Quilters Thread

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Weather continues mild - 72 right now but with overcast skies. But no need for a/c or even a fan, probably until later.

Because the cleaners were here yesterday, I got up earlier than I like to - so I pretty much was wiped out for the rest of the day. I tried to nap after they left, but maybe got a few minutes. Then, I fixed a beef stew for dinner - cooking it in the oven for 2-1/2 hours so the meat would be very tender. I cut it up into 1-inch pieces, and added the usual chopped onions, celery, carrots and potatoes. So, I was able to eat that meal with comfort.

The problem is that I must continue to wash out my mouth regularly - to avoid further irritation especially to my abscessed tooth. My appt. with the Endodontist isn't for another 2 weeks.

Sounds like you got a lot of cutting and piecing done - getting back into the old rhythm. Good for you! Instead of sewing yesterday, when I was able to move around, I did more laundry - and of course, that means lots of folding and storing. Especially so, because I wait so long to get to it - especially the sheets and towels. Anyway, I'm almost caught up - but still have more to get to.

We're going to an outdoor produce market in a while - to find some good fruit hopefully. I have leftovers for dinner and maybe I'll get to cutting the black strips I need.

Stay well and enjoy your projects.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and that you were able to get some good produce yesterday.

I'm glad you were able to cook the beef stew and it was tender so you could eat it.

I had a surprise visit from a relative yesterday (they were in town for a quick business trip). I hadn't seen them for 10 years, so it was nice to visit and we out to eat a meal together. They wanted to get some crab dishes since where they live the crabs aren't fresh like they are here. (Just wanted to let you know I use the word "they" just for privacy, since I know people can read our thread without being a board member.)

I went out earlier to run a few errands and then I cut some fabric for a quilt block, but haven't gotten around to put it together. I did finish machine quilting and binding my table topper yesterday and realized that I should have added a small border since I lost some points on my half square triangles. I'll remember that if I make another one in this pattern, which I probably will.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Yesterday was a pretty exciting day out here - weather-wise. It started out routinely enough, sunny skies - up to 80 degrees. However, as the weather predictions warned us, all changed by 8:30 PM as we watched the black storm clouds come in from the southwest - and they brought with them deluges of rain, strong winds, and thunder and lightning - thousands of lightning strikes throughout our region - power outages - downed trees - who knows what all. We were warned to batten down the hatches - but especially where our son & DIL live. They lost power but their generators were put into operation so their appliances and heating/ac could operate as needed. The strong downpour of rain continue for several hours - then abated - and then came back early morning in full force - finally stopping by morning. And now, we have mostly blue skies - with many puffy cumulus clouds scattered throughout. Don't know if they'll bring more rain eventually. 

Luckily, we are in the city and we seldom have power outages; also our house is on a hill which protects us from any direct hits from the south - or the north. We can watch the storm come in - from our picture windows which gives us a panoramic view of the horizon - but we don't usually receive the full brunt of any harsh impact. Just listened to the thunder and heard the pouring rain - most welcome however.

I did get my latest fabric purchases all prepared with zigzagging and they are now washed and dried and ready for when I need them. I want to cut my black strips today.

However, I was on the phone earlier with our niece for almost an hour and I still have the gathering of trash/recycle for pickup tomorrow.

What a nice treat for you that you had a visitor and a dinner out - the crabs in your region are delicious. Our DD's former father-in-law treated me to a crab dinner at a well-known seafood restaurant and a tour of Baltimore when I visited back there (they lived in Silver Spring) over 20 years ago now. How close are you to the coast? I often wonder whether you can easily get to the seashore.

Lots yet to do today - but at least all our greenery has had a good long drink of water - and fire danger is eased somewhat. However, often the lightning strikes start new fires too.

Stay well - and enjoy your projects.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well and having nicer weather today. That weather the other day sounds crazy! I'm glad you didn't have any problems from it and that your DS has a generator. It's been pretty nice here, I've missed most of the heavy rain storms that have gone through the area.

I'm probably about 30-45 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, but several hours to go over to the Eastern Shore on the ocean. But the crabs are very plentiful in the bay and rivers around here this time of year. I haven't had a crab cake in a few years, I should get one before the end of Summer.

I haven't done much quilting. I did pull out the English Paper Piecing project yesterday and started sewing some of the hexagons together. I hope I can keep working on them until I get them done. There are 14 of them to put together into a Grandmother's Flower Garden shape.

I went out and bought some more glue traps and I'm hoping to pick up all the old ones in the garage this week and sweep out the garage, spray some bug spray and then put down new traps. We're supposed to have a few days in the 70s, so I might try some outside bug spraying too. I saw another large spider in my quilt supply room yesterday!

I had a strange thing happen today. I received an email from the company that I had hired on an as needed basis to mow my lawn at the house until I sold the house. It appears they had come to the house today and cut the grass and were sending me an invoice/bill for the cutting! I emailed and called them back and told them I hadn't requested any mowing from them and that I sold the house in July, so I have no legal right to have anything done there and I wasn't paying the bill.

I can't figure out why they would just show up there after two months of me not contacting them. I'll have to keep an eye on my credit card to make sure they don't charge it, even though I only input the number each separate time when I used them, so I don't think they would have it. I just think it was a strange thing to do. I could even understand if they had contacted me first to see if I wanted the grass mowed, but to just show up is weird.

Stuff like this stresses me out, I just need some peace and quiet Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's finally back to normal out here - mid 70s - no wind or rain - some clouds - but nothing out of the ordinary - just the way we like it. And though, we may get a shower or two coming up, our weather will become more seasonable as we approach the end of August.

I'm busy with laundry and watching the DNC Convention in Chicago this week. I know several delegates at the convention and have been invited to a TV Watch Party taking place here in a nearby venue for the final session speeches. But no way would I venture out to an evening affair like that any more - though I often did so in the past.

Sorry you had the hassle with the mowing company - that would definitely stress me out too. Hope that's the end of it and that you don't get a bill. Thanks for letting me know your geographical location in MD. It sounds similar to our location as to Puget Sound and then to the ocean - about a 3 hour drive.

Haven't cut the black strips yet - but will do so when I get the mounds of laundry folded and put away (while watching the convention).

Stay calm and enjoy your paper-piecing project.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm glad your weather is back to normal. It's only in the 70s here today, so nice

I spent some time this morning sweeping out the garage and spraying bug spray inside the garage and then outside along the house. I'll be interested to see if this cuts down on the bugs.

Wait until you hear this "plot twist" to the story about me getting the bill for the yard being mowed yesterday. A relative of mine happened to be in the area of my old house so they drove by and took some pictures and shared them with me. The picture the lawn company sent me shows the garage the way it used to be, and the picture my relative took yesterday shows how the garage has now been painted (it really needed painting!). So now I know the lawn company did not take those pictures yesterday!!

I really want to send them the new picture but I already sent an email yesterday explaining that I didn't own house anymore and hadn't requested service. My relative said he would just leave it at that if it was him, so I think I'll just let it go and see if they get back to me. Hopefully I won't hear from them again. I thought that possibly they had mixed up my house with another account, so I can maybe give them the benefit of doubt.

I'm hoping to get to some quilting today, I'm thinking about cutting up some leftover fabrics from a few quilt alongs and maybe trying a block from the 2024 quilt along by "A Quilting Life". I really miss the monthly quilt alongs, they motivate me to do things.

Take care and have a good day!

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Yesterday, we had some rain again - but it didn't last long and it stayed close to 70 throughout the day, cooling down in the evening and overnight. Today, it's cloudy and still in the high 60s but no rain yet - nor is any expected. Just our normal "gloom" out here - but we're not complaining. 

How interesting that a relative drove by your place to check it out, which gave you information about the mowing company. Doesn't sound like they're going to get away with charging you for work not contracted - nor done either. So glad that you found out about it.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having to do that spraying to get rid of pests. We're thankful for our pest control contract - they come every 2 months and do all the spraying.

I did cut all the black strips yesterday and today I'm starting to move around the flying geese to find the best arrangement. Next will be sewing the center piece together with the strips and the FG.

We continue to watch the DNC convention - speeches by the Obamas last night were electrifying.

