Star BOM - Block Two

I found time today to finish the 2nd block in Judy Laquidara's BOM. I has started it shortly after the block pattern came out on the 15th, but I wanted to miter the inner border. I needed some quiet time to give it a try. No too bad for a first attempt. I'm still having trouble getting the block to be 12.5, but a least this one is a little bigger than the last one.

Hope We Can Believe In

I am already on the Obama bandwagon, but I had hoped in his acceptance speech he would give those not so familiar with his ideas and life story a chance to understand why America needs him to be the next president. He did that in spades - really making his case for himself and the Democratic Party. At this point in history we are at a crossroads. Our country needs to change direction and regain it's moral authority as a leader. Senator Obama laid out his case that he is the person to do that. His speech was full of hope, but also details of how we can make changes to our American policy. He reminded us, America, and the Republicans that this election is too important for lies and smears, but instead the debate should be about policy and how the candidates would run the country. I was also glad to see Senator Obama attack conservatism. In the last 8 years the conservative policies that the Republican party have been pushing for so many years were given free rein. It has been a disaster. Unfortunately Senator McCain doesn't see the hardship that most American families are facing and is offering more of the same policies. I hope that Americans vote in their own best interest this year. If that happens, Senator Obama will win big.

As I am not a wordsmith, I would like to share a quote from Andrew Sullivan in his post "The Hope We Confess". He writes so eloquently about how I felt about last night's acceptance speech. I hope you will take the time to read the entire post.

It was a deeply substantive speech, full of policy detail, full of people other than the candidate, centered overwhelmingly on domestic economic anxiety. It was a liberal speech, more unabashedly, unashamedly liberal than any Democratic acceptance speech since the great era of American liberalism. But it made the case for that liberalism - in the context of the decline of the American dream, and the rise of cynicism and the collapse of cultural unity. His ability to portray that liberalism as a patriotic, unifying, ennobling tradition makes him the most lethal and remarkable Democratic figure since John F Kennedy.

Progress Has Been Made

Sunday was a Judy Day at Quilt Country. I made some headway on the Lone Star portion of my Hawaiian Star. Here is one segment and the portion of the Mariner's Compass that will go with it.


I have some more help with my Pumpkins Gone Wild Quilt. Myra is holding down the panel that will be part of the back.


Lucky is helping me cut out my fabric for Block 2 of Judy's Star BOM.

Winners All Around

My quilty friends may want to skip this entry as it's all sports.

Cycling Time Trial

I'll start with Fabian Cancellara's gold medal win in the Men's Time Trial. It was a great win for him, as the course really didn't favor his talents. However as the current World Champion of this event he was not to be denied.

Out on course


Gustav Larsson, Sweden (silver), Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland (gold), Levi Leipheimer, USA (bronze)


On the women's side of Road Racing, American Kristin Armstrong had a strong effort in winning the gold medal for the Time Trial.


On to baseball - The Red Sox and Rangers series

The Rangers have been forced by circumstances to bring up young pitchers that are quite ready for the Bigs. This led to the Red Sox scoring 37 runs in a 3 game series. The first match up was a wild roller coater with the Red Sox jumping out to an early 10-0 lead in the first. More runs were exchanged until the Rangers went ahead. The Red Sox came back to tie it and then Youck put it away with a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 8th. The Red Sox won that one 19-17. Big Papi hit 2 three run homers in the 1st inning. He hit another, but due to fan interference it was ruled a double. Youck can up behind him to hit his first homer of the game. Since we won it was exciting and fun! We won the second game 8-4 on a good outing by Jon Lester. The last game was won 10-0 behind Dice-K.

The Rangers saw a lot of this!

A Fall Quilt Project

I love the jelly rolls in all of the quilt shops. They are so tempting, since they offer a little slice of all the fabrics in a line. I've been eying the Pumpkins Gone Wild Jelly Roll by Sandy Gervais (Moda Fabrics). When I found a pattern for Jelly Rolls I really liked, I was set to make a nice fall quilt.

This is the pattern:


Myra and some of the blocks:

Olympic Men's Road Race. - Cancellara Sighting!

What a truly grueling race given the heat and humidity. In an exciting finish my favorite rider, Fabian Cancellara closed the gap between the chase group to the lead group with less than 2km to go. It was an amazing effort. He was rewarded with bronze for his effort. Next up is the individual time trial, where he is the world champ. I wonder if Shumacher will be as on form as he was in the Tour.

Fabian Cancellara wins bronze


Race finish with Sammy Sanchez (left) winning, Davide Rebellin second (middle) and Fabian Cancellara third (right)

Block One for Star BOM

I am a big paper piecer, so I would usually do a block like this using that method. This will be a good challenge for me to become more accurate in my piecing. I like the way my colors have come together. I can't wait for the next block. Thanks Judy!

A9 Log Cabin Fever

One advantage of the beastly heat - I don't want to go outside. I finished a fun block. I like orange and black together.

Paper Pieced A9 Log Cabin

Good Bye Manny

Now that I have stopped sulking so bad, I can savor some favorite memories of Manny's days as a Red Sox. Why are we fans of the the Bosox always saddled with front offices with egos as big as their star players? Clearly our owners have given up on this season. Ahhh - that felt good to get out. I can even comment on the nice job done by Wakefield last evening. Seems like when the pitching staff gets shaky, Wake is there steady as she goes. Given his preferred pitch that's pretty amazing.