FUN, FUN, FUN

There are 12 campers here at Bridge Creek Cottage. We have been stitching all day long! There was time out for 2 gourmet meals and massages for all.

We have made a table topper/Christmas Tree Skirt. 3 small bags with zippers, a draw string bag with a side zipper, a little gift bag, and a can cozy. The Draw String bag with the side zipper is shown as a tutorial on atkinsondesign.com.http://atkinsondesign.com. Just check on Terry's blog for Sock Sack. It was designed to take along your sock knitting project. But it would be darling for lots of other uses.

I am trying to get the help with pictures that I need, and on Thursday we are going to be talking about blogs, facebook and web pages. I am going to persist!!

Keep cool and hydrate!

PIE CRUST PILE UP

SUMMER CAMP FOR QUILT SHOP OWNERS

I am so excited. I leave on Monday for Quilt Camp. Last year was so much fun, sewing, sharing, shopping, and wonderful food. Just the way camp should be. I believe many of the same campers will be coming again this year. We will have the same leader-Terri Atkinson, of Atkinson Designs fame. And, her trusted assistant Roseanne, from Rosebud's Cottage.

"Camp" is located in Augusta, Wisconsin. The home of Bush's Baked Beans. The Minnesota State Shop Hop starts the day after camp lets out. I am hoping to visit several shops on my travels to Lake Superior.

With a new lap top, and my digital camera, I have a goal to figure out the picture part of the blog thing. So, I plan to post from camp! Check in to see the terrific things we are working on!

Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop

We survived! The Shop Hop comes each year, and goes in a blur. The days run together, I forget who I have told what, we see old friends, eat M&M's and do a lot of laughing. And, then there is the counting. We count passports-we gave out around 500. We count block kits-we gave out 2,495. We count completed passports-155 were turned in. Pretty amazing in 5 "short"days.

On Tuesday, the day before the Shop Hop started, I heard a scraping noise outside the shop. I went outside and found Ray, the Country Village Maintenance Man, preparing the eves for painting. Yes, they needed it, but really not the day before the shop hop. He said he would hurry, and it would look nice for the event. A while later I went outside, and he was painting the fence. He made a huge mess with the paint chips, so he said he would pressure wash the bricks. Really? So, when I arrived at the shop at 6:45 Wednesday morning, his helper was coming down the parking lot with the pressure washer. "Oh, yeah, I will have it done in no time" Really? Joyce, Noel and I were busy getting the last minute inside stuff done, really wanting to start moving the sale stuff out, set up the stamping station, try out our new canopy. We looked out the front window and it was covered with "muck". Really? He finished at about 5 after 8, we had to be open at 9. It took 6 of us to figure out the canopy, but it sure worked great!

It was smooth sailing after the initial rocky start. We had a great time, and celebrated with our annual Keepsake Kuties Wrap-up dinner. Thanks girls, I could not imagine doing this without you! J

SUMMER TIME

I can't believe where the time goes. Summer came to the NW early this year, and I have been enjoying the long warm evenings. Sitting on the patio is my favorite evening activity, until the mosquito's start to bite.

I've done a little sewing, enough to feel like I am still in the "game". But, always have way more ideas than time.

Shop Hop is just around the corner. It starts next Wednesday and runs thru Sunday. If you don't have a passport yet, stop in and pick one up. Today there is a PT Cruiser show here in the Village, and tomorrow is the annual Father's Day Car Show. I am not a huge car girl, but I have to admire the love these people (not all men) have put into these beautiful classics. You can see yourself in the high gloss finish they have labored over. It is always a fun day here in Country Village as these machine rumble in!

Happy Father's Day to two of my favorite men. My daddy and my super supportive husband. I love you both soooo much!!! J

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day tomorrow. One of the things I have always loved about family life is Traditions. (This is where I expect my boys to break out in song--from Fiddler on the Roof.) For many years all I have wanted for Mother's Day was to be able to take as many pictures of boys as I wanted. No Complaints! No Bunny Ears! No Tongues Sticking Out! This year I asked Christopher, who lives in Idaho, to mail me a yellow camera with pictures of him, and I will have it developed. I have already "reminded" Cameron and Quinton of the fun we will have on Mother's Day evening.

I hope you have traditions of your own, if not, why not start this year! Julie

Happy Birthday, Granny!

Granny's 90th birthday party was a wonderful sunny event. Held in a park just above the Pacific Ocean in Coos Bay, Oregon. There were about 70 people there, including her 3 sisters and her brother. Ruthie, Judy and Janet, her daughters, planned, cooked, decorated and hosted us all. She had Grandchildren, Greatgrandchildren and Great-great grandchildren in attendance. What a joyous day! She is sharp as a tack with a great since of humor, enjoys a little adult beverage from time to time, is still looking for a man to drive her to the store once in a while, and loves to be the center of attention.

How am I related? She is my father's, mother-in-law. Daddy and Ruthie were married 5 years ago, so, I am actually one of her newest grandchildren! Fun for all of us! Julie