Today is our DDIL's birthday and I've sent her gift cards through email and she's happy to be able to shop for either home goods or her craft items. We'll go up there next week and bring lunch. We just can't connect this week.

So, it's beginning to look like fall weather out here - seems like it's come so suddenly. But it's better than the sizzling temperatures we had in late July and early August. We may even have to put away our a/c units. But we'll wait awhile first.

Stay well and enjoy your quilt-along blocks.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm glad your temperatures have remained cool and I hope that you'll be able to put away your AC units soon. I used to love it when I could do that back at my house.

I see that the new owners have put in a HVAC system (saw the compressor outside), so that should help my old house stay cool better. I'm interested to see if they pulled out all the radiators since they wouldn't be using oil for heat anymore, I guess.

We've had a few days that have felt like Fall today, the sky today is a pretty blue with puffy clouds - makes me want to go sit outside. I just feel like I'm kind of living in a fishbowl here and everyone would be looking at me. Guess I shouldn't worry about it.

Thanks for your sympathy on the bugs. The garage looks really nice now and I'll keep on top of sweeping up/out any dead bugs. I haven't seen that many on the glue traps yet so hopefully the spraying helped. A few mornings ago when I went into my bathroom there was a spider on the mirror over the sink!! I could deal with little small spiders in corners, but this was like a daddy long legs - I got a paper and killed it - yuck!

I haven't done any quilting in the last few days. I actually put back all the fabric I'd pulled out to cut up, just didn't feel like getting into that. I had an appointment in another town today and there was a quilt shop there, so I stopped by and picked up some fabric. I'm looking at fabrics now for the Pat Sloan quilt along that starts in September. I have a few ideas about a theme, so I'll see how they work out.

I've also seen several small table runner and table topper projects that I might work on. I don't feel like working on something big right now. Hope you can keep working on your quilt.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's cloudy but not cold and no rain so far - in the high 60s.  A little sunshine appears now and then. Still more like autumn weather than end of August - but no complaints!

I'm working on the quilt today. Discovered I needed a few more FG in a certain color - so that's what I'm doing right now.

Glad to hear that you're free of any trouble from your old house and that the new owners are able to upgrade. I wish that would happen here when it has to be sold. But more likely, our house will be either totally torn down or totally rebuilt. The property is way more valuable than the house itself - tax-wise anyway.

Heard your MD governor speak at the DNC yesterday. He's considered a rising star - sure made a good impression!

Otherwise, I'll cook a simple meal tonight as we watch the final day of the DNC.

I've talked to DD - and texted with DDIL today. They are both pumped up with enthusiasm after listening to the DNC speakers and candidates. I'm about to eat my "late" lunch as I do most days. And I'm looking forward to having another juicy peach which we found at the outdoor market. DH went back to get some more, we liked them so well. 

Stay well and glad you were able to buy "more" fabric - that's always fun.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day. It's pretty nice here, around 80 and no rain.

I'm glad you found some good peaches, I used to love having those every summer and would go to an orchard to get them. But there aren't as many orchards around here anymore.

I went out earlier since I saw that the Special K Pumpkin Spice cereal is in stores already. I really like that cereal, so I bought several boxes. I can't believe all the pumpkin things are already out, it almost takes away from the enjoyment of October and November.

I pulled some bagged fabric things from my shelves today and put them back in a better order. But I'm happy with how I have these stored. These are mostly fabrics from a specific line, and I don't want to separate them and put them with regular yardage or fat quarters. But I'm thinking maybe I should do that if I'm not going to make another project with them. I guess I'll figure it out later.

I did cut some fabrics for two table toppers and I just need to starch the fabric and cut the pieces. I'm hoping I can get that done later today so I can piece them this weekend. I've been feeling kind of "blah" and not motivated to do anything, so I hope to push myself to do something.

Hope you get to work on your quilt too.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Rain - cloudy - cold - not yet 60 today. So, we definitely are having an early fall. Turned on our fireplaces even! But it's good sleeping weather. And it is expected to clear up next week and warm up.

I worked on the FG yesterday that I need for my Magic quilt. They are waiting to be sewn together - have them all cut out and squares pinned on the rectangles.

