Weekend wrap up.

With the amount of rain we have been getting the last few days, I think I need to get the kayaks down from the top of the shed. The pool will get an inch or two of water let out again today before we get more rain this afternoon. For all those who need rain - I so wish I could send you some!

Emily did get her horse riding in yesterday morning. Tuesday was her first FFA meeting after school and I sent Greg to pick her up while I got Aidan and was home around 4! I could get really used to that next year with both in HS. Friday - I got him and was home a little after 4 and then went back for her later. She stayed for the first BASH after school. Their version of a social event rather than the dances I grew up with. Her friend Jasilyn came over after with her Mom for a couple of hours. She really wanted to see all the animals. Bear was loving her up just like he does with Em. 

I did not do much stitching this week. Something about forgetting to take my medicine at night for a couple of nights.... I guess it really does work since I know if I miss a day or two. Depression is real and if you have that feeling of not wanting to do anything.... see a doctor as the meds do help! I'm on the lowest dose and it helps a lot.

I did get into the sewing room yesterday afternoon and cut and pieced my second orange garden path block for the month. It joined the collection. I think I just need 2 more light greens to add to the mix.

I also did this little orange hexagon coaster for the TSC2022. I had started some embroidery on it ... but I did not like how it looked so I took it out. 

Today was F1 race day after 3 weeks off for their summer break. Quite an exciting start to the race! I did a little crochet. I need to find more medium yarn to finish off that small one. It looks like a rainy afternoon for us again starting around 3PM.... so maybe I'll hang out with Ollie in the bedroom, watch a movie and add some stitching to the cat and mouse quilt. First off - I need to tackle trimming the back shrubs while Greg and Emily are cleaning the chicken coop and Aidan needs to mow the lawn before the next deluge of rain begins. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Table Scrap Challenge and Slow Sunday Stitching.

Granny Squares

This is my storage basket for the yarns and completed granny square blocks I have been crocheting. I just counted 28 - 6 inch squares and I know I have another, one round away from being finished. There are lots of the medium blue and one more skein of that color. I have 2 more of the dark and one of the light country blue. I tucked in the 2 grey and 2 creams just in case I want to use one of them as the joining color, but I have not decided yet. I think I'll keep stitching these up, using the 2 darks, light and medium blue and then lay them out and figure out a layout. That should give me another 32ish blocks to work with.

Another perspective in stacks. I have the least amount of the lightest blue.

It was a 2 car pick up yesterday. I picked up the boy at normal time and sent hubby to get the girl later. She had the first FFA meeting of the year so got out an hour later than normal. Usually, that is an easy line as all the kids had been picked up. We had a torrential downpour with thunder and lightning in the area (I got to drive through it - not fun!) so they held the middle school release for 20 minutes. That delayed the car line and the busses leaving so he got stuck in a lot of traffic by the school still picking up kids. The good news - I got home before 4PM! I'm looking forward to that next year with both in HS. 

 

What I've been listening to.

I have been listening to free audiobooks on my Libby app through my local library. Here are a few that I have 'read' in the last few weeks. I have a good 40+ minutes of car time each day without kids to listen during the week.

I listened to The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. It took a bit to get into, but it was really good as it progressed.

A new series I started is by Cleo Coyle - Coffeehouse Mysteries. The first book is On What Grounds and the second is Through the Grinder. I'm enjoying this series and learning about different coffee drinks as it revolves around a coffee house in NYC.

A series I am almost done with is written by Diane Mott Davidson - The Culinary Mystery Series.  I finished Killer Pancake and Dark Tort just became available to listen to. 

I am currently listening to Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly. It is set in the time of the beginning of the Civil War. It is told from a few different perspectives.

While being the driver this weekend, I got a little stitching in and finished the frame on the first autumn sew along stamp. She has released all 9 plus a bonus pear, but I am still working on the first one. I split the thread, so it is not perfect, but I expect I'll get better at it as I go along. It has been a long time since I have done this.

 I am finding I don't have time to stitch in the car line this year! I swing through the HS pick up and get the boy then wait on the road to get to the middle school. Alas, no stitching time since I work until 3 and it takes a good 20-25 minutes to get to the school for the first 3:25 pick up. I really hope things change once the after school programs start up next week. Time will tell. 

