Another Quilt Finish — Janet Szabo

As I mentioned, the Under the Big Top quilt has been quilted and bound.

Temps are supposed to be in the 60s here by Thursday, so I am hoping to get some nice outside shots of some of these quilts later this week. For now, though, the floor of the bedroom has to do. I am pleased with how this turned out, particularly because I reverse-engineered it and was flying by the seat of my pants. Now I need to finish the pattern.

I will get the Cobbles and Pebbles pattern put into the store this week. I was reluctant to release a pattern for sale just as I was leaving town.

I sat and undid the rest of the flower blocks from their white hexie backgrounds yesterday. They had been hand sewn together with small running stitches and very secure knots. I put on a YouTube video and worked under the Ott Lite. The flowers are all pressed and starched and ready to appliqué to the Kona White background squares, which I will cut this morning. The purple and green quilt is basted and sitting on the table next to the Q20. If I have time this afternoon, I’ll start quilting that one. I’m trying to take advantage of a few crummy weather days to get stuff done or moved along in the pipeline before I start working out in the greenhouse and garden. The husband would like to burn slash piles in the woods this weekend, so that’s on the schedule as well.

There were no chicks at the farm store yesterday. One of the employees told me they might get a shipment today or tomorrow, so Susan’s husband is going to check there today and I’ll run in again tomorrow. I did get some seed potatoes—Yukon Golds and Castle Russets—but the garden center was limiting customers to 10 pounds total. (We still have some potatoes left from last season that we can use, but I like to get new stock every couple of years.) I have plenty of canning jars and lids, which continue to be in short supply, but who knows what’s going to become scarce in the next couple of months?

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I had a long phone visit with DD#1 yesterday. It sounds like she and DSIL are settling in to life in Alaska. DSIL is setting up the dental clinic at the Coast Guard base and she is working on getting her Alaska occupational therapy credentials so she can look for a job. Their house is right on a small bay and she said a mama seal and baby are often out there. Bald eagles are everywhere. They’ve met the neighbors and might try out a Lutheran church. Both of them love to sing and it would be wonderful if they could be part of a musical group.

DD#2 started her new job last week, which is why I spent a fair bit of time shopping and entertaining myself in Seattle during the day. She and her roommate (who is employed by an accounting firm) both work from home. They have their desks set up in the front window of their living room and the arrangement seems to suit them both. We had time to visit in the mornings and evenings. I’ve been to Seattle often enough that I’m comfortable exploring on my own.

I am glad my kids are happy and productive.