New quilt and decorating issues

Well, I finally finished the quilt that I was making for our bedroom. I saw a quilt like this a couple of years ago when we stopped in a craft gallery on our way home from N. Carolina. I liked it a lot but they didn't sell the pattern. SO, I thought it looked pretty easy to make and I took a lot of pictures. I recreated the quilt from those pictures. It uses a lot of Batik fabrics which I like. It took me a while to do this one because I kept getting interrupted with other projects so some of you have seen it in its unfinished form. It is now on our bed.

However, I do now have some decorating issues to solve. Nothing in this quilt really goes with what we have in our bedroom except maybe the light blue wall behind the bed. Our headboard and bedside tables are painted an off white color. Eva and Jessica have suggested that I paint them black and maybe 'distress' them a little.

The pictures over the bed really don't go either. I don't have any ideas for that area except the beautiful pictures that Sara and Leo brought home from Sri Lanka. Maybe I will need to take a trip there and pick something out.

This is one of the bedside tables that will be painted black if you think that is appropriate.

I also have a dresser that could be painted black to match everything else. What do you think??

Finally, there is a chest that is at the end of the bed. Should this be black too or should I paint it a different color and put the fabric from the back of the quilt on this top?? I can leave the top just painted too.

I am very open for ideas so have your say and enjoy. You know that this isn't one of my favorite things to do, decorate.

TIMBER

Well, we are proceeding on our garage project. Thursday they took down several trees. Several smaller trees came down, one beside the driveway and a couple others near this BIG oak tree. This professional crew is pretty fast.

Here is a picture of this 'twin' oak tree. That means that it is one tree at the base with 2 trees growing from that one spot.

A friend, Gordon (Maryanne's husband) came over to watch. He is taking the straight pieces of the tree to a sawmill to make into boards. I thought this was a great picture of 2 men with their heads tipped back watching the guys work, admiration of the talent that it takes to do this work.

They cut off all the branches and then cut down the tree. It was quite a sight to watch.

This one tree is left standing without any branches. It is ready to come down in pieces.

The trees are gone now. It really opened up that section where the garage will go. The tree was really big. The pieces on the right will go to Gordon to cut into lumber. There is a pile on the right that we really don't know what will happen to them. They are long but they have branches that were cut off and don't make as good of lumber.

You can see in this picture how big the trees really were.
The garage will go right there just beyond the tree trunk that is in the yard. You will enter from this direction. It will have 2 doors and hole Bud's toys.

This is the pile that is up for grabs. It is too big for us to use as firewood because we can't cut it up into smaller pieces and split it.

Here is the trunk. It really looks much bigger in person. Someone is coming next week and pulling out the trunk.

This is the pile that was cut up into small enough pieces for Bud to split. Anyone want a weekend job of splitting wood????

Friday sewing ramblings

Bud bought me a new toy for my sewing machine as a birthday gift. We first set out to buy me a new watch but were not able to find one that I liked so I decided to keep the one that I have and not worry about telling time too much since I am retired and don't need to keep a schedule. This tool will gather material for me. It fits right on my sewing machine. This isn't a very good picture but it is the best that I could do.

This picture is a little better. It shows how you can adjust the gathers to be very close together or farther and farther apart. I will use this to make ruffles on pillows or what ever I can find to ruffle. SO don't be surprised to find something ruffled in your next present. I have already promised Doug to make him some ruffled things for his birthday.

This is the finished quilt that I made for Leo. It is the same pattern that I used to make one for Eva a few years ago. Leo told me that he wanted it blue so it surely is blue. This picture shows the pattern in a small area. The pattern is called 'A trip Around the World'.

This shows the border and the back. It is hard to see the difference in the border and the back but I was going for a manly fabric and didn't want too many flowers.

This is a picture of the whole quilt. You really can't see the border too much but you get a feel for the pattern. I like how this pattern turns out with showing the darkest color to set off the pattern.

