Sweet Saturday

Here lately my plans are always changed by outside forces........

Right now I have finished Hour Three and I am moving along on Hour Four. I will have Hour Five done easy before Monday. Then I will be right on track to get behind again.

I thought I had finished Hour Five. I should read the instructions instead of just looking at the picture. I did not add the border in the dark background.




Our part dog, part rooster Wade Hamilton gets up when the sun does. He wants to be taken for a walk. Lem and I get up. He walks the dogs and I go upstairs to sew. They all go back to bed for about an hour. Sometimes more, sometimes less. That is my sewing time. When Wade starts to bark again it is time for me to go downstairs and fix their breakfast. Wade will get Honey up too.

I turn on the coffee pot and scramble their eggs. Then I take my coffee and sit and enjoy it for at least 30 minutes. It will be more today.

I have a long list of things that need to be accomplished this weekend. Grocery shopping, dog grooming, laundry, a bit of clearing out and I must get out some warmer clothes as the weather is getting colder.

I would like to get some handwork prepped for stitching in the evenings but that might be on hold. We will see just how the day goes.

I never got anything prepped but I did get another block finished in my Jan Patek 2008 Mystery quilt.

I also got a bit of cooking and cleaning done over the weekend. Read quite a bit and enjoyed being with Lem and Wade and Honey.

Hour Two

This morning I managed to finish Hour Two.


I was not able to work on my hand quilting this morning. Homemaking task took up that time.

I am just pleased that the WEEKEND COMETH............. I have a long list of things that I need to get done this weekend.

The First Hour

The first hour is complete. I am delighted with how it looks so far.



I even got Hour Two cut out and ready to go.



That is all I had time for. Then it was time to fix breakfast for Honey and Wade Hamilton. Wade gets quite vocal if you are late with breakfast.

I also managed to get 30 minutes of hand quilting done this morning. Then it was time to fix lunches. I also managed to get the bread maker ready to and set the timer. I have never used the timer and I sure hope it works. The recipe I am trying today is whole wheat cheese onion bread.

Supper tonight is the last of the Beef Barley soup. That will make five dinners for two from one $18.00 Pot Roast......

Hour a Day

Judy over at Patchwork Times is sharing another Hour a Day quilt.

This morning she posted Hour 2........ Of course I am behind already. I usually am but I enjoy taking my time so I do. For years I rushed through every project in order to get on to the next one. Now I am taking the time to work on one project until it is done and not rushing.

These colorful fat quarters were my first choice for this quilt.


And here are my dark and light background. Sorry, I have no camera skills.



Then I remembered that Jason wanted a blue quilt and I had planned to do a blue and white, square in a square with white sashing and blue cornerstones.

The more I looked at his fabric, the more I thought it might look good with Judy's design.



So this morning I cut out the blue fabrics. I might do both but for right now the blue and white and cream will be the one I stitch first.



Who knows, I might even get to sew a little this afternoon after work.

Ready to Mail

This top is ready to mail to Judy to be quilted.... Well almost. I still have to get the backing ready. Surely I can get that done this weekend. On Monday Judy starts another Hour a Day Quilt.

I am clearing the studio and getting it ready for that adventure. An hour is just about all the time I have for quilting each day so this fits in perfectly.



And here is the little blueberry had with matching sweater that I finally finished for my sister.

Another item to mail on Monday. Also this means a skein of yarn that I will not have to move.


There will be an open house here today so I must go downstairs and get the house in mint condition. Lem and I will do errands while other people look at our house. It is a house now not a home. We don't really live here, we just stay here. All personal items are packed away. I am told that buyers have to imagine themselves living in the house. Sorry, we are just getting weary of the routine........... I know that it will end one day. I just don't know when.

Two More Borders to Go

This morning I got the HST border sewn. Two more borders to add and this top will be complete. I can add it to my several large bags of quilt tops. Or start putting a bit aside each week to get it quilted..



On Labor Day Julie posted a picture of a fun series she had just started. It is being designed and shared with us by Kaaren of The Painted Quilt. I have a link on my sidebar. It was delightful to stitch and I am delighted to have a finish for September.

Ready To Stitch

Here they are, all 86 half square triangles. Perhaps the next time you see them they will be on the quilt.



In order to make this quilt, I took all of the plaid fabrics out of my BAG OF FABRIC.

This is what is left.



Now to press these pieces and put them in a plastic box. There is a quilt in the Keepsake Quilt Catalog that is black and plaid nine patches set on point with alternating black squares. I have looked at that quilt for some time. I am seriously thinking about getting some black fabric and making one. If I do the plaid fabric will be all ready.

Changing My Mind

Here I am, all set to get this top quilted............ Well, it is a heavy top because of all the seams. I just can't seem to get a good stitch on it. I wanted to do a straight line diagonally through the solid block in each direction. I had 1/3 of one side done........ It pulled on the block and just did not look good to me. I stopped and took out all that I had put in...... I want to learn to hand quilt with a hoop. I can do just fine with out one but I am told that I really need to use a hoop and rock my needle. I got my lap hoop out and began. I have such a hard time holding that hoop on my lap. The next step will be to get the hoop on a stand out and begin again. I have Aunt Becky's little gizmo and I will give it a try once again.... I just don't understand why I have such problems with this. I just can't seem to get comfortable trying to hang onto a hoop.

