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Saturday, July 22, 2023

Long Time Gone

 That is in reference to my disappearance from blogland, not to the Jen Kingwell quilt of the same name (which I love).

I've had this to share since June, but couldn't seem to disentangle from real life craziness long enough to post on my blog. This was the Barrister's SAL of 2012, sponsored by Randy of Barrister's Block blog. I have posted about the quilting earlier this year, but I finally got it bound.

Made entirely of men's thrift store shirts (except the backing), I am just thrilled to have this one completed! You can find the links to all of the block instructions on Randy's blog on this page.

My daughter-in-law got this shot for me as I held it over the deck railing. 
Don't finishes feel great?? I really should do it more often.

So much has gone on since I last posted on June 7th, I almost don't know where to start.
June was such a busy month, but in the midst of it all we had a couple of little getaways to celebrate hubby's birthday and our anniversary.

We hadn't been back to the Golden Spike National Historic Park since our kids were young, so we paid it a visit on hubby's birthday. I got this shot of him between the trains that reenact the meeting at the spot where the Golden Spike was driven. (I think this looks like a power pose.) 
I am guessing that people who didn't grow up within a couple of hours of this place are not as familiar with the history here. You can learn more about it on their website here.

Then we continued on from there down a dirt road for almost 20 miles to reach the Northeast corner of the Great Salt Lake, where you find land artist Robert Smithson's most famous work, The Spiral Jetty. The photo below on the left shows the Jetty behind us as we stand above, in the parking lot. But we also walked down on and around the Jetty, and then beyond to the Great Salt Lake. The water at this arm of the lake is so high in salinity that it is orange in color. When the Jetty was built, it just crested the surface of the water, but our long drought in Utah has left it fully exposed for years. This year's wet winter and spring brought the water level back to within about a half mile of the Jetty, instead of the mile it had previously been.You can read about the Spiral Jetty here.


On the right in the photo above, we are at Shoshone Falls in Southwestern Idaho. We took our anniversary getaway to that area and enjoyed multiple waterfalls, springs, and gorges in Thousand Springs State Park. It is a beautiful (but windy) area, and we hope to go back later this year to kayak on the Snake River.

Okay, there is more quilty content. One day in a local quilt shop I came across this kit. The pattern caught my eye, thinking it would be a good one when you didn't want to cut fabric up very small. I forgot about it until Nancy at Blogging Near Philadelphia posted about gathering quilts for an orphanage in Romania that had taken in Ukranian orphans. How could I not help? I hadn't sewn a stitch for well over a month, but doing something for others is a great motivator. I signed on, and then looked up this photo so I could find the pattern. It is a free download from Andover, which you can find here. April Showers is the fabric line they used, and the pattern is called Spring is Here.

The top comes together quickly if you don't use quite so many different fabrics as they do in the sample. I simplified the fabric selection and came up with this--unquilted on the left, and as it arrived yesterday from my longarm quilter on the right. So grateful she could squeeze me in.

I had intended to quilt it myself, but knew it wouldn't get finished in time if I tried to fit it into my life right now. I will be gone the last week of July, so the binding will have to wait until August. I will be doing the flange binding method.

Had a great time Zooming with Chooky earlier this month. Always fun to chat and stitch, laughing over so many things. It is therapeutic, and I look forward to every chance to join in.

There were really 16 of us on at the time, but my iPad mini only shows 9 at a time. 

At the end of June, when all of our kids happened to be in the valley at the same time, we had my daughter-in-law get some photos of the family, out on the farm with the mountains as backdrop.Would have loved to get the entire family--spouses, grandkids. But not all of them were here, so we did what we could. I think it was 2018 the last time we got a good photo of the whole clan. 

Next week is the long awaited meeting with Pam Buda for the Village Dry Goods Circa 1880 club. Our video submission of our club won the contest sponsored by Marcus Brothers back in 2019, and the prize was a visit from Pam. It was originally scheduled for April 2020--you know the rest of that story.

She is also doing a one day workshop where we will be working on her new pattern of three small quilts, called Haunted Halloween. It is designed for her new fabric line, Cheddar and Coal 2. When I visited the shop earlier this week, one of the gals was kind enough to hold up her hand near the samples so you could get an idea of the size. Aren't they cute?

