Last Orange Saturday May 30th, 2026

 

I was finally able to sneak off to the sewing room to finish the last 2 orange 16patch star blocks. Even though there are 5 Saturdays this year in May, I’m just doing 4 in each month’s color. So we are 1/2 way, if I only do the 10 colors that Angela usually presents for Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Here are the four blocks for March (red), April (pink) and May (orange). 

I need to cut 20 + white 2.5” squares for the star centers. I have used up all my white scraps, less that 5”x 5’. So now on to bigger chunks. Fat quarters or less. Slowly, slowly I’m using up my stash. 🙂 The star points are 1.5” squares sewed stitch & flip method on 4 colored squares . They are scrappy , whites, no creams or beige. 

I’m still stitching crumb blocks as Leaders and Enders. No photos today though. 

Happy weekend to all. Today is our youngest granddaughter’s birthday. She’s 33, living in Vermont. She and her friends have formed a Granny Hobbies group. They gather and knit, crochet, embroider and one even quilts. I think that is so special! HB, Miss Sunshine!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful 

I LIKE Thursday #282

I don’t remember if I shared this:  Mr Busy ad I drove to a nearby town for lunch several weeks ago . This sign was posted behind the bar. 

May 28 2026       LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color gives us a conversation starter every Thursday. 

did you ever dye your hair, or perm and it turned into a disaster?

I have colored and permed my hair often. No more coloring and the jury is still out on the perming. I don’t remember a specific disaster, but I’ve had a few home perms. Back in the late 50’s. I’m sure some of them were awful. This photo is proof. My sister, on the right and I had perms before this Christmas photo was taken by our Dad for the family Christmas card. Maybe 1958!  Pretty ugly!

The weather has finally warmed up in the morning, so Emily and I can be outside. It’s my favorite summer time activity, to be outside in the mornings with my coffee and a book or my tablet. 

Our book club has finished for the time being. We run on a school district schedule. Most of the founding members were teachers. Slowly, others have filtered in. Our summer reads are Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin

 and Circle of Days by Ken Follett. 

I ordered this one used from Amazon. It came from a 3rd party seller, The Salvation Army in California. It is in perfect condition. I’m glad I agreed to purchase it. 

I have started it. So far I like it. I think I will have to schedule time every day to read. It’s a big one, 688 pages.

I’m still struggling to get time in the sewing room or even doing slow stitching in the evenings. Puppy supervision is a real chore. And I’m too tired in the evenings. Not really complaining, just fact. 

Mr Busy and Emily are napping. I wonder if I can sneak into the sewing room for a bit? 🤞😉

Gonna try!

I LIKE Thursday #281

 

Another gem from Nanea @ Sweatpants and Coffee.

Leanna gave us this conversation starter:

as a young child did you wear plastic sandals? bonus if you also had on ankle socks!     I don’t remember wearing plastic sandals, unless you count flip flops or as we called them thongs. 

My daughter did, my granddaughters did and my great granddaughters do!  Ankle socks, never! 

How about you? Are you old enough to remember “thong sandals “? or Are you young enough to have worn “jellies”?  

Join LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to find out how where you fit in!

Still struggling to get sewing time. Did finally get the 4th blue 16 patch star done. 

I try not to repeat a fabric in the 16 squares in a single block. So far I have been successful. 

This month had 5 Saturdays, so I’ll have to kick it in gear to get the orange ones done. 

This week it was cold around here. My tribe lives all over, but the ones who live in Vermont had the best weather on Tuesday. 

I took a photo of a shrub at our Rec Center that Mr. Busy liked the looks of. Now I need to identify it and maybe purchase 2 small ones.

At stitching today, this masterpiece was brought in for Show and Tell. It’s a wool creation from Sue Spargo. 

It’s amazing 

Look at the octopus!!  

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful. 

Finished or Not Friday

 

No quilts finished.  NOT even a flimsy finish. But there was a bit of embroidery and some sweet patchwork surrounding them.  So I’ll share at Alycia’s Finished or Not Friday

There will be more, and maybe a quilt!

On my walk this morning in saw 2 couples on a double date. Enjoying a swim, no kids!

Enjoy the weekend everyone. It’s graduation weekend in our small city. 3 HS , all on the same day!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

I LIKE Thursday #280

 

Another favorite from Sweatpants and Coffee!  You can stay, I’ve had my coffee!🥰☕️

Joining LeeAnna and friends, sharing likes and learning about each other. 

May 14 2026

mini skirts? Not really mini. But I did wear short above the knee skirts. Maybe a palm’s length!  My knees were slimmer way back then. 

fishnet hose?  Never! In the 50’s I was an adolescent. Then in the 70-80’s when they were in vogue again, I was  a young mother with small children. I always thought they were sort of “slutty”. 

halter tops? Yes. It was a way to be sort of cool (literally and fashionably), without being too “slutty”. I have small bosoms, no chance of fallout!🤣

Other likes this week.   I cut blue squares for the 4th Blue January block, and cut more orange 2 1/2” squares for May’s week 2. 

