Dillydally Dating!

Don't worry ... Mr. DillyDally and I remain happily married ... even though he sometimes wears white crew socks while wearing short pants ... I mean, really ... if that doesn't prove that I'm hopelessly in love with the man, what would? ;-)

I've had a dillydally date everyday for the past three days ... I keep telling you ... the dillydally lifestyle is the way to live!  Let me explain ...

... Tuesday involved a 3.5 hour lunch date with several QBees celebrating Julie's 29th birthday!  Here she is holding her favorite gift of the day ... a framed post it note ... we laughed so hard, everyone in the restaurant gave us "stink eye".  It was so fun to get together ... catching up ... talking quilts ... life's troubles and accomplishments ... the time passed so quickly ... several had to return to work.  One QBee confided that she was taking a long lunch in hopes that she would be fired!  What a hoot!  I love every moment I spend with these women ... lucky me to have friends like this in my life!

On Wednesday the focus was on knitting and Q/KBee Barb C!  She has had a lot of family visiting from the Lower 48 since I returned from Minnesota ... so we had tons to catch up on!  We went for lunch ... then shopping at The Net Loft ... next we spent the afternoon at her home beginning new knitting projects.  I began this cardigan for Sister DillyDally ... Barb designed and began a Christmas Stocking for her granddaughter, Princess Cora, who will be arriving in October!  It was such a lovely afternoon ... sipping tea ... the soft click of knitting needles ... intimate conversation ... thanks for the date Barb!

Early Thursday morning was spent cutting out and constructing a summer skirt for Sister DillyDally.  I invited KBee Krista over for a dillydally date.  I had gotten so sidetracked with the skirt, that she arrived for our date before I was even dressed!  Nothing like making a good impression on the first date! ;-)

Krista lives in the Seattle area and spends her summers here while her husband commercial fishes in the Sound.  Krista spent the afternoon knitting a stocking cap for her twenty-something daughter while I did the hand work on my twenty-something daughters skirt.  I popped us some popcorn for lunch ... what?  Come on ... I put real butter on it!  The more I get to know Krista ... I realize we have a lot in common ... I really enjoyed the afternoon getting to know her better!  Hmmmm ... I wonder if Krista will go out on a second date?  If she does, it won't be because of my hostess abilities!   I'll keep you posted ... ;-)

Gosh ... with all this dating I am really behind on the non-dillydally part of my life!  I really need to get around to doing dishes ... dust mopping would be nice ... but I'd rather work on some of my top secret 007 projects ... take a peek ...

... I don't make a very good undercover agent ... I am social by nature ... that is why I am on the dillydally dating circuit ... fortunately these projects will be given in the near future ... then I can share them with everyone!

Soooo ... dating is an important part of the dillydally lifestyle ... I enjoy both group and individual dating ... and so far I haven't had to register on eharmony or match.com!  I encourage you to call someone ... invite them on a dillydally date!  Lovin my dillydally life!

 

OH MY GOSH GOOD GOLLY! OMGGG!

YES!  I KNOW I'M SCREAMING!  THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR GUILD'S POPSICLE PARTY ON TERRY ATKINSON'S FAN PAGE ON FACEBOOK!  Take a look by clicking here.  When I met her this summer...

... I shared with her that QBee Dena and I were the co-presidents of the Alaska Chapter of her fan club.  That is literally all I remember of our conversation ... I was so "star struck" that I behaved like a fruit loop!  QBee Julie teases me that she has probably sought a restraining order against me ... truth be told ... it's true, I am a fruit loop ... but I'm harmless!  I think?

Anyhoo ... the Cordova Northwind Quilter's Guild members are enjoying their moment of fame ... this is just too darn fun!  Hope to see you all at the Popsicle Party on Sunday!  Gosh I love this dillydally life!

Guild Popsicle Party!

The Cordova Northwind Quilters Guild is hosting a Popsicle Party!  Check out the details at the guild blog, here.

We'll be using this new pattern by Terry Atkinson called Popsicle Sticks!  Am sure we'll have a ton of fun!  Spread the word!  It doesn't get much better than spending an afternoon dillydallying with QBees!  Love it!

Recent Happenings!

I love it when our remote corner of the planet is referred to as a quiet, sleepy little town ... nothing could be further from the truth!

On Tuesday (7/6), Princess Leinna Daisy arrived!  Her Momma is a KBee (knitting buddy) and you can see pictures of the princess with the blanket her mother knitted here.  We're all excited to meet Leinna Daisy ... hold her in our arms ... and smother her with hugs and kisses!  Speaking of babies ... KBee and QBee Sara left on Saturday for Anchorage where she is awaiting the arrival of her princess!

Amelia is due in early August ... and I have already dubbed her ... Princess Eeemee-meemee ... gosh ... babies ... what a great way to begin life!

On Thursday (7/8) we celebrated the wedding of a former student who is now a very close QBee!  The weather has been absolutely horrible this summer ... but it broke just before their outdoor wedding!  They were married on the breakwater ... a beautiful setting ... for a wonderful couple.

Several of us QBees got together and made them a queen sized quilt.  Many contributed batiks from their stashes ... got together and pieced the blocks while I was in Minnesota ... I was in charge of borders and binding ... local long-arm quilter Sheryl quilted it and QBee Diane applied the binding!  The pattern is called "Twinkle" by Sew Be It.  This was a labor of love ... Ria is very dear to us!

Mother /Daughter team, Susie and Shannon ... two of my favorite people ... both are Qbees and Shannon is a very serious KBee!  Yes ... she knit that gorgeous green sweater she is wearing ... she looks stunning in it!

Ria designed her wedding cake!  It directly reflects our lifestyle here in Cordova ... the extra-tuf boots on top were just perfect!  She and her friends made it ... what fun ... and how special!

