A couple more pictures from my walk with Ripley.  She enjoyed the McCloud River:

Lots of sniffs on the trails:

And she spotted a squirrel....

And the Summer Block Party quilt is done, including a label.  As usual, I had help....

I like this quilt - it is a "happy" quilt, but....it is very yellow/green.  It will need someone special to take it home, I think.

I treated myself to a hike (really, just a walk...) on my birthday.  Ripley and I went to Lower and Middle McCloud Falls in the morning. As we approached Lower Falls, there was a group of school kids gathered at the viewing area, getting ready to start the hike to Middle Falls, so Rip and I started out a head of them.  The photos of Middle Falls came first - while it was still cool.  By the time I got back to Lower Falls, the hair was up in a pony tail!

 It was a beautiful morning!

And just like that, I broke it....I was so excited to "play" with my new BBQ that I forgot to pay attention to a few things...One being that not all the burners were turned off!  I don't usually use the side burner and didn't even think about checking it when I seasoned the griddle.  The burner was on, the lid was down, and....it overheated and melted part of the plastic.  Bummer.  I now have a permanent reminder to pay attention.

I did use the griddle last night for dinner though. It really did keep the heat down in the kitchen, so I'm a fan!  (We were 106 degrees here yesterday.....)

The birthday present I ordered for myself was delivered today!  I have it set up and ready to go and have seasoned the griddle. It will also use charcoal so it’s a three in one, a propane grill, a griddle, and charcoal grill.

The only downside was all those stickers on front were a bear to get off. Some came off quite nicely, but two of them required a lot of time.

I started some cat grass for the kittens, and noticed as it started to sprout that there were drops of water on the tips of the grass - too cool!!

 

I'm caught up on the Society Sparkler BOM (Block of the Month) quilt blocks - just in time to get another one next week.  Six blocks left to make - 3 months left in the project.  I might have this one done by Christmas???  I took a peek at the blocks remaining, and they are becoming more complex now. I'm not a fan of this block, but that's my own skill level.  It's a pretty block.

Since my vacation plans got cancelled, instead of driving to Sac to pick up Margene and Jordan, I spent my afternoon quilting.  

I did have an issue with quilting the Summer Block Party quilt though - two kittens snuggled in for a nap when I took a break.

Well, this vacation has not started as planned.  Margene and Jordan were coming out for a week, but had to cancel due to Jordan's sister's health (in ICU after chemo for cancer - she's only 30...)  We had plans to explore the coast (up to Crescent City - the lighthouse, the beaches, Trees of Mystery, the redwoods, etc.) and the local waterfalls in our area (Hedge Creek Falls, McCloud Falls, and Burney Falls) as well as some other local exploring.  I will probably still do some exploring this week, just not the big trips we had planned.

Luna hurt her foot earlier this week - she tore a toenail off, poor thing!  We didn't let her go out on a walk until I could get her in to have the vet look at it, and poor Ripley was lost without her.  AJ took Rip out, and said she kept sitting and looking back, waiting for Luna......

The vet gave her an antibiotic and called it good, just keep an eye on it, luckily!

I am trying to finish up a couple of baby/toddler hats to go with the baby/toddler quilts I have done, and it's been slow going.  I swear the quilts took less time!  Probably not, but is sure seems like the hats are taking forever.  Of course, no crochet project goes un-helped....

 

This one is ready to quilt - I got it finished this weekend, sandwiched up, and ready to go!  

I had a supervisor while I was putting the quilt, backing, and batting together.

I need to work on my color choices, though in my defense of this one, I didn't know what the blocks were going to be - this was the surprise "Summer Block Party" quilt.  I enjoyed making the blocks, but the finished quilt is not my favorite.  Oh well, it will be a good "picnic quilt", one you don't mind tossing on the ground to sit on.

And it's done!  Ready to go to Meredith.  I really like this pattern, so will probably make it again - different fabrics.  

 

I went to Sunset Koi the other day to get some more algaecide, and wandered around looking at the plants, fish etc., and noticed the frogs.  There were frogs everywhere!  My favorite were these four hanging out together....