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.

 

Goodbye Dad

March 2, 1920 - June 15, 2012

I've been reading through previous posts with my Dad in them, and this post from April 12, 2010 is my favorite. 

I love and miss you Dad.

 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

I'm drawn to old quilts.  This one was made by my Great Aunt Katie.  From the fabrics Henrietta and I think the quilt was made in the 40's--maybe early 50's.  I never knew Aunt Katie, she exists for me in family stories and this quilt.

This quilt has been well-loved.  I remember sleeping under it as a child.  A Seminole strippy with a small floral print on a yellow background, and a solid fabric on the back I'd call "Muskmelon".   A plain green square runs down each strip.   Reproducing this quilt is on my bucket list.

Weekly goals--

1. Sew more Birds in Air blocks together
2. Sew more rows of the Trip Around the World 
3. Load a top on the Princess

My list is optimistic, I'm not sure with volunteering and summer I'll get much sewing done. 

Purple Rainbow Saturday

Last night I made some blocks using purple.  Two 36 patch blocks, 4 Spool blocks, and several 4 patches.

36 Patch blocks, Spool Blocks, 4 Patches

I counted and have 23 36 patches, 35 Spools, and a large pile of 4 patches.  By the end of the year I should have enough to make a quilt of each.  I'm really enjoying this challenge!  Although each month is one color--I will have many colors in each quilt.  Scrappy!  Thank you SoScrappy for hosting this challenge.

Motivation Friday

Time to check on my goals!

1. Sew birds in air blocks together--Yes--I have 64 sewn together--36 left.

I've also sewn a 36 patch block and several 4 patches I found in my sewing box.  I even did some hand applique on a Beyond the Cherry Trees block.   

Toni next door helped me take pictures of the Brown Urban Cabin quilt---

See Toni?  Drat--I cut her head off!  Pictures of Toni later this summer.  She's holding the Brown Urban Cabin sideways and there was a strong breeze.

I'm finishing up some laundry and defrosting my fridge here at the camper.  Then I'll head home.  I would like to load a quilt on the Princess (are you reading this Henrietta??) and I'm anxious to dig in my stash for some purple--that is the color this month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  36 patches, Spools, and 4 patches are the blocks I'm making for this challenge.  The 30's solid yellow I bought last week is to make a Strippy 4 patch using the 4 patches.   I have a vintage quilt made by my Great Aunt Katie in this pattern.

You've probably noticed I almost never make a one color or one fabric quilt.  I have--I just don't enjoy it!  Almost all my UFO's are projects using one color or a controlled color scheme.  I admire quilts done with one and controlled colors--I think they are beautiful and then I try to make one.  Its a learning process--and I must be a slow learner!!