Quilt Progress and Other News

Here is the progress on my quilt top so far:

 

I love the way all the colors look together.  There was another pink which I had initially used in five of the blocks, but when I started assembling the top, I just didn't like how they looked.  Too pink.  They stuck out like a sore thumb.  So I ripped them all out and replaced that pink with a pale blue scattered with small roses.  Much better.

 

As I started assembling the top, I realized that I didn't already have every fabric I needed in my stash.  (Hard to believe, right?!)    So in addition to having to buy the batting, I also had to get a few yards for the border.  I chose the beautiful, light blue fabric with rose bouquets above.

 

I am still contemplating how I'm going to put this whole thing together.  I was thinking about quilting the top and side borders separately, and then attaching them after everything has been quilted.  I also want to scallop the border edges.  The logistics of how all this can work out is still stumping me, so I just keep looking at my pretty quilt top and envisioning how it will finally look.  Hopefully, I will come up a solution soon!  I could just assemble the entire quilt top and borders as one piece and the machine quilt them as usual, but I was trying to come up with a way to avoid having all that fabric bunched around/over/under my sewing machine.  I have still not forgotten what I went through to make my son and daughter-in-law's quilt last summer, and I'd love to find an easier way.

 

Here it is, hanging out on the line.  I was having a hard time getting a photo, since it is a windy day, and it kept wanting to spin around.  So far, it measures approximately 71" wide by 82" long.  But because we have a deep, pillow top mattress, I'm going to add an extra 10" border along all sides so that it'll cover the mattress when it's on our bed.    I just love how quilts look like stained glass windows when they are back-lit.

 

In other news, we have started looking for our new home.  We have been renting for the past 8 1/2 years, and are ready to become homeowners again.  In this time frame, we have moved out of state twice, only to discover that "there's no place like home". Why we ever thought that moving across the country, away from friends and family and the only place my husband and I have ever known is beyond me.  I guess we'll just chalk that up to a "learning experience".  What we do know is that barring an unforeseen event, we NEVER plan on moving far away again.  This is where we belong.   We currently live in the suburbs, but long for a little bit space in the country.  We used to live on five acres and I miss it so much.  I am a country girl through and through.

 

So here is a little piece of heaven we found this past weekend.  5 acres of gently sloping and wooded land about 45 minutes away from where we currently live.  It was so quiet...all we heard (besides our children's excited voices!) was the wind rustling through the trees.

 

Since most of it is wooded, we would have to do a bunch of clearing, at least a couple of acres worth.  This can be a big expense, but since the property already has a well installed, it kind of evens out.  We found elk tracks in the dirt!

 

One of the best things about this property is that it is almost at the end of a long, paved road ending in a cul-de-sac.    I can just see all my kids having a blast riding their bikes and scooters without having to worry about traffic.

 

We are taking another look at it this weekend, along with talking to a home builder which can hopefully finance us.  I'm so excited.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, because a lot of things could still happen.  Maybe somebody else will buy this property before we get the chance.  Or maybe we won't be able to get financing after all.  We have just started this wonderful, anxiety-ridden journey, and who knows what's in store for us?  If not this piece of land, then I'm sure God has something better for us right around the corner.

 

And last but not least, here are the two feline members of our family, Delilah and Bunny.  Bunny was rescued from the animal shelter a couple of months ago.  She is a total lap cat and loves to snuggle.  Delilah, on the other hand, is NOT.  She prefers to be left alone, and only occasionally shows some affection towards us when she's hungry.  So it was pretty rare to get a photo of the two of them together.  They don't hate each other; rather, it's more of a polite tolerance with a sprinkling of affection thrown in here and there.

 

Tomorrow is Friday, which means the weekend is almost here.  And since it's a long weekend, we'll have one, extra day to play and enjoy daddy's company.  I have a doll show lined up for Saturday, as well as looking at the property again.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!