a great weekend so far!

Awesome start to my weekend this week!

Last night Rick and I went to a new bistro in our town called the Anchor. We went to kill time and watch the Yankees play-off game. Rick is a HUGE Yankees's fan, which has rubbed off on me over the last 19 years! While we were there, a friend of ours and her best friend joined us. Great ambiance and great compay, who could ask for more? Bonus to a great night is the Yankees won!

The killing time part came for me was that I was waiting to walk about a half of a block to see Hannah's friends "Amblett Died Trying" play an acoustic set at a local coffee shop.

Here are Ron and Keith playing an acoustic version of their song, "Let's Play Pretend".

This photo is of Ron, Hannah and Keith. Hannah joined the boys in a cover of A Day To Remember's song "If It Means A Lot To You". I love that my daughter loves music enough to perform in front of people. Something I would have never and would still never do!

In total the boys did three of their own songs and three covers. The second song they covered was The Spill Canvas's "Polygraph, Right Now", and Mayday Parade's "Three Cheers for Five Years".

I have always loved music. I don't have a favorite genre. I love aspects of all music. The first person I have to thank for that is my grandpa. He could play and sing any song/tune by ear. He played in the theatres in and around Salinas, California at the age of 12 for silent movies! He learned to play "Puff the Magic Dragon" just for me, even though he didn't like Peter, Paul and Mary. I recently came into some CD's that my uncle Curtis made from cassettes of my grandpa playing christmas music. It made me cry listening to him. I am not sure it was the music or his voice. He was always larger than life and my hero.

I also have my mom to thank. My mom would sit in the basement and watch MTV videos with us while we were doing our homework. She would buy us albums because she knew we liked a particular song or artist. It was awesome. Because of her, I love John Denver, Neil Diamond, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John and many more.

I also have Rick to thank as well. Rick introduced me to new John Denver music (his favorite is Farewell Andromeda), Garth Brooks, Kathy Mattea, George Strait, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Jethro Tull, Elton John (Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road), James Taylor, the Beetles, the Moody Blues and many more. Thanks Babe!

One thing I would like to do is thank my daughter for loving music as much as I do and for introducing me to new music! Hannah has gifted me with Green Day, Amblett Died Trying, A Day to Remember, All Time Low, Blink-182, Mayday Parade, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Linkin Park and many more.

Thanks Hannah B! Awesome night!

Have a great day!
Donnelly

SNOW!!! and other ramblings!

We woke up to snow this morning! I would like to know what happened to fall. We had about 4 days of fall and then this. Don't get me wrong, I love snow! But I need all four seasons to be happy. It has been snowing on and off for the last 5 hours and the sky looks like it could snow for many more!

Friday was the Powder Puff game for homecoming. Senior girls play Junior girls in flag football. Hannah was a running back. Here she is modelling her outfit for me.

Here she is running the ball. I think she got 20 yards this time.

For the first time in 20 years, the Senior girls lost. The final score was 6 -0. Here they are hamming it up for the parents with cameras.

Here is Hannah with her friend, Joe. Joe was head coach of the Seniors.

Here is Hannah with her friend, Derrik. He was one of the cheerleaders. They were quite entertaining. Hannah spent quite a bit of time when she wasn't in the game, coaching the guys in cheers.

Here is Hannah and her friends, Kenzie and Mallory. These 3 have gone to school together since kindergarten!

During my mandatory workshops for school this past Thursday and Friday, I started tatting and edging from my all-time favorite book. The workshop was so boring, and I can't sit that long without doing something, and tatting is very portable.

Here is the edging I am working on. I wish I would have started it in a different color though. I am almost out of the antique thread I am using and haven't seen this color at the thrift stores since I got this one.

The thread is a Coates and Clark, in a variegated turquoise. I will have to think of something to put it on.

I hope everyone has a great week ahead. Have a great day today!

Donnelly

a giveaway from my favorite fabric designer!

Ms. Lila Tueller is having a giveaway on her blog! How cool is that? It is for a jelly roll and a layer cake of her new line called "Eden".

I love her designs. I am very partial to "Woodland Bloom" and "Soiree". The new wonky log cabin quilt I am am making for my bed is mostly "Woodland Bloom" with a little "Soiree" thrown in for good measure. I am in the process of finishing up the basting, so I can get quilting on it. Good thing, too is that our weather is going to drop considerably over the next two days. High of only 49 degrees tomorrow. Too bad I have to work tomorrow, or I would spend the whole day hand quilting my quilt!

I am not sure what I would make if I won. There are some awesome tutorials on Moda Bake shop, so maybe I would pick something from them to make with the prize. Or maybe, I would make another wonky log cabin quilt that was a bit more wonky than the one I am getting ready to quilt.

Thanks Lila for having a give away! I hope I get chosen.
Have a great day!
Donnelly

September Potluck Hexies!

I finished my hexagons for the September Potluck giveaway for http://hexagonquilt-along2.blogspot.com/ on Saturday. I am so excited to have met my goal; I wasn't sure I would make it!

When I visited the quilt store, these fabrics spoke to me. They are from the same line, and for the life of me I can't remember the fabric line, sorry.