If you are still with me, bless you. :)  Way back in May I promised a giveaway to celebrate my dozen years of blogging. Didn't happen. I didn't post again that month. When I posted in June it was only about the doll quilt swap. So it's about time I got to it--over two months late!

Leave a comment if you are interested in either of the kits below. There is also a little dark chocolate and a couple of bars of my herbal soap with each kit. First name drawn (that includes, or is linked to an email address--if you aren't sure,just include it) will get first pick of the kits. Another name will be drawn to get the second kit.

First kit is from Kim Diehl's Simple Whatnots #9. Fabrics in the kit are shown on the right, above.

The second kit is a free pattern from Moda, by Blackbird Designs. The fabrics are from a recent line by 3 Sisters, called Bliss.

I think I've kept you long enough. I hope everyone is having a good summer (or winter, depending on where you are). Here in the USA, we are having some tremendous heat, breaking records right and left. So concerned for everyone--especially the vulnerable, and the fire fighters. Keeping them in my prayers.

Until next time, keep cool, and be kind,

Janet O.

Drawing is now closed.


From two nights ago on my evening walk.




72 comments:

  1. (Little Penpen) it’s great to see you. What a beautiful quilt! It sounds like you’ve had a great summer! Great photos. I really don’t need a kit, but congrats on your blogversary!

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  2. glad you have resurfaced...lol...barristers quilt is adorable. just today decided to use plaids on my 'wensleydale' project....they are soo fun to work with...nice travel photos...family always trumps blog absolutely! yeah eyed cheddar and coal but honestly i am saturated with fabric for the near future...always want more pretties tho...how i got into this predicament...lol....lovely give aways but have to pass....

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  3. I was thinking of you the other day, Janet, and whether you were okay. I finally decided that you were too busy to blog. So glad that's the case.
    Your version of Randy's quilt is fabulous. Congrats on the finish! I love that you used only men's thrifted plaid shirts. What a fun variety of plaids with a great range of colors. Just thinking---I suppose you didn't use very large pieces of those shirts and still have most of each left, except for the alternate squares, right? Sometimes it seems like the shirts last and last and last.
    Your getaways sound fun.
    Spring is Here is a fun quilt. You finished it so fast!
    That's a great family photo. Beautiful family.
    You'll have lots of fun with Pam Buda, I'm sure. It's exciting that your club won and that she's coming to visit in person.
    Your giveaways are always so generous, Janet.

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  4. So glad to see your post. I’ve followed you for awhile but don’t think I’ve commented before. Your finish is beautiful

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    1. Thank you for following along on the blog. Unfortunately, I cannot enter you in the drawing without your email, and your comment is not attached to an email, not does it include your email. You can reply here with your email to be included.

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  5. A wonderful catch up post Janet .... you have popped into my mind quite a bit lately & I wondered what you were up to & hoped all was well. Doing blog posts can sure take up some time I agree. I am pleased to read you have been on a couple of trips away & your photos look wonderful. I especially love the family photo & think you should definately frame that one.
    And that stunning backdrop too 🖤
    Love the mens shirt quilt - I remember this popping up on your blog from time to time. It looks so great Thank you for the opportunity to enter your Giveaway. I would be so happy with any prize but if I got to choose then I think the 3 sisters colours are certainly Me. Enjoy the weekend Janet xx

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  6. You're busy at a lot of fun things. Family and celebration of hubby's birthday and your Anniversary. Glad you could getaway. Never been to Promontory Point. Nice contribution to send off. The tiny orange and black quilts are lots of pieces that you like!! No thanks on those. The kits look fun. I'd love to Win again. Not that I need a new project. Thanks for the catch-up post.

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  7. Thanks for all of the inspiration today! The cheddar and coal quilts are so pretty! I’m off to check out Randy’s Barrister block posts. Is this quilt similar to Farmer’s Wife?

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    1. Your comment is not attached to your email, so I cannot reply directly to you, nor can I include you in the drawing. To remedy that, you can follow the instructions I gave in reply to the comment 3 above yours.
      This quilt has the feel of The Farmer's Wife, but Randy used traditional, public domain blocks and gave us photo tutorials for the construction. Settings were up to us.

