Our last choir practice was one year ago tonite and it felt so great to start practice again! I remember those Wednesday nights when I wished I could stay home and now it feels so good to be back at church practicing to sing for Palm Sunday, Easter and beyond.
Siri has decided I’m ok to be around even though I still haven’t let her out of the big kennel. Today I went in to check on her and couldn’t find her! What?? Oh, wait – what’s that lump under the blanket in the chair?
It’s Siri!
She’s a good eater, too.
Seems all my friends are getting puppies – my neighbor, Pam, stopped the other day with her new black golden doodle named Ava!
She looks like a little black bear!

And remember Dougal, Sue and Tony’s, puppy? He has really grown and still is so cute!
Love his spotted legs and chest!
Looks like I’ve been visiting all the dogs while Connie has been sewing. Here are her latest finishes, both Dirty Dozen finishes.
I am trying to catch up before our next step on Bullseye which is this Sunday. I started a smaller quilt with 6″ background squares and just two circles – one 4-1/2″ and the second one 3″. And I’m not sure I’m going to cut them apart. I’m still thinking.
Our weather is going to change tonite – if we don’t blow away first, that is. The southwest wind is howling and I would not be surprised to see the ground covered in snow again. It’s been so nice tho’ and I’m glad we got that faux spring.
Here are the Dirty Dozen quilts:
That’s Sally in the lower left corner, another dog friend.
It’s Rick’s birthday today and I made his favorite – carrot cake! Too bad I love it as much as he does.
Back to basketball, Friends!
Happy birthday Rick!! From the Alabama blog reader!!
Happy birthday Rick and many more come – Enjoy.
It’s wonderful to hear from all your readers…I, too, enjoy their activity’s and accomplishments.
It has snowed all day, on and off. Big, wet, sticky flakes. Forecasted to get the “big” one this weekend.
Happy Birthday to Rick. Who doesn’t love carrot cake?
Carrot cake is my favorite too. Even without the cream cheese frosting!
Happy Birthday Rick. I got stuck on the word cake! Best wishes and many more!
Happy Birthday, Rick!! Enjoy that carrot cake—YUM!!!
Here’s our forecast for the weekend—
Fort Collins—32”
Loveland (10 miles south)—41”
Estes Park (about 50 miles away)—91”—that is NOT a typo!!
Red Feather Lakes (a bit north and west of me)—81”
Isn’t that crazy?!?!? And the sky is clear and filled with stars right now. I bought a new shovel today, but if we get 32”, I’ll be calling in a plow!!
The puppy pictures were all so cute today but I think the picture with Mary holding the “bear” was the best.
Happy Birthday, Rick. Didn’t you get to go out for a birthday dinner? Maybe the carrot cake was enough. My favorite too. Do you make it with pineapple in it. Mary? Our carrot cake recipe is called Hawaiian carrot cake. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it and my birthday is still a couple of months away, so I have to wait for my carrot cake til then.
Love the glimpses of your house. You have a knack for putting your plants and favorite things in just the right places. It looks so cozy.
Expecting the Big storm to hit on Sat. And Sun. Glad my sewing machine is right by the window so I can enjoy the snow from inside the house while I’m quilting.
Stay warm and stay safe as you return to choir and regular church services.
Jeanne from CO – yes, my carrot cake has crushed pineapple – so moist and delicious!
Ava Is a beautiful name for that black cutie! They are so cute. Siri seems to be adjusting. Enjoy choir and church. Ive always wished I could sing..far from it.
Happy birthday to Rick. I love the looks of Siri she’s beautiful. We so lucky to have a taste of spring but it will be back Also I’m wondering is the house quilt in the store
Mary in Davenport – no, it’s not in the store just yet.
All the dogs & cats are so cute! 🐾
Connie’s finishes are great!
I really love that blues & greens bulls eye quilt. Very stunning . 👏👍
We’ve had a great run of sunny to partly sunny days since Saturday. Highs in the upper 50s to near 70 today. The nights are much cooler because our skies clear at night so we can see the stars.
Love Pam’s new doodle! So good to see her – does she still have Oliver? Hello from your Colorado friend!
Kathi – yes, Pam still has Oliver but she lost Abby, her first doodle, last fall. She was ready for Ava!
