wendysquilting

FINALLY

June 15, 2009October 17, 2021 wendysquilting

I think summer is finally here! We needed sunscreen! I finally got to use my Christmas Present and Erik did too. Last Christmas I gave Erik a GPS
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and we tried it out at the border lake we were fishing at today. He gave me a Pink Ugly Stick

We realized today that its been over 8 months since we’ve been fishing. With the cold weather this spring and then company from Finland, Sarah’s Graduation and our trip to Duluth there hasn’t been a chance. Even this weekend was a challenge to get away but Friday night we decided enough was enough and we were going.
I love this boat, its just perfect for a good days fishing, the seats even fold down allowing for a wonderful afternoons nap.

The first fish I caught with my new rod was only a pike so he didn’t really count but right after that I caught what I was looking for, a walleye

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I love pictures of Erik esp our fishing pictures

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The day really flew by too quickly and now I’m already itching to get back out there. I can’t wait to get out camping and spend a couple days on the lake and evenings by the campfire.

The lake we were at today straddles the Canadian US Border. This sign is posted with instructions that I hope don’t apply to us. We try not to go over to the US side of the lake.

Time to leave, this is the road its pretty narrow and parts of it are very rough which in some ways is a very good thing.

Look who was walking along the road out

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he just continued running slowly on the road just ahead of us and I was able to get some great shots of him. For those who don’t know this guy is a bull Moose.

Then on the side of another highway on our way home look who was right beside the road, a cow and her calf

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When my girls were little, after a fun day they would sometimes ask if we could do that day again tomorrow. Today was one of those days for me. But I think it’s Monday in the morning so off to work I’ll go.
til next time
take care,
Wendy

Quilting

Honey Bun

June 8, 2009June 8, 2009 wendysquilting

I’ve been wanting to dig into my jelly rolls but thought I’d start with a honey bun. This one is Deb Strains Fresh collection. While its not really my colours, I enjoyed working with these very bright sunny colours. My oldest daughter’s response was “well I don’t hate it” my youngest really likes it. I’m thinking it might make a fun baby or child’s quilt. It could be a fun little picnic blanket or something. What do you think?

This is where I found the idea, I really like it in those soft colours:
Moda Bakeshop

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Duluth MN

June 4, 2009 wendysquilting

Summer has to be coming now, it sure looks like summer in Duluth which is about 3 1/2 hours south of us. The leaves are out, lilacs are blooming, we are so behind here. Erik and I have been celebrating his birthday with a trip to Duluth since we first met.
After crossing the border we always stop and visit High Falls, after a short hike we are rewarded with a spectacular scene.

Last time we were across the border we discovered this new little shop called Behind the Seams, its one of those shops that I get lost in, its a bright and cheery shop and the ladies (4 sisters) who own it are so friendly I know that I’ll be returning every chance I get.

Erik was celebrating a special birthday the year I met him and I suggested that I take him to Red Lobster for his dinner, I’ve been taking him to Red Lobster for his birthday ever since.

We like it there so much that we often eat there both nights. This year since we were there in June, Erik suggested the second night be for my Birthday.

Those Bahama Mama’s are too yummy!

After dinner we like to walk around Canal Park, its such an interesting area and although we live so close to Lake Superior, we never get tired of seeing it.

We stayed at Inn On The Lake Superior in a Lakeside room. The first day the weather had been rainy and windy and I could hear the lake all night. The last morning though was bright and sunny. (well there were clouds but it really was so much brighter than it had been)

One of the Quilt shops in Duluth

and right across the street

inside all kinds of treasures for Erik. It was actually pretty interesting.
I can’t seem to figure out how to make it so you can click on and enlarge the pictures, if you know how maybe you could tell me? please.
anyways the shop was full of tools, and gadgets and odds and ends. A surplus store.

That’s enough for tonight’s post, I’ll add the rest of the story tomorrow.

Wendy

Blogroll, Family, Life, Quilting, Spring

Busy Week

May 23, 2009November 30, 2019 wendysquilting

Time seems to have a way of getting away on me, some days just pass in a blurr between my day job my girls and the house and quilt jobs and trying to fit in a little exercise and of course a little life for myself etc. I’m always striving for balance.
At work I see the young moms juggling the needs of their little ones and having to work with very little sleep and I’m thankful that I get to sleep at night and that the girls are for the most part self sufficient.
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There are days when I look at my daughters and can see that a large part of my goals as a mom have been reached and while that makes me feel so proud it also makes me a little sad too. I’m not sure at what point in my mothering career it was but I decided that it was a job I needed to work my way out of. I’ve tried really hard to never micro manage my children, instead I’ve encouraged them to become who they are meant to become. Instead of making their decisions I’ve tried to teach them how to make their own decisions. That wasn’t always easy because there were times when I felt they were making the wrong ones, sometimes I was right but sometimes I was wrong. Of course I never allowed them to make decisions that would endanger themselves or others not that they ever really wanted to anyways.
Last weekend my youngest told me that she thinks I’m a good mom actually she used the word “chill” (high praise from a 14yr old). She said alot of her friends are very frustrated by their parents. I told her that she really owes a lot of thanks to her older sisters who paved the way for her. A mom learns so much along the journey of raising 4 girls.
Life as a mom has taught me so much, definitely that the phrase this shall soon pass is very true, that just when I figured out how to deal with a stage in my girls life’s that the stage would pass, that worrying is really a waste of energy, Praying is a much more efficient use of time.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the above, life has changed so much in the last few years and there are so much more to come.
These little birds of mine are spreading their wings and leaving my nest, and my heart aches abit. Its so bittersweet, I’m so thankful that I’ve been blessed with 4 girls to raise and call my daughters. When I allow myself to think back in time there are so many memories that flood me with joy and yes some that make me thankful that we’ve survived it. I’ve known these young woman since before they were born, when all they really wanted in life involved me. Now I have to move to the sidelines of their lives and continue to cheer them on. Well I still do have my baby at home with me and she’ll be with me for at least a few more years. Isn’t it amazing though how fast those years fly by…..

