One Stinkin' Block

Well, I got a block done. So normally, I wouldn't make a blog post after doing one stinking block...(who am I kidding...if I get a 9 patch done these days it's a flippin' miracle!) but this one got done without having to rip seams once. No, no one helped me! This block is something to blog about, because I am NEVER doing it again. It wasn't that it was that difficult, it is just that, if you have small children...

Today, I tried to give the one-year old a nap. Any time that she is sleeping, my time is spent cleaning and maybe I can get 15 minutes or so of stitching in, if I am lucky. Unfortunately, she has a 4-year-old brother who cannot keep quiet during that time so I struggle with sanity on a regular basis. Not 30 minutes into her nap I hear her crying, so I go to investigate and find the bigger kid, in the crib, dumping milk on the shorter kid's head, and all over the bedding; bedding that I just took fresh out of the dryer. (...and have you ever changed sheets on a mattress inside it's own miniature prison?) No nap today.

Throw shorter kid in the tub. Try to prevent her from drinking her own God-awful bathwater, while explaining to the bigger kid that he cannot go in the backyard to pee since I am blocking the toilet. After this is done, I go to change clothes since they are now covered in God-awful bath water and sweat. While changing clothes, two small children find a brand new Kleenex box and pull each and every one out, shred, then disperse throughout the entire house. Some of those pieces of Kleenex were dry, so I was lucky.

The television was not working because the shorter kid pushed a button that sent the whole entertainment system to the black hole of death, so no Sesame Street or The Cat in the Hat to distract them while I pulled wet Kleenex off of the walls.

Out of chaotic exhaustion, I decide to throw the kids in the truck so that I can run a quick errand. This errand was supposed to be simple. Run to pick up a gift that I already had picked out, then return home. On the way, I go through the drive through and buy the bigger kid a kid meal with a chocolate milk that he is not to open until we get home. The next stop was to a car wash to spray off the interior door, panels, and floor to clean up the ''unopened'' bottle of chocolate milk. I cannot wait until August to find out what that is going to smell like.

So I may have only completed one block, but the block is 6 1/2 inches square....and it has 229 pieces.

Chef Connor in the Kitchen

Chef Connor's Personal Pizzas

1 tube large refrigerated flaky biscuits
1 jar pizza sauce
2 cups pepperoni (and or olives, mushrooms, green pepper, etc.), quartered
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

1. line cookie pan with aluminum foil. Lightly coat foil with cooking spray; set aside. Roll each biscuit to a 5'' diameter circle; transfer to oil squares. Spoon pizza sauce over dough to within 1/4 inch of the edges. Sprinkle with desired toppings and cheeses. Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Connor's instructions: First dough, then sauce, then meat, then cheese. Cook until it looks yummy.

If you have kids or grandkids, they love making these. Plus, it doesn't make a huge mess of your kitchen when you are done...really.

Just Half a Pot, Please.

My coffee maker died a few days ago. I have been using a french press (which I am not complaining about...love my french press), but it is nice to just have a pot ready to go for a super industrious day. Since I have not had a drop of coffee yet today, I called my neighbor to beg for a pot of coffee in clamoring desperation. Actually, I said ''I have a desperate and unusual request of you.'' He says ''That is exactly how I like my women: desperate and unusual!''...such a comedian. So I run over there with my carafe and coffee like a heroin addict needing a fix. I am currently enjoying my first satisfying sip of flavorful, aromatic, french roast with a touch of amaretto. Thank you, thank you, thank you, God for supplying the earth with such wonderful neighbors.

My husband was having a hard time trying to figure out what to do for Valentine's day this year, and I said ''Are you kidding? We are getting a Bunn! that will be the best v-day gift ever!'' He is incredulous time and time again about his luck marrying a girl who could care less about jewelery, flowers, expensive shoes, etc. Instead, he got me, who is just fine with a bag of coffee, box of chocolate, bundle(s) of fabric...now, if cotton prices keep rising like they are, my taste may just have to rise with it.

My agenda for today is to put a border on one of Connor's scrap quilts. The backing needs to be prepared. Then I guess I will have to do some dishes...or something domestic.

Lady Bug Mug Rug

This is the 2nd mug rug, also completed at 2am. The picture is not nearly as nice as the real thing. I did a 'quilt as you go' method, trying to do a somewhat wonky strip. Then I used broderie perse applique to put the ladies on. Finally, I did my 2-fabric binding; so be sure to look at the back too:
Here is a better picture showing the 2-fabric binding:

Well, there you go. Another swap completed successfully. Now I just need to make a run to Starbucks and the post office...

Mug Rug # 1 picture

I finally got done with this mug rug at 2am. I was really pushing the limit there since they have to be mailed out today. The second mug rug is also done, and I will do a separate post for that one. This one took more time than the 2nd one, because I hand quilted it, hand pieced it, and hand appliqued it. I cannot help the insanity. I just figured that I would make something that I would love to have myself. The person who I made this for is somewhat of an enigma wrapped in a riddle. I have a name and address. She does not have a blog or a flikr account. Her preferences were ''anything''. Whoever you are...THANK YOU! I was able to make something out of pure creativity, while still staying within a guideline of ''what would the average quilter just love''. I couldn't really make a mug rug with a coffee theme, because I didn't know if she liked or hated coffee (are there really coffee haters out there?)...so what do you think of the first one? I hope she loves it!