I Could Get Used to This. . .

Oh, how I love a Monday off from school! I am hoping for a sewing day, but it's 9 a.m. and so far I've cooked breakfast, packed Larry's lunch (he reminds me that most jobs do not close for a holiday such as President's Day- gee, sorry Dad - not really *vbg*), washed and put away the dishes (okay, so the dishwasher did the biggest part of that!), and read and commented on a few hundred blogs (oh, how I love that!). I still need to get to the thrift store, (if I get what I waited to go on teacher discount for, I'll share later), go to the grocery store and then...I'll sew.

I did take these photos to share today. This is a rocker that Happy brought to me from the Virginia homestead. We grew up in the Air Force, which is to say, we lived in many places, and our Dad traveled to even more.

The small picture shows both rockers.

Happy took one on with him to his home.

I cannot help but think of him when I look at mine :-}

This was one of two rockers that Daddy purchased on an extended trip to Peru. He said he watched these "monks" spin the wood with a bike pedal style lathe, and they would hold a string with their hands and teeth, and spin the ribbed designs into the wood.

Is it true? I do not know. You'd have to know my Dad, I grew up with stories from him like, "...When I was a little girl...", or, "...Back when I rode horses on the open range with Tex Ritter..." ...no kidding, Daddy had the best stories.

Both chairs are in good condition, probably because there are other chairs more comfortable, lol. In our folks home in Anchorage, Momma had stylishly decorated with one of the rockers on display on top of a closet in a tall foyer entryway.

My photos were actually waiting on me giving the wood a good cleaning and conditioning, which happened this Saturday (finally!). My chair is now sitting in our computer room. I think this makes seven rockers in our house. WOW. Yea, I love rockers.

No one is sitting on one right now, does that make us off our rocker...? Okay, moving on....



While outside in the beautiful morning sun, I took advantage of the setting to take pictures of this latest project.

I was trying without success to make a fancy border, but I think I'll go with simplicity, and that way I'll have a finish, and not another UFO.

Oh, and February has been good to me in the giveaways, I'm so tickled! Big thank yous to ~

Cyndi of Blue Bird Swing ~ or, wait, is it Blue Bird's Wing? I'm gonna have to ask that question!
Cyndi did my prize with a cute presentation, she only showed the empty basket, and then she filled it daily. Look closely, and you'll see her doggy Noah in the chair ~

Doris from Threads of Conversation gave away a charm pack ~ Woo, Hoo! Oh, and go see her first quilt, it's a whole cloth quilted by her, from her teen day, it is an incredible accomplishment.

I and a few 1000 blogging quilters out there was entering the blogs giving away Kim Brackett's newest book, Scrap Basket Sensations. I love her projects, I knew I would save up to buy one, but I entered each day at each blog participating in the wonderful projects of Kim. Thank you, I won from Karen of Nana Girl Quilts! Karen made several of the projects in Kim's book, and displayed them around her own home, just lovely. You remember Larry's Blue Kitchen Sink was from Kim's last book....

Well, can you believe I've been at this for more than an hour, I'd better get moving, and I hope you can make the most of your day, too. Happy Quilting!

Valentine's Day 2011

I'm enjoying a day home, we are out of school for 2 Mondays in February, one for Lincoln's Birthday, and the other is for Washington's Birthday, or President's Day. Either way, I'm home and happy!

My sweetheart Larry is at work. He's feeling much better, has been keeping his weight down, and his energy level is s-l-o-w-ly increasing, bless his heart! This year we will celebrate 35 years married, and I'm glad to have such a love. Our celebration of Valentine's Day will include home cooking, my really thick spaghetti sauce is his favorite, so it's cooking as I type.

Pokey's Really Thick Spaghetti Sauce
I'm not a real measuring person on this recipe, so do as you wish...

in a skillet, brown and stir until cooked and crumbly:

• 1-2 pounds ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sweet sausage, casings removed
• 2 coarsely chopped white onions
• 3-5 stalks chopped celery (I've even added 1 chopped carrot, chopped zucchini, or 1 diced bell pepper)
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon each basil flakes, and oregano

Add all to a large pot. For the sauce ingredients, add all this to the pot:

• 2- 14 ounce cans stewed tomatoes (I crush these in my hands, removing peels and tough tops)
• 2 or 3- 14 ounce cans mushrooms (because we love 'em)
• 2- 24 ounce jars Newman's Own Sockarooni Sauce
  
• more garlic powder, oregano, and basil
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• sometimes I add 4 ounces sliced pepperoni

Cook all to blend the flavors. Serve with a green salad, cooked spaghetti noodles, and garlic bread. The leftovers are great to pack for lunches....

