Mid week of chaos in the country.

 I am appalled that the US government is murdering and using chemical warfare against it's own citizens for using their constitutional rights to protest the illegal acts of this government. There is never justification to use chemical warfare against peaceful protesters who are documenting injustices. I hear they are taking photo's of people and license plates to build a database of US citizens who are against the tactics of this regime. This is against the law and all those in power who are allowing this to happen need to be removed and tried in a court of law immediately.

Onto more positive things. A sunset this week - they cleared the trees from the lots across the road in the shot and have already poured cement for 2 houses to be built. Right on the road that will eventually (if the county ever moves it along) be a 4 lane divided highway instead of the 2 lanes it is now. On either end of this segment - it is 4 lanes with a divided highway - sidewalk on one side and multi use path on the other.

I got all four of the purple hexagons completed. They join the stack. I believe there are 24 there now, so time to make them into pairs. I do have more of the hexagons prepped so can keep working on them this week.

I added a few stitches into the cross stitch. I started some of the 1/2 stitches in blue and green. The inside of the quilt has the light colors added as well. I'll get to the colorful leaf pattern soon I think.

Must set the phone and computer down and take a deep breath and stitch something instead.

FYI - they cancelled the senior trip to NYC,PA and DC that was to leave this afternoon through Monday night. The extremely cold weather and the potential for a noreaster on Sunday to Monday (their bus ride home would be all day Monday) led to the decision. Most of the kids don't have winter coats down here, so that might have factored into the picture - as well as a bus off the road in cold temps. They are all disappointed but he is trying to reschedule. Any of the 3 dates will conflict with existing events, so we will see what happens. Honestly, with all the crazy things happening in the country, I am ok with this delay.

A ufo to a top stage.

 

This made it to a top stage yesterday.  I need to measure it but I think it is around 84x68 maybe?

The goal was to get it completed this month. We have 6 more days to the month. We will see...

Slow Sunday

I did not do much slow stitching this week. I hope to change that by setting a goal of stitching up one hexagon QAYG at lunchtime each day this week. That should help get progress on this project again. I have added a purple one the last two days.

Only a few strands have been added to the cross stitch. This is the right side of the photo I am following. The other page is more of the wagon. I did pick up the two flosses that I didn't have for this pattern, so I should be all set on floss for this one now.

After a day in the hot sun working the obstacle course for the littles at girl scout camp, I had a bit of a headache and needed lots of sleep. I guess the age thing is catching up to me!  After lots of liquids and Advil this morning, I managed to figure out meals for the week and went shopping. That leaves me the rest of the afternoon to play with the sewing machine and maybe start organizing a little of my sewing space with my new shelving. I'll plan to add some more threads to the cross stitch this evening.

Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Saturday RSC

 This guy was waiting for his boy to get home last night. He went up to Gainesville with friends for dinner.... and to either celebrate or commiserate the UF acceptance postings. There was a bit of both  - mine got in, his buddies did not. They have a back up plan, so we will see how things shake out. Mine was very happy to get in as this was his 2nd choice after Dartmouth (which was a rejection letter in December). 

The UFO progress without the dog! I hope to press and add the borders later tonight, if I'm not wiped out from volunteering at girl scout camp for a littles encampment today. Projected temps in the 80's and sunshine. Must bring my hat and sunblock!

A few more houses were added as I was piecing the border above. Six is a nice number I think.

I'm thankful to have one more Saturday in blue, as I'd like to really add a star 16 patch block or two and a chicken block or two. We will see how that goes next week.

Linking up with the RSC. 

Friday

I've been listening to audio books. I've been listening to the Hope Holloway series Coconut Keys on audible. Really good series. I do like this author and have listened to a few of her series in the last month or two. Great storyteller and keeps things moving well.

Then took a break and listened to 'The Intruder' by Freida McFadden. Really good and a bit unexpected towards the end.

I have not been doing hand work this week ..... stupid addicting phone game of Yarn Fever! I'm stuck at level 22 (a super hard one) and have no credits. So... I'll be there for a while as I do not spend actual money on games.  

The dog had a vet visit this week - normal yearly shots and check up to get his script for Simparica for the year. We have to dope him up to go... and he was still a handful for the staff. They did the best they could. He seems fine but is over 90 pounds.... so the chunker is switching to a weight control food. He is a lazy slug and not active at all.... which fits into our household well!

I did manage to piece the first border and made some technical adjustments and tweaked a few cuts to kinda get it to fit. Looking from a distance.... it looks good! That's what I'm going with. It needs a good press. Then the instructions say a small 1.5 inch border then an outer border. I think the inner will be the white and the outer.... will have to be the print as the blue is gone! I did add a blue house with the scraps (will show tomorrow). 

Saturday I volunteered to help at a littles encampment at Camp Wildwood with Girl Scouts. This is the the K-5th grade kids. The main person who runs everything... is recovering from the flu so will not be there. I said I'd help if they needed it so I'm on for the afternoon and will arrive mid morning in case they need help in kitchen for lunch. Flu and COVID are raging right now down here (but you really don't hear about it). We are going to be different from the rest of the country and will be unseasonable high temps - 80 on Saturday and 86 on Sunday. 

Hoping all in the freezing cold path stay warm, have heat and water and plenty of hand stitching prepped!

Relaxing Sunday

I got a lot of machine stitching in on Saturday. I was able to piece the inner part of a really old quilt top. It still needs the pieced borders, maybe tomorrow. Today was more of a sit around and rest day.

I prepped a few more hexagon this week.

I've been adding more stitches into the cross stitch. This is November from the book 'A Quilt for all Seasons'. 

We had a second cold front go through Florida and the temps will be down in the freezing zone again tonight. I'll have to cover things up again for overnight. Then I'll settle in and watch some more tv while adding stitches to this and the hexagons.

Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday Stitchers. 

 

RSC Houses

I got a few minutes this week and got to dig into the drawers of pre cuts.... to realize I have 2.5 and 1.5 but not really much 2 inch! Guess I'll need to remedy that as this house block from Bonnie Hunter (free patterns on her website) uses 2 inch strips. I'll be making a few more of these blocks today instead of heading to the guard competition in Orlando. It would have been a 15-16 hour day and I don't think I was up to it today. I did drop Em to school this morning for 8AM. Pick up is 11PMish. She had enough chaperones, so I didn't feel too bad backing out. 

I also trimmed up all the blocks this week on the old UFO so they should be ready to sew into rows and a top today as well. My old book doesn't have the unfinished sizes listed of the blocks..... so I did some calculations and hopefully it is good. I started this back in the late 1990's... if you can believe that! The strips were cut and the nine patches were stitched. It was time to pull it out and dust it off. 

Linking up with the RSC.