Happy Halloween!

Our power went out just after lunch time today. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to post anything and since this is the last day of Blogtoberfest, I didn't want to miss it! I sat in silence and darkness all afternoon, but now the power is back on! Just in time for all the little ghosts and goblins to come out for Trick or Treat.

Have a Ghoulish Halloween everyone!

Today is day 31 of Blogtoberfest!

I'm done!

Is This Winter Rain?

Rain

This rain is winter rain.

It spits and sprays like an angry cat,

As it lands lightly on the empty playground.

This rain is winter rain.

Cold and clinging to the thin fabrics,

Each droplet shining dully and roughly.

This rain is winter rain.

It drifts almost gracefully down through its own fog,

Taunting the shivering trees below, and above.

This rain is winter rain.

Even the birds flinch fearfully and cringe.

As they fly through this endless grey curtain.

This rain is winter rain.

Dripping from everywhere, clouding everything,

A cruel, stinging scream in every drop.

This rain is winter rain......

- Abby Wall

Today is a dark, dreary day, full of wetness and boredom. I couldn't work on any of my projects. They just weren't calling to me. So I slept late and spent the rest of the morning reading. I did make this week's Party block though. It's a 10inch block called 'Game Cocks'. Sorry! That was not my idea! Of course I have no other iideas so I guress that's what it will be called. I was even too uninspired lazy to pick out fabrics and just used the ones that were near my machine. It turned out not too bad, I guess, but the weather has left me cold.

Oscar and Felix are watching the rain too.

And Mimi, well, you know Mimi. She doesn't care what it is doing outside as long as she has some quilt block to sit on.

Today is day 30 of Blogtoberfest! Only one more day to go!

Sky Watch Friday - October Sky

This is an October sky over the Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario. It looks quite benign, but this weather system brought cold rain, sleet, wet snow and ice and created havoc on the roadways of Central Ontario. If you want to see more Sky Watch Friday photos from around the world go to

A New Project

Today is day 28 in Blogtoberfest. I am still going strong! Can you believe that?

A teacher friend has asked me to make her mother a lap quilt to keep her warm this winter. Her Mom is in a nursing home and she wants something nice for her. I was looking through some of my magazines (I have a room full of them!) and I found this one. Sorry the photo is so blurry. It is from the April 1998 issue of McCall's Quilting. I know that sounds ancient, but I just love this pattern.

So I looked through my stash, found some fabrics that might work and got started. I have made 4 blocks so far. It won't look exactly like the photo in the magazine, but I think it will be okay. My quilt is going to have a lot more blues and greens because those are the colours she asked for.


These blocks will be placed on point and have some flowered triangles around them to make them into squares. Kind of like this. I just hope I have enough flowered fabrics. But if not, I guess I will have to go to the LQS! Poor me! LOL

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

A Meeting, a Block and a Favour

Our Guild meeting was delicious! We had a Harvest Potluck! Those quilting ladies don't just sew up a storm, they also bake fantastic goodies! I showed my Happy Tropical Basket wall hanging for Show and Tell and everyone loved it! I also delivered 4 quilts to Quilts from the Heart and picked up two more to do this coming month. I turned in my September block to the Block of the Month and picked up the instructions for this month's block. I couldn't wait to start it and finished it only a few minutes ago! Here it is. It is called 'Crystals Block'. Pretty isn't it? I will donate it to the Guild so that they can use it in one of their charity quilts.


I also have a huge favour to ask of you. One of my dearest quilting friends (no blog) is dealing with a difficult family medical situation. Her husband has been diagnosed with cancer. He was operated on a couple of months ago, but they were not able to get all of the cancer. He therefore must now undergo chemotherapy every other week. Please pray for him and send out positive thoughts for his recuperation and return to health. His name is Holt. I know that when we all pray and think positively so much can be done. I just know this can work! Thanks so much.

A List and a Bear Block

Our Guild meeting is tonight. I have a lot of things to get ready! I made myself a list in order not to leave anything undone.

