Batting

One of the fantastic things about moving back to the desert is that I can return to Common Threads Quilt Guild.  I was very excited for the meeting last night.  I haven't gotten alot of sewing done, its been to hot here.  Over 95 for weeks on end and the air went in the front part of the fifth wheel.  We've been huddled in the living area trying to stay cool, but the temp in here was getting to be 90 or so.  The designer of this campground decided to have everyone's door open up to the sun all day long, and without trees, there wasn't any shade to speak of.  ugh.....

and now we've moved into fly season....ugh again.  I've killed over twenty flies in here today and just spotted a few more.  I absolutely hate flies!

Back to the guild.  It was nice to go back and see some friends.  I never was close to anyone in the guild.  I had small kids and lived on the base so I'm hoping to get more quilting friends now.

Last night the speaker talked about batting.  How enlightening it was to hear her talk about how long we take to pick out a pattern, fabrics, and sew and then quilt our treasures and we usually throw whatever batting there is inside of our quilt.  Wow, never thought of that before.

SHe had quite of few samples and I didn't realize that batting was now made from corn, bamboo, and recycled green water bottles!!  I always thought it was cotton, polyester, or a blend!  I did find out that for awesome hand quilting, I should be using wool.  Its a dream to quilt through she said.  I had no idea!!  I just phoned the local quilt shop and they don't have any in stock so I will have to order some from somewhere.  I think it would be a great idea also because the toy hauler area of the fifth wheel is getting to be pretty chilly at night.

I still don't have my sewing machine, so I decided to hand piece the girls' quilts.  I have one row done already and if I focus on it this weekend, perhaps I can get most of the piecing done.  I found some horse fabric with framed horses and some really cute barbed wire fencing, lasso fabric, and some other cute fabric.  I'm doing just squares of fabric, no real design because I wanted this to be quick to keep the girls warm.

I'm about 1/4 of the way through quilting TL's quilt.  I hope to have that done pretty quickly also.  Like I said, its getting a little chilly in here!  The temp drops about forty degrees at night and since its only in the 80s during the day, you can imagine how cool its getting.  At least the heat's working!!

Have a wonderful quilty day!

My friend, Connie

Two years ago we arrived in Whidbey Island and lived in our camper waiting for housing to open up.  We camped right on the beach, which was gorgeous, but cool and very very breezy.  We had quite a time getting fires started at night because of it.

One day I was off and Kevin was trying to light the fire.  A woman camped next to us, ran in her camper and came over with a handful of scrap fabric (y'know, those pieces that you trim off?  she saves them) and put in on the wood and then told him to light it.  I've been saving my scrap every since.  A great way to start fires!!

A friendship was born!!  Luckily for us, the Western WA quilt shop hop was the next weekend and we went.  We had a blast and it was so much fun getting to know each other.  The next year they came up again and we did the shop hop again.  Sadly, this year they couldn't come to us, so we went to visit them in OR on our way down to WA.

Connie has a quilt room that I totally envy.  I was afraid the girls would break something so I watched over them like hawks.  She has a GO cutter that Kevin just had to try out.  We hit some stores and I stocked up on some cool Halloween fabric and Kevin cut out tumbler blocks for me.  I may have to invest in one.  An entire top cut up in fifteen minutes!!  Awesome!!  And no mistakes at all, cause I ALWAYS cut the right size with my rotary cutter, yep, never made a mistake yet.  Who am I kidding?

She's such a dear!!  We took the girls and they picked out horse fabric and make pillow cases for themselves.  Then she used her embroidery machine and did the cutest hand towels with their names and horses on them.  They had a blast!!

We miss her already!

Connie and the girls at the quilt shop

Did I also mention that Connie, and her hubby Donald, took us to the Goody's store for a field trip and of course, we had to taste some samples!!  Yum!

Here's her hubby, Donald, checking out the treats.  He's such a sweetheart; my girls all love him.  They wouldn't leave him alone and followed him around the whole time we were there, "Mr. Donald!  Mr. Donald".  Poor guy was probably happy to see us go!!  lol Oh, and did I mention that he cooks?  He has more cookbooks than I do!!  He made us some absolutely delicious meals!! 

So, maybe next year I can head back again.  I know that the kids would enjoy going back.  We had a fantastic time!!  And they are so sweet!!  I'm so blessed to have met such wonderful people!

Organization

I've spent the last two weeks organizing the new fifth wheel.  I found out the first week of school that the school books were not going to work where I'd put them.  They were over the fridge, so I had to climb up and down a ladder  all day long.  Didn't work as well as I'd planned.

I haven't done any sewing.  Too busy organizing and getting the kids activities all set.  The three big girls are doing Awana and gymnastics.  TL is doing boy scouts and karate.  We tried three different schools until we found one we liked.  He was doing taekwondo and they don't have that here.

So here's some photos of our new home.  Enjoy!

The kitchen.  There's a couch to the right.  The door leads to the girls' bedroom.  The bunk over the door is TL's.

More kitchen.  The door on the left leads to our bedroom.  the door on the right is the bathroom.

