Just a short post

Yesterday, my two friends and I journeyed to rural Hayesville, NC to Lewis Nursery and picked out a Japanese maple for Mr Wazoo. The girls wanted to do something for him to honor his mother's passing, and I needed to get him an appropriate birthday gift for the big 75.
Mr W and I went to the nursery to pick up his tree this morning. And four other plants...

The place is beautiful, with wide paths through all sorts of potted trees and plants

This had to be the biggest Hydrangea bush I have ever seen! The owner said it is about 40 years old!

Same for this crepe myrtle...40 years of growth has made it a giant!!

Back at home, Mr W dug a huge hole and planted his new tree.

Give it 40 years and it ill be big and beautiful!

We would have gone to get the tree yesterday, but we had an emergency with Molly. One of her age related cysts was infected and burst, creating a bloody mess on her side. We rushed her off to the vet and she is on antibiotics and pain meds for a while. She also has the cutting edge accessory for dogs, the inflatable collar. Much nicer than the old fashioned cone, and she doesn't mind having it on.

I think it could double as a swimming floatie...

or a neck pillow for those long airplane rides.

I worked on sewing down the applique pieces on the big chicken quilt. Tedious and slow. Invisible thread is not my friend.

Today, on From My Carolina Home blog, Carole had a great post about backing prep for your longarmer. It is a good read for you quilters who use longarmers for your quilting needs. Give it a read! https://frommycarolinahome.com/2019/08/23/dealing-with-quilt-issues/

A flimsy finish, a rescue, and a surprise road trip

I am happy to say that after months of work, I have the triangle applique quilt up to flimsy stage! It's a top, a flimsy in the quilter's jargon. Now, it is in the line to be quilted. Two down, two to go. I have 31 days to get them done. Yikes!

I thought it was done when I took this picture (the rick rack is only being auditioned) but Mr Wazoo said the bottom corners need something. I asked him what did they need? He said dragonflies.

So, I added dragonflies. There is no more room to add anything but embellishments. They don't go on until after it is quilted.

They are kind of cute...

Mr W has been working hard and finishing quilts right and left, but I had the phone with me in Wisconsin, so there are no photos of them. You'll just have to take my word for it, he did four quilts while I was away, and all of them are gone home to their makers. He did this one yesterday because he needed me to sew the backing together first. Christmas in August!?

A pretty Christmas couch throw ready far in advance.

The panto is snowflakes and is called Flurry

Its snowing on the back, too!

As for the rescue, Mr Wazoo came dashing in to get me for a dilemma outside. He was watering the pot on the porch when three baby birds all jumped out of the plants and onto the porch. He was so startled, he ran to get me o help him get the birds back into the nest in the pot. Mama was chirping and flying from bush to bush frantically the entire time we dried off the nest gingerly and scooped up babies with a dustpan. What a fiasco!! We'd put one in and another would jump out. It took more than a few minutes to get them to stay put. All the while we were running around bent over and trying to scoop up the birds, Mr W's pants were slowly falling down. I laughed out loud when I saw his jeans almost off, and his undies showing Gansta' style. Every time he bent over to get a bird, they fell down a bit more. I wish he would use the suspenders he has just for this reason, but he won't. Oh yes, it is his 75th birthday today. He did his good deed and everyone was happy. Mama went to the flower pot right after we got the last baby put back, and stayed there, I'm guessing to scold the chicks and fluff up the soggy nest.

I had the camera in my packet and took a couple of pictures before having to turn it off and help the man wrangle birds.

These are two of the escapees, chirping wildly for their Mama.

The family is back at home and well hidden in the pot.

Earlier in the day, I got a call from a friend who wanted someone to ride along to Ringgold, GA to a quilt show. I'm not one to miss a show, although I had neither heard of the town nor the show. What the heck, it was just a short trip. The show was small, but nice, held in the town's train depot. When the train goes through, it is about ten feet from the building! A surprise to show goers unfamiliar with the town. It didn't take long to see everything on offer, and we were home in time for me to load and start a huge quilt. I'll work on it while I do other sewing jobs, and probably won't finish it for a couple of days.

It was close quarters in the small depot, but everyone seemed to be enjoying the quilts and the company they met there.

Do the Martellis ever go home?! I swear they are at every show I have ever been to. They will be at our show, too!

This was my viewer's choice. I love the controlled scrappiness of it.

Quilters doing some power shopping at the vendors.

I got a few rows quilted before having to hurry upstairs and make Mr W's favorite dinner...meatloaf, potatoes and lima beans. He had a slice of coconut cake from the bakery and went to bed a happy (and older) man.

Adventures await tomorrow morning when a speed trip to Hiawassee brings a visit to a new longarmer's studio and to a garden center. We are on a mission to find a tree for the birthday boy.

Home again

I'm back in Georgia. I have to go back to work. But first, here are some more photos of trip stuff.

