!

My father was not really a superstitious person, except in three areas.

1. If a cat, and it did not matter the color of the cat, crossed in front of him, he would always cross out the cat with his finger in mid air.

2. He would never, ever sign his name with red ink. This goes back to accounting class, when accounts were hand written in black(+) or red(-) ink. As a business man who owned a trucking company, he wanted the books to show at the end of the year it was in the black!

3. All Christmas decorations HAD to be down and packed away before the stroke of midnight on New Year Eve. He felt all business of the previous year had to be complete and finished and that included the Christmas decorations.

So as you can see from the naked tree above, I am well on my way to having all my decorations down and put away by midnight on the 31st. The tree is officially down & out the door. The other stuff will remain in place until next Monday. Tomorrow, with good weather, the lights outside, will be down and put away. It is hard giving up old habits that one has followed for ??? years! The year 2007 is slowly coming to an end. So I too must clear out 2007 and get ready for 2008!

The Strawberry Patch in Winter

Yes, there is a Strawberry Patch in the Winter!

Yesterday I had the honor to be a guest at the annual Augsburg Quilt Ministries

Christmas luncheon.

There were 12 members of this group and the Assistant Pastor present (plus me). Each of us contributed to the luncheon menu. There were ham biscuits, pizza cups, corn, broccoli salad, sweets and the list goes on and on.

And I'm happy to report Quilt Diva, Quiltkeemosabe & Ms. Goodneedle

Heard no evil, Spoke no evil & Saw no evil yesterday.

Love, comfort and joy was

had by all present.

Merry Christmas to all you special ladies whose loving hands make those beautiful quilts.

One Block Down

The LQS in town has a $5 Quilt Club. For those who don't know , it's where you can make 12 quilt blocks for the cost of $5.00!

Of course there is a catch. You must come to the next appointed meeting with the previous months block completed. If not, it will cost you another $5.00 to get the next

months block.

If you look closely, you will see the actual block with a border of different fabric added. I am planning on adding the same border to all the blocks. At the end of the year, I will then use the same red outer print to strip the blocks together.

I won't decide until the final block is finished as to what other fabric I might use as borders.

Now the real task begins, staying up with each block as it is given to me!

Wish me luck.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

From this..........................

to this. In a week..................

Last Saturday my daughter came to the house and asked her Dad to go get her Christmas tree, as this was the only time in her busy schedule she could go. (She started a new job on Monday) At that time I had to decide if I was going faux or real this season. Each year for the past few years, I have been toying with the idea of buying an artificial tree. The mess that a real tree creates can get overwhelming. But again I gave in and went for the REAL tree.

Here are the results.

Not bad, is it?

Ah....but the real pleasure of getting things decorated was when I opened the tub I keep my Mothers nativity scene in. It brings back such memories of Christmases past.

My Mother toiled for many hours for months painting and glazing each piece of this set. (I like she, was a craftier. This was during her ceramic period.) Each Saturday or Sunday afternoon that I would take the kids to visit, she would ask me to help pick out the color combinations for each character. Slowly over that summer and fall this beautiful set was born. That first Christmas she set up all the pieces into her Christmas scene was very fulling for both she and I.

By the first Christmas after my father died, Mother was not living at home, but at Brighten Gardens in Greensboro. I had her at the house a few weeks before Christmas, when she had me go to the storage building behind my childhood home and get the box she stored it in. Upon bringing it into the house she told me to take it home and set it up at my house, as it was now mine. Since that cold winters day it has found a special spot in my home at Christmas.

Where has the time gone?

It is hard to believe it has been a week since I last posted! (I started this on the 3rd----today is the 5th!)

Today was the last meeting of the Beginner's Quilt class I have been teaching over the past month. We have a NEW quilter who has fallen for quilting! Ellie Schmidt has completed her first EVER quilt! It has been a pleasure watching her develop a new interest in quilting. She has even joined the $5 Quilt Block of the Month Club at Sew Original on robinhood Road.

Being a teacher, whether it's for children, tweens, teens or adults , is so rewarding when I see the light going off in my students! For all of you teacher out there you should know what I mean.

