A bit of the process....

I was in there getting a few more shapes ready to baste and thought I would take a few pics of the process.

I just realized I should have taken a couple more photos, but will make do with these.  The white in the above photo is freezer paper.  The same old freezer paper that has been around for years.  It has a shiny, slick side.  The slick side is placed against the back of the fabric.

Use a hot iron and press the freezer paper to the back of the fabric.  It does not stain it, or do any harm to it.  But it will stick to it till you want it to come out.  (and once it is taken out, it can be used again and again.)

Next I cut the fabric closer to the shape, leaving just enough to fold over the edge of the freezer paper and baste down  like in the photo below.

I have made a heart quilt top using this method.....hopefully when I start to actually applique, I will try to think and take more photos.

I did get a few more freezer paper shapes cut and ironed to the back of fabrics...eleven more in fact.  Still all different fabrics.  And I still haven't used all the ones I have.  (I have been collecting orange fabrics for a LONG time, and I still look for new ones)

I did three more 4-patches, plus the one on top was from the other day.  I am hoping I can continue to do a little bit every day. 
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I am anxiously awaiting a new kindle.  I have this horrible habit of getting different newletters with a list of either free or almost free books.  I find more books than I can read or ever hope to read.  But I get them anyway.  Plus I buy a few along.  As well as there are probably a dozen  or two or more I have the actual book, but purchased them for my kindle, too, because I love them so much.

Anyway, my current Kindle Paperwhite is so full, it will not hold any more...and it just does not want to function.  Their new basic Paperwhite kindle has twice the space mine does, and costs a less than what I paid for mine.  But I went ahead got one with 32GB of space.   It should last me for a life time. And I just checked, and it cost less than the Paperwhite I have now because I am a prime member...

As to the free books, I will try stuff I get free that I would probably never purchase...well, I might pay a dollar or two to try something.  But I got Once Upon A Flock by Lauren Sheuer for free....and check that link out now!  I would never have paid that much on a whim, yet now that I have read it, I feel it would have been worth it.  It was just so fun to read...yet not the funny/haha kind of read.  I wish I could lend it to all of you that read...I think most of you would enjoy it.  If you follow the link, and I hope you do, go down and read the editorial review.

I got The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony for $2  It was one of the best books I have read.  Again, one I would not have paid the asking price, but since reading it have seriously considered getting it for someone as a gift.   If you ever get the chance, read it.

What we wouldn't have given for all these books when I was a kid....

That is it for now...I think I might check a few blogs and/or do a little basting.  Hope you have a good week ahead.

Projects...

I thought I might as well show the progress so far...of my daughter's new project.

As you can see, it is not repeatedly making the same block.  She has a sketch we work from.  We call it our road map.  And she has it marked off in sections.  We will make each sections 3 1/2 times I think.  But that is not like making the same block 12, o 16, or 20 times, etc.

Look at the above...see how the the trees in that square of green--the little trees at the seam matches and lines up with the next green above it.  As if we were matching the design like you do with wallpaper.  We looked over all the rest we have sewn and did not see it happen anywhere else.
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Now, to me.

I had stopped working on these, but did make these the other day...I think there is at least one more laying in there that I forgot to add.  They are will be added to the pile of 4-patches below.

I have no idea how many I have made already.  I would like to get back in the mood to get some more made.  And decide how I am going to use them.

Then there are these.  They will be appliqued to a background fabric.

Notice there are no two of the same fabric.  There will be before I am done.  But I still have orange fabrics that I have not used.  If you will expand the view, you can see the edges are turned under by hand basting now.  I want to get back to making more, or else start getting these appliqued on to the background fabric.

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Lorelei went back home today...they were going to go to Hobby Lobby.  As they were passing a what I assume was a Halloween display, she asked her mom, "How do you actually die from kicking the bucket?"

Just a bit of this and that....

First a photo from a few days ago...I meant to include it on my other blog but did not get it done.  so I will post it here.

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I had to take Roger in to get his prescriptions renewed yesterday.  Then had to take him back this morning before he ate to have lab work done.  Then he has his allergy shots every other Thursday.  So that was this afternoon.  He went in and was in there longer than normal.  Usually he is in and right back out.