Polk Park. It didn't rain, but it looked really cool!!

Behind the trees, you see the Blackhawk ski jumps, used for Olympic training when I was young.
On the right are the wind turbines in Waunakee. 

This parkland has different areas to explore. This is the biggest sunflower field I have ever been in!

There are paths mowed through the wildflower prairies and crop fields.

I put my son in front of the corn so you can see how tall it is!

On the hilly part there is a small woodland.

Beautiful wildflowers are all over. We saw an otter dart from one field to another, too!

The sunflowers are beyond their peak, but still tall and lovely.

A typical Wisconsin county road. From my sister's house to my daughter's house, I went on many of these!

I had a delicious quiche here while some ladies knitted, crocheted and chatted in comfortable chairs near by. 

Later, my kids and I went to Fitchburg for an art festival.
There were kite flyers, live music, an array of food offerings and some unique art pieces.

Biotech Bucky

My stylish grandson

The happy family

One selection was Celtic music. 

There were several rows of vendors and artists.

We ran into my friend, Georgia, at the fair, as well!

Cycling cow

Later, we all went out to eat, and my dapper grandson wore his new rainbow shoes.

The whole clan from Wisconsin!

Back at home, I unpacked my goodies and went back to work in the studio. I miss Wisconsin already...

From quilt shops...

From the art fair...

From the garden center...

From another garden center...

From an antique shop

What a good catch this was! And hand quilted, too...

Mmmmm,,,Blue ribbon picks from the cheese store!

We'll be back to quilting tomorrow. I worked on the final border of my triangle quilt, and should begin quilting my show quilts soon.

Wisconsin!

I have been so busy running all over to be sure to see everything, I haven't taken many photos or posted on the blog. Mr Wazoo has been quilting up a storm at home and finished all the work I left for him to do. He told me last night that he will be in the yard today. Must be true, as my morning phone call went to the voice mail box! Good for him.
I got here at 9:30 Monday, and left my sister's by 10 AM to go to DeForest and see my friend from high school. We had a wonderful time. She drove me to Lodi, then to Baraboo (home of the Ringling brothers circus) to fabric shops and an antique store. I added to my stash, and also scored a 1940s Dresden Plate quilt with only minor damage. I'll need to replace two blades, but otherwise, it is pristine! The back has some light stains, but no holes! When I get a good photo, I'll post it.
We rode the Merrimac ferry across the Wisconsin River, stopped briefly at Devil's Lake State park, and to a wonderful store in the Dells called the Red Shed. It was closing time there, so I went back with Marcia the next day and bought Mr Wazoo a kinetic garden sculpture. (Also, pictures later...)
I spent a day with my son, his wife, and Grandsons, and we had fun looking around Madison and going out for Thai food. The next day, I went to my daughter's volleyball match (they won!) and met her friends there.
Back to my sister's for a fabric shop hop to three stores, to Farm and Fleet for the Alfred Dunner clothing sale, then to Woodmans for Madiera wine. I use it for cooking and haven't been able to get it in GA.

Having fun with Marcia on the ferry.

Geezer selfie...why do I always look stupid in selfies!?

The river is really high. Wisconsin has had a huge amount of rainfall this summer.

The name of the ferry...Colsac III

My sister's house. I got stopped in DeForest by a cop who thought I acted suspicious at a stop sign. I had sat there a few minutes because my GPS took my down a cut de sac! I fixed the GPS and took off, and was lit up immediately after turning the corner. One time being an old lady paid off. I told him I was lost and he became very helpful, getting me to the highway and back to Janesville. At least I didn't get a ticket for being suspicious!

At the Red Shed, they also had these Christmas ornaments made from yo-yos and buttons. I thought I could make some for the boutique! Wow! I sure won't charge $4!

In Madison, I went to a quilt shop called Blue Bar Quilts. It is a big, well lit, fabulous shop! Loads of more modern fabrics there, as well as a sale room for quilt related items, a big classroom, and a gallery hall with traveling quilt collections rotated every couple of months. 

The gallery, with Olympic quilts on display.

Three courts of volleyball in full swing.

Then, this happened! A bunny got in somehow, and stopped all the action for ten minutes while the ref chased it all over and finally out a gate. It was the highlight of the night when it ran to freedom, raising a big cheer from the crowd in the bar. Gotta love Wisconsin!!

I had a wonderful time with my HS friends at lunch in Monona on Wednesday. We laughed and chatted for  a few hours, then said our good-byes and see you on Facebook!

Today, I'm off to the west side of Madison to meet my son and go to the huge sunflower field. Later, we're going to Whitewater to have fish fry at the local supper club with my brother. I'll post more pictures next time.

On the road, I was behind this truck with the weirdest thing on the back. It looks like there is a little door with a guy in a turban peeking out. What's that about? I took a picture just because it was strange.

See you later, alligator.