When it rains...

...it pours. And it is pouring here. We don't really need rain right now. There has been a chance of rain in the forecast for days. We have gotten rain some of those days. It is usually spaced so that we get it every few days. That makes it hard to bale hay. 

Once cut, the hay needs a couple of days to dry before baling. That doesn't happen if it rains every few days.

I got the top of Diamond Head put together. 

It still needs borders - the light blue dot and than black outer border. 

Husband likes it. I am still not crazy about it. That's ok. It will be easier for me to let it go for donation.

I really like the fabrics.

I think the bigger prints don't work well in this pattern. I have enough of the lighter big print (on the right) to use as backing. I will probably bind with with black.

I am still making masks. 

I had bought some fabric on sale on-line. One of the fabrics turned out to be not what I was expecting. I don't really care for it. But it was a great price and works well for masks! There is a cowboy print on the other side of this one.

We had to have some more tree removal work done.

So we had the wood removed that was piled up from last year.

And the stump ground down more.

They filled in the hole with the chips from grinding up the stump.

More news: Our friend with Covid has been moved to a rehab center until he is strong enough to go home. His daughter says it will be some time yet, but he is improving.

My son and his GF moved into a cute little house on the edge of a college town a year or so ago. Perfect for them. The landlord - great guy. He made some improvements especially for my son so that he could use his welder and to make things a little more accessible for him, allowed them to keep their dog, worked with them on rent. The landlord passed away a few weeks ago. His daughter was still following through with some work that was being planned. But... there is a sister and brother. One of the siblings felt that the rental property was not being fairly divided and has insisted that it all be sold. We were not surprised, disappointed though. The daughter - I guess she is the new temporary landlord - has been great with letting Son know what is going on. She is disappointed and frustrated with the sibling. Son should be receiving a letter soon from the attorney letting him know what will happen with the house. Son and GF are worried and frustrated. They have started going through their belongings, getting rid of things they can part with and packing what they want to keep. They have been looking for another place to rent. Everything is out of their budget, unless they want to live in a tiny apartment in a less than safe area. We are hoping for the best. 

Stay safe and well.

Yay and Sigh

First - to see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

The Yay  - the Quilter's Exchange group that I belong to was able to meet on Saturday. We usually meet in a smaller meeting room which isn't big enough for the number of people in our group.The library allowed us to use a larger area of the library where we were able to socially distance ourselves. We were required to wear masks which no one protested. It was interesting to see the different styles and fabrics we all chose for our masks. Some brought Show & Tell which, of course, is always fun! I did not take photos.

I got all the blocks pieced for Sticks and Stones.

 

The strips and squares are 1-1/2 inch.

I need to trim them, cut the sashing and cornerstones and get it sewn into a top. I thought this would be a good use for all the scraps I have. The scraps - they seem to increase daily.

Then I will start sewing together the blocks for Diamond Head. 

I liked the fabrics - a 5 yard bundle, plus yardage, but I'm not sure this was the best pattern to use. I think part of the problem is not enough variation in the fabrics. The same fabrics appear more than once in each block and in blocks next to each other. Oh, well.

I'm not sure how I feel about either one of these quilts, but I plan to donate them so I hope someone likes them.

Another Yay - This lovely is blooming again.

The Sigh - I am making masks, again.

Two of the places I have sent masks previously feel then need more child sized masks since school will be starting soon. I find making masks depressing. I wasn't going to make anymore, but really feel that I should. I have the resources and the time. This is why my scraps keep increasing. There is always a bit of fabric left after cutting the masks. 

Another Yay - my friend in the hospital - his daughter informed us that the doctors/nurses feel he is improving. He is too weak to go home and will need to go to a rehab facility until he regains his strength. Small victories. 

Stay safe and well.

What I Have Been Up To

The big Zucchini went from this

 

to this.

Six little loaves of bread. We have eaten two loaves already. Another is sliced, ready to eat. Husband likes to grab a slice or two when he comes in from chores. The other three are in the freezer.