Sorry for the blurry photo - but Bear was so happy once his moose got stitched back together. I think he slept with it last night!

Slow Sunday Stitching.

Various bits of hand stitching have been happening this morning. I finished the last edge of the binding of this 40x48 inch quilt. I made the blocks along with my old guild. I believe the pattern was from quilterscache. I just did a simple diagonal walking foot on it for quilting. It would have loved hand quilting, but I never could figure out what to do on it so simple machine quilting and it is done. I'm sure this will get donated at some point.

The other hand stitching has been repair work. The dog gets the tug animals taken away when they rip. He enjoys pulling the stuffing out way too much!  He does love this owl and the moose and both needed some stitches so the stuffing stays in.

 

A happy dog trying to shake the stuffing out of the moose! Silly dog.

His quilt on the floor needs washing but these butterfly's need some repair work first. I'll finish fixing these and then his quilts can get a turn in the wash. I know hubby handed me 2 quilts .... yikes, earlier this year for 'repairs'. I suppose I should go find them and see what needs fixing. 

Linking up with the other slow stitchers at Kathy's quilts.

An orange Garden Path block

This was my view Tuesday night. We got a new couch (and I got a recliner!) and Emily was testing out the recliner in the couch while we watched Turner and Hooch. The original with Tom Hanks. I saw on Disney + that there might be a new version out. Bear likes the new bed. He even let Emily use his quilt!

A pretty yellow butterfly was enjoying the purple flowers one morning after dropping the kids to school.

Today I got a little time in the sewing room and cut out my 20 orange triangles from the orange scrap bin. I had them mixed in with the brown scraps. Peanut wanted to hold down the parts for me as I was trying to sew. This was before the thunderstorm when he went and hid behind the washer. He dislikes thunder and it was quite a storm for the second day in a row.

The completed block. I need to make one more in orange, but I am not sure if I should try the light batiks or the bright oranges. 

Greg picked up a brisket at Sam's on Monday night and he had it in the oven all day on Wednesday. It was very yummy. I picked up bread this afternoon and I think it will be paninis with the leftover meat that was not sealed and popped into the freezer. I have some brussels sprouts that will get roasted in the oven as a side I think.

Linking up with the RSC on Saturday.

Binding time....

 After trimming the front shrubs Sunday morning and then making chicken enchilada soup (I know it is feels like 100 but I was in the mood for soup!). I also got the maple ice cream processed and into the freezer to harden up. It was time to visit the sewing room. I had this 40x48 little quilt that I made years ago with the Franklin County Quilters Guild. I had prepped a backing and found that my battings were just a hair short.... so I just put 2 together and we will see how it holds up! After pinning, I did some easy machine quilting on the diagonal. I found the blue fabric I used in the quilt and made a binding and attached it to the front. I'll work on stitching that down this week for another quilt top moved to the finished pile!

Slow Sunday stitching.

 I started a little hand work Friday night after a busy week. A couple of granny squares got added to the pile this week.

Saturday Emily was riding Marshmellow but he needed some care before riding. She was picking out his hooves in this photo.

This morning - I finally started the Autumn stamp stitch along over at Pinker n Punkin Quilting. It has been a long time since I have done counted cross stitch! I am working on the apples today that were released on Friday.

I have yet to start the hand quilting again on the Cat and Mouse quilt on the frame, but I did get the frame set back up and it is ready for stitching after a couple of years of sitting patiently waiting. I just need to pull a chair into the bedroom so I am all set to add some stitches each evening this week. Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Stitchers.

First - time to trim the shrubs that are completely overgrown and get the front of the house looking decent again before it gets way too hot outside. The kids have decided to stay home today instead of going to Grandma's so I plan to put them to work trimming and helping to pull the branches to the backyard fire pit. I had Aidan torch the brush pile yesterday, so we have a clear area to pile the new trimmings. The first 3 days of school are over and went well for the kids. I hope the pick up line gets a little smoother this week.

RSC Orange

 

I finally got a few minutes in the sewing room and made 2 of my 16 patch blocks in orange. I fear my orange fabrics are few and could use some supplementing. I'll have to look into that one of these days.

Linking up with the RSC.

A hectic week.