Finish the charity quilts and sew on labels - check
Finish postcard from last week's Bee Night - check
Gather up library books for return - I want to renew one of them. Still have to find them all.
Bring the 'Happy Tropical Basket' wall hanging for Show and Tell - I still have to sew on one button.
Make deviled eggs - check (We are having a bit of a potluck tonight. We usually have one at Christmas time, but we have a very hard-to-get speaker for our end of November meeting, so our potluck will be tonight - a harvest potluck.)
Gather up mug, plate, cutlery and napkin for the potluck - check
Gather up things to bring for a project in Africa - check
Bring the finished Block-of-the-Month block - check

I feel as if I still have a lot to do, but I guess I'm nearly done. I should have started early this morning, but because I love to procrastinate, I worked on this block instead. I got the idea from the block that gave me so much trouble on this week's Block Party. The pattern for the bear came from the library book that I want to renew. I still have to stitch around the bear, but my machine is not cooperating today and I am in no mood to argue with it. I might make a few more of these blocks - a deer, a moose - a squirrel etc. Maybe next week!

But now I am going to take a quick nap. If I don't I won't be able to make it through the entire evening tonight.

Today is day 26 of Blogtoberfest.

Scenic Sunday #67

Fall Photo

Autumn Storehouse

I'd like to take October days

And store them in my mind,
To warm me during Winter's reign

When nature proves unkind.

Then I remember sunshine,

The autumn rich with gold,

And tawny fields a-flower

With wonders quite untold.

My thoughts will ease the moments

When in reverie I dwell,

And linger for the present

In some bright majestic dell.

- Virginia Borman Grimmer

Well Fancy That!

This is my block for this week's Friday Block Party. I told you about it yesterday. This one was driving me crazy! Why they call it 'Blindman's Fancy' I'll never know! Perhaps it would have gone together better if I had done it with my eyes closed. I ended up drawing the block on graph paper and turning it into a paper pieced one. It took me a long time to finish and I think it is probably my first and last.

Still, I really like the way it turned out.

Here are the answers to the first quiz.

1. A German Dish - Dresdan Plate

2. Pioneer House - Log Cabin

3. Ape's Plumbing Tool - Monkey Wrench

4. "Scat you bug!" - Shoofly

5. Judicial Stairway - Courthouse Steps

6. Sailor's Navigational Device - Mariner's Compass

7. A Global Journey - Trip Around the World

8. Trail of an Inebriate - Drunkard's Path

9. Cracked Crockery - Broken Dishes

19. And Educational Meeting Place - Schoolhouse

11. Butter-makers Race - Churndash

12. Smokey's Foot - Bear Paw

And here are the answers to the scrambled word quiz.

1. Crazy Quilts

2. Patchwork

3. Calico

4. Flying Geese

5. Sewing

6. Strip Piecing

7. Cathedral Windows

8. Quilting Bee

9. Indonesian Batik

10. Broadcloth

Today is day 24 of Blogtoberfest. See you tomorrow!

A Gray, Cloudy, Rainy Day

I'm feeling kind of down today. Guess I can blame it on the weather! That's always a good excuse. I am glad that many of you liked my little quiz from yesterday. I'm a sucker for things like that. I always have to do the crossword puzzles, word searches and Sodukos when I buy a newspaper. I get very upset if someone has already done them or has taken them out.

I have spent the last couple of hours cleaning up my workshop and working on this week's Friday Block Party block. It is called, 'Blindman's Fancy'. I just can't seem to make it work. Most of the pieces are cut to 1/8in. measurements. The centre is supposed to be 3 11/16in. What kind of a crazy size is that? Am I supposed to put this thing together? Actually the answer is 'no', I don't have to do any of the Friday Block Party blocks if I don't want to. But I just can't help myself. I will get this one right even if it drives me totally nuts.

I thought I'd give you a few scrambled words today. They are all quilt-related, so give them a try, while I go back to my sewing room and see if I can make myself go blind! Or crazy, whatever comes first.

1. RYCZA LQTUSI

2. KATWORPHC

3. LCAOIC

4. GLFYIN SEGEE

5. GEWSIN

6. TSRPI CIIGEPN

7. LACDETHAR SOIWWND

8. GUINIQTL EBE

9. NOINENDAIS SBTAIK

10. DOLCABHTRO

I really should be working on this little quilt. I found it in my UFO bin. I started it several years ago and put it away just like this, almost done! It's based on a pattern I bought at a LQS. The designer is a member of our Guild. It's called 'Goodnight Moon' and is based on the book by the same name.

