Slow Sunday

 

I have been working on making more hexagons to add to the QAYG Hexagon quilt I finished last year. It needed to be bigger. I just pulled it out of the dryer and laid the new row next to it. Ut Oh..... It shrunk in the wash/dry as it has been washed a few times. Sigh. I guess I'll stitch the last section on and then run it through the wash/dry and then add it and see if that helps. I want to add a few more sections to the side to make it wider for the bed. It was 68x88 originally. I also noticed 2 or 3 hexagons that need a little fix stitching. 

I did get the 1857 quilt from Sentimental Stitches pinned for quilting and it is in the hoop. I have been too busy (and tired at night) to stitch on this yet, but it is there when I am ready. 

This was one of the MSQC Jenny Christmas box gifts this week. It is an embroidery pattern that came with everything you need including the frame. I love it and will be putting some stitches into this today. I've never added beads before so that will be a new one for me. 

I think today will be a lazy day, watching Christmas movies and stitching. What is a must watch Christmas movie for you?

Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Jenny's box 12+13

 I have to say, I LOVE day 12's embroidery project. It includes everything, including the frame to finish it off. Perfect project and I plan to start on it this weekend. 

Today we got 2 cute cutting mat scrubbers. A chuck the duck and a Missouri Star. It has a suction cup on the back. Jenny mentioned it helps to take the threads off clothing as well. That will be handy.

This was a project in the photo from the first 11 days. It is a cute little wall hanging of little houses and trees. It came with this cute panel of doors! I was thinking of making houses of some sort for 2025 and the RSC. The doors not used in this project might show up in those. It also has these two green fabrics that are perfect for the trees. Love how they think ahead like that. We got the wooden hangers the following day. Love how they do multiple days together to coordinate the gifts.

The cute wooden tray with the Missouri star on the top, came with 2 embroidery needles, a needle threader and a magnet that fits in one of the little containers. The day before that gift, we got the cute embroidery scissors with Chuck the Duck on it. These two things go perfect with the embroidery project. 

I have a quieter weekend, thank goodness! Both kids are late tonight, but one drives and will come home when Academic club is done. The other is doing their last marching band practice with the middle school before their last parade tomorrow in Ocala. That is a drop off at 2 for the 5:30 night time parade. They are somewhere in the middle so should be done and unpacked back to the school by 8:30. I just get to drop off and pick up =).

Plenty of time to putter around the house and finish decorating and then I'll be sewing houses or hand stitching the snowflake. I also need to cut the last Arkansas Traveller block and get that pieced to finish off that set from the RSC 2024. 

Jenny's Christmas box 2024 days 1-11.

 This is my second year of the MSQC Jenny's Christmas box. I have to say, I have been surprised by all the fun gifts she selects for us. I enjoy watching the video each morning and then checking to see what is in my present. I might actually make one or two of them this year! 

I guess a bunch of the measuring cups were broken for some people, but they offered a new batch shipped next year or a credit. Mine were fine so I just get to use them! They might become candy bowls or notion holders. The embroidery scissors tucked into the wood case have chuck the duck on them! How cute is that. I just realized the snowflakes are not in the photo.

We got 2 snowflakes - one with christmas theme and one with sewing and notions theme for the cutouts. They each have a white light set with them to light them up. 

I need to move these to the front windows!

Tuesday already?

 Boy, does age catch up to you quickly! It was lots of shuttling on Saturday. It was chilly at the drive in camp out and the girl was tired, so we only did 2 movies at the drive in before heading home around 10:30. We saw Moana 2 and Red One. Both were good. I need to take Emily to see Wicked sometime soon. Sunday, I watched the F1 race with Aidan and had Greg drop Emily to the parade. I headed out a little later and watched most of it before she wanted to go home. Note to self, get there earlier as they closed the roads sooner than they said and it was a bear to find my way to the pick up zone area since it was blocked off! They were towards the front this year instead of the back. At least it didn't rain! Sunny and low 70s which was much nicer than the 40 degrees overnight.

