After having it for several years and never taking it out of the box, I am experimenting more with my instapot. The ziti is even better than making in the oven and you can’t complain about any meal that you just dump it in and cook for 5 minutes. It was delicious. My favorite however (don’t have a picture) was risotto. I love it but don’t make often as it requires standing at the stove for 40 minutes and stirring while you add broth. But hello instapot. I almost didn’t try it but 10 minutes later I had some of the creamiest, most delicious risotto I’ve eaten in a long time.

Here is the pic of my ziti. I made it for the last ladies craft group. I’ve also been trying some new recipes just for something different. The smothered chicken was unbelievable and this potato, while a bit weird, was actually pretty good. It’s a baked potato topped with cheddar cheese, grilled chicken and a drizzle of homemade alfredo sauce and bacon. How can it be bad, it has bacon?

If you know me, you know hexagons aren’t my favorite to make. However, it’s only because I struggle so much to get them sewn correctly. So when I saw this fabric I decided I will once again try my hand at a one block wonder quilt. The newest idea I’ve seen in one block wonder quilts is using a panel in the middle and building the hexagons around it.

When I saw this fabric I knew I wanted to try and use it and the coordinating panel. I’ll show you the panel as I get started and have some “in progress” pictures. I think the hexagons will come out pretty cool. This is the fabric I used and some examples.

Someone asked me the other day why she never sees many quilts on my blog anymore. Well, I haven’t gotten a lot finished and I don’t like posting till they are done. I can tell you, I just quilted 2 this past weekend and once I get the binding added I will post them. I also have one more basted and 2 more heading to my dear friend Marilyn who does the basting for me. But no sneak peeks.

Here are the fabrics for a couple I hope to start soon. They are both fabrics I’ve had for some time and couldn’t decide what to make with them. I bet you can guess the one cut into strips will eventually be a bargello.

I finally got a few minutes to add to my blog. Life is pretty quiet, thankfully, and I don’t have a lot to blog about. I did finally get to go see my amazing, sexy sister Jill and her awesome hubby Mark. I honestly can’t think of any people I would rather spend time with than those 2. They are just priceless to me.

We had a great dinner with Jill’s family to celebrate her birthday and then another with their friends Gayle and Debbie. Hope I spelled his name right. What a neat couple and super friendly. It is so nice to just spend some down time visiting, cooking together, etc. And of course, I got to visit with Ms. Maggie the Diva. She has discovered her love of sweet bell peppers.

Of course Jill and I did take a run to the local quilt shops. I found a beautiful floral that will one day likely become an octagon quilt and in the smaller shop I fond a jacket pattern I have looked for over the past 2 years. I want to quilt the fabric then hopefully try to make this. I haven’t sewn clothing in almost 20 years so we shall see how it goes.

While there Mark ordered me an early Christmas present, which was way too expensive but I love it. It arrived in the mail about a week after I got home.

I just can’t wait till November when they come visit. I love those two. Isn’t this one sexy piece of tanzanite jewelry. I will love it forever and wear it almost every day.

I had wanted to go to Ohio and visit my sexy sister and her amazing hubby early this year but thanks to the IRS extending the tax deadline that got put on hold. I arranged to go my usual time in May but then got sick so again it’s been put on hold. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to that visit each year. It’s like the highlight of my year. Now to find a new date I can go.

I did get to finish the quilt Jilly’s other half sister requested. It’s funny how much I worried whether a blind lady would like it or not. The store sent me the wrong fabric twice then was out of what I originally wanted so it got changed to make it larger using a different idea. I still am not crazy about it but her only request was blue and white. I tried to add some texture with the 3-D flying geese in 2 corners so I hope she likes it. Now to get to Ohio to deliver it.

This one was a long time in the making. It turned out huge but I planned it for my king size bed. Not sure why as I have to wash the bed one so often due to the dogs sleeping on in. Either way, this one I am keeping. I even found the perfect pillows.