Can you see those safety pins in the border? That area is about all I still have to quilt. I have even put the binding on already. As you can see by the tail in the upper left-hand corner, Felix has given his approval, so I think I will finish it up today. That is if I haven't gone totally blind from doing the quilter's cache block! Here is a close-up of little bear. How cute is that?

Quilting Quiz

Today is day 22 or Blogtoberfest.

I have a little quiz for you. Are you ready? Here goes......

Identify the following quilting patterns by their correct names.

1. A German Dish

2. Pioneer Home

3. Ape's Plumbing Tool

4. "Scat you Bug!"

5. Judicial Stairway

6. Sailor's Navigational Device

7. A Global Journey

8. Trail of an Inebriate

9. Cracked Crockery

10. An Educational Meeting Place

11. Butter-maker's Race

12. Smokey's Foot

And just because I can't post anything without a picture. Here is a gratuitous shot of the baby quilts I made for a cousin's twins. I don't think I have posted it before.
Edit: I have been taking part in a Sky Watch Friday post on my other blog. If you want to see it go here.

'Scraps' - Another Charity Quilt Finish!

Today is day 21 of Blogtoberfestl. I'm still here, but my internet provider is making things very difficult for me. I have been trying all morning to get on the internet, but it just wouldn't let me. I finally gave up and just as I was going to turn my computer off and go back to bed, it worked!!

So now I can show you my latest finish. It's another charity quilt. I think this may be the last one for this year. I have to get on with my Christmas stuff and also I found a couple of UFOs that are fall related and I think I should finish them first. This little quilt measures 35in. X 45in. It is made up of scraps from my children's-fabrics scrap bin. The blue was a piece of 100% cotton that I had bought many, many years ago and wanted to use up. The pattern is the Disappearing Nine-Patch. I absolutely love that pattern!

Now for the quilting - I don't love it so much. I decided to do a bit of experimenting. I did circles freehand with my machine. I went around each circle twice and then started a new circle. I just kept going until I ran out of bottom thread - which I did very often. This technique uses a lot of thread. I think I used about 1.5km in this quilt - maybe more! And I am really not that crazy about the way this quilting looks. I have to admit, it was kind of fun to do and it is just a charity quilt so I was able to experiment, but I'm just not loving it. Do you know what I mean? Mimi came over to look at it, but she did not like it either. At least she didn't want to sit on this quilt. I wonder if it is that little scrap of dog fabric in the bottom row. Mimi is kind of finicky!

A Postcard Bee Night

Today is day 20 of Blogtoberfest.

OMG! I had 'sew' much fun last night! We learned how to make postcards at Bee Night. I know I have already made some on my own, but it was great getting together with 25 other women who love to quilt! And it never hurts to learn some more techniques and get some new ideas for postcards! I still have to do the sewing on my cards, but I can show you what I have done so far. Cute, eh?

Baton Rouge Square

My block for this week's Block Party is called 'Baton Rouge Square'. It is a 10in. block. I don't know whether it was the colour in the original block or my current mood, but my block had a sort of Halloween feeling about it. Easy and quick!

Today is day 19 of Blogtoberfest. I am off to Bee Night this evening. We are going to work on postcards. Hopefully I'll have something to show you tomorrow.

Scenic Sunday #66

This Scenic Sunday #66, but for me it is the first time I have posted a photo. Click on the icon above to see more. It is definitely fall around here. We have had frost in the past several nights. All my plants are looking rather sad. But the trees are still beautiful! It's a good time to stay inside and sew!

Today is day 18 of Blogtoberfest!

My Happy Tropical Basket

I have finished my Tropical Basket wallhanging! Hurray! This one has a long story! (Just look at the pictures if you don't want to hear it.) I started this project over two years ago, when our Guild suggested a Challenge quilt. I think they called it 'Stash Bash' or something like that. We were to use scraps from our stash and the quilt was to be no larger than 40in. square. They encouraged us to use as many fabrics as possible. In fact, I think there was a prize for the most fabrics used.


