Yes, more eating!!

So, I'm going to start with Monday!  That was our night to go back to The Freezer in Homosassa!  Bob has been waiting to go back since our last visit...this isn't your high class restaurant by any means but one of the best local hang outs.  And we got to hang out with our friends!  What a fun night (again!).  

We got to the restaurant around 4:30ish and it was packed already.  We were lucky enough to get a large table as we had 8 in our group.  Bob hurried off to order our pretzel (beer and a glass of  $2 wine for me).  As I was drinking my wine, I saw an advertisement on the wall for a Mike's Rita!  So...my hubby went and ordered me one.  Now remember I said this isn't a fancy place (you peel and eat shrimp with your fingers from a Styrofoam tray!)....Bob brought me back this cup and bottle of Mike's Rita...notice anything??

It's actually a plastic cup!!!  A plastic cup with salt on the rim!!!  Go figure!!!  We laughed quite hard at that...but it sure was good! 

Of course when I got home, by the time I ate the pretzel with salt and licked all the salt off my paper cup!, I had to drink four glasses or water!!!  But it was worth every 'glass'!

The steamed shrimp is wonderful!!!  And the way it's cooked, the shell does come off easily.  SO GOOD!!!

This was John and Marilyn's first time at The Freezer.  I think and hope they enjoyed it as much as we do. 


After our wonderful meal, our 'host and hostess' (Jan & Larry) said to "follow them"...and we did.  They took us to another restaurant, called Sea Grass, just to look out at the water front then off to Jan's daughter's beautiful home, which sits by the water.  What fun!  We traveled from place to place following Larry on the drive(s).

And of course, our last stop was at DQ!  I know...hard to believe we could eat anymore but we did!!!

Now to top it off, Tuesday night we met up with Jan and Larry again for another dinner!!!  This time we ate at Harry's which is downtown Ocala and another favorite restaurant of ours!

Actually, they had drinks half price instead of our normal 2-4-1...dinner was FANTASTIC!  I think we are staying home tonight...wonder if I'll remember where the kitchen is and how to cook!!!  I'll let you know!

Keeping busy

I received the ear plugs for the smart phones from Monica (you can see my post here) so I added some charms to many of them.  These are going to be for gifts and some have already been sent out in the mail!

If you're trying to envision how these work or fit in your smart phone you can see a picture on my post here.    I love my charms on my phone and I hope the recipients of these feel the same!! 

After adding the charms, I thought I'd make some snap bags!  My daughter wants some specific sizes but I have to  wait until she gives me the measurement(s).   I wanted to give my Q buddy, Susan, a snap bag and thought I'd make some to have on hand!

The colored snap bag on the left was for Susan and I gave it to her today!  Susan and I took off to Trenton this a.m. to one of our favorite quilt shops!  I only picked up a yard of fabric, which is a novelty print for dogs!  I'll take a pic and post later this week.  Susan and I walked to the stain glass shop where she purchased a stained glass book with a pattern that is perfect for her to use in making her next winning quilt!!!   Then back to the quilt shop  for lunch at the cutest cafe!  It was a beautiful day for the drive and time spent with my buddy!! 

So now, Kalee and I are vegging on the chair before we head out for a walk!  It's hard fabric shopping and eating lunch out!  Have to rest first!

End of another week....

 And yes, we did go out for dinner tonight!  We met up with Kara and Howard at Blanaca's which is the restaurant in our community.  Yum!!  Liver & onions!  It was delicious!!  Not every one's favorite but is for Bob and I.  I don't remember the last time I had this dinner as we don't eat much red meat  but it was a good choice tonight.
I've also been playing with free motion quilting...funny, when I do a practice piece my work isn't near as nice/good as when I'm really doing a 'legimite' piece!  Strange, isn't it!

I had a small piece of black sateen so I sandwiched it and started some FMQ.   Diane Gaudynski's had a blog post show how to FMQ Celtic Bubbles.  Sure looked easy on her blog but just like straight lines I can't do circles either!  Go figure!

So I attempted to do some more circles...and of course I got tired of those and wasn't happy with how my circles were turning out.  Just need to practice more for sure!  Do check out Diane's post on these circles.  She does such a wonderful post on explaining the process. 

My black doesn't look black in this picture but it really is!  I just started playing around with  any designs I could think of.  Again, I'm not very creative...but the piece, which is about 20" x 20" will make a nice background piece for small snap bags! 


