I Used the Oven

Baked a casserole.   Do you know how loud a smoke alarm can be?  Luckily it was nice weather and I could open the windows. 

Monday Check In

Summer is slowly arriving.  It has rained off and on--but now the weather is clearing.  Hopefully I will be able to turn my heat off in the camper.  

Sewing--well, I've thought about it!  Moved my totes around.  Used my seam ripper to remove the hem on a pair of pants.   Does that count??  

I volunteer early in the week, and then will head home to help Ken with farming.   He SAYS he just needs help moving equipment from field to field.  And lunch.  

Weekly Goals--

1. Applique on Cherry Tree blocks
2. Plan Blue/White swap blocks
3. Sew on a UFO 

Yes, the same goals as last week.  

I have been experimenting with my gas oven at the camper.  Last night made a small pan of peanut butter bars.  A bit overdone, I need to bring my oven thermometer to check the temperature.   Tonight I will try baking a casserole.  

Monday Checking In

Today is more like spring.  76F, windy, and possible thunderstorms later on.   It was so cold one night last week my water hose froze!  Spring has been so late, we probably will jump right into summer. 

There wasn't much sewing last week.  A few pieces sewn on my Cherry Tree blocks.   

Goals---

1. Applique on Cherry Tree blocks
2. Plan Blue/White swap blocks
3. Sew on a UFO

Ken is waiting for fertilizer, so farm work is the usually "hurry up and wait".  

Mother's Day Ken and I drove to Sioux Falls, ate lunch, did a bit of shopping.  I stash enhanced--10 yards worth.  

The piece on the left is a green print.  The others are blues or lights/blues.  I will use them in my blue/white swap blocks.  I found some blue/white Jacob's ladder UFO blocks.  There aren't enough to make a quilt (I won them in a block lotto, I think) so I can use the blues to make a few more. 

10 yards in this week
24.75 yards In YTD
10.25 yards Out YTD
Stash Increased by 14.5 yards

A sample block---

I'm not sure about this block.  It's OK, just a bit "blah".   I have a few more star patterns I can try.  

 

Thank you Lillian!

When I was starting hand applique, a lady from the UK gave me lots of hints and advice.  I'll admit, if it wasn't for Lillian (and Mary Ann--another Internet friend) I probably would have given up--again!  And Lillian offered to do an red/white applique block swap with me.  Here is what was in Lillian's baggie to me-----

Yes Lillian--I turned over your block and admired the tiny stitches!  Pomegranates--how did Lillian know I ADORE those blocks???  And, she sent me a pattern to make a quilt with them.   Batik FQ's in pink, purple, and green.  The magazine "Magic Patch" has so many fun small projects in it.     I know I will be starting a wall hanging from it.  Thank you Lillian! 

Monday Goals

I haven't fallen off a twig, I just haven't been near a WiFi spot.  There is great WiFi at the Library, a separate room with tables and handy electric outlets--that's where I am now.  

These fellows are busy staking out territories.  One male is busy most days sitting on the side of Ric's or my vehicle--fighting with his reflection in the rear view mirrors.  

photo from internet

Its still chilly, I have had the heat on until this afternoon.  Night time temps are only in the 30's to low 40's.  I'm toasty warm at night--I have an electric blanket.  I volunteer T-Th-Fr this week.  Then I am heading home for a few days.  I HAD planned to maybe plant my garden, but we're still having rain and I doubt the tomatoes would grow much in the cold soil!  

State of the Stash--I bought 4 yards of white for background this week.  

4 yards in this week
14.75 yards In YTD
10.25 yards Out YTD
Stash Increased by 4.5 yards


Goals--


I did work on my Cherry Tree blocks this week, but didn't finish any.  


For next week--

1. Work on Beyond the Cherry Tree blocks
2. Start the next round of Blue/White swap blocks
3. Work on Melissa's navy blue/white quilt

Ken is chomping at the bit getting ready to do the farmer thing.  I'm not expecting too much in the next week or so--the fields are still plenty wet.  "Compost" needs to be hauled on the garden, and the deck needs to be stained(?) preserved (?) this year.  

I miss reading blogs, but internet at the camper is iffy at best.  I just couldn't justify spending the money for something that worked once in a while.   

Happy Easter---Week in Review

I hope everyone had a great Easter.   It was quiet here and we napped. 

Week in Review---

3 inches of rain this week.  Cold and windy.  Here's the view from my camper last Tuesday.

Yes, that's snow on the ground.   It was a good time to stay inside and work on my blue/white swap blocks. 

The first set of blue/white blocks are done, I'm calling them "once in a blue moon".  Now I can plan the second round.  I did work on my Cherry Tree blocks, but didn't finish any.

This week is going to be busy.  Probably no sewing time.  The forecast is more rain and cold.  60F during the day.   40F at night.   I volunteer Wed-Thur-Fri this week.

My Practice Block

Earlier this week I was paper piecing a star block.  When I was ready to put the 'parts' together, I realized I had my colors in the wrong places.  And, I did a stash reduction.  I was frustrated.  I threw the pieces away!  Next I found a different block to practice.  Simple but not used very often.  Its called Star and Moon.  My practice block is in pink/white.  

This block is very simple, but I like it for a sampler star quilt.  My star swap blocks will be blue/white and I have a fussy cut fabric for the center.   What do you think?  The blocks finish at 12".   Making a practice block is fun.  What if I had made a set of swap blocks like my paper pieced one! Aaarrrggghhh!  The center circle (moon) is hand appliqued.   That pink block will go in the pile of blocks I have stashed for a sampler quilt.  Henrietta said she is going to set them into a top when she visits me. 

Weather forecast this week is for more rain/possibly snow.  Spring--where are you??