Looks Like The Virus Is Coming This Way

I was over at moms today. Sophie came along as well. We had a good visit and we talked about different things. It was the first time in years that we actually talked about things that didn't have to do with my family or anything that made me feel like crap. We then went and cleaned out 2 of her quilting drawers. We figured out the quilts that she's so close to finishing. Then we put all those in one drawer. The other drawer has some of the stuff she was working on but wasn't close to finishing. We did clean out one of her boxes too. Found where some of her projects were. There are a few things she needs to finish. Kinda like me! It was fun seeing what she was working on. I found a few things that she had that I was working on. lol When Patrick came over to work on her taxes, he worked on her cat quilt. We laid it out on the floor and Patrick told her what colors would work for the borders. It was really fun watching him picking colors. He knows what looks good, I will give him that!

While I was there in the beginning we sat and worked on our projects. Mom worked on her quilt and I worked on my cross stitching.

I worked on the yellow flowers today. They are getting done.

It's coming along great! I do like the way it's coming along.

We ended up talking about the Coronavirus. We heard today that Thurston County now has it. We are Lewis County and the problem with Lewis County is that if it hits, it's going to spread like wildfire! Lewis County is really bad when it comes to colds and flu's. They go around like wildfire. I'm going to have to keep mom safe, but not sure I can. She's doing pretty good, but she still goes to quilt meeting and church. King county has closed down a lot of stuff. I feel sorry for the small businesses around WA state. They are the ones hurting the most. I also heard one of the businesses in Seattle is closing because they can't stay open. Seattle is going to be hit really hard. Closing the city down for 2 weeks to a month is putting a lot of businesses out of business.

So, while we were bowling, we say that the NBA cancelled and had a few confirmed cases. I was trying not to slap hands but half the league was slapping hands. The worst part is the bowling alley seems to spread colds every time. One of the problems is that our bowling partner likes to slap elbows, feet, and whatever. So, I'm having a hard time not slapping anything, but then she does a body slap....doesn't make that easy. At least we won 3 games and I bowled halfway good. 173, 169, and 179. I didn't gain a pin or loss a pin on my average, so I'm happy. Patrick and I are wondering if the bowling alley will shut down for awhile. It's going to be interesting what the next few weeks will bring. I'm hoping we can still have our presentation in May. Time will tell. If things get worse, I'll be Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Staying Home Lately

My son works for the State of WA. So, he's pretty much telling us the Virus will be here soon. He wants me to keep mom from going into crowds. I love him dearly because he's worried about the family getting sick. At least we have someone looking out for us.

I got some laundry going and then worked on my beading. I had a big bead that was bothering me. So, I decided to go and take it out. That was a main CHOIR! I could not believe how the beads started shifting. It worked and it's not so noticeable, but I can still tell there another big bead in there. But at this point I'm not going to worry about it. After working on fixing that bead, I called it quits!
I decided to work on my cross stitch and keep the laundry going.

Of course I had Sophie telling me she wanted attention.

At least she fell asleep. But it kept me seated a little longer than I wanted to be. I finally had to get up and do my exercises before going to back to my work.

We've been trying to stay home and not go out. Then again, there isn't anything to go out for. Patrick did take stuff to Goodwill and then the dump. We've been cleaning out some of our stuff lately. So, it seem work out keeping us at home more. I really don't like crowds, so I'm okay with not going out to a crowded place lately. Not wanting to get anywhere close to the Virus, even though it hasn't made it to our county yet. When it does, it's going to be like wild fire in this county.

I'm really happy with how I was able to go from one page to the next without having to frog it. The center part is getting done, then it's a awhile before the bird house shows up. I'm working on the sides to get it up there. I will be able to do more outlining again in a few. It's looking good and my get done about the same time the beading is done. Looking like I'm Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Good News Today

This morning we went to Olympia Orthopedics for my back. I've been having trouble with my back, and it was time for me to go back and see if I needed surgery. The doctor was awesome! I love going to him because he's chatty and is very honest with what is going on. The good news is that my back hasn't changed since 2016, with the exception of the distance between my 2 bones. It's not enough to worry about at this time. So, he told me I need to "up" my exercises for the back. I now need to do "planks" while I do my other exercises. We laughed about that. But it's something I need to do, and will do. I was telling Patrick on the way home, that I've been doing good considering I hate exercises. I've been doing my back exercises for over 5 years now. I try hard to remember to do them around 7 pm.

