Posted on by agilejack

Ernie is Gone and Making Progress on My Table Topper

Ernie’s owner came and picked him up this evening. I miss him already. He’s so much fun to have around and so easy. I love that he gets along so well with my boys.

His owner said she might take me up on my offer to drop him by occasionally on her way to work so he can spend the day with us rather than all by himself. It will be fun to have him around every now and again.

I had today off but didn’t do much. I took Bender to his annual check up with his neurologist and he passed with flying colors. The annual exam is almost just a formality so that I can continue to get his prescriptions filled and can get some help if something happens. If you’re not up to date on your annual exams, they can’t legally prescribe drugs. It’s so important to be up to date!

I left Rico and Ernie at home and only took Bender with me. I stopped on the way home to get some wine colored thread to use for the quilting on the table topper I’m making.

Once I got home I grabbed some lunch than took the dogs for a nice two mile walk. When we got home that had an extended rambunctious play session.

I wish you could hear all the growling!

After Ernie left and I had a chance to get some dinner I hit my sewing room to get moving. I finished the border on the topper last night.

I played pickleball yesterday morning and took a detour on the way home to pick up the piece of fabric I needed. While I was there I purchased a few new pieces of Australian Aboriginal fabric they had.

They have a really nice selection of Aboriginal fabrics. And because several people will ask, the store is Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie Oregon. They have an online store and you can find them with a google search.

I was too tired last night to start quilting on this, so I decided that Just getting the backing and batting cut was good progress for the night.

So first thing tonight was to make the quilt sandwich. I use spray basting when I do quilting, When I’m making bags, I do the spray basting on the top of my washing machine. But this piece is too big for that, so I took my portable design wall and laid it fuzzy side down on my guest bed. Then I put an old sheet over the top of it and covering the entire top of the bed. Then I laid out the backing, batting and the topper and started the basting.

I’ve heard people say that they don’t have good luck with the basting spray… that it gums up their needle and cause all kinds of issues. But I have really good luck with is and use it all the time.

Once I got it basted I trimmed off the corners so I would have less bulk.

Then I started stitching. I decided I would do straight line stitching diagonally through the little squares.

I got all the lines done in one direction. So tomorrow I’ll stitch the lines in the opposite direction, then do some quilting on the border and it will be ready to bind.

I really dislike manhandling all this bulk through my machine. I rolled the top up and used some little metal clips to keep it all together as I sewed and rotated.

Every time I quilt a piece like this I’m reminded why I will NEVER quilt a full size quilt on my domestic machine. NEVER!

I’ll probably do some lines with 1/2 inch spacing around the border. I think it will be a nice touch and finish for this. Once it’s done I’ll sew on the binding and will hand sew the binding for a nice finish.

I’m playing pickleball early tomorrow morning, Then we have Rico’s weekly sheep herding lesson. After that I’m going to get some lunch with a friend to celebrate the holidays. I haven’t seen her for months. I’m looking forward to it.

Then my big task for tomorrow is to do my grocery shopping for Christmas Eve dinner. I have my menu all planned so all I have to do it reference my recipes and make a list. I am going to make a different lemon cake for dessert the year. The one I made last year is really good but it’s a little more involved than I want to tackle. So I’m going to make a lemon pound cake recipe from Ina Garten. It sounds really good! I’ll probably serve it with some vanilla Ice cream.

And now I have to make sure I have everything ready for my day tomorrow:

  Make sure I have my rubber boots and rain gear in the car for sheep herding.

   Pick out a pin cushion for my lunch friend and get it wrapped

   Fold the laundry that’s in the dryer

   Drink some egg nog with whiskey!

Better get busy so I can have that egg nog! Talk about motivation!

59 Replies to “Ernie is Gone and Making Progress on My Table Topper”

  3. Sounds like you are going to have a great Christmas! I love seeing Ernie because he looks exactly like our late dog Ketsuki. When we were visiting my son a few months ago we went to Pioneer Quilts and it is a lovely and unique store.

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    1. I’m glad you got to see that quilt shop. It’s my favorite local quilt store.

      Did I ever tell you that my mom’s maiden name was Bonella. Her parents immigrated from northern Italy.

      Anne

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      2. Interesting. My mom’s folks immigrated through Ellis Island to a tiny town in Wyoming. I wonder if their families were related. Names were often changed when they were written down on immigration.

        Anne

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  5. Have a very Merry Christmas!🎄 I enjoy reading all your positive posts. I love quilting and dogs and it brightens my days while being a caregiver for my husband who has cancer. So, thank you. 😊
    What kind of dog is Ernie? So cute

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    1. Awww. You’re so sweet. I’m so glad I can add some brightness to your day at such a tough time.

      Ernie is a Border Terrier. So he goes well with my BORDER collies!

      Happy holiday!

      Anne

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  7. OK Anne, you have convinced me, I checked out Pioneer Quilts and am deep in a big fabric order!! They have some really fun and beautiful fabrics that suit my “baby quilt a month in 2024” project. Your table topper looks luscious! And your dog photos made me smile. Will be making that lemon pound cake for sure when I get home, thanks. Have a fabulous Christmas, you, the boys and your dinner guests.

