Scams and Fraudsters

When returning home I had a long message on my phone, from my credit card company.  He quoted the kind of card as "platinum" which was the first clue of something odd - I didn't know I had "platinum", whatever that is.  He quoted the kind of CC I had, (which is seldom used, always paid promptly when I DO use it).  I did charge an airline ticket two days ago, purchased through Travelocity.  I kept listening to the long message and at the end it automatically connected/redialed to a live person.  He asked for last 4 digits of card and last 4 digits of my SS.  I asked, who are you trying to contact - he just kept talking.  I said I wasn't going to give that to him, and he responded, "if you are not comfortable giving me that information, please contact the number on the back of your CC."  All very polite and seemingly legitimate.

I called my CC and their Security Department said NO ONE from their company had called me.  The balance on my card was accurate and as expected, that of the airline ticket.  The rep. said this is not uncommon Phishing, or Fraudster-ing.  I am soooo relieved I did not give out more info - I had been uneasy about even HAVING that CC.  We all know/hope the CC company will contact us if we have "unusual" or "unexpected" charges, and that was my first thought, something wrong, so I was tempted .

The telephone number on caller ID was 800-462-2016.  Doing a Google search relayed many others who had the same experience.

Spring! Comet

Happy Dayyyyyy!  Daffodils are pushing through the mulch!


(Stock photo - my broken camera is already on its way home from the camera hospital - I've missed it!)

Remember to watch for the comet March 12, - it's supposed to be best viewing that evening.  Look in west, just at/after sundown.  There will also be a sliver moon.  We saw it a few nights ago (I think) but it's hard to differentiate the comet from jet contrails.  For more info, officially called Comet 2011 L4 (PANSTARRS).  Bring binoculars.  

Haste Makes Waste

While hurrying home after errands, a quilt presentation, library book review, K-Mart,  race home before the cable tech guy arrives, and deciding to NOT take a second to  put my camera safely into my big purse, I got out of the car with arms loaded, camera swinging on my arm by it's strap, walked through the garage door, slammed the garage door behind me  ....  on my camera.   DANGGGGG!   I no longer can VIEW anything except a cracked VIEW window.  The good part is that the photos are still there, and it still downloads.  I doubt if Kodak can fix the mess I made of my camera.  8-((   It might have been better if it had been completely trashed, not it's only partially trashed.  I can't review photos, but it DOES still take them and download them.

However, on a happier note, here is Jane's project - isn't this the cutest wall hanging?  The little dimensional triangles are all from scraps she already had.  She says a button will go in each center.  TOOOOO CUTE! 

Here is Jody (Goddess's) Chunky Churndash - she is a prolific quilter, knitter, rancher, calver, babysitter to grandkids, friend, Postmaster, teacher, etc.  She can do anything - rumor has it that she doesn't sleep



Here is a label for our recent donated quilt.  Nancy donated his label, done on her embroidery machine.

 And here is a final photo of the donated quilt.  We even made the newspaper today!!

Thank goodness - we can start working on something else, but I'd like to win this one.  We local quilter/gals  donated the top fabrics, and RSVP paid for the batting, backing, and quilting.  My friend Chell did the beautiful machine quilting.  One of our local quilters, Carol,  has won not just one, but TWO Raffle Quilts in about 2 years!!!  And with just one ticket per quilt!

I know I've shown this before, but wanted photos for posterity!  8-)) 

There  are minor issues with the ribbon corner but we managed to make it look right - only a quilter would ever know there are discrepancies.

Jody is known for her interesting flange type border treatment (below).  Some old person stuck their finger in the photo to show details.  Oh yeah, was that me???  LOL

Scrappy Bargello, and a Welcome Visitor

I've recently heard that Bonnie Hunter's  Scrappy Bargello are "everywhere" -- It's time for me to make another one - they are fun and excellent scrap user, as well as a charming Linus/kids quilt..  Here is one block - I've made 16, heading for 24, but I ran out of that spring-y green plaid.  An order was placed on line for 2 possibilities, and when my order arrived, the blue/green plaid on the right was chosen.  It's gonna work!  Today I'm getting the rows together.

Guess who/what is baaaaaaccccckkkkkk!  8-))   For months, we've been noticing a pile of poop ( LOL ) under one of the evergreens but could never find the roosting culprit until today.  Perhaps this is our pooper! Do you see him?  My goodness he's almost invisible this time of year, wearing whitish plumage. 

He didn't even open his eyes to look at us - such a bold little thing.  If you don't remember my stories of his and his family's visit last year, he is a Screech Owl.

We still have a bit of snow, temps are mid 40s, but more snow is expected tonight.  Stay warm, little Screech Owl!

The KID in the BARN

Our winter has again been mild, with little snow, but just to be prepared, we purchased "the kid", a new snowblower last October - (DH always MUST be prepared).  It's more powerful than the old junker, and I've been eager to learn how to use it.  This one doesn't take so much muscle, but has been living unused in "the barn" for months, because of no snow.  "The Barn" is our name for the traditional garage, as we both come from country background.  "The Kid" is the snowblower's name,  like the poor step-child who is relegated to doing the hard/dirty work.

Now, to explain about why I was eager to use this machine -- when I was 16, living on a farm and in charge of a number of my horses, and while some of my lucky girlfriends were getting cars at age 16, my father gave ME a manure spreader - yes, that's right, and I was a HAPPY girl!  (a wheelbarrow can only do so much)  I could hitch that International Harvester manure spreader behind the International Harvester tractor and take care of business.

Today was THE day!!!  After some guidelines and instructions, I CAN do it!   Not bad for a Senior Citizen of ... uhhhh, "old"! 

Sunny Lanes, and Puzzle DONE

This block is called Sunny Lanes -  I LOVED the name (thinking about walking down the long farm lane to the mailbox as a little girl) and before planning (uh hemmmm) I just jumped in, thinking I'd use MORE fabric up with these larger pieces.  One finished block is 16 inches.  However, above are 2 x 2 blocks that make this nice design - 4 blocks across is just 64 inches - not quite large enough (I didn't want a border).  6 blocks will be too big, and 5 blocks, while the "right" size for what I wanted loses the design.  Oh great - I just didn't think!  My suggestions would be to make a 12 inch block if you make this one.

OK, I could do this alternate setting (above) with any number of blocks (forget the 2 x 2 blocks in upper right) , and I'm thinking 5 blocks x 6 blocks = 80 in. x 96 in.  -- sounds like a plan. No fabric was purchased for this project.   The "white" was various plain white fabrics and I was concerned it would be noticeable.  NOT - many times we worry too much (I did!) about things that don't amount to a hill of beans!  At this point, I am unable to tell one "white" from the other, and by the time it's quilted, all the whites will look exactly the same.

There's the DONE puzzle quilt.  See that "hole" along the top edge?  Oh great, one piece lost - how can that be??  We finally had to put it all back in the box, with one piece missing, took the leaf out of the table, moved the table back into position and there was the one lost piece, under one of the table legs.  8-))  This puzzle was a doozy, but it filled up the dreary long month of January.