Here’s this weeks picture of Mary’s Kittie, I’m sure glad my babies didn’t grow as fast as this little one. He sure is cute, and I’m so proud of how well his mama is caring for him.

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Last weekend was our Long weekend and Saturday morning we were greeted by this in the morning (this is the little patch of rhubarb beside my deck, the previous rhubarb pics were taken at Eriks)

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I finished up a cute little custom quilt and only took a few pictures of it before it left, thankfully I’ll be able to get more pictures soon as it belongs to a friend of mine. It was fun to quilt and I think its one of my favorites that I’ve done for others.

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and what caused all my pondering above about being a mom?

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Congratulations to Sarah and Jeremy on their engagement

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Smelt Run

May 4, 2009 wendysquilting

It must be spring, the smelts were running this weekend. Erik and I went out at about 11pm Friday night and finished at round 2am. I wish my pictures showed the whole picture. There were 100’s of people there all ages, there is always a lot of talk about how much better smelting used to be and that every time you’d put your net in the water it would be so full of smelts some would be jumping out. I do remember hearing of people having so many they’d use them for fertilizer. For those of you who haven’t heard of Smelt fishing, my understanding is that the smelts swim upstream from the lake into the creeks to lay their eggs. Some people love them many won’t touch them. Erik cleans them and cooks them in Shore Lunch and lots of butter, very yummy!
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Saturday was moving day for Mary and she and I spent the day moving most of her things to her new place. All in all the day went very smoothly esp considering how tired her mom was 🙂 She didn’t want any pictures taken of her place until it was set up.
One Saturday picture I did get was of Katie and friends and the breakfast they made.
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ok so 2 pictures (Katie’s the one in the middle)
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On the quilting front I finished up a customer quilt and last night cleaned my studio and gave my longarm a good cleaning and oiling. I’m hoping to get a quilt loaded and started after work tonight. and speaking of work I’d better get going…
Have a great day!!

Family, Life, Quilting, Spring

Change

April 28, 2009 wendysquilting

Change, seems to be the theme to life these days. On the quilt front I’ve noticed that my fabric choices have changed, almost everything I’ve done this year has had red in it and I love everything I’ve made this year. Maybe I needed that extra punch that red adds to a quilt.
The pattern I’m using is Gypsy Rose from the book Fat Quarter Five by Heather Mulder Peterson, the Fabric is Picket Fence by Cloe’s Closet that I’ve had for a few years, it was a Moda University Kit that I really didn’t love the pattern so its been patiently waiting. I’m almost finished the 31 blocks, I’m not sure where this quilt will live but so far I really like it.
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I’ve already shown my Hello Betty top, which screams red to me, it makes me think of picnics and fun times with little ones

And I’ve finished my first Schnibble from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co Hot Cross Buns in the Patisserie collection by Fig Tree Quilts

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and the mail came today, I’m planning a couple of quilts for my older girls with this fabric, 2 of whom have their own places and the other will soon have her own home, The pattern I’m using is in Heather Mulder Peterson’s book Livin’ Large, her website shows the quilt in 2 versions one says Faith Hope Love that was the quilt Emily would like and separately Sarah saw Live Laugh Love and that’s the one she loves. Marys will be a surprise. The girls already have quilts but thankfully they love them and are always more than happy to receive more.
Seeing the girls become young women is very exciting but challenging as well. I guess this is the stage of parenting that I have to trust that I’ve done my job well and let them spread their wings to become who they are meant to be. Katie will still be home for a while and it will be a big change for both of us when Sarah really does fly, the house is already quieter and for Katie she’s always had big sisters around, she won’t really be the baby when its just the two of us.

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Another change was announced last week that one of our Local Quilt Shops Patchworks is closing, the owner wants to retire. I attended the last Thimbleberry club meeting Monday which was sad, alot of those ladies really enjoy the smaller group and sharing. Our local guild has a membership of 200 or so. That shop opened when my girls were little and I have so many memories. Patchworks really helped to bring Quilting to Thunder Bay.

One more change, its a big and exciting Happy change too
Spring is coming and with any luck the deer will not help themselves before I see the blooms this year. (the little white curls are shavings of Irish Spring soap which is supposed to help deter the deer as well as the cat if anyone has any more ideas to naturally keep them out I’d love to hear about it)
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