I finally stitched the pin holder from last years MSQC Christmas box. Those 2 spools of YLI are for hand quilting on the purple 1857 quilt. I've had them for a few years waiting now!

Aidan has been moving the elf around for me to find. Guess he wanted to see Santa!

The kid with the long hair on the left... yup, that's my Emily!

The high school has the middle school join them for parades. They do this one and then the longer one in Ocala on Saturday night.

The chickens are alive... despite only one giving me eggs. Thank you Buttercup - my Rhode Island Red. I have them out roaming today since Bear is sleeping on Emily's bed with her. She has a head cold and her eyes look tired and sick so I let her stay home. She is out straight, so I'm not surprised she got sick. 

Saturday riding Doc

He got a lot of attention and brushing before their ride. Her partner in crime did not ride so she had a lesson all to herself. 

I am enjoying the MSQC Christmas box countdown this year. I will get some photo's and share those tomorrow. 

The start of a busy weekend.

 Thursday, after visiting my FIL and doing a Sam's run for his protein shakes, juice and apple turnovers and a side run through Arbys for a Jamocha Shake for him, we headed home. He is doing well and had actually got his little Christmas tree out and up and his wreath on the door. 

After lunch I headed into the sewing room and cleared off the banquet table I sew on. Yup, that took a bit! Then I got the 2 boards the quilt and top was rolled on, out and onto the table. The batting package opened - 90x108. Ok, the quilt is about 86 inches square. It worked, kinda. A wee bit close on the last edge but I think it will be ok. It was a leftover night for dinner, so people were on their own. I did the Emily late pickup and had Greg throw Berber Kiev Chickens into the oven so they would be ready when Emily got home a little before 8 from Winter Guard practice. I put the huge quilt onto the floor to find the middle and wrangled the hoop onto this block. Note to self, trim the extra off one end and flip the backing onto the front to protect the edge. I plan to do that today. I did add one line of thread into it to start but my hands were tired, so I stopped. 

This is the whole quilt. 

I had a quilting design in mind, but I am waffling. I know I want to outline the applique parts with hand quilting. I was thinking a grid in the background but now I'm not sure how that will look. I might just get the ruler out and mark the lines on one block and then I should be able to mark it as I go. That would be in the inner lighter part. The fleur de lis will be echo outlined I think. I have not figured out the outer 2 borders but those are a long way off! 

So, the busy weekend. Both kids are late this afternoon, but one drives so he will be home sometime between 5-6. The girl is a late pick up with marching band practice then winter guard JV reveal of their program. She is buying them pizza for dinner. Saturday - winter guard practice 9-12, with a team lunch at the end. Then horses at 1PM, her partner in crime switched her time as well so they will ride together. Last time until January. Then Emily and I have the girl scout drive in Saturday night to Sunday. She wants to see movies #2+3, and has determined they should be done after 2AM. This is a tenting overnight - year 10 and I've been to all of them. Emily missed 1 year. We are opting to park outside the gate this year and will head home after the movie Wicked is over. She would prefer to sleep in her bed and then shower before heading to the local parade where her school is for noon Sunday.  Honestly, I'm good with going home to my warm house and bed too! Temps in the 44 degree range overnight and the humidity makes it damp and cold! 

I've got horses today and hopefully I survive the weekend!

A little stitching

 Instead of basting a quilt (which I totally meant to do yesterday afternoon!) I did a little stitching.

Well, after I made dinner.

Excuse the ugly crusts. The stoneware did a much better job with the bottom crust than the glass one. Spinach and onion with swiss and cheddar cheese. The other is onion and a package of 4 frozen jimmy dean breakfast round sausages. I could not find ham in the freezer! This one just has cheddar cheese for Emily. (Greg does this one too, because the other has 'green' in it!). I do have newer sheet pans... but these were out on the counter!

