Tiny Islands of Order and Serenity

We are still sick today. Ryan got up this morning and got dressed for school but still had a fever and wasn't looking very energetic. He was kind enough to share his germs with me though, so I was in about the same shape. So sick day number two, I can't remember the last time that happened around here.

Ryan was having a Star Wars marathon until lunch, but he's been asleep since then. I am obviously not feeling horribly energetic, but I have been slowly tidying the messy nooks and crannies that seem to keep popping up. Look, the guest room looks like it could have room for a guest in it.

I found a spot in the cabinet for the dog's stuff so it wouldn't keep sitting on the counter.

But sometimes things must get worse before they get better, and so not everything is put back together again yet. I'm out of energy though, so I think I'll take a little breather first. Kurt is picking up the cookies for me right now, but I've canceled our Girl Scout meeting for tonight. Not only don't I want to get everyone sick, but the thought of planning and organizing 8 10 year old girls right now makes me feel even more tired. Kurt is off to the big school board meeting where they will vote on the final zoning for next year, so at least it will be settled once and for all.

Sick Today

Ryan was so cute at the doctor this morning while describing his symptoms and medical history to the nurse, she finally looked over to me and commented that I didn't really need to be there at all except for having to drive him. He was so tired after the early morning that he actually fell asleep on the examination table waiting for the doctor to finish sending in the prescriptions. He seems to be doing OK now. Hopefully we'll all make it through the night.

BOM #4 OMG

Well, it's done. I can't say much more than that about this block. I used to make templates for everything, but it has been a while. Now I truly appreciate the accuracy of rotary cutting. Amy's directions were crystal clear, buy my execution leaves something to be desired. This one may need some minor surgery at some point in the future, but for now I'm sticking it in the box and calling it finished. Ryan is just now awake so I'd better see about getting him some lunch. Happy Monday everyone.

Strange Day

I had sub plans ready and several Dear Jane blocks prepped with expectations of spending the day waiting. Kurt was going to stay home with Ryan when my day got canceled and his got booked up. So I ended up with Ryan at the doctor getting a breathing treatment and warnings about his cough trying to turn into pneumonia. He's fast asleep now, leaving me alone with my sewing machine. I had already made the center portion of this Dear Jane block. I'm not sure when, but it turned up last night whilst I was getting things tidied. So here is Cabin Fever -- number A9 which has 45 pieces and is (of course) paper pieced. I keep repeating the Dear Jane moto, "Finished is Better than Perfect. I need to remember to cut my pieces bigger when paper piecing. They always seem huge to me and end up just fitting over the seam allowance. Still, I'm getting more competent at it the more I practice. I didn't have to reverse sew all that much and most of the seams match somewhat.

Couldn't Sleep

There was a conspiracy to keep me from sleeping that started at 3 this morning. Anna came down to tell us that Ryan was crying because his ear hurt. That woke up the dog of course. I tried to get back to sleep, but busy thoughts were running through my mind of the things I need to take care of before the cruise next week. I was still pondering at 4 and decided to get up for the shuttle launch. I think there are only 4 more left, so I am making a point to watch them all. Now Ryan says his ear throat and tooth are all taking turns hurting and I thought I might as well just give up on pretending to sleep and catch a nap later to make up for a very early morning. It never seems to work out that way, but I'll keep telling myself that it will and hope for the best.

Little Bits at a Time

I didn't accomplish anything major today, but I did a little bit of lots of things. Working backwards, I just (finally) put the last border on Christmas lights and pieced a back. We had Odyssey of the mind from 4 to 6 which doesn't really require me. Before that I took Anna to a class on how to potty train your dog and then to a Superbowl sale at my local quilt shop. I walked out without a single thing (gasp!) But none of the sales seemed that stunning to me. This morning was devoted to cutting happy block pieces so that I could put them away and clear off the dining room table. I also emptied and organized that pesky drawer next to the fridge that collects all the random refuse of our lives. I know you all have one just like it. Now we are cooking appetizers to eat during the Superbowl after which I will (finally) pull out the Dear Jane blocks I want to get prepped.

