Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

September Wishes

September . . .
one of the loveliest times of the year:)
 ~~~~~*****~~~~~
 Today is my birthday . . .
I am 70 years YOUNG today:)
&
Thankful for each and every year.
Some were very hard 
and some were more of a breeze,
but each one gave me choices and changes to grow 
in my faith and my character.
I'm not where I want to be with that,
but I'm not where I used to be either.
I guess I'm like the Sunflower . . .
Stretching out toward the "Son" 
and praying for more growth each day.
I need it!
~~~~~*****~~~~~ 
  Look at this  . . .
it's huge and was so heavy.
I wish that I would have thought to weigh it:)
It was sweet, but still pink on the inside,
I should have let it mature a little longer.
~~~~~*****~~~~~ 
 On our way home from church on Sunday,
we stopped at Jo-Ann's.
My Steve asked me if I would make him 
a Christmas quilt for his Christmas present
 this year.
This photo is right out of the dryer.
I know they say that you don't have to 
prewash your fabric anymore,
but I still do.
How about you, do you prewash?
    


    

So I've started by paper piecing these.

If I don't have an evening project,
I fall asleep in front of the TV.
Paper piecing is one of my favorite 
evening things to do:)

 I've been enjoying my zinnias and sunflowers
and will hate to see them leave 
when our first frost comes.

~~~~~*****~~~~~
Every season brings with it 
new pleasures.
Our weather has started cooling down
with cool evenings that carry into crisp mornings.
 ~~~~~*****~~~~~
Our weekend was filled with several
rain showers :)
We have been needing rain for so long.
The last really good rain was in May.
I had to look back in my garden journal 
to know that.
~~~~~*****~~~~~ 
What do you enjoy most about September?

Have a lovely week
&
Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sisiter,
Connie :)
  

63 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Connie. I love your post. You are very good at that piecing. Love what you have created so far. The flowers on the sill are adorable. Blessings to you, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Hi Susie, thank you for stopping by to visit and for the birthday wish. I will hate to see the flowers die back this fall, but right now they are so beautiful and i enjoy bringing them into the house.

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  2. Happy Birthday! Have a lovely day! Your quilt is going to be awesome! I love all things Christmas! This year I like September because my daughter is expecting her second baby! I am so excited to be a grandma again! The baby is due on 6th! xxx

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    1. Congratulations "Grandma" . . . isn't that a lovely word :) Grandchildren are so much fun, I love that my oldest granddaughter 9 years old, still loves to hold my hand when we walk together . . . it makes me feel so warm and cozy inside :)

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  3. Happy Birthday!! Wishing you fun, laughter and many more!! Love the Christmas Stars, they will make a lovely gift.

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    1. Hello Miss Mary, thank you for the birthday wish, I have had a very pleasant day :)

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  4. First, a very Happy Birthday to you!! I always prewash my fabrics, less chance of color bleed or shrinking disasters that way. Your paper piecing is beautifully done!

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    1. Thank you for the birthday wish :) I just don't want to put all that work into a quilt and then have it shrink and pull out of shape. I love red and use it a lot in my quilts and as we all know red is a color that can bleed. I'm sure all of our husbands have wore pink underwear at one point in our marriage . . . not a pleasant experience, LOL.

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  5. Happy Birthday!

    I had no idea you were older than me, but just by a few years. You are young at heart.

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    1. Hi Carol, I am 6 years older than my Steve and when people find out that we are 6 years apart they usually think that he is the older one . . . I just smile and let them think it:)

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  6. Happy birthday! I am a summer person so september is not my favorite month...

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    1. Oh, I'm sorry . . . I love summer too, but this summer has been the worst as far at heat and dryness that I have ever experienced . . . I'm kind of glad to see it coming to an end.

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  7. Happy Birthday, Connie!

    "I'm not where I want to be with that,
    but I'm not where I used to be either."

    Joyce Meyer says that same thing! It's a good perspective.

    Favorite thing about September? Well, school starts again. We homeschool. Looking forward to it. Our textbooks should be arriving any day now.

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    1. How exciting! I love the smell of new books and the excitement of seeing what is inside. When I attended college (community two year only) I would get my books early and read them before the classes started, then when I reread them everything was crystal clear and already familiar. Do you have a room that you can set up as a classroom?

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  8. Happy Birthday sweet blogging sister! You're such a beautiful lady with so much energy and talent! What a joy you are to visit. I always wish you were right next door! Sending you BUNCHES of birthday HUGS today! Enjoy your day and have fun! I like September best because it still feels like summer here in the sunshine state. hugs and kisses, Diane

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    1. Hello Diane, you are so sweet, thank you for all the sweet comments . . . I'm not so sure that I deserve them, but they sure put a smile on my face . . . thank you :)

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  9. Hi Connie - Happy Birthday! Your flowers are gorgeous!

    Judy

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  10. Happy birthday and wishing you many more. Love the fabrics you have chosen for the Christmas quilt. I too am a great fan of paper piecing, I actually don't bother to pre-wash my fabrics anymore and so far that has not created any problems. I love sitting in front of the stove in the cooler months with a project on my knee.

