Hibernation Weather Projects

It has been a week of dour weather--cold, rainy, chilly, biting wind.

Other than a foray to scrounge in the charity shop and pick up salad makings at the market on Tuesday, I have been 'holed up' in the basement family room.

I've built a nice fire each afternoon, replayed the Outlander books CD's as I worked.

Last evening I had the 25 blocks completed for Gina's quilt and we did 'layout' on the king-sized bed.

I've long thought it would be nice to have a 'design wall', but as my quilt projects tend to grow to large dimensions it would really take a 'wall' to hold them and a stepladder to reach the upper rows.

G. wanted to have her 'favorite' of the blocks all in the center row.

I pointed out that we needed to balance color placement in both block designs and their backgrounds, so she quickly began shifting blocks until we had achieved a nice arrangement.

I marked and stacked the blocks and headed downstairs.

I finished the vertical 'sashing' strips; next session will be 'cornerstones,' horizontal sashing, and finally the borders.

 G. insists that she cannot use a tape measure or ruler.

[I think she likes to have me measure and cut things and therefore doesn't tackle it.]

She found a Shabby Chic sheet in a rosebud pattern that is good for her upstairs decor.

In a Sunday afternoon sewing session we split the sheet lengthwise and I cut it to allow for a good hem and the rod pocket.

I pressed up hems and G. borrowed her father's reading glasses to peer at the stitches.

She claims not to like my state-of-the-art sewing machine, but I slowed down the speed and told her to have at it.

Going into the back basement entry for a stick of firewood I found that water was seeping under the bulkhead door at an alarming rate. [It was raining torrents.]

We bellowed for J. and D. who were upstairs watching TV [go figure] and they

hove to with buckets, brooms, mops and plunger to unclog the outside drain and sop up the mess.

The three boy kittens came to offer help and encouragement.

Ignoring the uproar, G. and I went on with our projects, while the kittens trouped happily in and out with desperately muddy feet.

Nellie and Bobby assist in cleaning up the wet that came in the back basement door.

Devin 'plunging' wet leaves from the drain--with feline encouragement.

 G. was so pleased with her curtain making that she appeared yesterday, delivered by son Devin who was lugging her sewing machine and a great stack of torn jeans.

G. has wanted a very basic machine--no bells and whistles--and we found one--a Nelco--at Goodwill several months ago for $15.

It is almost identical to a Sears Kenmore which I purchased in the early 1970's.

A bit of online research revealed that the machines were a fairly short-lived venture by an entrepreneur who had been a distributor for Necchi/Elna.  

Whatever the history, this is a well-kept, sturdy piece of equipment.

It has zig-zag, a manual button-hole setting, several utility stitches.

Best of all, It seems to have inspired G. to take up some creative sewing.

I"m trying to convey the theory that attention to accuracy makes for a better finished product and makes for less frustration along the way.

At the moment, G. is pleased with what she calls her raggedy jeans patches and the hems on curtains.

My bins of fabric have been hauled out and I sometimes have to snatch back some cherished bit!

As with everything we attempt these days, we are greatly aided by the kittens.

Bobby McGee has to be pushed away from the fascination of the sewing machine needled going 

up and down.

We fear for kitten toes which swipe at the rotary cutter.

Little Edward investigates a pair of jeans being hacked up for patches.

G. has commandeered a pair of son D.'s jeans as her own and stitched on a patch.

 Bright sunshine today, although it was a few degrees below freezing when I stepped outside 

shortly after 7 a.m.

This flock of birds settled on the lawn, taking flight when I opened the door, camera in hand.

They were robin or starling size.

I didn't get a close enough look to identify.

All three kittens were in awe of them, merely eyeing them from the safety of the front porch.

We had a cat/bird disaster yesterday morning when Bobby caught one of the bluebirds who boldly perched on the cat yard fence.

I tell myself that cats will be catly in behavior--but, dear me, a bluebird!

I took advantage of the sunshine to peg out sheets and towels.

Pebbles took advantage of her fence being down.

Sometimes the deer who are constantly moving through the pasture catch a hoof in the electric fence wire and it goes down.

Pebbles is quick to see an opportunity but is utterly docile when J. tells her she must return to her quarters.

 I was ready to start a cooking/baking binge this forenoon when I discovered a leak beneath the kitchen sink.

J. returned from an errand to find that I had hauled out sundry damp articles and spread them across the floor.  He got his tools and began to operate on the drain fittings.

Edward has volunteered to oversee the repairs.

Edward, peering into the hole created by removal of fittings, has one arm up prodding about.

Household maintenance is hard work.

When we returned from the hardware store with what J. needed to repair the sink drain, Edward had collapsed in blissful repose after his labors.

The sink has been 'fixed.'

The laundry needs to be brought in from the lines.

And it appears that I must recover my interrupted momentum and tidy the kitchen in preparation for making bread and soup.

I am firmly resisting the lure of the quilt blocks waiting downstairs on the table!

[This post was created using blogger's repaired/revised posting format.

It worked well, but I'm pleased to have Live Writer as an option.]