Nothing much else going on - have to put in a grocery order for pickup tomorrow. We are very low on many standard items. Didn't want to fuss with it while we had the convention to view. Now, it's over and sort of "back to normal."

Trying to figure out where to order lunch for our trip to DIL's next week. It's hard to please all of us - as she eats no meat - and we don't eat the same type of food that she and our DS enjoy either. Maybe Panera's will do the trick - but I'd like to try an Italian restaurant that has on-line ordering and pickup - for their panini sandwiches. Waiting to hear from DDIL.

It sure does seem early for pumkpin-anything right now and I agree that October & November are more appropriate months. But our weather seems to think that it's time for autumn!

I'll do some more sewing later today. And you're making me think of all the sorting and organizing that I'll have to do after this magic quilt is done - hopefully by Christmas! Ha Ha Ha

Stay well.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and good weather. It's been warmer here, in the 80s with some humidity.

Hope you can figure out where to get lunch for next week, I'm sure it will be good and you'll enjoy the visit with family. I'm glad you've been able to spend some time on your quilt too.

went over to my DB and DSIL's house yesterday and we had hamburgers off of the grill, which was so nice. My DB has a gas grill, but I really like the old charcoal grill hamburgers I had when I was a kid. I spent the afternoon visiting with them, which is nice.

My DSIL and I have talked for years about getting a longarm quilting machine and frame to share and we talked about it again. We are going to go to shop that is about 60 miles away since they have these machines on display and let you try them out. If we do like it I'm really going to try to get us to buy one. Just thinking about finishing some of my quilts makes me happy. She would keep it at her house since she has a better area to set it up, but I'm only 15 minutes away, so I could go over often.

After finishing the apple table topper I realized I could make a whole series of these using all the novelty fabric I have that I never could figure out how to use. One yard of the novelty fabric goes for the 5 squares on the front and there is just enough to use rest for the backing. I tried out another fabric and made the top yesterday. This time I put the small border around it so I wouldn't lose my points like I did on the apple one.

I have fabric cut for another one that I hope to get done today. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: We finally saw sunshine today - and it's warmed up into the low 70s. For the past 2 days, we've had October-like weather - barely reaching 60 degrees and quite cold and rainy all around for this time of year. But - evidently, summer is coming back and temperatures will get up into the higher 70s by the end of next week - and maybe even reach 80. So, we haven't put away the a/c units yet. But we have turned on the gas fireplace furnaces & I've even turned on the big furnaces during the evening hours. 

So, yesterday was grocery pickup day and storing. I did finish the extra FG for the quilt but I haven't worked on the design layout just yet.

I like the very colorful blocks you've posted, especially the one with the wide red strips. I'm thinking I may have to add a narrow band around one side of my FG to insure that the points don't get cut off. But then, maybe I won't bother.

Nice to hear that your DB and DSIL live closer to you and that getting a long-arm quilting machine would work out for both of you. That's a good way to share the expense. Yes, I remember the days of hamburgers grilled on "real" fire too. But we got a gas grill many years ago. But these days, it lies idle outside - not used at all. DH is not an avid "griller," and we don't eat much beef anyway. And we prefer our chicken cooked in an oven.

Today was gathering day for trash pickup tomorrow. And I watched the Mariners' baseball game, which they won. 

We still haven't decided on what kind of takeout our DDIL wants us to get for our trip up there on next Wednesday. My mouth is a bit better and I'm being very careful of the types of food I'm eating and to rinse out my mouth with warm salt water.

Enjoy the last of your warm summer days - just about 3-1/2 weeks to go before autumn officially arrives.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well and that it doesn't get too warm again. We're supposed to have some really hot weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, hopefully that's the last of it for this summer.

I'm glad to hear your mouth is a bit better and hope it continues to improve.

I'm really hoping that my DSIL and I can get the longarm machine. I've been watching videos of quilters using them and I think I'd be O.K. with just basic quilting. The machine we are looking at is the Handi Quilter Moxie or Moxie XL.

