More Planning

Experimenting with the solid block of color to set these 25-patch blocks on point. I am thinking I will put a 1" dark frame around each of the patches - perhaps deep and warm brown or barn red.

I will see what comes after all blocks are assembled and I am in the fabric store.

Twenty Set

All twenty squares of randomly placed 25 colors were set last night but it was too dark to take the picture and the flash washed out the first few rows.

I couldn't wait to see the shrinkage --- layout does not include the 1/4" seam allowance. Looks like I lose an inch. I will replace that inch with a frame, at least I think I will now.

Next step is assembly of all 20, then judge size with filler square and then decide to stretch or shrink with a frame to fit a queen sized bed.

The Big Snow Hole

We lost a big three inch branch on the red maple when it became loaded down with too much snow. The tree would have been magnificent this year with all the snow moisture, but when you drive up the street, the hole is very conspicuous.

I keep hoping the interior branches which usually don't see the light of day will awake from a deep sleep and create new branch-lets to fill in the hole.

I will take progress pictures through out the summer to see if that is so.

Ah Hah, the Perfect Setting for the Strips

I am going to do 20 25-patch (5x5) blocks set on point and alternating with plain squares in either barn red or warm brown. Each of these multi-color blocks will be outlined with a one inch black or dark brown or dark red frame.

Each will be different. I cut 300 individual 2.5" squares last night and started to put them into final blocks. I will need to cut 200 more to have enough for a queen-sized quilt.

Hours of fun, fun, fun.

Fear The Turtle

Who could not love this turtle? The mascot at the University, of course, is the terrapins. This friendly fellow graces the entrance side walk at the new alumni center of the University of Maryland, where we held our May Tea.

I know. It is April, but try to get on these collegians schedules and we wanted to honor the seniors. We grabbed the date and planned it for the garden, where we got a group picture, but we had the sandwiches and cookies inside.

It was supposed to pour down rain yesterday, but it was just gray in the afternoon. The thunderstorms and heavy rain held off until the middle of the night, like Camelot.

I Won !

The show is over. We could pick up our entries at 5:30pm. Over I went and stood in line. People waiting exchanged which quilts they had made, and several said, "Oh, I voted for yours."

When I picked up Jane Howard, one quilt, the member said, "you won!" But it was just the quilt bag. I didn't see anything and thought perhaps the blue ribbons were awarded at the next meeting.

Then I began to doubt on the way home, what if I didn't win. Then Neil made me unfold the quilt to admire it again, and the ribbon fell out! Hooray. These are glorious, home made ribbons worth winning!

Finally, the Quilt Show!

My quilt is hanging at the quilt show put on by our guild, the Friendship Star. Finally. Seems like it takes forever to make a quilt and then to wait for the show to come around.

Next year, the fairground reserved dates line up with Easter, so we are skipping the show next year!

Mimi thought that would give her time to make an entry for 2012, and I thought, maybe I won't enter any more, but just use them as soon as they are completed.

Feed Me

Here is another of the sculptures.

This is most colorful - and there are hungry, smaller open mouths off the sleeves of some of the larger mouths.

Are they all talking? The bottom kind of looks like a woman. Maybe they are singing in the sunshine.

That is the old Greyhound Bus Station, now converted to a fancy office building, in the lower left (tan curved entrance).

Bodacious Women

The most amazing surprise on an ordinary street. I was headed to a meeting a twenty minute walk away from the office and because a light was red, and I like to keep walking, I turned right instead of waiting for the light to change.

One block later my eyeballs were popping. The Women's Museum has a new exhibit called bold public art all by women sculpturers. I found four of them along New York Avenue heading in the direction of my meeting.

Very awakening to see and delightful. People were smiling so I think the exhibit is a success already!

The Neon Turtle

Tilly the Turtle. She is neon green and feels rough and texture-y to hold. Very solid. Not like the naked iPhone which is slippery as a newly waxed floor.

Here she is from the front. And I am still getting used to the noises she makes with an incoming email. Sudoku? Yes. Anything to improve my keystrokes.

I am finding that these quilting fingertips make for a less responsive iPhone. Still experimenting with which finger has the most tactile message ability. Well, enough of the blog, I have to go practice with Sudoku. We only have a week to test this equipment to see if we want it as a replacement for the very familiar Blackberry.