We then went to Sharon and Bill's. To my surprise Bill had all 3 quilts done. He showed us his work. I love what he does. We also picked up the 2 bolts of fabric that I ordered for the quilt tops. I'll be giving some to Georgie to do blocks for us. I'll figure it out tomorrow and take it over to Georgie on Wednesday. Then we can get moving on more blocks.

Came home after stopping at Safeway for milk. I then worked on my beading. I'm happy to say, I'm now at 90 rows to go.

This is now 356/446 rows done. It's looking good with the head of the next bird. I do like seeing that coming together. I'm hoping I don't run out of beads at this rate! lol

After supper, I got to work on my cross stitching. Actually it was after exercising - made it to 30 seconds on 2 planks.....better than I expected. I remember a time when I couldn't even do 10 seconds. We were laughing at the doctors about how we thought 30 seconds ended up being 20 seconds. It's amazing how long time actually takes. If you watch time...it seems to take forever! lol So, I was thrilled I could do 30 seconds. I'll work on getting it better again.

I'm happy to say, I rolled the piece. I am getting started on the top half. This is going good. I put a few stitches in and then I ended up taking them out. It's a little difficult going from one sheet of pattern to the next trying to figure out where the stitches line up. I think I've got it now. Thank goodness for the "framing" on the sides. That's a good guide letting me know where I need to go. Both sides are even, but I notice in the photo they look off. Must be the angle. Guess my photos haven't been the best! lol

I got the "Pattern Maker" app on my tablet. I was trying to see what everyone was talking about. So, I put my pattern in PDF to add to the app. When I did, it wouldn't work. I saw where we have to do the PDF and put it in the app. When I did, it said it didn't have that pattern and wouldn't work. So, right now, I'm not sure how it works. If anyone has that app, please contact me and tell me how it works. It would be awesome to figure out how it works. That's what would be Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Another Interesting Day

This morning I was up and out the door by 8:45 am. I headed down to Longview to have breakfast with the travel league gals. I met up with them at the "car pool" place. I took Sahlee with me. We followed behind Kim's car.

We arrived at the bowling alley at a good time. We placed our order for breakfast. I ordered french toast, hash browns, and sausage. Out of all the orders, mine was WRONG. I got toast instead of french toast. They told me I didn't order french toast, because I didn't pay for french toast. Ticked me off! She wouldn't get me french toast. So, I had toast for breakfast...go figure! I hung around for awhile. Then headed back home, getting home around noon.

Then I pulled out my cross stitching and worked on it. Patrick had cleaned up the house while I was gone. I just need to vacuum tomorrow.

I now have the bottom half done - or at least closer to it. I will roll this tomorrow. I worked on the outlining and the middle flowers. I'll roll this tomorrow.

I worked on a pie before we headed out to bowling. Bowling night - and not my best night. At least I got better as it went along. I really thought I would loose my average by another pin. I bowled a 144, 169, 197.  We lost 2 games and won 2 games. At least I got better. I'm almost getting tired of bowling when I start bowling bad.

At least I was Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

With Retirement - Every Day Seems Like Saturday

This morning Patrick went to the couch around 4 am. He just couldn't get comfortable. I got to enjoy the bed to myself. I was still up early even then.

I was able to enjoy my beading this morning. I got another 4 rows done.

The third bird is really coming along. Now we can see the top of the head. I'm now at 345/446. It's relaxing.

Then it was time to go to the movies. We saw "Onward." It was really good. I even got emotional at the end. It's funny how an animated movie can make someone get emotional. After the movie we went to Dairy Queen to eat.

We came back home and I finished another row on the beading. Then I took a break and went to work on my cross stitching.

I am getting closer to being able to roll this. I worked on the top "bottom half." It's coming along, and I'm getting excited to roll this. I really want to get to roll this!