Turning 60

Yesterday I turned 60 with family all around me. I had decided it would be nice to go down to Grand Rapids and spend the afternoon with Eva and Jessica. We arrived in time to go out for lunch. They both took the afternoon off. After lunch Bud headed off to the Harley store to check out what they have in stock. I understand he bought himself a new and larger windshield for his bike that will be delivered some time soon. Us girls headed out to do a little used furniture shopping and boutique shopping. It was a fun afternoon looking through antique shops. Jessica is looking for a new cabinet type piece of furniture for her kitchen. We saw a couple of possibilities. It was a fun afternoon just checking out unusual shops around the area. We then met back at the house where we reunited with Bud. He had made reservations at my favorite restaurant in Ada that serves the BEST Turkish food. We had a birthday toast.

Doug joined us after his hard day of work.

The food was terrific. We have finally figured out how to order food here. The servings are sooo big and sooo delicious that it is hard to choose. So we ordered a selection of appetizers. Then we ordered 2 main course meals which included a selection of their meats with this great dill/cucumber sauce. The first time we ate here we ordered 4 meals for 5 people and didn't even touch one of the meals. Anyway, the food was delicious and the company was perfect.

They even brought us a complementary dessert plate with a candle.

Eva gave me a wonderful picture holder which included a few of my favorite picture memories like the one of Eva and me in the bathtub, the one of Eva and me and my new rocking chair and the one of Eva and me singing with Dad playing an organ. It also included some other family pictures. However, Doug pointed out that it didn't include a picture of him. We will have to work on that. I love the holder and the pictures. Eva also gave me two new pair of silver ear rings. I like them a lot. I was needing to expand my silver choices with some more hoops that are larger. They look very nice.

Jessica made me 2 pendants. I am wearing one of them in this picture.

It was a wonderful birthday. I had a great time sharing my afternoon with Eva and Jessica. I really enjoyed my birthday dinner with Eva, Jessica, Doug and Bud. I received MANY phone calls from family all around the country. I felt very special and blessed to have such a wonderful family to help me through to this new decade. Thank you all for the words of love on my birthday. You all are very special to me too. I love my family very much and appreciate you remembering my day.

Last look at my 50s

Yes, I did leave another decade behind me. I decided that a good way to do that was to spend the evening out on the water with the man I love. I made some sandwiches and we packed some sodas and out we went. It was a beautiful night on the water. We left behind the heat and humidity of the land and just criss crossed the bay for a couple of hours.

I relaxed and Bud drove. We just talked and relaxed. I enjoyed the evening.

How could you go wrong with a view like this.

Today we are driving down to Grand Rapids and spending the afternoon with Eva and Jessica. Then we are going out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants we recently discovered. It serves Turkish food that is delicious. SO that is how I will usher in the next decade.

Brittany's White Coat Ceremony

Yesterday was a wonderful and exciting day for Brittany and the Noble family. We were in Ann Arbor to witness the welcoming of Brittany into the University of Michigan Medical School with what is call the 'White Coat Ceremony'. The stage was set.

We were waiting.

The Nobles had reserved seating together.

The new medical students marched in across the stage. Sorry this is a little blurry.

The speeches were inspirational for everyone that attended. THEN the big event began.

Brittany is waiting for her turn with her white coat draped over her arm.

She will be next.

Everyone announced their name, their hometown, and the university from which they graduated.

Sue and Walt were able to 'cloak' Brittany because they are both U of M alumni. I tried to get this picture but she turned her head just as I was taking the picture.

Mom was very proud.

John, Brittany's boyfriend, a pretty nice looking couple.

The glow of proud parents.

And a proud sister.

AND proud aunt, uncle and grandmother.

After a short reception we walked over to Brittany's new house that she will be sharing with 3 other medical students. The new furniture hasn't arrived just yet but it is a nice old house right on campus.

Ringo was proud too.

Jack and Charlotte just relaxing after the ceremony.

Our good bys as we leave and drive home. Today is the first day of medical school for Brittany. I am thinking about her a lot as she begins this journey. I remember when she was just a baby. That seems like yesterday. What a beautiful woman she has become. I am looking forward to many more years of fun, laughter and happiness with her around even though the next 4-6 years will be challenging. I know that she will make a terrific doctor.