Clematis

This is the first year for this clematis to bloom.  The foliage is very petite, and I was expecting tiny flowers.  Not so, the flowers are big, maybe five inches across, and they look bigger because the foliage is small.  I like this.

I finished the porch cushions yesterday, and made an extra throw pillow for the customer from matching fabric I bought to make a trial cushion.  I had used the serger for the cushions and I was in that mood, so I serged around the right-sides-together edges, serging off at the ends, and leaving an opening for turning.  On those square corners I used the serger to serge off small triangular corners and that worked great.  That pillow was done in no time.  I love things like that, things new to me.

I'm hoping to finish mowing today.  I had just started yesterday when the rain came.  Not too hard, so I did get my tiny front yard finished.  Next week needs to be a yard work week, the weeds are out of control!

Strange Morning

This morning I was snoozing peacefully, dreaming about something or other, when I heard something that sounded like a dish knocked over, followed by various creaks.  Don't worry, there was nothing amiss, and I think it must have been part of my dream when the furnace came on, bringing with it a clatter and associated noises.  Very strange, and the only thing I can think of is that it's been warm lately and the furnace has been quiet.

A few minutes ago, the power went out, followed by a bang from a transformer somewhere.  It's now restored.

Strange morning so far, and it looks like there will be another storm soon, we've had a lot lately.

Nevertheless, I'm determined that this morning I'm going to start, and maybe finish, the porch cushion covers that I'm redoing for a customer.  I don't know why I've been so reluctant to start this, it's not that hard, it's just new for me.  To boost my confidence, I bought a piece of fabric yesterday to make one cover to be sure that the pattern I sketched out is ok.  It is.

This is just one of those things that has grown in my head and needs to get finished!  And then I can work on the log cabin in the picture above.  It's really, really calling me.

Someone's Garage

.I parked at the lot between 7th and 8th streets and walked down Monmouth Street toward the river.  I admired this garage in the alley, saw a big group of people taking a Gangster Tour (the mob reigned in Newport until the 60's,) and saw a new edgy store opening.

On the riverfront, there were Reds and Cubs fans heading to the game, four kids at a time in the hamster balls, and people waiting for restaurant tables.  I walked across the bridge to Cincinnati and then back home to listen to the game.

I was feeling kind of discouraged when I started out, but it's hard to stay down with all that going on.  Plus, there were quilt magazines to check out at Barnes and Noble.  Teenagers in prom dresses.  A stretch limo.  A big crowd at the riverfront bar.  

I considered getting a grilled cheese sandwich at Tom and Chee (they even make a grilled cheese sandwich on a glazed donut) but instead I came home and had cottage cheese on toast.  If you've never tried it, check it out.  It's really, really good.

Athletic Injury

Yesterday, Aaron broke his arm at recess, playing a game with a football.  No tackling, just one of those things.  He will get his cast next week.  As for baseball, he's on the disabled list.  I'm hoping that his cast will be wonderfully colorful and waterproof.  I have a feeling that he will be practicing batting left handed.  Who knows, this may turn him into a switch hitter.

The Hancock in my neighborhood, like all Hancock's, is going out of business.  They expect to stay open until July, but no coupons and no fabric cuts less than two yards.  So, for me, my shopping days there are almost finished.  It was so nice to be able to just dash over for a particular color of thread or a bit of fabric for an alteration.  

Now, I'll have to carefully plan ahead for my JoAnn trips.  Not a huge deal, I can stop after church, it will just be different.  I know I've been spoiled.  I've been leaning towards getting my quilt fabrics online anyway, especially since I buy a lot of Kona and the color selection is wonderful.

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Maybe Next Year

Maybe next year, Sarah Briggs!

(The Flying Pig is Cincinnati's most popular marathon.  It's coming up in May.)

(Sarah is my daughter and a great runner.  She's especially good on hills.)

(Cincinnati is not flat.)

Pink and Green Baby Quilt

There were some fabric pieces left from the Minnie quilt that combined with my stash to make a NICU quilt for our group yesterday.  We learned that the hospital wants quilts to be 36" - 42" in length and width, so my quilts are going to be a little bigger from now on.  My goal was usually 30" x 36".  The quilts will be draped on the rockers now.

