Love at Home

My kids are on a school break right now which means things are crazy (but fun) in our neck of the woods. On Valentine's Day, my two oldest woke up early and surprised me with breakfast in bed - sausage, eggs, pancakes and orange juice.  They were so quiet, I didn't suspect a thing.  I sure do love my little peeps! They had their class Valentine parties before they tracked off, so we spent the day making & eating sugar cookies. We celebrated that evening as a family (my husband and I went out on Saturday) with Chick-Fil-A and Twister - we're not as limber as we used to be!

Pretty romantic, eh? We did watch a Redbox movie after the kids went to bed. :) 

This one probably needs an explanation.  My nickname has always been Nat.  When I was young, the Gnat was my icon -  I would draw a little bug instead of writing my name when I would write notes to my friends.  I made this little gnat in a junior high pottery class a long, LONG time ago. 

Happy belated Valentine's Day!

Finished Zig Zag Quilt

The jelly roll zig zag quilt is finished!

  I hand stitched the binding down this morning in bed (feeling a little under the weather),

washed it, and gave it to my happy parents this afternoon.

  It feels good to check something off the list - especially a belated Christmas gift.

As a bonus for completing a project, this arrived in the mail today...

I think I know what I am working on next.

On to the next Stage

My youngest turned 3 this weekend. It seems like just yesterday she was a warm little bundle in my arms, and today she is playing dress-up with her cousin - their plastic heels clicking on the floors as they run around (she is the princess in pink).  I thought it would be hard to leave the baby years behind, but I love this new stage so much.  And, I am blessed with many good memories to sustain me when I am missing the days gone by.

Although...I am counting on new little nieces and nephews joining our flock, because there might be moments in the future when I will need to "borrow" a newborn.

Is it weird that a 3 year old can walk in heels better than I can?

Rouenneries Valentine Quilt

Right now I am on a "use what I have kick".

I have a tendency to buy fabric just because I like it, even if I don't have a particular project in mind.

For example, at least a year ago, I bought a rouenneries charm pack, and immediately after,

 it was buried & forgotten.

Last week I was digging around in one of my fabric drawers and it was rediscovered.

 I still liked the fabric, but what do you do with just one charm pack?

Based on the color palette of this fabric line, and my complete lack of any Valentine's decorations

 for our home, a little light bulb came on.

I cut all of the charm squares into quarters to make the heart and borders.

I didn't have any fabric for the binding.  Since I am in the process of "de-stashing",

I used decorator weight ticking.  I wasn't sure how it would wash up, but it worked perfectly. 

 And, since this is just a wall quilt, the stiffer fabric won't be a comfort issue.

It's a little cheesy, but for Valentine's Day, I think it works.

(Finished product measures 28.5 x 33)

Sunset Basketball

It was warm enough today to shoot hoops outside.

But not actually warm by "normal" standards.

Only warm to energetic 6th graders.

My son was out with some buddies and he came running inside yelling, "Mom, come quick!" 

I jumped up thinking, Oh, no. 

Then he said, "Bring your camera...the sky is prettier than ever."

He was right - so very pretty.

I miss sunsets.  I miss a lot of things.

When you get excited about temperatures in the 40's, you know you've been inside for too long.

I am ready to defrost.  Oh, so ready.