Howard will be signed by Premier League or Madrid after this over

Please click on the green grass above and see the hero of American soccer today.  My gosh, Howard is going to be signed by the Premier League or Madrid after this is over.

Well, at long last it seems, maybe, just maybe, America will earn it's dues for soccer.  Long have the smirks come when speaking of the USA and soccer.  Yes, they need 10 more years and we will be a force to be reckoned with.  That's what people used to say for the excuse for American soccer's close but no cigar movements in the soccer world.

My beloved Spain striker, Fernando Torres, never even mentioned America, after they beat the last team before the semi final.  I hate to say it but, he was excited about Brazil and Spain together in the final and no mention of first we must get past America-HA!

We shall see, big, bad Brazil had better watch out!!

America plays like a team, there really are no multi, multi, multi million dollar super stars, but, you know, maybe there should be-hehehehe...smile

White water rafting and skunked at fishing...still all goodg

The girls have flown the coupe.  Jennifer is in Spain and Chelsea is in San Francisco, doing what they are supposed to be doing-abandoning their parents. Well, you know it seems that way.  We raise them to be responsible adults and then they are off to live in the world, without us.  

Oh well, more time for quilting and white water rafting.  

We got to the Rivermen, our fishing guides were waiting for us.  Our boats were loaded into the upper Gauly and down the river, for 14 miles we were paddled by our guide, Peter.  Peter is probably a very good fishing guide, if he weren't working with such inexperienced fishers.  Honey Hole after Honey Hole we were guided to and told now toss it right there and you'll catch a fish.  It seemed he was right and we did what we were told.  Maybe we got a couple of bites, either that or a snag.  Needless to say, they call it getting skunked and since we were paying for it, it was our guides fault.  But, we really can't blame it all on him.  Getting skunked was probably mostly on us.  Even the other group of well outfitted fishermen, only caught 6 fish so we weren't the only ones not getting our share of fish.  

Mostly it was a little smooth and a little rocky ride.  But, one section we did have to walk around while our guides rode the boats down a treacherous bit of river.  In the end it was a nice boat ride and the guides had to work really hard, paddling against the wind.  

To cap it off, we had dinner at a great outdoor restaurant called Smokies, directly across the street from the Rivermen campgrounds.  

Baby chicks everywhere

Baby chicks on the front porch in my hanging basket.  Those are cow bird eggs and robins eggs and a baby bird.

My baby chick, Chelsea Elizabeth Brunner, graduated this weekend from Western Kentucky University with a Geology degree.  Shameless mom bragging: She is The Outstanding Geology Student of the year 2008 and 2009.  She was also a Cum Lade with her grades.  And now she's off to San Francisco for an internship and then to New Mexico for grad school.  Life goes on.  

Paducah Quilt Show 2009 Part 2

Since these quilts are some of the best in the country, we might as well start off with the Grand Prize winning Best in Show.  From a lady from Australia.  

This is the Hand workmanship award from a Japanese artist. 

There was no shortage of quilts from the far east this year, South Korea and Japanese quilts were all star winners.  Whimsy and traditional ruled the day, it seemed to me.  The high art quilts of a few years ago were passé and relegated to a very few awards.  This is the Gammil machine quilting award winner.

The bed quilt winners were named by an old southern gentleman, or at least the names wanted me to believe that.  1st place A New Look at a Grand Old Lady.  2nd place Savanah.

Even the first quilt entered in the contest were spectacular.  1st place entry Spring with Delight.

All the big quilt stars were there, selling their wares.

The show is a bit smaller this year, quality over quantity was definitely noticeable to me.  Here is the empty pool and all the vendors are gone around it and under the pool was empty as well-a huge improvement from last year when the vendors and we shoppers were miserable from the heat.  

Paducah Quilt Show 2009 Part 1

My friend Shirley and I took the bus to Paducah, Kentucky, sponsored by Happy Heart Quilt Shop in Louisville.  In the past the quilt show in Paducah has been known as the premiere quilt show in the country.  Not only does the Convention Center where the award winning quilts are displayed, but the a large portion of the town comes out with quilts in the windows.  We started our opening day of the show at the Cherry Convention Center.  This is known as the Rotary Show, as the local Rotary Men's Club, hosts the Pilgram Roy Collection of Antique Quilts.  Some of  these quilts seemed remarkably contemporary.  But, like the Geese Bend Quilts, considered to be sophisticated art quilts, really it was probably the fabric on hand put together in a pleasing manner.  The Hoffman Challenge is on display there as well.  This year the fabric selected for the challenge, was made into dolls.  This doll's name is Elenore.  This building should not be missed, as there are many vendors and other interesting things to see there.  

Speaking of Elenore, after the Rotary Show, we walked to the really good barbque in town.  A small place where usually only the locals are on hand.  But, since last year, my mom and I had time to explore more, we happened upon this little old fashioned establishment.  

Elenore's barn was next and we bought some fabric for a couple of projects I'm working on.  We did not get to see the days entertainment as the shuttle bus to the quilt show was pulling up at the door and off we went.  

Thunder Over Louisville-an Event Not to Be Missed!

At least some time in your life, you need to get to one of the biggest fireworks shows and air shows in the country.  We started the day with the parachutes dropped from the sky into the cold Ohio River.  When the day is so pretty, this is what you get, a mass of humanity.  Luckily my husband's office is on the corner of the 7th floor and we got a birds eye view of the show.  I'll try to upload the video of the show, but, I think it won't work.  If not, I'll try to put it on YouTube.  

Lucky for the Kentucky side, the wind was blowing right into Indiana and Jeffersonville.  We hadn't been in 4 or 5 years and I can't believe how much it's grown.  

I'm amazed at how this sliver of yellow tape keeps people so well behaved and staying out of their "territory".  Tents were everywhere, in plane view of signs stating "no tents".  But, from what I could see it was a very well behaved bunch of people, enjoying their big free show.  Louisville is fortunate in that regard.  We have many free fun things to do, especially before the Derby.  The parade and balloon race are just a couple of the free options.  

Another free show here is Waterfront Wednesday.  On Wednesdays in the in summer our Public Radio Partnership gas a free concert every last Wednesday of the month.  It's a wonderful opportunity for families to bring their lawn chairs and quilts to the waterfront for a day of great music, some of them soon to be big acts and some already in the spotlights.  

Liverpool and Chelsea-one of the best games in recent memory

The boys in red were brought down by the boys in blue in one  of the most spectacular games I've seen in a long time.  The game was actually a tie 4-4 but with some crazy rule that gives more weight to games that are played in an away match.  Chelsea, UK, had won by 2 points at Anfield earlier in the season.  My team had to win by 3 points and it looked like it was going to happen.  Then after the second half, Ballack came out blazing.  A last few minutes determined Dirk Kuyt header made it look like we might just pull it off-we needed 5 and that was possible, until Lampard made a second goal and that was the nail to our beautiful attempt.  My gosh the defending from Chelsea was brilliant and Fernando was held to no scoring.  The whistles were sounding, as the tempers were causing all kinds of fouls.  

But, in the end the fans were treated to one of the most beautiful games in football, but, not so happy for Liverpool.  No more Champions League Cup to win.    

What a sad day for football.  In 1989 96 people were crushed to death while trying to watch a sports event.  I can't imagine...

Liverpool Remembers...

It was not so long ago that their could be any excuses.  I hope that lessons  were learned and this never happens again.  

Oh my goodness, I better stop writing.  It's just a bit of a down day for me today.