Look below....I tried to get some perspective on their size for you by placing an enormous cantaloupe between them, but I'm not sure you can tell just how large they are! (Sorry for the shadow, it was late afternoon)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A Matter of Perspective
Look below....I tried to get some perspective on their size for you by placing an enormous cantaloupe between them, but I'm not sure you can tell just how large they are! (Sorry for the shadow, it was late afternoon)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Back in the Swing of Things
Friday we learned of a quilt show that was taking place through the weekend in Milton-Freewater, OR. I decided to take a quick drive down there on Saturday and have a look. The first place on the list was what I thought to be a quilt shop, but no, it was a little hole-in-the-wall alterations business. I walked in the door, didn't see anyone around, but heard a machine running toward the back. When I got to the source of the sound, I found a very elderly woman sewing away and managed to startle the dickens out of her! Once she calmed down (whew!) we had a lovely, very long chat. I asked her where the quilts were and she explained each of 6 shops had a quilt. It was so dark in her shop that I couldn't see the quilt hanging right next to where we were standing way at the back of the shop! This quilt below was made entirely from scraps and really well done!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Immortality!
Here it is - the Squash House is now immortalized in concrete! Let me say that it isn't easy at all to "write" in concrete! I was using a stubby little pencil and trying not to mash in anything around it! So it has "character" and we rather like it!! Saturday, the throngs of folks walking past on their way to the festivities at the park will surely wonder what this means!!
Last evening while eating our grilled Walla Walla sweet onion sausages on the patio, we had a visitor over the neighbor's garage! There are always so many wonderful surprises here!
Today after more work in the garden, we decided to check out another fishing hole. The weather has been in the 90's - so any work outside has to be done early, then it's too hot to go fishing, so we've decided to "recon" all the rivers in the air-conditioned car instead!
Mr. Squash has always said: "The best fishing in Washington is in Oregon".!! He's right - anywhere we've gone just outside the Washington border has always been better! We drove to a park at the headwaters of the Walla Walla river in Oregon. How exciting this was for us - it's the closest thing we've seen so far in this area to the kind of river we like to fish! We decided to brave the heat and walk a ways up the trail. There was a heady fragrance all around us. We went up to this plant and sure enough - smelled just like Freesia! It was everywhere - small and large bushes!
Here are some photos of the river. In the one below I was standing right in front of a wonderful pool where there surely must be a few large trout hiding in wait!
Here was the remains of a bridge that must have spanned this part of the trail at one time.
I don't have a good enough connection here to edit photos, but if I could you would be able to see how clear and wadeable the water is here!
We went back to Oregon this evening for dinner and saw a flyer for a quilt show that's in town right now! I may head back there again tomorrow for a peek and show & tell!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Sweet Lavender
Below is how some of the rows look up close and personal! Each row is labeled for its variety - either French or English - whether it can be used for culinary purpose or sachet, etc.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pepper
Ted and his son Justin were out early yesterday morning along with their Australian Shepherd, Pepper. We've fallen in love with her! She comes over every day with her frisbee - ready for a few tosses and of course some loving! She's so sweet and gentle. We think this is the dog for us when we move over here permanently. Ted says she likes to fish with him and is a wonderful companion!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Potholder Fun!
As you can see, I've made some changes to my blog's background. I still have to figure out a better text color, but all in all, this is the direction I wanted to go - something really earthy and Fall-like --- my favorite time of year. The great folks over at The Cutest Blog on The Block helped me again. Alicia Alee Design did the backgound - she is quite talented!
Mr. Squash and I are leaving tomorrow for the Squash House! We're spending the entire week there through the 4th! I'll have my netbook along and hope to be able to keep up as well as post. We're going to do some fly fishing, working in the yard, and a lot of just plain kicking back in the sun☼! (Thanks, Anne, for the great link to symbols!) The park down the street from us does an incredible July 4th celebration which we're really excited to see!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Mr. Squash's New Beach!