Anyway, the first picture above,  i took yesterday when Carol, Peggy and I took off to Micanopy, Florida!  And yes, we had dessert!  Butter pecan ice cream!  Micanopy is a very quaint town 25 miles north east of us.  We went to Micanopy a few years ago and I thought it might make a nice day of it again.  We arrived just around lunch time and after visiting a few of the antique and old book stores, we headed to lunch.  Chicken salad sandwich's for Carol and I and a bowl of chili for Peggy.  Food was good and then off we went walking through the town again. 

As you an see in the pictures, Micanopy is a really small, old, Floridian town!  But I do love it.  The book store looks like something from a Stephen King novel/movie!  And the antiques are SO cool! 
So, next week is going to be as busy...off to the Freezer Restaurant on Monday with friends; Tuesday, lunch with a friend from the community; Thursday, off to Trenton with my Q Buddy, Susan, to visit one of our favorite Quilt shops, and lunch!  Of course...lunch!!! 

Yes, we love our food!

What can I say...Bob and I do love our food!  We had dinner with Jan and Larry at our now favorite Italian restaurant, Carmine's.  Just the best Italian food around!  Starting off with the garlic/oil combo that is filled with fresh minced garlic!!  Yes, we all stink today, but it was well worth it!  This is served with their home made toasted bread!  Worth the trip on it's own!
Next up was a fresh, crisp salad with house dressing.  The salad is always fresh and so good!  I had chicken parm, which was outstanding!  Bob had some dish with Italian sausage and chicken that he thought was now his favorite!   Jan had  lemon grouper fish that melted in your mouth!  I might have to try that even though I'm not a big fan of fish in Italian dishes.  This one was great!  Larry had spaghetti and meat balls and I even tried a piece which was really good! 
And another 'best part' about Carmine's....the glass of wine you get is one of the largest glasses served.  Jan and I were able to even get a half of a glass after our first!  The owner just brought the bottle over and poured us each 1/2 glass!  They are so nice at Carmine's!!  This is by far our favorite place to eat!

 Tonight is 99 cent margarita night!  Yes, two nights in a row!  Today I've done some cleaning in the house and Grace's cage/room and one load of laundry.  Kalee is now sitting beside me resting.  Even though it's overcast (again!) today, I think I'll sit out in the lanai and do some beading or stitching.  I did go for one walk with Kalee this a.m.  but probably need to get at least two or three walks in a day to make up for all the food I'm eating!!

I'm plugged!

I've talked in the past about what a great bead shop there is in Ocala, Fl.  called The Bead Strand.  I love going to this store and often wished we had one like it back in Michigan (close to where I live).  Well, even though it's not that close to where I live (almost 20 miles), I have to say the Beadin' Mon is a really close second to one of the best bead stores around. 

Monica, the owner of Beadin' Mon is the best!!!  This past fall, I did head on over to her store to pick up some Tila beads for bracelets.  And it's also where I picked up, what I call, a plug for my phone (you can read about it on my blog post here).  I thought this little item was so cool!  I got thinking they would make a nice gift for folks so I emailed Monica and asked if I could order a dozen of them!  Monica is such a sweetheart and placed and order and shipped them out to me!  Yes, two are missing...they're in the mail to others!

So now I feel really lucky to have two great bead stores whether I'm up north or down south!!!  And for my friends, north or south, you too can head on down or up to a great bead store!  Thanks again, Monica!  You are the best!!!

This is my plug with charms given to me by friends!

Helps hubby to quickly identify my phone from his!

Start of another week....

I did take some time to bead the rest of the outline for Zachery's body.  I'm now starting to fill in his body.  I'm going to use some of the techniques of Diana from The Lone Beader.  I've been a follower of Diana's for quite sometime and recently I purchased two of her pdf patterns (Westie & Intro Into Extreme Beadery).  You have to check out both her Etsy/web site and her blog.  Her bead work is amazing...just amazing! 

So, this wanna be beader will continue on with Zachery in between my patchwork piece!  I did work on it last night for a few hours.  I'm thinking the patchwork piece might get finished while I'm in Florida!  Didn't think that would happen but....

This is the back of my Carnival piece...can't show the front!  I still have the facing to do and some hand work but I should have that finished sometime this week. 

The next few weeks are SO busy!!  I'm trying to get some dates to meet up with folks (Kay & Susan, I am trying!). 


Yesterday Carol came over to finish up the snap bags for her grand kids.  Didn't they turn out cute!  She has one more at her house she's adding charms to so I'll post a picture of that when it's finished.  Carol has four grand babies!

