February is almost gone

The month is almost gone and I sit here wondering where it went and what did I get done? I often feel like the squirrel in the cage, running inside the wheel as fast as he can go and getting nowhere, fast.

As I look back, I did make another two sets of blocks for the Black/White/Bright swap on Quiltalk. They are addicting. I've got the fabric selected for several more sets. I think I may only send in the four sets and then make more for myself. Not sure yet. May change my mine. My plan with these nine inch blocks is to cut them apart in quarters and make a "Disappearing Nine Patch" quilt for one of my grandsons. I just think this would be a great pattern for a teen.

I've also got to get busy and get the two graduation quilts I need for this year made. I've got the basic idea for both of them and most of the fabrics. I just need to get busy and get them made. They are both for girls.

I'm also in the middle of making a "Double Pinwheel" quilt top from Eleanor Burns book by that name. I need it finished by next week as it is the class sample for a quilt retreat that I'm teaching at the second week of March. Time sure has crept up on me and I'm not at all ready for that. I've taught it before so that part isn't any problem. I like to make a new class sample when I haven't taught a class in some time to refresh my mind of any tricky points. So, I just need to get all of my "stuff" together. I'll post a photo when I get it finished.

Guess it's time to get off the computer and get into the sewing room and get busy. Those quilt blocks sure don't push them selves under the needle without some help.

Where has February gone?

Where has the month gone. It seems like all we have done is run back and forth to Mt. Juliet, TN because of the loss of Howard's brother-in-law, Jim. He lost his battle with IPF on February 2. The funeral service was so touching and burial was with full military honors.

This past Tuesday, we found out that Howard's dept. manager, Churchill Love, is going to be off work for at least two weeks, most likely a lot longer. He's diabetic and even though he has tried to take care of his self properly, he is having major problems with his feet. The doctors cannot find a pulse in either foor, even with ultrasound. They have put him on bed rest with his feet elevated and on medications to try to get the circulation restored. If it doesn't work, he will have to have both feet amputated below the knee. He will be 66 this spring and has always been very active outdoors. This has been a real blow to him and even though he's doing as the doctor told him, he is very depressed. I'm also worried about Howard as he will be working extra days and long hours trying to keep the meat department at the grocery store in good shape. They were already shorthanded and now it's critical.

In between all of this, I have managed to get some sewing done. I finished two sets of blocks for the "black, white, and bright" swap we are doing on quilt talk. I really like how these blocks came out. We are going to swap the nine inch 9 patch blocks and then when we get them, we are going to use them to make a "disappearing 9 patch" quilt. I'm real excited about this quilt and really think it will be perfect for one of my grandsons.

The weather has been a roller coaster as usual. Monday was warm. Woke up Tuesday to find my car coated in ice from top to bottom and the porch and driveway too. Fortunatly, it was a relatively thin coating and by evening, most of it was gone. Since then, it's been gradually warming up. Today is about 48 degrees but because of the gray sky and no sun, it feels cooler than it is. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 60's with rain and then Monday will be cold and maybe snow. I'm ready for spring, like a lot of people are.

Field Mice and Furnaces Don't Mix

For the third time this year, we awakened to a furnace blowing cold air and not able to get the fan to turn off unless we pull the circuit breaker. Bummer. At least it's not in single digits outside like the last time. Furnace man, and very good friend, was here by 11 am. He got it to cycle the heat off and on as needed but the fan is still running. The electronic circuit board had shorted out again. We had thought it was power surges before, but this time he found lots of mice droppings around the furnace. The furnace is under the house in the crawl space so they are all outside. Apparently they found their way in through a crack around a drain pipe and sought out the heat source and decided to munch on the insulation around the wires. So, much D-Con was spread around the furnace and any cracks that we could find were sealed. New circuit board will be here sometime the first of the week but we do have heat until then.

On a quilting note, I got the strips cut and sewn together and then cut into squares for my Double Pinwheel quilt. Once I get a little further along, I'll post a photo.