Third Tuesday

Quilting tonight is at Mimi's.

Homework was these baby squares. Alternating bright colors with white outside (2) and color outside (2).

Cute but not for me. The smaller the squares the more margin for error. The winner will have to rework to assemble and making them was enough for me.

Late Daffodils

I have early, middle and late blooming daffodils. These are the late bloomers and are floribunda/multifloral heads. Very splashy ending show to a season of color when spring arrives. This year, we flashed through the six week season in three weeks.

I partially took this picture to show my daughter that I took seven lawn bags of trash trees out of the vinca flower bed under the pines this weekend, but mostly because these are one of my favorite daffodils.

Now there is a clear view to the Smith's house uninterrupted by bird dropping volunteers!

Like Matchbox Cars

I don't think you can have too many grape hyacinths. They are all over my yard. You can tell it is the end of the day, first by the fact that the lawn is mowed, but also by the shadow of the star magnolia on the red maple.

The lighter green is the hosta. I will have to stop by Lowe's and get the Deer Rid squirt bottle again so I can have flowers this year. I guess the blossoms are a deer favorite, someone called them "deer candy". But then the deer eat many things.

But not daffodils. My late daffodils are still fresh so will take a picture of them for tomorrow.

Cross Your Fingers

and wish me luck. Here is my quilt called "Spring" all packed up in the zippered storage bag, signed and ready to take to the Turn-In Site for the Friendship Star Quilt Show next weekend.

I prefer minimal labeling so if you look closely, you can see the script written directly on the quilt backing which says, "2010: Made by Jane Howard. Quilted by Artist Helen Oelschlaeger."

My share of the work is to be at the collection site and pin the entries to the display sheets which are hung from rods at the Fair Grounds. It will take a dozen women three hours to do this for the approximately 300 entries.

And I will get an early preview of the competition I have for a Blue Ribbon in my category.

Electronics, Anyone?

When we had the company in March, this picture just struck my funny bone. I took the snapshot when I came down to make the coffee one morning in the kitchen.

How elaborate and extended the rechargers were!

I will be issued an iPhone at work on April 21 for 8 days. Wish me well.

It is a test of new technology beyond my beta test site for working on the cloud.

I am sure I will upload pictures when the phone comes, so you can see how small it is and how big my fingers are!

Spring

There isn't much else prettier than a sunny day, pleasant temperature and the azaleas in full bloom. This picture was taken on Massachusetts Avenue while coming back from a business lunch.

We had such snow in February and now all the flowers are prolific in size and volume, but early because of our odd stretch of 85 degree weather.

We are back to slightly brisk spring days, but still have the showy results of later spring flowers. A good combo.

Red White House Tulips

The sun came out again today and the tulips were at full bloom. This grape hyacinth/red tulip combo is one of my favorites of the White House. Long rows of flowers crossing Lafayette Park, only separated by the statue.

Casey is home. All the tests for bad things were negative and they put it down as a "_hit happens" trauma. He will rest at home the rest of this week, but can go back to preschool Monday. Amazing recuperative powers.

Thank you, God.

Bleeding Hearts Blooming

I took this picture the other day when the sun was shining but the wind was blowing, so you can see the slight tilt to the left of the blossoms of this very favorite plant.

That was then. Today it is rainy and dreary in keeping with the news we learned last night that our dear friend's grandson is in the hospital.

Our prayers are with you Casey.

Little Quilts Tonight

Last month we had a demonstration on Crazy Quilts and also got to hand around and look closely at examples of completed projects.

I would probably never make one of these because after you assemble the square from scrap fabric and assemble by paper piecing technique, you have to add embroidery stitches, sequins, beads, buttons, etc to the top.

Luckily the homework assignment to work on this new pattern only required that we assemble the square, leaving the final embellishment to the winner of the drawing. I don't plan to put my name in the lot!

Magnificent Entrance Lion

There are two of these lions flanking the zoo sign.

They are big enough to have little kids crawl up and get their pictures taken in the paws of the lion. And I did take one of a little boy sitting there -- the parents were taking the same shot further over, but.....

it just wasn't Jack, so I decided to post this picture instead. This lion is about five feet tall and on a pedestal. You definitely feel like you are entering the zoo when you come by foot.