First 2 days of school is in the books! Both had good days. Pickup was better than I expected! I got there a little after 3:25 and was on the road in the turn lane. Aidan texted me he was walking over and I told him where I was. He crossed the road and got in the car and I heard all about his day. Then after we got on the middle school property a little after 4 I heard.... 'geez, you have a long wait for lots of years haven't you?' Ayup, including VPK I think we are going into year 11 on the drop off and pick up. (Kg and VPK + 8 grades) We had Emily in the car by 4:10 and then it took a bit to get back through the traffic but we got home about 4:40. Not bad at all. After a few weeks it will be a consistent 4:20ish.

Neither smiled for the morning photo - so this is all I got!

Oops - you didn't want to see Peanut on his school photo? He decided it was a sleep on Mom's lap while she worked kind of Wednesday!

My 8th grader

My 9th grader - a Freshman in HS!

Would you believe no stitching has happened this week? I was listening to an audio book until Aidan got in the car but I had not been there long when he got in. Being on the road, I feel strange doing hand work despite being in park and waiting a good 20 minutes before I can move. 

Monday night we had orientation at the HS and since they had a line for the Chromebook pick up (for all the Cambridge kids) Greg got in that and it was sooooo slow! We were still waiting in line an hour after orientation finished at 5:30 before they opened up a few more people to work though the line. The principal checked us out and we were on our way. We picked up Popeyes on the way home and had a late dinner around 7:30. Being on my feet for a few hours in the high temps did me in.

Tuesday night I took Aidan shopping for a few things for school (lunch box, binder, pencils) and made him figure out what he wanted for lunches. Emily had given me her list for breakfast and lunches. It was a get home around 8:30 kind of night.

Wednesday - I finished my 'homework' - all the paperwork the parents need to fill out. Time for a walk that I did not take in the morning.

Thursday - Greg and I dropped the kids to school and then went shopping for a sofa. We have been in need of one for a while but kept putting it off as the futon was working but the mattress keeps slipping and it drives me nuts! So we planned to shop a few places but we ended up finding one we both liked at the first place. Cheaper than what he was researching on line and it will be delivered to us on Tuesday! I might have also gotten a new rocking recliner chair to replace my 24 year old Lazy boy recliner. It matches the leather sofa and is oh so comfy. When we got home.... instead of sewing, I decided I really needed to clean and clear out the bedroom. I also reset up the Grace quilting frame so it is ready for hand quilting on the cat and mouse. I just need to move a chair in there. A quick pop to Aldi's to grab potato to go with dinner. I forgot to put the chicken in the crockpot yesterday since we were late getting home from dropping kids and I had to log right into work. So, I cut out the backbone to flatten it  and gave Greg instructions on when to pull it from the fridge and pop it on the prepped pan of potato, onion and garlic and put in the oven. Dinner smelled so yummy when we walked into the house around 4:50. Really slow line today for pick up and I left later so was way back on the road. 

If I remember correctly, the pick up line gets a lot better once the after school progam starts. That gives the parents until 6PM to pick up the kids.

Time for some Murdock Mysteries.... with crochet or quilting? We will see.

Cross Stitch Autumn Stamp Sew Along.

The first clue was released today with the outline. It has been so long since I have done counted cross stitch it should be an interesting beginning. I went to the store yesterday and picked up all but one of the floss needed and the Aida cloth. They were out of the eggplant color. I'll have to check my other baggie and see if I might have it.  I hope I grabbed the right needles. I had the hoop and scissors and printed off the pattern this morning. I plan to give it a start later this evening. Greg is dropping Aidan to the orientation this afternoon and then we will head over for 4 when the parents are asked to go.

After running errands yesterday, Greg, Bear and I headed to Grandma's house mid afternoon. We wanted Bear to meet Scruffy - Grandma's dog. 

We had them meet through the fence first as we were not sure how either would react. Both did submissive behavior and did really well! Now we know if we need to babysit Scruffy, the dogs should be fine together! 

With school starting soon and me picking the kids up at 3:25 and 3:45... and with the known beginning of school pick up chaos usually taking 30-45 minutes to get them and then 20- 60 minutes to get home with traffic I need to think of meals and prepping ahead again. This is the part I dislike!

