Happy Stan

Here is a little four-minute video of where our favorite trombone player is hanging out once a week.

He is probably not very homesick.

(Thanks T, for the lead.)

Quilt (and Color) Inspiration

There is a great brief lesson about combining colors, as well as some beautiful quilts for inspiration today at MrMonkeysuit. Check it out!

Hot Water

Hot Water
Originally uploaded by Happy Zombie

This is so cute. Thanks to Happy Zombie for the photo. See her charming blog here.

Iceland / Reyjavik

Iceland / Reyjavik - Tour: Beautiful Church ...... Island / Reykjavik - Rundreise: Hübsche Kirche ( 1.015☺18 )
Originally uploaded by Juergen Kurlvink

A church for your Sunday.

By Juergan Kurlvink.

Cruiser's Update

Cabo San Lucas, México.
Originally uploaded by Je Répondrai

Update from the trombone player:

Haha, I would have [told you where I was writing from] but I didn't know where I was. I was in Cabo San Lucas at the time. Sea sickness has been totally fine, no worries. . . .

Anyways, I've had some adventures for sure. I went snorkling in Peurto Vallarta and got bit (hard) by a fish. He didn't quite take a chunk out, [but] there was definitely a circle of teeth, and there was definitely a little blood! In Mazatlan we took some kind of water taxi (just a motor boat really) over to this more remote island and had some real Mexican food. . . .

Mexico is just beyond beautiful. I'm really getting a taste for travel, and can see myself doing this, or something similar for quite some time. I didn't really say, but I started playing on day one. I have been crazy busy getting ready for all the shows.

My general day consists of practicing my parts, working on my chops (my physical playing ability), listening to my parts, and doing a show. A few days a week I have training, and a few days I get to be in a port for about 6 hours. I have tons of time to just socialize in between. I've already met and got close with a lot of really cool people. Everybody is super nice with few exceptions.

. . . I'd love some questions. It'd really help me think of things to write about.

If you would like to ask Stan a question, please leave a comment here and I will get it to him. Thanks.

Thank you to Je Repondrai for the picture of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Welcome CraftyMrsk!

en chemin

en chemin
Originally uploaded by OliBac

Ooooh, I'd love to walk here! Saint-Nicolas, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Thank you to OliBac for another great picture. Click on the photo for more.

Blog Humor

She is so funny! Check out Mary Tong.

Followers

Thank you to ann.rachel for being my first follower and welcome Heather! Thanks guys!

Soulemama's House !

What a treat! Amanda Soule's house is featured on the Nesting Blog today. I so admire her child-friendly, low-cost, beautiful style. I think that you will too. See the feature here. And click there on the links to Soulemama's blog, if you are not yet familiar with her. She is one of my very favorite bloggers. She is such a wonderful--and artistic--mother.

Morning Light

Morning light
Originally uploaded by James Jordan

From James Jordan, a most gifted and generous photographer. Click on the picture to see more of his photos and a link to his profile.

Shipping Container Homes for the Impoverished

There is a great article here today at the Tiny House Blog about recycling shipping containers into homes for those who would welcome them as an upgrade from their current dwellings. Read the whole article to catch a vision of the possibilities. I find the idea quite exciting.

Photograph by OR_U on Flickr.

Under the Weeping Willow

Under the weeping willow
Originally uploaded by sally_monster

Especially for Nokiomi.

Photograph by sally monster. Click on the picture to see more and for a link to sally monster's profile.

Yella

Yella
Originally uploaded by Coy Aune

Thank you to Coy Aune for the beautiful flower from Mexico. Please click on the picture for more of her photographs.

We heard from our trombonist via email. Here is an excerpt:

"Things have been great. VERY interesting. I'm already going to have stories when I get home. I'm sitting in an internet cafe in the most beautiful mall I've ever been in in the most beautiful city I've ever been in. I'm in Mexico! Everybody in the band is just great. . . . It's just been a blast. Anyways I don't have a ton of time here, so I hope you'll pass things along for me. Keep in touch!"

Just what we were hoping for!

An Often Overlooked Tiny House--The Motorhome

Office Inside - Vintage Postcard
Originally uploaded by Shirley Two Feathers

Thank you to Shirley Two Feathers for the antique postcard. Click on the picture.

She has done it again! Sara of "Walk Slowly, Live Wildly" has converted another motor home (!) into a beautiful place to live. I never thought I'd see the day, but now I've seen it twice. See the new photos here. See her former home here.

Thatched Cottage

Thatched Cottage
Originally uploaded by Natman

Thank you to Natman. Click on the picture for more of his work.

From You Tube: "Thank a Soldier"

Rose Trellis Gate

Pomeroy Quilt Show
Originally uploaded by Happy Zombie

Thank you to The Happy Zombie for this beautiful picture, and for the Obama button on the right sidebar. Click on the picture to see more of her photos (including many quilts). Click on the Obama button to get one of your own.

