A New Lawn Guy

For years I was supplied with mowers from the family across the street whose first five children are boys. They moved and last year I did front and back myself.  I really wanted to stick with the old plan which was to have someone else mow the front.

Hooray!  Luke to the rescue!  We had a little trouble beginning but now that race season is over, things should go smoothly and he did take second in state for the 4x400.  That's a relay race, which should have been obvious, I guess.  This boy has long legs!

He had never used a cordless electric mower and found it quite a workout even though he is in shape.  Also was surprised that I could push it.  Ah, youth.  I let him get away with that, only pointing out that the boys are each 130 lbs., fps.  (The mower is 76 lbs.)

He wondered out loud how to get the bag off and before I could say anything he had it off and was dumping the cuttings.  When I came out with the cash, he was fiddling with it, snapping some tubular plastic pieces into place.  For the last ten years I have had the handle on the inside of the bag.  Eye rolling at this point is totally acceptable.  It sure is easier to get that bag on and off now!

Thanks Luke!

Peanuts

Took three more 30 gallon trash bags filled with peanuts to the UPS store today.  There are a still some left in the last remaining large box in the garage but not even half a bags worth.  I flattened this box and the boxes from my quilting machine and table and took those to Habitat for Humanity because they had a sign out requesting cardboard.

The guy at UPS was happy to take my bags but there was no singing or dancing so lots of people must bring them back.  That would be a wonderful thing if it's true.  It's the most annoying stuff and quite a legacy for future generations.

Predictions

Look!  It's sunshine!  The temperature which barely got to 63 yesterday and I think that was only for 10 minutes, is already at 63 at 10:30!  The predicted high is 77 and while I predict we will be complaining about the heat in another month, it feels very good today.  The washer is going and the vacuum has been used already and of course the sewing machine.  It's invigorating!

This morning I laid in bed knowing it was too early to get up because there were no birds singing.  So I waited and once they started, so did I, only imagine my surprise to find out it was only 4:30.  Nevertheless, when my feet hit the floor that means the boys are up too so we just started our day a little early.

Perhaps it was too early after all because my first cup of coffee was made without a cup.  Kind of messy!  I am also predicting that there will be a little nap today :-)

Grandma Marie

Found this on the kitchen table (I know) and it always makes me think of Grandma Marie.  She was not my grandmother but Jill's and she lived with Jill but I don't remember how long.  She would look at herself in the mirror, sans glasses, and comment on how much more wrinkled her friends were than she was.  Today we might have said, just between us, "Are you kidding me!?!" because really, it was incredible to think that there might be anyone more wrinkled than Grandma Marie.  I'm pretty sure she was in her nineties.

Here's the Problem

Came across this fabric today, a yard of black with gold, and I wondered why I had bought it.  Possibly for a tie back in the day when I was doing that...twenty years ago.   I thought, an easy one for the DI box.  Then I looked at it a little longer and really, I like when the sun and moon have faces like that so I put it in the Reconsider Later Pile. 

You see what I mean about the problem?

85 degrees as of 1:20pm

 

I had a few errands this morning and when I got home I was pleased that it was still so cool inside.  Dylan, however went right outside and stretched out on the hot stones.  I think he's squinting though.

HMQS 2013

The Home Machine Quilting Show.  Outstanding!  I went twice!  On Thursday, which was the first day unless you were attending classes, I went with Sheila and on Saturday, which was the last day, I went with Pat.  Great fun and well, my wallet is empty.  Pat asked me if there was a quilt I could buy which one would it be and I said this zebra quilt.  The quilts were not for sale but there was a fabric challenge by Riley Blake,  a local fabric designer and manufacturer and those challenge quilts were auctioned off as a fundraiser for a local charity.

I took lots of pictures and was so excited to see an entire two sided row, the width of the exhibition area, of modern quilts.  They are my favorite.

I can't figure out how to embed a slideshow right here but you can watch it in the right sidebar.

Let me know if you have a favorite!