Ship bones trip

A winter storm washed these ship bones up on a beach on Cape Cod. JUST so happens that Little Boy and I were close enough to go take a detour for a look-see for ourselves. Isn't the beach beautiful? These are believed to be the remains of a late 1800's schooner turned coal barge and probably sank sometime in the 1920's. It was fun to see the wooden pegs - which do have a technically correct name - just can't think of it off the top of my head. Now if a winter storm would just very kindly wash up a pirate treasure chest while I am in the area - that would be even more exciting, but I will settle for these ship bones for now.

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Yes, Little Boy and I got off for our winter visiting trip, but it was cut way short. 14 hours of travel to get there (that involves a hotel each way) and we ended up spending only 3 days. Still, it was great to see my Dad and 2 of my sister's and Little Boy had fun playing with one of his cousins. I had a bit of 'biz to take care of as well. But, alas, the weather forecast started predicting bad weather so I quickly packed up and we hopped into our truck and zoomed off in the night hoping to beat the storm, which we did. Anyway, I was just as happy to come home. I've turned into a real home-body somehow this last year! No sooner do we arrive safely at home and within about 10 minutes big icy pellets started to fall from the sky.

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We stopped at a Motel 6 this trip and it was only $40 - free coffee in the lobby in the morning too. Wow! I had hoped for a nice hot shower after Little Boy was sleeping, but no hairdryer in the room. Now, I had one in the truck but I won't leave him by himself so... no shower. No clocks in the room either. But - hey, for $40 - we will definately be staying there again and I will just bring in my own hairdryer and travel clock. The very best thing - my favorite type of hotel where you have to enter through a lobby instead of outside doors. Neat and clean too.

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My travel tips? I often travel long distances with just my little son. I always keep at least $100 in my shoe. If I lose my purse we still have gas money not to be stranded. Now, if I am further from home, then I just put money in both shoes! Just remember it is there when you take your shoes off at night - wouldn't want to accidentally kick it out!!! I also usually wear a t-shirt with a zipper fleece jacket - these jackets have zippered pockets. I zip a bit of money in one of those pockets too. BUT- I also zip in my spare key. If I ever lock my keys in the truck - I have the spare in my jacket pocket. In the summer when it is hot I clip the spare key onto my pants belt loop, but in the winter - the fleece jacket doesn't come off. Once my son locked himself in the truck before he was old enough to figure out how to UNlock the door - so the spare key came in very handy that day! Oh - and I avoid sugary foods, trying to snack on healthy food that will give me energy and no sugar high/crash. Very important when you are driving!!! Of course, we don't go anywhere without our big insulated cooler bag packed with good eats.

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Shopping wise - we stopped at Kohl's on the way there. I got Little Boy pants for cheaper than I could make them, plus I picked up a dress for myself for $5 for our June party. I know, I know - a long ways off, but it was a summer dress and marked way down AND I already have sandles that will match. Ha! It is all about the shoes, you know? And I hate buying shoes. And Little Boy got a set of airplanes to keep him entertained during the trip, which they did and he is still loving them.

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I made it to my favorite yarn shop and got some yarn to knit a little bargello style jacket. I love this shop because the lady even knitted up a swatch for me to check the guage - can't beat that! And, Little Boy picked out 2 skeins of yarn for socks, ummm for me to knit for him - his faith in my is never-ending! My yarn order from Knitpicks was in the mail too - for a scarf. So knitting wise - I am all set for awhile!

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On the way back we stopped at Wal-Mart and I got my much needed thread - not my favorite, but Coats & Clark will do in a pinch. Plus - the fusable interfacing I need for the bistro apron. And a new leave-in hair conditioner. Little Boy got a new movie, new (bigger) sippy cups, a bath toy and a new booster seat for the car.

That's it. We were in a rush to beat the storm - I drove right on by Marden's (whaaaa!!!). And we never went to Joanne's. My fabric shopping list will keep for the next trip though - best to be safely home than shopping. NOT that I am without new fabrics - Susan (of Dessert Sky fame) had posted me a box of fabrics which I picked up this trip and did not open until I got home. How fun!!!

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So, today I am home and being very lazy. Photos to come later, I promise - after I rest a bit.

He likes it!