My brother called on Monday. He would be in the area working the next day and wanted to meet me so I could give him the banners that I made for him. I asked him if he wanted any zucchini or bread. He declined both. They have plenty themselves. We had a nice visit standing in the parking lot of the local truck stop with our masks on. 

I made two Block Bs for border four of Designer Star.

Today I am stitching 1-1/2 inch scrappy squares together for a new project.

This is the year I need to renew my driver's license. Because I have to take the vision test I was unable to renew on-line. Of all years for that to happen, right? So I thought if I went early there might not be much of a line. I arrived about 15 minutes before opening and there were already six people in line. NONE of them were wearing masks. They were all standing close together talking, but I don't think any of them knew each other except for one woman and the two younger girls who were with her. There were a couple of large signs stating that masks were required. Since I needed to get in line I donned my mask and stood a good ways away from the person in front of me. More people arrived. I noticed they put their masks on as they got out of their cars. Promptly at 8:00 the door was opened. At that point people did put on their masks. We were instructed to stand on a red X on the floor  - spaced well and numbered. One of the staff had on a mask, the other did not, but there was a plexi-glass barrier at the counter. I was number 5 in line. The first man needed to change his address, but didn't have the correct documentation. He was not happy and got loudly vocal. He was asked to calm down. They patiently explained what he needed and he left. The next person was the woman with the two young girls. The younger girl (around 8-10, I think) had stayed outside. This older girl was a new driver taking the driving test. I noticed that everything was being sterilized between customers. GOOD. Finally it was my turn. They waived the vision test. I asked since they waived that could I have renewed on-line. They said NO. That makes no sense to me. Why make people come out in public and possibly be exposed if there is no need for it.  I will have to take the vision test when I renew in four year. I was out of there 20 minutes after entering the building. So not too bad, but I am dismayed that people feel that masks are not necessary. Maybe they aren't but why take the chance?

Stay safe and well.

I takes me all day...

to write a post.

I started this post early this morning. I was going to write about the Butterfly baby quilt and my yard and garden. I had taken some photos over the weekend and a few more this morning. But then I kept thinking of 'one more thing' I wanted to take a photo of or I kept getting interrupted.

The baby quilt is finished. I wrote about that first - see previous post.

When I went out to check the garden I came in with some mini cukes and cherry tomatoes.

Husband had a medical appointment this morning involving fasting blood work. When the weather is nice I like to walk out with him to enjoy the yard. I could really smell the corn this morning. It is tasseling.

We also looked at the apple tree. It has one apple on it. Can you see it?

How about now?

Now can you see it?

It is about the size of a walnut. That late freeze we had this spring really did a number on this tree.

When Husband came back from his appointment he brought in two zucchini that he found on the plant we planted between the house and the toolshed. 

He had been worried about this plant because the blossoms keep falling off. He didn't think we would get any at all! That one is a whopper. Husband is expecting zucchini bread now.

We ate breakfast then he made a phone call to the mechanic. The vehicle he drives the most has a leak from a hose connected to the radiator. They said bring it in and they would look at it. He needed me to follow him over so I could bring him home. But he needed to do a couple of quick things first. While I was waiting for him I deadheaded the flowers in the pots on the ramp and noticed this -

The first Monarch caterpillar I have seen this year.

Then we noticed these caterpillars. 

There are a lot of them and they are eating a lot of the milkweeds. I had not seen them before and didn't know what they were. I googled and found they are Milkweed Tussock Moth larvae.

After we came back from the mechanic Husband wanted to check the zucchini plant to see if he missed any. Those flowers that are falling off? Not a big deal. We found two more ready to pick and another that will be ready in a day or so. This is my total harvest for today.

I'm sure there will be more zucchini. Looks like I will be freezing shredded zucchini for bread to baked later. The cukes and tomatoes will go in a salad.

We have a large window in our metal front door. 