My husband’s bday today too and his cake always Carrot Cake. Does Rick request stuffed Pokémon chop w/buttered egg noodles and peas? 😂
Juliana – I do not know what a Pokémon chop is but it sounds good!
Happy Birthday Rick! Carrot cake was my husband’s favorite too even though he hated cream cheese! I love it too. The quilts are beautiful.
Is Connie’s second dirty dozen finish a pattern in your shop? Love the scrappy look. Happy birthday Rick – now I’m going to go bake a carrot cake!!
Hi Susan. I found the book it was in… “Simple Seasons” by Kim Diehl. Thanks for asking. Connie
How did I miss Siri? I read you every post, but do not remember hearing bout her. She is beautiful. Happy Birthday to Rick–and happy to you for making his favorite cake 🙂
Dorothy – the post was called “a new boarder” – did you not get it? I’m keeping Siri for an acquaintance made thru the blog. She is not here permanently and she is very timid so I’m afraid to bring her into the house where she’ll disappear in many hiding places.
Happy Birthday, Rick! Hope your day is wonderful!!
Lots of dogs in your life – and one gorgeous cat too! WOW! Love all the things that you and Connie make, so nice! Glad you will be able to start your music at church. I am sure that you missed it a lot. I think that I will go back to church in another week after my second Covid shot. I have missed it so much. A bit of normalcy will feel so good, won’t it?
Kathy Hanson – does next week sometime work for a visit? Or the following week? What day works best for you?
Happy Birthday Rick. We hope your day was extra special!
Is Siri an Ossie Cat? She is lovely. Love your friends little black baby, too.
Sad news here is my beloved Mr.Peach died on Friday. He had cancer last year and had to have his front leg removed. Vet assured me it was contained and he would live a nice long life. Well, it returned with a vengence and he just couldn’t fight anymore. Needless to say I am heartbroken and my house is very lonely without him.
There will be another cat when the right one comes along.
Sharon Lowy – my sympathies, Sharon! Sounds like you and he have been thru a lot and then to lose him must be so hard on you. Siri is a Bengal cat and she is beautiful, isn’t she?
I love the bullseye on point kept whole. Stop the presses!!!
What stunning Bullseye Quilts and the smaller house quilt would make a nice addition to your wall you are thinking of redoing!! I can see yours in bright colors. Golden doodles are so darn fluffy & adorable and it was cuteness overload with all the pet pictures. What a nice day. Last night I looked at the abundance of scrappy squares cut up from scraps and I need to assemble a quilt like Jeanine’s for charity to use them soon for some space. Another warm day here -no jacket required – and then back to normal March temps. I am excited to meet a fully vaccinated cancer survivor friend for coffee this morning! I sewed her a cute bunny mask to wear as she loves holiday shopping for her grandkids.
Love all the pictures! Poor little Siri.. she doesn’t know what is happening to her world. She’ll come around with your love. Do you know when her person will return?
My husband’s birthday is today. Bought a cake pan many years ago that bakes two layers with a cavity in the middle that can be filled with ice cream. Never have tried it. Of course the layers wouldn’t come out of the pans and I have tried to stick the cake back together. I put the ice cream in it, stacked the layers as the directions said and have hidden it in the freezer hoping it freezes together! I will frost it today and put it back in the freezer. I thought this will be something different for his 75th birthday. Well… it’s going to be different alright…haha Nothing has been normal for a year so why should I be surprised!
Spring fights to come in March. 70+ today but is to be cold again on Monday. The time of the year when my closet becomes a disaster.
Diane in Maryland – sounds like our temps here in Iowa. Feels like 25 here this morning! Siri’s owner is not sure when she returns but I said this could be Siri’s home away from home in the future. I am afraid to let her into the quilt shop because she will hide and I won’t find her. She loves to be petted and just pushes into my hand. She is starving for human interaction, I think, but I wouldn’t dare bring her into the house. She’d be gone for good!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Rick. Enjoy your day.
Do you exalt the fabric line you used for the Seaglass StarQuilt you have in Scrap School? The colors are calling out to me as a must make this quilt! I enjoyed seeing the photos of the latest projects completed as well. Once we have our second vaccine and wait out the two weeks after the vaccine, looking forward to life back to more normal times. We have snow here in SW MN but I hope it will melt quickly.
Correction on my comment, Do you recall the name of the fabric line you used!!
