Thursday, November 7, 2013

Really Random Thursday, 11/7/13

I know Halloween was so last month,  but I saw these two on my way to work.
Then I took the train down to southern California to see my friend, Elizabeth. Her monthly quilting group met on Friday night, and they have graciously let me attend for the second year in a row. Everyone brought something delicious to eat and Elizabeth baked a stuffed pumpkin. Highly recommended. The recipe is on her cooking blog.
A couple of months ago, when Mark and I were in Carmel, I ventured into J. Crew and ended up buying a really cute "little black dress." There has been no occasion to wear it to this point, but our son and daughter-in-law were going to a fundraising dinner on Saturday and I had mentioned she was welcome to borrow it. I just hope it will look as great on me as it did on her! (see the cute scalloped hem?)
On the Amtrak bus ride back to Fresno on Sunday, a girl one seat in front of me and on the other side spent over two hours on her hair and makeup. I'm not even kidding. Most of the time was spent curling/straightening/curling/straightening her hair. And yes, most of it DID match the bus upholstery!

This is one of the last blooms of the season in our backyard.
and this one doesn't even bloom every year so it was fun to see it yesterday morning.
Some sneak peeks:
Yesterday I had a bookstore buddy.  A little snack and then we head to the back of Barnes and Noble where they have a Thomas the Train track set up. Always lots of fun.
I had a coupon and found a set of really great Melissa and Doug shape puzzles.
Amy of Diary of a Quilter has been putting quilt tops together from her Virtual Quilting Bee. Have any of you been following along with her great series? She has already put the quilt top together with the blocks made from prints. Here are the solids and there is my block down in the corner. It looks so different set on point. I'm excited to see how she decides to sash this one.
Have you heard of Quilty Box?

You pay a fee and get a box full of cool stuff. You can "get quilty for less than the price of a jelly roll." I decided to give it a shot. The October box showed up this week and included fat eighths of Minimalista by Art Gallery Fabrics, the sidekick ruler and a pattern by Jaybird Quilts, two spools of Aurifil thread, a sharps needle sampler, a custom fabric label, a cool bobbypin, and a paper piecing pattern.I'm pretty impressed.
So Mark bought a bottle of Chardonnay by the Naked Grape. The other side of the cork has their facebook address that might be interesting contain too much information...

I'll leave you with this thought. Which pretty much sums up things around this house.

Your turn.

17 comments:

05 08
Lucy | Charm About You said... #

Wonderful random as always! That box of goodies is brilliant!

Svetlana said... #

what fun randomness. By the way, my brain works the same way :)

Sara said... #

Thomas the Train set up oh my! and the little guy has a yummy looking treat--good job Grandma;) I like your purple block in the quilt top=very appealing!

I may have to check out the Quiltybox too!

You and your hubby behave now with that wine;) lol

Debbie said... #

Lots of fun bits here. You're really good at this random thing. ;-)

Deborah said... #

I especially don't like it when my switch is on "uninterested." Such a pretty D-I-L!

CapitolaQuilter said... #

Sounds like a fun adventure and that puzzle reminds me of the magnetic origami one I had for my kids when they were little - it was the inspiration for my latest quilt back, moving around the parts for endless possibilities I felt like a kid myself. I'm always so tickled to see a block I've made for someone in an actual quilt - unlike the poor stacks of swap blocks that I've got piled up.

Needled Mom said... #

I always enjoy the randomness. I love those solid blocks set on point! I also really like that little black dress - so important in life!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said... #

Love your post... but the light switch is my absolute truth! ;-)

Katy Cameron said... #

When I used to get the train to work in the morning it used to baffle me the number of women applying their make up. My hair dresser, in an attempt to make me look less like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards on a daily basis, actually suggested I could apply product to my hair and twist it in on the train too, unfortunately it took me about 20 minutes to do normally and the train journey was 3 minutes ;o)

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Excellent - and the lightswitch is genius, and true!

Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said... #

I'm pretty sure two hours of hot irons is pretty bad for hair right? Bet it started to smell like burning hair and everything. I hope she looked effortless when she was all done - that is the point of two hours right? Fool the eye? :)

Val's Quilting Studio said... #

I have just finished a twelve hour day at elementary school....taught second grade all day and we hosted a parent education night....and let me just say: Your post was the perfect reading material to match my glass of wine. (Can I say that??) Serious...the twins...cracked me up! The chick with the hair...LOL!! Love the black dress...and I always love seeing your little guy! THANKS for ending my day with a smile!!!

Val's Quilting Studio said... #

Okay...I'm still laughing at those Halloween twins!!!

CitricSugar said... #

That little sweetie pie is growing so fast!!! Congrats on the magazine - can't wait to hear more about that. And hmmm, Quilty Box... I might have to check that out!

Rachaeldaisy said... #

What a wonderful week of random happenings!

Terri said... #

those 2 in costume are creepy!

Love the dress!

OPQuilt said... #

Gosh, I've been in such a fog since your lovely visit here, so it's fun to read and catch up with everything in your life. The hair girl--really? Who has two hours to do their hair? I remember subbing high school once and a girl brought out a veritable beauty salon, set it on her desk and decided to do her hair. That was early in my subbing career (I got much crankier later on and wouldn't have allowed it). Loved the photos of your stuff in all the fun mags coming out! Can't wait to see your blog post for the one we "dreamed" up. Mucho congratso! And the Quilty Box--how do you always hear about such fun stuff?

And so sweet to see your Barnes/Noble buddy. Grandchildren ARE the best!
:) Elizabeth