I am a freezer paper girl. I am a baste through the fabric and the paper girl. This was a challenge for me. I was going to say that it took longer to do this method. But, I have changed my mind. With the freezer paper method, you have to include the ironing time, so it really doesn't take any more time once you are in the swing of things. The baste through the back is definitely not what I am used to, but I love how these turned out. I might be a convert!

While I would like to be the winner, I am okay with not winning! I will DEFINITELY be participating in the next Potluck, for sure!

And what would the "Great Hexagon Quilt-Alongs" be without Robyn? Thanks Robyn, for all you do. You are amazing!

Have a great day!

Donnelly

A Great Evening!

Last night was the Hall of Fame Ceremony for our local theatre group--the Magic Valley Dilettantes.

We weren't sure (or maybe I should say, I wasn't sure) we wanted to go. It was a long week at school for both Rick and I. Sometimes I feel like I give everything emotionally to my kids at school. I work with children with emotional and/or behavior disorders. It is exhausting. This week was no exception. Most of the time I have nothing left for my family, let alone a fancy dinner. But I bit the bullet and decided what the heck.

Well, I must say that I had the most fun I have had in a long time. I got to see alot of people that I have known in the past. I got to see former neighbors that I respect. I got to see former colleagues that I enjoyed working with. I got to see family and friends that make my life joyful! I got to see many of the people we worked with during the last 2 shows Rick has done and the 1 show Hannah has done.

Not only that, we got to see a few people that first inspired Rick to act. Rick's first musical with the Dilettantes was "Kismet" in 1981. Rick has been in 8 musicals in all. There have been a few gaps in between each, but it is his love! And Hannah has been bit by the acting bug, too. And, can I just add, that girl can sing, just about anything she sets her mind to! I wish I could sing like her.

Since Rick and I have been married (in 1990) he has acted in 4 musicals. He has played 'Big Julie' in "Guys and Dolls" with the North Side Playhouse (that is no longer in existence), 'Old Joe' in "Damn Yankees" with the Dilettantes, 'The Captain' in "Titanic", and he played one of Alfred P. Doolittle's buddies in "My Fair Lady" last winter. He is currently practicing the part of 'General Glossop in in "Jekyll and Hyde" for Magic Valley Little Theatre.

So, to get back on to last night's celebration. We had a lovely dinner, buffet style at our local "Turf Club". It is a venue that is done in an Art Deco style. A lot of the old-timers from last night can remember going dancing there in the 40's and 50's. The induction ceremony was wonderful. Each inductee had a tribute paid to them with their favorite piece sung to them. We were there for Lori Henson, the current director. She is an amazing woman. It was great to see her honored.

This photo is of Hannah and Keith. I think they look amazing!

The last photo is of Rick and I.

The night was delightful!!! Thanks honey, for wanting to go! Love you!

Have a great day!
Donnelly

More thrifting goodness and a birthday!

I want to start with the Birthday today! My grand-daughter Sophia Christina turned 8 years old yesterday!

I can remember the day she was born. Our oldest daughter, Christy, asked me to be in the birthing room with them. What an honor that was! Sophie's hair has always been this red, from the minute she was born! And naturally curly too!

Christy had a BBQ at their house on Sunday afternoon for the grand occasion. It was an awesome way to spend a Sunday afternoon. There were a whole lot of giggly little girls, Christy's inlaws (who are awesome, my kids call them Grandpa Joe and Grandma Joan at their request), lots of family and friends. My grandson, Isaak was there, too. He is not always at family functions as he has to split time with Chris and her ex.

I will upload more photos when Chris share's hers with me. I was manning two cameras, mine and hers.

Love you, Sophie!!!

On Saturday, Rick and I went thrifting. It's kinda our thing. When Rick and I were first married, we had 4 children and not too soon after that, we added another one. There were many years that thrifting/yard sale-ing was the only way we could afford to dress our kids. At the time Hannah was born, I had a 17 year old, an 11 year old, a 9 year old and a 5 year old. And all but our oldest, Christy, were growing like weeds. We were on a very limited budget, but we made it work.

Now we thrift, because we can. So this last Saturday, we found two awesome items. The first find is one for our bedroom. Rick and I both love old fans. We found a Westinghouse fan from the 1950's for our bedroom. It works like a dream! Much more quite than the ones we have today. Guess what it cost?

$4.00!!!!! Can you believe it? It was a little dusty and grimy, but with a little elbow grease, it cleaned up wonderfully.

Our next find, is a 70-210mm lens for my Canon Rebel.

I used to have a Pentax film camera, but it quit working about 4 months ago. The Pentax had a 70-300mm lens that I love. But, it isn't compatible with my Canon. I have been in a funk about it for awhile. I needed a zoom lens.

Hold on to your seats, this one cost $15.00! The Canon cost $10.00 about 8 months ago. Rick picked it up because he didn't think he could pass up a Rebel for that cheap. I am glad that he did! Now I am back in film camera heaven.

I hope everyone is having a good start to their week. I am! Despite the fact that I haven't done a whole lot of crafty things lately.

No crafting has me out of wack, to say the least. I hate that! It's not that I don't have things to do, my mojo just isn't functioning right now. Hopefully, I will get that back soon. When I don't craft, I get cranky. I have been downloading, bookmarking and saving crafty inspiration from my favorite places. Maybe that will jump start my mojo soon.



Have a great day!


Donnelly