TL enjoying the tv

The girls' room.  There's two queen bunks and the bottom bunk can be made into a u-shaped dinnette.  They are enjoying their space.

The girl's half bath.

And they're little tv.  There's hookups for a washer/dryer unit.  I'd love to get one!

I didn't show the master bedroom.  I need to find some fabric for a quilt, cause the ugly black comforter is driving me crazy!

Have a wonderful quilty day!

I'm baaaccckkkk!

Finally, we have reached our new home.  The only problem is that I don't have internet.  I feel extremely disconnected to everyone!

We arrived last weekend.  It was only 101 degrees at 5:30pm.  Ugh.  I think my eyeballs are sweating.

We left Mt. St. Helens and arrived in Washougal WA to visit some friends of ours that recently retired from the Navy.  What a gorgeous house they have!  And it on top of a mountain with a gorgeous view of Mt. Hood.  I'm jealous!!  I'll post pictures later.

While there we decided to upgrade our 34ft travel trailer to a 40 ft fifth wheel.  We've decided to live in it the next few years.  We have some bills to pay off and some money to save.  With the threat of military pay on the table several times the last few months, we've decided we need to grow our emergency fund.  We also have braces, college, and retirement looming in the next eight years.  I enjoy camper living, even with five kids.  It only takes a little to clean each day so it frees up  more time.  I'm hoping to have more sewing time!!

I'll post in the next few days pictures and details of our trip to OR.  We have so much fun visiting our friends there.  She's a quilter so we had a blast together!

Back to our fifth wheel.  Its a toy hauler with two queen sized bunks in the  back.  The bottom bunk is also a couch and can be turned in a U shaped dinette.  There's a half bath and plenty of room for all four girls.  TL has his own bunk over the main living area.  My kitchen is still pretty small but I don't have more space and double the refrigerator space that I had before.  My oven is also bigger so now I can actually use it.  The other one was so small and the rack was closer to flame and the bottom of everything was burned.  I'm happy to be able to cook again.  Of course, that will have to wait until it gets cooler.  Right now all I want is a salad and some iced tea!

I'm off for now.  I'll post pictures of our new home, although I still have to decorate, and our trip to OR.

Enjoy your week and happy sewing!

Having a blast!

We've been visiting friends these last few days.  They are wonderful and our kids get along famously.  Their bigger kids are surrogate brother/sister for my little ones and the little ones have them wrapped around their fingers.  They get piggy back rides and many many trips to see the goats and chickens. 

We'll be here a couple of more days and then finally head into OR.  We'll be visiting more friends there.  I'm excited.  Both the friend I'm at now and the friend that we're going too are quilters.  Its been fun talking quilting talk, even if I'm not getting anything done!!  I'm enjoying my time immensely.

Today we went to Fort Vancouver which was really really cool.  The kids even seemed to really like it.  We had a good  time, even if it was warm.  Okay so it was only 85 but you have to remember that we're used to a high of 65 during the summer.  Tomorrow its supposed to be over 90 and I'm not looking forward to that at all. 

Hopefully, I'll have some photos posted soon.  I'm pooped and off to bed!  Nighty night!

Mt. St. Helens

We're here in Mount St. Helens enjoying the scenery.  Our only complaint is the campsite.  It is extremely unfriendly towards visitors.  Too many rules.  No room to put out a picnic table, your literally right on top of your neighbor.  No play areas for the kids or a game room and they are not allowed to ride their bikes or play on the hill.  Time in the camper isn't as fun as it usually is.  Today is really warm, okay its only like 85, but we're used to 70 so its hot for us.  We went out yesterday and enjoyed Mount St. Helens.

We're in Big Foot Country!

Information on the blast zone

TL running from a potential blast

A picture of the helicopter tour

Gorgeous view, although there was alot of cloud cover

Coldwater Lake up near the base

Monkey playing in the cold water

The big girls climbing

Johnstone Ridge.  He was on duty watching the mountain the day if blew and managed a quick message before the area was destroyed.  They've never found his body

You can see how the trees were blown apart.  They have planted 18.4 million trees and plants trying to repopulate the area.

Finally the cloud cover is gone!

I did head into town and toured the local quilt shop.  It was fun and the girls enjoyed picking out some fat quarters.  I'm working on quilting TL's dino quilt.  He's a little old for dinos but still loves them.  This year he finally decided he didnt' want to be a paleontologist because it was too much school.  This fabric I bought a couple of years ago and didn't start it until this year.  He needed a longer quilt for the camper because he's grown so much so he's getting this one.

I found some great horse fabric that I'm piecing by hand for the big girls.  It will take a little bit but I enjoy doing the hand work.

Have a wonderful week!

no internet

Sorry I haven't posted.  We're living in the camper at the beach and there's no internet.  I know, I know.  Who cares, your at the beach right?

We are enjoying our last days in WA.  We leave this beautiful place next weekend.  I hope we'll be staying at places with internet so I can at least post pictures for everyone!

I'll miss this wonderful place and the wonderful friends we've made here!!

Enjoy everyone!!  Have a wonderful week!