I’m doing some regular embroidery. Working on initials for Pincushions. 

Here are 4 I have finished. Some will be gifted tomorrow. 

One for Sherry, one for Cheryl, one for Marva and one for Eileen.  Next is Glenda, then Connie, then MaryJean. 

I hope to get going on this cross stitch. 

It will complement my Summer stitch from 2025. Both of these are from Primrose Cottage.

Not much else except we are still staying really busy supervising the puppy. Whew! I’d forgotten how tiring raising a toddler is! The silver lining is my kitchen and dining room floors are getting mopped much more frequently. Shiny!!   LOL

We watched Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix last Thursday night. Mr. Busy enjoyed it, I did too. But definitely will say the book was better. It will be one of my favorite books of all time . 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ Happy Mother’s Day in the US

 Fingers crossed for a quiet restful day. My sister used to host a Mother’s Day Brunch when our mother was still with us. We are all scattered and some of us are gone. So it’s not the same. Mr Busy and I talked about going out for breakfast today. But we don’t have many sit down breakfast places, and they will be busy. So he fixed eggs and pancakes at home. And we talked to both offspring!

I’m joining Kathy and others at Slow Sunday Stitching. What are you stitching today?

I’m stitching on another Initial Pinnie, this one is an M, next is a G, another C.   I choose patchwork colors first, to reflect the recipient, then floss to match the fabrics. Ms.MJM loves yellow!

And I am continuing on the Sweetly Sayin’ cross stitch from Primrose Cottage.  I’m really enjoying this one.

And I downloaded the new one for May. If you sign up for the newsletter, you can download a free chart every first Thursday.  They also have some great patriotic charts, great to celebrate our 250th birthday!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge April 9th

 

Joining Angela and others at Raunbow Scrap Challenge. 

These week I sewed one orange 16-patch.

And cut and sorted 2 1/2’ squares of more orange and some light blue to finally catch up on January. 

Two small crumb blocks are being constructed as leaders and Enders while stitching the 16-patch squares. Nine year old great granddaughter was very interested in sewing on my machine. We will explore that this summer. 

There was a bit more orange and orangish here this week. In my grocery order I included some Wild Wonder Medley tomatoes. They came in a large square clamshell. I washed them and dried them and they are sitting on the counter in my mom’s Jewel Tea mixing bowl. I love how they look! We are eating them like candy! So  so good. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful. 

I LIKE Thursday #279

 

I like seeing these gratitude reminders from Nanea @ Sweatpants and Coffee! And I like sharing them with you!

Sometimes Emily sleeps with her head hanging out of her bed. 

Sometimes she takes Mr. Busy for a walk. 

As I write this list Wednesday evening, she is sleeping in her bed. Mr. Busy will turn on the Alexa to play Willie Nelson when we go to bed. Slowly there is progress in the “potty training “ arena. I’ve ordered a bell to hang by the back door so she can make her needs known to us. Fingers crossed. 

I’m not accomplishing much in the sewing room or the kitchen. I’ll show my first orange block on Saturday over at Angela’s Scrap Happy Saturday. 

Some stitching was done in the evenings. 

I’ll stitch more today at Thursday Stitching. 

I friend shared  this metal wall art from Hobby Lobby. Just in case , I want to decorate with a theme. 

IYKYK!

Don’t forget Remarkably Bright Creatures airs on May 8th on Netflix. 

Joining LeeAnna and friends at Not Afraid of Color

a bonus question, what would you like for mothers day if price were no object  (dream big) I would like to take both our kids and us on a grown up’s holiday. Maybe to Hawaii or Ireland. 

again the prompts are

may 7 2026

did you ever where gogo boots?  NO! I wanted them, but I was a newly wed and had no discretionary money for silly things. Platform shoes? Yes. sandals. And I fell off them and fractured my ankle!  earth shoes?   It was the 70’s I had a pair of sandals I wore til they came apart. Mostly we were buying shoes for growing kids and work boots for Dad.   Not shoes for the Mom.

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

ScrapHappy Saturday. May 2nd but published later!

On May the 4th!

 

So I’m posting late to Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

A new color, ORANGE!  I brought out the orange basket, plus some precut 2 1/2” squares. I didn’t sew with orange, I was finishing up the pink 16 patch stars and crumbs. 

But this week I should find some short bursts of time to dig into the orange. The basket isn’t overflowing and held some precut 2 1/2” squares. 

There was some other orange that showed up this week. We bought a bag of Cuties. They are really good. Not always the case with oranges purchased here. All that’s left!

And we ordered pizza delivered Saturday night. When I went to the garage fridge for a drink I grabbed this interesting orange can!.  It’s an IPA with tropical fruits and orange from Stone Brewery in California. 

Much hoppier than Blue Moon!  LOL

Keep watching for more orange next week. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!