Believe

It's been intensely busy here lately.  Much to my surprise I have once again became one of those people who are so busy I'm actually getting things done!  Believe it or not.  Heh.

Last week was very busy getting ready for the quilt guild's Heritage Day Auction.  I finished typing up the auction catalog booklet and it was printed up with only hours to spare.  (The printers turned out to be somewhat unreliable.)  Friday was set up day inside the historic house and then I was at the park all day Saturday for the event.  We had to finish the set up of the quilts and the boutique, engage the public throughout the day and at 2pm have the auction.  Then of course it all had to be broken down and cleaned up.  Exhausting!  But successful!  Believe it or not I don't even have a decent picture to show you.  That's how busy we were.

Sunday was The Viking's first birthday!  Wow.  I really can't believe that!!

Would you believe he popped several of those balloons and it didn't even make him flinch.  I jumped a mile!

This is the obligatory baby-and-birthday-cake photo.  ED made a fabulous Winnie The Pooh cake.  I don't think The Viking actually ate any of it, but I'm sure you will believe me when I tell you he thoroughly rubbed it into his hair and gleefully tossed it over his shoulders and down his back.  He even managed to get red frosting in his diaper!

It seems at this moment the adults were busier with his presents than he was.  It was so funny watching him walk all around the room with that bit of wrapping paper stuck to his foot.  He was alternately sliding on it or trying to lift up his foot and shake it off.

The Tramp and I couldn't believe we sat down and put all 45 of his new cardboard blocks together.  lol

Apparently I talk with my hands!  I wonder what I was saying??

This is Bella.  She is a rescue from a shelter in NJ and for the most part doesn't like people....or dogs....or much of anything.  I couldn't believe it when The Tramp won her over.  She almost looks blissful.

My brother has "harvested" his first batch of honey from his hives.  And he sent us a sample.  Woot!  I'm sure you believe me when I say I wish I had more.

Wow.  Look at this.  So cool.  The Evil Stepdaughter's first challenge quilt.  I have to believe she's a talented art quilter in the making!

I couldn't resist throwing this photo in.  Don't you just love a man in uniform?  Swoon.  :-)

I believe Stardust has been practicing her funny faces.  Cutie pie!

The busyness also included a new batch of dog stew.  You better believe dogs were drooling on my feet.

I can't believe this big t-shirt/memory quilt got done amidst everything else.  It was a challenge too because of all the Crown Royal bags (22? 23?).  Julianne did a great job with the design!  I believe the client is going to be very pleased.

Somewhere in this madness I found some moments to finish Santa #10.  Yippee!!

And for the piece de resistance.....   The quilting is finished on Lilly Pilly.  What an unbelievable journey that was!  I had managed to fold the backing under the quilt in no less than three places and catch it in the quilting.  But now that the teeth gnashing is over I can smile again.  :-)

Gosh I can't believe I quilted that.  I'm still shaking my head over it.

The dense quilting made it very wavy!  The Tramp got home just in time to help me get the insulation board out of the crawl space so I could block the quilt.  I held it up in the shower to wet it and gave it a spin drying in the washer.  Now it's pinned to the board and can dry (hopefully) all night under the ceiling fan.

Tomorrow is binding day and the last piece of the puzzle will be to give the birds eyes.  Then I can deliver it to the state fair!  Nothing like a deadline to get me moving.  I feel like the little girl in Miracle on 34th Street.  "I believe...I believe...I believe...I believe."  ;-)