Motivation Friday and Blue Rainbow Scrap Saturday

I played with my blue noodles and made a 36 patch block, a couple of Spool blocks, and a few 4 patches.  All to go in my basket until the end of the year.   

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2012

This week I tried to stay cool.  100+F every day this week.  Today is much cooler--82F.  Tonight I will sit outside my camper, drink a cold beverage, and read.    

How did you spend your week?  Summer activities?  Sewing?

Weekly Goals

Time for goals--

1. Set Birds in Air blocks together
2. Sew Rainbow Scrap blocks (blue)
3. Set Sister's Choice blocks together

This week is half gone and I'm not sure how much sewing I'll do.   I have plenty of projects to work on in the camper.  

Mason and I made cupcakes in ice cream cones over the weekend.  Fluffy whipped frosting with red/white/blue sprinkles.

 

Tonight is a free concert at Riverside Park and later fireworks over the Missouri River.   I wish you a safe and happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July

Stash Report Week 27

Time to change the numbers--

In This Week--1.5 yards

In Year to Date--124.0 yards
Used This Week--12.5 yards
Used Year to Date--106.75 yards

Stash is ahead 17.25 yards

I finished the Blue Urban Cabin--that used 12.5 yards.  I bought some 1/4 yards cuts for my applique and added 1.5 yards. 

There are 25 weeks left.  I've used 100 yards of stash.  I'm not sure where I'm going with my stash--but that's okay.  Do you have a plan for the rest of 2012??

Ken and I are in Minnesota.  Its hot and a pool and a Slip'n'Slide are on the lawn. 

Asher and Grandpa stayed inside where it was cool.

 Check out everyone's stash report at Patchwork Times!

Motivation Friday

I finished binding the Blue Urban Cabin.  No sewing on the Birds in Air blocks this week.  

The weather has been very hot.  High 90's--parts of the state were 109F and 110F.  I stay inside where its cool during the day.  Late evenings are nice and I've been busy watering the grass and flowers at the camper.   The little yellow warblers wait for the water spray to hit the lilacs--where they flutter and bathe in the safety of the bushes.   Lots of finches must have fledged--last night I watched FIVE on the finch sock feeder while 2 more sat on top the crook.  Some of them haven't had a lot of flying experience--missed landings and a few crashes.  One sat on the edge of a feeder--looked at the seed and pecked at the plexiglass.  Thelma was skulking across the road to check underneath the feeder for grain--no baby turkeys yet.  

A Normal Day at the Visitor Center

Opening procedure at the Visitor Center is a pretty normal routine.  Turn on lights, unlock the doors, check the cash register, look for bats.  Wait--you don't look for bats first thing in the morning??

Well, at the Visitor Center we do!  Yesterday Karla spied one and we were arguing about who would catch it.  Steven (a new summer ranger) was listening and then realized we weren't arguing about who would HAVE to catch it--but who would GET to catch it!!  Yes--Karla and I both love the bat catching job--and since she has LOTS more seniority (and is my Boss) she was Chief Bat Catcher.  Steven and I took photos.  

First--you find the bat!

Way up high in the corner.  Karla has good eyes and never misses finding a bat.  

Next you assemble bat net.  The ceilings are very high--almost 3 stories where the bat is hanging.  

Karla very carefully slides the net around the bat until he is dislodged and clings to the netting.

Voila!  Bat hanging in net! 

All bats are a protected species here.  This is a small brown bat--they eats lots of insects.  Bats are carefully scooped up and then taken outside and hung on a tree.  If visitors are in the Visitor Center they often ask questions and children especially are fascinated by bats.  Notice Karla wearing leather gloves--bats have tiny teeth and will bite (hey--if a giant grabbed ME I'd bite too) but mostly they are docile.  Karla encourages questions and if someone wants to touch the bat she will stretch a wing out carefully so they can feel how soft they are. 

This bat immediately climbed high in the tree when he was released.  

Although "bat catcher" is not on anyone's job description--Karla says its one of those "as needed" duties!  

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

My design wall still has the Trip Around the World pieces on it so I used the bed.

4 Patch Diamonds

All the bits of the 4 Patch Diamond are sewn together except for the corner triangles.   I'm not sure why but the top is extra long--it measures 85 x 110".   Maybe I planned a pillow tuck! 

Weekly Goals--

1. Finish binding the Blue Urban Cabin
2. Sew more of the Birds In Air blocks together

I'll be volunteering this week and hand sewing binding in the evenings is perfect.  Me, a lawn chair, and some cold refreshment. 

Thank you everyone who commented on my Dad's passing.  I'm really missing him.