Pablo BEEcasios

Today I joined the local "Art"quilt Bee here in town. Quiltkeemosabe has been after me for over a year to go with her to the meeting. One of the members did a program on using water soluble Oil Pastels to enhance fiber art. Be it landscape quilts, purses, etc. All members present seemed to enjoy learning more about this technique. At most bees, or when any quilters get together, they usually have "show and tell".

I took my landscape quilt I've been working on about Switzerland. Yes, I finally finished it! It turned out far better than I had hoped. I'm so proud of the finished piece. I see more "art" quilts in the future.
Also at the meeting today, each member recieved a paper bag of 12 items. We have until the January meeting to use 9 of the 12 items in a quilt, purse, or whatever creative article we can come up with. This should be interesting. Give me some ideas! A wallhanging? A purse? What?

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to two wonderful friends, I have this beautiful Camellia bush in my yard. They told me they wanted to have their gardener plant a bush or tree of my choice in my yard in memory of my mother. These beautiful blooms are the first of many to follow over the next few weeks. My mother loved flowers and trees. She was a flower show judge on the state level (state fair) and locally (Greensboro fair, Dixie Classic, and too many to mention). I know each time I see this bush I will remember Mother and the two special friends who gave it to me.

The above is the result of a mishap I had while emptying my dishwasher last Sunday night! I didn't go to the ER the night it happened. I waited until Monday to go to the local Primecare (Doc-in-a-box). Five stitches and a tetanus shot later, I am on my way to recovery. These are the first "accident" caused stitches in my whole life! It's hard to believe it took 60 (almost 61) years!

Go Deacs!

Go Deacons!

Final Score

Wake Forest 38 NC State 18

Hershey & Gettysburg, Pa.

North Carolina Monument

The past weekend found my daughter, Ashley and I in Pennsylvania attending a bridal shower and visiting with relatives. We left Friday morning and drove to Hershey, Pa. for a bridal shower on Saturday for one of Ash's close friends. We enjoyed the time spend with the bride & groom to be, their families and friends. Ashley is going to be the Maid-of-honor. The Matron of honor also attended the shower. The wedding is to be in April at the Magnolia Manor outside of Greensboro. The groom is from Hershey. The couple met one summer at the beach.
Sunday morning after a quick breakfast and short tour of Chocolate World (we couldn't go to Hershey without getting some chocolate) we drove to Gettysburg to spend time with my brother, Doug and his wife Anna. Anna is a senior at the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg.
Part of the afternoon my brother drove us around the battlefield and pointed out the where our Great Uncle Fenner Pierce of Company F. 47th Infantry Regiment of North Carolina fought.
Monday morning found us traveling to York County to visit with 3 Aunts and cousins. It was good spending time with everyone. The best part of the day was sitting around my Aunt Ginnys dining room table with the ten of us (Aunt Ginny, Rick, Kyna, Vicky, Lynda, Gerry, Doug, Anna, Ashley & I) laughing, talking and just enjoying each other.
Thanks for the memories!

Mother

Mother, Aunt Emma & Aunt Arlene

Sisters
Today is the first anniversary of the passing of my beloved Mother. Oh now I miss her. She was a transplanted Yankee, who became a true Southern Lady and tar heel (She loved walking around bare foot in the house).
Last night I and my daughter attended Augsburg Lutheran Church for the All Saints Service. The music was beautiful as was the warm welcome I always receive there. Thanks for including Mother during the service.

The Hunter is home!

The hubby got home early Tuesday evening from his great hunting adventure at the Tubbleweed Lodge in South Dakota. He and his brother left Tuesday morning about 6am to drive to the nearest airport to drop off the rental car and board the first of 3 airplanes. Thirteen hours later they were home. Tried, tried, oh so tried by the time he reached home.

The above picture shows all the birds the 10 hunters shot during one days hunt. One of the guides is holding on to the Lodges pet Great Dane (Deacon better known as Deacs)who thinks he's a lap dog! Fun was had by all and reservations are on the book for next years hunt.

Happy Halloween

Monday night, I & my daugther were invited to a Jack-o-Lantern carving party. Each year a few days before the big day, this family (& I mean the whole family - sisters, cousins, husbands, etc.) get together and carve pumpkins. We were lucky to be included. Candy, beer, pizza and good time fun was enjoyed by all.

One UFO finished & ???? to go!

It's Official

"It's a BSR Christmas"

is now finished!< Label and all!