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  8. It was lovely to see your post pop up Janet :-) It sounds like you have had some good family time and also time away to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries is always special too. The quilt finish is lovely and I am also inspired by your donation quilt - very effective. Gorgeous sunset photo!!!

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  9. So good to hear of your celebrations. Birthday and anniversary getaways. I always look forward to you posts, wish there were more of them. You do such beautiful work it is always a pleasure to see it. Can you believe we are a week from August? Where has the time flown? Dotti in CT

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  10. It is great to see you blogging again and belated Birthday and Anniversary greetings to you. I love the quilt. It turned out great

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  11. What a lovely surprise to see your blog post today! Time sure does fly, doesn't it? Those Haunted Halloween quilts really caught my eye. Thank you for sharing!!!

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment. Did you know you were posting as "Anonymous"? If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

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  12. You shared so many wonderful and beautiful things in this post! The blue plaid and burgundy fabric in your barristers quilt are so beautiful and rich together. The whole quilt is very lovely! Have a fantastic rest of the summer.

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  13. It sounds like you are having an enjoyable summer- quilting is always there when you return!

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    1. Yes, it will, but it is my therapy/creative outlet, and I'd like to be able to squeeze a little in each week, if not daily. Just hasn't been happening.
      Did you know you were posting as "Anonymous"? If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  14. I think your fabric choice on your charity quilt is better for demonstrating the boxed in square. Lovely contrast. Love Pam Budas cheddar and coal, I think both colors are exciting separately or together I just can’t make another Halloween quilt. It’s an addiction..
    Always enjoy a picture of your Mountains.
    I now live in Texas and a mountain is rare here.

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    1. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your thoughts and agree with your opinion of Cheddar and Coal--and with your feelings that you can't make another Halloween quilt. I already have several and Halloween isn't my favorite holiday. So, I mixed up the colors a bit on two of these, and am still deciding on the third. I don't know if you realized you were posting as "Anonymous", but if you'd like to be included in the drawing, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

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  15. I enjoyed your pictures of Promatory point and the great salt lake. I haven't been to Utah for about five years and miss my yearly visit. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  16. I love the Barrister's quilt -- so beautiful!! I love plaid quilts. Finishes are delightful!! And the donation quilt turned out really nice - it will be loved!! I always enjoy the pictures of where you live - so beautiful!! And a very nice picture of your family. Have a wonderful rest of the summer!

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  17. Good to hear from you, seems I missed the Banister's sew a long sew thanks for the link! Love Pam's cheddar and coal fabric.

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  18. Love to hear everyones adventures. Seems summer just began here in the PNW and it's the middle of July. All summer commitments are done and now can just enjoy.

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  19. Oh! Your quilt patterns and anything Kim Diehl sets my heart all aflutter!



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    1. Carole, though you are not commenting as "Anonymous", there is still not an email account linked to your comment. If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  20. Beautiful quilts. Great to see you out and about.

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  21. It is just so precious together with our loved ones. We travelled for my Dads memorial overseas, our return flights was cancelled by the airline in 2020. We were stuck for four months, before being able to get repatriation flights home. The EPP and stitching I took with helped keep my sanity. Spending time with tiny pieces of fabric and thread. Doing a little bit each day. Would love to win some of your beautiful soaps that I have read about on your blog over the years.

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    1. Maggie, sounds like you had quite an adventure! Glad you had your stitching to keep you sane.
      Though you are not commenting as "Anonymous", there is still not an email account linked to your comment. If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete

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  22. Wow you have been busy!! Love your Barrister quilt - the colors are wonderful and such a treat to have a finish from a "vintage" project. Your donation quilt is also a beauty - I'm sure it will brighten the recipient's day. Loved hearing about your travels and learning about the Spiral Jetty. Congrats on your blogging anniversary - a milestone to be proud of for sure!!

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    1. forgot to add - 3 sisters fabrics are a sentimental favorite!

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  23. Hello, I can't wait to see the wonders you will achieve at Pam's. Thank you for your great photos.
    Congratulations on your anniversary blog.

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    1. Thanks! We had a great time with Pam, and I hope to post photos soon.
      Though your comment is linked to your profile, there is no email there. If you would like to be included in the drawing I will need you to reply to this comment with your email, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

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  24. It is lovely to see different parts of our country. Thanks for the post! Deb Boucher tearosequilting@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Deb--and thanks for including your email!

