What Difference A Day Makes

Over the last 24 hours we've had warm temps, almost 60, and 24 hours of rain some being very heavy. Combine that with the warm temps and the 3' of snow we had you get lots of cold water looking for a place to go. Flooding everywhere here.  As you can see, Plow Boys will get a fresh start and Gate Corgi is once again manning the gate. 

Today the winds are very high and very cold. Temps have dropped almost 30 degrees from yesterday and will continue to drop. 

Mosaic Tiles Christmas Mystery

I finished the center of my Mosaic Tiles Mystery this evening. I'm not sure what kind of borders I'm going to do yet. 

I've also pulled fabric for Bonnie Hunter's new New Years Mystery, Double Delight. I'm not for sure on these fabrics yet, until I find something I like better, this is what I'm going with.  If you want to join or follow along, check out Bonnie's blog http://quiltville.blogspot.com or her web site www.quiltville.com. 

Happy New Year

WINTER WINTER EVERYWHERE

Even the gate keeper Corgi is up to his elbows in snow.  

There is so much snow, I've been feeding the birds by just putting the feed on the snowbanks. We've got Cardinals, Blue Jays, Finches, and Morning Doves.  There's even been a few Wood peckers. They were eating the seeds out of the Sunflowers I left up for them until the dogs pulled the heads off the stalks this week. 

Plow Boys are on my naughty list today. They were here in the wee hours of the morning to plow out the 4" or 5" of new snow we got all day yesterday.  I know..... I heard them. The driveway was proof, the tire marks where they pushed the snow into the yard and SANK the front end of their truck was also a tell tail sign. The snow was heavy and wet. The ground still hasn't frozen and with all the rain we got last week, driving on clay with a plow truck isn't the smartest thing to do.  That can all be fixed in the Spring. 

Last time they came during the day,  Plow Boy made a comment that it was really hard to get the snow away from in front of the garage................. not enough room, he needed a shorter truck....... I didn't know that was his way of telling me he was just going to plow the drive and not in front of the garages (yes, we have 2, actually 3, but one doesn't have a drive to it) Silly me, I thought he was apologizing for me having to shovel the 18" high drifts in front of the garage door that I knew his plow couldn't grab.  Since that pleasant exchange Plow Boy hasn't attempted to plow in front of the garage door.  I shoveled all the heavy wet snow out into the driveway so when Plow Boy comes back, he's gonna remove it one way or another.  I will be calling the office on Friday to find out what their plan "B" is to remove the snow in front of the garage doors from now on.  If he needs a shorter truck, it would be in his best interest talk to his boss, not me.......  I'll hand him the shovel and tell him to get busy.  Notice the marker post and how far past the marker post the snow is pushed. I wonder how long it took them to get the truck out of the dirt!  Yes, it is still snowing, raining and freezing, going back to snow this evening with more snow.  Driving is a real adventure.  More snow, rain and sleet to come Christmas night through the weekend.  WINTER  ................. Ya gotta love it to live here. 

Remember the reason for the season. Merry Christmas

Updated Mystery Choices

There was a suggestion that I use a brown with my fabrics rather than the light cream. I wasn't sure I had just a brown. Brown is plain, brown is dull, and wearing brown has always reminded me that I looked like I worked for UPS. (I didn't work for them.) But that's what brown was to me. 

I managed to find a piece of Michael Miller's Krystal in a dark brown that might work. I've included it with the other colors. I must say, I do like it, but I am hoping it won't blend with the focus fabric, but not knowing what the pattern is, it's going to be a real 'mystery'.  

It's been snowing since Saturday night. The plow boys are earning their money this season so far. They were here twice on Fri, again on Sat, Sun morning and I heard them again around 3am trying to plow out the drifts that had accumulated on Sunday. I'm glad I wasn't in the cab with them.  I'm sure it was blue by the time they were finished. The drifts were high, heavy and the ice on the uphill drive makes it almost impossible unless you have chains. The job usually takes about 20 min.  I could hear the tires still spinning in the driveway around 4am when I drifted back to sleep in my nice warm cozy bed under my down quilt.  It's still very very cold and not expected to warm up any time soon.  It will be a white Christmas for sure. 

Merry Christmas!

New Mystery Colors

These are the new colors I've decided on for the Christmas Mystery. My dark wasn't dark enough to make much contrast. 

And Mz Mouse is in her usual position when I'm at the computer. No wonder I can't type! I hope she's comfy.  

BINDINGS SHARON SCHAMBERS WAY

After watching Sharon Schambers video on how to do bindings,  I wasn't sold on the glue and spray starch. 

I was in the process of making puppy blankets that just needed bindings. I tried Sharon's method with the glue and spray starch.  I followed each step except the hand stitching on the back. I was really impressed with how much better the corners were on the first try.   

My stitching isn't the best, these are just puppy blankets,  but the corners turned out much better on the first try. I'm sold on the glue and spray starch.  I'll use it on my next binding. 

A NEW MYSTERY

These are my choices of fabrics to use for the upcoming Christmas Mystery. I will probably not be working on the Christmas Day mystery until Christmas night if I get home earlier enough. 

The one I don't use for the Christmas Mystery, I will use for the New Years Eve Mystery. This is the first year I've done the Christmas and NYE mysteries. 

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. 

THE TECHNIQUE

This is one of the first quilt classes  I took at the LQS.  It's a 3-D Attic Window.  It doesn't show up well because all my colors sorta 'blend' into each other.  It's a couch quilt so it gets lots of wear and washings. 

