WHEW...What a week this has been....

 

Friday was my "official" birthday, but I am so lucky to be able to celebrate all week, make that all month long, lol.  

     Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes--and they're still coming in.  It's been a wonderful birthday, made more special by hearing from so many of you on Facebook.
      Tuesday my wonderful granddaughter, Bre, brought me roses, candy and presents, and stayed for dinner.

      Wednesday I shared a gorgeous weather day traveling with my quilting buddies (that sew at Joan's house every Wednesday) to several quilt shops around the beautiful Finger Lakes.  We had lunch out at OakView, which has a great selection of sandwiches and baked goods, and then shopped in the bulk food store there.  It's owned by some of the local Mennonite families and has a great selection of baking supplies, meats, cheeses, jams and jellies, condiments, and snacks. I brought home two different types of horseradish cheese--it is so yummy!  The girls all gave me birthday cards with fat quarters in them-great additions to my stash!  And my Secret Pal made me a beautiful Autumn table runner that she had Jane (Blackberry Acres Longarm Quilting) quilt for me with acorns and leaves.  It is perfect for my Fall decorating and I just love it!

     Friday I went on the bus with my quilting friends from home and O'Susannah's Quilt Shop and spent the day at a great quilt show outside Philly.  I found some great patterns I just had to add to my already overflowing stash of books and patterns, lol.  Got the Witches Hooray TR from Bird Brain Designs to add to THAT pile of stitcheries to be done someday, lol; the Reindeer Table Mat by Primitive Gatherings; ANOTHER Wooden Bear little quilt kit, the July Sailboat; and a paper-pieced Little Bits pattern-A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree pattern (I already have the mini version with the train going around the tree).  This tree is 17" x 41"  but the larger one is 26 3/4" x 76 3/4".  I wanted the biggest one for my front door, but decided I'd better stick with this medium-sized one if I actually wanted to get it done, lol. 
      Only purchased a half dozen FQ's-mostly for gifts and swaps-and only 1 yard of background fabric (already cut) that was such a bargain at $5 that I couldn't pass it up, so I really was good this trip!  My friend, Ann, and I both purchased the Creative Grids Log Cabin Trim Tool for 8" Finished Blocks Quilt Ruler that we'd heard about from other friends who attended a quilt retreat where it was demo'd (thanks Josie and Donna).  I've made millions of log cabin blocks the Eleanor Burns way, but this looked neat.  And the lady we bought the rulers from showed Ann how to use her X-Block ruler that she lost the directions for.  So now we can use Ann's X-Box ruler, too.

     My camera malfunctioned, so I only got 2 pics at the quilt show-this fabulous Halloween Baltimore Album Quilt

and a potholder made with the X-Block ruler. UGH!! 

     After I got home though, I found out it wasn't the camera that was malfunctioing, it was me! I had charged the battery before we left, and had taken out the memory card.  I forgot to put the card back in when I put the battery in--how dumb is that!!

It really was a senior moment, sigh.

     Saturday evening my son took hubby and me to what-used-to-be our favorite Italian restaurant (Moretti's) where we always celebrated birthdays and anniversaries and I had the best filet mignon in the world.  It's to die for!   Son's GF also made me a dozen really delicious chocolate chip cookies, all gift-wrapped in a purple (my fav color) box with a fancy gold bow!  Yummy, yummy, yummy!  Everyone enjoyed them--thanks, Chrissy!
     And to top the week off, on Sunday I get to spend sewing time with two of my BFF's, Mary and Lynne.

How much better can a birthday be?

Until next time....
Happy quilting from Sharon and the Marmalade Kitties, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash