This n That on Thursday

Winter has returned here … the temperatures started to drop yesterday as the wind picked up.  And we saw a very light dusting of snow when we got up this morning.  And other than a bit of a respite tomorrow, it looks like winter’s going to be sticking around for a while.

At least we have some snow in the forecast, although it doesn’t look like it’ll amount to much. 



With the temperatures dropping yesterday, I decided to make some White Chili.  DH was out running errands, so I asked him to pick up a can of diced green chiles.  As I was opening the can, I looked a little more closely at the label and noticed that he brought home a can of this instead of this
Ooops!  I’d already opened the can and had started the chili, so I went with it (and skipped the cayenne pepper).  It was spicy but good … DH has a pretty low tolerance for heat, so I worried whether he’d be able to tolerate it, but he had a second bowl …



I was able to get in some time with my needle and thread yesterday … I’m almost done quilting the 16th block of T#3’s quilt.  I’ve got all the center blocks quilted … just the outer 2 blocks all the way around the quilt are left to be quilted.  When I saw that big section of blocks quilted, I was sure that I was on the downhill slope of quilting … until I remembered that there are 63 blocks in this quilt … which means that I still have 48 blocks to quilt.    Good thing I enjoy the hand quilting, eh?



After a few weeks of good, sound sleep, insomnia has reared its ugly head again.    This time, instead of getting up at 2:30 in the morning, I’m now falling asleep at about that time … and while I’m technically sleeping in (6:30 instead of my usual 4:30), I don’t do too well with just 4-5 hours of sleep. 



I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Late Start to the Winter Reading Challenge

 

I’m a day late and a dollar short on Rebecca Jo’s Reading Challenge, but then I’m a day late and a dollar short on discovering audiobooks.  Prior to that discovery, I wasn’t reading … other than my quiet time.  Thanks to discovering audiobooks mid-January, I can devote myself to both my obsessions passions: reading and quilting. 

 

In the 3 1/2 weeks, I’ve “read” 5 audiobooks and am about a quarter way through my 6th.

 

        

I enjoyed The Racketeer, the story of a man caught up, unwittingly, in a money laundering scheme and imprisoned as a result … who has an ace up his sleeve for a quick release … and a windfall.  It was a classic Grisham book. 

 

I had forgotten that I’d read The Confession, the story of a lawyer who bolts from a prestigious law firm and winds up in an ambulance-chasing firm …and stumbles onto his true calling.  While it didn’t take long for me to remember the final outcome, I had forgotten all the action between the beginning and the ending and enjoyed rereading this.  Another Grisham classic. 

 

The Confession was another Grisham book that I’d previously read and didn’t realize it when I started … I finished it but didn’t enjoy it much better than I did the first time around. 

 

       

Along Came a Spider was as enjoyable as the movie … I’m not sure who narrated it, but if it wasn’t Morgan Freeman, it must have been his “voice double”.  There was one small scene in the book that I wish hadn’t been included … it certainly added nothing to the story line … and with an audiobook, I can’t skim past like I could in a book.  But even so, I’d like to read more of the Alex Cross series. 

 

Sarah’s Key was a bit of a mixed bag … there were times when it seemed to drag, but as the book advanced, I found myself drawn in, unable to put it down.  The narrrator didn’t help and jumping back and forth in time didn’t work as well in the audio version as it might have in the print version, but even so, I’d certainly recommend this book. 

 

I’m currently reading At Home in Mitford … it’s a little slow going right now … I’m really not able to make a connection to Father Tim or anyone else, but so many friends have read and recommended Jan Karon’s Mitford Series that I’m going to keep on reading. 

 

Reading anything interesting or looking for suggestions of good books to read?  Check out Rebecca Jo’s.

 

 

After over a week away from my needle and thread, I’m hoping to be able to get reacquainted with them this evening while watching the hockey game (and I’m hoping that my Blues get reacquainted to their winning ways tonight, too). 

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Busy, Busy, Busy

I can’t believe I haven’t posted since Tuesday … but it’s been busy here at Chez Nana, and it doesn’t look like things will slow down any the rest of this week.

For quite some time now, I’ve been determined to start labeling my quilts.  I know … I’ve been quilting for 30 years and haven’t labeled a single quilt.  I make quilts to be loved and used, and as the only quilter in my family, I am not worried about anyone wondering who made their quilt after I’m gone.    But I’ve always thought that a label adds a little personalization, and I’d like to remind the recipient that the quilt was made with love.  On one of my trips down a bloggy rabbit trail last week, I found a source for personalized quilting labels … mine arrived on Thursday.   

Now to borrow all the quilts I’ve made and get them labeled …
Edited to add:  I purchased the labels from http://www.modernyardage.com/shop/category/quilt-labels/ They were wonderful to work with and I would definitely recommend them.


I would have liked to have been able to report that we enjoyed the pleasant weather that moved through our area over the weekend, but we were indoors all weekend … on the pool deck from 7AM through 8PM (10PM Friday night).  It was a loooong meet … it takes a long time for 630 swimmers to swim all their events.  Thankfully with 3 swimmers to cheer for, there wasn’t too much time spent sitting and waiting … and we all had iPads and iPhones to keep us entertained during the slow times.

The Ts did quite well, especially considering that none of them were feeling their best (head colds).  T#3 made area time on his IM and 25 Breast, and they dropped time on their personal bests. 

Like I said, I’ve got a busy week coming up, which means that I won’t be getting in much time with my needle and thread again this week.    Nor will there be much time to unwind from a long, exhausting weekend (can someone explain to me why those of us who spectated all weekend are as exhausted as those who swam all weekend – ha!). 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Snow, Super Bowl, and Sunday Deliveries

There was another big snowstorm here in the Midwest this past weekend.  Chicago and areas to the north got anywhere from 12-18” of the white stuff.  After all the snow was removed from our forecast, it was a pleasant surprise to look out Monday morning and see snow here, too.Unfortunately, as you can see, we didn’t get enough to amount to anything and by mid-morning, it was gone.  The meteorologists are all predicting measurable snow tomorrow … but we know how much stock to put into their prognostications … after all, they were promising us 2-3” or more for last Saturday … and we got nary a flake.



Another Super Bowl is under our belts.  I have to be honest and say that it was a fairly exciting game.  Initially I really didn’t care who won, but after a couple of exciting plays, I found myself rooting for the Seahawks, only to have my hopes dashed at the end.  I’m still not a fan of football … I just can’t get into any sport where it takes almost an hour to play the last 11 minutes of the game. 



Imagine my surprise when our mail man made a delivery Sunday afternoon.  I know that amazon.com promised a Sunday delivery, but still … I had to see it to believe it.  I ordered comic book boards for better organizing my tubs of stash … and a Kim Diehl book.  I recently discovered Kim’s wonderful quilt patterns, and last week while following bloggy rabbit trails, I came across delightful quilt from her Homestyle Quilts book … that led me to her publisher’s website where I saw
andI knew I just “had” to order the book and was pleased to see it still available on amazon.com. 

These quilts are now on my to-do list … in addition to the quilt kit I just ordered from craftsy.com. I’ve made so many blue and white quilts and had mentioned to Elaine over at http://brunosmom.blogspot.com/ that I loved red and white quilts, too and wanted to make one … she remembered that and sent me the link.  I’ve been wanting to make a quilt from Minick and Simpson’s Crazy for Red line.  I’m glad she sent me the link when she did … and that I didn’t hesitate … the price for the kit has gone up since the weekend.  Yes, I know I’m going to need to live to be 150 in order to make all the quilts I want to make. 



DH has been chomping at the bit to head somewhere warm this winter … and given my aversion to cold, I have to say that I wouldn’t object.  Swim season is in full swing, so we both thought our dreams were just that – dreams … until DH discovered Frontier Airline’s discounted airfare.  Alas, trying to line up discounted airfare, reasonable lodging rates and a block of time where we would be able to travel turned out to be impossible. 



I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

Slow Finish to a Busy Weekend

I had plans of a slow start to the weekend, but as is often the case, my plans failed to materialize.  I got a call, early Friday morning, from DD asking if I could give her a bit of a break with the Ts … she wasn’t feeling too good and thought a day of peace and quiet (and a nap) might do the trick.  Of course, she didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to say “yes”.  Our first stop was the library in the adjoining town … a toy shop was hosting a homeschool event, bringing in toys for the kids to sample.  T#1 really was dreading the outing, but as is often the case, he was the one who enjoyed it the most.  Bonus:  I got a couple of gift ideas for his upcoming birthday. 


Afterwards we stopped at DQ for lunch – and ice cream – before heading to Nana’s house.  We had a couple of hours to kill before it was time to get ready for swim practice.  It was a long, but good day … but then any day spent with my Ts is a good day in my book!

They swam in another meet yesterday.  Unlike most meets that start at 8:00 (with warmups starting at 6:30), this meet began at 1:00.  That gave DH and me time to drop off my sewing machine for an annual tune-up and have a quick lunch before heading to the pool.  It was a small meet … 3 smaller teams, so it went fairly quickly … we were done by 5:30.  The Ts did well … all 3 finished 1st or 2nd in all their events (other than a DQ on T#3’s 50 free).  We all stopped for our usual post-meet meal at our usual post-meet establishment Five Guys. 


At least today is going to be a slower, more uneventful day.  There is, I hear tell, a big deal going on this afternoon. 

I’m not a football fan, nor am I fan of all the hype surrounding the Super Bowl, but our neighbors are hosting a Super Bowl party … and since we enjoy time spent with them, we’ll go.  And I’ll enjoy seeing the commercials. 

In the meantime, I plan to spend a few hours with my needle and thread … I didn’t get any quilting time Friday or Saturday and I’m anxious to get in a few stitches.  Besides, if I have to sit through a football game, I deserve a couple of hours quilting, don’t you think?  ha!

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

I Hit the Jackpot!

 

Yesterday, I decided to take it easy another day … and spent the day in my recliner, quilting away on T#3’s quilt.  Mid-afternoon, I got a call from a friend from our old church, asking if I wanted to take a couple of quilt tops off her hands.  Did I?  Well, of course I did!

I love anything with stars, and this Lone Star variation is no exception.  Unfortunately, as you can see, it doesn’t lay flat, and the white fabric is awfully thin.  I’m hoping that I’ll be able to tame it with a good pressing. 

 

Isn’t this Flying Dutchman just a happy quilt.  While the white fabric isn’t LQS quality, it does seem to be a little better than the white in the Lone Star top, and it does lay nice and flat. 

 

The Lone Star was machine pieced, while the Flying Dutchman was hand pieced.  They’re both about the same size … I didn’t measure them when I had them laid out, but I think they’ll both finish as lap-sized. 

 

I’ll probably start with the Flying Dutchman … when I can get to it.  I’m in the middle of quilting T#3’s quilt, and I’ve got several other projects started.  But when I finish those other projects up, I’ll have a couple of quilts ready for quilting. 

 

 

I am about done with block #7 of T#3’s quilt. 

This when I moved the hoop to quilt block #6 … if you click on it, you can enlarge it and perhaps see a little of the quilting in the center. 

 

 

I was able to stay up later than usual last night … not that it made a bit of difference … I was up at 2:45 this morning.    In the past, I couldn’t fall asleep at night if I’d taken an afternoon nap (unless I was sick) … I’m wondering if that would be the case now with my whacked-up sleep cycle.  Today might be the day to give it a try.  Ha!

 

 

The Ts are swimming again tomorrow … it’s a one-day meet over in St. Charles (about an hour from here).  Warm-ups start at 12:00 (unusual!, especially for a one-day meet), so DH and I will plan an outing before.  We’ll drop off my sewing machine for its annual tune-up and grab lunch somewhere. 

 

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy