Quilt Delivery

A "quick" appointment for my son at Georgetown doubled up as a delivery for a dozen or so quilts to the Pediatric Hem/Onc Clinic today. Social worker Denise Garner was thrilled to see a new "stash" of brightly colored quilts, all graciously made and donated by my guild, Southern Comforters of Bowie, Maryland. I am very thankful for these women who think and care about the kids and their families going through cancer treatments, and willing to brighten up their rooms with a beautiful quilt. Thank you!

BSoleille!  The bright side of a bright quilt!

Terri

Hard at Work

My husband Bill likes to spread out and work on the weekends, at the kitchen table no less this time. It's all good and he even managed to get up super early to catch a live match of the English Premier League. So this is what he had going on (I call it a thee ring circus), and like McDonald's , "loving it!"

BSoleille!

Terri 

A Perfect Day for a Wedding

Weather wise, days like today do not come around that often. Cool morning to start, brilliant sunshine and the slow warm up to the afternoon with a comfortable temperature heading into the evening. A beautiful day for a wedding!

So, I am thankful that my family was able to help celebrate the wedding of Matt & Brooke Russell. Matt is the son of our Special Love (Camp Fantastic) friends, Jon and Kathy! The nuptials and reception were held at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, just over the Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shore and a breathtaking setting of the water, setting sun and bridge. 

BSoleille!  The bright side of, "I do" and cheers to the happy couple. 

Terri 

Halfway to 300,000

Miles, that is, in my 2001 Corolla according to "Joe the Mechanic". As long as we change the oil in a timely fashion and rotate the tires, we should be able to get to that particular mileage milestone. 

I really do get a kick out of vehicles high mileage stories. Typically, I read about them on the internet, but recently I was talking to a friend who has driven one vehicle 415,000 thus far!  So of course I asked him what car/truck it was, and he thankfully revealed it was a Honda Ridgeline!  I asked him his secret in obtaining that number, and without hesitation (besides general maintenance) his vehicles are garaged kept at night. That's it, nothing special except that the oil maintains better temperatures in extreme heat/cold and that's what he thinks keeps his cars running best. Sounds good to me. 

BSoleille! The bright side of driving cars/trucks to over 200,000; 300,000; 400,000 or a half million miles!

Terri 

Lucky 13

Our poodle mix "Lucky" turned 13 years old today. He is still spunky and fun and loves to cuddle with his humans. "We" celebrated in a quiet little affair by me giving Lucky five biscuits and Lucy four (that's a couple more than they usually get) this evening. I also sang "Happy Birthday" really fast and out of tune for him. He was so happy to get those biscuits, nothing else mattered!

BSoleille!

Terri 

Norma Campbell

In the quilting world the name Norma Campbell is synonymous with the "Trip Around the World" quilt. Tonight Norma spoke about her other quilts and vast teaching experiences at my guilds' meeting, but did show two "Trips". One she made in batiks and one she "inherited" from another quilter made in Halloween fabrics. Cool stuf for sure! 

BSoleille!

Terri

Guest Lecturers

My son Ryan and I (along with Noah and Chris Grove) were guest lecturers today along with Dr. Aziza Shad for the medical students at Georgetown University Hospital. This was our second time invited to share some of our story with aspiring medical professionals, and I believe it was quite powerful for them to hear from two childhood cancer survivors in Noah and Ryan. I am very proud of these two young men as they are today!

BSoleille!

Terri

Back on the Pitch...

That being my husband, Bill, who took a couple of years off but back at it with three U13 games this afternoon (boys and girls). A great afternoon of sunshine and youth soccer and we were able to work together as well. Welcome back Bill!

BSoleille!  

Terri

Capital Crescent Trail

I am thankful to have spent the day with Karen Leavitt, college track and cross country teammate from Bowling Green, who currently lives in Chicago. She is in town taking in the sites and we met up today (and last night for dinner) with an early morning bike ride on the Capital Crescent Trail. We started in Georgetown and headed north to Bethesda, then rode through DC and Arlington Cemetary. A beautiful day to be out and about for sure!

