Surveillance cameras were on our shopping expedition today. We looked at several, but did not make a decision. We still need to figure out if our modem will reach to the barn which is about 150 feet away. The barn is where we need the cameras. Reading the pros and cons of people who have purchased them is educational as I am learning about things I would not have thought to ask. If any of you has a system that works outside, I’d love to hear about it.Perseverance (paper piecing)
Perseverance paid off. This little section was very challenging for me. Geometry was not my best subject. And when I have to sew and flip, it doesn’t always make sense. See the line between #1 and #2. I gave that 16 tries before I decided that for me there was a better way to accomplish this. So I sewed the correct angle only the fabric, pressed and placed it where it belonged. That was the most difficult piece in all of this.
Here is the finished magpie. He is part of the Winter Woodland series by www.SilverLiningsOriginals.com. Of course there is another one, so I will get to see what I remember from the first round. And maybe that angle will be easier next time. Finished he measures 6 x 10.
I was asked if I get tired of quilting and other fiber adventures. I think we can get tired of anything we do over and over. However, when I clean house, make meals, and garden, the work that I do, doesn’t show or stay done. When I do something with fiber, it lasts a very long time and I can see that I have done something. I do change what I do, which is why you don’t see only quilting or only embroidery or only knitting. If I only did one thing, then yes, I would probably get burned out.
We had some new friends move in this morning and what fun that was tonight when they each wanted to be first at the food bowls. So now I have ordered new coats so they can stay clean this winter and have more valuable coats in the spring.
Magpies and Sues
There are two magpies in this kit. The first is started. I work on this paper piecing until I start making mistakes and then I know it is time for something else.
So I sewed the backing for the Sunbonnet Sues, cut and washed the batting and assembled it all onto the quilting machine so it can catch my eye from time to time and eventually tell me how to quilt it. I’m leaning very much to just outlining the blocks.
It rained today (and yesterday) which is great for the gardens and pastures. Now the forecast is partially sunny and some clouds until this coming Friday when we are forecast to get another day of rain. This is good weather for June.
Shabbat Shalom and a blessed weekend for all.
Sunbonnet Sue gets her turn
Do you remember these Sunbonnet Sue tops from February 2015? They have been hanging in the closet waiting for their turn. I still don’t know how they want to be quilted, but they will have a pink flannel back. (currently in the dryer.) They are really wanting to be used to cuddle a little girl.
We had a visit with the internist today. She told us that in the 35 years she has been in internal medicine, she has never seen a large cyst that was clear. She has only seen two other large cysts, but both were filled with puss. The operating doctor had sent samples to the lab for analysis and they found nothing but clear liquid. So we go back in 6 week intervals to see if anything has changed, or sooner if pain occurs. We thank the Lord for this great news. And we thank you, our friends and family, for your thoughts and prayers.
Dentist time
I didn’t take a photo, because I think all of you are acquainted with a dental office (or you should be). An hour drive each way and 3 hours in the chair produced a new crown. This dentist uses porcelain so is able to make the crown while one is there. I do like having the job done in one visit instead of 2. I’ll go back in 10 days to do the “little fillings”. Unfortunately this state is well known to produce “teeth with problems” and I am a product of this state. Jen came to visit with her father so he wouldn’t do anything that would cause a fall as that is what they seem to be most concerned about.
The public heath nurse called this morning and wanted to visit. DH told her we were doing fine and she didn’t need to come. Do you hear my big sigh of relief on that? If any of you find yourself in a situation where the “powers that be” feel they need to send people into your home to give you services, be aware, that nothing – not one room is off limits. They go through the house as if it is theirs, looking in closets, under beds etc. – oh, and they don’t ask. I am really hoping this ends soon, so we can get back to living. However, the nurse yesterday, did say she thought she needed to do med checks for another three weeks. DH is really doing quite well, though still a bit tired.
After my big morning, I prepared meals, went to get some potting soil, took a nap and did a bit of knitting. So I had a rather relaxed afternoon. Tomorrow we are back on the road.
Knitting again
Knitting again: It’s not much, but here is my second cast on for these socks. I miscounted the first time. I now have a cast on and one row knitted. It’s a start and all I need is more time. I like this yarn as it goes through the wash and dryer with all the other clothes – no special care and yet it is 75% wool.
Today we had a visit from a pair of visiting nurse with the threat assurance one will be back next week. Then then a daughter came to visit for a short time and was followed by the PT. This time she gave DH 3 exercises to work on gaining back strength. She will be back Friday. Tomorrow, the daughter that was here Monday will be back because I have a 2 hour dental appointment which is an hour away and we are not comfortable leaving him alone that long – at least not yet, even though he is doing quite a bit better.