Every day I wonder what day it is. Patrick's home every day. So, I keep thinking it's Saturday, and then when Saturday comes, I think it's Sunday....go figure. We are home more then I used to be. It feels good, but at other times, I wonder where it's going from here. With the Virus going around, I don't want to travel much because of how quick it's going around this state. I'm not worried about it, since I'm going down to Longview tomorrow to have breakfast with my travel league friends. Then I will be coming back home. Tried to get Patrick to go with me, but he won't. We just seem to stay home all the time. He keeps waiting for the sun to come out. I'm just wondering when he's going to be back to his normal self. He isn't a "sitter" usually. He likes to work. No work. So, at this rate, every day is Saturday.

Today was my daughter's 31st Birthday! I wish I could have been there with her. She made cupcakes yesterday for her Birthday. Hard to believe she's 31!! What a day!

At least I'm a crafter or I'd go mad! It makes the day a day of being Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Getting Half Way On My Spring Cat

Today I was enjoying the day. It was one of my quiet days. Patrick was working on his jars. He pulled out his jars from a box that was in the garage. He collected the "Ball" jars for years. He has a couple of them from the 1800's. So, he's been enjoying his "find" again.

I got laundry going. Then I worked on my cross stitching.

I got more outlining done. I also worked on the flowers to the left and in the middle. I really did enjoy working on this.

Then I got on the computer for a couple hours and worked on my family genealogy. It's really funny how I tend to find everyone else's family tree and not my own. I did work on Patrick's also. I also ended up working on my tree, but it was distant cousins of my ancestors. In other-words, not much on my actually family. I worked on the Brumbaugh family tree. We have relatives from that tree, but not direct.

Figured I better get back to working on the cross stitching. I am right at the half way line. I am very close to being at half way. I need to do more outlining before I can roll this to work on the next half. It's really looking good. I like the flower colors that are coming out. It makes me Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Enjoying A Day Of Staying Home!

Today I got up and enjoyed some time playing games. Hadn't done that in awhile. I even played on my phone because I had a game I haven't played in awhile.

I then went to the table and worked on my beading. I've been wanting to do my beading in awhile.

In the bottom left just next to the tree is the bird coming to life. I'm now at 348/446. I'm now in the last 100 rows. I'm really excited now that I'm in the last 100 rows. Actually I'm at 98 rows left. lol

Patrick went out and did some shopping. I stayed home and enjoyed working on my beading as well as worked on my laundry. I'm getting caught up. I had to play with Sophie as well. She's getting very vocal lately about playing with her.

After supper and after Patrick left for bowling, I sat and enjoyed cross stitching. I did do one more row of beading, but then went to my cross stitching.

As I was outlining I found a couple places I needed to fill in. I filled in what I needed and then finished up with the outlining. I have some more to do before I start rolling this. I'm almost half way. I'm as excited about this as I was on my beading. This is getting to be fun.

I really did enjoy having a day of Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

A Quilt of Valor Presentation Day

Today was presentation day for Quilts of Valor at the museum. We had 4 recipients with one being a WWII Veteran.

This is Tom Smiley, Bill Logan, Dale Gocken, and R. Scott McCrosky. They were all awesome! Dale Gocken was the WWII Veteran.

He was an honor to give a quilt to!

He got a little emotional. He loves his quilt!

Tom Smiley is Jim Smiley's brother. It was such an honor to see Jim honor his brother with this quilt.

I love being able to honor our Veterans! We won't be doing a presentation again till May. I'm hoping more quilt tops will be coming in. We have a lot of Veterans to honor!

Came home around 2:30 pm and then enjoyed sitting to work on my beading. Got another row done.

I'm now at 344/446 rows. I'm so close to being the last 100 rows. It's funny how the last 4 rows seems to have taken forever to get done. I'm getting there. The thread is getting bad, so will change the thread out.

Then it was time to go bowling. We won  only one game. It wasn't a good night! Even Patrick was having trouble. I bowled a 135 - awful, 172 and 169 - so I lost that pin I won on my average last week. UGH. It wasn't the best night but it wasn't the worst.

At least I had a chance to be Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting! 

Going To A Fabric Hoarder's Garage Sale

This morning I worked on my beading and laundry. Then I went to moms to meet up with some of our QOV group quilters.

We then headed over to the place one of our members told us about. We arrived at the house, and was directed to the garage. We arrived to find a garage FULL of boxes, fabric, containers, etc., that were full of STUFF. She had stamps, fabric, knitting, and just about everything you can think of. Her husband was selling her STUFF because she passed away a while ago. His daughters were there to "help." I have a feeling one of them is a hoarder too. When I say "hoarder," I mean this garage was floor to ceiling of stuff. He then told me there was another garage full of more "stuff." Mostly wool and fleece fabrics. OH! And then there was the sewing room "you can't get into because there isn't any room to get in there." The sewing room was off limits, but we stayed in the garage. We were given a plastic bag like what you get at Safeway. He said, "fill this as full as you can for $25." I thought at first that wasn't a good deal, till I filled the bag with as many of the red, white, and blue fabric I could find. There were only small pieces but I can work with them. Of 5 of us, 2 didn't buy anything. So, we BARELY put a dent in what they had. I stuck to my guns and only got the red, white and blue fabrics.

Got home around 3:30 pm. Had supper and then sat down to work on my cross stitching.

I was able to get more done. I'm really happy with this. I need to get some more outlining done and then I will try to roll it again. The colors are coming out pretty good. I do have a lot going.

It was weird, while I was there at the garage, I was shocked and overwhelmed. I didn't know were to start. I was more shocked to find someone who hoarded the fabric the way she did. I understand she made wedding dress and did a lot of sewing, but at the same time, it was just way too much. I was told her husband was offered $7,000 for all of her supply. He turned him down. I would have jumped at that if it was me. It would save me the time and organizing, let alone selling it. All that time and work would be worth the money! He's not going to get a lot, but he will get some. He has to get all that stuff out for people to look at if he's going to have a garage sale. So far he's had quilters and other ladies come out and pick through the stuff and buying it by the bag. Way too much work.

At least my day was a good day of Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Three Times The Fun

This morning I was out the door and heading to our BE meeting. I was actually on time too! Sandy and I arrived about the same time.

Before I got there, I had to stop and get my ice tea at McD's. I always get ice tea when I go to meetings at the shop. When I arrived, I picked up some stuff for fabric dye stabilizer. Then I got started on the bird that Sandy gave me. She took the class from Loretta H. She didn't want to do the bird, and gave me the pattern and what she did do.

I did the "mountains" and then worked on the grass. I picked a couple colors for the grass. The head was done by Sandy and so was the start of the wing. According to the pattern, the bird is the last thing you work on. So, I was filling in the grass. I think it's going to look good. I do like what the photo shows.

Then I came on back home. I got back to my laundry and then sat to work on my beading. I didn't listen to my audio book, but I listened to the news. Hard to believe 6 people passed overnight with the virus going around. I'm hoping it doesn't come down to Lewis County, but it could. I've been washing my hands more and more because of it.

I got a couple more rows done. I am seeing the head of the bird coming along - this is yesterday's photo. I didn't have enough rows done to show were the bird is coming from. I'll work on it tomorrow. It's coming along great though. I'm now at 342/446.

After supper I pulled out my cross stitching. I really do like working on my cross stitching as well.

I was able to get more done on the lily. I have more to do on it before it's done, but I was able to fill in where I missed the first time. I'm getting closer and closer to half way done. It's going good.

As I said, it was a day of "Three times the fun!!" Now I'll see what tomorrow brings! It will be fun. I had a great time with friends and I even enjoyed working on all three projects. At this rate, they will get done! That's what I call a day of being Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

It's Sunday...And I Had A Good Day

This morning I needed to get some bills paid. That was my first project. Then I needed to get laundry going.

Once all that was started and going, Patrick went outside to work in the garage. He found my yarn and I told him to go ahead and get rid of it. It's older stuff and there wasn't a lot of the same colors. I want to get some good yarn, so I'm working on what I need to order for Dan's afghan.

Since he went outside and I had laundry going, I sat down to work on my beading. Woohoo! I was able to work on my beading!! I've been wanting to for the past 3 days!

I think the third bird is started. You really can't see it in the photo, but I do think it's starting up at the bottom where the tree. I'll see if that's the case. I'm now at 340/446. I can't wait to get to the last 100 rows.

Then it was time to go bowling. We won 3 games. I bowled a lot better tonight. I bowled a 186, 168, 171. I was consistent. Patrick bowled better than me too. Joann was a little off.

I actually had a good day today, even when it started out not so good. I kept missing things this morning. As the day went on, I was back on track and really enjoying myself. I ended up being Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!