Aidan got home from their last Academic meet, and they won! Greg was kind and went to retrieve Emily from Winter Guard at 7:30. I stitched!

First, I unpicked and fixed the red boo boo from yesterday.

Then I triple checked against the quilt and sewed these guys into sets of 8. 

Bear was helping to hold them down!

I just need to check the edge they will go against and make sure my colors are not matching along it when I make these into a column. I need 12 sets of 4, so a black and orange are next and then I have a blue set of 4 and working on some reds for the last one. I think I need a couple more columns, but I'll add them to the quilt as I get a column ready.

Then I picked up the knitting needles, which I have added a few rows over the last week. I finished off the green, then checked into the 'to go' bags for the 'ends' of other sugar and cream yarns. I found a yellow, then when that ran out - got a light and royal blue. The light blue made it into this one. 

The dishes won't mind the various colors!

A slice of quiche for breakfast with my coffee and I'm off to work.

I'll walk the dog at lunchtime.... another frosty morning here in Florida.

One step forward... two steps back!

 I stitched my second red hexagon at lunch and figured, I can whip stitch these into a twosie. So I stitched away.

Oops! Guess I get to unstitch these and try it again!

So, this was Sunday night looking over from my recliner. Bear was toasty warm and snoozing. I covered him with the green tumbler quilt, and he promptly got up and laid on it. Aidan came through and covered him up with a quilt and he put his head down and went right to sleep!

Monday night, he requested I be on the couch with him. He snuggled up next to me and I covered him up. After a look, he got up and laid on the quilt instead. Emily came out and covered him up and yup, he went to sleep and was snoring and dreaming of chasing things. Spoiled dog. The cats were snuggled up in the master bedroom on a pile of quilts as well. Peanut might have snuggled under the covers with me last night. Ollie just was close by, he is not as into snuggling as his brother.

I started posting a list on the fridge of meals for the week and pick up times for the girl child, as the boy has a car to use. 

Sunday was the boiled dinner. 

Monday was meatloaf and mashed potato and peas. 

Tuesday is quiche. One spinach and onion and one cheese and ham if I can find some in the freezer. I have some pie shells that need using! Both kids are later today. Em has winter guard until 7:30 and Aidan has their last Academic meet at a different school in the county. 

Wednesday will be using the instapot for mongolean beef and broccoli over rice.

Thursday - they will probably have berber chicken kiev and I'll have either baked scallops or baked cod. I'll come up with some sides based on what veggies I have available. I might try a lentil salad.

Friday - Greg is in charge so it will be pizza!

Slow Sunday Stitching with a F1 race

 
I got a little hand stitching in this morning during the F1 race. I got 2 blue hexagons stitched. Then into a set of 2, and then into a 4 some with their pair I finished earlier this week.

Joining the other groups of 4. I need 12 for one side of the quilt that I am adding to. I have orange and black ready to become sets of 4, and individuals in green and red ready to stitch.

Chili the Elf flew back this year. I had him tucked into a little quilt by the phone, but Aidan changed it. It was freezing temps last night (yes, in Florida!) and this was to keep him warm!

I added ornaments to the tree yesterday. I can't reach the top so the angel is not on yet. The top part is light on ornaments as well. 

Bear was being a lap dog (he is at least 85 pounds) with Aidan. Grumpy boy actually smiled when he first plunked down. It took me too long to snap the photo. 

After not cooking since Thursday on Thanksgiving, I suppose I need to go shopping and plan meals for the week. I'm thinking a Kielbasa boiled dinner tonight. I've got cabbage, potato, carrot and onion to go with that. The kids are back to school this week with their fun schedules. 

I plan to finish decorating a bit and then will pin my 1857 quilt along done with Sentimental Stitches in 2016 for hand quilting in the hoop. I only made 36 of the blocks for my quilt.

