May Happy Blocks

Once again, it's almost time to mail off the next month's Happy Blocks and I've not posted a photo of them. The theme for May was "Asian" with some metallic in the print. While I had some fabric already in my stash, I just had to pick up another couple of FQ's to go with them. I think they came out very nicely.

The fabrics in the centers came from my stash and are scraps from a quilt top I made as a sample for a mystery quilt I taught at a retreat last October for my DSIL and a group of her friends. Once again, I made four of each block. Each of the two winners will get three blocks and the other two go into my "Happy Block Box" to someday be made into a quilt for me. This is a swap that I'm doing with a group on the Block Central forum.

April Happy Blocks

I'm finally posting a photo of my "Kitty Happy Blocks" for April. I've had them made for a couple of weeks. Decided I had better post them before I have to mail them off. I made three of each block shown. Each winner will get a set just like this photo and I have a set to keep for myself and add to my growing stash of Happy Blocks. Recently, there has been a rash of quilts and quilt patterns published that uses these blocks or very similar variations of them. I'm finding them very adictive. I've got my fabrics picked out for May. Just have to find time to make them.

Time Flies

So much has happened since my last post that it's hard to know where to start. I guess I'll start with the most obvious, Howard's surgery. About two months ago, he lost the feeling in his left hand and started dropping things. Went to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hands and wrists only. Howard had a very large ganglion cyst on the inside of his wrist that had caused carpal tunnel problems. Based on the nerve conduction tests, carpal tunnel surgery was indicated. So, last Wednesday, he had both the cyst removed and the carpal tunnel procedure. Since it was outpatient, he came home that afternoon. He had complete feeling in his fingers as soon as the local anesthestic wore off. He did look funny with his "foam block" they put on his arm to both protect the incision and to keep his hand elevated to prevent swelling. It was a little awkward getting around with it but it did it's job very well. Yesterday he went to the doctor and the dressing was changed from a large bulky one to an extra large band-aid and he was put in a small wrist splint in place of the foam block. He is doing very well.

I have been part of a Round Robin on the Block Central forum. My small flower block came home yesterday with it's four added borders. I've taken part in Round Robins before but this is absolutely the best finished one I've had. The colors are so perfect for the center and really compliment the flower applique. I won't hesitate a bit to take part in another one with this group. They have done such a good job on everyone's block. Now I have to decide how I'm going to finish this block. Oh, the center is only 4 inches square, the borders are each 2 inches for a finished block size of 20 inches.

Spring is finally here and it's hard to stay inside sorting through "stuff" when I want to be outside. But, it has to be done. The house is listed For Sale and we have had three people look at it and several calls about it during the past couple of weeks. Maybe the real estate market is looking up in this area.

Happy Blocks and more

I finally got to spend the past couple of days in my sewing room and get some things finished up. The main item was a quilt top made using Eleanor Burns "Double Pinwheel" pattern. I started out making the lap size but it took on a life of it's own and is now a double bed size. It was too large for me to get it pinned up to the wall to take a photo so that will have to wait until the retreat next week. They have a balcony there that is perfect for taking photos. When I get back I'll post the photo. We always have a good time there. Howard's sister, Rose, gets together with a group of her friends that she used to work with and I come up with a project for each retreat. I guess you could call me the "resident teacher". The group ranges from beginners to advanced so coming up with something that will interest all of them can ge a challenge, but it's still fun. Check out www.redroosterretreat.com to see where we are going. It's a great place and the owners are so nice.

In addition to the class sample, I finally got my "Happy Blocks" for March made and just in time. The drawing for this month's winners is tomorrow evening. The theme was "Safari". I think my blocks came out pretty good after all. I made nine in all, two of each one shown here. There will be two winners and they will each get a set like the one in the photo and I made a set to keep for myself. I always make at least one of the month's blocks to keep and someday I'll have enough to make a scrappy happy block quilt. That should be interesting.

Howard saw the doctor this past Monday about a cyst on his wrist that's pressing on the nerve and causing his hand to go numb. He goes for nerve testing next Thursday and then back to the surgeon the next week to get the results and schedule the surgery. As a minimum, he will have the cyst removed but could also have to have the carpal tunnel surgery if the tests indicate nerver damage. It will be outpatient but he will still have to be off work for some time. Technically, he is retired, but he is one of those people that won't quit working until he quits breathing. I'm just praying that all goes well for him.

Now, I've got to spend some time getting all of my "stuff" ready to take to the retreat. I need to make a list so I don't forget anything important.

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.