He said he sat there  a while and then someone came out and told him no one was there today to give shots.  So, I don't know if someone else gave him his last shot, and did not know to give him a paper to give to me that told the changes, or if they just expected him to read the changes.  The nurse that usually gives him his shots, she always knows to send something to me.  But every now and then someone else gives the shot and would not know he has had a stroke and does not function quite normal. He does not pay attention to things like that now.  It would be a struggle for him to read, and even if he read it, he would be apt to forget what it said and/or forget to tell me.
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The above was started  last night but did not finish.  I lost track of what all I was going to tell.  And now, I need to get dressed now and take Roger to breakfast.  I pick up Lorelei after school today and she is spending the night.  Then, our daughter that lives in St Louis is coming to sew tomorrow. 

I hope you all have a good weekend ahead . 

Etc...

I did start quilting my summer quilt using the Eye of the Hurricane quilt top.  I did the little bit show here, and kept having problems with the thread shredding.  I don't know why I did not change my needle after the first time.  I did the little bit up here about three days back and had not touched it till today.  I went down and put a new needle in, a bigger needle, and sewed for an hour and a half or so. this evening.  It is some of the worst quilting I have ever did, but it really doesn't bother me.

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The contractor did come and look at the awning Tuesday and Thursday night, someone came worked on it.  Screwed it down good under the eave.  They filled the previously filled holes with caulk.  I think it will be okay, but again it is one of those things if Roger was himself, we would have did it and it would have been done right to begin with.   I never say stuff like this to him...but almost every day he says he wishes the stroke had not happened.

The guttering is left to be done on the garage, and the siding on the north side of the house.  The guttering should be done in about a couple weeks...not sure about the siding.  I will be so relieved to have them all done and be able to forget about them.

It has been hold all week...back up in the 90's, and supposed to be up in the high 80's most of next week.  I am ready for cooler weather.  I am seeing more trees with color.  Just bits of red here and there.  Tiny bits.  We will see a whole tree here and there that is turning yellow.  I just so want it to be a long, slow fall!

A bit more fun...

Last weekend Lorelei and I had a game of generic Trouble...I say generic cause it is like the game only it has another name which escapes me right now.

ANGRY

Last week we had a game with us each just having a single color...then we played one with us each having two colors.  She started talking about putting faces on the game pieces while we were playing and she was going to do it after the game.  Instead with us playing two colors, it took forever and we both forgot about it.

CALM

So yesterday we were playing a game and she started talking about it again.  I don't even remember if I waited till we were done to get out the marker,  but we did finish the game.  She immediately began to make faces.

SAD or BLUE

She also had the idea to have each color a mood.

I don't think I have to tell you that this one is Happy....I love it best of all....it is Lorelei's mood 99% of the time.
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It has been a fairly good day...I have just pushed the awning to the back of my mind.  The contractor did not call or come by this day.  Maybe he will tomorrow.  I am not holding my breath about it though.  Also, not going to make myself sit here all day waiting if I want to get out and go.   I just hate to sit and wait for a phone call.  For one thing, I have to stay within hearing of the phone, or take it with me...which I do sometimes.

The other thing is Roger does not answer the phone....and seldom pays attention to it.  I would not want him to answer in this case cause he might tell them we would be here at such and such a time, but never remember it again.
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I have been slowly sewing a little bit by hand on days I can function. ... I hate to show anything now cause it is apt to be a year before there is much progress,,,LOL  I have not decided how big the project is going to be.  I am positive about only one thing for sure, sort of two things.  I know the background color(s)...it will be different prints of the same color.  And for sure one other color is going to show up A LOT...not sure if I am going to restrict it to that color alone or maybe introduce a few more.

The hand sewing I am doing now is just basting, but it is fun.  Yet I long to get in there at the machine and sew some too..

And I cannot remember if I told I decided to make a 'summer quilt' with my Eye of the Hurricane quilt top.  Last week or the week before I used a thrifted flannel sheet as the backing, and layered it with the quilt top.  No batting.  I layered them on the table and pin basted them.  I am not worried if there is a little pleat here and there.  It is for us to have to snuggle under on the couch or in our chairs...it should work out good and not be too heavy.  You might guess that it is me that usually has cold spells...LOL

I have got to get it out and decide on a thread and get it quilted.  Hoping that doesn't take me all fall to get done.

