Some of this,

 some of that.

The reason I am two days late with this post is that I spent much of Monday morning on hold, talking to billing, on hold, talking to tech support, on hold, talking to a manager until it was finally decided that yes, we do qualify for credit for the lousy internet service we have received over the last few months. It was also agreed that I should document the download/upload speeds throughout the day when the manager I spoke with was unable to check that for herself because there was NO CONNECTION. I now have a small pad of paper and a pen by the computer and every time I sit down there I first check the speeds and record it. It is not good and continued through Tuesday. Today seems to be better, so far. Unfortunately, this has been a problem with every internet service we have ever used. Then, we got a call from the nursing home where my FIL has been for the last 10 months. They have recently re-opened to outside, socially distanced, masked visits. My FIL asked them to call us to come for a visit. We had not gone because he is very hard of hearing and we figured with the masks and distance that he would have trouble hearing and understanding us. That did prove to be true for a lot of the conversation. I think he was mainly concerned about the harvest. His window faces a main road that area farmers use to haul into the grain elevator. He can see that they are hauling in, but had only seen Husband go by a couple of times (beans are still a little too green and corn isn't ready yet). We spoke with one of the staff members and learned that FIL is eating in the dining hall now. Something he had not been doing since the beginning and said he would not do. He is using a walker to get around. After that, I just didn't feel like doing much, although I did do some general household activities.

Last week I was able to have a socially distanced visit with my parents, son, his GF, and their dog. It was a lovely, sunny day, not too hot, not too cold, so we were able to stay outside. We ordered lunch from the local sub shop which they delivered. It was so nice to be able to do this. 

My mom is trying to clear her house of no longer needed items so she brought me a 4 drawer unit, much like a filing cabinet only not quite.

I have already filled it with my cross-stitch floss and projects. They fit better in these drawers than where they were.

It fits in nicely next to a nightstand that has some of Son's and GF's items stashed in the drawers. Things they might need if they ever get to come for an overnight visit - charging cords, PJs, etc.

I've been working on several projects.

Hexie blocks for my Grandmother's Flower Garden. 

The block on the left looks purplish, but it is an older fabric that is a county blue.

I have also bee working on Block 1 for Amish with a Twist: Series Two: The Classics.

The instructions say to randomly sew 2 1/2 inch strips into strip sets which are then sub-cut into 2 1/2 inch segments. That makes quick work of piecing that part of the blocks. The problem with that is that I ended up with the same or close to the same fabrics next to each other. For several of the blocks, I had to take out a square and insert a different color. I wonder if it would have been easier to just cut 2 1/2 inch squares so that there is more control over where they are placed.

Anyway, I am making progress on those blocks. I need twelve.

I loaded a quilt on the frame and started quilting it today.

You can see other projects waiting in the background.

Then this kit came in the mail from Keepsake Quilting. Crimson Poppy from Quiltworx with Kaffe Fassett fabric.

When Husband says "I like this one, here's the credit card," you order it. Now to get it made!

To see what other quilters are up to for Design Wall Monday go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Monday Design Wall

 To see what other quilters have on their design walls go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I finished this scrappy quilt. 

Then I embroidered a new label for the 

Butterfly Baby Quilt.

Mother decided to change the middle name right before the baby shower. Because of that Son's GF decided to wait to gift it to her. 

We decided to wait until the baby was born and could add the birth info. This was framed with butterfly fabric that has the same colors as the front, then sewn to the back. 

I have finished piecing a few things, but haven't gotten around to quilting them just yet. I have also started a new project. I am struggling with - make one of the many kits I have or make tops using the many scraps I have. I decided to use a kit this time. Husband recently commented after looking through one of the latest catalogs that he is glad we decided to purchase the kits we did. He isn't too excited about the newer, more modern-looking kits available nowadays. I just started it so there isn't much to show yet. I'll show pics as I get more done.

Also:

Harvest has started.

There has been a LOT of this going on.

Apparently, the Bean Leaf Beetle is really bad this year and is very destructive to the soybean crop. They have been spraying for many days. 

I am NOT ready for fall, or the season that follows, but I did decorate with a little wagon, a couple of tri-color mums, and a couple of pumpkins.

The Sedums are doing well and the bees love them. There are still some other flowers showing their pretty colors which makes it all the harder for me to believe summer is over.

I really try hard not to be negative, but I am SO TIRED. Tired of things having to be made 'new and improved' - like Facebook, Blogger, etc. And just when I think I have things figured out, they change...again. Tired of unreliable internet. Apparently one or more of the towers that serve(s) my area need(s) work - depending on which service tech I talk to that day. It will be great for a few hours, then nothing, or next to nothing. Tired of the endless spam phone calls and emails. 