Entrance to the Zoo

When we went to the zoo, we arrived by car and entered from the parking lot. Most people come via Metro and walk in through the pedestrian entrance, which has this concrete zoo word. I had to wait to get the picture because people actually sit inside the o's and get their picture taken.

This center piece is flanked by two big lions.

Got the missing postcards of the pandas for the travel albums and boy was it crowded. Granted it was noon because I had been at a 10am board meeting on the other side of Rockcreek Parkway for a couple of hours.

Lines and lines of people. And it was a beautiful but brisk day.

Bechtel Q A Man

Andy and the Dream tones performed tonight.

These employees and one retired employee create lyrics for otherwise popular songs.

All topics are related to Bechtel and the Bechtel audience attending loves hearing what they have come up with each year.

Seven songs. They had two encores.

Neil was Bechtel Q A Man for one song.

The Kiddy Korner From My Metro Stop

The bus is coming at us on 9th, a one way street. And this is the main library in DC, the Martin Luther King Library, a main haunt of mine, with a key card library card for convenient use, and the ability to scan in and out all by myself, ..... until the Kindle.

I realized when I took this picture, I haven't been in the library since Christmas. I should go in for old time's sake.

The pollen count went from 400 three days ago to 4,000 this morning. All the trees are awash with pollen with the temperatures near 90. I must remember to take the camera to Braddock Heights tomorrow for the blog, but all this pollen makes me sleepy. : )

Torch Sculpture

Most days I commute in from Montgomery County on the Metro Red Line train from the farthest station, Shady Grove. Getting on the end like that usually means I get a seat. Getting on for the return trip at Gallery Place usually means I get a seat on the more crowded way home too.

I ride to Gallery Place and take the 9th Street exit, which is also the exit to the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery - the only museum in Washington DC with a picture of every single President.

As I come up the escalator to the street, my back is toward work, so I do a 180 on the sidewalk and this is what I see everyday. This sculpture which I have dubbed "the Torch" graces the plaza at the Pepco Utility Building.

It is a very positive way to start the day....that and the cup of Starbucks which is further along the sidewalk and nearly opposite the entrance to my work station.

Another Gorgeous Day

Even more tourists than before because this was the opening day for the Nationals. The transportation system was overloaded, but everyone had a good time because the weather was twenty degrees higher than normal for spring.

Truly summer days back here for the time being.

Quiet at work because this is the second week of the Congressional recess.

All together a good day.

Happy Easter Everyone!

I have a new favorite Easter picture. Such fun to color the eggs. It is my desktop background so these two sunny faces greet me each time I turn on my computer at home.

We have 77 and a few clouds with no chance of rain.

Still plenty of time to work on the weekend to-do list as it is early Sunday morning.

Happy Easter One and All!

First Lawn Mowing

and our new little street tree bloomed its first year. The pink on the right is the tulip tree, which is florabunda this year.

Had to pick up birch branches and pinecones before I could mow. I remember it being less work in previous years. Then the mowing.

Our back lawn has sunk out ten feet and settled like a small lake. Very boggy. I am thinking of adding tiles to the hemlock where the ground is lower. Not sure how to fix it.

And we cut up and moved all the winter damaged branches to the street for recycling, except the ones still attached to the trees and bushes. Maybe tomorrow. Gorgeous day!

The Blossoms Are Out, But .....

But so are the people. Good thing we had guests March 13-20 and could do the monuments a lot easier than waiting for the hoards of people there now.

Granted it is 80 degrees and sunny and the most prolific display of blossoms in years, thanks to the 32" of snow in February, but ....

Harder to get a around and everything from light cycles on the sidewalk to boarding the Metro takes a lot longer. And there are no .... repeat no... close-in parking spaces!

The Old Post Office

This is the tower you saw as we came down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House and again waiting for the White House tour as you look down Pennsylvania to the Capitol.

The Old Post Office. If you look in the middle arch, that is etched in capital letters around the top curve. I guess I will have to get a close up some day so you can see it.

Gorgeous day today. Tourists times one hundred. Metro packed and noisey with tourists talking and comparing notes.