I'm a pickin' and I'm a grinnin'

Do you remember Hee Haw? That's where pickin' and grinnin' comes from. But that isn't what this post is about.

Last weekend I sewed three rows together of Orca Bay (it looked like only a single row of blocks, but really it was three rows). I went to add another row onto the first last night and realized that, as I laid it out on the bed to make sure the blocks were where I wanted them to be, I had placed my blue string blocks in the wrong direction (and I had already taken them out once because they were wrong). So I was pickin' out stitches late into the night.

But now that everything is back to the building blocks, it gave me a chance to play with layout. Not sure which I like better. I'm trying to keep in mind that this quilt is likely going to Brandon, my sister's grandson who graduates from high school this year. But if it looks too feminine, it will go to Tajehra (pronounced tee-air-ah), my sister's granddaughter who also graduates this year (I'm also making a Winston Ways quilt - so we'll see who gets which one when I'm finished).

Here is the original layout:

Here is the alternate layout:

Not sure which I'm going to do at this point.

As for the grinnin', I helped my Mom make 18 loaves of bread (yes, 18!) on Tuesday. Six each of white, wheat, and half and half. Then I had to find freezer space for them! But aren't they beautiful? Wish you could smell them - nothing better than the smell of hot bread coming out of the oven.

I can't publish the recipe, because my Mom insists on keeping it a secret (she used to earn her living by making bread for people).

Have a great day, everyone!