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    1. Thanks. If you would like to be included in the drawing you will need to reply to this comment with your email, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me.

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  26. It's so good to be seeing a blog post from you again as I really enjoy reading about your travels, projects etc. Your Barrister quilt is awesome! You have used a great assortment of plaids and the predominantly blue and dark red are a great combination. And, yes, it does feel good to finish a long term project, although I haven't had that happen in ages! You do get around and those family photos are wonderful. All of your outfits are coordinated too - was that intentional? Pam Buda's Haunted Halloween quilts are so cute! I always love what she does. Kim Diehl is one of my favorite designers and I would be over the moon if I won your giveaway as 3 Sisters fabric lines are very special too. I do hope that you will be back to blogging on a regular basis again.

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  27. Janet, I'm happy to have found you after a long hiatus from blogland. Glad to see you're still at it; Your SAL quilt is amazing; brava for getting it finished! The classic blocks and thrift store shirts give it timeless appeal. Both your giveaway are enticing too. May I enter? jrb676@comcast.net

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    1. Of course you may enter. Thanks for your comment, and for including your email!!
      I love the timelessness of the plaids, too. They have always been a favorite.

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  28. Congratulations on your anniversary of blogging. It's impressive to see someone stick to it! Says one without a blog and who would probably be a lax blogger if she had one! Love your prizes. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Joye. I'd like to include you in the drawing, but your profile has no email attached. If you want to participate, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  29. Janet! Your Barrister quilt is splendid! I love the look of the (real live) shirtings! I enjoyed reading about your travels to and fro -- and your family photo; how wonderful!! You really are beautiful inside and out! I need a Chooky in my life! It looks like a lovely gathering of gals. It's nice to have a group like that, non?! Your "Spring is Here" quilt is very fun! The large meandering quilting is perfect for it. I love that you are always trying new things! Those Haunted Halloween samples ... *swoon*! Those are right up my Halloween-living alley! Of course, that Cheddar & Coal line make them! I particularly like the look of the Haunted Maze. I may have to give minis a try. Aye yi yi! Include me in the drawing, please ... and since what I'm looking at is the chocolate, either one will be a joy! Hahahaha!! :) That is one glorious sunset! We've not made it out on the boat too frequently this summer, so my sunset photos are lacking. Missing them! Love you, friend! Hugs! :)

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  30. Kudos to you for a finish! YES they feel so good. I am a habitual "starter" but very rarely finish so I know exactly how good it makes you feel. I really love your finish too. There are something about those shirting fabrics that just say comfort. I am glad your firend stuck her hand into that picture because I had no idea how tiny those Cheddar and Coal minis were. Super cute! I would love to be included in your drawing. I need to get back in the saddle and start blogging again! Maybe winning some yummy new fabric will give me some inspiration. Thank you for offering this drawing!

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  31. My goodness…….Kim Diehl or Blackbird!!!!! What a wonderful pair of giveaways. It would be a delight to win either of them. I have to say I miss the Little Quilt monthly display you were a part of for years. I was not persuaded to make little quilts, but I loved seeing the pieces the participants turned out! Carol in Texas

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    1. LOL--I'm glad you like the options, Carol, but to be included in the giveaway please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

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  32. The maroon border on your Barristers QAL finish is the perfect finale! It's amazing that you found enough different plaid shirts to create a quilt this large! It's just beautiful and looks warm and toasty for winter. It looks like you and your hubby are having a wonderful summer with lots of traveling and family time. Enjoy, and I'll look forward to your next installment.

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  33. A lovely newsy post. You have had a busy time of it. I’ve enjoyed reading about the places you have visited. It must have been wonderful having most of your family together. I love your completed quilt. How good to be able to find such appropriate thrifted shirts, especially for the border and I pieced blocks. Your be donation quilt looks fantastic. Enjoy your day with Pam.

