Dillydally Weekend!

Our winter wonderland weather has continued ... I love it!   What a beautiful way to begin the weekend!  On Friday evening a couple of friends and I attended the local theatre production.  The play was about the lives of Shaker women ... it made us laugh ... reduced us to tears ... and involved the use of many shaker hymns!  It was so touching to see the talents of women I know and two of my students showcased in such a powerful way.  There is an abundance of talent in this remote corner of the planet!  After the play, we went out and spent a few hours catching up with one another ... yep ... time enjoying the arts and my girlfriends ... the beginning of terrific weekend!

I spent Saturday morning finishing up two more 007 projects ...  my undercover work has kept me busy ... because they involve deadlines!  When you're a dillydallier ... deadlines can be difficult ... we are often distracted by dillydally whims! ;-)  But occasionally even we dillydalliers must focus ... especially when involved in covert operations.  I have finished three quilting and nearly three knitting 007 projects!  Whew!  I see light at the end of this tunnel!  Reveals will occur when recipients have received them!

Early in the afternoon, a friend and I went to our favorite place here in Cordova ... our local yarn and gift shop ... The Net Loft!  They were having a Holiday Open House!  The shop was filled with fiber and holiday goodness of every kind!  It is always so inspiring ... I bought yarn to knit mittens ... little gifts for the kids ...

... and this book!  I have fallen in love with Arne and Carlos ...

... these ornaments are the reason why.  I am dying ... yes, I mean dying to knit some of these!  I feel faint just thinking about it!

I worked hard finishing those 007 projects in the morning so that I could spend the afternoon and evening focused on this ...

Click here to join the fun!

... OK ... I think we would all agree that I have talked about this nonstop ever since Bonnie announced it!  I know ... I tend to go on ... and on ... and on ... and on.  Sorry, but when I'm excited ... I just can't stop myself! ;-)

I went through my stash ... selecting the blacks and lights I wanted to use.  Pressed and cut strips.  Gosh, I love the process.

On Sunday, our guild held a Quiltville Special Interest Group meeting.  You can read about it here on the guild blog.  Warning ... our guild members are very inspiring ... enjoy!

Here is my Orca Bay Mystery ... now I can carry it all in this box, but that is because we are only working on the first clue! ;-)

I ended up with 44 hour glass units ... only 180 more to go! ;-)  I don't make myself crazy with the numbers or with the deadlines.  Bonnie breaks her quilts down into manageable chunks ... which prevent it from becoming overwhelming.  I like to cut some ... piece some ... cut again ... sew again ... and eventually they all add up!  Let me repeat myself ... I find joy in the process and do not worry about keeping up or being ahead!

Yep ... it was a terrific weekend here in dillydallydom!  Do what you love ... do dillydally!

My Front Yard

I have lived in my very small and modest home for 25 years.

My home is only 1500 square feet, has one bathroom ... and is on pilings.

These pictures were all taken from my front deck.

I never tire of the view ... it is my front yard.

And...this view is the reason we tolerate all the inconveniences of our house.

I love sharing my front yard.  You can imagine the thrill I felt...

...when Bonnie Hunter based the color palette for her new mystery on the sunset we experienced when she was here for dinner!

Step one can be found here!

We are all so excited here in this remote corner of the planet!  Bonnie named her annual mystery design after her visit here.  What an honor for Cordova quilters!

Bonnie has such incredible talent ... and she generously shares it with quilters all over the world.  But it is her generous heart that is most impressive.

Hope many of you will dillydally along with us on this mystery!  I am not a competitive quilter ... I don't pressure myself to keep up each week ... I don't mind getting the next step before I finish the last one ... and I don't mind when the mystery is revealed before I've gotten there.  However, I do savor the journey!

Enjoy your front yard ... do dillydally!

Dillydally Updates!

Wow!  I am having a tough time accepting the fact that it is already November 15th!  When did that happen?  Time passes too quickly ... I am always in the perpetual state of having so many things I would like to do and never enough time to accomplish it all ... yep ... that is my normal! ;-)

Undercover 007 Projects
I have been knitting and sewing away.  When it comes to knitting I have been traveling backwards!  Yep ... a lot of ripping out!  It is a necessary evil when designing knitted objects.  Sometimes the design work done on paper and the actual knitting appear to be two completely different things! ;-) Even though I have brief moments of complete frustration ... I love the process ... and enjoy the end result!

 Here is a tease ... hey, remember this project is classified!  I have to stop here and cannot reveal any more!  It is very difficult being a secret agent!

Dillydallying in the Kitchen
I love cooking with pumpkin this time of the year!  I find it hard to resist a new recipe for something made with pumpkin ... which is fortunate for Mr. DillyDally and my friends!

Meet Nutella Cheesecake Pumpkin Muffins ...

...they are delicious and will be placed permanently in my recipe file!  I did replace 1/2 cup of the oil with 1/2 cup applesauce.  It is a large recipe, the yield is 20 but I ended up with 24!  Perfect for a potluck or guild event!