 Hubby is off from golf today!  Just as well as we're having a drizzle of rain off and on.  Kalee and I got a little rain on us when walking this a.m.  But it doesn't both us girls!!  She's crashed now while I work on the computer and sew.  I get a break from playing or walking her!

It's 63 out so not cold by any means!  Temps to get in the high 70's to 80's this next week.  Love Florida!

Framed (again!)

I thought I had posted pics showing my beaded bird and butterfly I had framed here in Florida this winter....but I can't find them so guess I haven't!   My Q Buddy, Susan, was kind enough to give me a gift certificate for $25 at Ocala Art and Frame shop here.  Fortunately, I brought with me my beaded pieces, thinking I would finish up some hand work on them while here.  Susan's gift certificate got me motivated and I did get two finished and had framed!

I love the frame on both of these.  Back home I did have two other pieces framed in a color that matches the background quilting threads.  You can see those here.   I am very, very pleased with the framing they did.  The owner, Mr. Blower, was so kind and very helpful.  I'd highly recommend them!

I am very happy with how these turned out.  Not sure I'll be able to finish the other two and have framed before we leave.  So, thanks Q buddy!!!!  You 'donation' sure helped.  Being 'framed' isn't cheap! 

Who's out of thread?

So, I'm working away yesterday on my background piece for Carnival and clonk!  I thought my machine broke but all  that happened was I ran out of thread!  Geezzzz

You can see this small area left to quilt and in the next picture another small area that I needs to be finished!

Panic time!  I haven't purchased threads in quite a long time, other than my 12 wt. Aurifil & 28 wt Lana.

The thread I was looking for is Signature 30 wt in the Tropical Trilobol Poly.  I'm actually not that big on variegated thread but when I do use it I like the 30 wt and just certain colors. 

So early this a.m. I took off for JoAnn's hoping they would have my thread in stock and the same color!  Well, lucky me!  They did have the thread in the Tropical Brights and on sale for $1.97!!  It normally sells for $6.50-$6.95 on the web.  Not sure what JoAnn's sold it for (like I said, it's been years since I purchased it) but I know it was always close to that price. 

So $15 later look what I bought! 

I do use the Tropical color thread for fiber card edging and FMQ...I also like the Eggplant (combo of purple/green) so I purchased one of those.  I got looking at the Pastel colorway and did buy two of those.  I think it would be a nice background thread if going for a delicate look.  And had to get four of my Tropical Brights!  I won't run out now!

I'm not sure if JoAnn's is discontinuing the line or if these are part of Signature's old colors and they'll be getting a new line in.  Either way, these should do me for several years! So off to finish the background quilting! 
It's another beautiful day in the mid-high 70's...birds are singing so I don't even need the radio on.  I'm going to have to do a video just so you can hear the birds!  They just never stop!  Guess they are as happy as we are here in Florida! 

How long???

Yikes...can't believe I haven't posted since Sunday!!  I have been busy but can't show what I've been working on until the reveal on March 31st! 

In the meantime, I have started on my Dr. Seuss for our Inspired by the Masters exhibit.  We are doing an art quilt based on the work of Dr. Seuss/Theodor Seuss Geisel. 

Let me introduce to you 'Zachery'!  He's what I'm going to add to my art quilt piece.   

You'll see in the next picture that I've started to bead 'Zachery'.  I think he's really cute and will be fun to bead.  I've got some ideas for his hair and tail (which you can't see in this picture) so, once again, I sure hope the picture in my mind can be transferred to my fingers! 

I printed out 'Zachery' onto some washable applique paper, attached to two pieces of black batting and started to bead his body.  He'll be in multiple shades of greens. Now as weird as he is, I think he is cute!!! 

Fun to work on in between  other projects.  Just gotta have that hand work to do, right!

It has been a busy week...yesterday (Wed.) after vet appointment, I made some appetizers to take over to our friends home.  They were having an 'open house' to introduce their friends to an exchange student they had about 20 years ago from Mexico.  She is now married (to their nephew!) and have four great children...from a senior in college to a 8th grader.  3 girls and one boy and just the nicest kids.  We've heard stories from Howard and Kara on 'Maga' (I know this isn't the correct spelling...I forgot to verify), so it made it even more special to finally meet her and her family.

This is 'Maga' after she made me a Paloma cocktail! Isn't she beautiful!  I didn't get pictures of her hubby or the children but they were as beautiful and handsome!