I thought about this project for a long time and finally settled on a pattern I had found in a magazine from many years ago. The original pattern was done in redwork. I changed it so that I could do my quilt in hand applique combined with a bit of machine piecing. I worked on it throughout the summer of 2007, since the applique part was such a nice take-along project. But by the fall of that year I realized that I would not be able to finish it in time - for the end of October meeting. At that time I became physically unable to do a lot of things. I no longer had the use of my legs and that made it impossible to use my sewing machine. I also couldn't walk or drive a car. And I never did go back to our Guild meetings that year. My challenge quilt never got done.

A few weeks ago I found this UFO and decided to finish it. I only had a bit more to applique and a few more of those HST units to do. Since my physical condition is much improved and I am once again able to use my sewing machine, now seemed like the right time to get it out of my UFO pile. I sewed it together and stipple quilted it by machine. Then I added a colourful batik binding. I love how it turned out and I think it is my favourite quilt at the moment. Mimi seems to approve of it too.

My wallhanging measures 36in. square. I used over 45 different fabrics, mostly batiks, hand dyes and fossil ferns. I put a 'sleeve' on the back so that I can hang it up and display it. And display it I will! This quilt marks my return to my old self. I feel as if my life has been on hold for the past couple of years, very much like this quilt, but now it is time to get on with living and quilting and walking and petting my Mimi. Right Mimi?

"Purrrr"

Lucky Me!

My sister dropped by unexpectedly this afternoon. She brought me this little crochet book called "Cute Little Animals". Isn't she the greatest? There are eight little critters in this book! And I plan to make them all!

An Applecake a Day......

Day 15 of Blogtoberfest. Second last day for the virtual quilt show.

Several people were asking about my health since I had to see the doctor yesterday. Let me just assure you that all is well. It was just a sort of after-the-fact appointment. Since my auto immune condition had such a horrendous effect on me, my doctor just wants to make sure everything is under control. Next month I have an appointment to see the neurologist who treated me last year. I am not really looking forward to that because it means another nerve conduction test. Ouch! Oh, well, I am sure I'll get through it.

Even though I'm okay, my DD isn't. She came over at lunchtime yesterday. (She teaches at a school very close by) She was complaining about pains in her stomach and abdomen. She already had those pains last Monday evening, but she had not seen a doctor yet. She went back to school after lunch, but came back to my house around 2:30pm. Her pains were no better. She spent the night on my couch because we just couldn't figure out what to do with her. I encouraged her to call in sick today and go to a walk-in clinic. (Her own doctor could not see her until next week) The doctor at the walk-in clinic was very nice. She suspects that my DD's pains are caused by food poisoning. DD ate at a Japanese restaurant last Sunday. 'Things' are being cultured at the moment to see if it is indeed salmonella or something similar. It would be very easy to pick up something like that where raw food is being served.

Not much sewing No sewing has been going on around here for the last couple of days! Hopefully we will get all the doctor stuff over with soon. I read a cute little joke that a commenter had left on someone's blog. Sorry, I can't remember who. It said, "What is the difference between God and a doctor?" The answer, "God doesn't think he is a doctor". I had to laugh. I am not a fan of doctors. And I often feel that I know my own body better than someone who spends a couple of minutes poking around and listening to my heart beat. I feel that way about my DD too. I don't think this is anything too serious. Nothing like appendicitis, for example.

While she was napping on the couch, I baked another one of my famous apple cakes! An apple a day.... you know! I set the timer and it should go off any minute. Yep! There it goes. It's ready!

No Time

Blogtoberfest day 14. I don't have much time for blogging today. No time either for blog reading or following of the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. Also I am still busy quilting the two quilts I sandwiched yesterday. Mimi is nowhere to be found. So Oscar is helping me today.

Mimi Wanna Sandwich?

Today is day 13 of Blogtoberfest.

The Bloggers Quilt Festival is here.

I've been busy today, sandwiching another charity quilt and also that colourful one which I showed you a peek of a couple of days ago. I hope to have them both finished in a day or so. That should give me enough time, especially since Mimi is helping me!

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!

Happy Columbus Day to all my American friends!

My entry to the Blogger's Quilt Festival is here.

