Sunday, May 31, 2009

Finally...the end of May

If you have been reading my blog this month, you know that I am ready for the end of May. May begone! I am D.O.N.E. with May. Here's to June, may it be a better month. I was just kind of tired and worn out this weekend so I spent most of the weekend sewing. The cats spent most of the weekend napping and helping me sew.
Doesn't Morpheus look comfortable? How spoiled are my cats???!!? Edgar is in the corner watching over the block pieces.

Morpheus relieved Edgar of his guard duty, then promptly fell asleep.

Pat will be happy to know that the new project was not a jelly roll quilt. Look Pat NOT a jelly roll!! These little hourglass blocks are 3" finished. Bitty blocks, Pat, aren't they cute? I need to make 160 of these little blocks.
Hope Edgar and Morph are ready for more guard duty and napping.

Becky's Giveaway

I am so bummed that I didn't win Pat's Silver Thimble Quilt Co. blog giveaway. Here's another giveaway from my friend Becky. Good luck everyone!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Anyone have an extra bailout laying around????

OY! Who knew a water heater could be so expensive!!!???!! Especially when you have a old house that doesn't meet the current building code and you need some extra code-compliant plumbing-type stuff. The plumber is coming back tomorrow to install said water heater (which must be made of GOLD!) so no hot water until tomorrow afternoon. Instead of a vacation or new furniture this summer, I am going to hang out in the crawl space and stare at the new water heater. Woo hoo good times!
Good thing the Recession Garden is growing
There are baby plum tomatoes growing and the yellow squash is growing like crazy on the far right side.

I have neglected to post the May block for the Little Quilts Saturday Sampler even though I finished it earlier this month. I am loving this quilt.

I forgot who mentioned it but Gomez Megabux has not appeared on the blog recently. I finished up the latest jelly roll quilt this evening, working around Gomez's nap. I had to wait until kitty dinner time to put the borders on. The quilt is pretty big so I'll need to post a full photo when I have a quilt holder-upper. I have three tops done and one quilt completed from the book Jelly Roll Quilts.
Time to get a new project prepped for sewing. I pulled a couple of kits out of ONE of the UFO boxes and am going to get started cutting out a couple of projects.

Karin and Becky wanted to know what Stella, Edgar and I were reading last night--we are reading The First World War by John Keegan. As you can see from last night's post, the cats are not as much into history as I am.

Camille's giveaway

Calling all Moda fabric lovers: Super awesome Camille of Thimble Blossoms, Moda designer and amazing photographer, is having a great giveaway. (I have all fingers and toes crossed in hopes that I win!)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Unwelcome Wednesday

Somedays it is no fun to be an adult and own a house. Today is one of those days. Looks like I'll be calling a plumber to install a new water heater tomorrow.........

So I am off to read a book and drink a pot of blackberry sage tea with the cats.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day

I hope everyone is having a good and reflective Memorial Day. I finished a book yesterday appropriate for today called Behind the Lines: Powerful and Revealing American and Foreign War letters and One Man's Search to Find Them edited by Andrew Carroll. The letters are from soldiers and family members from wars that Americans have fought in from the American Revolution through today's wars Iraq and Afghanistan. It's an excellent book and Mr. Carroll has dedicated himself to preserving war letters throughout the world through the Legacy Project. A most worthy and important cause.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Silver Thimble Quilt Co. Giveaway

My friend, quilt teacher, quilt designer, and all around awesome person Pat of Silver Thimble Quilt Co. is having a fabulous giveaway. Now quick go sign up; you will love the goodies!

Joining the ranks of the furloughed

Well I knew it was happening, it was just a matter of when and how many days per month. The shoe was in the air and now it has dropped. Yesterday at my day job, we were informed that we are going to be furloughed one day a month starting in July through at least December.

Furloughs in the military mean time off = fun. Furloughs are also a measurement of distance = 220 yards. In Great Recession speak, furloughs = mandatory day off of work without pay. Not fun and not going anywhere.

Yes, I am thankful it is only one day a month (so far). Yes, I am thankful I have two jobs when lots of people don't have any. Yes, everything could be much much worse. However....

I am still bitter and tired. State employees had had no cost of living increases since 2000 (even when the state's economy was good) and now essentially a pay cut. I have not heard one iota from the governor's office about the governor sacrificing any of his pay, nor the lieutenant governor, nor the secretary of state, etc. etc. Hello.....Make that Bitter with a capital B.

