HALF A LOG BOWL

I used half of the log to make this bowl. 

 It is the Bradford Pear wood that my grandson brought to me.

It was reputed to be a great wood to work with 

and it didn't disappoint!

I have the bowl sanded and the first layer of sanding sealer on. First thing today, I will give it a good sanding and another coat.  Then I have to head about an hour away to a doctor's appointment-not so much fun!  But I invited a friend to come along and we will go to lunch together and do a bit of Hobby Lobby shopping to sweeten the deal!

A LITTLE VISIT

My quilting buddy, Mary, invited me into a trip to the soon-to-close JoAnn's store, about an hour away.  I didn't really feel like going but I did want to pick up a few backing and background fabrics

 so I pushed myself per doctor orders. 

 Off we went-I haven't been there in more than 6 months!  

On the way, we saw this sight--very unusual for us--it's a rather grand pile of rocks!  Some company much closer to the coast must've been doing some construction (digging a foundation) and needed a place to store it before they resold it.  Where I live, you can dig more than 100' and never run into a rock but along the coast it is a different story.  The pile is 100' long and about 50' high--

a really big pile of very large boulders!

The fabric supply was fine at the closing store. I found just what I had written down to purchase but as for notions; very slim pickings!!!  The lines were atrocious--easily and hour and a half of our visit was waiting for the cutting counter and then again to cash out!  Yikes!  It was good to be with my friend but I was exhausted and glad to be back to my bed, too!  Let's be honest.

 

A HOME DAY!!!!!

Yesterday, I was on the road until 3:30 and when I came home,

 I was done in!  I sat in my recliner with Lena on my lap and didn't get up until 9:00 when I went to bed! 

 I had an eye Dr appt, ( I need new glasses with prisms to help with my double vision) 

a quick dentist appt to re-glue the temp cap 

and then to my primary care doctor! 

 In between appts I did some shopping which is Very unlike me!  But I didn't want to drive the 35 min back home and back in between things!!!  I did squeeze in a long browse at the Quilt shop and bought these three 1/2 yard pieces to help with the piano keys round on the patriotic quilt.

Today, I am going to spend some time with these batts!

 

SHOPPING GOOD COMPANY!

Since I am enjoying making these hexagons so much, I needed to buy (so much for using up all of the old stuff!) some additional yarn for more and especially the cream colored yarn! 

We found the cream and several more good colors to add to this project bin!

I also bought enough fabric to make 6 more of the NICU incubator cover quilts.

And a few more crafts for this Christmas time intrigued me!

Look at this--new blossoms are opening on my orchid!  It is a thing of beauty each day!

(Mary and I had a wonderful day together yesterday.  We went shopping, had lunch at Applebee's, did some more shopping and ended with a dr appt which went well.  It was a perfect birthday!)

 

SHOPPING TRIP

While at JoAnns yesterday, I found the right fabric for the outer border for the mini petals,

and even found a nice fabric for the backing!

Look what we saw at a park recently....it is about 18' long-what's left of it.  Google pic says it is a whip snake skeleton! 

 Who knew they had ribs!?! 

And just so I don't leave you with a snake thought--here is one of the many magnolia blooms that our tree is presenting! 

 Oh, if only you could scratch and sniff!

EXCURSION

Here is the finished quilt that my friend, Mary, made!  She completed every step herself and I am so proud of her!

I asked her to pose for posterity!  66" x 77" 

 Mary went with me to drive me to my arthritis doctor's appointment -

...and then we had fun by stopping at the fabric store!  I mostly bought fabric for backings for the three finished tops but a pattern and some fat quarters were added for fun!

She dropped me off just in time to batten my hatches 

before a very furious T-storm hit!

This is where Lena spends her time while it is LOUD outside!

And to end my day, I learned how to crochet a new block 

for the Casablanca Afghan!

Beauty is...

... a pile of fabric to back all of the quilt tops I've been making the last few months!

...a pair of socks out of a very nice yarn, Static, from KnitPicks that matched perfectly.

...a heel turned in perfection without holes of any kind!

...a lot of yarn left over from a pair of socks even though the socks have tall legs!  (1 ounce)

...a sunset that looks like the whole western sky was on fire!

...a cute new entry in the art journal that is a lot more fun than the real thing!

(another tote bag art from KnitPicks)

Yesterdays postcard was my attempt at rendering a synagogue in Budapest from Deborah's blog.

 

A Finish

 The sock yarn blanket is now in its second life-I am much happier with this one.

It is small  (36" x 40")
 but very warm for my iceburg feet to get the thaw when they need it!

 The garter kitchener stitch join turned out well if not perfectly.

I am so happy to be able to use this now!

Another day away yesterday ,
but now I have backing fabric to complete those quilt tops!

                                               Can you guess what I will be doing today?

Successful Execution

Yes, today was a successful execution of all the errands 

from Palatka to Daytona  to Palm Coast to home today. 

All purchases are for present projects;

flannel for pj's, 

books for pleasure, 

yarn in front for mittens

and in back, gifted skeins for all of my hats, etc.

The blue vinyl on the right will become seat covers for my golf cart!

The red/white/blue on top of the fabrics is for the mystery quilt

that Nancy shared in a recent post!

The triangles on the fabric under the yarn will

become Christmas banners--wait until you see them!

(I was pleasantly surprised to see that the order from Fabric.com

contained a third panel-one more than I ordered-

because a note said I got it free because it was the end of the bolt!)

Off again today after lunch--more knitting to happen on the travels!

Four B's

 Yesterday my neighbor and I took an hour's trip to our 'local' JoAnns' store 

to purchase some supplies.

I needed some batting (big sale on the king width Warm & Natural) 

and buttons for my new sweater.

The mornings have been very chilly for us and I would like to wear it to church tomorrow!

 I also needed some backing for the lap size quilt I am finishing up!

It is a perfect match-I will be back for more

 since I am going to turn all of these blocks into several quilts not just one big one!

And then I was lured into purchasing some beige strips 

to go with this one for either a rail fence or log cabin lap quilt!

The B's won out on this shopping trip!