Another attraction by happenstance was taking in an exhibit at the Swedish Embassy (a textile exhibit at the House of Sweden) that was small, but got the chance to go up on the rooftop and take in the view of the city. 

BSoleille!  The bright side of catching up with an "old" friend for a day!

Terri

Library of Congress Building

I felt compelled to post about the very impressive Library of Congress Building I was in last night, as I do not recall ever being in it before. The Beaux Arts architecture style with its fine decorations, murals, paintings, marble halls, columns and steps, carved hardwoods and a stained glass dome was simply breathtaking. If you are local, get down there and take a look around! 

The Library of Congress is the research library that officially serves the US Congress  but which is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. 

Although the 23,500,000 volumes of catalogue books, and over 150,000,000 non classified items are only "lent" out to Congress and their staffers, there is plenty to see with the special exhibits and permanent collections for the rest of the citizens. 

BSoleille!  The bright side of planning my next trip to the Library of Congress. 

Terri 

September - Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

I am very thankful that my family was invited to the Hyundai Hope on Wheels gala at the "foothills of the ages", also known as The Library of Congress in Washington DC. The wonderful event hosted a number of speakers all commited to conquering childhood cancer with Hyundai leading the charge by donating 9 million dollars in 2014 for research in 36 hospitals nationwide!

BSoleille!  The bright side of 87 million dollars in life saving grants donated by Hyundai since 1998!  Now that is pretty awesome, don't you think?

Terri

Ta-Da! Kitchen

K. P. duty anyone? I am raising my hand "loud and proud" to work in my "new" kitchen!  So thankful that it all came together under the direction of Michael Serafini, our contractor extraordinaire!  Except for a few items and the backsplash (in the process of selecting tile), we have a new beautiful, functional and working kitchen!  

BSoleille!  The bright side of having running water in the kitchen again (I fully realize first world issue).

Terri

Another Farmers Market

This past weekend in Harrisonburg, Virginia, "The Best Daughter" highly recommended that we hit the farmers market in the downtown area. It was small, but had great offerings, like the pumpkins in today's photo. We also bought some great zucchini and squash to round out our visit.  

BSoleille!

Terri 

Just TRyan It

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and this evening my husband Bill and I attended a "Thank You" event at Georgetown University Hospital for the Just TRyan It Foundation. Since 2010 the JTI has raised over $500,000 dollars to help families at Georgetown cover basic living expenses while their children are undergoing cancer treatment. 

And the best part? Their major fund raising event is a Kids Triathalon in June. This year that event alone raised $165,000!  A big shout of Thanks to the JTI Foundation and helping kids and their families at Georgetown. 

BSoleille!  The bright side of kids helping kids. 

Terri

1,000 Strong!

The marching Royal Dukes at James Madison University had their first annual half time show including top high school band musicians from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina. It was spectacular and loud and just as a marching band should be. The "show", er, football game, came up the big winner over St. Francis 38-22. A great afternoon of tailgating and football!

BSoleille!  The bright side of a college fight song!

Terri 

"Possibillibees" Magic Stars

Almost a year ago I posted about a birthday bee swap with the "Possibillibees". Fast forward 10 months and I put together my 12 blocks collected with my chosen fabric. I don't think it's done yet, as I may add a couple of borders, but I really like it thus far!  So a big shout of thanks to the "Possi" for my blocks!

BSoleille!  The bright side of star quilt blocks (12" finished). 

Terri

9/11

So much has been written and reviewed, and images are stuck in our heads forever. Thirteen years. We must never forget. 

In With the New; Out With the Old

It is not every day one buys a new lawn mower. I am thankful that my "old" mower "worked" for the past 18 years. I have had to nurse it along the past two years, and spent too much on repairs instead of replacing, so I guess I hit that proverbial "boiling point", cut my losses, and bought a new one. Now I will not have to prime it 50 times and yank on the pull 20 times to start it!  