I recently won a sweet mug rug from The Adventures of the Empress of the Universe. You should go meet this gal, she has some serious talent at making these mug rugs, and mine is beautiful! The heart at the top of the post is from this one, too. Always nice to meet a new blogging friend.

I was hoping to work on a finish or two, but that new roll of Amy Butler was calling my name, so here goes....

And because I want to join in a couple more giveaways in the quilting community, go check these out:

• Stash Resolution has a 6 fat quarter bundle of "Delilah". The deadline to enter is Wednesday, February 16, at midnight EST.

• Thearica of Pigtales and Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway from the Quilt Depot. A nice blue shopping bag of goodies is the prize, come see. Date giveaway is 02/20 at noon EST.
• Edited to add: Sew Fun Quilts has a one day giveaway: Red charm squares for Valentine's Day, I'm in for red!
  

That's it for now, I think I'll go back to stitching!

I Won!

I won 30 blocks in the block lotto, boy, oh, boy!

And the block for February is cute, too....

These are not mine, but you can see these and more at
Sophie's Block Lotto, come see!

W I P's

I've joined into some internet fun, with Sophie and her friends at Block Lotto. I "know" a few friends there, like Wilma in North Carolina, and Sophie is a new-to-me person. I guess I've joined in on a tidal wave year, but Sophie's block is so do-able this time, I've enjoyed making them. Here are my eight blocks, which I hope one will be a winning ticket. :-}

There is a button added on my sidebar to take you to Block Lotto. Sophie adds a new block, and therefore a new lottery each month. Check it out and see it it's a project you would like to join in. Of course, there are no guarantees, except sharing and growing in the creative process.

Last week, I quilted Ginny's little Duck, Duck, Goose quilt, and Monday had me finishing the binding, yeah! another completion!

Back last summer, I sewed 200+ scrappy 4-patch squares, and joined in an exchange with Bingo Bonnie. My goal is a scrappy Irish Chain. Well, scrappy sewing for the lotto has me sewing those patches again,

this little stack is sw-ee-ee-t!

...but, I think some of the motivation has come from these folks, too ~

Terry is the most recent one ~

...and there was Lane's, too...




...and lastly, Libby had the black background that Sings to me...

Libby's was a kit, too.

I have to admit, this is a long term project, so I don't think I'll have it done anytime soon, but they are beauties. Oh, I'm wanting to mention Bonnie Hunter's book, Leaders and Enders, that kinda got my ball rolling in the Irish Chain direction.

For those of you that like the soft colors found in vintage sheets, you may want to check out this giveaway....

That's it for now! Hope your week is great!

This is a double wedding ring from Virginia. My Grandmother made it, she did all piecing and quilting by hand.

Any fabric would do in her quilts! Often the quilt backs were feed sacks that she would dye a dull pink/red. This one isn't, though.

Go! Giveaway

You know I want it. . . here is another one!

Lavender Ridge Go! Giveaway

Happy Quilting!
Pokey

Sarah Fielke of The Last Piece~

See Sarah's cool giveaway...





these fabrics aren't even available yet!


Happy Quilting!
Pokey

p.s. I finished the "John Deere Pink", Hoping I can share them soon! smiles!

Thank You, Lynda!

Lookie what came to live in California with me?

A mushroom, a ladybug,

a bittie daisy

and some great prints. A pokey dot mountain, lol

There was some yummy Utah truffles, too...was...YUM!!

Thank you, Lynda!
Love, pokey

Creating a Smile

I'm making smiles, and wanted to share mine with you...

I love the filtered sun through the window shades this morning...

Hope your day is a happy one!

Want another smile? My blogging friend Lynda is having one sweet giveaway to celebrate one year of blogging. She has some pretty quilts, and finds the time to say hi back, which I always appreciate. Go join in, and (she doesn't ask you to) maybe join in her followers. You'll enjoy the connection to share in her love of quilting. Her giveaway ends September 1st.

Happy Quilting,
Pokey