We received this fabric in late August, maybe early September. Saw it had to have it!
The creative juices were flowing. I envisioned it as a perfect fabric to practice using my BSR

(Bernina Stitch Regulator).

I cut each (8) panel/block into a usable size, layered batting and backing fabric and began having fun with my BSR.

Then the unthinkable happened. I left for my wonderful trip to Switzerland an a new UFO was born!

With the hubby gone for 5 days it is now complete.

After quilting each block I used the Reversible Quilt technique to put the blocks, sashing & binding on the quilt.

Reds, Oranges, Yellows OH MY!

Fall has arrived at the local grocery store. Aren't the colors beautiful? May your Sunday be sunny & bright. Enjoy your day.

Go Deacons on your victory over the Tarheels!!!!

Day Off!

Today found me in my sewing loft for a few hours of stress relief and "ME" time. After teaching on Monday, working on Tuesday and teaching BSR Basics on Wednesday, I finally had a little time to do things I really wanted to do.
However, upon spending time in the loft I realized how many UFOs I really have. So....my goal for the weekend is to get some of them finished!
The Hubby leaves in the early am for South Dakota and a 5 day hunting trip with customers and friends. Hopefully he will come home without any extra holes in his body!
To explain the holes....3 years ago on the first annual trek to SD hunting, he came home with an added hole in his left ear. It seems as they were walking up and over a hill, hunters in the group, who were in the lower edge of the field, cave across a covey of birds that flew up an toward hubby's group. Of course as all hunters do they fired upon the poor helpless birds. The shot went up and into hubby's ear. To make a long story short. They get back to the hunting lodge. A Doctor (from Texas) who is also hunting, takes him under his knife (and I mean knife not scalpel) while sitting at the bar in the lodge and removes the pellet!

Thanks for the Rain today!! Needed so much, even going out in the rain wasn't bad.

Busy Monday

Today I spend the morning teaching a beginning Serger class at the LQS where I work. It was a challenge to say the least. But then all serger classes can be challenging! We (the students) didn't get anywhere finished with the first lesson. The main object in the class is to learn to thread the machine, that did get done. The big deal is to see if they can get it done by themself at home over the next 2 weeks. Their assignment was to practice, practice, practice the threading of the serger so the next 3 classes move faster!
The rest of the day I spend in my sewing loft and I completed the church landscape block and started another scene from my trip! It's the covered bridge in Lucrene. Will share when it's complete!

Landscape Quilting

I have started a new venture! Landscape Quilting.
Quiltkeemosabe showed me a few of the new landscaping books in our LQS (that we both work in) and the creative juices have been flowing. My trip to Switzerland has been my inspiration.
I printed a few of my favorite pictures from the trip and headed to the shop to begin finding the needed batiks and landscape feature fabrics. I have now finished one block depicting the Lions Gate in Lucrene and have begun a second landscape.



I still have trees and other details to add to the landscape with the church. Maybe by tomorrow I will be able to post the finished block!?! There are so many pictures from my trip that would be beautiful depicted in the same way as theses. I have my work cut off for me.

Have a terrific Thursday!

Food for Thought!

The Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all..

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grand son thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Switzerland Photos

We stopped at rest stop stop on the way to Jungfrau and in the community was this church. I just loved the scene.



This is a painting done by a street artist. I was surprized I did not see any other art by local artists.




These are the Rhinefalls. They are famous because of the amount of water that falls over them in a minute. Not the height of the falls.



The stained glass windows were made and designed by Marc Chagal. The church is in St. Gallen. I think!

Back to normal, I hope!

The past 3 weeks have been a whorl wind. The first week was spent in Switzerland. The middle week getting over jet lag. This past week I was in Aurora (outside Chicago) at Bernina USA. I and one of the girls from our sister shop in Boone, NC went there for a Software Infusion class. We are now certified in the Artista Software developed by Bernina. It is a wonderful embroidery software. The features, functions and other capabilities are unbelievable. With this program, you can digitizes pictures you have scaned into your computer and make them into embroidery designs. Also make cross-stitch designs for the embroidery machine, plan your quilts, design orginal monograms even applique pictures! The functions it is capable of are endless! By the end of the week, we were brain dead from all the information they threw at us. But oh how excited we were!