Flight of the Tropical Birds

Welcome to my blog. Today is day 11 of Blogtoberfest. I'm still hanging in there! If you came to see my entry in Park City Girl's Quilt Festival, please go here. Oh, and please leave me a comment, even if it is just to say, "hi". I would love to hear from you.

The block for this week's Friday Block Party is called, 'Flight of Sparrows'. But sparrows seemed so ordinary and boring. I wanted something a little more exciting. So I made my block using bright coloured batiks and fossil ferns. I love how it turned out, but now the block looks more like 'Flight of the Tropical Birds'.

The best part is that I was able to use all of the HST and other triangles left over from another project. I can only give you sneak peek because it is still a work in progress. I found it in my UFO bin last week and decided to finish it. Lucky for me, because I found all of those HST and other left-overs. If I hadn't been working on this last week, I probably would have made all these little units from scratch. Here is a preview of my WIP. I hope to finish it soon.

Mimi's Corner

If you have come to see my quilt for Park City Girl's Bloggers Quilt Festival, go here. If you have just dropped by to see if I am keeping up with my Blogtoberfest obligations, then stay. At any rate, welcome!

I decided to make another charity quilt, using the disappearing nine patch pattern. I worked on it all day yesterday (when I wasn't reading everyone's Blogger's Quilt Festival posts) because it was raining. A whole day of rain! Very depressing! Mimi slept the entire day! I thought about waking her, but just didn't have the heart to do it.

Since there wasn't much else to do because of the rain, I decided to make another charity quilt - using scraps from my scrap bin and some plain fabric that I wanted to use up. I'm afraid those disappearing nine patches have gotten under my skin! I am becoming obsessed with them! I was still piecing well past midnight last night. I had all the nine patches made and cut into quarters. I put them on my design floor. When I had the layout exactly the way I wanted it, I covered the whole thing with a piece of fabric. That was supposed to keep the cats, especially Mimi, off the blocks! This is what I woke up to this morning!

Everything was scattered all over the place! It looked like Mimi's work!

Me: "Mimi! Look what you've done to my layout!"

Mimi: "How do you know I did it? Maybe it was one of those silly brothers of mine!"

Me: "I know your handiwork when I see it. Plus, there are little nail marks in the fabrics and you are the only cat around here with claws!"

Mimi: "Oh."

Me: "And now what are you up to? Why can't you drink out of a water bowl like other cats?"

Mimi: "I don't know. This is the way I like my water."

Me: (sigh) "If you weren't so cute I could get mad at you! But now.... what can I say?"

Mimi: "What's that you got there?"

Me: "This is one of the jars of applesauce I made this week. I want to show my blogging friends. Doesn't it look Yummy!"

Mimi: "Not really. Why didn't you can some tuna or something?"

Me: "Oh, Mimi! You're impossible!"

Mimi: "Well, what do you want me to say?"

Me: "I don't know. Say something cute or smart or thoughtful!"

Mimi: "Okay. Meow! Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed."

Me: "Hmmmmm. Very profound! Where did you hear that?"

Mimi: "I looked it up on the computer."

Me: "Go take a nap Mimi!"
Mimi: "Meow!"

My Entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival

This is my entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival that Park City Girl is hosting. The pattern is called 'Ribbon Star'. All the fabrics are Christmas fabrics. It is hand pieced and machine quilted. I made this for a raffle at the school where my DD teaches. It's an inner city school and there is always a need for more funds to buy books for the library, computers and other classroom supplies. I wanted to help make some of these thing happen.


The raffle took place at the Winter Concert. I was in the audience when the winner was picked. In fact, she was sitting right beside me! It was wonderful to see her happy smile when they called her name! It made me feel good too.

We Interrupt This Program........

I just found out that Park City Girl is hosting another blogfest starting tomorrow. I loved the one she hosted last spring. Got to go and find a quilt to showcase! See you.

Edit: Sorry. There is a bit of a delay on the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I will post as soon as I can sign up.

Meanwhile, I joined the Friday Skywatch. This is a weekly thing. You can see my first photo on my other blog, Art of Fibre.

Finished!

