What to do for April

Janice has inspired me to list what I'd like to achieve this month.  The list is long and perhaps not completely possible but I'll make my best effort!

For Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2020 I'll continue making 10 hash tag block, 7 big square blocks, turn 2 1/2" squares into four patches and turn those something like Maria is calling a flip flop scrap-you can see hers here (you'll have to scroll down to her March 29 post.)
Mine are bigger blocks than hers simply because I already had them sewn into four patches.  Also the 2 on the ends are going to be placemats. With the leftover 4 patches I'll make up some hot pads, and trivets.  (This is a lot but none of it really takes a great deal of time.)

 Cross-stitch:  Finish Ryan's stocking up to the backstitching.  Here's where I am now.

 Civil War Quilt:  sew two rows together and onto one another.

English Paper Piecing:  baste more flowers.  These need the papers put back in!

I found that they popped out as I sewed the flowers together so I'm basting them in.

I know lots of people use glue but I can just imagine the mess I'd make of that!

  

Secret Squirrel:  Bottom segment added

Cut Flannel and Scraps

Non Stitching things:

Finish the bath floor and trim

Cook two new recipes using only things I have on hand.

Repurpose table legs and the Victrola Cabinet.  Paint the legs (has to wait until I can go to Lowes for more paint but that's just the painting part.)

Organize work bench area and brooms

Put raised garden beds together and fill with dirt

Fence off the hosta garden-to keep Quinn out of it before she starts digging again.

Read 2 non-fiction books.  I read tons of fiction already.

Finish setting up Word Press and move this blog over.  This is close to being finished I think-just need to do it.

Make windows for the doll house.  This is the one I'm going to have trouble doing.

Whew.  Wish me luck!

Cleaning Finished!

For the moment anyway.

The past three days I've been working to change this:

To this"

The garage is always the last thing I do!

It had become nearly impassible over the winter.

There is still a bit to do on the workbench but I think I need some different storage for a few things.

Along with that, I've been sewing some,

reading some,

working on this computer some.

My hands really want to dig in the dirt but it is super wet so that will have to wait.

All in all I'm managing this hermitude pretty well.

Stay healthy.

What one remembers

I bought this little book quite some time ago.

I thought it was a cookbook.

I am fond of cookbooks,

 I have MANY more than I could ever use!

I try really hard now not to buy them.

This turned out to be an essay/memoir about the art of cooking.

I remember reading it while I was out in Montana,

that was in 2016.

What I remember from this book?

She believes that rather than beating eggs to death for scrambled eggs

one should gently push them around the pan.

I think of this EVERY time I make scrambled eggs!

I make them nearly every day.

I could not tell you even one other thing from the book!

Life goes on!

Spring comes even when you are a hermit!

Lilies are up in the front garden.

Now if it would only quit raining that would be grand.

Quinn its a muddy mess.

So in need of a bath

So utterly fruitless as long as it is raining.

I moved my laptop with it's attendant mess to my living room.

No one is going to see my house,

except in photos for the near future so it doesn't need to be tidy.

I find it much easier to use in this location.

Why it's so difficult to go upstairs is beyond me,

I often think of something I'd like to blog about but I don't go up and do it!

This table is used only infrequently for games and puzzles anyway. 

While I was moving things down I could not find these:

The three external hard drives I use to store photos,

Family History files,

and to back up the computer.

I hunted everywhere-more than once!

I knew I'd had them ready to pack for San Diego,

 then reconsidered knowing I'd not use them.

I was sure I had put them somewhere "Safe."

I was also sure they were in the house somewhere.

As I was getting ready to go to bed I remembered that I had actually put them

 IN THE SAFE! 

Carefully inside a baggie so they wouldn't get wet.

Just in case.

I just had to laugh.

 I did finally get the Teal hashtag blocks finished.

As well as the big blocks in teal.

Still working on four patches, but I'm getting bored.

I have made it past two weeks from flying 

and nine days since I had any in person contact.

I am cautiously optimistic that I will remain well.

At least until I HAVE to buy food.

All my children and grandchildren are well.

I am so incredibly grateful for that.

It is so quiet now.

We are under "Stay Home" orders until April 24th, at least.

There is very little automobile traffic,

much to Quinn's dismay

She likes to run between sides of the house to bark at cars.

I heard a plane the other day and wondered what it was!

The trains are still running though.

My grandchildren are all at home 

(well Isabel's day care may still be open)

Nora is in her second week, 

Brayden, Kolby, and Ethan their first, as they had Spring Break last week.

All doing the e-education thing.

Ryan is home with Daddy who has worked out a schedule 

of doing things to keep them sane.

Isabel will be joining them soon I think.

With the exception of Bri (she's an elected official)

All the adult children are working from home.

Tomorrow, I'll be back!

And not talking about COVID-19!

I am now a hermit

Forgive me, I am practicing social distancing!

While I did go food shopping,

and yes, I bought toilet paper but only because I was out,

I did not stock up in anticipation of quarantine.

Quinn and I live a fairly quiet life.

I am an introvert who is quite happy by myself,

So, giving up going out to dinner, or shopping for a while isn't going to cause me any pain.

I'd say it would help my bankbook except -- Amazon!

So far I have no signs of the virus and I did that crazy thing-

I flew to San Diego and home.

