Puzzle

 

One of my friends is a jigsaw puzzle lover and she sort of talked me into trying out a puzzle.  It's been an experience, it's over, and I won't be doing another any time soon.  Maybe next winter.  Many evenings I thought that, come morning, I'd just put all the 1000 pieces back in their box.  Now the puzzle is going on to my friend for her future enjoyment.

The names and numbers for the bat bags are embroidered and delivered so that is complete too.  And, thinking of baseball, it's early days yet but the Reds are doing great, fun to watch.  

I spent some of yesterday morning at the car dealership getting an oil change and headlight replacement.  Plus a belt replacement.  I'll be going back next week for some other work, just maintenance for a car with as many miles as mine.  

I enjoyed admiring the wheels on the Subaru Crosstrek.  Does anyone buy a car because it has jazzy wheels?  A woman came in and tried it out for size, don't know if she went on a test drive.

Baseball Again

 

My task for the week:  embroidering names and numbers for Aaron's team's bat bags.  I have the software part finished, just the actual stitching to do now.

It feels so hopeful to have the Reds playing down the street.  Something I missed during last year's spring.  And so far, they have been fun to follow.  Lots of runs.

Home again from a vacation at Hilton Head.  It had been years since I'd been to the beach, and this was such a nice one.  White sand, but not blindingly white.  Nice weather for the most part.  It was my first time at Hilton Head and I enjoyed seeing the way they have tried to make it look less commercial.  Beige stores, set back from the street.  Bicycle paths everywhere.

During the past year I missed the grandchildren so much and it was amazing to spend time with them.  They have grown up so much.  Both of them had a small adventure on their own.  Nora drove to visit a school friend in a different neighborhood and Aaron rode a bike to a near-by park (and spotted an alligator beside the pond.)

On the way home we spent a couple of nights with Sarah and Winnie and that was another nice time.  And then right away after we came back, it was Easter.  My body and mind need a little adjustment time.

It's Bright

 

Four blocks of nine made for a new quilt.  The other colors will be blue and either green or hot pink.  To be determined.  The blocks are big, 16" x 16".

A friend gifted me the pattern and some of the fabric.  Her friend had given them to her and she had plenty of leftovers.  Lucky for me.

The funny thing is, I think that my friend's friend forgot about the earlier gift and sent her the finished quilt.  She had it professionally quilted and it is so lovely.  The pattern is "Constance" by Robin Pickens.  My friend's name is Connie and so is mine.

The sunflowers are from a new Robin Pickens collection.  You'll see them again in the blue blocks.

It's a beautiful warm day.  I should be working in the yard and I am . . . not.

Blue Improvisational

 

Earlier this week I went to a small quilt retreat with friends I have missed so much during the past year.  And yes, we've been in touch but there is nothing like the real thing.

I was able to quilt this blue improv quilt and the binding went on this morning.

The back is important too, and I like the light blue grunge.

It feels so good to have this completed.  I know you must think that I have unfinished projects laying around everywhere.  You might be right.

Shows What I Know

 

I thought I was admiring a fancy kind of Japanese forsythia on my zoo trip this week, but Sarah and Winnie tell me that this is a witch hazel.  Shows what I know.

I had looked forward to the zoo trip as my two-weeks-past-my-second-shot excursion.  The afternoon was warm, and I had both my membership id and reservation time ready on my phone.  I was a little disappointed.  Despite using reservations, the zoo was crowded.  I guess that times in are limited, but there isn't a time limit.  The day was lovely, and people decided to stay.

Quite a few people ignored the signage and had slipped their masks around their necks.  On the other hand, there were lots of wee kids who were wearing masks, even though masks aren't required for kids under six.  The little ones just acted like mask-wearing was normal and made no difference to them.  Kudos to their parents.

I didn't stay long at the zoo, but that's ok.  The nice part of having a pass, and living close by, is knowing I can go back on a different day.  I admired lots of foliage from spring bulbs starting to just poke up through the ground and there will be riots of color in a few weeks.  And I admired the snow leopards.

Taller

 

Yesterday was two weeks and two days past my second Covid vaccine.  And I got grandchildren hugs for the first time in a year.  I get emotional just thinking of no hugs for a year, just - sadness.  I'm glad I didn't know a year ago that it would be that long.  And yet, I'm here, I'm healthy, I am lucky.

And now - Aaron is taller than I am.  Just a little but he's thirteen so it will soon be a lot.

His sister, though - she is five feet eight inches and her doctor says she is finished growing.  Everyone is surprised.  Her mom is six feet tall and her dad is six feet three inches.  I have no doubt that, for her, she is the perfect height.

My daughter just called - she was going to an unfamiliar neighborhood to pick up roller blades from Craigslist for Aaron.  Success.  And when she got home, they fit.  She took a shoe with her.  

How wonderful to have a sunny day - and a warm one.  I was surprised - in a shady corner at the bank parking lot, under a tree, there was still a little pile of snow. 

First Block

 

For whatever reason, who knows why, I woke up at 3:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep.  At 4:30 I gave up and went upstairs to sew.  I don't recommend this, but I was able to finish this first block in my block of the month AND hem two curtain panels.

The block is 36" x 36: and the quilt is My Favorite Color Is Moda - Cookie Tin.  I ordered it around Christmas and had Christmas on my mind.  There were six color choices.  I'm pretty happy to have this first block done before blocks two and three show up soon.  They won't be this large.

And, for whatever reason, I had lots of energy today.  Not enough, though, to head down to the Ohio River and see how high the water is.  Maybe tomorrow for that, even though it won't be as warm as today.  Some of the flood gates are being put in place today, although it may be precautionary.  No worries for me - I live way up the hill, way up.

I've finished The House in the Cerulean Sea.  It's been awhile since I felt I could highly recommend a book, but I wanted to read every word of this one.  That doesn't happen often.  I'm a fast reader and tend to skim the boring stuff.  Not this time, there was no boring stuff.