Running.....

 Another week of crazy...... kids this time! It is getting to be the end of school with all the end of school crazy. Testing started this week - AICE, florida and county. Way too much testing!

It has been double pick up's so far this week. Monday was a normal for Aidan and Emily stayed late for her spring concert. That meant, I needed to get dinner made and eaten before Grandma arrived around 5ish to get to school for the 6PM concert. The Jazz band played for about 30 minutes then the Symphonic band did their pieces which was about 30 minutes. They play in the cafeteria area, so that needed to be reset. Parents help with putting away the chairs and help get the things back to the band room - mostly the percussion as there is a lot of it! The girl has been sniffly again and I'm sure it is allergies and stress. 

Tuesday, I was planning an early walk of the dog then go for my bloodwork... but hubby reminded me the Truck needs a new battery, so a quick shower instead and then I took the kids to school then did my bloodwork. A few errands happened (allergy meds, Lactaid pills and tuna packets for Aidan's lunches) and then it was home to log into work. A trip to get the girl kid and bring her home at normal time. Then back to get the boy kid from his after school study review with the teacher. About half of each of her 3 classes showed up for the review. He came out a little after 4:30. I had to feed them.... and managed to empty the freezer part of the fridge. It is iced over... again and LOUD. So, it needs to be taken apart and get the frozen ice off the wires. This is an every 6 month occurrence with this stupid fridge. Aidan was able to take it apart for me, so I am on tap to hit it with the hair dryer now that dinner is done.

Oh, the truck did get a new battery today. Hubby took care of that.

Just a day in the life..... off to go ring out the towels and put the hair dryer to work on the ice jam.

What a week....

 

Sadly, there was only a little stitching added to this cat this week. 

Monday, my FIL had a procedure to remove one of the kidney stones. When Greg arrived there late Tuesday morning they indicated he would be released that day. By 5PM and no paperwork, Greg had to go to the doctors boss's boss. My FIL chose no rehab, thinking he was ok. Later that evening when he tried to get dressed to go home, seems he was unable to dress himself! Sigh. It was too late at that point as he was discharged and everything was closed. Hubby had a long night with him, and it was a challenge to get him into the house and settled for the night. I went over directly after dropping the kids to school. He was able to contact the rehab facility he had been in before and they worked with the hospital to do the paperwork and get it covered by insurance. They we able to take him that afternoon by 4PM. Hubby got home after 5PM and crashed. His back has been painful ever since, as he had to help his Dad a bunch. 

Thursday I got some much needed horse time with Goody. 

Saturday Emily got her riding lesson. She tried a new horse as the instructor had not used him yet and was curious how he would do. He made Emily work a bit to get him to do what she wanted but he did a nice walk, trot and cantor.... or rather a walk, lope and jog since she was in a western saddle.

Instead of stitching I was reading. This one needs to get returned to the library, so I finished it last night. Cats do not make a good window while trying to read! Peanut kept trying to get on the book, silly cat. I also listened to an audiobook series by Vicki Delany about a Tea shop as a cozy mystery series.

I have been doing lots of house searching online, but we still have not gotten an offer on the house. We did hire lawyers for the process with the county though. They are expanding the road next to our house, from a standard 2 lane road to a 4 lane road with median divided and will be taking our property to do it. We have a 4 bedroom, 2 bath on 1.5 acres. I guess I really need to modify my search to include an in-law space as I really don't think FIL is able to live by himself without supervision. Hubby and I went to visit him at Rehab Saturday afternoon. He looked even weaker to me, but we did wake him from an afternoon nap. We will see how long they think it will take to get him stronger. 

I have yet to do any of my yellow sewing for the month and I hear May is all about pink. 

I'd better get busy doing some stuffed animal surgery for the Dog as I see a pile of his animals stacked up needing some stitching to keep the stuffing inside.

Lets see if I can get those handled before I head to pick up the boy from Grandma's house.

 

Painting with a twist

 I spent time Sunday afternoon with some adult girl scouts. It was a fun break and lots of yummy food and chatting while painting. 

Sunday....