Home again, jig-a-de-jig!

Memories have been made, friendship renewed & new ones started. Switzerland and its people welcomed us with open arms. The weather was perfect!

Sept. 17 & 18th -Flew from Charlotte to Munich to Zurich. We were met at the airport by our tour guide Wolfgang Fineder (from here out known as Wolfie). He took us to our first hotel of the week in Konstanz, Germany. Where we settled in for a little rest, our first group dinner and much needed sleep!

Sept. 19th - Up and out (with our bags in tow) we boarded the bus for our first day of our Switzerland adventure. First stop, a walking tour of Konstanz market area, waterfront and the first of many shopping times! From Konstanz a short 45 minute ride to Steckborn, Switzerland to see where our Bernina sewing machines were built. An enjoyable and enlightening afternoon. We had lunch at the plant with the owner/president of Bernina an his 2 children(the future generation of Bernina). From there to our first Chocolate stop,and then to hotel in Zurich, supper and to bed.

Sept. 20th - After breakfast our first stop was the most powerful waterfall in Switzerland (not the tallest) "Rhinefalls". It is knows for the amount of water that flows over the falls in a minute! Scenery as we traveled from stop to stop is beautiful. Arrived in St. Gallen about lunch time. Wolfey came us a quick tour of shopping area of St. Gallen and then set us free. Most of us toured the Textile Museum. Where we saw an exhibit of some of this years new apparel fabric and a exhibit of fashions pass. And again there was shopping. We boarded the bus about 3 for Zurich and our hotel, supper and bed.

Sept. 21st - Today our first stop is the Lions Gate in Lucerne. Back on the bus, quick walking tour of the waterfront and shopping area. Wolfley again let us on our own. A few of us walked about 4 - 5 blocks to the Picasso Museum. Beside Pablo's' works there where Paul Klee, and otherImpressionist paintings. Back across the lovely covered woodenbridge that crosses one of many of the fingers of the lake Lucerne surrounds. Lunch, shopping and we again met up with Wolfey to board a boat for a boat tour in and around the lake that Lucerne surrounds. Beautiful vistas all a round. Back to hotel, supper and bed.

Sept. 22nd - Today we found ourselves in Interlaken. After 2 bananas and 2 train rides, we arrived at the Top of Europe - Jungfrau (which means Maiden/virgin). The views where unbelievable. Back to Interlaken and supper. Some of us had Swiss fondue and one the of biggest beers I've tried to drink! It was an enjoyable evening. The weather gods have been with us for the whole trip. Supper was out under the stars and mountaintops of Interlaken.

Sept. 23rd - Again up and out early for a boat ride across Lake Brienz to the town of Brienz were we toured a wood carvers shop and many of us helped their economy by making a few purchases! After lunch we were back on the bus to check in to our next hotel in Engelberg. We did a short walk about before meeting back at hotel for a horse draught carriage ride around the area and where dropped off for a tour of the Cloister in Engelberg. After the tour most of us just walked back to the hotel. A short (15 minute) rest, then it was off to supper, a tram ride to the top of Engelberg for a night view of the town. Back to the hotel and to bed.

Sept. 24th Up and out, bus ride to catch cogwheel train up to the top of Mt. Pilatus. What makes this train so special is because at times it is going up the mountain at a 47 degree angle. Pretty steep! Again there where beautiful vistas. What goes up must come down! So it was a gondola ride down, bus ride back into Zurich and our farewell dinner Sadly to say our wonderful adventure was soon to be over!

Sept.25th - Sadly we said Good-by to Switzerland and arrived safe and sound in the good old USA, with many wonderful memories

Engelburg - Brienz - Lucerne

It has been a few days since posting. Thought I would bring you to up to date. The Swiss people are wonderful. We have had a wonderful trip. Yesturday we took a coggle train to the highest Summit of Europe. The views are unbelievable. Cold¦¦¦ This morning we took a boat trip from our hotel to Briene where we visited a wood carvers shop. The carvings are beautiful. Then short drive by motor coach to Engelburg. The mountains again are to beautiful to tell you about. You must see them for yourself. Tomorrow another train ride up Mt. Pilas by cograil train. Then back to Luceren for last minute shopping. We spent the night in Zurick and fly out early Tuesday morning. See you back in the USA with pictures.