Here is the progress as of last Sunday! Our contractor has been working really hard in between thunderstorms! There is enough room to park three vehicles when we have company over!
The concrete is a full 6 inches thick to withstand the cold winter temps! Mr. Squash has decided this is his new "beach". He's going to put a chair with a little umbrella and a pitcher of iced tea out there and listen to the waves - LOL!!
This week the sidewalk and approach will be poured and we hope by the time we return next Sunday that it will be completed!
We turned around back toward town and saw a sign for a park. Deciding to check it out, this is what we found. This is a portion of river that actually runs into town and back out again. There is a bike trail/walking path on either side and a footbridge across the far end! We can't wait to take our bikes over and try it out!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tiles and Smiles
And see what's inside - a lovely, handmade, tatted doily! There aren't many people who practice the art of tatting anymore - Donnelly's work is outstanding! And she said: "I used a vintage Coats and Clark size 30 that I picked up at one of our local thrift stores. I love the feel and colors of vintage threads. The spool still had the original $0.19 sticker on it!" So stop on over to Donnelly's blog for a visit!
Here is what greeted us when we arrived at the Squash House on Thursday - the frosted beach glass tile in the kitchen is installed! I am so happy I can barely contain myself! It is exactly as I envisioned and the installers work is incredible! Already the kitchen feels warm and cozy! There is only one more thing do to in there - new cabinet and drawer faces. We're having them custom built by a local contractor. See those two upper doors on the right side? They will have clear, hammered glass inserts and open from the center out. They will also have hidden European hinges and can be opened without hardware - although I will add it at some point just for decoration.
Here is a closer view of the tile against the stove.
Below is the new sink and faucet. I can pull the nozzle out and fill a pan with water as it sits on the stove! The sink is extra deep at 11 inches (maybe too deep - we shall see). That little fixture to the right of the faucet is a built-in soap dispenser.
And here is the crowning glory - my Maple Bar finished and installed! We had them use the same stain as on the butcher block counters, but because they are two different grades of maple, the stain is slightly darker on the burled maple. That's what I wanted, though - something unique and different! Oh - you can also see that I haven't replaced the switch covers yet. I think I'll use enameled porcelain covers, so I need to look around for different options.
Here is another view - looking the opposite direction.
This is a close-up of the maple burl stained and finished.
More fun things to show you tomorrow - stay tuned!
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Very Pleasant Surprise!
We left for the Squash House around 2:00 Thursday afternoon for a long weekend. We wanted to check on the the tile installation in the kitchen, get a new thermostat installed, check on Ted's progress on the new driveway, and get some estimates on the final kitchen project - new cupboard and drawer fronts.
Coming into town we turned down a street fairly close to the Squash House, I saw the words "Stash" in a window as I drove by! That could mean only one thing!!! A new quilt shop!!
It was late and we were tired from the long drive, so I sort of thought maybe my mind was playing tricks on me! I decided to go back the next day, and sure enough - it was a new quilt shop! Below is the other side of the front. The outside of the building is not quite done, but there is no mistaking the shop!
I had a really nice chat with Kathy, one of the store owners. I told her how elated I was that we now have two quilt shops in town - as did everyone else who came in the store while I was there! Kathy even wrote down the address of their blog for me! I asked if I could take a few photos for my blog and she happily agreed!
They have a wonderful array of different fabrics and designers - so much of what I saw was totally in my taste range! There was even fabric by designers I did not yet know - and I can't wait to explore some more!
Now I love Masterpiece thread for piecing, but I also like Presencia - and they carry the full line in the store! I also told Kathy about Lecien's new Cosmo embroidery floss line - she'll be looking into that soon as well!
So many nice displays!
And check out the basics and solids!
Everywhere I turned there was something I wanted to make!
I have lots more for you this week - more peeks at the happenings around the Squash House among other things! I'm also still working on changes to my blog design - just not sure at this point how much or what. I'll be doing my best to catch up this week on everything you all have been doing as well!

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