Lem will take the machine back upstairs for me some time today. Vickie said she would give me private quilting lessons........


The next thing to enjoy upstairs is my Bears in the Farmyard. I got it out and discovered that I did not have all of the directions. I have no idea what happened to me on that one. Right away I went to Judy's Blog and ordered the instructions. The next thing I need to do is to make 86 HST's. By the time I get that done the instructions should be here.

I have half of them finished already........


And here is the fabric for the other half.. I did discover yesterday that using a rotary cutter for more that 20 minutes is something I cannot do. This morning, I cut a bit and stitched a bit and pressed a bit before I trimmed a bit. It takes longer but that is fine. This is a journey, not a race.

Ready to Mail

The backing is sewn together and this is all ready to mail. I wasn't too sure about this quilt when I added that dark border to it but when I added that last light green border it all came together. The binding is cut and ready to put on the quilt. If I can just not loose it before the quilt is done.

A week from Tuesday is Pickle so I will keep it until after then so that I will have something for show and tell.


I got out my Bears in the Farmyard quilt and began to refresh my memory. The truth is that it is easier to stay with a project till the bitter end than it is to try to remember exactly where you stopped. I also discovered that I failed to print all of the instructions. I am pleased that Judy has them for sale on her blog. She has patterns for sale and some for free. I will be sending this quilt to her for quilting. Every single pattern I have used that Judy designed had given me a quilt I really liked. Every quilt she has quilted for me has been exactly what I liked. And she cooks too................VBG

I did get the basement finished Saturday but yesterday turned into a social day. Lu came over for breakfast after church. She left and I cleaned up the kitchen and then Vickie came for a visit. It was delightful to have two friends stop in for a chat.............

Instead of finishing the garage I am going to see just how much quilting I can get done on my little nine patch.................... I want to have that quilt all finished before Pickle meets. I plan to snuggle under that quilt in the evenings when I am sitting in my chair.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Do Often Gang Aglee

And that sure happened to me today. I had planned to come home after the house was shown and get busy finishing the basement.

After 1 1/2 hours of errands, getting supper started in the crockpot and putting away the groceries, I was just too tired. I tried for a short wee toes up but Wade Hamilton had other plans. Lem mentioned that we were low on bird food so we made one more trip out for that and I stopped for more milk. I was worried about the yogurt I was making being too much but the truth is that it is too good to resist.......... I made more on Thursday and I think I will need to make more again on Monday.

When we stopped for the burgundy for the Beef Burgundy, I asked if they by and chance ever sold those nice cigar boxes they had.......... He actually had two and gave me both of them........

I am delighted with them............ Now to go back downstairs and cook something for the Honey and Wade Hamilton. They have finished off what I fixed last week.

Change of Plans

I had a nice list of things to get accomplished this holiday weekend and already my plans are being altered by outside forces....................

The Realtor just called. Someone wants to look at the house tomorrow morning. They will be the third couple to look this week.

Tomorrow morning instead of my one hour sewing I will be making sure everything is put away and the house is in perfect order so that I can be gone by 9:45 AM..........

Your prayers are certainly coveted that this trial will soon come to an end.

TaDa

While clearing out the garage on Saturday I came across the basket that had my Fruit Hat yarn in it....... I brought it inside to sit with me for a few nights. This past week I was too tired in the evening to do very much other than mindless knitting.

Here is the result............. And the good part is that I used up almost the entire skein of yarn.


There was a one pound skein that I had gotten who knows when or why...... it is a nice deep rose color. I found a shawl pattern on line and cast on that project last night. I already have a few rows done. It will take awhile I am sure.

Oh to report on the chicken from last night. It was fabulous. This recipe is one that I will use for some time to come............... It can be found at:

http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotchicken/r/bl90c1.htm

Now to look for a good beef recipe for the crock pot.

What Will be Next

Within the next several days I will finish the current project. This is the time to decide on the next one. There are so many to choose from. Many of them already begun and a few that I have the pattern and fabric for but have not begun.


Since I am so close to the finish of this one that I think it should be the next one to get the undivided attention. I will just save the other ones for a later date.

One More to Go..............

Today's hour was the time I needed to add the final two pieced borders. One more border to go and it is just a small 2 1/2 inch strip.......... Then I will need to prepare the backing to get it ready for quilting............

Then it was time to go downstairs and dive into the day. I fed the children and started assembling my crockpot chicken. It had been marinading overnight. Lem has now turned on the pot for me and tonight we will have that with rice and broccoli.

I just realized that Monday is a holiday............. I am beginning my list of the things I want to accomplish those three days..... It will be a formidable one I am sure..... I hope to finish up some things that have been waiting for some weeks now....... I am feeling better about what is packed and ready to go. Just did not want to get out the winter clothes again but it appears that I might just have to unpack a few of those things.

