A Minute to Play

I hope these games aren't negative ones, I picked the images for the silly faces!

This is for my friend, Sue of Bits & Pieces, This & That. But you can join in! Copy and paste, and then answer the questions, and tell me you did!

1. Sweet or Savoury?
2. Dresses or Jeans?
3. House or Apartment?
4. Shop Online or Offline?
5. DVDs or Downloads?
6. Cocktails or Juice?
7. Chocolate or Strawberry?
8. Laptop or PC?
9. Magazines or Newspapers?
10. Facebook or Twitter?
11. CDs or MP3s?
12. Kids or Pets?
13. Cookies or Cupcakes?
14. Walk or Run?
15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out?
16. Market or Supermarket?
17. Sourdough or Grainy?
18. Heels or Flats?
19. Late nights or Not?
20. Coffee or Tea?

1. Sweet or Savoury? Love the sweet stuff...
   
2. Dresses or Jeans? I'm both
   
3. House or Apartment? I love our house
   
4. Shop Online or Offline? Online, especially Fabric.com!
   
5. DVDs or Downloads? Dvd's are easier for me
   
6. Cocktails or Juice? Juice blends are fun, always no alcohol
   
7. Chocolate or Strawberry? Depends on the day...
   
8. Laptop or PC? IMac computer
   
9. Magazines or Newspapers? Magazines, I'm addicted to quilt mags
   
10. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook if I need to
    
11. CDs or MP3s? MP3's I love to make my own!
    
12. Kids or Pets? I love them all
    
13. Cookies or Cupcakes? I'm the cookie monster, or at least his cousin...
    
14. Walk or Run? walk
    
15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out? I cook breakfast almost every morning. Today, oatmeal with brown sugar
    
16. Market or Supermarket? Supermarket. I just don't have time for more stops.
    
17. Sourdough or Grainy? grainy, I like those ones that have nuts even
    
18. Heels or Flats? flats. no heel taller than 2 inches anymore
    
19. Late nights or Not? I am up no later than 6:15 am without an alarm. No late nights
    
20. Coffee or Tea? TEA, for sure. Current favorite: Vanilla Chai, with Nestle's Cream Brulee

Thanks Sue! that's the break I needed this morning...!

Blessings,
Pokey

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33

Aw, Shucks...

Have you seen this button around?

It seems it found its way to me. Versatile?
[vur-suh-tl] adjective

1. capable of turning easily from one to another of various tasks or fields of endeavors
2. capable of many uses
3. variable or changeable as in feeling or purpose
   

How's that for a teacher's approach?


First, I want to thank Carla and Lynda for the honor. I told Carla I thought my list would be boring. My family gave me a few things to mention. Here is my list of seven little known facts about me...

1. I grew up military, as did my husband. I've lived in many places, including Japan. I met Larry in Anchorage, Alaska.
   
2. I attended 19 schools before graduating from high school. I didn't attend Kindergarten, but I taught it for 18 years. My Momma taught me to read before I went to first grade.
3. I love to sing.
   
4. I cannot type! While in college, I sewed 3 dresses (one was a Renaissance Gunne Sax dress!) and did mending to get my papers turned in properly. Who do you think was getting the better deal?
   
5. I have done woodworking, and the first power tools purchased for our home was bought for me. But, last Father's Day, we bought a nice steam iron for Larry...! Larry irons better than I do....
   
6. I came to know the Lord as my personal Savior 2 days before my 17th birthday. That Christmas, my folks bought me the Bible that I still use to this day.
   
7. I must put my stash in order before I can show it to ANYBODY!

There you go, a little about little ol' me.

Now, I want to name several of you that make me so happy to read your posts, and give such encouragement back to me. But I'm gonna say you do not have to participate, and I know some of you already have. No order in particular....

• The Doodles of my Mind Jacque
  
• Sew Cal Gal Darlene
• Not So Plain Jane Rachel
• Neat & Tidy Mary
• Life in Bonetown Jenn
• Homemade Quilts by Granny Trish
• With Thread in Hand Nancy
• Annie's Quilt Orts Annie
• Flourishing Palms Linda
  
• Bits & Pieces, This & That Sue
• Fun Old Hag Carol
• Love Laugh Quilt Beth
• Pickle Dish Lesly
• Dolly's Home Dolly
• A Ditchin' Time Quilts Stephanie
• Pokeytown Kim Kim
• Ivory Spring Wendy

and there's Barb, Michelle, Kim, Lynda, Carla, Jean, Gene, Pat, Nanci, Leslie, Thelma, Rita, Trish,... Thank you all for the inspiration, encouragements and just plain poppin' in to say HI!
Now, let's get out there and continue to be Versatile!

