Karen

I Finished My Quilt Top

Remember the quilt I started a few months back? I bought the fabric in December, cut it in January, and started sewing in May. (yeah, I’m fast like that).

I sewed on the last border piece yesterday. It turned out really nice. I am calling it my “Kaibab Quilt”, because the colors in it remind me of the Kaibab National Forest. Browns, greens, turquoise, cream–those colors are all there in the Ponderosa pines, the aspens, and the huge blue sky out there. Now I’m looking for someone with a long arm quilter so I can get this completed before fall comes, and I need it on my bed.

quilt 02 — My Kaibab Quilt--I love these colors!

I’m thinking about making some pillow covers and some curtains to match this, and recovering the cornice boards in the trailer, too. It would make a nice change in the bedroom, I think.

Check out all the pretty stuff on the I Made It Blog Party over at Everything Etsy.

0 Shares

I Have A Headache

Karen · 6 Comments

A few months ago, I bought a My Passport by Western Digital. It is an external back up drive that is supposed to automatically back up your data, so that if you have a computer glitch or belch or puke, or whatever you want to call it, you will be able to just retrieve your data and go on about your merry way. Except that, it didn’t happen that way.

Yesterday, my dear husband decided to do some clean up and maintenance on my computer. I know he meant well, and never meant to cause me harm. He is a good man and I love him for that. Except that, it didn’t happen that way. When everything was said and done, the “Disc Clean Up” from system tools trashed most of my personal data. My pictures, including all of my pictures of my grandchildren (GAHHHH!!!). My letters. My “important documents”. ALL of my bookmarks from Firefox. ALL of my user names and passwords from Roboform. I am lost, I tell ya! How can a FabGrandma go on, I ask?????

Then, when I was in deep in dispair over this turn of events, I though to myself “You have all this stuff backed up on your external drive. So, I went to the “Retrieve Data” link on that drive, clicked, retrieved, and waited. When it finished, only about 1/3 of my important documents were retrieved. For some reason, that external hard drive only saved things IT deemed important. Entire folders in my “My Documents” file are missing. I am soooo not happy.

I tried doing a System Restore, but that did nothing. I feel cheated. I feel lost. What have I learned from this fiasco? First, if you have or plan to buy a back up drive, test it. Make sure it works the way you want it to, BEFORE a major disaster happens. Second, keep a written record of your user names and passwords, just in case. (I didn’t think I needed to do this, as I have used Roboform since 2001, and it has NEVER failed me.) Third, use an online addon for Firefox that will save all your bookmarks online. All this I have learned too late to save ME. Maybe it will be in time for YOU.

0 Shares

Mother Of The Bride Dress Ordered: Check

Karen · 3 Comments

While I won’t look as slim and sleek as that model, I have ended the search for my Mother Of The Bride dress for Becky’s wedding. I have only been shopping and searching for it since August of last year. This one has all the things I was looking for: It has sleeves, because I do not do sleeveless. It has a beaded or sequined bodice. It comes in amethyst, which is a color I like and that looks good on me. And it was reasonably affordable. It takes 11-16 weeks for delivery, the website says, so it will be a while before I can model it and see how close to her I look in this dress. I am just glad that the dress has been ordered. Now I just need to find some shoes, and a nice necklace to wear with it. The hunt is on…..

0 Shares

Let’s Go To Kanab, Utah

Karen · 7 Comments

I know I have said this before, but it is an 85 mile drive from the North Rim to Kanab, Utah. We go down to Kanab about every two weeks or so to stock up on groceries and stuff. Today we went down there, primarily because I had an appointment for a pedicure. The only pictures I took were of the scenery on the trip, though, so that is what you will see today.

DSCN4372 — A snowmelt lake on Hwy 67 in the Kaibab National Forest

We had several things to do in town besides the pedicure. First stop was the Dollar store. I was looking for some baby t-shirts for a project I have in my head. They didn’t have any. Oh, well. I can wait for another day for that. Then to Houston’s Trails End Restaurant for breakfast. They have good bacon.

DSCN4370 — A meadow on Highway 67. Gorgeous!

I went to the Ace Hardware store, where they have a quilt shop in part of the store. I wanted to get measured so that I can order my mother of the bride dress that I finally found. While I was in there, I of course I found some more fabric that I could not leave in the store.

DSCN4398 — A bend in the road on Highway 89A north of Jacob Lake in Arizona.

Then I went for the most fabulous pedicure I have ever had. The girl who did the pedi took a lot of time to do it right, and I was very impressed with that. But then, when she was doing the foot massage at the end, she asked me “Do you have trouble with your hip?” and when I said I do, she asked “Is it your right hip?” Yes. She went on to ask me if I had been having trouble with my kidneys recently, and if I had had my gall bladder removed. Yes, and yes. I could not believe she could tell all that from touching my feet. Especially since I had never met her before today. She told me she has the gift of a healing touch. I am a believer because, well, I was there today. I will definitely be going back.

After a run through the grocery store, we met our friends, Marcie and Chris, at Nedra’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch. Mmmm, tacos! But the best thing about meeting them, was that Chris had made me a batch of gluten free oatmeal cookies. Delicious! I always feel so special and loved when someone takes the time and makes the effort to make things for me that I can eat. Thank you so much, Chris!

DSCN4409 — That road is 89A, going down into Fredonia, Arizona. And that is the Vermillion Cliffs in the distance.

So, after a pretty full day, a truck full of goodies, we headed home. One last stop at Jacob Lake Inn for a milkshake rounded out the day. Yes, a long, long trip to get groceries, but what a fun day! And that scenery on the way? Priceless!

0 Shares

I Made It! Blog Party

Karen · 3 Comments

Pretty

I make these tote bags to sell in my shop. Today, my niece, Stefanie, asked me to make one for her friend who is having a baby girl. I had this “Pack Your Bags” fabric in the cabinet, and I thought it would make a cute diaper bag for a baby girl. It has Eiffel Towers on it, and the words say: “love-hope-dream-wonder-travel”. I think it turned out pretty good.

Want your own bag? I sell them for $35 plus shipping. You can email me and I can let you know what fabrics I have on hand, or you can tell me what color you would like to have. They are pretty big, measuring about 18″ wide by 13″ tall, with pockets inside. One of my daughters uses hers for a knitting bag, one uses hers for a book bag for shcool (she’s a teacher), and one uses hers for a diaper bag. What would you use yours for?

0 Shares

Yesterday was my project day, and since there was nothing to do in the office, I took a drive up to Point Imperial and Cape Royal. The drive up was gorgeous, as usual.

DSCN4347 — The fork in the road: turn right to get to Cape Royal, turn left to get to Point Imperial.

DSCN4342 — Still on the way to Point Imperial.

When I got there, my objective was to walk around and talk to the visitors there. They always have questions, and if I can answer them, I do. Yesterday, everyone wanted to know about the fire in Flagstaff. Point Imperial is one of the most visited viewpoints at the North Rim. I can see why:

After about an hour or so, I left, and headed out towards Cape Royal. I wanted to go to the geology talk given by the Interpretive Ranger up there–it started at 2:30. I had enough time to stop by Greenland Lake. Greenland Lake is the only “lake” here. It is created by melting snow. By August, it will be dried up until next spring.

While I was at Greenland Lake, the battery in my camera died, so I was not able to take any more pictures. But I continued on to Cape Royal, and met up with Ranger Gaelyn. Even though this is my third season working here, I have not ever made it to the geology talk. I usually have other duties and don’t have time to go. She did a fabulous job of explaining how the Grand Canyon was formed. Next time you got to a national park, make a point of going to the Ranger Programs.

0 Shares