Cinders – we NEVER use just one line of fabric. First of all, we do not have access to a complete line and our “scrap” look has developed over the years because of our lack of fabric. We also think those designers who use only their lines of fabric are missing the mark. Thanks for writing!
Hi. Happy birthday Ric! Enjoy the carrot cake. Loved all the quilts. Your animal friends are all so cute! We also had the most beautiful day yesterday. Temp near 70, but now it will go back to 40’s. No complaints though.
Love pics of all of your fur babies and I think Siri was cold cold and that is why she covered up with a blanket. Thank you for the quilt show too. I needed my fix of seeing pretty quilts.
Snowing like crazy here in Northern Arizona and will continue thru Sunday so I guess it is a good time to get in my sewing room and hibernate and sew, sew, sew.
Have a great day
Lorraine – snowing in Arizona? Oh, no!!
Happy Birthday Rick. Enjoy your carrot cake.
HAPPY CARROT CAKE DAY TO RICK,
Siri is absolutely beautiful!
I’d like to try the ALTERNATE UNCUT VERSION SMALLER BLOCK BULLSEYE….guess that’s what it’s called? Looked really pretty!
Thanks for all the dog pictures with their happy owners, Mary!
Launa – before I decide to quarter the blocks, I’m going to lay it out and look at it carefully. Maybe I’ll post it and see what everybody thinks. I also think a single circle all in the same color way might be fun. I’ll post as I go.
Sounds good….Will be interesting.
Really sunny up here this morning.
I like crushed pineapple in my carrot cake.
Happy Birthday Rick!! Have a wonderful celebration and enjoy that cake!!
Happy Birthday Rick!! Have wonderful day! Enjoy the delicious cake cake!!
The quilts beautiful for sure! Siari pretty kitty! Have nice day.
Love all the dog pics, although I am a cat lover, I love other peoples dogs. Lol
What is the story with the quilt behind you and Ava in the photo? I would like to see more of it.
Glad we’ve had the warm weather in Iowa; forecasters said snow maybe Sunday. Ground is warmed up though now, and won’t last long.
So happy choir has started up again for you. We are going to a new church and just so happy to be in church again!!
Diana in Des Moines – oh, dear – you’re going to be so disappointed! It’s a printed Nancy Crow fabric from the early 1990’s.
Not too disappointed, just wondering. Thanks for the reply!
Sending birthday greetings to Rick and I hope his carrot cake is delicious. I loved seeing the photos of all the animals today. Siri is adorable as well as all of the other critters pictured. It is fun to see all of your photos, Mary. Thank you for sharing. I got my second Covid-19 vaccine shot yesterday–yay! Happy for you that your choir is getting back together again. Bailey says “hi.”
Lois Ann Johnson – Hi Bailey! I’m coming to meet Bailey sometime this spring or summer – oh, and you, too, Lois Ann! Haha!
Happy Birthday, Rick!!
Tanya T in Houston – got your check today – thank you!
Birthday Greetings to Rick! Hope he has a wonderful day. And what a pretty kitty. Such green eyes!
By the way – I refuse to entertain the notion that we will get any more snow! 🙂
MartyCae – I second that!
Happy Birthday to Rick!! Hope he had a great day! And carrot cake–ohhhh he’s lucky! I love carrot cake!! Love seeing the animals and all the quilts! Such talented people!
Siri is a smart kitty. She’s smart enough to crawl under the blanket to keep warm! ❤️
Hello from Australia
Love your site and was wondering if you have the pattern for the oh so cute house quilt or know where I can obtain one.
cheers elissa
Elissa – the house pattern will be in our online store as a pdf download in May. Thanks for inquiring!
Happy Birthday Rick!
I have never made a carrot cake.
Enjoy yours!!
Brenda – I wish you could stop over for a piece with coffee!!!
Happy birthday Rick! Carrot cake is soo good!
We just got back from visiting our son and his family in the Davenport area. We surprised him for his birthday. His other surprise was that the strawberry cake he was supposed to have turned out to be just a white cake (but it was so good)! We’re wondering who got his strawberry cake and what they thought when they cut into it!
Love all the puppy pictures. I got to hold my grand dog Sally. She totally ignores my son when I’m around!
Love the quilts and know you are soooo excited to be back to normal church services. I look forward to those days. We’ve been having socially distanced Mass but I miss seeing my church friends
precious kitty and puppy photos!