A DillyDally Report!

Friday

Friday, May 24, 2013 at 11:00 pm

Friday was the last day of school!  A wonderful retirement party was held for the five colleagues that will not be returning next fall.  Together their service to our local school district equals 103 years of teaching!  I am happy for them as they begin this new chapter of their lives ... but ... oh ... how they will be missed.  Many mixed emotions.

Saturday

May 25, 2013 - Eyak Lake

Another beautiful day.  I deliberately included the foreground in this photo to prove that the leaves still have not arrived!  Am hoping all this sunshine will encourage the leaves to show themselves.  We are all craving GREEN!

Speaking of green ... I went to our local garden supply store and picked up plants for my containers.  Love pansies ... they have such happy faces!

And ... I kept my promise to myself ... by keeping my appointment with the crochet hook!  Those of you who follow me on facebook, know that I have been inspired by granny square projects.  Yep ... it has been a bit over the top.  I have been finding beautiful projects using this crochet stitch everywhere!

Sunday

On Sunday we enjoyed liquid sunshine.  The rain doesn't bother us ... it makes for great dillydally weather!

Flicka decided to try crochet ...

... she decided that it wasn't really her thing!  She would much rather supervise!  Sorry the pictures are blurry ... Flicka is faster than my camera.  Love my little furball!

After making 1.5 squares ... I decided to give granny hexies a try!  What fun!

Monday, Memorial Day

Woke early ... made potato salad and a big batch of baked beans for our Memorial Day meal.  We enjoy so much because of all that has been given to us by our military service men and women ... I am truly grateful!

I spent the late morning and early afternoon at our local quilt shop, Cordova Quilters' Hideout.  QBee Valerie taught a hand applique' class!

We had such fun and Valerie taught us a lot!  She is our local hand applique' guru ... I have showcased some of her work here over the years ... always inspiring!  We will be having our second class soon ... will keep you all updated!

Flicka - June 2012

Last summer, Flicka was too small to spend anytime outdoors safely.  We have many birds of prey here on the beach, and they love to feed on small pets.

We have begun to allow our "teenage" kitty more time outdoors ... she is larger, but we're not sure if she is any wiser ... ;-) !  She has been chasing squirrels, taunting nesting crows and climbing trees.  It is difficult to get any pictures of her outdoors as she is in constant motion!  Here she was supervising the tide as it came in ... a great way for her to celebrate the holiday!

Yep ... full time dillydallying has begun!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally 

Quick Update from Dillydallydom!

Just so you all know ... I was not exaggerating when I said that May was "crazy busy"!

On Mother's Day, Sister DillyDally posted this picture of her and Brother.  Oh how I miss those babies!

Then came Graduation Week here in my remote corner of the planet!  With the exception of one evening, there were events to attend every evening for seven days!  It is always fun ... Cordova is so supportive of our youth ... we know how to celebrate the success of our kids!

 Very little dillydallying is happening!  Here is a peek at a 007 project that is begging to be worked on.  I look at it longingly, give it an affectionate pat or two, then reassure it that in a few days it will finally get the attention it deserves!

Proof that it has been insanely busy ... in 1.5 weeks I haven't even been able to complete a hexie flower!  ;-)

The weather has been beautiful for several days ... working late every day this week and seeking a few moments of relaxation ... I decided to treat myself to a quick (under 5 minutes) drive to take a few photos.  Again ... you know how I keep repeating that my life is "crazy busy"?  The truth is ... it IS busy, AND I'm almost certain that I am crazy!  I have proof!

Yep ... locked my keys, purse and cell phone in the car.  Fortunately QBee Terry and her husband happened by ... I used her cell phone ... called Mr. DillyDally who works for the city ... and he sent our local police to unlock my car.  Let's just say that the whole experience was NOT relaxing!  However ... I did provide entertainment for Terry and Bob ... they are celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary today!  Happy Anniversary!

Now ... don't get the wrong impression ... I'm not really complaining ... good things are happening!