So tired of this virus. Some people in this area seem to think it is no big deal. They have stopped wearing masks and sometimes I feel like they think I am one of 'those' people -  overly cautious, fearful, a follower. When doing our recent grocery shopping there were people in the store without masks. I tell myself maybe they have a medical condition. But this one guy looked like to be in very good physical condition. I feel like he probably wouldn't be that fit if he had a medical condition that prevented him from wearing a mask. Others had their masks below their noses or even on their chins. Last I knew humans don't breathe through their chins! One lady stopped right in the middle of the aisle. We waited and waited. She was looking at her phone. We waited some more. Finally, I asked if she could move up a little so I could reach the items I needed. 'Oh, sure - just looking for a recipe', she said. Really?! Only one check out lane was open. They finally opened another when the line got to be over 10 carts long. I know businesses are operating with fewer employees, but this has never happened at this store before.

And speaking of the virus, I know that my friend who is still recovering knows it is real. He stopped by our house over the weekend. He looks and sounds much better, but has to use oxygen all the time. I think this is his new normal. He is doing his therapy to regain his strength, but I don't think he will ever fully recover. He has had family members staying with him - they are taking turns, but that will end soon. We hope he is strong enough to be one his own. His bedroom and bathroom are on the upper level of his home. He mentioned that sometimes his oxygen tubing gets wrapped around his leg. I am still very worried about him. 

So we continue to be cautious and careful. To those who think it is no big deal, it isn't for the people who fully recover, but it is a big deal to those who don't. I don't want to be one of the ones who don't.

Stay safe and well.

Monday

To see what other quilters are up to on this Design Wall Monday go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I have several things in the works. I hope to finish at least one of them this week. The quilt in the front needs quilted. The other quilt needs bound. the blocks need to be sewn into a top.

I recently made some table toppers. 

The pattern is Anything Goes.

The Batik/Paisley version is Large - 23 inches. 

I made this one first and followed 

the directions exactly as written. 

I was wondering if it could be made reversible - with the outside points in coordinating fabrics. 

Turns out it can be, with a couple minor alterations.

The Sunflower/Patriotic version is Medium - 17 1/2 inches. These photos were taken with the toppers on my portable dishwasher. I don't have a table to top (it is covered with Husband's paperwork which I am fine with BTW). These will be gifts. 

I finished this quilt top.

 

It is from a Love of Quilting magazine. I was gifted a subscription by my good quilt friend. I was so looking forward to showing this quilt to her thinking she would like to know that I was enjoying the magazine and making good use of it. Sadly, she passed away a week ago today during surgery. I - my whole quilt group - will miss her terribly.

Around the yard:

The beans are getting close.

These will be ready to harvest soon. These were planted first. This variety matures earlier.

The ones across the road will be harvested last. This variety matures later. 

Last week I noticed this flower with a double bud.

Today it looks like this.

Remember this weird rose?

Today it looks like this.

My Covid friend continues to improve. Some of his children have been with him and taken him to doctor appointments. He is working hard to regain his strength.

Stay safe and well.

Design Wall Monday

To see what other quilters are up to see Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I made my block for the latest Quilter's Exchange. 

We are finally able to start meeting again. Our last regularly scheduled meeting was in March, just before schools shut down. We were finally able to meet at our regular location in August. We meet in the conference room at the public library. The library is in a school, between the high school and middle school sections. Once school started back up it was decided that the library would remain open to the public with restrictions. One of those restrictions is that there will be no large groups allowed. So we met on the nice big porch of one of our members. That will continue until the library can lift restrictions or the weather is too cold for outside meetings. 

Also this week, the pink rose bloomed.

Isn't it pretty?

And, how do spiders do that?

See that white line? That is a spider web. Well, not an entire web, but a single strand of whatever it is that spiders manufacture to make webs. I've circled it in the photo below.

Well, I was curious so I googled it. :) Here is how they do it. Here is some more info. Apparently when the strand adheres to something at the other end the spider feels a change in the vibration. Aren't spiders clever?! 

Update on our COVID friend: he is home! but has to use oxygen all the time. One of his sons is staying with him this week. He is supposed to quarantine for 14 days. He sounded good when Husband spoke with him yesterday. He is slowly improving and so happy to be in his own home.

Stay safe and well.

Around My Yard

Husband suggested that the Sunflower Jungle maybe should go.

So I cut down the sunflowers that were around the door area. I loaded them into a big old garbage can with wheels to haul them over to the brush pile by the tool shed. It is on the other side of the property. This one sunflower bopped me in the head all the way there!

On the way back to the house I spotted these growing so nicely together.

Wouldn't it be nice if people could get along so well?

I left a lot of the sunflowers, see?

These go the whole length of the garage. 

I think sunflowers might be my favorite flower. 

They make me smile.

Then I noticed this odd thing.

This is a rose flower that never fully opened with a stem, leaves and a bud growing from the center of it. I have never seen anything like this.

When it flowers normally it looks like this.

There is another rose, a darker pink one, about to open.

The corn leaves are starting to brown and the ears are just barely starting to fall.

The beans are starting to yellow.

The neighbor's beans are still green. I did see some beans today that are even more yellow than ours. This is sure sign of fall around here. I'm not ready. I don't mind fall, we have cooler temps forecasted for next week, but I know what is to follow and I don't like that at all.

Stay safe and well. 

PS: I am still getting used to this new version of Blogger. As I edited this post some things changed - spacing, text and picture alignment - and I couldn't get it to look the way I wanted. I figure it isn't all that important and I have better things to do!