I opened the big freezer and pushed and pulled things and tried to figure out meals for the nex

t couple of days. I pulled some ham from Easter and that is tonight's plan with some mashed potato and frozen peas. (We have orientation until 5:30 so won't be home until 6 -6:15? I may be talked into takeout on the way home, but we will see!)  Tomorrow, I pulled out some pork chops that will thaw overnight and then we can pound them for snitzel tomorrow night with some roasted cauliflower and a salad. Greg will take Aidan after lunch to check out the computer from school.  I also pulled a whole chicken out to thaw (the deep freeze is at zero) and will plan to do that as a dry roast in the crock pot with root veggies on Wednesday. Who know's when we will get home from school! It will be nice to have dinner ready and waiting for us. 

 

Sunday before the storm (school storm that is!)

 The kids spent the night at Grandma's after a late night at the car races. Tomorrow, I start getting them up at 'school time' so they are not too surprised on Wednesday when they have to go to school! Monday Aidan has Freshman orientation at 2 and then the rest of the school and parents arrive at 4 for the 4-5:30 orientation. We got a robo call informing us that Tuesday they have to pick up a crome book for school between 9-3. I guess they don't think parents work? Thank goodness I have a flexible schedule and so does Greg with his schooling. I think Greg will do the 2PM drop off (well 1:45 drop off) and I'll go at 4. Tuesday... we will see who brings him to sign out the computer. I think my morning meetings got moved to the early afternoon so it might be me. 

Wednesday should be a mad house dropping off and picking up so I'll make sure to have my 'busy bag' with me in the car. It will have a skein of yarn and crochet hook for the below project of the granny squares. I am not sure if the grey and/or cream will be in the afghan. We will see. I have lots more of the medium country blue than the light and dark. We will see what happens. I have been looking at different ways to join them and might go with this one - Join as you go by the crochet swirl. 

I have been waiting patiently for school to start to begin my Brimfield Awakening EPP project. I have it all prepped and tucked into a container with the necessary supplies. I really hope I like EPP - as I might have purchased a few Accuquilt single dies for it - the hexagon and the paper and fabric cutting for the diamond. I have always wanted to make a tumbling block quilt! 

Then the third option is hand piecing on the third Hand Pieced Sew Along - Harmony.  I have one block completed and planned to make 3 more. 2 are prepped and in process. 

I might also have a 4th project as I plan to stitch along with Melisa at Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching. She is doing a Mystery Autumn Stamp Stitch Along. It starts tomorrow.... so I might need to go shopping to make sure I have the floss.

Linking up with the Sunday Slow Stitchers. 

I saw this pretty shot out my window this week and had to go snap a photo as the sun was going down. 

Crossed Canoe

 I just took a little sewing time and got my 2 orange Crossed Canoe blocks completed and added to the mix. I believe we have 2 more colors to add for a 4x5 setting. Linking up with the RSC.

Summer UFO finish

 I worked on #22 - my tumbler flag top. It did not turn out how I imagined so it sat.

 I decided to take it apart a bit. I unpicked a section and finished this 23x25 section into a little runner. I played with the machine quilting and did a machine binding. Another finish!

Starting Quilters Patch- Cosmos

 One of my Facebook groups has a sew along that started back in January with this book. I am a bit late to the party but did plan on making it along with them. I purchased the 9+ yards of backing last fall in preparation for it. The rest will come from the fabric wall.  I'm happy to say that I got my first block completed on Sunday! 

My Cosmos blocks have lots of pieces but came out pretty well. Linda is way ahead on this one making a block every couple of weeks. I'll try and 'catch up' a bit. I'll shoot for one block a week. I think that will be manageable with the kids heading back to school on the 10th. That will give me more car time and less machine time after working. Don't worry, I have 3 hand work projects that I can take in the car with me. I remember the first few weeks of pick up line are terrible with the waiting times. I'll have one in high school and one in middle school but the schools are next to each other. I have informed the older one he gets to walk to the car in the middle school line despite him getting out of school 20 minutes earlier than his sister.

Scrappy Irish Chain Finish.

Mom, why is my quilt outside? I was trying to get a full shot of the quilt this morning.

 

Ok, I'll get off it, but this better go back inside. Scrappy Irish Chain is 52.5x67.5 inches. Machine quilted and finished with a brown binding. 

This was the photo last night - look at that face! My quilt Mom!

No pictures, I'm going to make it snuggly in a bunch and sleep. Go away! I have a feeling he might have slept on it all last night. Silly Bear.