This morning I finished making another small table topper. This one has a print with houseplants on it and I'm making it as a gift for my DSIL since she loves her houseplants and she's really good at growing them and taking care of them. I ordered some golf themed fabric from Etsy and I'm going to use that to make a table topper for my DB. So I can give each of them a table topper. They have plenty of small decorative quilts in their house since my DSIL is really great at applique and makes lots of small pieces, but hopefully they'll find a place to put the table toppers I give them.

I also have all my half square triangles ready to update August on my Temperature quilt and hope to get that done. After that I'd like to work on a table runner I saw a pattern for that has maple leaves on it. It would be nice to have that ready for Fall.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: We had more rain yesterday and last night - today, it's still cloudy - but some sunlight is beginning to filter through the cloud cover. It's in the mid 60s - and we expect warmer weather tomorrow.

I looked at that long arm quilting machine - and you're lucky that your SIL and you can finance it. Pretty expensive! Glad you're happy with knowing you'll be able to finish all your quilts.

I'm doing a Costco order today - and going to the bank - and getting some items for our lunch outing tomorrow with our DDIL. We've decided on a restaurant - but she still hasn't told me which sandwich she wants to order.

Our DD is in Alaska for a "bucket list" outing with a friend. They flew into Anchorage and then drove to a small town with good views of Denali. They also took a river trip and taken other sight-seeing tours. I've never been to Alaska - but my DH used to take business trips up there pretty often - to Anchorage and Fairbanks. Our older son worked on a fishing boat for a while in the Bering Sea when he was in his early 20s. And my father worked on a fishing boat in Alaska for many years - in the late 20s and 30s. I have no desire to take an Alaska cruise with hordes of people inundating those small towns to buy "souvenirs." Our DD has arranged a trip that's more personal and provided her with breathtaking views of Denali.

I still have to arrange the FG on the magic quilt. But this week is pretty filled up - with our being away tomorrow, the cleaners on Thursday, and my dental appt. on Friday.

Have fun with making your table toppers - good idea to make gifts for your DB and SIL.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I hope you had a wonderful lunch with your DDIL and going out was in nice weather. It's very hot here today with heat indexes over 100 degrees! It's supposed to cool down after this.

How exciting for your DD to get to go to Alaska and fulfill a bucket list item. Hope she is having a great time.

esterday I spent awhile starching and cutting up fabrics for some quilt blocks. I might do these as a one block a day project. They are snowball blocks, so they would be easy to put together. The fabrics I used were leftovers from a fat quarter bundle and I still have fabric left after already making another quilt. I organized the leftover fabric and cut some pieces into 2.5 inch strips and squares, so it will be ready for another project.

I also updated my August temperature quilt blocks, just a few more days and that month will be done. I think I will be able to have an orange tree for August 31st, so I'm happy about that.

I hoped to do some quilting today, but I'm not sure if I'll get to it. I went out this morning to get printer ink and pick up a few other things at Walmart. I hadn't changed my printer ink since I moved here, so it's lasted over 9 months which is pretty good.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ:  It's sunny today - as it was yesterday. It was in the higher 60s yesterday but today - it's going to get into the high 70s. This weather sure is crazy - cold last night - the furnace came on and it was set at 65 - and today, we'll be boiling. But yesterday, it was so nice - even in the 60s.

Our trip to visit our DDIL yesterday went beautifully. We picked up our sandwich order on the way and we ate together at her dining room table. We visited and laughed and cried and had a wonderful time. We even sang Happy Birthday to her with her favorite cupcakes that we brought. We stayed until our DS got home from work so we could at least chat with him for a while. (He was jealous that he didn't get "in" on the party. But originally, I wanted to take DDIL out to lunch but she couldn't leave her ailing senior dog. And she didn't want me driving up there and back "alone." So my DH got in on the fun too.)

Today, the cleaners are here - and I did a lot of tidying up last night - so all is ready for them. And tomorrow, I go to the U.W. Dental Clinic again for an endodontist appointment for my abscessed tooth. 

Otherwise, my flying geese are waiting for me to arrange them. But your sewing more than makes up in quilting activity for my absence from my sewing room. I wonder some times how did I ever get my DD's quilt finished - lots of midnight oil was how I did it. And I just can't manage the late-late night sewing anymore. That's why, I guess - unless, it's simple piecing.

