Time to go and sew

Today is a good day to stay inside and sew. It's cold, windy, and very little sun. I don't think it's going to be as warm as they said it would be. So, I'm off to my sewing room to spend some time working on the Double Pinwheel quilt for the retreat in March. I'm also going to try to remember to take some photos of the fabrics I bought on my mini-shop-hop Monday with Corry. I need to spend more time in the sewing room than on the computer.

I also need to spend an entire day doing the floors. This laminate shows every track of our shoe soles on it if the light hits it just right. While I like it so much better than the awful carpet that was in here, it's not as low maintainence as I had thought it would be. The first couple of things I used to clean it left it very streaky and awful looking. So far, the best thing I've found is the Swiffer Wet Jet that has the bottle of solution attached to the handle and you squirt it on the floor. Still have to be careful and go with the direction of the boards tho.

I'm off to get some lunch and then do some sewing.

And a Good Time Was Had By All

We had a really fun time with Howard's sister and her husband this past Sunday and Monday. I know, that is a weird timespan for a weekend, but those were his days off. We went for a late birthday celebration for Jim, Howard's brother-in-law. On his birthday, we were both sick with the flu/crud that was going around here. Since he has IPF and is on oxygen 24/7, we weren't going to take any chances of exposing him to any stray bugs. Their son and his wife and children were there also. He was building a window seat in his mom's sewing room.

Howard did all of the prep work before we left home so he could get right to his cooking when we got there, about 4 hours away. He cooked steaks, butterfly pork chops, baked beans, corn, and country style green beans. At home, he had made an apple cranberry cobbler and I made a banana pudding that we put in the cooler and took with us. It was all so yummy. Of course, we all ate way too much.

On Monday, the fellows went to CarMax and then to Opry Mills mall to get a battery for Jim's oximeter and to have lunch. After a couple of hours, they came home and took naps. Rose and I met members of the local quilt guild for lunch and a mini shop hop to three quilt shops. My "no new fabric" resolve went down the drain. Except for one kit, everything I got was for swaps or quilts that I need to have made in the next two to three months so it wasn't too bad. And, the kit will be perfect for one of the granddaughters.

The weather was good while we were there but it has turned cold again. Lots of rain and high winds last night, about 60 mph gusts. Sure thought that large tree in the yard was going to go over but it didn't. Guess it's stronger that I thought it was. Sure am glad that we haven't had to deal with all of the snow and ice many people have. They sure do have my prayers and good thoughts during all of that bad weather. We've only had the extreme cold for a few days at a time and it's not as bad as further north. I'm just glad my propane tank is full and the furnace is working.

Winter Tablerunner

This is a "Winter Blues" Table runner that I made as the January project with the quilted table group on Yahoo. The pattern is "Jolly Jingle" from Happy Zombie. I hope I got that right. The original pattern used a charm pack and the stars were black. Most of us in the group used the winter blue fabrics. All of the fabrics are blues, even the stars. I raided my stash for this one. I'm so happy that I didn't have to go out and buy anything for it. I think I've got a scrap of batting that will fit perfectly and I've got the fabric for the backing. I'm going to back it in a flag print so it will be reversible. Double the use from one project. I hope to get it quilted next week. I will probably just quilt in the ditch on it.

Yesterday Howard and I visited the dermatologist. We are both fair with blue eyes so we are susceptible to skin cancers. We made our regular visit to have some spots checked and frozen before they could turn bad. I had a couple on the back of my hand and one on my face. I do try to avoid a lot of sun during the summer and use a good sunscreen when I do go outside. I even have to use it on my arms when I drive in the summer. Best to be cautious.

Finished knitting a wrap/shawl for me to use when watching tv in the evenings. Haven't got a photo of it yet, but it's blue, my favorite color, and so soft and cuddly. I really think I'm going to enjoy using it. It will be nice to carry along in the summer when you go to a movie or such and the a/c is so cold your teeth are chattering. This is the first thing I've made for myself in a long time. I usually give away the things I make as gifts. But, I do enjoy making gifts for other people.

Center for a Round Robin

This center block is only 4 1/2 inches square. It's for a "small" round robin with a group on Block Central. I think it's going to be a real challenge for me as each round can only be 2 1/2 inches wide. It will be interesting to see what everyone else does with my little folk art flower.

Today was my normal day to take my 88 year old aunt out to lunch and spend part of the day with her. I'm the only family close to her, about 35 miles, and we do enjoy getting together. She has always been very special to me. Fortunately, the weather cooperated today. All of the snow and ice from yesterday was gone so the roads were in good shape. But, they are talking about light snow tonight.

I don't like to take chances that our propane tank will run out during a cold snap so I called the company yesterday. They told me that it would be three business days, but they were here today. So, I now have a full propane tank so I don't have to worry about running out of gas during the next arctic cold wave. Not to cross my fingers that the furnaces both keep running. Between the two of them, we've had three outages since the first of December.

Howard got in the kitchen tonight and experimented with his favorite cookie recipe. He came up with oatmeal, maple syrup soaked raisins, and pecans added to the basic recipe. Pretty good. I've already ate too many of them but who can resist warm cookies right from the oven.

It's cold here

Why is it so hard to feel warm when the thermostat says 70 degrees and it's gray with a light freezing rain and no sun outside. On a sunny day, 70 degrees on the thremostat feel almost too warm. I've come to the conclusion that I'm a true "Southern Belle" and need the sun to really feel good. A complicating factor is that the GI doctor told me to not take asprin, Ibuprophen, or Naproxen until next month when I see him again. I can only take Tylenol for the arthritis pain and my joints are really complaining. At least I can climb in my cozy bed and turn the electric blanket on high and thaw out. I think that's where I'm going.

I goffed!

I didn't realize until I reread my post about Morgan and her animal quilt that I had made a big mistake. It was her "great-grandmother" that was going to make her the quilt, not her grandmother. Her grandfather's mother was the quilter in the family. He is also my hubby's boss and has the sweetest wife you will ever meet. I hope I haven't confused everyone with my mistake.

This is a close up of one corner of the quilt I made for Morgan Lily Love. It was quilted by our local quilt shop, The Quilt Patch. I did the binding on it. I just love the animals on this quilt. Each letter of the alphabet has an animal with that letter and two or three others things that also go with that letter. Here you can see the Walrus sitting in a Wing chair, eating a Wedge of Watermelon and the Moose wearing Mittens eating Marshmallows. They are just too cute.

It's finished

This is the quilt I just finished. The fabric is from the "Hungry Animals Alphabet" and it's a double bed size

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted here, but, this is worth it. I finally finished a double bed size quilt for an almost four old granddaughter of a good friend. Her grandmother got sick and unable to make a quilt for her as she had for all of the other grandchildren and was so upset that she couldn't. She passed away last April and my DH "volunteered" me to do it. I really resent being "volunteered" to do something without being asked to do it first. But, I quickly set my resentment aside and got to work. So, here are the pictures of Morgan Lily Love and her new quilt.