Lookie, lookie, I finally figured out how to get pictures back on my blog. It seems that Google/Blogger is not playing well with Microsoft Edge which comes with Windows 10 so I had to add Google Chrome so I could access my photos. Anyway, this is one picture of part of our family (see list of names and associations on the last post) after we had finished a great breakfast together. I am the one sitting. And this was taken prior to my last surgery.
And this is the other part of the family that was here the day before. I am the head of hair in the lower right corner. It truly was a fun filled weekend. Last weekend our oldest son and his wife were here from Atlanta but we didn't take any pictures. I had finally begun to feel somewhat steady on my new hip so we took off for breakfast at my favorite fast food place, Whataburger, and then to staples to buy a day planner. I was beginning to loose track of when different people were coming and decided I needed a place to write it all down. Between all the home health people and four doctors who want to see me I am a very busy lady. But guess what! Last Wednesday no one was scheduled to come. Eric and I looked at one another and decided it was time for us to visit Pensacola. We ate at a favorite place and then went shoe shopping. And we did very well for ourselves. Funny, I didn't get a picture of the 3 pair Eric got for himself. What I did learn is that 3 hours in the car and both of us were stiff in the joints. I guess we are out of travel condition (and of course we are getting older). And last but not least, I spent 4 hours in the studio yesterday. I had already gotten the appliques on the background but hadn't stitched them down. Now this one is complete. Unfortunately I am 5 months behind on the two BOMs I was working on and hadn't even started on the new one I for sure want to do. But I did feel productive so I guess I will be in the studio again this weekend. And when it came time for a rest I could be found on the deck with our wonderful animals. Have a great weekend everybody, I know I will. Gari
Dropping in to say hello. Along with everyone in the East, we had snow days almost all last week. Actually, we had freezing rain and sleet.
Or, as DH put it, I had him 24/7 for 6 days, expectantly. We were ice bound for 4 days and had no water for 2 days but we had heat and food, TV and sewing, so all was well.
During the forced confinement DH and I put the TreadClimber together. Above you see the new shoes I bought just for this. My plan was to begin slowly, only 10 min a day for the first week and then work my way up to 30 min three days a week. Monday I began my new exercise experiment. Funny thing: the first time I got on the TC I only walked on it for 2 1/2 min. Tuesday I was up to 4 1/2 min and this morning I got all the way up to 5 1/2 min. This may not seem like much but remember I am 71 and way out of shape so I reviewed my plan and decided to begin at 2 1/2 min and work my way up to 10. So far the plan is working.
I wanted to show the knitted hat I made last month and seemed unable to remember to get a picture of it. I didn’t use a pattern but loved the yarn I had bought in MD in Sept and needed to see it made into something.
And with all the cold and ice and everything, this little had has sure come in handy. I am thinking that maybe I will be making one of those slouch hats I have been seeing online.
My studio does not have central heat so I directed my space heaters to the sewing area and spent a lot of time appliqueing owls. I had really gotten behind that part of this BOM. This is the last of the owls that I had completed and it got me caught up. However, on Feb 1 a new block came out it it, again, has 3 owls on it. I hope to get to it later this week.
Saturday I suggested to DH that we start looking at a sectional to replace our two recliners that were literally falling apart. I thought a sectional would be better in that it would provide puppy space so we would all be comfortable. Interestingly DH was on board and we began our search. While looking we decided that instead of a sectional we could use a couch and loveseat and accomplish the same thing. We found this set that has 4 loungers and they are electric, no more pulling on a lever. This picture shows all four dogs fast asleep (one is under the brown log cabin quilt). And there is still room for the 2 humans. It has really made evening TV viewing and computering much more comfortable.
Tomorrow in mug rug day with the hope of BOMs on Friday. Gotta keep moving or I will fall behind, again. Besides, I keep warmer when I am moving. And this winter I have needed to move as much as I can.
I have been doing some sewing. This is one of the swap blocks I have been putting off making. I agreed to participate and then found what the colors were (not my choice) and that we were to prewash all the fabrics. Have I ever said that I don’t like to prewash? I have not seen the need but the real problem is that I don’t like to have to press all that fabric. So I started with great intentions and then pooped out when it came time to press and cut the fabric. And then the deadline loomed….and loomed…..and loomed. So this week I pressed, and pressed, and cut, and sewed.
During all of this I also remembered that I am not a fan of chain piecing. I did, however, figure out that if I marked my machine (see the pencil mark in the photo) I don’t have to draw a line on the fabric. It made it a lot easier but I find chain piecing kind of boring.
11 blocks are almost finished. This is the one I made so I could see how they will look. Today I will finish putting them together and then get them in the mail and then I can get back to making a couple of fun quilts I have in mind.
On Saturday we shopped. I “needed” to get some white sandals along with birdseed, pool stuff, and big magnets for my HQ. I found my sandals right away but while I was looking DH started looking too which left me some time to browse. This was not a good idea as I found these:
Aren’t they beautiful?
They are covered with owls with a background of orange (my favorite color, if you didn’t already know it). Even a metal owl on the strap. I wore them all Sunday and they are really comfortable. My feet are not used to being enclosed but they are willing to allow it once in a while, as long as they are comfortable.
I did take sewing brakes with a little reading and this:
I do have to say that this is a great way to relax. 30 minutes in the water and I was ready to go back to chain piecing.
Now that you and I are fully relaxed, lets check in with Judy at Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are working on.
And when it came time for a rest I could be found on the deck with our wonderful animals.
Besides, I keep warmer when I am moving. And this winter I have needed to move as much as I can.