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    1. Having something to keep my hands busy is comforting to me and since I have discovered paper piecing it has become my evening project of choice.
      Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes; I have had a very nice day :)

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  11. *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to you.. I'm so glad we found each other as blog friends! Your quilt looks like it will be a beauty. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Hi Teresa, you are such a sweetie pie! I have been truly enjoying our blogging friendship too and love tagging along with you on your adventures. You have so much energy, I have trouble keeping up, even over the computer. There is certainly no moss growing under your feet :)

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  12. Happy, happy birthday, Connie! I love that analogy that you are like the sunflower reaching toward the sun!
    The Christmas quilt is going to be stunning!
    Have a blessed birthday!
    Christine

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    1. Thank you, Christine . . . I have had a lovely day and I've truly enjoyed all the lovely birthday wishes :)

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  13. Happy Birthday and Many More. The star quilt block looks so pretty. I love this time of the year. I see the family more, cook more, and visit more. I love the cooler temperatures and for me it is like a rebirth.

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    1. Hi Betty, thank you for the birthday wish and for the compliment on the quilt I'm making. I want it to be special, because it is for my sweetheart of 39 years, actually 40 years if you count the year we dated before marrying. We sat out on the front porch this evening and it was so nice . . . all summer it has just been too hot to sit out there. This is the hottest year that I can ever remember . . . the cooler weather is a blessing:)

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  14. Happy Birthday, hope your day is everything you want it to be. Love reading your blog. Keep up the great work.

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  15. Wishing you a very Happy 70th Birthday! Hope you're having a wonderful day. I love September too, we celebrate our wedding anniversary in September - it will be 41 years on the 14th. Where do the years go????

    I love the fabrics you've chosen for your quilt. It will look amazing when it's finished. xx

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    1. Hello Liz, you are so sweet, thank you and congratulations on 41 years of marriage. We celebrated 39 this year and I agree the years just seem to fly by . . . everyone around me is growing older . . . what happen to them? LOL

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  16. HAPPY, HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY!!! I hope it was a wonderful day!! That is sweet that your son wanted a quilt. I have some that my Grandma made. They are special.
    ENJOY YOUR DAY!
    warmly,
    deb

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    1. Hi Deb, thank you for the birthday wishes . . . not my son but my husband, but when Christmas get close he does turn into a little boy again. He loves Christmas :) I think it is going to be a fun quilt to make.

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  17. Happy birthday!! Cheers to another rich and fulfilling year full of love and crafts too.
    Your watermelon reminds me of a big loaf of rising bread slightly gone off. Heh. It's a beautiful thing.
    And your quilt will make an absolutely wonderful gift.

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    1. Hello there Sweet Melanie, It is always a treat to see that you have come to visit. This summer is my second garden and my first time to grow watermelons . . . they are so much fun to watch grow, they grow so fast and their vines just take over the real estate . . . not only that but they are also my favorite food ever :)
      Thanks for the birthday wish, I had a lovely day :)

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  18. Well, I enjoy knowing October is next and Florida will finally begin cooling down...:) I also gave birth to my precious daughter Miranda in September! I'll have to celebrate with her virtually this year! Your flowers are lovely and the quilt will be to! I prewashed the fabric for Miranda's blanket I made. It was much softer that way! Have a lovely week my friend!

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    1. Hi Vicky, I know it has been so hot here but the last few days the temperatures have dropped and we even got a little rain this weekend . . . it cleared the air of all the smoke from the forest fires. This has been a summer to remember . . . so hot . . . and so many fires. There has been a burning ban all summer, not because we live near the forests, but the dessert can catch on fire and spread very fast because there is no wind protection. The wind blows in the smoke from the fires and makes it harder to be outside. We are looking forward to fall and hoping for more rain . . . lots of rain :)

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  19. September is a special month to me....we got married on September 1st and today we celebrated our 36 anniversary. Love the Quilt you are working on. I have one that is done with the piecing and now I need to quilt it.
    hugs,
    ~Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, Congratulations . . . Happy Anniversary. I guess we are both celebrating today :)

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  20. May I wish you a very Happy Birthday Connie. May it be a joyful one filled with love, peace, friendship and all the good things God has for you.

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    1. You are so sweet and thank you so much . . . it has been a lovely day :)

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  21. Hi Connie! Happy Birthday to you!!! I am sorry I missed sending you a card. I just sent you an e-mail the other day asking what day your birthday was. Guess I should have thought about doing that sooner. I hope you had a lovely day. Your flowers are beautiful and the watermelon is humongous!! Glad it has cooled down for you. It has warmed up here again with hot and humid. Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, thank you for the birthday wishes . . . I appreciate them and your blogging friendship. I'm sorry to hear that you are still having your hot weather. It's still hot here, but compared to what we have had all summer it is wonderful :) Especially the fact that the nights are cooling off . . . all summer are evening seems to be almost as hot as our days. We actually were able to sit outside on the porch this evening, it's been too hot to enjoy it all summer.

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  22. Oh Connie! Happy, happy, happy birthday.Happy, happy, happy birthday.Happy, happy, happy birthday. To YOU! To YOU! TO YOU!!!!! Hope your new year of life is wonderful.