I cannot believe the difference in operating the new one!  Smooth to use, cut nicely and the self propel mode (when activated) had me gliding all over the yard like a jet ski on water (ok, not quite, but close)!

BSoleille! The bright side of replacing new for old, as in lawn mowers....

Terri

Photo has the old on left and new on right. 

Intricate Designs in Spider Webs

Over the past few days I have noticed in various places some amazing and intricate spider webs!  They are truly a work of art on closer inspection, and my photo today does not do "my" spider web justice. If you look closely you can see some of the silk lines radiating out; as it is about an 18" circumference. 

To quote Edwin Way Teale:

"The difference between utility and utility plus beauty is the difference between telephone wires and a spider web."

BSoleille!  The bright side of a "Charlotte's Web"!

Terri

Big Red Barn

This photo today of a big red barn seemed to be practically "glowing"!  I mean that the overcast sky seemed to make this bright red paint on the barn truly stand out. It is located on the Riverdale Baptist School Grounds in Lanham, Maryland, and was too fun not to pass and take a quick photo.  I also love the Maryland flag up on the barn frame!

BSoleille!

Terri 

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The men in the house really dig Sunday football. Just to be social, I sat down for a spell to check out some of the action on the gridiron. They toggle back and forth with multiple games to seek the most action.  I realized that I am all about the "Hail Mary Pass", and thankfully saw three of them in all that toggling. Two passes were back to back (the best kind) in the Ravens vs. Cincinnati game. I like how the arc of the ball sails 30,40, or 50 yards and is caught by outstretched arms! Whew!

BSoleille!  The bright side of a "Hail Mary" TOUCHDOWN pass!!

Terri

Another Look at the Kitchen

I am very thankful that the kitchen renovation is in its last couple stages. We are currently waiting for the countertops to arrive/install and then everything else will come together fairly quickly. It is really shaping up to our liking and, I believe, the finished product is going to look great, have a nice flow and be totally functional! I am ready to make that "first" dinner. 

BSoleille! The bright side to under cabinet lighting!

Terri

Does Summer Have to End?

The heat and calendar still say it is summer, and I am fine with that. My photo today is one of my favorite soccer field right on the Chesapeake Bay. This is the view, but about 75 yards back. I love how the water is glistening and everything seems brighter. 

BSoleille!

Terri

"Boiling Point"

How long can you go between haircuts? Mowing the yard? And one more, trimming hedges?  Those pesky hairs, grass and errant shoots get to me after awhile and I reach a "boiling point" that I cannot take it for another minute. Case in point (no pun intended here), those pesky hedge shoots seem to grow by the hour. And why can't the hedge grow out all together?  So I to cut my losses and trimmed away. Whew! All good now...for awhile at least. 

BSoleille!

Terri

Picnic Dining in Edgewater Maryland

A bee favorite is dining al fresco on the South River in a tiny park near one member's house. Tonight was spectacular with the food, fun and beautiful sunset. And of course, talking about all that quilting.... I realized (with a little help from my friends) that I need to pick up my game since I am way behind on the various swaps I am involved with!  So, one day I will surprise them with everything I owe will be done!

BSoleille! The bright side of a bee picnic! Notice how calm the water was tonight. 

Terri 

Cloud of Batting

Combining two large pieces of batting looked like I was floating on a cloud.  It was made to use in a tshirt quilt I am currently quilting and will finish tomorrow. 

BSoleille! The bright side of "floating on a cloud"!

Terri

Summer's End?

Say it isn't so!  But when the outdoor pool season shut down today-that's all folks. And the funny thing is (maybe not so funny, really) is that the temperatures will be in the 90's all this coming week, and we have not had those high temps in Maryland all summer. On to the Harvest Moon.....

BSoleille,

Terri