a work in progress

I am finally getting around to working on my blocks for Penny's "quilt as you go" quilt a long....OH MY GOSH, these are so fun!!! I was a little apprehensive at first....I thought the blocks would look a little strange but I have fallen in love with making these.....the biggest reason? You use bits and pieces of fabric and lordy, lordy do I have bits and pieces of fabric!! Several years ago I started taking all of my scraps and cutting them into 2" strips....so I had these BOXES of 2" strips...I am finally getting around to using them! I have had such a good time reminacing about projects, gifts, stores, friends, specific times in my life when pulling out these strips....some of this fabric I bought when I lived in Seattle oh so lonnnnnnnng ago. I am so glad I kept some of this fabric, just makes me smile....some of the fabric in these blocks are from my most recent projects and it might be laying next to a strip from a baby quilt I made 10+ years ago....when this project is done it will be like having a fabric scrapbook or photo album of so many of my favorite things. (I love that!)

I also like the fact that I don't have to send this off to be quilted, I am doing it as I go! AWESOME! This will be a work in progress, I don't have to finish it any time soon, I can work on a block here and there but I know already this is going to be a very special quilt for myself when it is all finished.

My husband, kids and I went camping for 4 nights over the 4th of July weekend. On Sunday my parents came over to our camp site for the afternoon. I love the fact that my parents are good sports about coming out "in the great outdoors" and spending time with my family. (Neither of my parents have ever camped) we (my hubs and I) are going to get them out one way or another even if it means renting a cabin in the same campground as us so they can expierence a weekend of camping. :)

This is my family with my parents on the 4th of July.