Thursday, June 28, 2012

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Beach Trip


I finally had a minute to get some photos together of the trip to the beach and thought I would share a few with you...

We stayed on the mainland over looking the Intracoastal Water Way (IWW).  The house was up on a bank from the water way... we had lots of shade and wonderful breezes.... spent a lot of time just relaxing out front.


In addition to birds (cranes, seagulls, etc), we also enjoyed watching the boats go by...

Our two four-legged companions were equally enthralled with the action...


This was the view from the restaurant window one evening...


Relaxation was the name of the game....  it was wonderful...





Monday, June 25, 2012

...27 minutes til quittin' time!








...and since the ole brain is D.O.N.E. done for the day, I gotta do somethin'!!!




Sunday, June 17, 2012

400


...and nine blocks!  


 And time to figure exactly how many I'll need....


I'll get there eventually.......





Saturday, June 16, 2012

Friday Night Sew In


Last night was the FNSI with Heidi and Bobbi and...  if it hadn't been for blogging buddy Roos of Quiltwerk in Uitvoering...  I would have missed the June edition for sure!

I didn't have to create a project since I'm working on the neverending-hourglass-block project and was able to complete 20 blocks to add to the growing pile o' blocks.


I still have a zillion blocks left to go but I'll get done some year!





Friday, June 15, 2012

First Summer Vacation Day


The local school system is on 4-day work weeks and I had off today so, when a friend phoned, I said, "Yes!" to lunch out at The Bake House in Aberdeen, NC.


In addition to a yummy menu, there are daily specials...


....fresh baked breads...

.
...and desserts...


....all made on the premises!


My dining companion and I both chose our favorite Barcelona Burger... made with spinach mixed in with the ground beef....


We were too full for dessert but I did purchase a loaf of 5-grain bread to bring home with me!


The only "negative" about The Bake House is that they are not open in the evening...  however, The Bake House is open for breakfast!

 

My dining companion, just back from a mission trip to Guatemala, brought me a lovely hand-made scarf in my favorite color...


...lucky me!



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Peek-a-boo



I've been scarce recently for several reasons...  things such as "the end of the school year," a dear friend lost her husband last Saturday, the shift to summer hours at work (four 10-hr workdays/week), and mostly because I've been resting and sleeping...  a lot.

The tingling in my hand and arm... well, I finally faced the fact that what was going on was that my multiple sclerosis is active.  I didn't want to admit it because it's been at least ten years since the last major episode.... with care, I've been able to manage generally....  but not this time.

Rest is the best thing to get over/through/past an episode and I've been doing that rather than sewing.... however, I hope to do some sewing this weekend... which is a three-day weekend....  the one good thing about those 4-day work weeks.... time to sew and time to rest too.


No worries... it's been 22 years since the initial diagnosis.  I can still walk unaided... tho I am a bit unsteady on my feet at times.  My hands and arms may be tingling but I can still use them.   My head is clear and my memory is no more impaired than what would be expected at my advanced age.   In addition, being "older and wiser" means I don't try to power through an episode.  I am taking care of myself and I will be alright in time.

I would take it kindly that the next time you hear about a fund raiser for MS, drop a quarter in the box.... donate a dollar...   hopefully, some day there will be a cure...





Sunday, June 10, 2012

300....


...completed blocks...


....plus 13 additional completed blocks...


...equals 313 blocks finished with 40 additional blocks left to cut and press!


We're getting there!



Friday, June 8, 2012

A Surprise in the Mail!

Guess what I had in the mail yesterday?  Yes!  A surprise package from Mrs. Claus...


....5" squares of reproduction fabrics from her stash AND a sprig of lavender!  My favorite...

I just had to make up some new blocks out of new-to-me fabrics... love those dark mourning prints...


...and now, I have 24 blocks to add to the ever-growing pile o' hourglass blocks... made with fabrics from a good friend!

Thanks so much, Debbie!  You really brightened my day...








Thursday, June 7, 2012

Hourglass Update


Although I am making some progress each day, it must be boring to see the same blocks as I work my way through this stack of QSTs...


..which now looks like this...


And this is where I am now...


There are 80 blocks in the purple basket and 9 "odd blocks" next to it.  In front are 8 stacks of 20 blocks... for a grand total of 249 completed blocks!   Yea, me!!!







Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Less Repetitive Sewing


I am taking a short break from repetitive sewing and decided to make the odd blocks for the scrappy hourglass block.... made each one-at-a-time!


...enough for one day!   I need to go hold down the sofa some more...






Monday, June 4, 2012

Hourglass Quilt Progress


I got the HST blocks sewn into QST blocks...


..but as I started cutting, pressing, and snipping dog ears...


....a comment by blog friend Pip of Rest is Not Idleness kept popping up:   repetitive strain injury or RSI.  I took a break and looked it up... and also carpal tunnel syndrome.

This past week, I had noticed that the tip of my right index finger was numb from time to time... and after all the sewing this weekend, my right arm was tingling.   Of course, toss in my multiple sclerosis...  I'm not sure who could figure it out....   but.... I decided to take a break and just rest.    So I popped a DVD in...



...and held down the sofa for a while.    My arm stopped tingling....   so I did another set of ten blocks.... arm tingling again.....   I popped in another movie and will let the sewing get done another day...





Sunday, June 3, 2012

Two-hundred Thirty-two


...squares of fabric marked and sewn together for HST blocks...


...then cut apart...


...and pressed and marked...


...ready to turn into QST blocks!   



Saturday, June 2, 2012

Cutting Done...


...for now anyway!  I have cut 5" squares out of every single piece of 1800s repro fabrics I have in my stash...


I doubt I have 600 squares but I am tired of cutting and want to SEW.... and I will start this morning right after I get dolled up and have my coffee!