We're Baaaack

We returned from our trips to Alaska and Idaho on Monday night 7/5.  What a great time we had!  Here are a couple of shots from Alaska.

I will have to post more pictures later once I've figured out how to save them.  Have to receive a few from friends also, since my camera was acting up on this trip!

Events

It's hotter than blazes here in Missouri!  Guess summer has arrived after all.  Hope everyone is enjoying their Father's Day weekend.  I know some of you are just spending a lot of time unpacking, but that can be fun also.  Can't wait to visit your new places of residence!
Heading to Alaska for a 30 year high school class reunion.  Now, doesn't that just beat all.  So excited to see my brother, Duane, who is just 2 years older than I.  He was pretty much my best pal for many years growing up, so it will be fun to see him again and meet his wife, Kim.  They love living in Alaska, but sure wish they were closer. 
Will take a side trip to Idaho to see family and friends...and spoil our grand baby, Alli! 
Wish we could have added another week to visit family in Oregon, but we have to get back to some important business matters here.  Maybe next time.
Hopefully while I'm vacationing I can pick up some quilting supplies and return with some new inspiration as well. 
Our family dog died last week.  She had a tumor and was getting very old.  Abby was a good dog for many years.

Completed Crazy Quilt

Finally finished this crazy quilt.  I should have planned out the placement of some of the squares a little better.  Oh, well.  I don't have anywhere for this one to go, so it may end up on the 'completed quilts' pile.  Terry said he likes it, but not sure if he's telling the truth or not.  Onto other projects.

Memorial Day Weekend and Work

We have some creative employees.  Since we spend so much time working, I guess it's good to see that's not ALL we think about.  Have a happy and safe Memorial Day!

Kitchen Updates

It took some planning and some genuine physical labor (on Terry's part), but we got our new "chrome" put in the kitchen.  I had originally planned to add more cabinets to our alley kitchen, all along one wall.  However, the cost was going to be rather high (duh), so we started to brainstorm about what we could do to free up more cabinet space and add more counterspace to our odd-shaped kitchen.  Since we have owned restaurants, we are rather partial to stainless steel.  I like a touch of it here and there, but not for my appliances because it actually shows every fingerprint.  But for countertops and small appliances, and my sink, I love it.  So, this is what we ended up with.  I got all my awesome pots and pans out of the cabinets and a few small appliances will get used more because they will be easier to access.  We call this a baking center, but I don't really do much baking anymore.  We just think it's cool and frequently find ourselves just standing there gazing at it like idiots.  The drawers are the coolest because they are huge and move smoothly and they have deep trays that can come out separately and can be cleaned in the dishwasher or by hand.

Current Events

I've decided to do something different with all the scraps.  Remember the blue, green, and red ones?  I'm going to do something more like this.  Yes, a crazy quilt. 

I've never made one before and I was reading about this woman (long passed away) who spent 40 years (!!!!!!!) putting together an absolutely amazing, intricate crazy quilt for her son.  I don't plan on spending that much time on anything, except maybe my marriage, so I'm using all the different stitches on my machine to put this one together.
I am also working on pantaloons for Audrey.  Need to pick up some eyelet lace to complete the look.

Claire's Candy Quilt

Crystal chose the pattern among a few different ones I presented to her.  It's supposed to be wrapped candy.  You know, like hard candy or salt water taffy.  Used the same fabrics that were used in Audrey and Jane's quilts. I did four types of machine quilting on this one...stippling, loops, swirls in the center of the candy, and ribbon candy quilting in the red border.  I could almost taste it!  Yum! Crystal, I'm sorry if this has more quilting then you wanted but I just couldn't help it.