"Evil will triumph if good men...and women do nothing."


my adaptation of a quote by Edmund Burke.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Buddy Tadpoles in the Grass and Weeds!

Cheryl and Kirt missed each other this morning.  She went to her very first day of Kindergarten...and he was left alone with Mama!

After school, lunch and naps...they went ouside and played in the weeds. Kirt was on one side of an Aspen tree throwing grass her way...and she was pulling leaves off the tree trying to ignore him!

They are so cute. I am going to miss this age! They really are good buddies!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Thanks Shannon - Mystery quilt coming very soon!

Shannon...over at Pieceful Kwilter...posted a picture of her new fabrics for the mystery quilt I am going to offer to everyone who reads my blog! I designed it myself...and am writing this to confirm..that YES...I am going to post the directions very soon.

I have already had it tested by one quilter...and have a meeting with another quilter next week to test it again. I will begin posting directions by the middle of September....if all goes well.

The directions are already in .pdf format so there should be no problems for everyone to open the files.

If everyone can hold tight...it is going to be a fun quilt. It will finish at nearly 80" square...and use just 3 fabrics. I even designed a border to go with!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Timber Creek Full Flowing


I was playing with the features of my camera...and shot the water as it truly was...then shot it to appear to be standing still.

I really like the bottom shot...if you look closely...you can see the bubbles that formed in the water!

Winners at the County Fair!

Taylor - Reserve - Lime/Purple Tumbler quilt









Madeline - Grand - Scrappy Mini Tumbler quilt










Eric - 2nd place - Camoflage Faux Chenille quilt












Kids' quilts on display
















Devin - Grand - Disappearing Nine Patch quilt 











Cheryl - Reserve - Scrappy Doll quilt










I am so proud of all the kids. They did great and were very pleased...ellated really. They grinned from ear to ear...and then went off to find their friends to show them how well they had done. Dad and I are proud parents!

Oh, by the way...I won a 1st place (scrappy thimbleberries table topper quilt) and a 2nd place ribbon (topo trip quilt).   ;0)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Just hanging out today!

Summer is coming to a close, so we all went to the pool today. It was a beautiful late afternoon.

Eric started climbing up the swingset...and I decided I needed my turn at the fun! Here I am caught on camera...just hanging out!

 I took some time today to play with my new camera and lens. Aren't these flowers beautiful? They are for you. I wish I could have sent them to you all.
(remember, if you click the photo...it makes it larger!)

I can't wait to take some photos of my quilts with this 16-35 mm lens. I am hoping the stitches really show! I will try that another day.

Enjoy the flowers.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Quilted Handmade Camera Strap


Today, I made a camera strap for my new camera. I used batiks...my all time favorite fabrics, and played around with an idea...and came up with this...

I couldn't resist adding a 'tag' too that reads..."CURE DIABETES".

NOTE:  the tag has been removed and is now on my camera bag. i decided it needed to go so it doesn't scratch my camera! ;0)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Topo Trip!

Pattern: Scrappy Bargello by Bonnie Hunter

Overall edge to edge quilting: Freehand Topo Meander

Threads: YLI Variagated top, So Fine bobbin

Many many thanks to my friend Shannon of pieceful kwilter blogspot for teaching me the basics of her topo meander. While she was out West...we met up in Quincy California...this is one of the many things I learned from her. ;0)

I am keeping this quilt for myself for car trips and such. I love how it turned out.  Now to bind it and put it in the local county fair next week.

They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! 

Friends and Sports at the Gulch!


Sven and Taylor are shown with their cabin-mates and counselors.  If you didn't know this was a diabetic camp full of diabetic kids...you would NEVER be able to guess these kids had a disease! I love the smiles and the attitudes of all these kids! I should say that our kids have great attitudes too!

Looks like Sven bought a soda...I am sure it is a diet. He prefers diet drinks anymore so he doesn't have to dose for it. 

I believe Taylor is the only non-diabetic in her cabin. I sure hope she changed her mind...and decided to count carbs and 'pretend' for the week. That would go a long ways with Sven and her understanding of what he goes through.  

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Shootout at Glucose Gulch!


The kids look like they are having a great time at camp. They are no longer behind bars; however, I believe, they are being shot at...with water guns! Look at those beautiful faces! I sure miss these two!


There are outlaw bandits roaming the hills... such as:


Pancreas Poking Patrick- Wanted for spreading Diabetes across the land
Over Bolus Buffalo Bill- Wanted for giving diabetics too much Insulin
Butch Carbs Cassidy- Wanted for not counting his carbs
Glucose Glen- Wanted for stealing glucose tablets from the little diabetics

Monday, August 9, 2010

Madeline's Scrappy Tumblers

Madeline sewed 672 3-1/2" tumbler charm blocks together to make a gorgeous scrappy quilt to fit a twin bed. She is going to enter it in the county fair on the 20th of this month.


