Happy Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July! On this day in 1776, The amended Declaration of Independence, prepared by Thomas Jefferson, was approved and signed by John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress in America. This is the day that I fondly recall all the patriotic songs that we sang in school: God Bless America, This Land is Your Land, My Country Tis of Thee, America The Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Star Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes Forever, Yankee Doodle and You're A Grand Old Flag.

Last night I finished the latest quilt project that I was working on. It's a quilted table cover for my end table. Introducing Floating. The dimensions (18 x 23) fit the end table perfectly.


My sister and I took the kids on the boardwalk where we stood 90 minutes in more or less the same spot while we waited for the 94th annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest to begin. Before the main attraction, we were entertained by acts from the nearby circus and a dancing squad. Joey Chestnut was the winner for the third time in a row setting a new world record by consuming 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.


Afterwards we enjoyed some BBQ chicken, macaroni salad, hot dogs and cherries.

Steps taken today: 12,453

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 48

Still reading: Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews
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my day

Pictured to the left is the quilted pillow that I made for Jill Shalvis who recently lost her furbaby "Mountain Barbie"

Woke up way to early and finished Smooth Talking Stranger

Had hair cut

Recorded 6 hours of Michael Jackson tribute on DVD so that I could delete the programs on the DVR

Burned my forearm taking chicken out of the oven (this is what I get for making BBQ chicken for the 4th of July)

Made the cold macaroni salad.

Worked on quilt. Hand-pieced the squares and strips. Once top quilt was completed, made the quilt sandwich by inserting the batting and the backing. Sewed the quilt label on the back. Stitched the quilt sandwich using the walking foot which I now love. Pressed the hem for the binding. The only thing left to do is stitched the binding.

Selected my next book to read

Waited for sister and kids to arrive after an 8-10 hour drive from NC.

Did Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 47

Took 11,496 steps

Reading: Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews
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flickering

It rained. Again. It poured. Again. As I type this the sun is out but now it's humid.

My light in the floor lamp was flickering. I inserted the plug into several outlets and still it flickered. This time I moved it out of my living room into my bedroom and again, it flickered. I believe there's a short in the lamp so I will not plug it in for fear of an electrical short. Luckily I have a table lamp that is bright enough to lighten up the area. When I put the lamp in the same outlet, it didn't flicker. I don't like that I have two mismatched quilted pieces on the end table.

So, I've decided to make a quilted table covering for the entire end table instead of using the two centerpiece that I have now. I will be creating it with leftover pastel colors from a previous project and blue backing from another. The quilt design will be simple.

My plans for the holiday weekend is simple. If my sister and the kids come up, we'll just chill and I'll make a picnic of hot dogs, BBQ chicken, macaroni salad, corn on the cob and watermelon. If she doesn't come up, I'll still have the BBQ chicken, macaroni salad and watermelon.

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 46

Steps taken today: 8,589 (rain)

Still reading: Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
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another slow day

I went to the dentist and all is good.

Another busy day at the office which is a good thing.

I finished the memory pillow and will share picture with you as soon as the package is on its way to the recipient.

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 45

Steps taken today: 10,435

Reading: Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
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stuff

It's raining. Big drops of rain. Rain. Again.

My doctor's appointment went well with just a minor discovery. Further exams are necessary. Otherwise, I'm doing good. I've had my blood pressure taken 4 times this past month and the good news is that they've been normal readings. I lost another pound. In the past two weeks, I haven't had take-out. Most of the meals except lunch have been eaten at home. If I can continue this and lose more weight, perhaps I won't have to continue taking the high blood pressure pills.

The creative forces are flowing and I came up with a wonderful tribute to someone who recently lost a friend. I am making a memory pillow and I already printed out the images on the fabric paper and I know which fabric I will be using.

June reading round-up: This month I've read 25 books and discovered 4 new-to-me authors: Kyra Davis, Beth Groundwater, Mary Jane Maffini and Elizabeth Sims. I've read the following types of books: 12 mysteries, 6 romantic suspense, 6 thriller and 1 romance.

On this day in 1936, Margaret Mitchell’s book Gone with the Wind was published in New York City.

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 44

Steps taken today: 10,192

on TV tonight: recorded shows

Reading: Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate by Kyra Davis
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