Applique in May

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Here we are on day 2 of "Applique in May". It's a rather Fall looking block today but it's easy to tell what Sally was trying to represent in her quilt. Looks like oak leaves and the birds flying south to me. Did you notice the placement lines on yesterday's block? They were a wonderful suggestion from one of you. I'll be including them from now on. I really appreciate all of your comments and emails even if I can't answer each one.
Clutch and I are heading back north today. It's sunny and beautiful in Grand Rapids so I'm looking forward to seeing the sunlight sparkle on the lake when we arrive.

This is the 5th block from the quilt. If you're just getting started, Blocks 1-3 are on the Sally Post Floral Sampler quilt page of the web site. If you scroll down, you'll find Block 4 within yesterday's note.


Block 5
Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 5
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Applique in May

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It's hard to believe it's been over two weeks since I've posted but a lot of things have been sucking up my time.

It was a frustrating experience getting the internet service back online at the cottage. They kept trying to tell me it was our equipment and I kept trying to tell them it wasn't. In the end, it was theirs! Once that was taken care of, I lost the internet service at the store. I really couldn't complain since I was tapping in on an unsecured network at the hotel next door.

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We've also had another tree come down during a thunderstorm. This one on a Friday evening and landing across the driveway. It was a big monster and I had to work the next morning so there was a little panic in trying to fine someone on a Friday night to come over and cut up the tree. All ended well that night and I was able to get to work Saturday morning.

My grandmother passed away the following Thursday. She was 103. I was close to her growing up. We had lunch at Herpolsheimer's Tea Room almost every Saturday and then went shopping. She was always ready to lend a hand. Scrubbing my first house from top to bottom and peeling apples every year when I froze applesauce, corn, green beans or whatever. She bought my china when I got married and lent money to our struggling young family when our furnace needed to be replaced and we were still paying hospital bills from the birth of our son. It was difficult being in Traverse City with all of the funeral arrangements in Grand Rapids.

I drove home on the first to take my Mom to the doctor for a physical and check up for me. Seems like she fared better than I did. No tests lined up for her but I've got a blood test on Monday and then a chest x-ray and MRI in the next week or so. I'll have to come back to Grand Rapids for that but guess it's time to really find out why my arm keeps going numb. It makes it tough to even brush your teeth not to mention stitching.

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Sally Post Sampler Block 4
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Now for happier things - today is my 30th wedding anniversary and as I said in the newsletter I hope everyone received, I thought it would be fun to have 30 days of applique in honor of the anniversary. We can all get a jump on the blocks for the Sally Post Floral Sampler quilt. They are small enough to make a great hand project for the summer. I've seen some of your blocks and they are so beautiful! I'm going to get working on the gallery so they can be shared with everyone. It's wonderful inspiration. If anyone has pictures of projects from the site they'd like to share, please email them to me. I'll get them online.

There will be one block from the quilt each day for the next 30 days. I'll leave each one up for 24 hours because we're working with so many time zones. I'll allow some extra time for the first two posted so everyone has time to get in the routine of visiting the site to pick up their pattern. Each day on the front page of the web site within that day's post you'll see a picture of the block for that day. Click on the block name under the picture and the pattern file will open for you to print or save.

I'm back on the road tomorrow to Traverse City and Rob celebrates his birthday. How many people can say they were born on 5-5-55?
I've lots more to share but everyone is outside enjoying the weather without me so it'll have to wait.

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On The Road Again

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On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin' our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

That was a family favorite as we traveled the United States for a few summers with a group of six families all in our motor homes and campers. I can't help but think of it as we all leave here for destinations from Elkhart to Belgium. What a bank of sisters we are.

I don't have much time this morning for sharing stories and photos. I'll stop in Grand Rapids to pick up Clutch and then it's on to Traverse City. SPECIAL NOTE: I won't have internet service until Monday night so please don't worry when the Midget Block is late and you don't hear from he.


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I've been participating in a 3" block exchange the last two retreats and these are the blocks I handed out this time. Each one had a significant meaning this time. The tree in the snow if for my struggles getting in the driveway this spring. The blue basket is for all of the things I've hauled between Grand Rapids, Traverse City, the rented house and back to the cottage again. The polka dot heart is for the holes in my heart when I'm away from my friends. The pink and brown Crazy Rails is for feeling like a crazy woman half of the time and riding a rail to I don't know where! The Wild Goose Chase strip as I call it is because I'm usually running around day and night not always knowing what's coming next. The last is my signature block for everyone and I made it from 1930s fabrics because that best reflects my favorite fabrics.

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These are the fabrics I'm using for the first section in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery Quilt. The photo doesn't reflect the true colors as I see them so I may give swatches to Paul and have him professionally photograph them so you can print off a chart.



The email system yesterday had a few glitches and it would have been nice if I'd thought about putting a link to the web page in there. I'll get the hang of this yet. Right now I need to finish packing and say some tearful goodbyes to wonderful friends and begin my travels home. I can't wait until Clutch sees his now giant polka dot minky blanket!

Say a prayer for me that the pump takes its prime on the first try and the hot water heater lights in a snap. If not, pray for a clear path to the shore so I can get buckets of water to at least flush the toilet.

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