Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Simple Woman's Daybook

 

One of my oriental lilies from Timothy Lane.
______________________________
FOR TODAY   20 February, 2013

Outside my window...It is dark and cold, temp. 25F, but we have a steady wind coming off of Lake Erie making it feel like it is much colder. The freezing rain/snow mix doesn't help.

I am thinking...how wonderful it is to see the various moods of the lake in winter and that we actually live here to see it every day.

I am thankful...for a warm house and electricity.

In the kitchen...tonight's meatloaf is cooling, so I can slice it later and package it up for the freezer.

I am wearing...my purple Pasmina shawl...takes the chill off my shoulders and is very cozy.

I am creating...this Simple Woman's Daybook. I noticed it in a blog I discovered today through Starwood Quilter.

I am going...tomorrow evening, Opa(German for Grandpa and my DH) and I are attending the Taste of the Northcoast @ Kalahari resort with new friends that live behind us across the golf course. The event will be featuring local restaurants and their wares. We figured it would be another venue to get to know our new locale better.

I am wondering...if we'll get any more real snow this winter...not just the scattered snow squalls that don't amount to anything.

I am reading...The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, as part of a quilters' book club through Starwood Quilter blog

I am hoping...all goes well for my daughter and grandaughters tomorrow...long story.

I am looking forward to...Spring and seeing how many of my newly planted Spring bulbs will come up. My crocuses have been up since the beginning of January, not bloomed, just out of the ground. VERY unusual for us.

I am learning...to quilt. It began about two years ago when a high school classmate passed away, leaving her twin sister grieving. They were/are both quilters. It has been such a joy to be creative again. Thank you Sharon and Susan.

Around the house...Opa is building a bar in the upper loft area. It gets pretty noisey around here when he's hard at it. It will have a white beadboard front and a mahogany top. It will be a magnificent "man corner".

I am pondering...

A favorite quote for today..."Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but rather learning how to dance in the rain"...ok that might not be it exactly, but you get the sentiment.

One of my favorite things...beautiful oriental lilies. There is a sprig in my current flower arrangement for Valentine's Day from my sons. The home we sold last year had magnificent clusters of them growing in the front gardens. The new owners dug them all out.  :(

A few plans for the rest of the week: ....contemplating setting up quilt blocks for the new quilty book club I'm in. Checking in on my mom and dad.

A peek into my day...cleaning, cooking and laundry are just so everyday.
 
Joyfully submitted,
The Baroness of Thomas Haus, HRH Queen Yours Truly

as adapted from:   http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

 

 





 


 

Friday, February 8, 2013

Sew Fun

February 8, 2013  ~
When we made plans to downsize to a condo, a sewing/craft room was proposed by my dearly beloved. He truly knows my heart.
Why furnish another room with bedroom furniture that we simply dust, hoping for the kids to come and visit and stay overnight. That's what hotels are for...right?
Since moving in, Rick has made a white, sewing machine table with a gorgeous maple top for me, as well as a cutting, piecing table that has an extended leaf on it. It is moveable on casters, so if I need to access all around the table I can move it where I need it. Plus, he helped me hang my design wall. All of these have been put to good use over the last month.
I've enrolled in three block of the month clubs (Craftsy 2013 BOM, Sugar Block Club with Amy Gibson and Lucky Stars, from Don't Call Me Betsy blog) and I'm in a Newbie Quilters Bee Hive through the Threadbias website. I am having such fun! Add to that that I am now a card carrying member of the Ohio Star Quilt Guild ( guild #131 in NQA).

Here are a few of my projects.


 
This is the quilt top from my 2012 Craftsy Block of the Month club. Despite unloading our house of 23 years, having an Estate Sale, moving three times, my dad having health issues, in and out of the hospital, and a few other challenges, I slowly worked through each set of blocks through 2012. I named the quilt "Metamorphysis", for the butterflies on the white on white background fabric as well as all the changes we encountered in 2012. It still needs to be quilted and a binding put on it.
This is our Thomas Haus 2012 Christmas ornament that I made. Now that the kids are grown and all have their Christmas ornaments with them, we need to get more of our own to decorate our tree.

My Lucky Stars blocks ... Intro block above and January's block below.
My January block from the Sugar Block Club with Amy Gibson
The February block for "Queen Bee" Cathie in California in the Threadbias Newbie Quilters Hive #3 quilting bee.
A fun lap quilt that is pin basted and ready for quilting.
Nine crazy 12 1/2" square scrap blocks I made one afternoon from the overflowing scrap basket.
 
So...can you tell I'm having fun. I simply don't understand people who are bored.
Until next time. I remain the Baroness of Thomas Haus, Queen Yours Truly!