Batik Stars for Aunt Brenda

 I've been putting together the blocks for Aunt Brenda's Batik Stars quilt.  The two background fabrics ended up more similar than I had hoped, but in good light you can get the effect.

 This was the original plan, I'm happy to have it to refer back to after putting it away last summer.  Aunt Brenda is getting anxious for her quilt though, so it has gone to the top of the list.  Aunt Marilyn does beautiful hand quilting and she will be taking over that part as soon as the top is done.

When my sister Heather came to visit before our vacation, she brought me some of Mom's things.  Her husband Tom has sold the house and was ready to get rid of everything.  Heather saved the photos and some sewing things to bring to me along with some Christmas decorations that are still at her house.  Mom liked to sew, but was never a quilter, and most of her fabrics were flannel or home decor.  I did pull these cottons out out and will try to work them into a project or two.

Here is a quick photo of the girls with their trophies from the power lifting tournament this weekend.  They both had great lifts, Sydney went 9 for nine on her three events and Anna made all but one of her bench presses.  The alarm at 5:30 this morning was painful, but I came home and took a quick nap before it was time to get up and take Anna shopping for back to school clothes.  Then this afternoon we went zip lining at the zoo again.  When we got home from that, it was time for Sydney to take a nap.  Rainy days are so good for napping.  

Miscellaneous Monday

 Everyone is pretty spent after the powerlifting tournament yesterday.  Here is Ryan with his deadlift.  His max was 105 I think, which is 1.5 times his body weight.

 And here is Anna in her squat.  She hit new personal records on all her lifts.  I guess if I was a good sports Mom I would have written it all down.  Never would have predicted that powerlifting would be the next sport in our family.  Even Kurt went with us this morning.

 I'm working two days this week at training to be a trainer.  Today is wide open though.  We lifted first thing this morning.  I haven't been out to run yet.  Jelly legs on squat days -- maybe an evening run tonight?  But check out my grout cleaning!  Here is the side I haven't done yet.

And here is the side I finished already.  I'm going for 80% better rather than for perfection.  Usually I try to clean the grout each summer, but last summer went awry and so I have two years of grime to scrub away.  I'm doing some cupboard reorganization too.  Anna's job is putting away dishes these days and sometimes she gets ---well -- creative.  This morning I found appliances, mixing bowls, baking dishes and Tupperware all in the same cabinet.  Heterogeneous storage scheme?  Maybe it will be a new thing!