Remember when my blog wasn't about quilting

But that first quilt I made as a baby present really paid off, as it earned me bonus points with this little guy. It's his favorite blanket. He is just about the most adorable baby!

When his mom said it was time to leave...

Remember my first commisioned quilt

I'm always flattered when people say how much they love my quilts. Some have wanted to pay me for one, others have threatened to have more kids to get one. I think you'd just have to have more kids, cause I'm so slow you couldn't afford to pay me for my time. Really, it's not even a consideration, but earlier this year I struck a deal for which I think I got the better end. Not to embarrass Ashley, but maybe to embarrass him, he discovered how nice minky fabric is while I've been quilting oodles of baby blankets. Then he wanted a minky blanket. But it had to look boyish, er, mannish? I'm not sure mannish and minky go in the same sentence. So the deal being, he bought all the materials and exchanged my time for some manual labor needed around my house. Done and done. And I got it done just before he moved to Florida where he won't even need a warm and cuddly blanket.His definition of "Let me get a picture of you and the blanket"

Remember when I went to Yellowstone

My love affair with my National Parks pass continues, this time to Yellowstone. I had never really been there before. I say never REALLY, because I drove through when I was about 6, then went to Old Faithful for a day on a college biology field trip, but never really explored it. So we packed the Jeep with enough food for 5-6 days and the parks pass and headed off. It was the best! We camped at a different campground every night and got to see lots of the park. On our way out we went the long way and spent a day in the Tetons. Although the weather was so bad, we couldn't actually see them. I wish I could post more pictures, but I have yet to be able to get my pictures off my new camera. So here are the classic pictures from Yellowstone.

Remember the first time I bought beer

To kill slugs people. My yard has been infested with them, they're eating my plants, and have nearly killed a few. I debated whether I wanted to be seen buying beer, so I had decided I'd try traditional slug killer. But when they didn't have any at Maceys, they left me no choice but to browse the beverage isle. Plus, this is organic, right? I went with Miller high life because it was the cheapest that wasn't light beer. I figured nothing light was going to tempt them into my snare.
The cashier looked at me very judgingly as I paid for my large can of beer. I tried to hurry and tell him it was to kill snails. I'm not sure he believed me. I was a little skeptical about it working, as I think beer smells gross and I can't imagine the slugs being all that drawn to it. But slugs are gross too, and it is proving to be very effective! I put 4 bowls out, and after a few hours they already had about 30. After 1 day, I can't even count them all! I'm just not sure what to do with the slug contaminated beer now. How does one dispose of this?

Remember when I cheated my way to the summit

In the little goody bag from one the the 5ks we ran earlier in the summer Ashley and I got free passes to use the Snowbird chair lift/tram. I had never been to Snowbird in the summer and I realized quickly I really enjoyed being there without having to worry about 15 lbs of gear, and trying to navigate the stairs in boots. Especially ski boots, I'm HORRIBLE at walking in those. Probably the #1 reason I prefer snowboarding. Plus, I got to venture to places I'm not good enough to visit in the winter. I was most excited to hike to the summit of Mt. Baldy. There might not have been as much satisfaction since we rode the lift nearly to the summit, but it was nice to reach 11,068 feet in a 20 minute hike. And then ride the chairlift down, which I have never done before. It's such a disgraceful thing to do in the winter, but not in the summer!

Just below this is where you start hiking...I know, it's cheating

The pictures don't do justice to the wildflowers everywhere

Remember when I made those cute chairs

I'm going on a trip in a few weeks, so then maybe my blog will get back to more exciting things, as opposed to all this craftiness, but I just reupholstered some chairs with the help of this tutorial (you can also check out the nastiness of their before state). I highly doubt I would have tackled a project like this without step by step instructions. I made one for my room and one for my dining room. And I LOVE them. They're not quite finished, but close enough to put pictures up because my mom has been begging to see them.

Remember when I got all mushy

My mom asked me the other day how I can give away all my quilts. I told her it's not very hard when I know they're loved and appreciated. Plus, what good does it do me to keep a bunch of quilts? I told her it's like love. It does no good to keep love and not share it. You get the most from love by giving it away. Awwww. Yeah, isn't that mushy? But true, and I do love this family, and am so excited to meet little Abby!