Former students ... now dear friends ... fellow QBees ... each a positive force in this world ... and now wedding cake decorators extraordinaire!  A very powerful threesome ... exceptional women ... what an honor to watch them grow!  Gosh ... weddings ... what a great way to celebrate life!

How I dillydallied this week...

 ...finished the table topper ... it received Teacup's approval... ;-)

...made a lot of progress on a 007 (top secret) project...

...nothing is accomplished with out Teacup's supervision...  ;-)

...retail therapy ... future sweater for Brother DillyDally...

...walking in the woods...

...stopping to enjoy the wild flowers.

What an emotional week ... losing Colter ... the birth of Leinna ... Ria's marriage ... Amelia's upcoming birth ... grieving with Colter's family and friends ... there were moments when I was completely overwhelmed ... it was too much.  

We all express and manage emotions differently ... we find a way that works for us.  I have found that I do best if I'm using my hands.  When my hands are busy ... I can express my emotions ... I can focus my thoughts ... I can meditate and pray clearly.  Last week dillydallying helped me hold myself together ... this week it will help me heal.  My prayer for all of you who read this humble blog ... do dillydally ... may it serve as a very real blessing for you too.

My Heart is Heavy

Here in my little corner of the planet, our hearts are heavy, we have lost an important member of our community.

Colter Owen Popelka

Our sorrow is great ... because his impact on our community was profound.  Colter has been a part of my personal and professional life since his birth.  The Popelka's are so close to us ... they are family ... our grief is overwhelming ...

In his short life Colter taught us much ... to remain optimistic ... to advocate for ourselves ... to let our personality shine through ... to be honest ... to focus on what we can do ... to be affectionate ... to live life to the fullest ... to love freely.

We are reminded often ... "Love one another"... Colter would often tell me, both privately and publicly that he loved me ... it is such a gift to be loved ... I find comfort in knowing that we often verbalized our affection for one another.  Thank you for loving me, Colter.

December 15, 1990 - July 4, 2010

  Love is everlasting ... 

it has no earthly limits ... 

Colter will always be in my heart ... 

I will love him forever.

God Bless America!

Happy Birthday America!

My DillyDally Partner and/or Supervisor

It was almost three years ago that I decided to take dillydallying seriously.  Someday I'll explain the epiphany that brought about all this dillydally funsense ... but today I just want to share how I structure my day around dillydallying ... and the importance of a dillydally partner.  Remember, I am a public school teacher, so am enjoying summer vacation ... obviously my dillydally day is organized much differently when I'm working!

Both Teacup and I are early morning people ... we never sleep past 6:00 am and are usually up around 5:00!  We begin every morning the same way ... she sleeps with Brother in his room, so she meets me at the top of the stairs and gives me a leg rub.  We make our way down to the living area and turn on NPR ... I start the coffee ... and prepare her "wet" food.  She is talking to me the entire time ... if I don't move fast enough, she gets crabby and starts yelling at me!  I try to be patient with her ... she is 16 years old ... but sometimes I call her Mrs. Crabbypants ... she is related to Mr. Naughtypants ... they're cousins!

After coffee, at least one sudoku puzzle and "wet" food we begin to take our dillydallying seriously.  This is a 007 (secret) project we've been working on this week.  The recipient received it today, so we can share photos.  Whew!  It is hard to keep secrets, don't you think?  Here Teacup is supervising how I pin baste the layers together.  Fortunately it met with her approval!  ;-)

"Her Majesty" and I work together on the machine quilting.  Even after 16 years of experience, Teacup often gets her paws and nose too close, and for her own safety is often forced to leave the sewing room.  When that happens ... we both go by Mrs. Crabbypants!

Final approval is a process ... first, she must roll around on the project ... then she must in some way bathe herself ... who knew quilts were for bathing?  They are in the feline world!

When she regally sits on the edge of the quilt ... I know that I have received her final paw print of approval.  Ya-Hoo!  We usually dillydally until 8:00 am ... then check email and blogs we follow or stalk.  Usually at 9:00 we turn off the radio and switch to the television.  We listen and half-watch music videos while we take care of household chores and other "have to" obligations.  Our goal is to have our chores done, be showered and dressed by noon.  Some times we stay on schedule ... sometimes we don't ... life happens!

Later in the day, before dinner, we dillydally again.  In the afternoons, we usually dillydally to a movie.  Recently we've focused on old musicals.  I love Doris Day.  For Mother's Day I got the second collection of her movies ... so we have been watching one every afternoon this week.  When I was a "tween", I wanted to grow up and become Doris Day ... I loved everything about her ... still do.  Most of these movies are older than I am ... I love the styles of both the sets and clothing ... the music ... the plot ... perfect for dillydallying!  It is fun to see the influence of the styles in these movies of the 1950's on today's "vintage/modern" designs.  Love it! 

This was a new project we began this morning ... a table topper in honor of the 4th of July!

It was fun ... a pattern I've had for a while, but hadn't had a chance to use before.  The piecing was fun and obviously it went together quickly ...

... only under the close supervision of Teacup ... yes ... so far it has her approval!

Both of the patterns in this post are by Terry Atkinson.  The baby quilt comes from her Spring Cleaning book and is called 10,000 Lakes.  It is one of my all time favorite patterns ... works well with jelly rolls ... you'll love it!  The table topper is called Happy Holidays.  It comes with instructions for 3 sizes, this one is the medium ... I will be making this one again ... and again!  

Soooo ... that's how Teacup and I spend an average dillydally day ... she's convinced I couldn't do it with out her ... truth be told ... it would be lonely.  We wish you many dillydally days ... and partners to dillydally with!