Today I'm thinking of moving to France to raise goats or perhaps sheep.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I (heart) BBC 4

I have a new love--BBC 4 radio on-line. How did I ever sew without it? Thanks CMD for the recommendation!!! Last weekend, I spent a lot of time listening to "Open Country" and various political and environmental shows. There was archaeologists--on the radio--historical places--on the radio--discussions of climate change--on the radio--interviews with sheep farmers--on the radio! I am such a nerd.

Now I have something to listen to while I am waiting for new episodes of "The Bugle" podcast. (For the irreverent at heart you can find The Bugle at www.timesonline.co.uk)

PS: I wonder if Amanda and Jane will get a kick out of this post?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Saturday post #2

Here's project #2 for my peaceful/pieceful Saturday, all sewn together and resting on the ironing board. Yes, I am working on another project from the book Jelly Roll Quilts......

A Peaceful (and Pieceful) Saturday

I am so glad this week is over. I was really busy with day job this week (lots of traveling around the state), hence the lack of posts. I didn't have to work at SBux last night so had a great evening at home with the cats and working on projects. I'm also trying to catch up on blogs and emails.

It is overcast and rainy here, which means I can't clean the carpets (too damp) and can bypass working in the yard. So I got up early for a Saturday and finished this project:
I love love love this quilt. Very 1940s. I got the pattern and fabric from Sweet Home Quilt Co. (Melisa takes on-line orders if you want to make one too!)
Stella is settling in for nap time. I, on the other hand, am going to start in on another project. More later....

Monday, May 11, 2009

A very long month

I am ready for May to be over with--it's been a really busy month, which usually makes time go by fast, but not this month (wow what bunch of horrible grammar in that sentence). Work (both jobs) has just been annoying (and that's the nicest word I can say).

Anyway--- I did have a good time at Silver Thimble club on Saturday. There is nothing like laughing until you cry with your girlfriends to make your day. In fact, we laughed so much I was exhausted and had to take a nap when I got home. I kid you not (big thank you to Pat for being in RARE form!!!!!)

OK, I am off to bed and then it will be Tuesday and one day closer to Saturday.

PS: Edgar Poe thanks all his adoring fans for their lovely comments. He is trying to recruit Stella into being his publicist/personal assistant/manager. She is having none of it and promptly tackled him a good one.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

A Guest Host

Edgar Poe here. I'm filling in for Gretchen on this post. She is in shock because a friend of hers reminded her that it's been 20 years since she graduated high school at the end of this month. I think she is trying to find her Doc Martins and leather jacket and dig out something called "records". I heard her mumbling something about being old and gray hairs and there's no way she's going to something called a reunion but I'm not sure. I hope she doesn't try to skateboard...

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Odds and Ends

Hope you are in the mood for some randomness. I am trying to get motivated to do something productive today but so far it hasn't happened (although I did put in a full day's work at Starbucks already). Friday was an annoying day at the day job because my computer crashed taking my finished presentation and script that I have to give this Tuesday with it. This makes the third time my computer has crashed since I started working there and the second time on this same computer. The state is light years behind on technology and the department's IT people--well let's just say we do not count on them for anything. I am beyond annoyed with the situation. Hope my presentation is recoverable. A fun trip to the local garden center for some plants on the way home improved the day.

Yesterday, I went by Sweet Home Quilt Co. to pick up my copy of Quilt Sampler magazine. I love this magazine--it is so fun to see other quilt shops around the country. I also picked up a few other items
some blue and red flowered fabric for binding, some nifty fat eights in a bundle, a fat quarter, and a new book. I also went to Home Depot to pick up supplies for making a raised garden bed.

Voila! Our Recession Garden. I didn't make the bed; I just hauled all the stuff home. All things working out well, my really local organic food will be: okra, heirloom tomatoes, red bell peppers, yellow squash, strawberries, basil, and for the cats--catnip. Marigolds are planted around the sides to keep away pests.

Because it is so hot here in the summer, we have to wait until fall to plant lettuces, kale, carrots, and potatoes but that's the plan.

I also set up a Twitter account. I don't know why, but I did. Possibly in case an iPhone magically appears in my life (I really really want an iPhone but don't want to spend the money for one. Maybe the apple elf will bring one. I'll hold my breath..............) OK apple elf hasn't appeared yet so I guess I'll quit holding my breath. I'll probably tweet a little more than an ivory billed woodpecker but maybe not too much more. Infrequent tweets at @stellabellaqlts.

I finished two really good books recently: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Unforgiving Minute. I highly recommend both (links are to Amazon.com in case you are interested.) OK must get off the computer and find something productive to do.