Quilting Arts has come out with a special commemorative Issue called International Quilt Festival – Quilt Scene. This issue is jam-packed with good photos, articles, and how-tos. It's a keeper.

Pokey Bolton, the QAs editor and founder, wrote about the magazine's release on her blog. If your quilt shop or local book store doesn't have it in stock, you can find it here.

Well, Steve and I aren't actually doing any digging – Allison Pools in Denison, TX, is doing all the work and we are writing the checks.

We had talked about having a pool for several years but we couldn't afford it when the kids were in school (elementary, high school, or college). But now the kids are on their own and we figured that now is the time! Our backyard is tiny so the pool will be small. That's not a bad thing – it will be more manageable. This is the way our yard looked 4 weeks ago:

This is how it looked Monday. That black hole in the house is for the new window we had put in so that we can see the pool from our bedroom (soon I hope).

The brick around the window opening was finished on Tuesday:

Steve and I are going to finish out the inside of the window on Sunday and I'll show you what I've done to the bedroom next week. I am currently waiting to hear when the big digger is coming to dig the BIG hole in the backyard. I'll share more photos as the project progresses.

I know I'm biased, but I think I have some seriously cute grandkids.

Here we are as Ward and June Cleaver. A few folks asked about Beaver. We said, with a sweet smile, that he was in the backyard, in bits and pieces.

June, in the kitchen, near the bar…

Smackdown Update: Hollis is currently in the lead. Her quilt has a bid of $2,000. I am very happy that my quilt is in 2nd place at $1500 – but I'm a competitive sort. If anyone wants to jump in and bid mine above $2,000 it would make me even happier!

I admit that this is a different sort of auction. Those who bid, are bidding for 2 things – to get the quilt they would like to have AND to make sure that they get that quilt for the highest price on the page. It sort of goes against every bargain-hunting woman's nature, doesn't it? But I like to think of this as a way to give as much as you can afford to give to this wonderful charity and have a wonderful quilt to show for it. Remember that the auction goes until November 10.

Linda is out of space so we're having a clearance sale. I sent out an eNewsflash that you may have gotten.  If not, go to our home page and click the links you'll find there. Things are already selling so I hope the bargain you are hunting is still there when you get there.

You've read about it here before. Go here
to read about the details and place your bids(s). While all quilts are
wonderful and worthy of winning, please remember that I think my quilt
is most worthy (remember, this is a smackdown and I am supposed to talk
smack!). Bid early, bid often. All proceeds go to support Alzheimer's
research.