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.

"The Retreat" ~~ Finished!!

Way back in July of 2019, I attended a quilt retreat in Baton Rouge with other members of the BRMQG. After I got home, I finished up the top and added it to the bin. A couple of weeks ago I dug through the bin and chose this top to quilt. 

A little blue thread, feathers in the border, and some improv quilting.

I don't know what I did unless I really look at the individual motifs. In other words, I just had fun.

The back of the quilt is this solid blue linen and, because it was too small for the top, a plaid flannel. They look good together but I'm not real sure what's going to happen when it gets washed. 

I took lots of photos of the back so that I can go back and look at those motifs because some are new-to-me ideas. 

		Quilt Stats
	Name:	The Retreat
	Size:	48" X 60"
	Fabrics:	fabric from stash
	Pattern:	my design
	Backing:	from stash
	Batting:	100% Cotton
	Binding:	fabric from stash
	Quilting:	improv with various motifs
	Completed:	2020

All Manner of Little Things

Hi everyone! I have been taking pictures and thinking, "Oh this is something to blog about." But you know what happens? I get busy with other stuff and by the time I get on the computer, I'm just not into it. So the pictures get lost in the shuffle. And all the little things become distant memories. Not today! Instead here are some little things, little happenings, and little news bits.

Let's start with this stinker. Doesn't she look just so sad? I was sitting at the table doing paperwork and heard a whimper of a cry. Little Little, our Maltese puppy, had poked her nose through the gate and gave me these puppy dog eyes. What a trickster!

A postcard I made for my sister. She received it Tuesday, which was the day she was expecting news about how the chemo is working. It's good news for now! Next step, gain some strength for a bone marrow transplant later this year.

A tiny hummingbird feather I found on one of the feeders. So sweet!

Richard made this bookshelf for a friend who will have a booth at a local artist market / flea market. The pictures on the right are the original shelves. The ones on the left are of the same shelves painted. She and I are going to "share" the cabinet. Her things will be on the shelves, my things will hang on the back. She wanted an aged look that would work into her farmhouse eclectic vibe. I love the look of beaded board. We both got what we want. Ahh, the joys of a handy husband!

She has the booth with the three pieces in it. I'm on the side of her behind the book shelf. 

I recently got in a small order of titanium coated needles from Superior Threads. I've never used these super strong needles, but they are supposed to last much longer than regular ones. I just like the idea of putting a needle in and going to town for as long as possible. Maybe I should put a sticky note on the machine to remind myself to be extra careful. Generally, I break a needle, not wear it down. I'll try to remember to let you know how they work. I have only a few regular needles left, so these may go into the machine before the end of the year. I hope not, but you just never know, right?

I should have ordered thread at the same time. Now I'll have to pay shipping, again. Why do I make such silly, nonsensical decisions? It's a rhetorical question. I expect that no one can answer it.

And I think that wraps up all the little things. I have bigger news, but that is for another day. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Work

This old hand-crank
pump was the impetus.

Richard and I have been busy in the yard. He wanted a water feature in the back yard to entice the birds. More birds. Apparently there aren't enough. 


So what the heck. I made it quite clear that I am not willing to pull grass in a flower bed that we had abandoned years ago. 








Richard: But everyone can see it (the abandoned flower bed) from the patio.
Me: Why does that matter? Look at the yucky mess the birds made ON the patio.  (They throw seed on the bricks. Some they eat; the rest sprout. Or rot.)
Rich: I'm going to clean that up. 

Water, water everywhere.

Me: I think that sounds familiar. And I am the one who power washes the bricks. When it (the pressure washer) works!
Rich: I am going to fix that power washer.
Me: Hmm.
Rich: Okay, so here's the plan. 
I sat down.

Thirty minutes later I was still sitting in my retirement chair. (The rocking chair given to me at the retirement party.) And he was still making his argument, telling his plan, and otherwise keeping me from going into the studio. 

Plenty of flowers and shrubs for the birds and hummers to enjoy.

In the end, he won. Of course, it wasn't much of a fight since I may have wanted the same thing as he did. I just wanted the work completed on my timeline--fix the pressure washer, clean the patio and move the bird feeder, clean the flower beds we already have, build the water feature. That order is important.

The Knock-out Roses he planed on the side.

My thinking is that if he runs out of steam and quits, at least the work that has to be done will be done. He wanted a water feature.

Kale and Swiss chard from my sister, Laura.
 I like mixing veggies in the flowers.

Milly running around with Duke.
We do enjoy the yard.

Looking back, preparing to look forward

To See Such Fun

We're in a new year it seems, so it's time to look back. I'll look forward in a day or so, but I need time to process last year. So much has happened, two new babies in the family, the loss of Richard's dad, my hospital stay and surgery. 

Another Red Feather from Red Is a Neutral challenge

Still, as it turns out, I've been quite busy in my little world. 

Dora and Diego 

Busy with what, you might be asking yourself (because I did set myself up for that question). My sassy answer is finish reading the post. But I'm not particularly sassy. 

Mr. Stripey made by Marley

I made or finished several quilts, taught a grandie to sew as she made her own quilt. All of these are quite small--lap or baby quilts, and a few are some tops that I simply quilted. That basket of tops waiting to be quilted is just a little lighter.

Pink Pieces

A Touch of Teal

We finally finished our bedroom and bathroom remodel, which ended the procrastinating to make (or buy?) a cover for the bed.

The Biggest Finish

The Biggest Finish required a great deal of time and effort to complete because, well, it's the biggest finish. It's bigger than a normal king so that it has a nice, long drape to hide that huge mattress. I don't remember the crazy measurements, but it may be the reason I'm going to therapy for this shoulder.

Dresden Teaching Quilt

So those are the quilts I made: from cutting to binding, even if they've been languishing for a year or four. 

Apparently I did some things that are not on my normal Things To Do list.
A quick rundown:

• made monkey costumes for Beta 
• learned to use the Silhouette machine and completed several projects
• chaired the silent auction (and donated items) for the annual church fair
• turned Daddy's old wooden ladder into two quilt ladders (thanks to Richard)
• and I organized this thread cabinet he made for me (It's crazy how much time that took.)
• 
  

I also ended my presidency for the Cotton Quilters' Guild, managed the CQG quilt show and managed a (first time) CQG sewing room tour, including my room.

Finally, I tackled Doctor Zhivago Yes, reading is generally on my list, but this book!

Retirement is paying off, and I started some new things that I'd like to pursue, such as

1. GSQA meeting (circuit teacher)
2. GSQA Pursuit of Excellence class
3. BRMQG retreat (three finished tops)
4. CFAL show (Baton Rouge)
5. Quilters' Guild Acadienne show (Lafayette)
6. Houston 2019

Reese's Quilt

And then there were a couple of customer quilts. This first one is for my sister, so it didn't pay much. :) But the ones below did and 
have a special meaning for me, as well. There's a fourth that I didn't get a picture of.

If you know anything about my world, you know there is always an art project going,either sitting near my chair, ready to put needle and thread to, or on the studio worktable. I'm still into art quilts. 

Bayou Des Glaises at Bordino Crossing

Cotton on Green 2

Cotton on Green 1

We have our aches and pains. Richard has some health issues, pain in his neck and back, plantar fasciitis, and an annoying frozen elbow. I fall apart, temporarily, then pull it together again--thank you, Bipolar Disorder. 

Cave in Yellowstone

But all of those are simply the result of living a longer life and we are grateful that it's not worse--there are, after all, so many, many illnesses and horrors in the world. 

Indigo Dusk

We feel blessed to be turning 60 (soon). To know that we are loved by God. To have healthy children, grand children, and great-grandchildren. To be able to help others. To be able to live the life we love.

Big Sky in Montana

Happy New Year!