Seasons of the Heart November and December blocks..

I love the colors in this block...........

This year in Minnesota our fall colors weren't nearly so vibrant as those in the block above. Cold weather and rain quickly turned the usually pretty fall colors to damp leaves that dropped quickly from the trees. It was surprising to me how quickly the leaves fell to the ground! Oh, well, last year was colorful so if I need to be reminded, I can just look back at photos taken last fall.

This is a time of year when we think of "counting our blessings" and giving thanks. I have much to be thankful for even when some days seem like there are too many challenges. I remind myself that there is always someone struggling far more than I am and so, I, count my blessings!!

The block for December is a gift. You can use your imagination and wonder what is inside. The gift block also allows someone to do it in different colors for those who celebrate Hannukah or Kwanza.

Whatever the gift that is inside this box, I know that it is a "gift of love". Most gifts are given with love and Christmas is a special time when we can share gifts with our family and our friends. Some of the best gifts given are those that go to kids and families that are served by Toys for Tots and other organizations.

Note........pdf files of my patterns are posted in my Yahoo Seasons group. Just click on the Snowman on the sidebar and join the group!

"Christmas is for Kids" as the saying goes but kids come in all ages and sizes. I'm my mother's "kid" but I'm 60 years old. I love Christmas. My grandson is just ten and he is hopeful for a certain gift that is on his list. Christmas is a time of hope and giving, love and living. Sometimes things challenge us and the hope and giving, love and living are hard to find. I have a little chance for you to share a bit of that hope and love. My blogging friend, Janice, learned of a little boy who has cancer and wants to get as many Christmas cards as possible this year. You can send him a card by going to this link and you'll see that the story is true and you'll see the address of where to send the card. Mine is going in the mail in the morning. Make it a season for this little boy to "count the blessings" he'll find in those Christmas cards and the gift others will have given him just by mailing those cards. :-)
Night all.
Sandi

Double Snowman Treat!

There's not a drop of snow on the ground here in Minnesota right now but I managed to conjure up the last of the Snowmen for you and here they are.............

This November Snowman is best buddies with this little deer that lives in the woods in our backyard (or so I imagine). He knows just how important friends are and what a blessing they are in our lives! Wouldn't you agree? I was inspired to draw this design by the real deer that wander across our backyard and the "not so real" deer that graced the front yard where my parents used to live. They loved those deer and when the time came to sell their house and downsize, the deer were transported to a friend's yard where my mom can still drive by and see them. Nice, huh?

Inspiration for this Santa snowman was easy. As so many of you do, I have wonderful memories of Christmas when I was a child and when my kid's were small. There was lots of Christmas joy when we awoke in the morning and got a peek under the tree. There was always some special thing we really wanted and the stockings always held a sweet surprise or two. :-)

This pair are the last two snowmen for this year. If you want pdf files of the pattern pages, you'll find them on file in my Yahoo BOM group. Just click on the Snowman on the sidebar and join the group. Hope you have enjoyed these guys and gals! I'm working up another series that will be suitable for Redwork or traditional embroidery and will post more info on that at the end of December. I will be gone in early December and that is why I posted both blocks for you at this time.

In my next post, I'll share the Seasons BOM Applique block designs and patterns, also for both November and December. That's all for tonight!

Have a good Friday!!!

Sandi

October blocks are here!

I love October! You already know I love Fall so it was easy to do the designs for this month. Some of you may not want a Jack-O-Lantern, so all you have to do is skip the eyes, nose and mouth and add a pumpkin vine and more leaves and you'll have a Fall pumpkin design!

When it came to the design for the Snowman for this month, all I did was recall my daughter and all the times that she dressed up as a witch when she was a little girl. And when she was really little, she was a black cat at Halloween. All I did was add ears and a tail to the little black fur coat and snowpants that I had sewn for her (this was the early 70's).

If you don't want a "Snow Witch", try this........... use another hat design from a past pattern, turn the broom into a rake, use plaid for the cape, add some swirling leaves around the cat, and skip the Jack-O-Lantern Trick-or-Treat container.

Hope you have fun with these designs! There are only two more to go! In case you want to get the designs finished before Christmas, I will post the November designs at the end of October and I'll post the December designs in mid-November. I've had a number of committments combined with some health issues that have made it a challenge to keep up sometimes but just watch my blog and you'll see them soon. My class/volunteer activities all wrap up at the end of October. I will be taking those first weeks in November to finalize my block lay-out and share the info with you when I post in mid November. At that time, I will also have a preview of the blocks that I'll share in 2010!

It's been a rainy day here in Minnesota, positively excellent weather if you were a duck! This weekend, the weatherman says there could be a few snowflakes! Yikes! My beautiful fall weather has been hi-jacked by Mother Nature!!!

That's all for tonight. I'll be back next post with more of those Round Robin projects from the Clear Lake Quilt Guild. I think I'd like to try a Round Robin someday. Hmmmmm, just checked my "to do" list and I think I can get to it in 2015. hee hee hee!

Have a good day!

Sandi

Just a reminder........If you want pdf files of the above pattern pages, you'll need to join my Yahoo group. Just click on the Snowman button on my sidebar and click on "Join this group".

Back-to-School Time!

This morning in Minnesota, kids all over the state are returning to school. It's also first day of classes for many colleges and universities. I am just glad I do not have to be in traffic this day!! I had my time when the kiddies were in school and also when I worked full-time so I have served my time in traffic. :-) I am happy just be here blogging and tending to that long list of "to do" quilting and embroidery projects. Labor Day weekend is over and I finally got some labor done......so here are the September blocks!!!

Sorry I didn't get these posted last week. I loved having my grandson visit and we did lots of fun things. That meant that I didn't get to some of my own things when he was here. And after he left I had to clean and regroup and then rest! That's life, I guess.

Hope you enjoy September's designs. I drew inspiration for the chalkboard block from memories of writing on thechalkboard when I was in school. The Snowman for this month was inspired by memories of football my senior year in high school. It was the first year that our school had a football team. I was a cheerleader and we were excited. However, the team never gave us any tips on what cheers to yell when they were making plays. So, imagine our shame when we started yelling "Block that kick"and it was our team kicking. Oh, boy, you can bet the team gave us some pointers on what to yell after that one! LOL!

The remaining blocks for the applique series are finished and all the designs for the snowmen are complete. Now it's back to work on stitching the blocks. If you want PDF files of each of these designs, just click on the snowman button on the sidebar and join my Yahoo group. You'll find all the patterns there!! I will be keeping them posted through January of 2010 and then will remove them from the group. I'll be starting a new BOM in January, too.

Now that the blocks are posted, I'll either post photos of our fabric dyeing fun or of the State Fair in my next post.

Sandi

"A Christmas Wish" BOM by Gail Pan

A few days ago, I shared a small photo of my blocks made from Gail Pan's designs (the series is titled "A Christmas Wish") and I promised a better photo would follow. Here it is...........

I loved the designs the minute I saw them and knew I wanted to make this to hang at Christmas this year. I printed them out but didn't stitch. Then a couple of weeks ago, I was at JoAnn Fabrics and I found this striped fabric that was perfect for the blocks. It has some rose color in it which allowed me to introduce that color in the blocks. I want to hang this in my favorite pink bedroom and it will look loverly in there! The fabric inspired me to "get stitching" and I really got going. I had a lot of "waiting" opportunities (translation - "waiting" equals "time spent waiting for husband to get home from work, finish his projects, etc. and come to dinner, plus time spent waiting for laundry and cooking!) so I really got busy stitching. My goal was to be done with all eight designs that she has posted so far and then I'll be ready to stitch the last one, number nine, as soon as it's posted. What a plan! The designs were so quick to stitch and if you want to do them, you will find them at Gail's blog. Just click here and you will find them! As I mentioned in my retreat posts, a discussion came up and we wondered what word will be on the final ninth block. "Comfort" was the word we think she might use and "Rejoice" was another choice. I'm thinking that if those aren't the words, I may make a few extra blocks of my own with those words and perhaps a couple others. I'm not sure yet if I will add the sashing or just how I will pull this all together. I have a space issue where I want to hang this so that will help me determine the size. Thanks go to Gail for sharing such a lovely, lovely design!!
Just a few more thoughts................I love BOM's. I know many of you do, too. Fellow blogger, Crispy, says she "collects" BOM's. I collect BOM's, too. :-) I also like to design my own BOM's and love to make the blocks. Sometimes my friends finish the actual project sooner than I do. :-) My friend, Laura, finished her quilt with the Seasons blocks long ago and mine are still waiting to be assembled. That was why I started the monthly Seasons BOM because I thought I might get it done if I had others making the blocks along with me. So what do I do? I add more block designs with my snowmen series and then I start more blocks in wool and woolfelt and now I have another project to sew together. Ah, I know I'm not alone in this situation! Laura and I are also working on a BOM called "Strolling the Block" (it was an HGTV project that is no longer available). She is way ahead of me! She has all her blocks fused and ready to do the embroidery and embellishment and I think her blocks are finished up through July. I'm just starting April. All my blocks are done for my own BOM but now I am doing them in wool and woolfelt so that's a whole other series to lay out pieces, cut and assemble and then have them ready for stitching. I tell you all this because I know many of you know this secret.........that if you have something ready to stitch, then time spent waiting isn't wasted anymore but is put to good use. Really calms the nerves, too. :-)
So, if I had a glass of wine (and I'm not a wine drinker so the odds of that are slim), I would toast to BOM's because they are such a fine bit of needlework that keep us happy! And we all know ..... if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! Hope you are having a good Monday!
Sandi

Seasons BOM for July and August

Here you go! Blocks for July and August..............There's watermelon for the hot days of July............

and then come August, the apples are ready to be picked!

Enjoy making these blocks! And remember, if you want to access these patterns in pdf format, just click on the Snowman on my sidebar and you'll link to my Yahoo Seasons BOM group. I am posting seasonal blocks for each month plus a snowman design for each month. Plenty to keep you busy!!!

That's all for tonight!

Sandi

"Sweet Summer Fun!"

I can hardly believe it but June and July are history and it's August already. That means only 31 official days of summer are left! Summer in Minnesota is so short and so it's important to enjoy every minute. In spite of the fact that I lost not just minutes but hours and days to my back problems, I have had a good summer. It's actually been a great summer with visits with friends and family, beautiful summer days and nights, lots of things to be thankful for. And that includes the much needed rain we received tonight. I know that some of you are tired of rain and storms or heat and humidity but the rain we received was really needed. As I told a couple of friends.....my husband has only had to mow the lawn once in four weeks because the grass isn't growing. Instead it's more like straw for a lawn. I know that some of you are in worse drought conditions than we are here so I hope that perhaps you, too, received rain that was needed.

The Snowman for August is here to greet you with a little "Sweet Summer Fun" that you can embroider or do in fusible fabrics (patterns for that will be posted tonight). Inspiration for this months design was easy........I thought of my kids and all the snowmen they built over the years. Then I recalled a visit from their cousins in Iowa and a watermelon seed-spitting contest off our back deck.......Bingo! I had my design for August. Toss in a sunflower like a couple of really big ones that grew in my garden and this guy is really ready for some "Sweet Summer Fun". You can also see he's a little bit "melty" due to the summer heat. He'll get his shape back come September when the fall winds blow in some more Snowman fun. I just love drawing these designs and hope you enjoy my sketches and my silly sense of humor. :-)
That's all for now. I'll be back later with the pattern pages for this snowman and the one for July. Then on Sunday, I'll post the other Seasons blocks. I am beginning to feel a bit "caught up" but it will take me a few more days to "digest" all the messages in yahoo groups and then I will feel like I am back to normal (if there is such a thing!). Also, I am slowly going back through my blog and labeling posts so that you can find all the blocks related to this series. I wish I'd know what labeling was when I first started posting. It would have made my blog so much more organized and much easier for all of you, too!
Have a good Saturday!
Sandi

Edit: Here is the pattern page for the August snowman. If you want to be able to access the pattern files in pdf format, then please join my Yahoo group for my "Seasons of the Heart BOM" projects. Just click on the Snowman in my sidebar and the group will pop up and you can join! It's free and fun and no obligation. I provide the patterns for your enjoyment but they are not to be used for commercial purposes. :-)

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!!

Since I started blogging a little over a year ago, I have been fairly regular at it. Once I started blogging, it quickly became a part of my day. Occasionally, I went a couple days in a row without blogging but soon was right back at it. Unfortunately, this little journey of back and sciatica pain that I am on, has made it almost impossible to blog or even think about posting. As noted in my previous post, I am slowly doing better. I was actually doing pretty well and then had some issues arise with side effects from the drugs I am on. I decided no more pain pills and so I am back in a "rough patch". It's not as bad as it was at first, so I know I'm getting better and my leg and heel have almost regained normal feeling. I only waited a couple days before going to the doctor but I will give you this advice. If you have pain that is "over the top", get to the doctor. Even if it's not something serious, your recovery will be quicker the sooner you start treatment!

Now, I couldn't let tomorrow pass by and not post my snowman for this month. I like him so much and even if you are not from the United States, you can substitute the flag of your country for the U.S. flag he is holding. I'm only sharing the drawing right now and will provide pattern pieces for doing him in fusibles later next week. I'll also post the other Seasons block then. I have already been sitting in this chair too long so I need to go lay down on the couch for a bit. Here, though, before I go, is my snowman for July.............


Happy Independence Day!! Have wonderful 4th of July wherever you are!!

Sandi

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Edit: Here is the pattern page for the July Snowman. When I think about it, it's kind of silly to draw a snowman for July but then again it's kinda cool, too. :-) You can change the flag in this design and the words so that they reflect your state or country. Have fun!

Snowmen and Stars! 2009 BOM blocks!

Last month, I was thinking of Mother's Day when I drew the snowlady who had just baked cookies. I was thinking of me as I sketched her and my own mother, too. We both baked good cookies and chocolate was the favorite. Yum! I could use some right now!! No time to bake today, so will have to wait til Teatime later today for my snack. Anyway, this month I was thinking of my dad and my husband. I recently saw a report that said women do most of the cooking but men do the barbecueing. That's true in most cases but not at our house. My dad never grilled and I'm not sure he did much cooking. I remember that my mother had to be gone somewher and I had to cook and he did teach me how to cook a hamburger. My husband liked tuna noodle casserole and goulash and taught me to cook them as he likes them but says he can't recall he ever did that! I do most of the cooking but at least now I can get him to get the fire going if we want to cook hotdogs or brats outside. And so, in tribute, to all those men who grill and those who don't, I offer you this little smile of a snowman..............

Note: This is the design you can use for doing embroidery. I still need to cut my pieces for the fusible/wool block and will post that pattern page this weekend when I get to it. :-)

My block for June in the "Seasons of the Heart" series is three stars. I chose stars in honor of the U.S. flag. My dad was born on June 14th so it was a double celebration day for him.

I chose three stars to represent the three branches of our government.

If you want a more "Folk-art look", you can use the alternate star pattern on the page below.

PDF files of all these pages are now posted on my "Seasons BOM Yahoo Group". If you want to join so that you may access these blocks, please go to SeasonsBOM and click on the "Join this group" button. Have fun with these designs!

Sandi

Is there snow in the forecast?

No, but there is wind and rain expected in Minnesota today but it's not going to turn to snow. So, if it's snow you're looking for then you'll find it in this month's Snowman block. Actually, it's a Snowlady.

She's wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day and I think she's me. :-) One of the favorite things I used to bake was chocolate chip cookies (read about it on my blog http://teastitches.blogspot.com/) and sometimes, I'd tie my hair back with a scarf when I was cooking or cleaning. I wore aprons in my early years and still have the half dozen or so I made back then. Not one of them fits anymore and I wonder "where did that slip of a girl go to"? Why I know..........she ate too many chocolate chip cookies!" LOL!!!

If you want PDF files for this block or any of the past months, you'll need to join my Seasons BOM Yahoo group (click on this link ........ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SeasonsBOM/ and then click on "join") to continue to receive the free blocks. I will be sending an e-mail to those of you that joined in January and February and will send you the blocks and ask that you please join the group. This change will make it far easier for me to load and provide the blocks to all of you. Thanks for your patience with this.

Sandi

Grandma's Garden and Seasons BOM for May

Just outside the front porch of my Grandma's farmhouse, there were two large white snowball bushes. I loved those bushes when they bloomed. I don't remember many other flowers at Grandma's house but she had a vegetable garden and always grew a good crop of sweet corn. I can still see the aluminum pans hanging from the fence near the corn that were intended to rattle in the breeze and scare away the raccoons although I don't recall ever seeing a real racoon. Grandma did, though, and would certainly get mad when they got into her garden. And so, it was thoughts of my Grandma Goldie that inspired me to use Hexagons for the May block.

