Of grandsons and jeans and hurricanes

Just dumped on the table, there doesn't seem to be much sewing, but he had five pairs!

 

Our grandson Lane, came for a visit last Friday. You know what they say, "They only come when they want something"? Well, it's sort of true. He gave me a hug, after informing me that he needed some jeans hemmed. Sure. Not a problem.

Let's see, clean and thread the machine, put in a new, extra-heavy duty universal needle (twice), replace the rotary cutter blade or at the very least sharpen it, spend 45 minutes cutting and sewing new jeans. He's a working man now, so he needs to dress a little better than he did for hanging around the house. Every change seems to affect me somehow.

I'm kidding, of course. Having them over is a joy. Not that I spent much time with him or Adam or Rory. They were all outside helping Richard set up the greenhouse. A project started out for me, but Richard can't do anything in a normal fashion. We need, at most, a 10 X 10 space. The old greenhouse has an 18' width, so okay 10 X 18. Of course, my country boy is making it 18' X 20'. Almost four times larger than my original request. I'll let him figure out the heat/water and whatever else it may need.

Why a greenhouse? Mornings are dipping to 45 degrees. Afternoons can be a warm as 80 degrees. I learned last year that succulents and other pretty plants can't take extreme changes in temperature. And those babies were expensive. All I had to do was put the idea of a hothouse in hubby's head. Don't you know he ran with it. I love that man!

In other news, we had a little, tiny catastrophe here. A tree fell during one of the hurricanes. (There have been so many, but I think it was Delta.) That it fell was not a problem. No, the real problem was that it fell on top of several of my favorite pots! The plants survived. The pots did not. So I have no choice but to replant them in a container of some fashion. Then off they will go to the new/old greenhouse. New because it was just put up. Old because the metal ribs are about the only thing left from when we owned the nursery. The country boy saved the metal ribs, so here we are with a fancy greenhouse, lots of plants, and no pots.

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Laura Aftermath

Thank you, everyone who has been asking about how we handled the storm. Our family is safe. That's all that matters. Friends have lost bits and pieces of their things, but it's just stuff, they are safe. Those we know who live in or near Lake Charles all evacuated in time, with one exception. A young doctor stayed behind to care for patients in the hospital who were too sick to move. What a hero!

Everyone lost power. But slowly, the power is coming back on, and not a moment too soon. It is HOT in Louisiana in August! Yesterday and today the temps got up to the high 90s with heat advisories because the heat index is easily over 108 degrees. 

  

I can't imagine how these linemen are working in this heat. Just being outside in shorts and a tee-shirt is difficult. They have to wear all manner of protective gear, heavy climbing boots, hardhats and thick rubber/leather gloves. Heroes. Every one.

The destruction that Hurricane Laura left behind on the Louisiana coastline is shocking. Coming ashore as a Cat 4, with a water surge of 15 feet, it was a horribly devastating hurricane with a death count of 16. 

 There are no quilts tonight. One reason is that without internet, I haven't been pinning, but the real reason is that it just doesn't feel appropriate. People are hurting--physically, emotionally, psychologically. Let's give them a little more time to heal. What you can do to help is to give to the American Red Cross and to pray for a quick, safe recovery while we watch four additional systems, three of which are expected to come into the Gulf. 

All images from Google images unless otherwise noted.