Day 243 of 2018

How wonderful it must be to work in this area 

and be able to eat lunch and relax in this happy, colorful place.

Day 242 of 2018

Well, I couldn't stand it any longer. 

I had to cast on some of my new yarn.

Day 241 of 2018

According to the photos on my computer, 

I began selecting the fabrics for this quilt November 2, 2015.

It was all cut out by the fifth and blocks were being pieced on the sixth. 

I continued piecing but then set it aside during the holidays. 

I resumed piecing in January and had the center of the top laid out by sixth.

I was making border decisions in July of 2016. 

So finally this week I decided to pull this one out from under my sewing desk

 and put those borders on.

I have already started piecing the backing. 

Maybe I can get this one quilted before the end of the year

 and not put it back under the desk. 

Here's hoping.

Pattern:  Seville by Cluck Cluck Sew

Day 240 of 2018

I took mom home from the rehab facility to her apartment today. 

She mentioned how much she loved these clouds.

Day 239 of 2018

I revisited this UFO tonight and got the first of three borders added. 

It has been waiting for at least a couple years. 

Why do I do that?

Day 238 of 2018

I'm setting up my bullet journal for this week...

and for September it seems. 

It does not seem like it should be September yet.

Day 237 of 2018

It's football time again.  

Fireball and I are back at the stadium.

I'm not feeling well after flying this last week. 

Frequently I get a nasty cold after flying and this is one of those times.  

I would welcome any suggestions to prevent this from occurring for future reference.

Day 236 of 2018

I bought some beautiful new yarn today for a couple projects, 

but don't look for these projects too soon. 

Even though I am dying to cast on, 

I may not be able to start them for a while.

Day 235 of 2018

We dined alfresco this evening as the weather was wonderful. 

Edit:  The answer to the question posed on Day 232 (What is it?) 

is now posted on the Day 232 entry.

Day 234 of 2018

On the last morning walk in the Big Apple, 

I spied an iconic corner flower market.

Day 233 of 2018

Lucky.

Day 232 of 2018

Ok. Let's play. What is it?

Edit:  Great guesses.  

Short answer:  van Gogh, Wheat Field with Cypresses, The Met 

Full info and picture of the answer is here.  

Day 231 of 2018

GB#1 waits atop her dad's shoulders outside the stage door for Anastasia 

to make an appearance. 

Many other cast members showed up, but sadly, Anastasia did not.

Day 230 of 2018

Where am I? 

Maybe Monday's color decision wasn't so random after all.

Day 229 of 2018

I took some close up pictures of a grasshopper today,

but then I saw this and I liked it better. 

Good story, huh?

Day 228 of 2018

I'm fussy cutting and making color decisions.

Day 227 of 2018

I finished quilting the fabric I started quilting yesterday. 

This is the first time I have been really happy

 with the tension on the back side of anything I have quilted on the "big machine." 

Now to cut it up and make things.

Day 226 of 2018

Wait.

What IS that? 

Oh, it's quilting.  It's been so long.

I would have finished this piece of fabric destined to be a little gift,

but I ran out of bobbin. 

 It will have to wait until tomorrow.

Day 225 of 2018

I am in need of a new pedicure. 

Yes, this color will do just fine.

Day 224 of 2018

I was hoping to get dress number four done before my daily picture deadline. 

When it was apparent that the deadline would not be met, 

I took a progress picture.  

I finished the dress about half an hour later.  

It occurred to me that the amount of time I was late

 is probably directly proportionate

 to the time I spent text chatting with my daughters.  

I would not trade that for the world.

Day 223 of 2018

Update on Little E's quilt:

While waiting in the emergency room with Mom, I finished the green binding. 

Little E will put a label on it later so it is officially off my plate. 

Next I have chosen to resurrect this long sidelined knitting project.  

The pattern is simple enough that it should be a good one for 

hospital visiting and appointment waiting.

Day 222 of 2018

Before I could even get to bed last night, I was called to go to the emergency room. 

As I left to go back home the sun was beginning to rise. 

As luck would have it, I also got to witness a sunset today.

Day 221 of 2018

Usually I only work on bindings at quilt meetings 

so I have a little handwork to take with me. 

I hadn't gotten that far until today, 

but tonight I got going while watching football and now I don't want to stop.  

I am hoping to make it to the final corner tonight and 

then it is a straight shot to the finish.

Day 220 of 2018

Sometimes Mom has trouble remembering what day it is. 

She requested a calendar on which she can cross out the days. 

Since her eyesight is not what it used to be, 

I made the calendar a really big one, a desk pad sized big one. 

I have taped it up on a closet door for best viewing. 

I hope this helps.

Day 219 of 2018

What dog doesn't like to sit on a quilt during show-and-tell?

Day 218 of 2018

The raccoons have figured out how to open the metal trash container 

which contains the bird seed. 

I have now wedged a very large rock 

from another part of our yard under the handle.  

Let's see how long it takes for them to figure this one out.

Day 217 of 2018

Quiet.

Day 216 of 2018

Done.  Not perfect. 

The stockinette stitch sides want to naturally roll. 

I should probably block it. 

I know I won't.

Day 215 of 2018

As you know by now, if you have been reading my blog for a while, 

I love hot air balloons. 

To kick off the beginning of the State Fair, 

the traditional Giant Hot Air Balloon Race took place this morning.  

I had not intended to go chase the balloons this year, 

but rather was going to just wait to see if they came near my house 

and get some pictures overhead if they did.  

As luck would have it, 

they did come very near and Fireball alerted me of such activity.  

I did see a glimpse of one balloon from my driveway 

but it disappeared behind the trees 

so I hopped into the car, camera in hand, 

and drove in the direction I knew they were heading.  

Almost right away 

I found several of the balloons landing in a clearing behind the grocery store.  

Since I tend to post the overhead shots frequently,

 I thought I would go with the deflating process for today's picture.

Day 214 of 2018

I hope you are not tired of birds yet. 

Juvenile male cardinal.

(As far as I can tell)

Day 213 of 2018

GB#3 is a boy who will not stop moving. 

Here he was showing me a little dance he made up.