After gym this morning, I went across the street to the grocery store for 3 items. The produce man helped me load the cart with free pumpkins. I checked out and went to the car. My phone rang and it is DH. “If you are still at the store, will you buy ….?” Being a good wife, I went back in and purchased that for which he asked and also loaded the cart once again with free pumpkins. I got out to the car and looked at the first receipt. She forgot to give me the 7% senior discount on that purchase, so back into the store to get that refund. I arrived home to a husband who wanted to know what I’m going to do with all those large pumpkins. I sure hope the sheep like pumpkin. I think I will have to split them first and I’m not sure how to do that. But next sunny day, I’ll be outside with a hatchet. There’s no rush to use them as they will last all winter in the barn or garage.
After lunch, I started cutting the Bear paw quilt. After cutting enough for 50 paws, I decided I wanted to change the way the colors were, which meant that 1/4 of what I cut will not work for where I cut it. So I washed some brown fabric to use instead of the off white and started cutting again. This quilt has a large number of pieces. I am cutting only enough for the paws to begin with. After they are made, I’ll cut the sashing and corners. Meanwhile, the sewing room will be chaotic until this is assembled.
I’m trying to decide which way I like these boxes the best. That might make a difference in how I quilt it. I’m also wondering if I want to hand quilt or machine quilt. The finished quilt will be 29 x 33 – a nice sized wall hanging. Decisions, decisions. HELP – suggestions very welcome.
I had several boxes of potatoes that were in storage just as they came out of the garden. It was time to go size sort them and put most of them out in the garage now that it is cool enough. Yes, we have been eating them – mostly the very large ones however.
This is about 50# that will stay in as we will eat them fairly fast. I took another 150# out to the garage.
No, none will carved as they are destined for the table in one form or another. But don’t they look pretty. I love this color. The garden was bountiful this year so I’m able to share.
We have new neighbors and this is what their cat thinks of the idea of moving. It’s just as well she likes staying inside as their are cat eating coyotes all around us. Cats have to be smart to survive.
At long last, this table runner, Gift wrapped, saw some action today. It has been quilted and will have to wait for the binding. My aim is to have it finished is December.
The carpet has now been purchased and will be installed Monday, October 31st. It is the last of the interior parts that I need to get done. We will wait for at least a half week of dry weather before we can get the outside of the house painted. It would be so helpful to me if the candy and other snacks were not placed right where I have to wait to be checked out. It is no wonder the citizens of this country and getting wider and wider.
The table runner is now ready to quilt. I modified the pattern to fit my table by adding another design unit and the triangles on the ends. For “batting” I used the Teflon fabric that is made for pot holders, so that when something hot is placed on it, the table will still be protected. I don’t even trust myself not to forget.
Then it was time to do some of those mundane tasks – like cleaning out the refrigerator. These chores never take care of themselves.
And the garden is still producing, so I picked and cleaned kale. There are still more foods (beets, parsley, peppers, celery, etc.) to pick and though some will stay for the winter, some need to be taken care of – maybe tomorrow. And to my surprise there are dozen of volunteer tomato plants 2-6″ high. But the freeze will take care of them.
I brought the Meyers Lemon tree and the lime tree into the house as I’m not sure when the first freeze will be, but usually by mid October and we are there. Since the lemon is blooming, I’m anticipating wonder fragrance from this little plant. The little lime tree nearly died, but I see it is coming back. I promise to take better care of it. See all the parsley near the bottom. Will that grow in the house throughout the winter?
A table runner is the next project. This one will take a bit more time because I’m doing it between several non-quilting chores.
I have it cut out and have a dozen of each of these sewn together.
The fruit flies were so horrific this morning after all the canning, etc. that I bombed part of the house. I hate doing this, but I also hate those flies in everything. How did our grandmothers manage this and they not only had fruit flies, they had horse and every other type of fly to deal with in the summer. The directions tell you to leave the house for 4 hours. So what should I do while not in the house, why go shopping, of course, and I did.
I have a 2 young citrus trees to bring in for the winter, so needed to keep them up off the floor. These were half price, so they came home with us.
And I was so inspired by my daughter’s shelving this weekend, that I decided I needed some shelves to hold my spinning supplies and some of my knitting supplies. So 4 of these shelves (36″) also came home with me. Lowe’s had only 2 on the shelf, so I asked for more. They had them in the inventory, but can you believe, it took over an hour for them to locate them – high next to the ceiling – and then to find the lift thing and someone to bring it over and go up in it to bring those shelves down. And look what I found OCTOBER 12, while I was waiting!
So much of the Christmas supplies are out. We haven’t even had Halloween yet!
If machines were inanimate, then they would do what they are programmed to do. Both my embroidery machine and my quilting machine know – they absolutely know – the second I walk away from them. And just like toddlers or pets, that is the moment they choose to act up.
The pattern doesn’t show well here, but it is crocodiles. It is rather stitch intensive and the machine does not want me to walk away for even a few seconds. Therefore the quilting is not finished. Hopefully tomorrow.
Today was full of phone calls and an appointments. The locksmith has been out and the locks are all re-keyed. I have been to the gym. The power and the sewer have been transferred to our name. The checking account has been set up and there will be checks coming. It’s nice when tax deductible and income are all separate.
An appointment is set for tomorrow to get the moss pressure washed off the roof and the exterior of the house and decks will be washed as well. Then we can stain decks and have the exterior painted.
This weekend, I worked some on my October schedule. Yesterday and today, I followed it (except the quilt isn’t finished) and it still amazes me how much more I can finish when I schedule. I realize that without the schedule, I spend too much time on the computer. Oh, the things one learns and is tempted to make or buy! But at this point, definitely not another machine that must be tended.
A corn maze is great fun for every age. Our grandsons decided the best way to make sure we were out before dark was to always take the left road. Since there were no dead ends, it worked. We made the circle by always leaning to the left and arrived back where we started.
Corn maze fact: Did you know that the farmer plants the corn, then when it is about a foot high, he takes a rototiller through it to make a pattern for the maze? Today, one maze was a shark and the other was a seahorse.
After the corn maze, we had to decide what to do next. Many activities were for younger children
The boys decided to pick out some pumpkins instead of the other activities available. This pumpkin was 84#. Of course, they took several small ones and another three that were medium size for the front door. The grandparents came home with fresh Brussels sprouts on the stem.
And since I know you’ve been patiently waiting to see this finished quilt top, and it is now published in the “The Quilt Pattern Magazine” , I’d like to present CELEBRATION
You are welcome to go to their website and get the pattern.
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I ended up quilting this more densely than usual. It is a crocodile pattern to go with the fishing flannel on the back. I didn’t realize how dense it would be. However, it is okay and it is a finished product.