May table topper challenge.

 When I looked at the calendar yesterday and realized I had not made my May table topper yet, and the linkup started tomorrow..... I looked around the sewing room to see what I could find. I had to throw out one whole bucket of scraps last week (cat sprayed some - I think I have the culprit and he is seeing the Vet today at 4PM) so I picked through another stack and found a couple of QST blocks. Hmmmm. Looked at the fabric wall and saw a flag print. Possible. Hmmmm a print of yellow with blue and red balloons... potential. I looked a little more and found a little stack of easy breezy blocks. I started making them and then for some reason that stalled. Well, there were a couple with some red in it - what if I sewed a bunch together to make a placemat with them. To make it reversible I cut out some of the flag print for the backing. Then the decision on a binding..... hmmmm pulled a few bits leftover but opted for a darker blue which would go with both the front and the back. As time was an issue - without checking how to do it properly, especially the corners I actually sewed the binding on by machine. I think I'll actually watch a how to video next time before attempting it but.... it is done and I'm calling it good. It will be used for my lunch later today to test it out. It came out 16 x 12 ish.

Front

Back

Linking up with Joy and the Table Scraps Challenge.

Graduation quilt D9P progress this morning.

 It was time for a lunch break so I figured I'd show my progress on quilting today.... after some of the cat drama was calmed down. I did have a pressing helper which made this process go much quicker. She did a good job. So first I cut my 5 inch blocks then sewed them into a nine patch. I made sure my middle red was now 4.5 inches and sliced down the middle measuring 2.25 inches from the red in both directions and cut.

That gave me these 4 blocks.

I turned the top left and bottom right blocks so the red was in the corners.

Sewed them together and got this block!

I had Emily pressing for me and she also pressed a few more fabrics I grabbed over the weekend so I can cut them and add to the white and black piles for more variety. This is the first 8 blocks of the 24 I plan to make for a 4x6 setting. It should come to a nice twin size with a border or two.

Now for the cat drama. Last night - Peanut and Ollie (LeeLee or Oliver is the true name) were fine and I was laying on the floor petting both and they got along. We believe they were brothers and were bonded so we got them together about 3 years ago. Late last night around 11... all of a sudden Peanut was chasing Lee and lots of hissing and cat growling. Normally they do this and swap and it is playful around 9PM . Not last night. 3 of us heard and all came out to investigate. I separated them and all was quiet for an hour or so when it happened again. Peanut chasing and attacking Lee. Originally they flew in from outside on the porch. Not sure if another cat or animal was out there and sprayed him or what. But Peanut is acting like he doesn't know him and he is an intruder. We have had peeing outside the box lately but I was trying to figure out which one before taking to the vet and we did separate where the litter boxes were thinking maybe someone was not letting them through (sometimes Sophie sits at the entrance and does not let the boys in). I called the vet - I have an appt for Lee tomorrow as they did not have time slot for both boys. I figure the non aggressor might have a medical issue - bladder infection or something and we can get him checked out first. Never a dull moment at my house.

Summer meals...

 It has reached hot in Florida with temps this week in the mid 90's.... 

I was thinking of meals and figured a crock pot one would be easy with awards Monday night. I made beef stew. The boy insisted you don't eat hot things when it is hot outside! I made a batch of Tatziki for him and he had that with pita while the rest had stew. I planned ahead and had a container of plain yogurt and cucumber to make the Tatziki. Some fresh minced garlic, lemon and olive oil with a little salt and some dried dill weed. Yummy. My kid tucks that into a half pita and gobbles it down, on repeat! 

Last night - I decided it was greek night - so used my grill pan and greek rub to grill some chicken tenders. Fresh greens and tomato, cucumber, red onion and black olives. I added some feta cheese and the grilled chicken with a vinegrette and that was dinner with Tatziki and pita on the side. Nice and light. The best part - I have leftover grilled chicken and fixings for salad for lunches the rest of the week! What are your 'warm weather' go to meals?

Tonight we will use the Papa John's robotics card one last time and get one large pizza and get one free after I pick up the kids from their last day of school! Tomorrow - they get their first vaccine. Just enough time to get the second shot a week before we fly next month.

7th grade awards

 Last night was another awards at school - this time for Aidan and the 7th graders. He was recognized for a 4.0+ gpa for the whole year last night. Sorry about the bad photo - he would not consent to one after..... he was ready to head home after 1.5 hours in a room full of people! Since I had stopped on the way home with the girl for a treat - he had the option as well. She chose McD - sunday and he chose Baskin robbins sunday. He has county wide essay today in his last critical thinking class. Let's just say it was sprung on the teacher  last week and he already told the kids he would be very generous with grading it! Still, the boy is stressed. Hopefully after today - he will have a stress free last day of school tomorrow.