There was a lot of bleating in the pasture at 5.30 this afternoon, so I went to see if we had coyote issues or ? even though the dogs were unconcerned. There was nothing wrong, but the sheep had had enough day and wanted their evening treat and to be put to bed an hour early. Who would have thought they could get together and plan this. They were all there waiting.
Tidying up and Occupational therapist
Right inside the back door is the fertilizer and seed that we use in the hoop house. It is kept there during the summer because the hoop house is too humid to keep it in there and we don’t like to run through the house to get it when needed.
The visiting PT wants it moved and she is coming back tomorrow, so now it is restacked. I’m hoping she will be happy with this arrangement. I agree that it does look neater, which is something that gets thrown by the wayside when one is always in a hurry.
The lambs received their first shot this morning and the geese received leg bands. Then one of the new geese vanished. I do hope he shows up, but don’t have high hopes. I’m very thankful for help today as now the strawberries are weeded and netting over the top. She’s good at catching sheep and geese as well.
The occupational therapist was here and put DH through the hoops. The way he is being questioned, you would think he became disabled at the hospital. I asked how long this would go on and was told “until he has been released”. That’s an answer? OK.
These 4 bags of food have been in the car for about a week and a half now, so I decided to roll them up to the barn (animal cracker are for treats).
Look at the reception party! The whole gang turned out. Anytime they see me, they think grain or treats of some sort. But then, there might be a reason for that.
Jeans embroidery
DH is feeling better, so I took part of the day and embroidered these jeans. Each design takes about an hour and a half stitch-out time. These designs are from Hatched in Africa (HIA). The one on the left is “Pink Jumbo lilies” and on the right is “Iris Jumbo”. One just can’t go wrong with their designs as they are so well digitized.
And I thought you might want to see the clowns take a “selfie” the one on the right is our youngest and the other young one is her DH.
Sheep coats and June projects
What a relief it is to have the sheep wearing their nice new coats. It is a project with which I need help. We are getting better at this. With the crook, they are held at the neck, then the coat is slipped over the head and the crook adjusted to over the coat. Then each hind leg is picked up and put through the strap. That sounded easy, didn’t it. And it would be if the sheep wasn’t struggling so hard to get away and back to her friends. Only with Ava is this easy because she wants to please me and be with me.
June projects:
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Linking up to OMG (one monthly goal) to make these paper pieced magpies, which are in the bunny series.
2. Patchwork times #7 will be this cute little wall hanging which includes little lights in the sky. This will be interesting and a new technique. I bought this pattern some time ago and it is time to make it.
3. WA state quilters will be # – this snow cabin in the woods which needs some stitching around the cabin, then quilted and bound. This was a pattern I tested last year and then somehow lost this little quilt, so it didn’t get finished.
4. Hatched in Africa will be a pair of jeans embroidered with their design. For every three consecutive month we use their designs on a project, they give us $10 of free designs. I love their designs so have many in my library that I haven’t yet used. That someday is here for some of them
So it appears that I will be getting a jump on Christmas in July. And this year I’ll get to use these two hangings that have been sitting here waiting for their turn.
Medical Invasion
At least that’s what it feels like here. This is the schedule so far.
- home health RN yesterday
- PT in home today
- PT coming back Tuesday and Friday
- OT coming sometime next week
And that wouldn’t be so bad if they just came and left, but the house has to be company clean, because they go up and down the hall with him and into the various rooms to see how he does. She has him do things like get into and out of the bathtub, sit at various places and on various chairs – all to see how he does. That is making extra house cleaning. Yes, I am grateful they offer these services, well offer isn’t the right word as there was no option. I have some seeds and fertilizer by the back door and today I was told to move them because he cannot turn the walker around there. I pointed out how it could be turned around as I’m an ace at that walker, but she didn’t want to hear it. I’m not sure where they want them moved, but maybe, just maybe, they should include a cleaning person with these requests. Oh, yes, she would also like a different height bed, so could I take the wheels off this very heavy king sized bed? We have wood floors and I need to be able to move the bed or the dust bunnies will take over more than they already do. Wow, was I glad I got them out from under there before she came. Enough whining!
I made a recipe for Ezekiel bread which was a batter bread today. It tasted very flat, but the chickens liked it.
OK, now a question for you: Since it looks like my world will be upside down for ?, would you rather have me continue the blog as is, on a weekly basis, or just when I am doing a fiber item? I enjoy sharing with you and have made some really good friends with this blog, but don’t want to bore you.