Time to go to work.......

Two Pieced Borders Complete

I finally got all of the pieced blocks and pieced sashing strips assembled.

I even got two of the borders together and on the quilt. Perhaps there is an end to this project.

Learning New Things and Clearing Out the Pantry

Saturday we had a nor'easter. Torrential rains all day. I worked on clearing out and organizing the garage. I got almost everything done.

Sunday from 11:00 - 1:00 was an open house. It was still raining. We got up and got all in order. Vacuumed and dusted, all the laundry done and headed out with the dogs on the back seat. We did a few errands and then just drove around. The realtor did say that one couple came and they said they were interested. Haven't I heard that before......

That meant when we got home at 1:00 the house was clean and the rest of the day was ours. We put everything out again that we enjoy and I took a long nap.

When I got up I felt like cooking so since I am working on clearing out the pantry (only going to have the absolute necessities..........) I played in the kitchen.

I had a box of Jiffy Raspberry muffin mix and a recipe for a coffee cake was on the box. Since it required chopped nuts I was able to use up some from the freezer. We will enjoy this for the rest of the week.



And what is this you ask? Home made yogurt. We had terrible rains on Saturday but since Lem had to go out anyway I went with him to get some milk and yogurt. Late Friday afternoon I learned from Judy that you could make your own yogurt in the crockpot. Yogurt is a favorite food but a bit pricey so I don't eat as much as I would like. I followed the directions and here is the outcome..........I got strawberries for mine and blueberries for Lem. We have enjoyed it every morning this week.


I even made a batch of dog food for the children. Ground beef, brown rice, sweet potato, carrot and green beans. They will eat well this week at least.


Oh before I forget, I have finished the March block of my 2008 Jan Patek BOM. This is something I pick up when I have nothing else ready to stitch. One day it will get my undivided attention.

The Studio

I had insomnia for two night this past week. That seemed a great time to clear out the studio. Things wander in while I am out and take up residence. The plop down by the wall and slowly the mound moves until there is little room to walk.

It has reached crisis proportions and we had people looking at the house on Wednesday. Amazing what you can get done in the early hours when there is no sound in the house and no one to interrupt you.

My computer and printer fit nicely there and the cabinets are good storage.


Perhaps a clean ironing board cover would have been in order before I took the pictures. I must get that washed this weekend...............


This view is the small section to the left of the door.


Here sits the Duchess on her special Field Desk. The desk is low and I am short so it is a perfect fit.



At one time these drawer sets went all around the room. I am learning to keep fewer projects in view. If there are too many I start several at one time. Not a good thing. Now I am trying to limit myself to the number I have going. This does not include the BOM's of course.


The cutting table has Bonnie Hunter's scrap method set up in the drawers under it. That system works a treat.

Getting the Bits and Bobs Together.

All of the pieced parts of the 18 blocks of the border have been assembled and are here on the sewing table to be assembled.

The two complete blocks and the fabric cut for the blocks in sashing that goes between the blocks.

Now if I can find time to do some assembly.

Eight Done and One to Go

Not a good picture but at least I got a chance to take one....


The weekend was spent mostly in the basement... Several more boxes of STUFF gone.. I also tightened up my packing and now I have more plastic boxes I can pack with things upstairs. We still have about a day of work down there. Lots of cobwebs........ and spiders......... I sure will be glad when that job is done.

Last night I sat down to work on my Leanne's house block. Something I needed was upstairs so I put it to one side and moved on the seventh bunny hill block. That had the wrong fabric so i put it aside. The next item in my bag of tricks was a Jan Patek BOM. I did get some stitching on it. It was early to bed for both of us. Lem is still feeling rode hard and put up wet but he has a Dr's appointment at 3:00 this afternoon. I sure hope he gets better soon.

Goodby Bill

I suppose we slept through that storm. We both worked hard in the basement getting rid of more STUFF and brushing down spider webs. No rain or wind till late evening. When we went to bed last night at 10:00 PM the ocean was really roaring..... We are 1.5 miles away and we could hear it loudly. I know the lights were on at 4:40 AM and then went off but came back online. No signs of even extra leaves down in the yard so we must be fine. I did check online to find the he is still passing offshore. The surfers here will be pleased.


Several years I did a cross stitch piece for a dear nephew on black fabric. I promised that would be my last trip on the dark side.

I was wrong. I found this graph and it really needed to be on black and the friend I was doing it for is such a treasure that I felt she was worth the effort. Once again I promised myself ..NO MORE BLACK...

But I really liked the way it turned out. And also determined that is was perfect for me.

So I began another one... I am not stroking each stitch on this piece. That makes a difference but I am hoping to get this finished and framed before we leave here because the framers here did such an exceptional job and the frame really made the piece. I am trying to get at least 30 minutes a day on this piece so you will be seeing constant progress....

This was from last week. I will confess it took me some time for set up. I needed to get the fabric on the frame and gather the thread together but finally the first stitch was in place.