That day I had high tea.

My friend Katlin spent the last semester in England and she was obsessed with afternoon tea. I think she went to a tea room in every town she visited while she was across the pond. When she learned that we share an affinity for tea she invited me to visit the Wilmington Tea Room with her. It was so good!

There were tasty homemade pastries and scones (ohmygod the scones) and they had darjeeling tea which is my favorite tea in the world. Except maybe for authentic chai that I had everyday when I was in India - that stuff has addictive qualities I think.

Anyway, there was this cute older couple who came in for lunch and the male half of the pair struck up conversations with everyone in the place. He was too cute. He chatted us up about movies. He found out Katlin was from Minnesota which got him on the subject of Fargo (snow. cold. not minnesota but we got there).

He said, "That Quentin Tarantino is pretty gory, he's got that new movie out as well..."

"I think Fargo was the Cohen Brothers," I responded.

"Oh, that's right. That's right. Not Tarantino, but his stuff is pretty violent, too." He said.

"I knew Fargo wasn't Tarantino when you said that. I thought you were wrong," his wife chimed in.

We all laughed a bit and I just thought she was so cheeky and he was so personable. I really hope that Dan and I are like that as we get older. Shoot, I hope we're like that now. Although, I really can't wait until I'm old and I just get to say whatever pops into my head - that's what old people get to do you know.

Another quilt

My manager, Andrea, is having a baby boy in just over a month. It's their first and they had been trying for a super long time and she is so excited that it's finally happening - I am so excited for her!

I've really lucked out in the manager department over the years. I don't think I've had a bad experience with any of the managers that I've had. Andrea is no exception. She's a bit older than me but we're very similar in personality. I always enjoy working with her (even if I don't always love my job). 

She's also been a pretty consistent person in my life since we've moved here. We don't hang out outside of work or anything but if I ever need to talk she's there and vice versa. Really, she's just great. So, when I found out she was finally having the baby she had been dreaming about I decided to make her a quilt. 

The quilt itself is pretty simple. The gray and white stripes are 4" x 36" (making the quilt about 44" x 36"). The backing is just a simple patchwork - the blocks were 3" square. It's my first patchwork so it's pretty wonky. After I quilted it the problems weren't as noticeable (although I would be able to point them out to you if you asked ;) 

They did an underwater theme in his room but her husband loves penguins so they painted a few penguins on the walls as well. When I heard about the penguin love I thought, "I bet I could put a penguin on a quilt." Turns out I could!

This penguin was my first applique experience. I cut the penguin out of wool and just zig-zag stitched it onto the front of the quilt before I put all the layers together. I was a little concerned at first as to how the penguin would turn out but I am so pleased with it! Plus, now I know how to applique. Boom. 

Here's a shot of the quilt in the baby's room that Andrea sent me: 

So sweet!

bro hug.

Aaaand the reason we went to Georgia last weekened:

And the reason I told Dan he should wear his uniform to his best friend's Army graduation. 

Those pictures right there. 

ps. Dan hates the term "bro" like when I say, "you goin' on a bro-date?" He always rolls his eyes at me. And I chuckle to myself because I think I am so terribly funny. Deep down, I think he agrees.