I just grabbed some fabric from my stash that looked like it would go together. I had no idea what I was doing or how to chose fabric.  I was new to classes and quilting, the instructor was so kind.  She spent half of the first class explaining color, using those green and red things to show how the colors would blend  and how to choose fabrics that would work best.  I didn't know it wasn't part of the class.  When she finished, she asked if I wanted to look for something in the store that would make the windows stand out rather than blend with the background. 

That's when I said, "I'm here to learn the technique, I'm not really concerned about the color."  I can only imagine what she was thinking to herself, but she was very gracious and we have been friends since then. I've taken many classes from her since then and she lets me know my color choices have gotten 'so much better!' 

SNOW, SNOW AND MORE SNOW

It doesn't look deep, but after one trip around the yard, Birdie came in wearing her snow leggings and curled up on the couch with her son, Mr. Big. They're both cold and wet.  The driveway has been plowed 3 times in the last 2 days and the snow is still coming down. 

I've been working on another UFO that just needs binding. I did finish another UFO that just needed the binding sewn down.  My plans for this winter are to finish up as many UFOs as I can. I've got 4 boxed up and ready to send off to my friend who quilts them for me with several more ready to go when I get those back. 

I've got this one with a friend who wants to do custom quilting on it. I don't know when that's coming back. :-)))) She hasn't started it yet, she keeps changing her mind on what she wants to do. I've given her free reign to do whatever she wants. 

JUST A QUICK TRIP

I've had a lousy cold and for the last 3 days haven't left the couch except to feed the dogs, let them out and go to bed. I pretty much feel like this picture looks... out of focus, fuzzy and don't want to be bothered. 

This morning it was just a quick trip to the P.O. to pick up mail and back home. Weather was not so nice, lots of heavy wet snow and the Windstar decided it didn't like the slush on the way home. Note to self---- switch cars, use the all wheeler till the snow goes away.  Crawl home, try to turn into the drive and plow boys are here to do the drive.  I go around the 'block' and they should be done by the time I get back to my house. My block is a square mile, so that gave them plenty of time.  Oh Boy! slippery doesn't describe it. Did I mention my drive is uphill?  I go directly to the garage on top of the hill, do not stop, slow down, speed or it will be all over.  Switch the Windstar for the Escape. 

UH-OH no dog food.  Just another short trip out for a couple cans of dog food. As I was heading to the register, dog food in hand, I went down the soup isle.   While was looking at which can I wanted, somebody tapped me on the shoulder and gave me a coupon for the soup.  It was another customer in the store.  I knew I didn't look my best, but didn't think I looked so bad I needed a coupon to buy soup.  No energy to argue,  I took the coupon and dragged myself to the register.  It wasn't till I got home and realized I had on my sweats, my hair was a mess and I was wearing my coat with a broken zipper and I had it buttoned wrong.  I can only imagine what I looked like to those that saw me. 

UFO FINISH

Finally............... A UFO finish. The binding has been pinned for about two years. It's been pretty cold for the last few days around here so I decided it would be a good time to finish up a few UFO's that are soooo close to being finished. It's a good feeling to finish up something. Now that it's MZ Mouse approved,  it's off to it's new owner who is very happy to have it. 

JUST CALL ME DORK

I know, I look like a Dork.  I did my best to get away so she couldn't make me look like this, but, she knows how to make me behave. It has to do with dangling food in my face. I'll do anything for a 'cookie', even behave.   

I guess I should be happy she just shaved my muzzle.  

Poor Wanda, look what happened to her.  She says she likes it.   She doesn't have all that hair and feels much better without it.  But what am I going to grab when we play. I can't get to the top of her head for that carrot top she's growin. 

We also had some white stuff this weekend that was kinda neat to play in.   It didn't last long, but was fun. They tell me there will be more this winter.  Can't wait to see more of it. 

VETERAN'S DAY - OBSERVED

IF YOU LOVE YOUR FREEDOM, THANK A VET! 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!!   


No mail today because the Post Office is closed for Veteran's Day. It's still cold outside and my plan is to catch up on some of my sewing. I have several UFOs ready to put together and lots of blocks ready to sew on my Fall exchange blocks. 

This past weekend we had cold rain, a little snow and lots of mud. I didn't feel guilting going to the dog show on Sat and Sun because it was too nasty to work outside.  I've included some pictures I took at the show of friends either in the ring, getting their dogs ready for the ring, or very happy with their new champion.  I apologize for the fuzzy photos. The lighting in the building was terrible and the camera didn't like it. 

Yesterday I was able to get rid of some old car batteries that I found in one of the garages while cleaning it up this Fall too. Because there were so many of them, I was afraid I would have to manifest them. I was very happy that all I had to do was take them to the salvage yard and they would dispose of them.  They were going to pay me by the pound but needed my drivers license for ID.  AH I decided they didn't need to know who I was and opted to just get rid of them. I wouldn't have gotten very much for them, so it was worth it to keep my identity to myself.  Mr. Big thought it was great, he wandered around the scrap yard while they were unloading the batteries from my car. Now we can call him the "Junk Yard Dog". One of the employees had been to the dog show that weekend and recognized him as a Portuguese Water Dog. 

KITTY ON A MISSION

Scribbles hasn't been outside much in the last year because he has to take meds twice a day for his heart and thyroid. But today I was out hanging clothes on the line and he came out with me. I'm not sure where he was headed but he he was going there fast. I caught up with him just before he got into the fields behind the house. 

INSPIRATION

I was looking for something to add to my Fall quilt so I went out side and took these beautiful Fall pictures and this is what I came up with.  I'm adding a maple leaf block and I think it will be on point. I'll get more of them made later this week when it's too rainy to work outside. It's been beautiful the past few days and I've been working outside still trying to get things cleaned up before winter.  Next is the pile of dirt in the front yard. I hope to get most of it down by tomorrow before the rain later this week.