St. Gallen, Zurich

Today went to Switzerland most powerful waterfall, not in height but in volume of water per minute. Also did walking tour of St. Gallen and some shopping. Then to Zurich ,drive around then walk about shopping. Also in St. Gallen we toured the Textile Musuem, very interesting. Beautiful lace. Supper at local Turkish resturant. Having a good time.

Day at Bernina Factory

We have had a great day. Begun with tour of Konstanz, Germany. The reason we stayed in Germany was because there is not any good hotel close to \bernina factory. Lunch at factory was good. Tour was great. Fun to see how the machines were and are put together. Stopped at Chocolate factory/store. MMMMMMMM Drove back into Zurick to spend the night. Each group went their own direction for supper. Now it is time for bed
and up and out by 9 in the morning.
We enjoyed the chocolate. Wish you were here to enjoy the chocolate with us. Sorry we ate it all. Try to save you som

"My bags are packed and I'm ready to go."

Leav-v-v-ing on a jet plane. Tomorrow afternoon won't get here soon enough. There are 5 of us that are traveling to the airport together. Here's hoping we can get 5 suitcases, 5 carry-ons, 5 purses & 5 very excited women in one Mercedes ML320!

This afternoon my husband (Ro) asked me to print the pictures he took while at Watkins Glenn,NY for the Vintage Sport Car races last weekend. (Yes, the same track the big boys of Nascar run!) To be able to race in a vintage race, the car has to be at least 20 years old. Ro's car is a 1970 - 2002 body style BMW. He has been racing now for 5 years and loves it!

I thought I'd share pictures of his car (#206) and 3 0f his buddies. They race up & down the East Coast. Watkins Glen, Roebling Road (savannah, Ga.), Road Atlanta (outside Atlanta, Ga.), Daytona (the road course) and Sebring. Oh and of course their home course is VIR (Virginia International Raceway outside of Danville, Va.)

The Race is on!

Today begins the race to get everything ready for the Switzerland trip. Everyone at the shop is in a frenzy. Questions right & left. What size bag to carry on the plane? Weight limit and number of bags can we check? Do we use travelers checks or a prepaid debit card? Do we go ahead and get our Swiss Frans before we leave from a local bank or wait till we get to the airport in Zurich? We are going to be so tried from "getting ready" for the trip----will we be able to enjoy the trip! Also what to pack!!?!? Long pants, Capri's, long sleeves or short, sweater or jacket, umbrella or raincoat?!? I am sure there will be more questions and confusion before it is over! Time is a wasting!

A Day of Remembrance

All should say a prayer for those who died six years ago today in NYC, Washington, DC & Pennsylvania. I can not imagine the pain each of their loved ones felt that day and the days since then.
Thank you to all our Armed Forces who are serving in harms way. I am so proud to be an American. We all have so much to be thankful for. God bless the USA.

Fabric finds a home!

The weekend has been productive. Over the weekend, I finished a backpack to carry on my trip to Switzerland. The fabric has been in drawer for over a year and a half just waiting for the perfect project. I had purchased the fabric for another purse but just never got around to it. (Most quilters, sewers, crafters, etc. know about purchases that are made for a project but never gets used!) Also put the finishing touches to a small wall hanging for Halloween made for the shop where I work.
My daughter is hosting a couples shower for her Chi O "little sis" in a few weeks & she volunteered (me) to embroidery 60 can koozies for the party. I am so fortunate to have such a thoughtful daughter! So with all my other activites on the calendar I am going to be very busy.

There's a first time for everything!

The time is right to begin a new adventure. And Blogging is it! Never thought I would do this, but here goes. I am a retired Art teacher, who is now a part time sewing/quilt teacher in one of the local quilt shops in town. I probably spend more time at the shop on my off time then I need to. But all the husbands of those of us who work there, think we have our own little sorority and also have to get our weekly fabric fix. (Which we do....It's our special place!) I am the in charge of the newsletter/calendar for each quarter. I do all the class scheduling, etc. I'm always up for new ideas. We are planning on having a Christmas Stocking Challenge. Here's hoping we have a good turn out. A trip to Switzerland is in the works for 8 of us and18 of our customers in September. We will be touring the International Bernina factory and many other fun side trips. Will keep you posted.