Weather In My Remote Corner of the Planet

View from my classroom

Since my last weather report (here), we've had two snow storms, a lot of rain and one thaw. ;-)  Welcome to my reality!

View from my classroom

Currently we are in a cold and clear pattern...love it!

Unclassified Project

Progress on my wool applique project is slow but steady.  This project has no deadline ... I have found it to be very relaxing!  It has become the dillydally calm amongst the storm of ... rip, reknit, rip ... and sewing with the door closed!  ;-)

And that's the news from dillydallydom ... where the attitude is positive ... the projects are fun ... and all  intentions are good!

Do what you love...do dillydally!

Happy Veterans Day!

I love many things about teaching ... one of which is beginning everyday with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Standing with my students ... our hands on our hearts ... facing the flag ... speaking those powerful words in unison.  It serves as a daily reminder of the wonderful freedoms we enjoy ... and those who have and continue to defend those freedoms for us.

Veterans ... thank you for your service ... I appreciate all that you've done and continue to do ... I am forever grateful.

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

This is what's currently happening in my remote corner of the planet ... the weather outside is frightful!

On Saturday we had a taste of what was to come...

... a bit of calm...before the storm.

The view Monday morning...

...that afternoon, the snow began to fall...we had about an inch by the time I came home from work.

Kysa was happy!  She loves snow...her new winter coat keeps her toasty warm!

This was the view at 8:00 am today ... snow gently falling ... very beautiful!

Here is the view from my classroom this afternoon.  The snow continues ...we've received about 10 inches in the last 24 hours.  But snow is beautiful and easy to manage...other parts of Alaska are having severe weather causing concern for many coastal communities.

My current dillydally projects are classified...007 items!  I'm pleased that Mother Nature cooperated and gave me something to blog about since my current dillydallying is top secret! ;-)

Keep warm...do dillydally!

Bits of DillyDally News!

Life is always hectic...no matter what corner of the planet you live in!  I shared with a friend earlier this week, "All I want is just one boring day!"  It makes me giggle, because the truth is that a boring day would drive me crazy!  OK...I know what you're thinking...yes, I'm already nearly crazy .. but at least I am a "happy" crazy!

The picture you see above...it is supposed to be my header for November.  Mr. DillyDally took it this week.  Blogger and I are having a personality conflict...they said I had used up all the memory they provide free and that I needed to purchase some ... so I did ... weeks ago.  They continue to tell me I am out of memory ... so I used every help button I could find ... since that didn't produce any results, I have been trying to figure out how to contact them ... it is impossible!  UGH!!  If anyone out there knows how to assist or direct me, I would really appreciate it!

The Really Big News

 Of course the biggest news in dillydallydom this week was the announcement of Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt!  We here in Cordova are all a twitter over it!  Bonnie's online mystery quilts are always a big event.  I have only made one, but follow them when they're in progress!  I cannot believe the frenzy they create!  Some participants have become very competitive and demanding ... makes me giggle ... we dillydalliers are laid back about this sort of thing.  Having just started two of her quilts while she was here in September ... I was looking forward to the mystery, but wasn't planning to make it.  SNAP!!!  When I checked her blog Tuesday morning for the announcement ... I nearly dropped my laptop!

Of course I'm going to make it!  And I hope you'll join me and the hundreds of others as we take this journey!  Now because I live by the dillydally creed... 

• I will work on it at a pace that is convenient for me
• I will enjoy seeing the progress of others
• I will not whine, nor feel any guilt  
• I intend to enjoy the process ;-)

QBee Sara serves as President of the Cordova Chapter of the Bonnie Hunter Fan Club ... she has some great ideas of how we can celebrate making Orca Bay together!  I cannot wait for the fun to begin!

How Something Sew Simple Became Complicated

Our guild's annual Tea & Auction is just weeks away!  It is time to get serious about making auction items.  While going through my stash, I came across a panel that I purchased this summer.  Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a photo of it when it was still in one piece.  I had also picked up a few fat quarters of coordinating prints.  Great!  I'll chop it up ... piece it back together ... easy, right?

Wrong!  My brain was obviously somewhere else when I did the math!  What to do next?  Time to put this dillydally brain to work!

Instead of one wall quilt, I ended up with two!  It is amazing how far you can make fabric go when you have to!  Now... to get them quilted and bound ... always something! ;-)

Slow & Steady Progress

Thought I would share the progress I've made on my wool applique project.  Most of the produce is stitched down.  I love holding the wool in my hands ... and am savoring the process.

And that my dear dillydallies ... is the news this week from dillydallydom.  I hope you were able to work a bit of dillydallying into your week as well!

Do what you love...do dillydally!

I Can Barely Breathe!

Holy Moly Hot Bologna!

I am so touched and overwhelmed...I can barely breathe.  Check it out for yourself... HERE!

Bonnie ... you are such a peach!  Thanks for all you do and for touching the lives of those who live in my remote corner of the planet!

Do dillydally!  And you have the opportunity to dillydally with a Quiltville mystery!  I know what I'm doing this weekend!

P.S.  Yes, I am hyperventilating! ;-)