I'm tired and hate getting up too early - so I'll probably nap after the ladies are gone.

Stay well and enjoy your sewing.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and good weather. It's cooler here today, but cloudy. We had some strong storms last night.

I'm happy to hear you had a wonderful visit and lunch with you DDIL and that you were able to see your DS too.

I cut some fabrics yesterday for a project I'd started a month or so ago and put aside. It was supposed to be 49 Jacob's Ladder quilt blocks, but I decided to cut it down to just 30 blocks, since I wasn't that happy with how they were looking. So I have everything cut to make the HST and 4 patch blocks and hope I can get those made over the next week or so.

I also tried out a few star blocks in some fabric I liked and they turned out alright. I have some ShooFly blocks to put together too, from a bunch of HSTs that I cut the wrong size for a project, so I'll be working on those.

Hope you can spend some time on your quilting too. Have a good weekend!

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's hot today - at 85 degrees - no clouds - slight breeze - I'm staying in - no a/c yet. DH went to walk around the house - and I told him he should wait until it gets cooler - but he went anyway.

Yesterday we went to the dental clinic and the verdict from the Endodontist is - the tooth has to be pulled and no root canal can be done - it's infected all the way down to the end of the root - I saw the X-rays. So, he's referred me to an extraction specialist (it's a lower back tooth) and I expect to hear sometime this next week. In the meantime, I'm continuing the salt water mouth rinsing - and I also used a cold compress last night and Tylenol. The trip itself went fine - didn't take as long as before and we were home by 4pm.

Today, I'm taking it easy - we have football AND baseball games to watch. And I'll try to move around the FG on the quilt layout on the dining room table.

You've got a plan and are moving forward. Good for you! 

I'll be happy when my tooth is "gone." I was given several possible ways to proceed after the extraction heals - and I'm not sure which I'll choose - except I will not have an implant. That takes a year - and is the most expensive. At my age, it doesn't make sense. I may just do nothing too!

Hope all is well with you too - and that your weather is more comfortable for you.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - That was a hot day for your yesterday, hope it's cooler today. It's cooler here but humid. Hope you are enjoying the football games.

Sorry to hear about your tooth needing to be extracted. Hope you can get that done with no problems. I had a tooth pulled years ago and started the process for an implant but then decided to just get a bridge. I can understand your reasoning not to get an implant at this point.

I finished piecing the Shoo Fly blocks yesterday and have a stack of fabrics ready to make the half square triangles for the Jacob's Ladder blocks. Then I got distracted thinking about other projects and started cutting fabrics for something else I want to try

I had hoped to get the fabric I ordered from Etsy in the mail yesterday, but it didn't come so I guess it won't be here until Tuesday. I need it to make the table topper for my DB.

I'm also going to try to make a block a day for the whole month of September and at the end I'll have the 30 blocks needed for a small quilt. The blocks are just snowball blocks, so they'll be quick to make each day. This is the one I already cut all the fabric pieces for.

My DB and DSIL haven't mentioned going to look at the longarm machines, guess I'm going to have to talk to them about it. I'd sure like to try one out and see if we do want to buy one. I've been watching lots of videos of people using them and I think it would be a good way to get at least some of my quilt tops finished.

Take care and have a good day

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's another nice day - some overhead high clouds though - but still at 83 degrees - and no a/c needed inside yet. We managed yesterday without a/c too. The difference this time around is that the days are shorter, so the sun sets earlier - about 7:45pm - and it begins to cool down pretty quickly - so our nights are quite comfortable - getting down to the high 50s. We're getting a cool-down tomorrow, with temps in the high 70s.

Comcast has a dispute with the Big Ten football league, where our UW Huskies are playing this year - so our UW game was NOT telecast yesterday. That's pissed off lots of people in our area. I'll be calling them sometime today to express our displeasure as well - since we pay for all the big football conference telecasts. However, we were still able to view other games across the country - my DH has several favorites that he follows.

Just heard from our DD who got back from her Alaska trip last night. She has come down with Covid. She's on Paxlovid but will be sheltering and working at home this next week. Since she had so many opportunities for infection: airplane, restaurants, glacier-viewing cruise ship, crowds, etc. So, we won't be going near her or vice versa for a while. Her birthday is next Sunday, and I'll try to make her the peach pie she loves and we'll deliver it to her front porch. (Or half of it, anyway.)

