Thanksgiving in Michigan

I'm back in Atlanta after spending Tuesday through Saturday in Michigan visiting my family for Thanksgiving. I missed most of the ATL airport madness by going then instead of Wednesday-Sunday and I had today to catch up and do laundry. I had a great time and was really busy trying to see everyone and do everything in a few days.

Some of the highlights were:

1. seeing my parents, brother, sister-in-law, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who I haven't seen in a year

2. eating too much great food (thanks Mom for all the pies!!!)

3. getting up at dark-thirty to go shopping on Friday (a family tradition) and getting most of my shopping done and presents wrapped so I don't have to mail them!

4. enjoying 3-4 inches of snow

5. going to my favorite quilt shops

6. playing with Shiloh (my parents' Alaskan Malamute)

and Jack (my brother's Siberian Husky)

I know my quilty friends want a detailed report of the quilt shop hopping. One of the best quilt shops in Michigan is Mabelena's. Unfortunately, they don't have a website or blog so you can't see all the great stuff for yourself--just trust me, it's awesome! The owner, Brenda, is the sweetest and always remembers me even though I visit only once or twice a year. This is what I bought at Mabelena's

some Civil War fabric I actually don't have yet...

along with 4 yards of Duck cloth (a light canvas) for lining purses (I like this better than stiffer lining).

Another one of my favorite shops is Guildcrafters (they do have a blog). This shop has a wide variety of fabric and lots of kits and samples. I picked up some charm squares, a pattern, a cool neutral,

and some Amy Butler fabric to make into a purse. We went to two other quilt shops (Linda's and Canterbury Village Quilt Shop) but I didn't buy anything at those. We didn't make it to my other favorite shop, Lake Street Mercantile. Maybe next time.

Today, I have been sewing on Xmas gifts. Do you realize tomorrow is December???!!!????!!!??? Better get busy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I found this photo of this fine looking fellow in my digital photo file. I took this photo a few years back when I was at Colonial Williamsburg. Don't you just love digital cameras--you can take as many photos as you want of everything under the sun (turkeys included!)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Saturday Invasion of Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Becky, Karin, Brenda, Cindi and I invaded Sweet Home Quilt Co. (aka Bad Melisa's) on Saturday. We talked and laughed and bought more fabric for projects-in-the-works and someday-I'll-make-this projects and had a blast. I don't have a photo of my goodies because my camera batteries are dead. I bought some backings for quilts from the sale room and the new Blackbird Designs book "When the Cold Wind Blows" (I really didn't need to get this book because I already have 2 long and involved applique projects from 2 of their previous books but oh well...). We then invaded a local restaurant and talked and laughed some more. A great day with friends. Thanks Becky for arranging this and thanks to Melisa for having the best quilt shop!

The holidays arrived at Starbucks...

at precisely 9:32 PM on Friday when everyone and their brother descended on my store all at once. We were slinging milk and coffee and hot chocolate the rest of the night. And so it begins... Maybe it had something to do with the unseasonably cold weather here in the ATL (30s at night 40s-50s during the day). The Weather Channel says it's 27 degrees now and should get down to 20 by morning. That's January cold not November cold. Another sign of global weirding as Thomas Friedman would say.

I haven't blogged much this week--it's been kind of a crazy week and I mostly came home and curled up in a quilt with a cup of hot tea. The cats act like they don't have permanent fur coats and have been hogging the heat vents.

I am looking forward to (later) today when several of my quilting cohorts and I invade Sweet Home Quilt Co. like a Mongol hoard with coupons in hand for some visiting and maybe some finding a thing or two we can't live without. We let Melisa know ahead of time--hope she is ready for us LOL!