    I love September. It's my birthday month, too, and I celebrate the whole month! Fun! I also love the cooler temps, gorgeous sunny but cool days and farmers markets.

    Hope your day was splendid, Connie. I LOVE your header. So adorable! Susan

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    1. Hello Susan, you are so sweet, I can almost hear you singing to me. Life is good and Happy Birthday to you too!

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  23. Happy Birthday Connie!
    I love that you have an idea and you go for it! All your projects are amazing! I love September because it starts to get cooler and Fall is around the corner. Also, my hubby's birthday is tomorrow, so that is always fun!
    I hope you have a wonderful week!
    Hugs, Amy

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    1. Hi Amy, thank you for the birthday wishes and have fun planning your hubby's birthday. I'll bet you are baking a cake today . . . we are doing a low carb diet so I didn't op for a cake this year :) I just finished quilting the quilt that I had on my rack, so today I hope to do the blinding, then I'm going to really dig into Steve's Christmas quilt, it should be lots of fun to make. Thanks again, for stopping by, you are a sweetie pie :)

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  24. Happy Birthday, Connie! Wishing you a wonderful year.

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  25. Many happy returns of the day Connie! Your love for life and living shines through and 70 years YOUNG seems very apt. Enjoy the day xxx

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    1. Hello Carolyn, I love it when you drop by to say hello . . . you always bring a little sunshine with you. Thank you so much for the birthday wishes . . . I had a very pleasant day :)

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  26. Happy Birthday to my lovely blogging friend. I would have baked you a cake if I could. I have to say looking at your pictures you certainly do not look your age, you must have good genes and a good life. Have a very happy day xxxx

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    1. Good Morning Fran, thank you so much . . . you have started my morning off with a big smile. I had a Grandma that didn't start slowing down until her early nineties and a Momma that didn't slow down until her mid nineties, so if all stays on course, I should start slowing down around a hundred. They both lived another five years after their slow down. That's the genes I have from the women on my Momma's side of the family . . . the others not so good, but I've made up my mind to take after the healthy ones, LOL. So far it's working out fine. Thanks for your sweet compliment :)

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  27. Happy Birthday, Connie! I hope your day was wonderful. Mine is coming up in a couple of weeks and I am not that many years behind you. I love all of your beautiful photos...zinnias remind me of my mom and I just love them!

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    1. Hi Debby, May I be the first to wish you a Happy Birthday. I love zinnias, too . . . they just look so happy and don't stop blooming until frost.

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  28. Oh Connie, congratulations on your 70h birthday yesterday! Sorry I missed it! I love sunflowers too, and painted them all around our kitchen in our old house. I love the idea of them turning their faces to the "Son"!! Great! Lovely flowers, and what a lovely quilt you are making too. Thank you for your great comment - I have permission from the publisher to put my drawing on my blog and it will go up tomorrow.

    Shoshi x

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    1. Hello Shoshi, thank you for the birthday wish and be sure that I will come visit and see your drawing . . . congratulations on that again. I'm very proud of you :)

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  29. Happy Birthday to you
    Happy Birthday to you
    Happy Birthday dear Connie
    Happy Birthday to you

    I bet that quilt will be pretty awesome just like everything else you make. I never used to prewash fabrics before and just recently I was doing a project and decided that I would. It's nice to know that you really don't have to because having to wash the fabric first kept me from starting the project for a week or so....lol

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    1. Hi Ann. I know it is a pain in the neck to pre-wash and then there is the need to iron it afterwards. When you have over two yards that can be a job keeping it nice and straight, but I still do it. Not often, but I have had a few fabrics that have had the colors run and some that have shrunk. There is so much work into making a quilt; I just can not bare the thought of it messing up when it first gets washed. Your top of the line fabrics guarantee that they don't need it, but I don't always buy top of the line:) Thank you for spending me this sweet birthday wish, it makes getting older a little bit sweeter.

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  30. Happy Birthday Connie!! You are a beautiful flower! Yep. I pre-wash everything, too. I just always have. So here's wishing you much happiness and fast growing hair.

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  31. Happy Birthday!!! May you be blessed with many happy years to come. I love how you compared yourself with a sunflower and how you are stretching to the Son and more growth, that's me too :) I have made my hubby a couple of quilts, but I hadn't heard we don't have to wash fabrics anymore, yes I still prewash before cutting my pieces. Looks like you have a great start to yours!
    So good to hear you have received some much needed rain!

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    1. Hi Connie, You are such a sweetheart! Thank you for the birthday wishes I truly appreciate them. The rain was nice. We didn't get much but it was enough to clear the smoke (forest fires about sixty miles away) from the air and bring us cooler temperatures. I'm working a little bit with jelly rolls, so of course I can't pre-wash them, but everything else goes into the washer and drier. It's more work, but it guarantees that our quilts won't bleed or shrink, right . . . to me and to you too . . . the extra work is worth it :) Have a lovely day.

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  32. Thank you for such kind words, Connie! I am so glad you like my drawing. I am thrilled to be published - it's a real honour!

    Shoshi

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