The door faces west. On the wall opposite the door is the thermostat. We have noticed the A/C running - a lot - in the later afternoon and evening. We are wondering if covering the window, at least later in the day, would help keep the A/C from running as much. I have a panel that I pieced years ago thinking I would make Roman shades for the south and west facing windows in our TV room. I never finished them because there is a lot involved in making Roman shades - wood, eye hooks, dowels, small plastic rings, measuring, lots of measuring, etc. I know I am capable of making them, but life got busy and I had more important things to do. Then I decided that maybe I would sew those panels into a quilt. I really like the pattern and the fabrics are batiks. Haven't gotten around to that yet but I think it would be a lovely quilt. Anyway, I am using the panel that was almost finished as a temporary covering to see if that helps at all. It is held up there with magnets for now.

The problem is we both like to look out that window so the covering needs to be able to be raised/lowered or moved to the side (like it is in the first photo of the door above). I have found magnetic blinds, shades and curtain rods on-line. I also found ones that use adhesive backed velcro to attach to the door. I found mixed reviews for both styles - some love them, some say the magnets aren't strong enough or the velcro doesn't stay adhered to the door. Not sure what I will do yet. Anyone have any experience with this? Any suggestions?

In other news, our friend who is in the hospital called Husband yesterday. He is very weak, no appetite, still getting oxygen through a mask (no ventilator), noise and light bother him. He is keeping the TV mostly off, the curtains closed and the lights off to keep his room quiet and dark. He visited a few minutes then said he was worn out and had to go. Before he hung up he said this virus is no joke. It is very serious.

Stay safe and well.

A Quilt

To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I finished the Butterfly baby quilt.

I embroidered the baby's name on a butterfly and appliqued it to the top. I originally had planned to put it on the back so I didn't applique it before quilting. I did quilt a small heart to the left over the name. I hope it doesn't look like an afterthought. It needs a bath then will get mailed to Son and GF so she can gift it to the mother-to-be at the baby shower that is coming up in August.

Decisions

I finished quilting the Butterfly baby quilt yesterday. Now I need to decide on the binding. I have four three options.

One option - the one to use the background fabric for the binding - is no longer an option. There isn't enough of the background fabric left.

I could use the backing fabric. 

It is a light pink very close to the background fabric. There is plenty of it left. I don't usually like to use lighter colors for bindings, but this looks good.

Or, I could use the blue-to-green ombre that is the inner border.  

There is enough. It would take some planning and careful cutting and piecing to match the inner border. But, it is 'too much' or does it help 'frame' the quilt?

Or I could use a darker pink print. 

 

The mother likes pink. It is darker, which I like to use for bindings. This is leftover from another quilt, but there is plenty for a binding.

What to do, what to do. 

I know they will be happy with whichever option I choose.

I am pretty sure which option I will use but I am interested in your opinions. They might be different from mine!

While I was using my big cutting table in the garage to square up this quilt I could hear a plane outside. I peeked out and saw this was going on.

Somebody's field, not ours, was getting sprayed. It amazes me how low these planes get then swoop almost straight up at the end of the field, make a wide turn and swoop back down again. And, not fly into power lines or tall buildings. It is fun to watch them. 

Stay safe and well.

Outside

Because the mornings have been decently cool and we are expecting a heat wave I have been spending a lot of time outside the last few days.

These are so small, and so cute! 

Yummy veggies. Not a lot, but just right for me. Husband doesn't eat these. 

Busy bees. 

 

When I did come in I had visitors at the door.

He showed me his front and back. 

 Then his mate showed up.

It looked like they were having a conversation about something.

I don't see the yellow finches very often so this was a nice treat.

I was able to contact our friend's daughter yesterday. He had been moved to a room, but is now back in ICU because of pneumonia as well as COVID. No ventilator at this time which is good. He is very weak. She said she would let him know we are thinking of him and would keep us updated. 

Stay safe and well.