Autumn has left the building

Somehow I missed most of autumn. I think I was busy working. The weather here in the ATL has definitely changed. Friday, we had an unusually foggy day the whole day and Saturday was blustery and chilly. Amanda in England would feel right at home. During Saturday, I think all the leaves on the trees fell at once and my yard is covered with a thick blanket of pecan, dogwood, and oak leaves. The nice thing about having a 90-year old house is the mature trees around it; one of the not-fun things about owning an old house is having mature trees that drop tons of leaves. I used to rake and rake and rake all fall and winter. I now take the easy way out and mow with the mulching lawnmower. Less exercise but quicker results and my yard has that natural I-don't-have-time-for-yardwork-let-alone-actual-grass look. Today's weather was chilly and windy and the people at the Weather Channel are predicting below freezing nights all this week. My mom reported that it is snowing in Michigan already. Goodbye autumn wish you would stay longer.

That's a lot of blathering about the weather isn't it? In other news, I sewed a lot this weekend but can't show photos because it is a gift. Dinner tonight is comfort food courtesy of Whole Foods--veggie pot pie and pound cake and a pot of tea. Time to eat and curl up in some quilts.

Veterans Day

I had the day off today for Veterans Day. The holiday was declared in 1919 to commemorate the signing of the Armistice ending World War I and was expanded in 1954 to honor all veterans. Did you know there is only one living veteran from WWI in the US? He is 107 years old and lives in West Virginia. Thank you to all the veterans for everything you do for our country!

It was a good day to stay home and quilt so the cats and I spent the day working on the flannel quilt. I have half of the rows put together and hope to have a finished top by the end of the weekend.

A Postcript Post

PS: Check out my favorite local quilt shop now online with a blog too!!! Yes, you to can be tempted by "Bad Melisa" of Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Also, if you are interested, check out Holly Holderman's blog for her campaign for the new First Dog to be a rescue dog from a shelter.

And check out my friend Pat's booth at Quilt Market. Her lime green and black quilt is a new Block of the Month being offered to quilt shops. I made one in blues, creams, and whites but I may have to make another! Especially since I gave the first one away as a gift....

Transition Team

It took me until Friday (!) to recover from the excitement of Tuesday night and the election in general. Whew! I was exhausted and cannot imagine how President-elect Obama, the campaign staff and his family just keep going and working. An aside: I tried very hard to keep politics out of this blog (which was extremely difficult because I love politics like others love college football). I kinda fell off the wagon for a couple of posts but now that the election is over we are TRANSITIONING back to quilting, cats, etc. etc.

I can't remember the last time I actually sewed--sometime in October???? On Saturday, I set up sewing camp in the living room so I could catch up on Tivo'ed Marthas and sew at the same time (no TV in the sewing room).
Here is my set up with my travel sewing machine (for that long distance from the next room), coffee, remote, and project in process (E's flannel quilt--I better hurry, it's getting chilly here in GA).
Here is my "transition team" enjoying sunshine and camaraderie on a fabulous November day just perfect for quilting and napping.

Celebrate HOPE!!!!!!

A historic night and we are celebrating!!!! I am so excited and proud and overjoyed for our country!!! Yes we can and we did!

Halloween Weekend Wrap Up

Hello to November! Still no sewing happening here at Chez Crazy Catlady--I think I have given up until after the election when I am no longer glued my laptop and MSNBC.

On Halloween, I took the day off to take Morpheus to the vet and vote. In between, I went trick or treating at Bad Melisa's (aka Sweet Home Quilt Co.)!!!! It was worth going just to see Melisa in her "Pinkerbelle" costume (wish I had taken photos).

Well I forgot my Bad Melisa bag but found this great (big) vintage-looking Halloween bag

and since my parents and grandma sent me a little b-day money, I bought a few things to put in the bag (what's the point in buying an empty bag anyway?). Melisa was sweet enough to hold 2 charm packs for me when they came in and I picked up some yardage to go with them. How great is this--Moda coffee fabric!!!!!!! And I picked up a few other odd and ends. Trick or treating at a quilt shop is fun!!!

Next stop was early voting. Other friends of mine waited in long lines to early vote here in GA. Of course, you have no idea how long the wait is going to be when you get in line. I came prepared with a book (Thomas Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America) and wore comfy shoes and it was a beautiful fall afternoon. Everyone was in a great mood; hooray for democracy in America.

My total wait time to vote = FIVE HOURS.

But it was worth it. Untold number of men and women fought and died for the right to vote.

Go Obama!!!