The Paloma was really good...Maga made it with lime juice, salt, tequila and Fresca.  I did find another recipe which uses grapefruit juice and lime juice that I might try as well.  You can see that recipe here...and there are others on the web.  I do love my margaritas but I'm open to try some different recipes for this cocktail as well.   After the open house, we ended up going to a local restaurant a mile down the road for dinner...cheese pizza/salad for me and baked spaghetti for hubby...yum!

Tonight, we ate out again!!  Dinner back to Carmine's with Marcia and Gary!  A fun night with nice folks and a great meal, again!  Our last month is always hectic meeting up with folks for one last dinner out!  I don't mind it at all...just have to make sure I use all the meat I have in the freezer!!  I'm usually pretty good at eliminating food but you never know.  This has been one of our busiest years yet!  Just such wonderful friends we've grown to know!   We are so lucky! 

Lzay life in Florida - NOT!

See, I really am working away on my patchwork piece!  Have no reason to be stitching this piece other than it was fun to use some scrap hand dyed and commercial fabric.  I'm thinking I'll hang this in our master bath but who knows.  I could also cut it up into smaller pieces!  Never know!  It's only 36+" x 36+". 

I starting stitching the bottom right side this afternoon, which will look similar to the stitching on the left side.  I know...no imagination....I even copy myself!  I still have the top right to finish and to add some more small circles (thanks to suggestion from Jill for her method of sewing circles!) to fill in other areas.

Just a few more pics...mainly because I couldn't upload the two pics I took today at the Master Garden show Carol and I went to!  Not sure what's up with that!  Have to have pics on my blog post(s)!

It was a beautiful day again and the color of the plants and flowers were wonderful!  Just pust you in a good mood.   It is a good thing I don't live here though.  Our house and yard would be junked up with 'stuff' and plants!  I don't like a lot of 'things' laying around on our tables and such back in Michigan but there are some really interesting and cool items I see on my adventures out that I'd buy in a heartbeat for the house and yard!  So far I've resisted each year but...I did buy something today!  Know what this is????  It's called 'operalium'.  Doesn't help does it!

Obviously, the one on the left is the back of the piece.  I found this info on the web (no surprise there, right!):
"The body is surrounded by a fold of skin, to which are attached a shell consisting of six or more plates and a fourfold lid, or operailum, consisting of two scuta and two terga. The operculum may be called the door, as the animal opens and shuts it at will and has complete protection when it is closed."

Anyway, one of the vendors had three tables of unusual stones and fossils.  So cool!  I bought two of the operalium and think they might be perfect for stitching on a quiltlet with beads!  A future, future, future project I'm sure!  

Of course, I have to either open or close my post with 'food' talk!  Last night Bob and I had dinner with Gary & Marcia at The Ivy House.    What a unique building and the food was very good!  I had deep fried shrimp that was so sweet and lightly battered and delicious!  Bob had a seafood platter and I still don't know how he ate it all!!  The portions are huge and presentation was as good as the food.  I'm looking forward to another night of eating out!  We just never know where we'll end up next!  Gary and Marcia mentioned several places that Bob and I haven't eaten at (yet!) so guess I might not be cooking as much the next month!  Let's hope, right!  And let's hope I still fit into my clothes when we get back to Michigan!

Well, I'm sitting out on the front porch and getting a little chilly!  The lanai was too hot and it's too cool to sew out here.  Guess I could change from short sleeve shirt and Capri's to long pants and a top but it's Florida!

pickin' and grinnin'!

The "pickin' and grinnin" I'll get to in a bit...it's been a busy few days...as usual...but that's Florida for you!  

This is a piece of background fabric I brought with me that I'm going to use for my Carnival piece.  

It's actually brighter than it looks here, as usual! 

And this is the piece after I stenciled some circles on it.  Again, brighter in person!  Honest!   And the piece will be turned so just tilt your head to the left and you'll see what it will look like!  

I'm hoping to get it sandwiched today to start some quilting...but I have to finish some cleaning and then take the little one to the dog park so I can come back and give her a bath, dry/brush her then get ready to go  out with friends for dinner tonight.  Hmmmmmm maybe I won't get my piece ready for quilting afterall until Monday.  Tomorrow Carol and I are going to the Master Garden show, another of our annual events to attend.

Carol has been working on snap bags for her grandkids Easter treats!  She finished one the other day (I'll have to get a picture of it later) and started on two others this past week.