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He likes it! This little top measures 56 X 77. Last winter Mary had posted a similar idea on her blog (Making Scrap Quilts from Stash) and I thought it was just too cute. Kids really love the fun novelty prints - so why cut them up? I had almost the entire thing done in about 2 short nights of sewing (last winter), except I had one more panel set and then I was thinking - add the 6" border and the top is w-a-y too long for my son. So, it took a year or so for me to sit down with my seam ripper, remove the extra panel, do a few little cuts across the borders already in place and then sew the final bottom border on. It took me all of... well, about 1 year and maybe an hour? These things take time, you know? The extra panel will be used either as a curtain valance or for 2 pillows.
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Nothing like a little trip (that means s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g) to motivate me to get this top finished up so I can measure - need to buy some extra soft flannel for the backing. Sooo, what's on my list? Thread. I am down to my last spool of gray thread which is just about an emergency around here. No such thing as just running out to the store for a spool of thread! Backing for this quilt, the little bargello quilt and my Grandmother's Choice quilt (almost, almost done so I just measured it and added the remaining 2 border measurements). I really like flannel backed quilts, so flannel for all 3 of those quilts. 2-3 fat quarters of dark country colors for my Dresden fans. Yardage for alternate squares for a scrappy 16 patch. Yardage for background fabric for string stars. I have 1 quilt all cut out, but am missing 1 piece of focus fabric - so I need to get that so I can get to sewing it! That is is on the quilting front!!! I need 2 zippers for garmets I am making, cordoroy and fleece for pants for Little Boy and lightweight interfacing for a reversible Bistro apron. I absolutely can not think of another thing I need or want. Of course, Little Boy is sure to find a novelty that he will want to add to his collection!





I don't know if you can see this or not - but the novelty print is nautical lighthouses, etc. The navy has white stars and the lighter blue has a really cool wave like pattern! Can you tell by the photos - Little Boy likes it!

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Here is a photo of just the top - with the novelty print facing the correct way - ripples and all after Little Boy was rolling around on it!

Looking for perfect rocks

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No, not diamonds - perfect beach rocks! Beautifully rounded, polished smooth. How is it that I find myself on the beach on a cold winter day looking for rocks? It all started when I decided to use a very lovely wedding gift that was intended for bread (and never used for such) as a rock display on my dresser. "But why Momma, why, why, why are you putting rocks there?", asks my son. So I explain to him - they are pretty, they look nice and most important of all, they remind me of all the happy times I've had at the beach with him looking for them. "They are happy memories?" Yes, happy memories.
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Well, don't you know, the very next day it actually warms up to about... 7C (45F) which is really feeling tropical considering we've had -11C (12F) during the days lately, dropping all the way down into the -20's at night. And yes, our pipes froze - including the septic line, but everything is all fixed now, phew. Anyway, back to my story - the tropical part - the 7C day. Nice day means outdoor play time. I ask Little Boy what he wants to do. He wants to go to the beach and look for more rocks.
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Here is a photo of our favorite rock picking beach, not to be confused with another beach that is more sandy where we look for sea glass and not to be confused with another beach where we like to find periwinkles. Each beach is a favorite for its very own special reason. At this beach we arrive way over where the trees are and walk the entire length to where I took this photo.
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So, we put on our warm winter clothes, pack the thermos of hot chocolate, unearth the beach pail from the summer gear (to carry the rocks once we find them), find a suitable bag for Elmo to come along in - Little Boy is ever faithful to Elmo and don't you know, Elmo would not be happy at home all by himself missing out on the fun. And, no - we can't just put Elmo in the pail because some rocks are bound to be wet and we don't want to have to w-a-s-h Elmo's blanket. Oh, and EXTRA mittens in Momma's pockets (along with tissues) because we all just know that at least 1 pair is going to get wet, right? Alrighty then, we are off! Don't you love the walking stick?
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We walk to the beach through the woods, all the way along the beach carefully selecting our rocks as we go -we have to be picky because Momma will only carry 1/2 a pail - these little rocks get HEAVY as you walk along. Little Boy wanted me to be sure to tell you all that he also found a little piece of sea glass this time around! We go down to the boat ramp where we sit and drink our hot chocolate and then home along the road. Walking across the rocks is sometimes tricky so we tend to do the "loop" instead of going back the way we came. Here are some photos of Little boy picking his way along the easier rocks headed down to the water - at the section of larger rocks I hold his hand as they tend to roll a bit when you step on them.



















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If you are looking for us - we are out collecting more happy memories!