PUTTERING AND PROGRESS

Bill 'rescued' this table and yesterday I decided it was going to get repaired or removed from the garage!  I tightened all of the joint screws and then painted the wrought iron.  I painted the top portion with grey paint and will now sand the top to give it a  driftwood look.  I think the legs need about 2" cut off so that the table is level with the window ledge.  There are rubber stoppers in the bottom so that I can replace them when the leg is sawed off.  I am pleased with the look!

When it began to rain, I decided to add the two rows of blocks (to the top and bottom) with the similar but different print.  Since the original 'kit' from QOV Day was for fewer rows, I have improvised with at least the top and bottom different but matching. 

I will piece the blocks and finish seaming all of the rows today.

I like the look of this--it is 56" by 72" when completed. 

 It will need borders to the sides 

because I like to make these quilts in a generous size.

I hope to apply the binding to the other QOV I finished recently. 

 It is supposed to rain again today

 so I need to make good progress on the piecing! 

JUST LIFE

Bill met this pair at the pond the other day--they are Black Bellied Whistling Ducks;  they are a kind of tree nesting ducks but they don't quack, they really do whistle!

This guy was sunning on the driveway one morning warming up after the rain!  It is an Eastern Racer, one of the best snakes to have in your yard because while they startle you, they are good guards against rats and other vermin!

Inside, this has been the progress in the bathroom's renovation!  We are waiting now for the delivery of the glass shower doors!  Imagine, waiting for an order.....We are thrilled with our contractor's work-it looks just like we imagined!  

And if you haven't smiled yet this morning, you will now!  This is one of the early morning chats between father and son!

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The quilting is finished on this QOV and it will be turned in so that the next set of hands will put the binding on it!  Nice team work!

I used a new panto of stars and waving flags. 

 It was an enjoyable job. 

 What's next?  I will be putting the Sock Monkey quilt on the frame!

We bought this tile for the shower wall.  It is large-9 x 18". 

 It will go on in this position like bricks.  We also bought some dk brown glass subway tile for a stripe around the whole shower.  

The stripe will bring the accent color of the dark stones of the floor into the rest of the area. 

 I felt completely drained after shopping/deciding on what to get!

This is what the area looked like at the close of day yesterday!  Flooring is next!

Art Again!

As I waited for the boys the other day,

I used the hour and half to watercolor Palatka's bridge over

the St Johns River.

It was so intense, I was so lost in what I was doing,

I was almost late picking up the boys!

I was a bit rusty=I haven't touched an art brush in months!

But the joy still tingled through my brain.

Next time, I hope to try acrylics there, too!

When I got home, 
I dragged this old potting station out of the 'treasures' pile
Bill brought home years ago and didn't do anything with it at the time.
I am ready to apply the scraper and paint brush
(and a few new boards and screws)
to bring it into tip-top shape again!
It's nice to have projects so I will never be bored.....

Jelly Rolling

The wiring is almost done!  It is always interesting to add wiring to an existing house but Bill is up to the challenge! 

David does a man's work, too.  He adds the sheet rock screws after helping Bruce to carry it in!

The guys are hard at work in the basement so Marsel and I took some play time in the UFO pile! 

This Civil War reproduction quilt has been out for our project before but we found our notes and figured out what we were doing! So we got to work making the organized random blocks! 

It was hard to dig through the box so we pulled out some bars we found in the basement and set out our fabric palette! 

We weren't the only ones who thought this was a good idea!

Painting and Waiting

We began the day painting in the dungeon basement with primer which was applied to both of the outer walls which are concrete.  Then we had to wait 4 hours before adding the color coat. 

While we had to wait, Marsel did administrative work for her HOA while I got to play with the kids!  We picked out our fabrics and got to work. 

We did it!  The little pouch is finished in just a little bit of time! 

The zipper installation is a breeze;  even a kid could do it!

David enjoys a very good sew, too.  He says he is going to keep stones for his sling shot in his! 

Yup, it turned out great!  

The pattern is  here.

There is a ton of potential for this pattern and you will see it in my future!  

It sure was wonderful to play with the kids!

Here is a glimpse of the basement....

Just wait for the final unveiling....soon now!

Working Hard

In between the real work in the basement, there are still the regular chores to household running to be done-the cats add pleasure to each task!  She helped me each step even while putting them away! 

The guys have to help with the big stuff-lifting such weight is beyond our capabilities, though we do push the limits to get the job done! 

Mindy helps with the boxes of sorting and throwing away....a few treasures are staying like this book.

(I like the old lady who knits!) 

After a bit of basement work, we had to head to Abigail's casting appointment.  She has to have these series of casts for 3-4 weeks in the Spring and Fall to correct the affects of CP  to straighten her foot.

She is a trooper at all the medical appointments she has in her life!

Here is her fashionista walking boot to go over the cast.  One week of this cast then her mom removes it for a 24 hour rest and then back to the dr to get the next one for another week.  They pull her foot and straighten it a bit more each casting.  It is working great;  they have done this several times over the last 18 months and we see grand progress.

Here she is giving me the 'but Grandma' look when I said I wanted a pic of her, too, not just her foot!  She likes being behind the camera and not in front of it like me.

In the midst of all the comings and goings, we celebrated Bruce's birthday and then took off for church!  Never slow around here! 

I am making progress on sock #2....I did have  a bit of a setback and had to rip back " after the toe because I lost my place in the pattern and couldn't make it work no matter what.  Back to the drawing board was a good decision.  I only have another night's knitting and I will be done!

Preparations...

Progress happened all week against all odds!    I came down with a migraine over the weekend which did me in and then when that eased up, I came down with a head cold!    

Dishwasher is hooked up to electricity!

In spite of it all, the construction, shopping, cleaning, babysitting, wrapping and getting ready for company still took place!  Thank you , Lord for the stamina!

I smile every time I walk through my kitchen .  Still.

Progress is Slow but Steady

 I have been without a kitchen sink and therefore no kitchen water this week.....it gave a whole new twist to washing in the creek!  (BTW, it didn't work and I had to rewash everything setting up in the bathroom and using the tap water!  I forgot that the pool water is salt water and it just didn't rinse well!  Live and learn!))

 The sink installation  took all day yesterday but by evening;

 I had water!  And a new deep sink.......very gratifying.

 In between flurries of activity cleaning and helping Bill, I accomplished some spinning and swatching for the Fiber Binder Club with some Pygora and

 Mohair.  The Pygora is definitely softer by a little but they were both a good spin and knit!

Today, we conquer the dishwasher!

Helping Hands

 Goodbye old cabinets!  The musty smell is gone from the house-we found the source of 'that' smell!  Yippee!

 The guys cleaned the floor and then pieced in the new flooring so it will be level for the new cabinets!

 We took an after lunch break and took Will for a walk...he enjoyed his adventure!

Kings on the hill!

 A chilly dip ended our walk!  He loved it until his lips started to look a bit blue!  (The water is at 74F!)

Ashley helped me put up our tree during the morning nap.  The wiring died to the top of the tree...this will be the last year for this one!

During Will's afternoon nap, I introduced Ashley to the joys of sea glass drilling!  She is enthralled as much as I am!