The Coming of Fall

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we've had a generally cool and damp summer.  Just ask my tomato plants.  In fact, summer just really got started about three weeks ago. And now that the kids are back in school, we're having the warmest week of the year. Really, the warmest, like in the mid 90's.

The mornings are glorious, sunny and cool.  There's a little birdsong and squirrel chatter along with the rumble of school buses.  (Isn't it funny that school buses always rumble.  In my school days, they also rattled, but that's another whole story.)

The afternoons are warm, but in the shade, with a little breeze that whispers of fall, it's perfect for sitting outside, doing applique or maybe a binding.  I've been working on an applique project that seemed pretty basic at the outset.  It's taking way longer than I thought it would.  Yet there's something pretty special about sitting outside, working on a quilt in a comfy chair with a glass of iced tea close at hand.

When I look left, I see this.

When I look right, I see this.

When I look over the railing, I see this.

Then, sadly, I see this.

What was a fairly decent looking expanse of thriving lawn a couple of weeks ago has been invaded by moles.  Please trust me when I tell you that they are busy little guys.  Not to be outdone, our girl, Ella, has been trying to dig them up.  This does not improve the lawn.  It also does not improve the look of my carpets.  Unless, of course, dirty dog prints are in this year. (I'm guessing not so much.)


Ella approaches her work with single-minded energy.  One hole was so deep that I'm convinced that she's made reservations at the Beijing Hilton. She hasn't actually caught a mole yet, which I consider to be good news.  If Ella could just annoy them enough to move out, I'd be thrilled.

Toby is the ultimate supervisor.  He sits on the deck above, she digs.  He lays down on the deck, she chases around through the bushes.  He snores, she investigates.  He comments:

She swats him in the mouth with her tail.

The nice thing about hot days is that they melt into warm nights.  I do miss having it be light until 9pm; I like to sit out and read or sew.  Now comes the tough decision.  Do I come inside to sew or do I sit out and enjoy the last balmy nights of summer? 

Check out other quilt blogs by clicking below.  Lots of fun stuff there.

Candy (aka Mother on a Broomstick)

QB1
Quilter Blogs & Store Search

The Dog Days Are Here

Ahh!  The dog days of summer are here.  What better time than now to showcase some DOGS!

One of the fun things about the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is that there's so much more to look at than quilts (which is wonderful and the whole point), the people looking at quilts (that's a whole other show), and vendors (hang on to your credit card, it's too much fun).  Besides kids and patient significant others, there are the dogs.

Quilt show dogs are special.  They put up with a lot, including kids, strollers and wonderful smells.  Smells like hot dogs, popcorn, barbequed meat, and a couple of amazing bakeries - a regular feast for the canine nose.  Here are a few of my favorites from this year's show.

                      These guys are ready for a sunny day with their little hats. 

Then there are those who simply travel in style.  They also get to see some quilts as opposed to lots of feet.

                             Some are just hanging around being beautiful.

     There's a certain thrill that comes when you can walk down the middle of the
      street.

Not sure if the beagle is looking forward to making a new friend or checking out the kid with the popcorn.

                 There's always one who can't decide which is her best side. 

                                   Some are just looking for a little shade.

                                               Or a spot of grass.

                               Perhaps heading for the odd barbequed rib.

                                  Maybe aiming for the cuteness award.

                             
                              Is this a face that says, "Are we through yet?"

And, finally, one of the many reasons Miss Ella Bella did not attend the show.
Luckily for my walls, furniture and legs, the cone of shame in now off and she's free to be her usual active self.


As always, a big thank you to quilterblogs.com

So

"Are we stylin' or what?"

Some

Quilts at the Sisters Show

I thought it might be nice to show some actual quilts at the show.  There were literally hundreds and I'm just showing a few.  With limited commentary.  Because you just want to SEE the quilts.

Front & Back

    

Tree Challenge

           

Hilde Morin Classes

 

Aren't they just amazing?  There were so many inspiring quilts.   Hope you  enjoyed them.


Candy

A Week in Sisters

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has been a staple in this sunny Central Oregon Community for over 30 years.  When my friend, Judy, and I started attending, there were three days of classes, called the Quilter's Affair, preceding the one-day show. In the 18 years since, Quilter's Affair has expanded to 5 days of classes and includes three evening events.  Our friend Jean joined us 9 or 10 years ago and 4 years ago, Barb started coming with us. This year, Judy's friend Jan from Minnesota came out to experience quilt week.  I'm pretty sure she liked it. Jan took 5 days of classes and about 500 pictures.

Classes are held at the local high school.  The Stitchin' Post Quilt Shop puts on the Quilter's Affair and stocks a small store at the school for Quilt Week.

The lobby of the school looks like this during class time.

And like this at lunch.

Outside the school we're treated to views like this.

And this.

 And of course a little bit of this.

The day of the show (and the day before, to be accurate) busloads of quilt-lovers stream into town.  Quilts are hung on buildings,

between trees

and under tents.

The main highway through town is closed for the day and it's really fun to stand in the middle of a street where on any other day dawdling could be life endangering.

In addition to quilts, there is food and drink,

Entertainment

And of course something like this:

Barb and I ate lunch at a restaurant/garden store:

It was really charming and the food delicious.

Ever seen an actual flower bed?

It was a wonderful week, full of quilts and friends and inspiration.  Then Barb and I went home and slept for a week.