That is about it...I do need to go check the dryer...and then I can call it done for the day.

A bit of playing

Just a little something to puzzle your mind...

How about this....



1.

Or this.

I must say I feel somewhat like the Mad Snapper....

Lorelei was here and said,  "Hey Mamaw!  Look!"  And our Mad Snapper moments began...this is just a few of the many pics we took,

These last two had her own special touch...

Okay, did you guess what Lorelei had me look at?  It the mirror I had laying there reflecting on the ceiling..  Lorelei immediately started laying things on it to see what would show up.

The very first one was her hair brush, the second one is one of my pincushions.

The 3rd and 4th are  T-pins.  Did you notice that the second one spells 'Hi?"

The last two is her glasses plus her making shadows with her hands.

I want to add that this is the reflection from the magnifying side of the mirror.  the regular side just made a little bit reflection.

During this, I found out the mirror is cracked...I have no idea how long that has been.

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The guys have been here replacing panels on our awnings that were damaged during the storm  back in May.  I assume they are done...or think they are done.  But I have been so stressed out with it...I don't even know how to explain what all is stressing about it. I took photos and sent to our claims adjuster.   He said he would reach out to the guy that is in charge of getting the repairs done. 

This morn that man called and said that he would try to come out Monday or Tuesday and check about this. 

Yesterday evening after they had gone home the wind must have kicked up a  little bit, because the one out back made so much noise I thought they were out there working it.  We got the ladder out this morn and I looked...and one piece is put on 'wrong.'   It is hard to explain...one side has a lip that is curled up, and the other side has a lip that is curled down.  The last two do not hook together.

Will hush...I hope everyone is having a nice weekend..

Almost every year...

Every year, like clockwork, soon as I start seeing Goldenrod, I start repeating the lines of a couple poems.   Let me re-phrase that...I repeat the first few lines of a couple poems.  All through childhood till now when I am an old woman, the lines from September, by Helen Hunt Jackson has run through my head.
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But then, several years ago,  I heard a different poem.  It touches my heart so...



Now I have two that go round and round...I kind of like to listen to it being read and follow along with the actual written version.  It is kind of hard to find one that pronounces everything right.  Anyway, I have shared it before, and will share again.  I hope that it is a joy for you to hear and read....

When the Frost is on the Punkin BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock, And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock, And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens, And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence; O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best, With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest, As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock, When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock. They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here— Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees, And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees; But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock— When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock. The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn, And the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn; The stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still A-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill; The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed; The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!— O, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock, When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock! Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps; And your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ... I don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be As the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me— I’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock— When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!

a bit of this and that....

Well, Lorelei spent Friday night with us, and was going to spend Saturday night but ended up with her asthma bothering her so she ended up going home.  I tell you, it is the most lonesome feeling in the world when she goes home....and was doubly so this time cause both daughters and son-in-law had been here.  It seems like we are seldom all together any more except at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Yesterday afternoon, we went to a nearby town to eat....

this isthe sky as we returned home.  I just LOVE days like this!  Nothing like a blue, blue sky with white puffy clouds.
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Today we went to Rockville...I went up there on the highway but returned via backroads.    We used to travel these backroads fairly often, but not so much any more.

We turned on this one road, that is actually the last road before we have to get on the highway again and there were these two.  They were not very scared.  There is a house  just out of view.  I told Roger, I bet they are being fed.  They are too used to people....They did hardly moved till we got right across from them and even then they just ambled off into the woods.  We pulled forward and what did we see?

This!  That is the carport they are eating on.

The second one was looking off towards the other two we had just passed. Sorry about the quality...still you can see the second deer. 

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I have not accomplished a lot today, but did clean out one cabinet....it had not been that long since I was in it so it was not bad.  But I did make the decision to put a pan and waffle iron in the donate bag.  I had not used the pan in a year or so, and it had been years since that waffle iron was used.  Maybe someone else will get some use out of it.

I also got in my fabric and 'think' I have figured out what I want to work on.  At least part of the time. It is handwork.  It has been a long time since I did any, but I used to love to sit and work on something at night while I listened and half watched something on TV.

It has not seemed like a holiday today for us since we saw the kids Friday and Saturday....but that is okay. 

I hope you have had a good weekend...and that the coming week is good to you.