Happy Quilting,
Pokey

Keepin' It Real

I was reading over at Vickie's blog, and she shared on coming across a "challenging" sewing lesson. Haven't we all had those times? We don't always share, though. (Mary had shared recently, too, and since their same challenge had happened regarding the same project, I'd say there might need to be some changes to the product.) I was thinking that we sometimes ought to present the problems we face, just to keep the quilting real. It sure has inspired me.

I had sewn my crazy patches (for the last quilt I completed) way before the quilt was finished, August '07! When I shared my quilt in class, I also expressed the fact that the squares were 'a pain' and finished out almost 1 1/2" smaller than the pattern I'd used from a magazine
had said they should (because of the -razzle-frazzle!- bias).Well, it had me frustrated, and I put them away. Not being all the way a dummy, thankfully I squared them up before packing them.

When Press had approached me at the end of June for a quilt in September (!), the packed away squares made it easier to forgive my imperfections and use these perfectly good -but not true to the "pattern"- pieced patches, and go on to what I'm happy to call a completion.

Anyway, after "share time" in my quilting class, two different people came and told me, "You know, if you kept this to yourself, no one would know." I realize they were only encouraging me. The fact still stands, though, that if we do not share the reality of creative struggles, there are those of us (maybe new to quilting?) who would not continue the craft if they do not "discover" we all hit a tough lesson in our projects from time to time. It's not all projects, but it does help to know that problems can be part of the creative process. Maybe this is why I enjoy puzzles....

Aside from lessons learned, I have a couple of sweet quilts I'll be sharing soon, all pink and brown and I'm having fun! Sometimes, quilting is all good ~

Happy Quilting!
Pokey

09/06/10 edited to add for Rita's question~
As far as the magazine the crazy patch pattern came from, shucks if I remember! But you can probably trace one out, it has five pieces, four go around the center "cup". It was red check first, then navy floral, 3-white background stars, 4-red, then 5-triangle of r/w/b/brick print. I created my own stars. Personally, if I were to try this patch again, I think I'd paper piece it. Sorry, I hope this helps a bit ~

pokey

She's Alive!

Yes, alive and thankful to be mending. Whatever this viral thing is/was, it sure did a number on me. But, I stripped the bedding and washed the quilts-! to try to shake the "sick bugs" outta here!
The weather has cooperated, and I've had the windows open to air the place out. Does anyone else do this for health reasons? I always feel better to clean everything. I'm tired, but looking forward to a new day feeling better. There, that's said.

Karen of Quilts, Etc. is hosting a giveaway for her friend, Teri, a non blogger. Teri wants to give back to the generous blog people, as she has been a winner previously. How sweet is that?
I read about this on Karen's blog this weekend. Now, one of the fun rules they have attached is that I will get a point if you mention you read about this and say my name! So, go sign up, and tell them Pokey sent you over.

Happy Quilting,
Pokey

Some Progress, and My Friend, Ginny B.

I was going to title this post, Terrible Tuesday, to go along with Happy Wednesday from last week, but what fun would that be? Suffice it to say, I returned home from my classroom Tuesday morning (yes, I knew I was sick before I went, but you have to think of the sub that's stepping in!) and discovered I had 103.5º fever. I went to see Dr. Fu, he took one look at me and said, "Oh, you're sick!" Thanks. Tell me something I don't know (rather snarky of me wasn't it!?!)

But, I had so enjoyed the weekend, with progress on the homefront, and "Blue Kitchen Sink".
(See in the photo, the blankets are turned back so I can crawl back in!) Besides the fever not breaking until today, and Dr. Fu said I wasn't to go back to school this week, I have not had the strength to sew or do any fun stuff. What good is a day off, when you can't do that? Larry and Lydia said they knew I was sick because I wasn't doing ANYTHING. I bet some of you folks are "do-ers" like that, too. I will admit, God sometimes has to slow me down one way or another, so, I'm listening, Lord.

I've been teaching what seems a ba-zillion years, and I have a tendency to prepare my lessons
for me. I have my student work ready, each day's work is in its slot, and mostly I have the next week's work ready, too. IF I'm going to miss school, I work sometimes 2 hours on hand written notes for the sub. That's when I can. This week I had Tuesday ready with notes thinking "I'd be ba-ck" (drop in Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice), uh, yeah. NOT happening.

