Day 334 of 2019

I went downtown today to support my local quilt shop on Small Business Saturday. 

I had to park more than two blocks away and then walk in the pouring rain.

On the way back I encountered this sign. As I approached, it said, "care." 

Just as I got close enough to take a photo, my umbrella turned inside out, 

I struggled with my camera, and the sign changed to "don't care."

I didn't notice the button and instructions until I loaded up my pictures 

or I would definitely have found a way to hit the button.

Edit:  Here is a link that tells about this art piece.

Day 333 of 2019

The contents of our kids' (all adults now, of course) buckets of little things

are being sorted. 

I anticipate at least seventy-five percent of these to be gone when I am done. 

The rest will remain for the GBs to play with. 

Or maybe they won't.

Day 332 of 2019

As we close out another Thanksgiving 

and get ready to get into the Christmas season full swing, 

I just want to let you know that I am so grateful for you, my blog readers.  

Whether you are a family member, a friend or a reader I don't know, 

I am full of appreciation for your support. 

Day 331 of 2019

Where am I? 

Yes, one shoe is off. 

The other followed shortly thereafter.

It occurs to me also that I forgot to answer the question I asked back in October. 

I was at the theater and asked if anyone knew what I was seeing. 

The scene shown is set up for the second half of Fiddler on the Roof. 

It was good.

Day 330 of 2019

Happy Mail arrived over the weekend. 

I won this lovely book in an Instagram giveaway. 

I am over the moon about it. 

The quilts are lovely as all the patterns from Vanessa Goertzen. 

I can't wait to get started.

Day 329 of 2019

For a multitude of reasons 

Fireball and I hired a team to do our leaf clean-up this year, 

but the real story about this picture is that it was a collaborative effort. 

While I was taking pictures of the final few minutes of the clean up, 

GB#3, who was at the house at the time of the clean up, 

wanted to take a picture. 

When this happens, I hold the camera on the bottom to save it from dropping, 

GB#3 looks through the viewfinder, 

and we press the button together 

because he can't seem to get his finger all the way on the top of the camera

 to get it to work. 

Our pictures look similar 

but he was lucky enough to get one of the team members 

standing on top the gear in the back of the truck.

Did I mention that he is only five years old?

Day 328 of 2019

Today was early Thanksgiving at our house. 

It was a good day.

Day 327 of 2019

It's birthday party day for GB#2.

Day 326 of 2019

When in Houston earlier this month, 

we had a discussion about Seven Sisters blocks and quilts. 

I mentioned that I had seen and taken a picture of a fabulous Seven Sisters quilt

 in Paducah many years ago.  

I had begun my own version of it and would send evidence when I found it.  

Well, here is the photo and my one almost finished block. 

According to the information I wrote on the back of the photo, 

it was taken in 1998. 

 It was one of the first, if not the very first, 

years I made the trip to attend the quilt show. 

All the merchants downtown had decorated their store windows with quilts.  

This quilt top was in the window of a shoe store and I was quite taken by it.  

We went inside to get a better look and to ask if it was okay to take a picture.  

They said yes and even offered to get the top down so we could really look at it, 

which they did. 

This block was to be the beginnings of my own quilt in the pattern

 and a nice take-along hand project.  

It turns out I do not enjoy the EPP (English paper piecing) process 

so it remains unfinished.  

Maybe I will find that last piece and finish it 

so I can put it with my other orphan blocks 

and eventually find a home for it.

Day 325 of 2019

I am making more birthday pillowcases. 

While I was at the store picking out fabric for the final one, 

(not shown here)

I spied this fabric and decided Fireball and I needed new pillowcases 

for the upcoming season.

Day 324 of 2019

We're planning an early Thanksgiving this weekend at our house. 

Today I did some of the grocery shopping. 

It appears I am more focused on the baking than anything else.

Day 323 of 2019

Oh, hey. 

It's been a while.

It's me in the mirror with the rooster and my sticks.

Day 322 of 2019

I've changed the room around a little since the carpet got cleaned. 

It's always a good time for something new, 

but this remains my favorite spot.

Day 321 of 2019

I think they might be talking about me. 

Maybe. 

Yeah, probably. 

Definitely.

Day 320 of 2019

A few weeks ago I helped a girl out with some fabric that I had in my stash 

that she needed for a quilt she is making.  

In return she sent me these lovelies.  

The fabrics are so good. 

The card and pin are such unexpected extras.  Thank you, Elisabeth.

Day 319 of 2019

Our carpet cleaning company gave us a three hour window 

in which our technician would arrive.  

Of course, he arrived just as that window was closing. 

Not sure what to do with the waiting time, 

I found myself drawing doodles on the chalkboard. 

Day 318 of 2019

We're getting some carpets cleaned tomorrow. 

All but the very big stuff has to go.

Day 317 of 2019

Tonight I babysat and snuggled with a cat.

Day 316 of 2019

I have recently found three scarf projects I still haven't finished. 

This one found its way with me to my quilting meeting since it is hard to mess up

 when talking and listening. 

I had lost the instructions for a long time and although it is a simple 1x1 rib 

there is an edge treatment that I couldn't remember so it got put on hold. 

I have since made several copies of the instructions 

and put them in several places in case I lose the original again.

Day 315 of 2019

First snow.

Day 314 of 2019

This was supposed to be a celebratory plate of nachos 

but it somehow turned into a plate for consolation 

with the loss at the stadium today. 

Clearly this did not affect our appetites.

Day 313 of 2019

Playing with fabric is my favorite. 

Don't tell the yarn.

Day 312 of 2019

I accomplished two finishes tonight, 

the binding on this little quilt and sock number one of the green pair. 

Day 311 of 2019

Besides working on some binding, 

today's project is attempting a coat repair.

Day 310 of 2019

This is the second day for Happy Mail. 

I wanted the ruler to have the option to participate in a quiltalong on Instagram 

and thought I would add a little fabric to the order. 

It's just as cute in person as it appeared on the website.

Day 309 of 2019

Happy Mail Day! 

I gave Little E some of Mom's cross stitch fabric 

when I saw her in Seattle in September. 

She's been having a good time stitching and totally surprised me with this. 

Her suggestion is to put it in my sewing room. 

I think she may be right.

Day 308 of 2019

I could not resist getting this beautiful trim last week at quilt festival. 

I am thinking it may be useful in some capacity for the wedding next year. 

I'm thinking little flower girls. 

And I'm sure if it doesn't fit into the wedding plan, 

the little girls would love something made from it anyway.

Day 307 of 2019

I have been wanting to get a yarn bowl for quite some time

 but have hesitated to buy one I couldn't feel the smoothness 

and weight of in person. 

I saw this one in Houston and did just that. 

It came home with me.

Day 306 of 2019

Today was my last day in Houston. 

I'll leave you with this detail of a quilt by Cinzia White.

Day 305 of 2019

I saw too many beautiful quilts today to be able to pick just one for this post. 

So instead, here is my friend Raewyn. 

She is standing in front of the obvious choice for dinner 

when we found out there was a Shake Shack in town.  

We don't have Shake Shack in my hometown 

and it was Raewyn's first experience with it. 

It was the perfect choice. 

We each had a burger and a chocolate shake. 

Obviously.