Category Archives: Journal

Out in the yard

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

My alarm went off at six but I persuaded myself to stay in bed until I woke again at seven. I had a lot to do today but I didn’t actually have to go anywhere so I thought I’d take advantage of that extra hour.

My first task for the day was to get outside and do some yard work. I cleaned up one side of the patio – it was overgrown with weeds sprouting out of the spaces between the bricks. While I was at it I cleaned out a couple of containers. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go out and get a couple of geraniums to stick in those pots. Our snap dragons are heading into their third year but I can see buds coming on them so I won’t disturb them.

My “D” bed (daisies and dahlias) needed some cleaning out and I got that done. The daisies overgrow everything and that is fine with me – they choke out the weeks. The dahlias show no sign of sprouting yet, but it is early.

I did a bit of easy weeding (mostly bindweed) in another section of the yard but I was getting tired and I still had to deal with the grass. I got our lawn (and I use the word loosely as the clover and other weeds are quite prevalent) cut and I hauled the mower out to the boulevard. There are some nice, tiny purple flowers growing out there; they are very close to the ground and most of them survived the mower. There are also a lot of California Poppies and Alyssum growing so cutting just the grass is a bit complicated.

By the time that was done I was done. This afternoon I got some work done for tomorrow. I’m doing some set-up for a Guild display in the morning and I needed to some printing. I’ve got cutting done for sewing tomorrow afternoon and I finished my reports for tomorrow night’s Guild meeting.

I should have been quilting but I decided to cut out the pieces from the project I worked on at retreat. It wasn’t all that difficult to cut but I’m still glad I didn’t attempt it with a crowd around.

Now, in order to avoid that quilting even longer, I think I’ll work on the minutes from our Board meeting.

Another day of sewing

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Our Board meeting last night was lively and long. I took Moreen along as she thought she might join the Board and take over my secretarial duties. She was quiet on the way home and I assured her that there was no pressure to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with. She talked to me today and said she was a little stressed after the meeting; she’ll still join the Board but she won’t take over a particular position. That’s okay as we always need someone to fill in or pick up the slack somewhere.

After a full weekend of sewing it was odd to be back at it again today. I almost got my HST quilt top put together. Fortunately before I added the last three rows someone noticed a block that was turned the wrong way. Barb says it will be easy to take out and repair a bit of the block; I’m not so sure but worst case I’ll have to take apart the row and the block and get it all back together the right way.

I had a couple of stops to make on my way home – the bank and the library. I was quick at both places. I had a Guild return to take back to Walmart but I decided to save that for another day.

I have to meet a renter at the Hall tonight but until then I’m going to work on some cards that are due very soon.

Great weekend

Monday, April 29, 2019

What a fun weekend; I’m happy to report that I was very productive too. I did some work on every project I took with me, except for cards (which really should have been the first thing I worked on).

We did two group projects – one a small bag (filled with personal care products) that we will donate to our women’s shelter. The other was a small thread catcher that I’ll carry with me as it folds flat. I enjoyed making the cosmetic bag but I won’t be making any more of the thread catchers.

I finished another clue in my Mystery Quilt. Just one clue left before it is ready for a pieced border.

I made a small donation top from a pattern I bought in Houston. It takes just one yard each of three fabrics so when I see something on sale I’ll know just how much to buy to make something useful.

I made a good start on my miniature for the month. This piece will be cut up and sewn back together; hopefully it will look something like the pattern. I missed the part that said each block was 1.75″ – oh my, that’s small.

I caught up on my Guild Block of the Month and I made a good start on the extra blocks I’m making for myself.

And last, but certainly not least, I finished all the blocks for my Half-Square Triangle quilt.