There has been a different sub each day, and sadly, I've received a call Wednesday AND Thursday morning (bad, Mrs Davis!!!) asking where, how, what etc. I called my dear friend Ginny Bakan crying this morning, feeling so-o bad about myself. She reminded me that is a sub's job, it'll be okay, and after school (half day, too!) she went down to set the room for tomorrow.

She pulled a few strings and worked her wonders, and went to run a few papers, while I got to talk to the sub today on her phone. Now, here's the difference between Nickie, today and tomorrow's sub, and the other two: Nickie has taught, second grade as a matter of fact, and she paid me the biggest complement: I'm organized.
She said, "Mrs Davis, Your room is functional and just flows. The children worked to the pattern of day as a class that understands order. You have a lot of instructional aides, and I'm not worried a bit about tomorrow. Oh, and she had already done the morning prep work for tomorrow!

Well, I cried again. After feeling a bit like I let people down, God sent me two big blessings in the form of people with servant's hearts.

So, Let me tell you about my friend Ginny B., Mrs. Virginia Bakan. She has the kindest heart, the funniest wit, she has raised her 4 children in the ways of the Lord, and she is a true blue, loyal friend. She is why I came to teach at West Covina Christian School, 23 years ago. She was our daughter's 3rd grade teacher, and her girls would watch Lydia occasionally when we had teacher days.

This is the quilt I made for her upon the occasion of her retirement last year. I miss seeing her daily, but she still comes to help in my classroom on Wednesdays, and we go to the quilting class together on Monday nights. Here is the dedication /quilt label, green is Ginny's favorite color, that is why the backing is green.

This past summer, Ginny turned 70, and her oldest daughter Carrie gave her a surprise birthday party, and it was so wonderful to honor her there! Carrie and family had the backyard decorated beautifully, with lights in the trees and candles on the tables. She was showered with garden flowers for gifts, as she has s passion for gardening. My flowers came along with a dresser runner, I knew she has the quilt in her bedroom.

I am missing school another day, but the Lord is control (He has to remind me of that constantly!). I am doing my best to rest and hopefully I will be on the mend soon. Thanks for letting me share the yucky stuff, too. Okay, going back to bed . . . .

Happy Quilting,
Pokey

A Sweet Christmas

Have you ever made these? I couldn't find Rolos this year, so I used these, cut in half.




You use small pretzels, I like the Hanover squares, and nuts. Pecan halves are pictured, but I use walnut pieces, cashews or almonds, too.
Put your caramel on your pretzel, on a microwave safe dish. Nuke on high for 20 seconds, just to soften the candy, not too much!



Now, gently push your nut of choice into the melty caramel. Let them set, and put onto a serving dish . . . if there are any left . . . Easy Award!



Kelly at Charming Chatter is hosting a giveaway, and she invited us to share a Christmas memory. Here is one from long ago, since my baby girl turned 30 this year.

Merry Christmas to you, Kelly, and thank you for a giveaway at Christmas!

We have so much to be thankful for. One sweet memory of my daughter was Christmas#2. She was 16 months old, and my Momma had sent her the homeliest little doll (Momma said you couldn't help but love it!) and Granddad, Lydia's great grandfather, had made Lydia a dolly cradle.
Lydia toddled right over to that bed, and said "Baby?", took the dolly out of it, gave it a little glance and said "Baby?" again, and laid it down. Then, she dove in, head first, to that little cradle and lay down! She turned her head and looked at us through the doweled sides, and gave her Daddy and I the biggest grin!
She wanted to be the baby for that bed!
The baby doll became her favorite doll, named "Night-Night Baby". She still has it and the cradle.
Sweet Christmas memories!

I hope you are all making sweet memories this year, they seem to grow sweeter as the years go by.

Merry Christmas, Pokey

Sneak Peek

Have you seen Amanda Jean's Ticker Tape quilt? Or her doll quilt? Mm-m, too much fun to avoid!

Of course, I have to try, and as my MIL would say, I "pokeyed"* it- glue stick!! And as nothing is new, and all is borrowed, I credit the glue idea to Bonnie at Nap Time News.

* to pokey it- to rough it up, make it primitive-style, or simply, to make it easier!! *smile*

That's me!! lol

Happy Quilting, Pokey