A Day in Dartmoor

Nicky Frasier is treating us to another trip to the English Countryside via "The Vintage Magpie." You can join her in Dartmoor here.

All Saints, Ulceby, Lincolnshire

All Saints, Ulceby, Lincolnshire
Originally uploaded by Lincolnian

A church for your Sunday.

(Thank you to Lincolnian for the photo. Click on the picture for more.)

adiós mi músico

royal caribbean
Originally uploaded by german.

My favorite trombone player is leaving tomorrow for a six-month gig on one of these. California to Mexico for three months, then three months in the (royal) Caribbean after Christmas.

I think that I will be listening to his CDs.

A lot.

(Thank you to german for the photo.)

Chemin à Gauche (Path on the Left)

chemin à gauche / path on the left
Originally uploaded by OliBac

OliBac comes through again. This one is from Wailly, Pas-de-Calais, France. Click here or on the picture to see more of his photographs.

Such a beautiful place.

Clogher Head - Namukas

Clogher Head - namukas
Originally uploaded by dubliniete

Primitive, I know. But isn't is pretty?

(Click on the photo for credits.)

A Beautiful Space for a Child

I so appreciate real-life living spaces with real-world asthetics. Today I found a photograph of just such a beautiful room. See it here at Happythings.

Scrappy Vintage Quilt

Here is my latest accomplishment. I am unabashedly in love with it. I appreciate so much the beautiful fabrics available to me. (Thank you Nokiomi, for your contributions.)

Sweet Apple Carnage

There is a cute, cute video at The Spear Clan today. Go and see.

Today's Quilt Inspiration

Today's quilt inspiration is at Oh, Fransson. Take a look.

peupliers / poplars

peupliers / poplars
Originally uploaded by OliBac

Thank you, Sybille, for introducing me to Pas de Calais.

Thanks to OliBac for the picture.
(Click on the photo for credits.)

The Chapel on the Rock in the Mist

The Chapel on the Rock in the Mist
Originally uploaded by Fort Photo

Click on the photo for the story of this lovely Colorado chapel.

(Our thanks to Fort Photo.)

Cottage Garden

Cottage garden
Originally uploaded by lovedaylemon

The real deal.

(Click on the picture for credits.)

Green and Stone

Originally uploaded by Rob Crusoe

Green and stone. It doesn't get much better than that.

(Click on the photo for credits.)

Yellow Window

Originally uploaded by Rob Crusoe

(Click on the picture for photo credits.)

Cosette's Room

Cosette's Room
Originally uploaded by WendysWTN

Click on the picture to see more this talented Wendy's doll quilts.

Vintage Quilts

If you love vintage quilts, you will want to see Mr Monkeysuit today.

Grandpa Francis' Applesauce

applesauce cupcakes: the sauce
Originally uploaded by jek in the box

My grandpa made applesauce this way, and I''m sticking to it.

Quarter apples--stems, seeds and all. (Cut out the bad stuff, of course.)
Put a quarter inch of water in the crock pot and cook the apples for several hours, until they are soft and mushy.

When apples are soft, put them through a sieve or food mill. The seeds and stems will stay in the sieve to be discarded.

If you use Gravenstine apples they will cook down perfectly, but you may need to add sugar to the finished product. Other varieties of apples will cooperate to varying degrees. Just make sure that they are softened sufficiently before putting through the sieve.

(Click on the picture for photo credits.)

Il Mio Giardino ~ My Garden

Il Mio Giardino ~ My Garden
Originally uploaded by Italian Girl in Georgia ~ Suzanne MacCrone

Walking to the Library in Sweden

I think I would walk to the library a lot, wouldn't you?
(Thank you to this photographer for the pretty picture.)

Baking Soda Conquers Waterspots on Chrome

spilled Baking Soda
Originally uploaded by 19melissa68

I wish I could give credit to the originator of this tip, but I don't remember when and where I heard it. Today I gave it a try and I was amazed. This mixture, applied and scrubbed with my finger (!) removed several years build up of water stain--you know, that crusty white deposit--from our chrome bathtub fixtures. Here is the simple, simple recipe:

Mix a little baking soda with a little dish washing soap to make a paste.

Apply to chrome with finger.

Wipe off with a cloth.

Baking soda is so cool!

(Click on the picture for photo credits.)

NieNie Makes the Times

I hope you will take a few minutes to read this article in the New York Times. I think you will be glad you did.

Evening Light

Evening Light
Originally uploaded by RichardLowkes

(Click on the picture for credits.)

IKEA Afloat

Check out the pretty little Swedish houseboat here.  

I wants one.

Some Blue for You

Bret-Norm-2003-0061
Originally uploaded by rick ligthelm

(Click on the picture for credits.)

Kaffe Coins Quilt

It's finally finished. Credit for the amazing fabrics goes to Kaffe Fassett. The hand quilting is my own. The finished quilt measures 60 inches by 60 inches.