Kathy asked about advent countdowns. I opened day 1 of Jenny's Countdown to Christmas box this morning. I loved it last year and it is fun so far this year. I also picked up a candle one from Aldi. 

Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Border time

 It feels like I didn't get much done today. Normally I spend the day Christmasing the house. I didn't even do that, but we do have the tree up and it's lights are on. 

I did manage to finally go onto the government healthcare website and fill it out and compare and select my healthcare plan for me and the kids next year. I am essentially a consultant, so don't have an employer who offers insurance. Greg is covered by the VA. So, I have to research and get a yearly plan for me and the kids. All selected and I just have to pay the first month of January by mid next month. At least it is slightly lower this coming year. It's only an arm and a leg instead of both arms and both legs!

I did finally add that butterfly border onto the flower hexagon quilt. I added a 4.5 inch strip to it. I think it is 84x96 now. 

I also added two purple borders to the 1857 quilt. A 2.5 border then a 5.5 inch border. This one is now about 86 inches square. This will hopefully get pinned for hand quilting tomorrow. I miss not having something in the hoop. I have some dark brown and purple hand quilting thread for this one. The batting and backing are all set as well. 

We had a cool front go through this afternoon with some rain. I walked the dog this morning in shorts and a t-shirt. I think it will be jeans and a sweatshirt tomorrow. Maybe a windbreaker. It will be in the 50's in the morning. I'm not complaining as I prefer the cooler weather! I hear it might freeze here on Tuesday morning. Good thing I still have a windshield scraper from up north! The kids are going to need it.

Table Scrap Challenge

I'm going a little out of the box on this one! The challenge for November is trees and choice of color. I never got around to sewing a tree, but I had stitched one this week. I decided to make it into a little quilted ornament for the tree!  The tree is embroidered from a free pattern from Melissa.

 

 

I pulled this cute Christmas print from my new mystery box of fabric. I just sewed around and did the turn method. I hand stitched it closed. Then added some quilting stitches around the outer and inner part of the outline stitch. Some floss got added with a knot to give a hanging area. Perfect for the tree!

Linking up with Joy and the TSC.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I am in a quiet house that smells like celery boiling! Love that smell. Yes, I have celery boiling with the innards of the Turkey and some salt and pepper. I'll shred that when cool and add it to the stuffing. The bird had a little ice in it still so some water running through it helped. Geez, 13 pounds and taken out Saturday night you would think it would be fully thawed! Oh well, I did up some dishes in the sink after and added a little bleach to the water so I could disinfect things. Our pediatrician up in VT said to add a few drops when it was cold and flu season when the kids were itty bitty. It helps!

Aidan and I were discussing sweet potato pie a few weeks ago and he said he'd try making one. Well, he made one last night. It looks great and smelled yummy coming out of the oven. We will see how it is. It is a southern dish, and I'm from the north where we didn't really do Sweet Potato's. I did have regular potatoes at most every meal growing up though!  He also made dinner on Tuesday night and he and Emily braved the stored that afternoon to get what he needed to make Chicken Korma, an Indian dish. There were no leftovers, so I believe it was added to the rotation. I needed some yogurt on the side of mine as it was a little spicy but the others rolled their eye's at me!

Grandma H is coming over today with her dog Scruffy for our meal. We are having the standard things and there will be way too much food! Turkey, potato, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, rolls, and I might cook up some green beans. We have an apple pie and the sweet potato pie for dessert. Way too much food for 5 people but I'm not cooking much the next few days! I have extra stuffing packages as that seems to be the first thing gone at my house. 

I stitched a little last night and got my blues into twosies, and the black and pink into sets of 4.

 Now that my pins are not in use with a pinned quilt, I will be adding the final borders to the 1857 quilt later today and the last border on the butterfly quilt. One will be pinned for hand quilting and the other will be loaded into the frame in January. 

Wishing those in the US a safe and happy Thanksgiving and those in the rest of the world, a safe and happy Thursday!