I am only going to share a sneak peak as it is still on the quilting frame. Let me say this...I think she is a natural on a longarm! She briefly practiced drawing swirled flowers on my plexiglass drawing board...and then went right to work quilting them on her quilt.  

















Also, we did something that is probably considered taboo in the quilting arena. We used a twin sheet (100% egyptian cotton) for the backer. It cost a total of 75 cents at the local thrift store. If you could feel the quality of this sheet...you would have used it too!

She chose a variagated thread in soft seashell colors for the back. She hopes to have a quilt that looks as great from the back as the front!

FCYD Camp Utada 2010 - Glucose Gulch

WANTED: Sven and Taylor

What: Diabetes Camp

Where: Camp Redcliffe Utah

When: This week...5 days

Why: To learn more about diabetes and meet new friends!

Theme: Wild West



The last I saw of these two...they were imprisoned at the camp! They are wanted for something...what exactly...I have no idea!!

More to come on these wanted figures later.

I sure hope they enjoy themselves. Taylor was offered the ability to 'pretend' to be a diabetic this week...and take saline shots and count carbs at mealtimes. She very politely said, in a quiet little voice, "NO WAY!". She was certain she wanted no part in finger pokes or needles of any kind.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

A Hike...and Applique in the Desert


Last weekend we went on a hike.

The kids and I finished ahead of Bryson (he was taking photos of plants, ants, anything he saw!) so I found a nice spot in the desert and nearly finished my Butterfly applique project that I started in California just 2 weeks previous.

I love needle-turn applique...how it looks, the portablility of it, everything about it. 

Great Diabetes Management!


We went to Sven's Endocrinologist appointment yesterday...and received great news. His hA1c level dropped from 8.6 to 5.7 in 3 months. I don't know that we ever knew his initial level when he was first diagnosed...but, his Doctor is very pleased with the management of his diabetes. Sven is doing terrific...he is still in the Honeymoon period and is producing some insulin...but still needs to add insulin to his system as he doesn't produce enough.
Yay Sven...you are looking good!
Glycosylated Hemoglobin (hA1c)



The glycosylated hemoglobin or hA1c (as it is more commonly known) is a test to examine overall diabetes control. The results of the hA1c represent average blood sugar for the previous 2-3 months. An hA1c should be performed every 3-6 months depending on the classification of diabetes, but is recommended by the American College of Endocrinology that it is maintained if possible under 6.5% 1. Keeping the glycosylated hemoglobin at or below 7% has been shown to minimize long-term complications associated with diabetes 60.


A comparison of blood sugar and corresponding hA1c levels 1.


Blood sugar (mg/dl) hA1c


60 - 4%
90 - 5%
120 - 6%
150 - 7%
180 - 8%
210 - 9%
240 - 10%
270 - 11%
300 - 12%
330 - 13%

Monday, August 2, 2010

APQS Mini Swap Ideas

Hi to my Secret Swap Partner!

First let me say 'Thank You' for making me a quilt.

Just a little about me....I love Kona Cottons...Batiks...and needle turn applique. Frogs are my favorite! My favorite quilt blocks are Snails Trail and Storm at Sea. I love dense machine quilting. ;0)

I have added a Gallery page to my Flickr site that might give you some ideas of quilts that I like. Please check it out. sagebrushquilter's galleries on Flickr

Have fun with the mini quilt. I will love it I am certain!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Water...it is such a necessity for all of us!

Well, we hope to have water back soon!!

Being without water when you live in a desert with 7 kids is no fun! Tensions run high, you can't cook or clean, and...well you get the idea.

It all started yesterday morning when we woke up to dry faucets. What could have been as simple as triggering the pressure switch...or hitting the reset on the control panel...didn't work. Finally, the only solution left was to replace the submersible pump. Not impossible...but when work calls and one can't be home to fix it...then the trouble begins. Not to mention that we live in a remote area and actually getting a replacement pump would have to wait till possibly Monday!






Fortunately, the local hardware store had not only one..but two well pumps sitting on the shelf...so we should be back in business by late afternoon.

UPDATE: The pump wasn't the problem either. The wiring down to the pump had a bad burned spot in it...so after repairing that entire situation...we are back up and running..water! Yay!

Water...you take it for granted...till you don't have it!


Since it is Sunday, I will share this. JOHN 4:3-15 and JOHN 4:27-38

The Parable of the Good Samaritan where Jesus and the good Samaritan woman meet at the well. Jesus asks her for water and she is shocked at His request since Jews do not have dealings with Samaritans. He then tells her that if she knew who He was, she would be asking Him for water instead. He can supply living water. Water that will take away your thirst altogether. Water that will last forever and give eternal life.

Jesus is my Savior and the living water that is offered is free to all. One must simply believe in Jesus. JOHN 3:16 reads...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Do you believe in the One who came to save us?