Saturday was a busy running around day. Emily got taken to horses for her lesson late morning. (about 25 minutes away)

After lunch when we got home, hubby and I headed 30-40 minutes in the other direction to visit my FIL in the hospital. The good news is his bloodwork numbers are slowly looking better. He is 88 and has a UTI, kidneys are not functioning well, a new kidney stone and slight diverticulitis. Thankfully we caught it early this time. They are taking great care of him, but it is very stressful for Greg. 

A quick breakfast for dinner and then I was a wee bit tired and didn't do much of anything after the kitchen was cleaned up. I might have done some side streets to check out housing areas on the way home as well. Our house will be taken for a road expansion sometime in the near future (it has been years of waiting but they are starting to buy up the properties the last few months) so we are scoping out potential areas that are closer to the kids school and well away from busy roads and noise.

I did do a little surgery stitching on the dog's stuffed animals. This is the 3rd one I fixed and one of his favorites. A $5 find at the pet store before Christmas! There was also a tear about half the size on his back that got fixed as well. 

The after photo.

From Emily's phone after I handed it to him, and he went to relax with it on Emily's bed.

Some hand quilting has been happening in the evenings. I have been working on the cats and like how these free hand arcs look.

Today I get to do a 'Painting with a Twist' with other adult girl scout volunteers this afternoon. It should be a fun time.

Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Another week of chaos...

 Well, not really. Just a little out of the norm. The boy was away at a Skills USA competition from Sunday to Wednesday. It was a great learning experience and he enjoyed himself and had a lot of fun. The girl enjoyed sleeping in a bit in the morning. Normally, they leave the house at 7:20 to get to school for Aidan's 8AM (zero period) class. She instead left the house around 8 and got there for 9AM school start time. (morning traffic is a bear). 

Wednesday night Emily and I had a GS planning meeting. Thursday morning the phone rang at 6AM with my FIL's name calling. Hubby jumped out of bed, got dressed and drove to his Dad's (40 minutes away) and got him and went to the ER. Itching all over and not able to sleep. After a full day in the ER - 7AM-5PM they admitted him. Turns out it was bad functioning kidneys, a really bad UTI and low hemoglobin count. Again. We did this a couple of months ago but caught it a bit sooner this time. They were waiting on the antibiotic script to be filled when hubby left around noon today to come home. 

I have not had much motivation this week. I did add some chip blocks. There are 6 now.

Thursday, I took the kids to school and then stopped to pick blueberries since the field we go to is a couple of miles from their school. It was also cooler in the morning - it has been getting close to 90 degrees the last couple of days. I picked for about 30 minutes and got $16 worth of berries. We don't count second breakfast of all the ones I 'tested' while picking!  Probably 4-5 pounds worth? It filled a big sheet pan (half the stove top) with a double layer of big yummy blueberries. I also got to ride today - Goody this time. 

This guy has been hanging around the front lawn... and sometimes torments the dog while sitting on the side lawn in front of the window/door the dog looks out while I am working. Aidan said there are baby bunnies around, but I have yet to see them.

Hopefully I can get a little yellow stitching in this weekend. I need some Arkansas Traveller and chicken blocks. I do have one yellow string of beads prepped as well.

String of Beads

I did a little stitching in bits and pieces this past weekend. I finally got the 4 green peels added to this Red String of Beads block. I also found some yellow in the scrap bin and cut 4 of them for the yellow block. I still need to prep that one for stitching by drawing the peels onto the background for placement but that should happen after work today.

The boy is up at his competition and is competing today. It is a first time for him as a Sophomore, so we will see how he does. His teammate has not been a lot of help, so he has managed to go it alone or get help from his buddies instead. The girl is late at school today with symphonic band practice for their Spring recital the end of the month. I think she enjoyed sleeping in an extra 40 minutes this morning instead of getting to school an hour early for her brothers class.

 

Slowing down on Sunday

 It has been an interesting week. 

Last Sunday the girl turned 15 and took her proctored driving test online with her Dad in the room. She took an online course and passed that. Then they take an online test here in Florida. He took her to the DMV first thing on Monday morning and she is now a permitted driver for the next year. She has yet to drive, but maybe that will change later today for a little driving around our neighborhood. They have to wait a full year before they can test to get their license.