Potato Chip finished

 Sorry for the dark photos as it was a late night finish! Yes. Our tree is up but not decorated yet. 

Potato Chip is 72x84 finished.

The back is blocks from the Full Stop Sew along at the RSC and lots of other blocks hanging around the sewing area. Notice the extra endless diamond block in the top right? It felt so nice getting them used and out of the holding box.

These are two things crossed off my UFO list and 4 things off the list since October 1. Now to prep the next hand quilting project. The 1857 purple quilt will go in the hoop and the black hexagon flowers will go onto the frame. Got to have options!

Slowing down on Sunday

 I had a great chunk of time in the sewing room on Saturday and got a quilt pinned and machine quilted, a binding made and machine attached to the front. That allows me to do some hand stitching on the binding this week. When done this is going to knock 2 things off my UFO list. This quilt is 72x84. I just used the walking foot and did a meander curvy line every 3-4 inches or so across the quilt. 

The potato chip quilt on top and then the Full Stop blocks along with a bunch of other 'trial' blocks were cobbled together for the backing of the quilt. The blocks were so happy to get used and into a quilt. I pulled a solid brown from the end of the bolt mystery box that arrived this week for the binding. 

I believe this is a smile from the girl and Doc this morning. Her riding partner arrived before us and this one was in the pasture and would not go to her even with a carrot bribe. Emily got out of the car and was walking over to the fence and Doc walked up for pets and attention from her. I guess he knows she is the one that rides him! I just think she is a horse whisperer.

I believe we are heading over to Grandma's today for family game day. The kids finally don't have homework that needs to get done for Monday, since they have the week off for the Thanksgiving holiday here in the USA. Aidan has an early 1AM for us, F1 race in Las Vegas so I'm sure he will be sleeping in tomorrow morning. 

Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday Stitchers. I'll be snuggling under this quilt hand stitching the binding Sunday night to a Christmas movie I think. 

Weekend!

 The kids are off school for the week of Thanksgiving. I think they will both be sleeping a lot! They have been busy. I did the parent meeting for Winter Guard last night. OMG - I thought marching band was busy. Looks like February is going to be crazy as well as March. She is happy and enjoying it, so that is all that matters.

This one is not happy his girl will be gone so much. This was taken after she got home last week. He was a happy camper.

I added the last stitches into this little cutie from Melissa. I have since purchased some pretty 498 DMC and will be making the slew of them using that pretty red. She has 4 sets of 4 little Christmas patterns to stitch available. I think they will make a cute wall hanging.

I did some prep work on Thursday afternoon rather than pinning a quilt. One blue got stitched yesterday. I just realized I just finished stitching a red and green group! oops, I guess I am feeling Christmas colors. 

The top and back of the Potato Chip/Full Stop etc. are rolled and ready for pinning. I keep putting that off as it is one of my least favorite parts of quilting! I do need to get it done though, so I can prep the next hand quilting project. 

I realized I never showed the flip side of my Welcome plank I made last week. I did the Fall one a few weeks ago, and flipped it over and added this Christmas Welcome. I love how it turned out! This was a fun project I did at our local Hammer and Stain. 

The boy will be up soon to watch the F1 qualifying. It was at 1AM our time last night. We will see if he watches the race at 1AM Sunday or when he wakes up. Good thing we have the F1 Subscription for him so he can rewatch them anytime!

The girl has horses late morning, so I hope to head into the sewing room later this afternoon and get that quilt pinned for quilting.  I'd love to get that quilted and bound by the end of the month as it will cross 2 things off my UFO list!

I also hope to pick fabrics and make the last Arkansas Traveller block this coming week and get those sewn into a quilt top. 

I've put the dog walk off long enough this morning. It was 38 degrees when I got up and some of the grass looked a little crispy from a light frost. The sun should have warmed up the pavement a bit for his paws, so I'll get him out for his walk before we head to horses.

Linking to the RSC.