Summer End

 The photos are not glamorous anymore. 

Summer has gone and Fall is here.

Now is the time to gather seed heads for next year.

But I still enjoy the last  of the flowers.

 Sorry I have been absent lately but that is the way

it will be for a couple of months.

I have been helping my grand daughter clean and 

prepare the basements of her Dads house so she 

can move in and help him as he goes through the

cancer treatments. His major surgery will be the end

of October and he will need help.

As much help as a single mother and a 3 year old 

can do. Now to make curtains for the windows

in the basement. ME who doesn't clean her own

house has been mopping and wiping down walls.

Such is life.

Going to Des Monies

Minnesota Hill is going on a road trip/

It will meet up with Sumac Ridge in Paducah.

They will then travel to Des Monies, Iowa for a show.

This photo was the inspiration for the Minnesota Hill.

 Some photos of both works in progress.

I use photos often for inspiration.

 Red sumac in the fall is one of my favorites.

The finished Sumac Ridge below.

Today is busy I am going to my sons house with

his daughter and a friend to clean the basement

so she can move in to help care for her father.

With the chemo and radiation schedule the next

month I may not blog as often. 

Life throws us some hardship

 but families stick together.

Sumac Ridge

 Sumac Ridge and Minnesota Hills are going to Des Monies

without me. I hope they enjoy the show.

They will get shipped out on Wednesday.

Minnesota Hills is over at the Farm House in Fair Oaks.

Must make a trip to retrieve it soon.

 I keep finding hints of fall.

A precious leaf here and there.

Sedums full of butterflies.

Vegetation turning brown.

Soon it will be rampart.

I just love fall looking forward to the cooler temps.

I made pumpkin pie today just to get in the mood.

Having a quiet weekend at home.

The season is changing.

 We have one more hot week to live through than

the weather is supposed to change to fall like.

My very favorite time of the year.

 It is amazing that the progression of plants and

flowers tell us the weather is changing.

There is beauty in the ending too.

Sedums, golden rod, and red berries.

 Leaves start to drop and the under study comes out.

 The seed pods drop their seeds.

I got an invite to be in another show. 

I have until September 14th to produce a

painting or two. Gets my creative juices flowing.

If I don't have a project I get down.

Thanks for the invite.

August draws to a end.

 The Donatello Ligularis are blooming.

They have beautiful leaves but the blooming part

is not so ice. The bud is interesting though.

Especially close up. 

Looking back on my series of Lake Michigan I like 

how they turned out.  Anything to do with water 

pleases me. Even my little dug pond in the back

yard  and the koi pond(with no koi in it) by the

kitchen door.  The sound of the waterfall is so

relaxing. I am enjoying the slower pace this week.

It has been a busy year.

Looking forward to a quiet fall and winter.

Lake view.

 This is what the view from Tommy's house

looks like at sunset. Living on the water is special.

Even though we only have a small dug pond

it gives us a taste of water views.

 I submitted two pieces to the Salon Show and

they only took the Wolf River quilt.

The Red Chairs quilt will be able to go somewhere

else. That means I will not have to make another

larger quilt. So glad the competition season is

winding down. This has been quite the year,

That means 2016 is going to be smooth. Right?

Just cut up 7 pieces of fabric to wash in prep 

for dyeing. I am going to attempt making 3 

whole cloth quilt pieces.

Also over dyeing some commercial fabric.

Tomorrow I will get on it.

In the mean time  Tuesday is my appointment with

Kim. An hour and half of deep muscle massage.

Heavenly.

Yesterday at the lake.

 Tommy invited us to her place on the Lake to spend

some time getting acquainted. We had met online 

and exchanged  12 x 12 quilts in the past.

I could only stay for the day but regretted having

to leave. I was exhausted after this week.

I missed a lot of calming lake breezes.

 There can never be enough show and tell among

quilters. Gayle showed us some of her work .

Love the colors in this one. She dyed the fabrics.

Looking forward to doing some dyeing this week.

 I love the piecing in this one.

I look much smaller when looking at my feet.

After seeing the photo at the Bridges for lunch

this lady needs to loose a LOT of weight.

 Another project underway.

 Love the color ways of this one.

The Hexes on the horse quilt are small.

But so are her hands.

Robbie loves to do hand work.

 A gorgeous  quilt using Tyvek. Great colors.

I got home last night and told my husband I 

was not going anywhere today. I even turned

him down for lunch at his favorite restaurant.

I must be crazy.

Hopefully Tommy will invite us back again

when my life is calmer.