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    1. It’s so funny but I didn’t go to Pioneer Quilts for years because of the name. I figured it was fuddy daddy. And now it’s my favorite local quilt shop!

      Merry Christmas!

      Anne

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  9. How very sweet that Ernie will be coming over for play dates once in awhile. The table topper is spectacular ♥️. More luscious Aboriginal fabric – you sure have an eye for the colors and patterns. I like your motivational tool – cheers! Hi Rico and Bender 🥰

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  10. Ernie looks like a luv. Your table topper is beautiful. The lemon pound cake looks delicious, perfect after a big dinner. Happy holidays to you and your poochies.

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      1. It was made using Bonnie Hunter’s Scrappy Trip Quilt tutorial. It’s free and you can find it with a Google search. I put my own fabrics together, mostly from my stash.

        Anne

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  12. Oh, what a great pic of you and Ernie . Congrats on a great vet visit , I admire your time management. Hoping you have a great holiday , enjoy enjoy enjoy

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  13. I so enjoy your blog! I can’t remember how I came across it a few years ago and always look forward to hear about you and your furry kids. Also appreciate you sharing your creative side. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. Go Bender!

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  14. Your topper is beautiful, and I know your lemon pound cake with be delicious. I am a fan of anything lemon.
    Enjoy your holidays and Merry Christmas and all the best in 2024

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  16. I spray baste also but I use Homemade Basting Spray. Holly Ann from String and Story has the recipe and YouTube video. Not so sticky and full of chemicals. I put cheap plastic tablecloths over my guest room bed and spray away. The downside is waiting for it to dry, which I speed up with a room fan.

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    1. A friend of mine made some of the home made basting spray once. I only use it on small pieces and occasionally. Not sure I want to go through the trouble of making my own.

      Anne

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      1. I triple the recipe when I do it. I also use my immersion blender to make it really smooth. It seems to keep a long time.

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  17. I love your blog! I feel like we’re kindred spirits. I’m a big fan of Aboriginal fabrics, Kaffe, doggies, and Oregon. Someday I’d like to play pickleball, too. I want you to be around a long, long time, so please wear a mask and ventilate your space well when you use the commercial basting spray.

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    1. I need to finish my Aboriginal woven look quilt. I’ve decided that I will keep it for me and use it in my living room. The quilt I’m using now is a bit past it’s prime.

      Anne

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  21. Your puppy stories make me smile. Thank you for that. Don’t you wish there was a domestic sewing machine with the quilting space of a midarm? I love my midarm, but sometimes I wish it had more functionality. I am able to get my sewing machine, midarm and cutting table into a 5 foot by 5 foot space, but I know many quilters don’t have room for both machines. Maybe some day……………………

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    1. It would be nice to have more room in the throat of my machine, but I”m not sure that would prompt me to do more quilting. I really don’t love that part and am usually happy to hand it off to someone else to do. this piece is just too small to do that.

      I would love to have a long arm machine but I would have to set it up in my garage, or my living room!

      Anne

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  22. I love your table topper, so beautifully colorful. I saw a picture of Rico’s lookalike in a muddy river with otters and sure wished I could send it to you. The expression on the dogs face was fantastic. I’m glad that Bender is doing good. My friend has had brain surgery to help correct her very serious epilepsy and said smells can cause an attack easily. Don’t know about dogs though with their tremendous sense of smell.

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    1. Epilepsy is so different in each creature that has it. Some dogs are triggered by rosemary so you have to be a little careful in what you feed them. Amazing how many dog foods and treats have rosemary in them!!!. I have a friend whose dog would have a seizure the day after his family watched a football game on TV. I’m lucky that Bender isn’t terribly sensitive.

      Merry Christams1

      Anne

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  24. Love the picture of you and Ernie!! I forget, what type terrier is he? I hope he will get to be a regular visitor for you and your boys! Beautiful table topper. Enjoy your special eggnog 🥰😻🤗 !

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  27. Merry Christmas to you & the boys!🐾🎄

    It’s been a very productive year for you.

    <

    div>As much as I love the work you do , the tutorials and the tricks you use, it was nice to see you getting out first for the herding classes but then pickleball. Th

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    1. We’re really lucky that Bender is so well controlled with Meds. Not every dog has the same outcome.

      Bender is on potassium bromide (KBr) and keppra. The KBr is really what has controlled his seizures. He went for five years without a seizure when KBr was initially added to his meds. Then when he had some seizures after five years, a boost to that drug stopped the seizures and now he’s up to almost two years without a seizure.

      If you haven’t seen a veterinary neurologist, I would recommend that you see one. regular vets just don’t have the experience with the meds that a neurologist has. My biggest regret with Bender is that I waited too long to take him to his neurologist.

      Good luck, It’s a horrible thing to have to go through.

      Anne

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      1. Anne, thank you for the kind reply. I’ve been thinking Lacey could be better controlled, and that I should find a neurologist. Thanks and bless you for taking time to answer!!
        Marti

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