I have made 2 four patch posey quilts using this fabric in the past and gifted both of them. I was lucky enough to find just enough to make another for myself. I normally don’t care for florals but I love this fabric done in a 4 patch and octagons. The pillows look very spring like to match the floral fabric and the colors work well also. Now to come up with the perfect quilt to use as a headboard. I debated this one but it really is too large for a wall hanging. I may have to paint the bedroom now.

Here is another I won’t have a completed photo for. I have been wanting to make this version of a log cabin for a long time and I finally did. I used a couple of KF design rolls in oranges, yellows, reds, etc and mixed in a simple off white. I wasn’t sure if I would keep this one or not. I love it but I seem to be keeping a lot of them lately.

The problem solved itself. I dropped it off for a friend to baste for me and her sister asked to buy it before I even basted or quilted it. I hope Diane loves it. I really liked how this one turned out. I think it’s for her granddaughter.

I have been gone from my blog a while but it seems like about all I have to write about are the quilts I make. That’s ok though. I enjoy being at home and I enjoy making quilts, so it works perfectly for me.

My bosses daughter decided to get married right after the April tax deadline so I had to put everything on hold and make her a wedding quilt. She wanted something much more modern than her sister and choose the bargello pattern. Since she didn’t want bed size I made her 2 matching sofa quilts. I was wondering how it would look as she said she doesn’t like a lot of color then choose navy, grey and said maybe some green but nothing bright. That is so not me but I think they came out quite clean and classic looking. I forgot to get another picture after adding the borders and quilting them.

In case I haven’t mentioned it, lol, I am addicted to making octagon and 4 patch posey quilts. I absolutely love taking a fabric and finding out what it’s going to turn into. I think if I let myself, I’d make them all the time. But, I do have others on my “to-do” list also.

This is my latest octagon. Everyone said the fabric wouldn’t work, wasn’t enough background, etc. Well I’m gonna put it out there, this may be my favorite of all time. In fact I have hung it front and center on my living room wall. It’s 100 octagons and I love looking how unique each came out. The teal squares were a last minute addition and wow am I glad I added them. I don’t mean to sound like I’m bragging but LOVE this quilt. I didn’t take a picture of the back but it’s a very pretty teal and I quilted it just going around the blade of each octagon with squiggly lines. Should have reminded myself before I started it meant going around 800 blades.

I love sharing pictures of my pets. I really do love them just as much as most people I know. They are all so unique in their behavior and you can’t help but love them.

Argus got a hair cut this weekend and was his usual butthead self and fought the groomer all the time. He even shoved her clippers on the floor and broke them but at least he had a hair cut. I always wondered why people get long haired dogs then cut it short but he enjoys having short hair. He scratches himself terrible once it gets long and pulls patches of hair out of his mane. Of course it cooled off immediately when he got a hair cut but he loves wearing his t-shirt. He is such a goof ball but he is the protector of the pack. Don’t mess with the rest of them or he is up in your face. He even barks like crazy when I give the others a bath. He matches the rug so nicely.

Then we have Lothar (aka Baby Dog). Well he is simply a doll. He has a dwarfism gene that will keep him mentally a puppy his whole life and you’d never know. He has learned so much easier then the others without ever being shown tricks. He loves to ring the bells hanging on the door to go outside but Lord forbid you don’t hear it cause he will slam them into the door till you come let him out. He would gladly live in the yard if you’d let him. We were playing Silence of the Pomeranians with a hair tie. He is secure in his manhood and doesn’t mind that pink shirt at all. Funny with just a hair tie to hold them in place they can wear Shannon’s tshits.

Then there is Merlin. He is a whole personality himself and a very strange little dog. He loves people and attention but he is also very much a loner. I think he’d be just a happy living with a little old person that would just hold him all day. He and baby are on a constant battle to decide who is the alpha dog. It’s hard to look how different they are and remind yourself they aren’t human. Most people never realize they are all siblings and have the same parents because they are so different. Merlin will have nothing to do with the tshirts.

Then we have Kiljeadean, aka Killy. She lived here first and makes that very clear to them. She doesn’t interact with the dogs much but I think in secret she likes Merlin. She lets him nuzzle her face sometimes and likes to sleep on his pillow when he gets up. She rules the animal kingdom in our house.