Monday, I started a restrictive diet before my colonoscopy on Thursday. I still was not feeling well with the sinus infection I had, so the limiting did not bother me. Coming up with meals for the family... well they were on their own for a couple of days! I think it was spaghetti and meatballs this night.

Tuesday was the normal walk the dog in the morning, then work then pick up the kids then attempt dinner. Greg made Mexican skillet rice, but Aidan turned up his nose and it had things I could not have (corn) so I popped some Berber chickens in the oven for me and Aidan with some bagged mashed potato. 

Wednesday - I got a liquid diet and then the 'prep' so they were on their own. It was leftovers or make their own stuff. I got to watch the Netflix series Queen Charlotte that afternoon/night and the cats were oh so happy to have Mom all to themselves!

Thursday - up early for more prep and then watch the storms roll in right before we had to leave for the doctors. Greg had to wait for 2 hours while they checked me in and got me done and then up and dressed and out the door, just in time to go pick up the kids from school. I did make dinner Thursday night... after some quick scrambled eggs when I got home.... I had not eaten food since Tuesday night! My co-worker technically left on vacation Thursday, but she knew of my procedure so let our boss know to call her if there were issues. 

Friday - back to normal (kinda) with a dog walk, work and kid pick up. I was feeling much better and managed to check a few things off my list today as well. We were to go out to eat for Emily's birthday dinner (birthday person gets to pick the restaurant out for their special day in our family). I had made a reservation at her requested restaurant, but she had a headache and I told her we could delay it until she felt better. We will try next Thursday or Friday. Greg ordered Domino's Pizza for dinner. 

Saturday - I got to walk the dog (I'm wondering why the 2 that wanted the dog are not getting up and walking him?) and then I took Emily to horses. Grandma came over to get a kid fix and a lunch out with us at a restaurant she enjoys. Some remembering of Papa Andy happened, and she gave an update on all the paperwork she has been dealing with. We have been checking in on her all week.

I dropped the boy off for a hair cut while I got some Groceries. The boy is prepping for his upcoming Skills USA competition, and finishing off a few things on his project. It was a leftover dinner night and I got a few hand quilting stitches in on this cat block while watching NCIS and episode 1 of The Gentleman. I like how this one came out. I might do all the cats this way... we will see. Free hand arcs are fun!

It is nearly mid month and this is all I have done with the yellows for the RSC! I did find the bucket of scraps. Maybe some progress will happen Sunday? I know we need to drop the boy to school late morning and then since we are halfway to my FIL's, and Greg has not gone over this week, we will go deliver some things and check on him. I should be able to find some scraps to cut the 8 yellow peels from for the string of beads blocks. I'll visit the yellow shelf to pick the Arkansas Traveller fabrics. 

The girl is excited to be the only child in the house for a few days while her brother is away at his competition. She get's to sleep in a bit for 3 days, since she can get to school for start time at 9AM. Normally, they get there for just before 8AM as Aidan has a class before school to fit in his elective of Robotics. Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday Stitchers.

 

Friday....

 No sewing but figured I'd check in. I'm finally feeling better and I've had my colonoscopy as of yesterday. Everyone is correct that the procedure is quick and easy but the prep work is the worst! I might have slept from 6pm last night until 7am this morning! Coffee with creamer is wonderful!

Since everyone is better now and I don't have limits on what I can eat.... we are planning to go out to eat tonight for Emilys birthday meal. She turned 15 on Sunday and got her drivers permit on Monday morning. She has yet to drive, but I think she will tackle the neighborhood this weekend.

Grandma is doing ok. She is feeling better as well. We hope to see her tomorrow.

My night blooming jasmine is in full bloom and smells amazing. 

Here are the two boys that enjoyed having mom confined to the master bedroom area with them Wednesday afternoon and evening. 

Peanut

Ollie

Hopefully some sewing will occur this weekend!

A Birthday Sunday in our house.

 The girl has been sick with a head cold (dr said it was allergies friday) most of last week and out of school the last 3 school days. She is better today and in the kitchen now making her birthday cake. It appears it will be a 3 layer red velvet cake based on the 3 prepped round pans sitting on the stovetop. Just shy of 6PM she will officially be 15! We know she was sick since when we cancelled going to the encampment this weekend, I asked about horses Saturday and she said no. 

