All posts by Sherry

The Goldfinch

Books

Author: Donna Tartt

A quilting friend gave me this book; I was unsure about accepting it because I’ve had other friends who really didn’t like it. Even Sandra said I’d probably be bored with it about half-way through but I should carry on with it. Well I wasn’t bored at all with the story although I admit I was bored and a little annoyed by the Boris character.

Essentially the book is about a painting (The Goldfinch by Carel Fabricius) that a young Theo stole from a museum after an explosion killed his mother and traumatized him. Theo’s life wasn’t easy, living with a father who didn’t seem to care for him (and the feeling was returned), but he always took comfort in knowing he had the painting – or did he?

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Week 2 – Day Five

Journal

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Sweet Gum Leaf

I had better luck today with my block. In fact, I was finished it by 9:30 – I was up early and after the disaster yesterday I felt I should get an early start. This one finishes at 9″; I used the red fabric because I think it looks a bit like a maple leaf and because Canadians are doing a pretty good job of controlling the spread of the virus.

After my block of the day was done I completed two blocks that will end up in a donation quilt. I had one block finished but I wanted to get the last two done today and out of the way; the fabric for the rest of the blocks is at Gail’s so I won’t be able to access it for awhile. The blocks finish at 16″ so they take some time to make but the good news is that I won’t need many of them.

I wasn’t able to finish my book last night so I’ll take another crack at it now. My two knitting projects are progressing nicely and I’m enjoying switching between the two; neither is particularly complicated either so I’m able to keep up with whatever we are watching on Netflix or Prime.

Happy Birthday Dylan

Cards

March 27, 2020

Minnesota Maze (from the Splendid Sampler series)

There is nothing to connect this card to Dylan except that it was one of the few blocks I have left in the Splendid Sampler book and I’m trying to get all of them done this month.

Dylan’s card and gift are sitting in the hall waiting for a time I feel safe going out into the public. Most year’s I simply purchase a gift card and tuck it in with his “card” – I know the amount of postage I need that way. For whatever reason this year I decided to purchase an actual item so his gift will be late.

And to make it even more awkward the gift I bought is somewhat seasonal so I may end up returning it anyway (depending on how long this isolation lasts).

Week 2 – Day Four

Journal

Friday, March 27, 2020

Square Deal

I dreaded doing today’s block and with good reason. The math I did yesterday was apparently wrong, but it took me until noon to see that it wasn’t going to work. Being as stingy as I am with fabric I didn’t want to waste everything I’d done so I adjusted the pattern to more or less fit the math. The name of this block bears no resemblance to how it ended up.

I’m not sure why I didn’t want to recut the fabric – the patterned fabric is one that made the rounds at the Guild as pretty much the ugliest fabric available; in fact, we had a couple of challenges just to use it up (and I still have some left).

Now that the block is done I’m quitting. I have a good chance of finishing my book today. And I know I’m not supposed to be stressing about my productivity.