Great Thrift Store Find, Sixty Courthouse Steps, Flowers Flowering, Winter Boots

The daily rain finally stopped and we had sun yesterday that felt glorious. I spent as much time outside as I could. It was a quiet kind of day and I noticed for the first time, leaves gently letting go and falling from the trees. Our little pond has been fully restored and the burgundy Sedum was beautiful in the sunlight.

 I need to show you what I bought at the Value Village that I liked and thought was a bargain.  Here she is, Girl With Blue Ball.  She is porcelain and was fashioned between 1924 and 1974 by Nao so considered vintage. 

She cost me $7.99 and I did think twice even with seeing the marking and registration number on the bottom. I've been frustrated with not being able to find her online but did find a similar boy with blue ball on Ebay. The asking price was $75.  She reminds me of the story that was in one of my school readers, The Frog Prince.  In that story, the ball was a golden one. I can still remember how sorry I felt for the frog when she rejected him. 

She is beside my Madagascar Jasmine plant. It continues to survive so I must be doing something right.  It keeps sending out more vines and had two flowerings during the summer. Here was July's blooming of the very white, sort of hanging flowers.

I'm looking to buy a new pair of winter casual boots. Any suggestions?? I've been eyeing these by Ymombest.

I especially like the emphasis on anti-slip soles.  I looked at them Here at Amazon but maybe I'd rather more of a higher ankle boot so I'm going to check if this same one comes in another style. I seem to be spending more time considering shoes and boots than ever, and mostly with an eye to ones that will keep me upright!

During our gray days, I spent a couple of sessions on the machine. I'd made 60 blocks for the scrappy Courthouse Steps project and then ran out of the heritage French General red fabric (while there seems to be no end to the scrappy bits!)

  I debated ordering more but then thought I could make up in borders what might be missing in blocks. I'd like this to be a single sized quilt which is like 35 x 75 or so. Next step will be taking out the papers and sewing the blocks together. Here on my queen size bed.

I know many of you love pumpkins like I do.  I watched this video by the wonderful Jan Patek who I love for the laid back attitude and sense of fun she brings to her stitching. She offers a free PDF of this small quilt too HERE. 

I spent ages one day making a new music cd for the car. Navigating Windows Media on my Acer (which I had to use a YouTube video to find !), a converter on the net and locating some of the free music I liked on YouTube taxed my brain. But I got through it and got it done. Here is the list of what is on this one. Anything here you would like?

Heavy on the old days and some before my time even and some what I think of as since my time. One of these days I'll have to buy a new fangled phone where I've heard you can download your music without all this hassle.

Ok that's enough from me today. I've got veggies boiling to make a curry for supper. I have roast chicken leftovers to add some protein to the pot.  I want most of it together before heading outside to do some chores.  What's in your cooking pot today? I can always use suggestions. 

Take care all!

Happily linking with Not Afraid of Color, My Quilt Infatuation, Alycia Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Floral Passions, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and  Life in the Scrapatch.