Carol was using my Bernina Circular attachment to make designs on the front.  Of course, we were dumbfounded trying to come up with the math to get the circles where we wanted to!  Oh, old age...what can I say! 
For one of her grandsons, Carol thought a character from CARS would be cute...so I had the brilliant (NOT!) idea of printing out a coloring page of the CAR then have Carol just straight stitch the outline.  So, my 2nd brilliant (NOT, again!) idea was to use the Wash-away Applique sheets.  I use these for my beading and have in other stitching....but what I didn't think about was the so called 'straight stitch' Carol was using was the triple straight stitch....my 3rd brilliant idea (NOT again!) was the heavier the threads the more the design would stand out!  I didn't think about the "heavier the threads" the tighter the applique sheet would be stitched to the background!

So Carol stitched her heart out and the design looked really good!  BUT...trying to wash away the applique sheet was another story.  That triple stitch using 12wt thread holds really good!!  Here's a picture of the CAR after soaking and rubbing!

Carol had to head home so I ironed the piece dry and here's where the pickin' and grinnin came to play!

I did get most of the pieces out after pickin' and grinnin for an hour!   I had a margarita while working on it and sitting out on the lanai was quite pleasant (my grinnin part).  There are just a few pieces we need to 'pick' out.  I think it's really cute.  Carol is going to get some fusible numbers (#93) otherwise her grandson will most likely let her grandma know it's not complete!  

So guess I better get my butt in gear and movin!  It's a beautiful day again...sunny, slight breeze....life is good!  Even if you are pickin' and grinnin!

Happy BD, Kayla!

Happy Birthday, Kayla!  Hard to believe she is 22!!  Right now Kayla is out west visiting with Nate and their friends.  I know she's having a good time!  She graduates this May from college then onto her masters studies!  At least we'll get to see her in May. 

I'm still beading away...I know hard to tell what this is....hope it turns out just like the picture in my mind!  Now, honestly, how often does that happen??  Usually never...but I'm giving it a go again! 

Temps in the upper 60's today but strong winds...I just about got blown away (and so did Kalee) at the dog park this a.m.  Poor Kalee's eyes were really watering when we got home!  Guess he needs sunglasses to protect from the sun and wind! 

Feeling yucky....

Just one of those days...not feeling so great....cold, sinus...who knows...did go for a 1 mile walk with Kalee but think it will be a sit/lay around day...UGH...Bob and I were just bragging on how great we feel this winter!  Geezzzzz

Start of the weekend

It was only 38 this a.m. and temps are expected to be in the low 30's for the next two mornings.  The good thing about Florida is the temps rise quickly.  We'll be in the mid to high 60's quickly...although, the winds have been quite high so not good for golfing but perfect weather for walking Kalee and going to the dog park with her!!  She's doing so good off lease and staying with me or just playing with the other dogs.  I'm really proud of her!

I did work on my patchwork piece...not sure if I showed the french knots I did the other night....I'm still working on my beading project that I can't show until the end of the month....but here's a sneak peak!

It doesn't look like anything but at least 'ya all' know I'm not sitting around eating bon bons and watching the boob tube!  Well, maybe not bon bons...but we do eat out at least twice a week...and of course our margaritas or wine!  
So today is laundry and cleaning day....I will take Kalee to the dog park and hopefully she'll have a friend to play with! 

Yes, my friends know me well!

What can I say...my friends know me, right!  But that's what friends are supposed to do....anyway, Jan F. brought me over this bottle of wine the other day!  Jan is one of the ladies that was at my luncheon two weeks ago.  She and her hubby are from Michigan too. 

My kids would be jealous of this wine.  It's from one of their favorite places to stay in the U.P.,  Black Star Farms!  The kids have gone their several times for their anniversary get-away and they bring back wine for other family members (not mum)!  So now I have my own bottle from Black Star Farms!  THANKS, Jan!!!  So nice of you!!!!

And just another 'best kept secret' of Ocala to share....we went out the other night with friends to dinner at Carmine's!  OMG!!!  This has to be one of the best kept secrets and the best Italian food around.  They serve fresh minced garlic in oil with home made bread!  The salad and dressing were fantastic as was our dinner!!  Bob and I can't wait to go back.  If you're in the Ocala area, look out for this place...it's in a small strip mall  on 200 and if you didn't know about it you wouldn't stop.  And they serve wine in large glasses!  Not those tiny little glasses...yea, we're back on to friends knowing me/us so well! 

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Jane Davies was asking for folks to make a post card so her post office could increase their postings.  I did make a card for her (post here) and this is the card I got back that she made!  Plus, check out Jane's post today!  She's made the news!  It's quite an interesting and touching news story!  Check it out! 

Tonight we're going to dinner (again, I know!) to celebrate a BD!  No, we don't need an excuse...but makes me feel better eating out for a purpose!