Snapping turtle

This major-league sized snapping turtle was making its way across our back yard.

Its shell was still wet and muddy, and we assume it came from the big pond at the end of the pasture. 







It was making its way to the pond on the side of our property.

Suki investigated fairly closely (but not too close!) and then retreated to the shade to see what was going to happen.










I've never seen a big turtle raise up and walk away quite rapidly.  I was surprised how tall it was and how it moved. It slipped into the pond and disappeared.

Family visit

My brother and sister-in-law flew in for a visit over the weekend.  I forgot to get many pictures, but did catch them loading their things into their plane.









We had dinner at the Steamboat Landing on Canandaigua Lake and enjoyed this lovely view.












The Steamboat also offers this outdoor bar for enjoying the lakeside and the sunset.







And it has this great lakeside bench.

Summer trimming

Our friend, Karen Johnson, has been working on getting all the foliage around the house trimmed back and looking great again.

She brought her new dog, Chip, with her, and he patiently waited for her in the shade.











Of course,  he appreciated a little attention now and then....

Scenes in the garden

Our visiting turtle usually surfaces to keep an eye on us when we visit the lily pond.













She also likes to float on top of the lily pads.

I tried bringing some small pieces of lettuce, but I don't know that she was very interested in them.





  

 This is the open end of the perennial garden, and the blue thistles are in full bloom.





From this side of the perennial garden, you can see the pergola.


















This is one of the entrances to the zen garden.

Back at the lily pond, a nest has fallen out of the flame vine bush.

A celebration party

No, Attie isn't the guest of honor even though she looks like she's the queen bee.


Pat organized a little celebration in honor of both her daughters' educational progress.













Marla just graduated from McGill University.


















And June finished Johns Hopkins last year.  She's headed back to Iowa for her second year of vet school.












There were many good things to eat on the desert table, but many of us were waiting for Pat to cut into her famous carrot cake. 

Meeting day

Several of the gang (known as the "Peeps") gathered in the studio for some show & tell and some sewing.












Priscilla showed us these Dahomey Appliqued pieces from the West African county now named Benin.















Pat brought in some of the pieces she has made for the challenge issued by Jeanne Simpson to make 20 x 12" quilts for a theme each week.

You can see more at www.quilt2012.blogspot.com.








Pat also showed us some samples she made in preparation for a new project for which she'll be using recycled materials. 




She wants to work in a much larger scale, however, and Bev and Anne sprung into action with some ideas on making and using streamers from the scraps of material.

High school reunion

A few of us from our high school class got together for lunch at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua.

It was busy, but we found a table on the patio and enjoyed the lake view even though it was cloudy.










After looking at everyone's family pictures, the next agenda was taking more pictures.


























 The group photo:  Mary Ann, Carolyn, Judy, Jim, me, Sharon, Marnie.














After lunch, we visited Judy's mom, Alice Blazey, who was our 8th grade English teacher.  Alice is 102 and going strong!

The Mormon Pageant

 The annual Mormon Pageant is underway at Hill Cumorah on Route 21 in Palmyra, NY.

The staging for the pageant is set up on the hill, and these colorful tents are in the next field.








In this picture you can see the statue of the Angel Moroni.   

Sewing Day

Beth and her sister, Gail, joined Priscilla for a sewing day here in the studio.

Priscilla received a Thank You present from Ricky Tims for all her work in organizing his seminar this past weekend -- a bag full of his hand-dyed fabrics.











Suki was very quick to meet Gail and make herself at home on Gail's table.

Priscilla brought more of her beautiful saris and stitched sari shawls.













On the left of the design wall are left-over blocks that Beth  is assembling into another new top.

Gail is trying out one of the exercises from the Ricky Tims Seminar on cave-man style cutting and piecing.


Priscilla brought this quilt in to show us that she made after attending a Ricky Tims class many years ago.

Beth dyed this lovely piece of sateen cotton for lucky Priscilla.

More from Ricky Tims Seminar

Ricky was very generous with his time for pictures and autographs.












This is Beth Brandkamp with her sister, Gail, who came from Colorado to attend the Seminar.























Jenna Darlak modeled the jacket she made from one of Prscilla's saris in her class at the studio recently.

















The Bobbin Case had a booth at the Seminar and was very busy showing the newest Bernina sewing machines that were just announced.

There was a quilt show of quilts made by Ricky, Alex, and Libby, as well as quilts in Ricky's personal collection.

Ricky's father pieced the feathered star in this quilt when he was in his 80's, and  Ricky finished it.




I liked this piece very much (and not just because of its SouthWestern image).  It's "Anasazi Enigma" by Liz Heywood.