Monthly Archives: October 2018
I’ve decided that 20 of the potholders will be embroidered and the rest will be pieced. So for the pieced ones, the fabrics have been selected are now cut out. The potholder sewing has started! I’m sure with the other things needing my attention, this will take most of the month. Bias binding is slow for me and many of them will have that.Potholders
I have a few of these buckets of scraps sorted very generally by color, which means yellow, cream, orange are in the same bucket. There are still some scraps that need to be gone through and put in the proper places.
I also have need to make about 50 potholders for requests and gifts, some by mid November. Time flies this time of year, so this morning, I started this project. I found some ideas and started tackling the choices of fabrics, including looking through those not yet in their proper places.
This pumpkin potholder takes 19 pieces of fabric plus the bias binding. That does not count the backing, batting, or Insulite, which I will cut later as needed. So even though potholders are small, they can take up much time in selection and sewing, as they really are mini quilts.
I cut out enough fabrics for a total of 10 potholders (not all the same). Then it was stall cleaning time if I wanted to get it done before the rains started. After 3 hours of stall cleaning, I was out of energy. Therefore nothing has been sewn. However, I may choose and cut out all the pieces and then have a sewing marathon.
Shopping at JoAnn’s
I went shopping at JoAnn’s today for some Insulbrite to reflect heat for these potholders in the making. Shopping at JoAnn’s can be a huge mistake. I have plenty of quilting fabric, so that didn’t grab my attention, but just look!!!!
Can you tell how plushy and inviting these fabrics on either side of the white are. They insisted on coming home with me. They weren’t inexpensive, but they were 1/2 off. Does that count? I would have loved a blanket out of such soft squishiness, but didn’t go that far. Instead, I bought enough of each for a mobius scarf, but oh, I would have loved to have purchased more and just wrapped up in it. (They really are gray as that was the only color they had, though black and even a brown would have tried to come home, had it been there.
After that expensive stop that should have cost less that $10, we went to Costco and yes, that costs more than $10 as well. But mostly because we bought 200 forever stamps before the next 5 cent increase. We haven’t purchased stamps in maybe 3 years and I was surprised to find they are now 50 cents. So these stamps should get us through until they will prohibitive.
New Oven
At long last the new oven is here. We waited for the September sales, then the store sent out someone to measure, who apparently couldn’t measure. We waited for the oven for which he measured. But when it arrived, it was too small. So they measured again, then reordered. This one fits and what’s more was $500 less expensive than the one they brought out that didn’t fit.
I’ve been doing quite a bit of spinning while DH reads the book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” I have spun quite a few hours on this yarn at this point. Next week, I should be plying it.
October refinish
October refinish is now truly done. I thought these two were finished last year, but when I got them out to hang this year, I found some little finishes that still needed doing. Now the two are totally done. Now it’s time to find another project that needs to be finished.
DH is now reading “Uncle Tom’s cabin” to us and as you can see, Bracken is right here listening to the book. She so enjoys being right in the middle of whatever. If you haven’t read this book lately, it is worth re-reading.
I just love these sheep, they are such characters. The one on the left is our smallest, but she just climbs in and on the others to be sure she is one of the early ones in the food line. We have been spending a lot of time and energy getting ready for winter and the rains, which may be starting tomorrow evening.
Coat changing day and a finish
Coat changing day
We watch the coats to see who is growing out of this size to keep their fleece clean and from felting. Several of the girls received a bigger size today and tomorrow some will get ear tags. Morgan, the dark sheep here has been very distrustful, but she is coming around. Today she enjoyed having her chin rubbed
And a finish
I finished the lower cardinal today. Then I put the whole project away for a rainy day. I am not enjoying it as much as I would like. It’s time to do some piecing instead. There is a pattern for a reverse rabbit and male cardinal as well as a moose in the kit yet.
Machine failures
Machine failures maybe shouldn’t feel like your world is spinning. But it does get expensive. We are still waiting for the new oven. And today, I went to quilt this top – that I finished sewing in June.
16 block hunter star
The quilting machine computer has gone out and the only solution is an upgrade with a new computer. So this quilt will wait a bit longer. I hope to get it done by year’s end.
So instead, I worked on this paper pieced cardinal. My goal this year is to finish a few of the started items that are lying around. Another hour and I should have this one finished.
What are you working on, I’d love to hear?
Stem cell report
Today was the day for the third and last stem cell visit. So here is our Parkinson stem cell report: DH is much more active and is interested in helping to care for the animals, doing some household chores and occasionally going with me to do grocery shopping. He still tires easily, but is not sleeping most of the day as he was. He has been totally responsible for keeping the hoop house watered, the dishes done and feeding the dog at the lower barn all summer.
Although he says he does not notice a difference in his shuffle, or how he feels or his balance, he is no longer falling. Even the neighbors are noticing that he looks more alive. So for us, it has been worthwhile. He is bothered by his lack of muscle strength, which I will guess is due to the length of time, he didn’t have the energy to do much of anything. I think he will be getting stronger now that he is doing more. It is an interesting journey through this life and we continue to ask for your prayers.
Land of living
After 2 weeks of some type of bug, I feel that I’m back in the land of the living. I was not completely without something in my hands though. Here are two fibers which I plied
And I was given a sour dough starter which did very well the first try.
The weather forecast is for a week without rain, so there is much to do around here in that week to get ready for the rainy season. And I am loving the new tractor which is making some chores possible to get done.
Black sheep
That’s me – the black sheep – the one who is different. Both of my parents grew up on farms, both wanted to be away from them. City life was easier and more to their liking. But something went wrong when I came along. I like the animals and the work – which of course is not as hard as they had one hundred years ago. 
Today I spent some time learning to operate this machine. I think I live in the best of both worlds. I do not depend on farming for my livelihood, but can enjoy the benefits of the exercise.