 

She did finish the online driving course last night and then did the proctored test with her Dad and passed this afternoon. So, he will take her first thing tomorrow morning to the DMV to get her learners permit. She will go to school after that. I'll be dropping the boy off to school for his zero period class (1 hour before school starts) for Robotics. He has a Skills USA tournament next week in the northern part of the state. I took him shopping Friday night and got his black dress shoes and dress pants for the tournament. We drop him to school next Sunday and then we get him back Wednesday evening. 

I might have over done the running around the last few days and today is a putter around the house and rest day. I had made an ice cream custard a few days ago and churned half of it last night with the kitchen aid mixer and the other half got done today. I tried a maple ice cream and it is yummy with 1 cup of maple syrup in it. It tastes just like the creemee (called soft server everywhere but in Vermont!) we get up in Vermont at the sugar house across the lake. I ordered a couple of pint containers to put it in, and they arrived right before I put the ice cream on to churn today, so they are both filled and into the freezer. Last nights got walnuts added but I kept them out of this batch. This recipe does make a lot!

While I was running around all of yesterday, hubby was manning the text chat with his Mom. Unfortunately, her husband Andy passed away at age 91 last evening. He lived a long life. We have called and chatted with her today and last night.  She has a terrible cold still as well, so will be heading to the doctors tomorrow. Trying to get her to rest has been interesting. 

I think I'm going to grab some hand work and settle in with a movie. Time to add the green peels to the string of beads block.

Potato chip blocks.

 Well, Emily and I cancelled going to the Girl Scout Encampment this weekend. I have had a weird throat - not sore but off for 2 weeks and Emily was home from school the last 3 days. I went to the doctors yesterday and Emily went today - since she needed a note to get back into school after missing 3 days. I got meds for a sinus infection and thrush. No tests done but we will see if the meds help. Emilys was supposedly allergies and has a nasal mist of some sort that she can use for 3 days but no more. Hopefully we are both better by Monday. 

I dropped off our swaps to the organizers house last night and picked up 2 succulents. They were one of the projects for the weekend, so I snagged ours. Emily is in charge of them as I tend to kill everything!

I had taken today off as I was going with Greg to his appointment up in Gainsville for his back. They will not do surgery as his symptoms that bother him are not related to what they can do. So frustrating. We got back in time for me to go get the boy from school and he was tapped to bring the girl to the doctor for her note. 

Before we headed out, I managed to do a little sewing after walking the dog.

These 2.5x4.5 cut scraps turned into these two Potato chip blocks. The third one is on the machine at the point of adding the last colored surround. These would be fun as a scrappy 2 colored quilt I think if there is enough variety... you know like my wall of blues! Maybe a yellow as the light? There is some yellow in these for the RSC. I also found the bucket of yellow scraps for the month.

Linking up with the RSC on Saturday.

I have been listening to audiobooks (I like my free area on audible) I found this 2 book series by Mary Ellen Taylor. They were very good. 

I also read (the actual paper book for a change!) the 3rd book in the Women's Murder Mystery Club by James Patterson and got the 4th book from the library after I returned book 3. With over 20 books in this series, I'd prefer the free books from the library than buying them as audible books. 

April Fools?

It was no joke, Joy posted some potato chip blocks and darn it, I might have gone into the sewing room and pulled from the scrap bins and cut some 2.5x4.5 strips. No sewing on them yet, as I did go with the boy to Guitar tonight (he drove) since we needed a Sam's club run. The Ensure drinks were on sale - so I picked up 4 boxes of them instead of 2 for my FIL. He is drinking one in the morning and one in the evening. Meals on Wheels - or the church equivalent in his area provides a daily well balanced meal for him during the week.

I added the last red peel and have the first green one ready to go. When I snapped this photo- it reminded me of a star fish, just missing one peel for that.

Tomorrow the band is playing at the girls softball game so Emily is staying at school until after the game for a 8PMish pick up. I think I might head over and watch the game. It will bring back memories of the 5 years I was dragged to my sisters home and away softball games while they were in high school. My sisters are 11 months apart and both played all 4 years. 