Quilt pieces are still waiting for me on the dining room table.

Glad to hear that you've got projects to keep up with this next month. Hope you can get together with your DB and DSIL to get that long-arm quilting machine.

Stay cool - and enjoy your projects.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and good weather. It's been pretty nice here (although I haven't been outside for two days to really know )

Sorry to hear about the football game not being broadcasted, it's really crummy how these cable companies have so much control over the customers.

I'm sorry to hear about your DD getting Covid, hope she feels better soon. Seems like Covid is really spreading around right now. I'm sure she'll love a peach pie when you make it for her.

I was able to finish updating my Temperature quilt today and I'm happy that all my trees so far have been different colors. I'm hoping for a green tree either in October or December - that would be temperatures in the 40s (so maybe December). I'd love to have a purple tree for December, but temps in the 30s in December haven't happened much anymore. It will be interesting to see what October's tree is.

I also made my one block a day snowball block. I'm hoping to get the backing and batting cut for the table toppers I've been working on. I have two made and need to make the one for my DB when the golf themed fabric gets here (hopefully tomorrow). I'd like to get the ones I'm gifting quilted and bound before the weekend.

Take care

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and good weather.

It was a lot cooler here today, in the 70s and low humidity. I kind of miss being able to be out in my yard at my old house, it's not as easy to sit out here (at least I don't feel as comfortable). There are nice sidewalks in this neighborhood and I've thought about doing a bit a walking once it gets cooler. I wouldn't go too far from my house, but I might try it and see if I feel comfortable/safe.

I received the golf themed fabric this afternoon and I've already cut all the pieces needed and I just need to piece the blocks to get the top together. I've also made the binding for three of these small table toppers and I have the backing and batting ready. I'm hoping to get the golf quilt top finished this evening and then I'll be ready to pin the sandwiches together and machine quilt them - maybe tomorrow.

Hope you are able to work on your quilt this week. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Weather was mild today - but overcast again. However, the sun did come out in the late afternoon and then it was quite pleasant.

We had company for lunch today - a dear friend who was a close colleague of mine during my activist days. He's a single man who has raised his daughter from infancy, and who is just now in early retirement, from a high-tech job. He was in a serious accident about a year ago - where he was hit and run over by a van near his apartment. He suffered normal abrasions and bruising from the incident - but the most serious injury was to his mouth and teeth. So, he's just finally received his new implant all along the front of his mouth. It was so nice to see him looking like his former self.

I served a light lunch of cold cuts, bread, cheeses, chips, lettuce, tomato, fruit and condiments to make our own sandwiches. I also served iced tea and small pieces of frosted carrot cake. We ate and then spent the rest of the afternoon in good conversation. He didn't leave until almost 7:00 pm.

Yesterday, I picked up a grocery order and got the house tidied up and ready for our company today.

I love your temperature quilt blocks. And sounds like you're really making good progress on the quilt for your brother. Anxious to see that "golf" fabric.

Tomorrow it will be much warmer out here and the weekend will bring temperatures in the high 80s again - even nearing 90. So, summer just won't leave us alone.

I hope you do take a walk around your neighborhood - just start by taking an initial short time away - with your cell phone - and then perhaps you'll expand the walk in the days ahead as you feel more comfortable.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day. That's so wonderful that you had your dear friend over for lunch and that you were able to visit for so long. It sounds like you had a great time.

I got both of the table toppers machine quilted and the binding stitched on to the back. Now I just need to turn the binding and sew it on to the front, which I hope to get done tomorrow. I did a bit more machine quilting on these pieces since I'm giving these away. I usually do less quilting on my own pieces.

I took a picture of the back of the table topper with the golf fabric and I'll show that to you when I get the binding done on both pieces. The other fabric is all house plants since my DSIL is so good at taking care of hers and she enjoys them.

Sorry you're still having hot weather. It's been very nice here, but I haven't been out anywhere for a few days, so I've mostly missed the good weather. But I know they'll be more later.

Take care