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  34. Hi Janet! great to catch up with you. Your finished quilt is absolutely gorgeous. I love the binding! adds such sparkle.
    Looks like you've had some fun adventures. Day trips and short trips are so restorative.
    Love the train photo - yes great power stance. Beautiful family photo as well. Love the coordinated clothing.
    So generous of you to have a such a nice giveaway. I was lucky to enough to won once, so don't pick me again ;)
    have fun at the Pam Buda event! That is a long time to wait.
    lovely ending photo. Majestic

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  35. Isn't it fun to make a quilt from recycled shirts? Yours turned out very nice!

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    1. Yes, I do enjoy it. I have a closet stuffed with deconstructed shirts, and I have made 4 bed size quilts from the plaids, along with a few minis.
      I'd like to enter you in the drawing, but you have no email attached to or included in your comment. If you'd like to be included, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  36. Beautiful quilt - great finish. I would be happy with either of the giveaway prizes but I do love Kim Diehl fabrics. Have a great week! cmberry@lsu.edu

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    1. Thanks Cindy. And thanks also for including your email address.

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  37. I had missed reading your blog. Wonderful to have family together. We recently downsized, after 40 1/2 years in one house so we have been busy and continue to donate and give away. I haven't been able to do any quilting since April but getting closer to having that room ready!! I'd love to have the Kim Diehl kit. I love her fabrics. Thank you for your giveaway!

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    1. Thank you for the kind words, Gloria. It sounds like you have been busy. Hope you can get settled and back to quilting soon.
      I'd like to enter you in the drawing, but you have no email attached to or included in your comment. If you'd like to be included, please reply to this comment with your email address, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  38. The quilt is beautiful.......how nice to get away........and great to have some of the family together..........hope you had a great time with Pam Buda........and what a gorgeous sunset..........always love catching up on zoom and yes i know you join at some weird hours...........always appreciated..........

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  39. Glad you are posting again, your Barrister quilt is gorgeous! Nice family picture too!Family is so precious...Have fun with Pam at your class! I love those fabrics of hers! So generous of you to give away those beautiful kits!

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    1. With no email attached to or listed in your comment, I can't include you in the giveaway. If you want to be included, please reply to this comment and leave your email, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.


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  40. Nice to see your post. Blogging takes time and apparently some words are needed which I'm never sure which ones to use! Lol! The quilting on the first quilt looks very fancy to my eyes, did you quilt this? Nice that you have had some family time together, sometimes this is challenging! Wishing you smiles, warmth & happiness from way down yonder x

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  41. So happy you have been able to getaway with hubby! Love that photo of him with the trains!! Lovely quilt your "whipped" up! No need to enter me in the contest- congrats!!
    We had some lovely family time just a couple of weeks ago- it was really wonderful.

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  42. Thanks, Janet for the catch-up. No need to apologize for time in-between posts. Family and adventures are most important.

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  43. Replies
    1. Thanks, Susan.
      You are in the same boat with the others who have no email attached to their comment. To be included in the giveaway, please reply to this comment and leave your email, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  44. It''s wonderful to see a post from you. Lovely family photo! I am always in awe of the beautiful natural surroundings where you live. My son has talked about the Spiral Jetty, sounds very cool. Your finished quilt is just wonderful. That represents so much work, all those different blocks. What a great looking quilt.

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  45. Congrats on your blog anniversary.

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    1. Thank you, Darlene.
      Unfortunately, you have no email attached to your profile. If you would like to be included in the giveaway, please reply to this comment and leave your email, or find my email in the link to my profile at the top of the left column, and send it to me privately.

      Delete
  46. So happy to see you back!! I was getting a bit worried!! But, hey, who am I to talk?? Your whole post is fabulous!! Love the family picture and especially the men's shirt quilt!! It is absolutely fabulous!! You and hubby both look great and healthy!! Love ya!!

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  47. So happy to see your great blog and loved the Norway tour, too! A give away, what fun!

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    1. I think you have me confused with someone else--Maybe Barb at Fun With Barb blog. I haven't been to Norway, but she has recently done a couple of posts on her blog about her trip there.
      But thanks for visiting. :)

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  48. Wonderful post, Janet! So many good things happening in your life :) Your finished quilt is a real beauty!

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  49. I commented with my Google Account but it didn't work. That's me above. Barbara

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  50. Your sampler quilt from shirts is awesome! Making the Pam Buda quilts looks like so much fun. Hope you enjoy it.

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I love to have your comments and feedback.