Spring 2024 UFO Challenge

 Let's see how the Winter 2024 quarter finished shall we? The goal was to have 3 finishes. 

*** edited and added one so... at 30 again! 

The reality - 3 finishes! Would you believe the current list is under 30 now? Yup, me either! There are various orphan blocks hanging around, but I think I'll leave the list as is this quarter and see if I can whittle it down a little bit more. Shall I shoot for 3 again? We will see how the next 3 months goes.

#25 - Green Tumblers

#26 - Bear Paw

#6-Scrappy Kites

The list of UFO's - 

 1.) I know I have at least one more cut somewhere to fill that open spot for a 7x6 setting. *** found the parts in a baggie!  These are hand pieced.... and might need a little fixing along the way on some of those middle joins. Just ordered some kona solids for an alternate block for these to become a quilt. From Inklingo lemoyne stars.

 2.) Hexagon flowers on a black background. These are a stack of blocks I hand pieced a few years ago then hand appliqued to the black background a couple years after that!  Not sure if they will become one or two quilts.... I also have the black heaxagons I cut out of the block when I appliqued them on.... those might come out to play this quarter! Unfinished block size is 6.5 inches. Right now with 12x14 setting it will be 72x84. If I add a border - 5 inches all around it would be 82x94. Fit a double bed. 

3.) Midget Applique quilt from Sentimental Stitches. I need to add more flowers and leaves and the vines... and the bottom yellow border. This one is completely hand pieced.

4.) Ella Maria Deacon blocks - make a few more and finish them off into a top. I believe I was making these by hand. Patterns from Sentimental Stitches.

5.) Split Nines - RSC Challenge 2023.

6.) flying geese leftover from another project 2022 RSC quilt I believe. Well, the triangle of the geese actually!

7.) Midget block collection - I started these in Vermont in 2010! I have a light blue for sashing.

8.) Birds in the Air block collection

9.) Potato chip blocks - started april 5 and boy are they addicting! 

10.) Erin's Butterfly - I made the wings in 2021.  Need to add one more set of wings... thinking 9 is a nice number?

11.) Full Stop Sew along.... 2021 . Re thinking this one - might eliminate some of the white space and make a few more of some.....???? Or add some Alphabet or numbers to the mix?

12.) mostly cut out and some 9 patches are made. Hehe... from the first quilting book I had and made a quilt from. Introduction to Quilting 101 - the basics by Sharon Hultgren. I think this was Sunrise Surprise! The four patch from this book is at my Mom's hanging over a crib still!

13.) I forgot I had this. It is a cute birdhouse wall hanging but is foundation pieced, which I dislike. Maybe I can deal with it enough to get this done? Or rework it?

14,) This is a kit I purchased mid-90s - butterfly's. I think all the parts are there and I did start arranging them.

15.) Quilters Patch. A sew along that I completely did not meet my goals on in 2022. One block is done.

16.) Scrappy Flowering Snowball - I started cutting these with my accuquilt from scraps with the color of the month in 2020. I think it is time to start stitching them together. I see I need some orange added and purple and lots of lights!

 

17.) Bittersweet Briar - pattern in Kim Deihl's book and kit of fabric.

18) Brimfield Awakening EPP. I did start this and have the first fabric thread basted in purple!

19.) Bonnie Hunter Mystery - On Ringo Lake - maybe step #2?

20) Bonnie Hunter Mystery - Grassy Creek (2020) Think I am on step #4.

21.) 30's log cabin tulip quilt.

Quilt Tops: 

22) Cat and mouse is on the frame in process of hand quilting but has been sadly neglected.

23) Vermont Quilt Festival Booth Hop from either 2008 or 2009.  it is 71x71.

24.) Trip around the World - 2 inches hand pieced. 60x60.

25.) Y2K Joann's BOM - quilt top

26.) 1857 Quilt Along Top

27.) Spring Hexagons - not sure if this wants to be bigger or not.... 

28.) Triple Irish Chain - green. 80x80 I think. I did find both fabrics extra with it... Might need a green or cream border first or both... Made in the early 2000's. circular feathers in open spaces.

29.) Christmas Cactus Wreath.

30.)Harmony - hand pieced project started March 2021-

2/5/24 it is a top!