Happening Around Here

Quilt Exchange is coming up this weekend so I got busy and got my block made.

  

The picture on the left are Collette's blocks and mine has been added in the picture on the right - second row, left. This is a pretty collection of fabric.

I was able to get a little yard work done on Saturday before the wind picked up. Out of seven Knock Out Roses, three had died and needed to be dug out. After I dug and dug (this is when I realized exactly how out of shape I am!) we ended up having to use the tractor to pull them out. This is what the area looked like a couple of years ago. They really were beautiful so it was disappointing to realize they weren't coming back this year.

The three on the right are slowly growing. Three on the left did not survive the winter and the fourth did not look good so we pulled them all out. We decided to throw out a mix of natural wildflower seeds and see what happens.

 









I also got some veggies planted and here are some other things happening in the yard. I love this time of year.

And, there has finally been a break in the rain and Husband was able to do some field work today.

There are 10 school days left; nine with students. I am counting the days, let me tell you! Behaviors are a problem. We use an app called Class Dojo to track student behavior; red Dojo for bad behavior, green for good. Teachers create labels for different kinds of behaviors - kind to a friend, good choice at recess, honesty, on task, bad choice at recess, disrespect, bullying/hitting, not listening are a few examples. The boys especially are getting more aggressive as the days go by. They are acting out some video game or TV show. They are karate chopping and kicking, throwing punches, knocking each other down. The other aide and I have been giving warnings for a few days and today we started giving red Dojos. I have been getting messages from parents. That is good and I hope they talk to their kids. Some of the model students are even acting out. This time of year is very hard and seems to go on FOREVER. We are all looking forward to a break from school and some fun summer activities.

If It's Not One Thing, It's Another

Seriously, sometimes I think the Universe is out to get me. A while back I had a series of things that broke, or quit working, because, you know, things happen in threes. More things in the past few weeks that have made me crazy.

I went to quilt retreat the end of the last full week of April. I planned and packed and was ready to go. Got to retreat and started on my first project. Forgot the matching thread. Guess I didn't plan so well. So I put that project away and got out the Exchange Block for the exchange on Saturday which I had planned to do that first day anyway.

My block using her fabric.

All her blocks so far.

This member has chosen a beautiful bird themed collection of fabrics. 

I then started on another project since I didn't have the right thread for the first project. 

On the second day of retreat I remembered the needed thread and finished this Little Lacey Bag.

It is the perfect size for my machine foot and cord. 

I continued to work on my second project and discovered I had not made enough 4 patch blocks. Rats. Put that away and was thankful that I had thought to bring another project which I was able to I finish later in the day on Saturday.

This was a kit from Boline's in Bloomington. I love the colors and especially liked that it was a quick project - just what I needed.

After I finished that I started on another quilt that was cut, but no piecing had happened.

Corrugated Quilt 

I was able to finish it on Sunday. Again, it went together quickly, but I did make a couple of cutting errors and had to cut and piece more strips. Thankfully, there was enough fabric to that. 

Then I went back to making more 4 patches. I am using Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to Scraps pattern 4 Patch X.

These need to trimmed and I still have more 4 patches to make so I can make enough blocks for the size quilt I want, but that will be a project for this summer.

I enjoyed retreat and it was a great, much needed break from school. 

But, then on Monday morning I awoke to Husband saying "Uh-oh". I was thinking we had overslept, but no. This is what was happening.

Non-repairable leak in waterbed

A terrible way to start any day, but it felt worse on a Monday. Not only was there a huge leak, but the water had dripped down into the heater thermostat ruining it. Then as I tried to get on-line and order a new mattress, heater and mattress pad the internet kept going out. Took me forty-five minutes to place an order. The new mattress arrived on Tuesday, the heater on Wednesday and we got the bed filled, but it was not warm enough to sleep on that night. 

Thankfully I had set up a bed in the sewing room. The waterbed is a King because Husband is tall. The spare bed is a double. I pulled it away from the wall.

Not much sleeping went on for 3 nights because his feet were hanging off the end and I was afraid of falling/being (accidentally) pushed off the bed!
And, as our luck seems to run towards the unlucky side one of the items we ordered would not be available until sometime in May.

I guess it could be worse. At least the mattress and heater were shipped.

We have been having trouble with our phone. It hasn't been working quite right for a few weeks, plus we have a lot of static during calls. So we replaced the phone on Wednesday. Still had static so on Thursday Husband made calls to the internet and phone companies. Many find it hard to believe we still have a land line, but Husband does not like using and mostly refuses to carry as cell phone. Phone line was fixed the next day. Still waiting on internet. They think it is a problem with their wiring at our house. They will be coming sometime this next week. 

And, during all of this we got lots, LOTS of rain this week. The means indoor recess which is not good for any of us.

I did take a walk around my yard between rain drops and am very happy to see all the growth and blooms.Notice the water in the field behind the lilacs.

Apple tree

I am so happy to see any color and flower that I even enjoy the violets and dandelions that are sprouting up all over!

I know my flower beds need lots of attention, but I will get to that this summer. I can't think of much of anything else until school is out. I just don't have the energy.


And, I know I am blessed and need to stop grumbling.