That's considered risky for a senior citizen but I didn't see this coming when I set the trip up and I NEEDED both to see my son and his family (he's still struggling to get over Pneumonia secondary to the flu and his Mama was worried) and to get out of my own head for a while.

I've been to San Diego many times so I tried some new things this trip.

I had a massage and a facial--my reaction to both, I feel sticky! I doubt I'll do it again.

Nora's school had a talent show, I hardly ever get to see her participate in any thing so that was terrific.  (Good thing it wasn't scheduled for this coming week as the schools there have closed.)

We went to the Art Gallery, in Balboa Park, and that was new as well.

Then there were old favorites:

a trip to Rosie's Calico Cupboard for a few pieces of fabric,

a trip to the Wild Animal Park-loved seeing the giraffes up close,

a visit to see the sea lions followed by a walk on the beach,

a visit to one of my favorite places-Cabrillo National Monument

Agave plant, sometimes called a Century plant, the flower stalk must have been thicker than my wrist and 7 feet tall.

Agave Blossoms- hunt for the hummingbird!  Here's a hint-on the right side and the center blossom.

 It was quite windy up there and these flowers where dancing!

At the tide pools.  I did not go down to the water as it is  a bit tricky  (okay a lot tricky and scary) and my knee is still iffy on uneven terrain.

Girl Scout cookie sales ended while I was there-my Girl Scout-that would be Nora-sold nearly 2500 boxes and raised her total lifetime sales to 5000.  She will be the first 4th grader to do so!

On my last day, Nora, Candice and I went out on a whale watching boat.

We did finally see three humpback whales but we saw hundreds of common dolphins!

They were fun to watch as they bow surfed.

Lesson from a dolphin-have FUN no matter what!

I had a wonderful time and came home  refreshed.

So I feel capable of handling the current crisis.

As far as I know there are 4 cases of the virus in Missouri, and 7 in Kansas.

(Remember, I live on the border between the two sates.)

The Governor has declared a State of Emergency as has the Mayor of Kansas City.

No meetings over 1000 people, most museums are closed for the duration, schools are still open- although many are on Spring Break-all are planning distance learning. The universities went to distance learning last week and most students went home.  

All the my adult guys are working at home-they're all computer geeks.

Bri is County Clerk and she has to postpone the April election which is causing her trouble.  Apparently, no one ever thought about the need for this.

Professional and collegiate sports-stopped for the moment.

Concerts etc, postponed or cancelled.

Baseball opening day?  I think it has been postponed!

I think it's the same everywhere but putting it here will help me remember.

I plan to spend my time reading, stitching, and working at Family history perhaps I'll even get finished with setting up the Word Press blog and moving his one over!

One can only hope.

Oatmeal on a snowy morning. . .

Is a lovely thing.

Warm.

Tasty.

Filling.

Bringing memories.

I generally have scrambled eggs for breakfast about 11am.

(I should call it brunch!)

Today,

it's snowing, again.  

Wet stuff that sticks to everything.

Creating a fairyland of frosty icing.

I was hungry at 8, 

and I made oatmeal.

Some of my children will no longer eat oatmeal as my Mother, God love her,

Used the quick cooking stuff but cooked it like old-fashioned which turned it into, according to the children, wallpaper paste!

I don't remember it being that bad but I was a kid and didn't know any different.

Also, she always had buttered toast to go with.

I use the old-fashioned stuff and cook it like directed on the package.

I add raisins-which I love-

brown sugar,

butter 

and cinnamon.

Just a lovely thing on a snowy morning.

Orange!

This months color is orange.

I don't have much orange,

not like I have blue or red but more than pink!

First, I cut and stitched the hashtags.

All ten of them.

Then I made tumblers.

48 of them.

I thought I didn't have much orange!

There were a lot of 3/4 inch strips in the box! 

Who knew.

I've also been making 2 patches,

eventually they will be 4 patches.

I ran into a bit of a glitch this week.

My studio is in the basement,

where it is always chilly.

Okay, this time of the year it's downright cold!

So, even though I had a register added down there 

I need a space heater.

The one I had quit working so I had to buy a new one.

Here's the glitch,

I can't have both the space heater and the iron on at the same time!

I throw a breaker and all goes dark!

I'm pressing things until my hands get too cold. 

 Then, I shut off the iron.

Turn on the heater, sigh.

I have a big pile of 2's and 4's to press!

Because the log cabin blocks need to be pressed as I go,

they are being returned to their box and placed on the shelf until warmer weather!

I did finish the last two blocks for the civil war sampler.

I have five more blocks but somehow they are a little bit bigger 

and the pattern doesn't allow for trimming.

Those will make a nice table runner.

I'll be starting to fill in the holes in the sashing with 9 patches,

then sewing up the rows.

It will be a work in slow progress for quite a while.

About this time of the winter, each and every winter,

I grow weary of it.

Dismal days of no sunshine.

Cold enough to keep one inside-

although Miss Quinn likes it unless it's raining.

I long to sit in the sun and feel the soft breeze.

Maybe next month, or not.

March is a wild and crazy month.

Soon enough I will be complaining about how hot it is.

The weather never really suits us does it?

On that note,

I'm grabbing lunch,

and heading to the studio

to press and sew.