I finished another charity quilt. (Hurray!) I got the fabric for this little quilt in a kit from our Guild. The kit included 30 8.5in. squares, some backing fabric, batting and some binding fabric. This was the only kit there was. (sigh) I didn't want to make a quilt with huge square blocks, (too boring!) so I cut the squares down to 4.25in. Then proceeded to put them together in a disappearing nine patch pattern. Also, there was some damage to the backing fabric. I had to cut that part out. I used it for the centre squares of the nine patches.


This fabric was really pretty, but not really me. I thought it needed the darker fabric on the front for a bit of contrast. It measures 38in. by 43in. and will go to 'Quilts from the Heart at our Guild' and will probably be donated to a Women's Shelter.





Because I had cut out the damaged parts of the backing fabric and used some of it on the front, I did not have enough for the back of the quilt. So I pieced a few of the left over 4.25in. units from the front, plus a few more from fabrics in my stash, and sewed them into the backing to make it big enough.

I enjoyed making this quilt. I love the Disappearing Nine-Patch! It was easy, with just enough of a challenge to make everything fit. And as you can see, Mimi loves it too!

"Meow! Just passing through. You want your quilt inspected, don't you?"

"Yeah! Sure! Thanks Mimi."

Tea and Apple Cake Anyone?

This is the last of the apple cake! Sorry! Only enough for one! But here is the recipe, so you can make your own. I call it Mrs. G's (that's me) Apple Cake because I have been making it and changing the recipe for so many years that I don't even remember what the original one called for.

Mrs G's Apple Cake

1 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 egg

2 tbsp milk

Apples

Raisins, dried currants or dried cranberries (about a handful)

Cinnamon topping (below)

Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in the butter or margarine. Add the egg and milk.

(The mixture will be quite stiff)

Press the dough with your fingers into a 9-inch cake pan

Cover with apples slices that have been peeled, cored and sliced.

Sprinkle with some raisins, dried currants or dried cranberries

Cover with the cinnamon crumble mixture.

Cinnamon Crumble Topping

Mix together:

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tbsp flour

2 tbsp butter

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for about 45 minutes.

Today is day 7 of Blogtoberfest. I have made it through the first week!

Apple Day!

Lucky me! When I got up this morning there was a huge bag of apples sitting inside my back door. It seems that my DD had been apple picking on the weekend and she picked me a 20lb bag of delicious Cortland apples. She left them for me this morning, on her way to work, without waking me up. Isn't she sweet?

Cortlands are amazing apples, great for snacking, applesauce and baking. They have a very white interior that doesn't turn brown as soon as it's cut. Needless to say, it's been a busy day in the kitchen for me! I made applesauce, which I still have to can.

And I also baked a Mrs. G's apple cake. It's in the oven now! Recipe and more photos tomorrow.

Tinkering and Puttering

I have been retired for exactly 5 years this month. A lot of people ask me what I do to keep busy - especially people who are really scared of retirement. I really don't know what to tell them. So I spent a few days last week really analyzing what I did all day long. And I have reached a conclusion. Are you ready for this?

I Tinker and I Putter.

I sew a little - okay, I guess I'll admit it - a lot! This is the quilt that is in my machine at the moment. The pattern is a disappearing nine patch. It will be donated to Quilts from the Heart. I'll show you a photo of it when I am totally done.

I knit a little and maybe crochet a square or two. I also have my plants, which keep me more than busy. The whole solarium is full right now. It is getting cold outside, so all my tropical plants need to come indoors. It's a big job! This afternoon I am going to transplant these succulents known as Echeveria . They were outside all summer and now I have to take them in. The have a lot of dead leaves and need to be cut and re-rooted. And there are a lot of other plants which need some TLC before they come inside too.

And then there is the computer. Oh, but don't get me started on that! That darn computer keeps me hopping. What did people do before computers? Oh yeah, right! Housework. Glad I don't know what that is.

I blog and I take photos and I read and I cook the occasional meal. I even bake sometimes - but not often. I have a lot of other hobbies too. I do stained glass when I can get downstairs into my workshop. I used to do woodworking and folk art, but not lately. Funny thing, I was saving those hobbies for my retirement. Guess I should start doing them again. I also love to be outside in my garden. And of course there are my furry babies who need to be petted and brushed and fed and cuddled.

So there you have it. My retirement- Tinkering and Puttering!

Also known as 'being a slave to your hobbies!'