I need sub plans for tomorrow, so I'll work on those next. Then it is laundry that needs folding and kids that need bathing. Just a normal Sunday around here. I hope you all have lots of fun quilting planned during the big game. Happy Sunday.

That was Fun!

I just put the last stitch in my Quilt 4 Kids called Vroom. The kit was very well organized with clear directions and went together beautifully. A lot of quilting was requested and I couldn't decide what color would work.
Therefore I used orange in the orange squares, green in the green squares and black for the rest. I know I don't get any extra points for all that "fancy" quilting, but it was just such fun. I think next on my list is getting some Dear Jane blocks prepped for cruise. I've done most of the applique ones already so I'll have to see what else will work well by hand. I always feel silly doing simple straight seems by hand when a machine is so much faster and stronger.

Vroom

I didn't exactly get an early start this afternoon. As soon as everyone was in bed though, I pulled out my quilt kit from the mail and got it all put together. It went together super easy. Isn't it bright and cheery? I even perservered and got both borders on. I can baste and quilt tomorrow I hope after chess while Ryan is at football if the girls will play nicely for a while. If I can get it done by the afternoon I can walk it over to Miss Sheila for binding. I haven't read any of the directions about where to send it back, but I'll have to be sure to follow through on that. Somehow I always drop the ball when a trip to the post office is required. I'd like to spend some time this weekend getting some handwork ready to go for the cruise and such. Dear Jane blocks make a nice take along project.

Goodies in the Mail

It has been a busy week, without a lot of time for quilting, but I did get a couple of quilty goodies in the mail. I have been watching Tazzie working on her Nearly Insane blocks and went ahead and ordered a copy of the book. I'm not sure if I'm going to try out some blocks, but I'll let the idea simmer for a while. The second is a Quilt for Kids kit that I have seen on Bingo Bonnie and Amy's Passions recently. They seem to go together quickly, so maybe I can get it finished on the weekend.

Sydney started guitar lessons and is really enjoying them. Ryan wants to choose and instrument now that both of the girls are taking lessons. Aren't they cute practicing a duet together?

School has been busy this week. Interim reports were due today and it is the last week before midwinter break. We had a talent show and a career day to add to the excitement, so it definitely hasn't been dull. Just one week and one day until midwinter break and our cruise! Not that I'm counting down of course.

The Journey Begins....

....with a single step.
I always seem to to spring cleaning right around the beginning of February. Maybe something to do with my MIL coming in two weeks to stay with the kids for midwinter break? It is good to start crossing things off the list again, after all, not everything can wait for summer vacation. So, without further ado, here come the before and after pictures....Laundry room before, a popular dumping ground for everything as people enter in through the garage.
Laundry room after. Look a counter was under all that stuff! Coming soon to a blog near you, before and after of the study.
I pulled out my depression blocks today to see how far I had gotten with all the trimming of bonus half square triangles. I've taken them to ice skating for the last three weeks in a row and gotten quite a few done. All that remains is the border. I was trying to bring some sense of closure to the edges with the border, but the math is a little wonky because the unfinished squares are 1.75 inches. I wanted a background rectangle to take the place of two blocks, but cut them at 2.5 inches, when clearly they should have been 3 inches (1.75 + 1.75 -.5 for seams). I didn't quite get this one done for the January UFO challenge, but I went over to Nancy's blog today and found out that the February UFO is #7. I just finished that one! So yay, I'm ahead of the game for once (in my own mind at least). I also have 2.5 inch and 2 inch squares from various projects and a whole bunch more 1.75 inch squares. I've got ideas floating through my mind for those, so we'll see what they turn into.
Miss Sheila, my Girl Scout co-leader came over during Odyssey of the Mind today and helped me put together more Happy Block kits. We had gotten some more donated fabric, so she helped to iron and sort while I cut strips and squares. I saw that Amy has her BOM directions up for February, so I'll have to think about those as well. One of them is a Florida themed block, I had better make sure that one turns out well(templates are required :0). It is so fun to see what patterns she is coming up with. I'm sure the finished quilt will be fabulous.