Hexagons were abundant in a wide variety of Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts that were made in the 30's, 40's and 50's. Sure, there have been GFG quilts made since then in lots of colors and many reproduction prints but the quilts made during those decades were filled with feedsack fabrics and bits of clothing scraps and just spoke of "cheer". Someone once noted that women had to put some color and cheer into their lives because the depression and war years were so depressing. I suspect there is some truth to that and yet, the quilts that women made then are anything but depressing. I grew up in the 50's and don't recall that I ever saw a feedsack until a few years ago but I know the fabrics from them were in many of the quilts made by Grandma Goldie, Great Grandma Lillie, Aunt Marie and other members of the Ladies Aide Society. I think I've told you this before but I can see the white and pink painted cement walls in the church basement where the ladies set up the quilting frame and did their work and where church suppers and Bible School were held. It's a memory that can make me feel good just by letting it pass through my mind. :-) I hope that you have or are making good quilting and life memories. Sometimes there are some sad memories along the way but even those have some element of good in them. I was blessed to have my Grandma until her 90th year and my Aunt Bell, who raised my mother lived into her late 80's. And I am blessed that my own mother is still living and you know that because I head to Iowa on a regular basis to visit her. :-) We still enjoy shopping for fabric together and sharing stitching ideas and crafty fun!!!

As you can see in the photo of my block, I used buttonhole stitch around each hexagon after fusing the shapes to the background piece. You could also use traditional applique methods, too. No rules here, just be creative and have fun!!

As of this minute, fifty of you have joined my new group where I will be posting the PDF files for all future Seasons blocks. Please see my post from yesterday for all the details. I will send out an e-mail to all of you and the PDF files for this month and will be encouraging you to join the group. Creating a group where we can discuss techniques and I can easily load files that you can download at your convenience will be so much nicer. The response to this change has been overwhelmingly positive but I would appreciate any thoughts or comments that you care to share.

Have a good evening!

Sandi

P.S. The Snowman block for May will be posted on Monday or Tuesday of next week. I also sketched the Snowman for June. They're both really cookin'! ;-)

Seasons of the Heart BOM Info

Dear Blogging Friends, Followers and Block of the Month Collectors,
As noted, I am going to make a change in how I offer my Seasons of the Heart BOM patterns. I have set up a Yahoo group where all the PDF files will be posted each month and they will remain there throughout the coming year. If you wish to access these PDF files you will need to join that group. Go here - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SeasonsBOM and click on join to become a part of the group. If you have questions, you can e-mail them to seasonsbom@yahoo.com .
The response to my BOM was far more than I anticipated and by March I couldn't keep it organized any longer. Sorry for that but it got really confusing when requests came it to send previous files from January and February and pretty soon, I completely lost track of who I had sent what to!!! I offer this BOM because I love to design and enjoy sharing my patterns and seeing how others use their creativity to make these blocks.
There is no obligation for you in joining this group. It's free as are all Yahoo groups. I currently have another Yahoo group for my wool projects called Wooly Buddies and that works very well for posting patterns, exchanging ideas and getting to know others who enjoy working with wool. This group will work in a similar manner. Here is the information you will see if you decide to join the group........

All patterns that have been posted on my blog can be found as PDF files in the Files section of this group. Just look to the left and click on "Files" and you will see the folders for each month. I have not yet loaded the files for May as I am still working on the Snowman design. This group is for those who wish to collect the patterns for this series that I designed and you may be making the blocks now or plan to make them later. There's no pressure here to make the blocks. This group simply allows me an organized way to post the blocks as well as other patterns that I design and might want to share. A couple of items...... Each month I will have a drawing for a prize or two. There will be no swaps or exchanges in this group. There will be a challenge or two but it's all about making something for you or a family member or friend and just showing us pictures so we can see your creativity. Pictures posted must belong to you. No copyrighted materials may be posted without permission of the copyright holder. In this group forum, we can discuss techniques, exchange ideas and share what works for us and what doesn't. We can keep each other up-to-date on products and on local shops and quilt shows. Patterns that I share are copyrighted and are for your personal use only not for distribution to friends or other groups. You may make as many as you want of any pattern I post. Go for it! Just don't go into mass production! That's all the rules for now. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at seasonsbom@yahoo.com . Thanks so much and I look forward to sharing lots of fun sewing and quilting time with all of you! Sandi