Brother DillyDally came home this week!  He will be spending most of the summer with us ... working and playing in the woods!  So great to have him at the dinner table!  And in three short days ... I will be able to dillydally FULL TIME!  My family hopes that some serious dillydally therapy will restore a fraction of my sanity! ;-)  I make no promises!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

My Reasons to Celebrate!

Motherhood.  There are no words to capture all that this simple word represents.

Age 7 and 2

Age 6 and 11

Age 15 and 10

Age 23 and 28

Age 29 and 24.  May 4, 2013

My children did not come with instructions ... each required different parenting ... they are independent individuals.  Through all of life's up and downs ... I treasure every moment of being their mother.

My Mother

I learned most of my parenting skills from the best, my mother.  She was a fearlessly independent and intelligent woman ... who loved all four of her children unconditionally.  I am a very grateful daughter.

Summer 2012

 Family has many definitions.  Mothering comes in many forms.  Whatever our circumstances ... where there is love ... we find family.  Relationships are everything ... worthy of celebration!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Stress Reduction

What a difference a week makes!  The ice is melting ... the sun feels warm ... and the sun is setting at 10:00 pm!  Yep ... I think it is safe to say that spring has arrived here in my remote corner of the planet!  Oops ... I hope it is safe to say that!  Hee-hee!

Life continues to be "crazy busy" as the end of the school year approaches.  In my effort to maintain some small amount of mental stability ... I have made a bit of progress on my Scrappy Trip blocks.  This pattern is perfect to work on when I only have a few minutes here and there to dillydally!

And then there is my side-kick, Flicka ... who always adds her sense of fun to everything I do!  She was pretty proud of this arrangement!  What a hoot!

Here is a dillydally equation that always brings results:

A quick and simple quilt block + kitty shenanigans = stress reduction!

Do what you love.  Reduce stress.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Surviving May Madness!

For teachers ... the month of May is filled with multiple activities .... and a full spectrum of emotions!

Google Images

Even after 28 years of teaching ... the questions this time of the year are always the same.  Will everything get done?  Will I survive?

Eyak Lake  5.6.2013

Of course ... the impossible does get done!  But the only thing that allows me to maintain a small amount of sanity is squeezing in a bit of dillydallying here and there!

Lila has begun hosting a Quiltworx Paper Piecing Special Interest  Group at the Hideout!  We will be meeting the first Saturday of every month.  She worked on borders and Diane was working on her Glacier Pines pattern!

Terry began working on a new table runner pattern!  We're all excited to see it come together!

Valerie began working on her second Seasonal table runner.  Gorgeous colors for the spikes and great background print!

Cece dropped by and shared her two table toppers.  I love the idea of turning the runners into single circle table toppers!  They are stunning!

Lila is preparing to layer and quilt her table runner!  I love how colorful it is!

I made a bit of progress on my second table runner as well.  I placed my geese in a random color order ... so far, so good!  And ... I'm especially happy that the fabrics all came from my stash!

A few hours spent with friends and fabric felt so good!  Just what I needed in order to face the many obligations ahead of me this week!  Dillydallying will be a bit scarce this month, but 2.5 months of full-time dillydallying will follow!  No worries ... if things go completely nuts ... I'll sneak in a minute or two of fabric or fiber ... so yes, I will survive!

Do what you love.  Do survive.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally 

Happy May Day!

4.29.13

We had a sunny day Monday ... after work, Kysa and I decided to look for spring.

4.29.13

 Kysa played on the lake ice ... she shows no sign of losing her winter coat ... I wore my mittens.

4.29.13

A small amount of melt must be happening somewhere ... we found a trickle of water coming from this culvert.

from google images

Today would have been my mother's 76th birthday!  I loved this time of the year on the farm.  In the craziness of calving, field work, milking and garden planning ...

from google images

... we would celebrate her birthday ... it meant that spring had arrived!

4.29.13

Here in my remote corner of the planet ... it snowed all day yesterday.  Although Kysa and I found very few signs of spring ... memories of my mother and all that she represents bring the warmth of spring to my soul.  Happy Birthday Mom!  Happy May Day everyone!  Celebrate by dillydallying!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally