Friday, July 30, 2021

Sleep

 You’ve bathed, brushed your teeth, said your prayers, put on your nice clean sleeping clothes, ready to slip between freshly laundered sheets—the pillow is fluffed up so your head falls onto the pillow, ahhh, here it comes——sleep!  

An hour later—where is sleep?  Where has it gone?  so many thoughts run through your brain—what’s for dinner?  Make a shopping list—what household chores need to be done?  Where or where is the “sandman”?  

Another hour passes—still sleep is nowhere! I’ve penned the great American novel, wrote a symphony, organized the pantry, cleaned the kitchen, bathed the dog, but still sleep evades me!  

Let’s count sheep—that doesn’t help! Saying over and over “sleep” doesn’t work!  Thinking of a beautiful spot on earth doesn’t work! 

Don’t look! But, I do—the clock is ticking the minutes and hours away—soon it will be daybreak—my eyes are not heavy laden with sleep yet.  Okay, I’ll listen to my calm app—only I’d need to get out of bed to retrieve my phone—can’t do that as sleep will come any minute now!  Alas, NOT! 

I give up!  And the next thing I know, the sun is shining through the window and it’s 7 AM!  Sleep came and went and I didn’t even know it. I hate those sleepless nights! 


Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Celebration!!


 Over the past weekend, we journeyed South to visit my mother--there were several of the family there to show our happiness as we celebrated her 101st birthday!!


Mother seemed overwhelmed with surprise when 
She entered the room.  We had reserved a hotel meeting room
For the celebration.  My brother picked her up from her assisted living facility.  We hadn’t seen her in over a year and half.  

My brothers and myself with Mother


We had a charcuterie board for refreshments plus my brother ordered a huge cake that we shared with hotel staff and assisted living residents.  
After all the planning and anticipation, it was All too quickly finished and we went out separate ways. 



Saturday, July 24, 2021

Progress

July block from Santa Fe Trail, hosted by Melva --
we are traveling along the Santa Fe Trail as we read the diary
"The Land of Enchantment--Memoirs of Marian Sloan Russell along
the Santa Fe Trail" 
It has been a fun adventure and the blocks each time have been
interesting and diverse--for some reason, the above block
beat me up pretty good!  My brain was foggy that morning and I
ripped and ripped more times than I want to count--evidentially,
I got it together and it's a pretty block!
Next time, I'll eat breakfast before I tackle a complex block.

Tally Ho!  I've finished the row along--well, it does need a border--got to think on
what I want for awhile--anyway--this was a challenge to finish--
"Serendipity" a charity quilt along by Moda Fabrics on
Fat Quarter Shop--I used fabrics from my stash--

A lot of my time I spent doing Tour de Fleece—I finished one roving bundle, worked on the one pictured above as well as plied several singles.  It was the most spinning I’ve done in some time.  Now, I’m sorry the race is over—maybe, I’ll spin during the Olympics.   I would like to finish this brown cotton bundle too! 





Wednesday, July 21, 2021

One Fabric

There was a challenge thrown out on Facebook group--Quilts R Us--I just ignored it!
I don't need another project at this time.  Then, of all people, a friend challenged me
to take up the challenge--how could I refuse a friend?
All you had to do was choose a number between #1 and #15.  Me thinking it had to do
with how many quilt tops you made within the challenge time--chose the number 3.
seemed right to me.
Then, then, then the leader of Quilts R Us told us what our number meant--
What?? Number 3 means to do a One Block Wonder??  I've never done a
one block wonder!  Never wanted to do a one block wonder! 
Can I change numbers?  NO!  was the answer!  I'm stuck with One
Block Wonder--
Okay--now to do research--I don't want to buy a book--I won't do another
One Block Wonder--YouTube videos are a huge help!
Now, to choose a fabric--from my stash--I don't want to buy a new fabric--
four(yes 4 yards) are required to make a quilt--

Searching through my stash for at least 3 yards--I AM NOT doing
a whole quilt!!!  I found this fabric--I have no other use for it at the
present time--maybe, this will work.
I cut my 6 sections of fabric required and line them up--it states it
must be perfectly lined up--one on top of the other--
I did my best-- cut the first 4" section--oh, then I
read instructions that you needed a special ruler--off to find that
ruler since of course, I didn't have that one in my numerous rulers.


Ruler arrived and I cut the pie wedges and then I played with the
wedges.
turning this way and that to see what I could get
out of these wedges.


Okay, now I'll sew the wedges together--
which wasn't hard to do--three together and then
the other three and seam them across the middle

I had enough of the pie wedges sewn to do a layout--
Not finished yet--and it was only going to be a table runner!!
Then I read the rules again--the minimum size is
LAP size--oh Joy! 
I guess it's a challenge--which takes me out of my comfort zone
well, I'm definitely outside that box and I'm squirming!--
 
check in later to see if I complete and how it will look--
I have a deadline of December 31!








 

Sunday, July 18, 2021

July-August Reads

 


Here comes the dog days of heat!  Here is my stack of books I'd like to get 
through--
Now, I'm reading Michael Jecks "Rebellion's Message--setting 1550--
Main character is Jack Blackjack--cut purse--very interesting to read
about the 'low life" of this time period--we have read all of his Templar
books--fascinating! 

Off and on I read from Bernie Nelson's "Honky Tonk Angels"--
Bernie is our singer-songwriter friend, who has been on the Nashville
country music scene for many years.  He took his passion of music
to seek out God' handiwork in the creation of the biggest songs in
Country Music--great read!

Jeffrey Archer series--Clifton Chronicles-- I have book one, two and
three in the series--don't know why I got all three at one time--hoping I 
like following this family!  

C. J. Box--this is a set of two of his books--"Back of Beyond and Badlands"
featuring Cody Hoyt and Cassie Dewell--this is first and third books
of Highway series--I have already ready "The Highway", book #2--

The above books were found on Paperback Swap--except
for Bernie's book--it was a gift from him.

and of course, my major Number One read is
THE Bible--followed up by listening to THE BIBLE RECAP
podcast on Podbean!

These should keep me busy for a few weeks!



 

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Summer Time And The Living is.............................

Adding more flowers to my growing garden using
patterns from Coriander Quilts group--Spring Brook Blossoms
BOM--love this !!

Pat Sloan always is happening!  This seems like a quick mystery sew along--
Lap Size too--another perfect one to create for a gift

How about a Christmas in July quilt?  The pattern can be found at Lisa Capen Quilts--she even will
have videos each day beginning July 20--you can download the pattern now and
enjoy a head start to a Christmas quilt


I found another sew along--and the recipe is all there for you to begin and
end--this one comes from 2018--Summer Fun Quilt!
I'm digging these summer tops--never have anything to decorate with during
the summer.  check this out at Crafty Quilter




What will you work on during these dog days of summer?

Since June 26, I've been prepping for Tour de Fleece as those 100+ bike
riders do their best to stay in their lane and not crash!
I'm spinning on my brown cotton "fleece"--getting many bobbins single
spun and plied!  Yay for me!  Once I begin, I don't want to stop, but
dinner calls and chores wait--this will end July 18 and then I'll pick
up those menus and shopping trips to grocery and maybe, do a 
little dusting and sweeping!  But, for now, I'm in my happy place!  













 

Monday, July 12, 2021

Here Comes Great Grandma........................

 My turn to brag--our first GREAT grandbaby was born July 8th at 1:51 PM!  Waylon Michael weighed in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. with a length of 20"--oh, how proud we are of this baby.  And his parents, especially Mom who did everything right to birth a perfect baby (in our eyes!)  God has blessed us!

Proud DAD!

Oma D-Mother's mother


Oma N--Son's mother







Friday, July 9, 2021

Ok—Alright!!

Slowly sewing the cut out blocks--there are days when I don't want to sit at the 
sewing machine.  Here is progress on a few of the summer quilt projects.
this is the July block for Santa Fe Trail by Merva loves scraps--This is  certainly
a different approach to an interesting block


Here we go again with another fun project from Fort Worth Fabric Studio!
"Suddenly Summer"  A nice size strawberry!

This has been a challenge--such a small block, but using
paper piecing helps!  This is from Primitive Gatherings
American Quilter's stitch along--this is suppose to be the layout

But, I goofed!  and sewed it this way!  Good thing that Jack is my friend

And would you believe I did it again on the next week's block?
Goofed big time!  Just hurrying isn't the name of the game!


It should and does look like this!!  again Jack to the rescue!










 

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Ready, Set, Go!

 

I sometimes spend a morning cutting out several blocks—then when I’m at the machine—I can just zip through the patterns!  Well, sometimes—if I don’t mix up the pieces or drop them, like I did one time!  I try to stay organized!  But, if I leave for a week or so—oh, dear—my memory isn’t so good!  

Sewing along on Fort Worth Fabric’s summer
Mystery—

This one is laid out ready to stitch—June’s
Monthly pattern from Hands All Around

I’ve finished two flag blocks from Primitive Gathering-
Another One cut out and ready for the needle

And June’s block for Santa Fe Trail



Thursday, July 1, 2021

10,000 Shadows

There are awesome fiber artists out there in the world!  Thanks to internet we're able to see what they are creating at the touch of a few keys.  Just take a look at this artist's work!


Sissel Fogodgaard is inviting all knitters to participate in her crowd projects--
check out her website to see other projects she has done
Together during 2021 she would like knitters to knit 10,000 small 'socks'
which will be turned into 'shadows" in 2022 --turned into
a magnificent art exhibition.  Her aim is to have participants from all over
the world--100 shadows from at least ten other countries.  You
can find the detail instructions on her website and below is her video
on constructon.

Beginnings of New Year Ideas

I'm already thinking about the new year and new beginnings--2024 was a lost year as far as new quilt starts--there was not a one began. ...