Wednesday, February 28, 2018

It’s the end of the month so my monthly UFO Challenge project will be tucked away and tomorrow I’ll find out what my new project will be. I must say this is the most motivating UFO challenge I’ve done. As they say, a month is enough time to make significant progress on something but yet not so long that I’m bored with it.

I started February with the turquoise and burgundy strips that I was given at the Texada Retreat. I had a pattern picked out but that was it.

I’m ending the month with twelve blocks finished and fabric cut for eight more. I’ve done a quick mock-up of a quilt design that will more than fit the bed I want to use it on but I’m going to need almost twice as many blocks.

I’ll be taking this project to the Spring Retreat in April so I’ll see it again soon!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

I was up early this morning waiting for the mechanic to show up. The battery charged just fine last night but I knew it would. What I don’t know (and want desperately to know) is what is draining it. Mechanic says could be a glitch somewhere in the electronics and it might be impossible to find. I have some ideas though for the next time it does this – disconnect the radio and the seat warmers. I never use either of them and it could be something like that causing the problem. I’m also wondering about my hazard lights; one time after a dead battery, when things charged up, the flashers were on when I started the car. Today when I came out of the library and went to start the car the flashers (on the inside) were shown as on although they weren’t flashing on the outside. Would I be safe without my hazards?

Since I was up and about early I got a couple of loads of laundry done before noon. I also sandwiched a quilt; unfortunately it was done on my hands and knees on the floor so I’m very achy now. I took some pain killers right away but I’ll have to repeat them before bed as I can already feel the aches coming back. I’ve had cramps in my feet all day as well – oh how I suffer for my fun!

Since my car was working I made a trip out to take care of a few errands. I dropped a couple of cross stitch patterns off to a friend and then headed to the library. I had a book to return and one that I had placed on hold that was ready to pick up. Over the last couple of days I’ve added a couple of books to my “Want to Read” list and they were available on the library shelves so I came home with three new books. Since I spent a very enjoyable afternoon yesterday reading I decided to do the same today. But I’ll have to rearrange my schedule a bit if I hope to get three more read before their due dates.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Pat left for Texada this morning and I decided not to delay any longer in getting a quilt sandwiched. I’m using flannel as a backing so once I had the back pieced together I stuck it in the wash. I’ve picked out a quilting pattern and I’m hoping it can be enlarged enough to work. Even if it is too cold to spray-baste on the back step, I’m going to pin-baste it on my hands and knees on the floor.

With that decided I called my sewing machine service guy. I think before I get on a quilting stretch I should have my machine cleaned professionally. While I waited on a call back from him I finished another two blocks for my Bloom quilt. I also decided on a layout that will more than fit the bed I want it on but I’m going to need a lot more blocks to do it. I’m not sure how much longer my turquoise and burgundy strips will last but I hope I’ve got enough.

It was lunch by the time I made arrangements to drop my machine off this afternoon. Cam is working the next couple of days but he said if I got it over this afternoon he would get it started. In the back of my mind I thought I’d better start the car; when I went out to do that it was too late – the battery was dead.

Since Pat was gone I had no easy boost so I called my mechanic – they need to figure out what is draining the battery or I’m going to dump it in a ditch somewhere – provided I can get it started. Someone will come by after the shop closes this afternoon and put a battery charger on it until tomorrow. Then we’ll see what happens next.

So, while we sort all that out, my machine can’t get cleaned, sewing is likely a no-go for tomorrow, as is my trip to the library to return one book and pick up another (unless I walk). I also had another stop to make but that one can wait indefinitely.

When I called Pat to vent he suggested I spend the afternoon reading so that is exactly what I did. I’m still mad, but I’m enjoying my book.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

It was bright and sunny out when I got up this morning but half an hour later it was snowing; you could see it coming toward us from across the Strait. But within half an hour it was all gone and the sun was back; there was no accumulation at all and had I slept later I would never have known it happened.

I started my day by cleaning up my cutting table and studio. I hadn’t trimmed any scraps for a couple of weeks and the scrap bucket was overflowing. I’ve made four more blocks for my Bloom quilt; I cut fabric out for 20 blocks (which is what the pattern calls for) but I want to make it larger so I’ll have more cutting to do. Bloom was my UFO Challenge Number for the month. At the beginning of the February challenge all I had was a pattern but now I have 10 blocks made. There may still be time to make a few more blocks before I see what my challenge for March might be.

I’m going to finish off the afternoon with some crocheting, and then I’ll move on to knitting tonight.