I hope that this option will work for all of you that want to receive the PDF files. I will still post a photo of the block design on my blog each month and jpg files of the pattern pages for those who are able to copy and save to their computers. I have a BOM that is ready to go for 2010, one for 2011 and one for 2012, so if you are looking for a long-term quilting relationship, you'll find it in my Seasons of the Heart BOM Yahoo group!!
Now, I am still working on the Snowman design for May and having a hard time coming up with something other than a melted pile of snow but it will come to me yet. There are two ideas floating around in my head and both involve having May and June blocks revolve around a theme of Mother's Day and Father's Day. I think that by Monday, I will have a Snowman design to share with you.
On Saturday, I will post the May Seasons of the Heart block which features a Hexagon design based on the one in the little runner/wall quilt I designed and made in 2000.


As a treat for joining, I will provide the pattern for this little quilt and will post it to the Seasons BOM group on May 16th.
I was going to post some more photos from the last two weeks adventures but dear old Kaiser has "upset my apple cart" as he is still having tummy trouble and I'm just plain tired! Imagine that! We got rain though, a lovely grass-growing rain and I enjoyed listening to the drops on the roof as I typed this evening. Life is good as a fellow blogger noted. Sometimes I complain but I shouldn't for I am blessed and yes, life is good!
Sleep tight tonight and don't let the bedbugs bite!
Sandi the Nightowl

Re: Seasons of the Heart BOM Files

There are two ways to get the blocks that I will post each month.

***

One is to right click, save to your computer and print the file.

You do not have to sing up to do this.

The other way is to receive PDF files via e-mail.

***

Starting today, February 20, 2009, this post is the only post

where I will take names for the Seasons of the Heart BOM.

***

I am so very happy to share these blocks with you. :-)

I know that many of you download the files

and if you do make the blocks,

I would love to hear from you or see photos of what you make!!

Sandi

***

To be added to the list, you need to leave

your name and your e-mail address!

This is for new sign-ups only! If you received the

January and February blocks then you are in!!!

January & February BOM files.........

Well, I think I have checked every name and e-mail of those who want to be added to the BOM list or who did not receive last month's files. If you are reading this and you still have not received files, please send me an e-mail with the heading "Not Receiving". This will help me keep it all straight. I will post a link for those who wish to be added as the year progresses. Please click on the Snowman 2009 BOM on my sidebar to be taken to the post where you must leave your comment with e-mail address in order to be added to the BOM E-mail list from this point on.......... Thanks so much for your patience with all of this!!!

Sandi

Please note......I was not able to send files to the names listed below because there was no e-mail or blog to link to. Please send me an e-mail - click on my profile and you can click on the e-mail link - if you are still interested in receiving the PDF blocks via e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be made public as I do a "blind send" of the e-mail files.
Ginny, Sharleen, Carrie, Eleanor, Barb, Raglady, Evelyne, Heather, Kris B, Jan, Jersey Stitcher, Bonnieb, Quilt Garden, Pam, and Gloria.

Block of the month files sent..........

Just a quick post to let you all know that I have sent out the files to the e-mail list. If you have not received the files, please e-mail me again. I may have missed your name when I created the "group" to e-mail to. Also, I still have a couple of people that I am not able to send to because there is no e-mail or blog link to post to. If you left a comment that you want the files sent via e-mail and you have not received them, please check the comment you left and you will see if you have a link back to your e-mail/blog link. I think I have this all set now but I know there may be someone I missed so please send me that e-mail and I will get you added to the list.
I was able to sneak in a little vacuuming and some laundry today and made it to the church women's guild meeting. Had an nice speaker, Katie Phillips from our local clinic who spoke of the "free pill" that we all have available to us that will improve our over-all health ............ it's "Walking"!!! Made feel like I wanted to get right up and take a quick walk around the block! It was a message I needed to hear as I really need to get up from this desk or my sewing chair and get more real exercise!!! After the program, that was when I came home and decided to exercise with the vacuum cleaner. :-)
That's all for now. Sleep calls.........
Sandi