I'm always drawn toward making baby girl quilts, I love the pink/green combination.  There are two non-NICU boy quilts to come, though.

I have several sewing jobs right now and I'm trying to make progress on each and to not get overwhelmed, which happens with me when there is lots to do.  And then nothing gets finished in a timely manner.  I know that this is my own self-imposed stress, and the only thing I know to do is to just keep chipping away and keeping the momentum going.  

There is one job that I will so enjoy, fixing an old quilt, which will just require a little mending, trimming, and a new binding.  That goes under the creative mending category, something I always like.

Minnie Baby Quilt

How fun to get to make a Minnie Mouse quilt for a new grandmother.  The front, above, is a variation of the Intersection Quilt from Block Magazine, Winter Vol 2 Issue 1.

And here is the back, it's squared of course.  I used a Minnie panel for that.

I love curvy walking foot quilting, and this pattern is especially nice for that, creating a flowing movement across the quilt.  I just got a note from the grandmother saying that she likes it, and I'm pretty happy.

Perfect Day

After this cold week, today is a dream day.  A windows-open day.  A was-scheduled-to-work-but-schedule-changed day.  Perfect.

Oh, and after losing all week, a Red-win day.  An Aaron's-team-won day.  Like I said, perfect.

A painting tonails day, too.  Because it's a barefoot day.

I wonder what kind of beer would be good at the end of it.

New At My House

New at my house, and it turned out that I had the perfect space for it.  

I know just how I do these things, get used to it in little nudges.  Not sure why that is, but it is.  So for this day, just threading it may be enough.

For you non-quilters, this is not one of the big long arm quilters.  The table measures 30" x 36", and the quilter (that's me) sits down to use it.  It does a straight stitch and is only for free motion.  You can go to your Viking dealer if you want to see one like this!

Dinner Time

The plan was to take Nora to dinner while Aaron had baseball practice.  When I met them at practice, though we learned that Aaron's practice was cancelled because of the field conditions.  It's been raining, a lot.  So, two kids went to dinner with me, and they were such fun.

They talked about fifth grade graduation to come and middle school to come.  Math tests.  Thirty more school days this year, posted on the cafeteria window.  

Aaron colored,  He never used to color.  Had trouble holding the crayon.  Told his teacher that if he ever needed anything colored he would ask his sister.

Aaron commented about the size of the chicken tenders - too small.  Nora said that her favorite thing on the salad bar was the vegetable soup.  They split a hot fudge cake.

I told them that I felt like I had two wonderful dates.

Simplicity

At our Art and Spirituality Group last night, our facilitator brought colorful embroidery flosses and tossed them on the black and white table cloth.  So simple and yet so effective.

I have hemmed so many pairs of pants for folks recently.  Some of them were because of the change in the season, I'm sure, but seven were work pants.  I'm getting pretty good with putting in a blind hem with my D foot without having to go back and put in the skipped stitches.

Yesterday was cold, so no yard work for me.  So far, all I've really done is cut back ornamental grasses and stuff them in contractor bags.  Now, though, when my goal is to fill up a bag, I can cover more area.  My beds look so raggedy and unkept, and the thick blankets of mulch from last year have totally disappeared.

I am amazed when I read blogs where people plan out a new bed and do all the planting and it's done.  I am on the slow plan, like with most things.  Several years ago I had two maple trees cut down in my back yard and this will be my year to plant in those areas.  I tried a few things last year and they are coming back again, so I think it's time.  Plus, weeds are coming up, I think that's a sign.  

Beers of Lexington

At Joe Bologna's on Friday night.  This Italian restaurant is in a former Jewish Synagogue.

At the Hyatt, where we stayed.

At West Sixth Brewery.  Like last year, the race was on West Sixth's birthday weekend.  We scored a cupcake and a free birthday pint class.

Run the Bluegrass

What a pretty smile, Sarah, after running a half marathon.  You make it look like it was easy!  Great finish too, 35 out of 1092 women.

There were several races running simultaneously, which is a little disconcerting to me at the finish line.  All those runners already going by and I hadn't seen Sarah.  But, I remembered the same thing from last year.  It's a huge event.

It was a wonderful weekend in Lexington.  Steph and the kids joined us Saturday night and we celebrated Steph's birthday.  It was one of those family times to remember.