This is the start of the graduation quilt. I did get a slew of 5 inch squares cut out. This will get sliced on the vertical and horizontal to create 4 - blocks that will get turned and sewn together. The corner blacks will remain whole - but the rest will be 4 red squares and white triangles. I hope to slice it up later today and see how it comes out.

Sunday Slow Stitching...

 Well, there might be a little slow stitching today. I measured my step #4 of harmony and I need to unstitch and try again with a smaller seam allowance to get the desired size.  It is a smidge off - by a good 1/4 inch on multiple sides. I had only done 2 sets of the 4 sets needed so once I figure it out I can move along and then get the corner sections stitched up.

I probably won't meet my goal this month of getting this to a top... but it is a project that can travel so it will head up to Vermont next month at whatever stage I am at. Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Today - I will start cutting out the graduation quilt. Yes, I am aware it is May 23. My goal is to have it together and quilted by the end of June to travel up to VT for delivery. I picked up a few more FQ's of black on white one of the trips to Walmart yesterday. It was a busy day of errands - Emily to horses, then Aidan to get shorts - his keep getting shorter - something about growing taller!, then pool time with Aidan for a couple of hours... then Emily needed a bathing suit that fits so back to Walmart with her last night. 

The separate trips were intentional. I have had a lot of Emily time with all her awards, scouts and horses this week and the boy needed Mom time. His awards are Monday night. Only one parent can attend for capacity measures so I get to go. 

Last night we had a chicken search. Only 8 were in the coop so we were out searching the back yard with flashlights looking for Poppy - who lays the green eggs. We have 1.25 acres for our lot and the back part is wooded but we have a fence up to keep the chickens out of there. The back yard area is all fenced in to contain the chickens for free range all day. She did this a few days ago and was sleeping perched on the trailer by the fence. That took us 20 minutes to find her. Last night, she was on the top of the fence! That is getting into dangerous territory.  We will need to figure out why she is not wanting to go into the coop at night to sleep.... I have a feeling someone is being a bully (Molly or Emma). We have it secured so no rodents or predators can get in, it is getting a good cleaning this morning from Emily and Greg and we don't think mites are an issue. Must be bullying - as she does lay her eggs in the nesting boxes.

Saturday

It has been a very busy week of Emily which has limited any sewing room or stitching time for me.  This is the lot of red hexagon QAYG's so far this month. For some reason - the photo loaded upside down and I'm off to horses with Emily.

Monday night was girl scout bridging and a water ballon fight after. 

 

Wednesday was Emily's grade awards at school. She got reading, math and 4.0+ gpa.

Friday night was FFA awards banquet. It was catered and she got recognized for showing at the fair and for her academic achievement at school. There were 4 kids from 6th grade recognized.

Off to horses and a busy Saturday.

Graduation Quilt

 Yes, the high school graduation is this year.... and I hope to have this completed by the end of June so it can fly up with me to Vermont.

First step - pick a pattern and colors. Black,white and red were selected. I showed a photo of a disappearing nine patch in those colors and it was approved. I got to Joanns yesterday and I think it was the quickest I have ever picked out 13 fabrics for a quilt in my life! Cut and paid for was this bunch of goodness.

Now to start cutting and hope my math was correct! I have never done this pattern before but it looks 'easy' to do. We will see how it goes. 

This is the photo I sent for approval I found on Pinterest by searching on black and white disappearing nine patch quilts. Another had the instructions using 4.5 inch squares to make the nine patch. Fingers crossed it works out for a twin size!

I have a crazy week coming up after a crazy weekend of running errands all... day.... long! 

Saturday was horses, then home for lunch then arrive late to a birthday party which I ended up staying at until after 5Pm with her. Honestly no clue what I did that night but being outside all day in Florida in May... I was probably in my recliner! The weather just drains me!

Sunday - once the kids left for Grandma's around noon I had about 5 hours or running. Seems the Dollar Tree was out of helium - at both stores I tried for balloons. I was picking up things for bridging and end of year scouts party tonight and then the fabrics. My badges I ordered last Saturday are still in route - so those won't be handed out but the water balloons did arrive so I'm calling it a win. They will bridge up from the last 2 years to their new units. Then will have some snacks of veggies, fruits and cookies. Then a water ballon fight... and yes, I expect to get soaked as well. I think I'll man the hose! Hehehe.

Wednesday I have school awards for Emily in the evening. Friday night we have Emily's FFA banquet. I'm assuming I will get an invite to Aidan's awards this week for next Monday night. Last day of school is Wednesday May 26. The kids are counting down the days.....