Lost in Time

First, a bird update. Ms. Robin built a nest in the small Japanese maple in the front yard - and at eye level. It's located not too far from both the driveway and the side walk to the front door. She has two babies who are about ready to fledge. The nest is certainly crowded. Recently, we had a big wind storm and that little tree got whipped all over the place. As you can see, Ms. Robin, her kids, and her nest weathered the ordeal with flying colors.

Here is my lovely birthday flower. The DH fought his way through a jungle of day lilies and weeds to retrieve this delight for me. Ain't he sweet?

Now for the main story. Last weekend I got lost in time. It was Saturday, 7/16. The guild had just finished up a 3-day Quilter's Day Camp. 3 days of fun, hilarity, and sewing - so, of course, I was completely exhausted by the time I got home at 2:30 pm. I donned my pj's and made myself comfortable in front of the tv. Watched something on the DVR, then loaded a movie - Deja Vu, I think.

I watched it intently. When something loud and exciting was happening, I turned the volume down so I wouldn't disturb the DH. I get up really early, and he usually sleeps in. The movie was over around 5:30 or so, and I found myself profoundly confused about what day it was and what time of day it was. I knew the day camp was over, but I thought the it ended the previous day to the one I was in. I thought it was 5:30 Sunday morning.

But the tv, my watch, and my phone said it was Saturday July 16. What? I was so confused. I still thought it was morning, but knew it couldn't be Saturday morning, because the day camp was already over - and it was over on a Saturday. I even looked at the day and time on my computer, and brought up my Outlook calendar, which said it was Saturday. Finally, around 5:50, I believed my Outlook calendar and the time stamp on my computer and realized it was Saturday, 7/16, at 5:50 PM. I thought I had just lost it. If you are now so confused you don't know what I am talking about - you actually know what I am talking about. The DH said the same thing sometimes happens to him when he's really concentrating. I just wish it didn't take me 15 minutes to figure it out!

News From the Studio

 

Legend of the Spinning Top

I worked on the Sue Jones mystery quilt from the May guild workshop. Although I went to the workshop, I didn't work on my quilt. I just didn't want to lug my machine and all of the gear. As you can see, I don't have the borders on yet.

Snail Mail

Trumpet Vine

I started this quilt in the Spring of 2014, and got it put together except for the final border. It languished on the shelf for 2 full years! So, one day early in May, in a fit of productivity, I finished up the top, and got 'er quilted. I used the Trumpet Vine pantograph.

Learning for the Week

Time travel is very disorienting.


Have a delightful week! Not let's go quilt something!

Fledgling Follies

Ah, the antics of Spring. The latest fledgling class has graduated. Mrs. Swallow, Mrs Cardinal, and Mrs. Robin have been kicking the kids out of the nest this week. It has been a treat watching the swallows testing their wings, practicing loop-de-loops, and zooming around the yard. The young robins have been trying to catch bugs - without much luck, and the dads have been keeping a watchful eye out for the kids who haven't yet mastered the art of flight. (Note: the pictures are complements of the DH, and don't necessarily go with the stories.)

One young swallow was shoved out of the bird house and just fluttered around winding up panting in the grass. Dad swooped down, flopped the kid around trying to get him to flutter, I guess. Dad even flapped his wings in instructional mode. Eventually the kid made his way back to the nest. Whew.

There is a window right by my sewing station in the studio. It looks out under the deck onto an expanding bed of wild strawberries. The DH leaves them there for the birds. One day last week, a robin hopped into the strawberry jungle, and stuffed his face with dead-ripe strawberries. If he pulled on one that wouldn't easily come off, he'd let it go and keep looking. When he found a cluster of ripe ones, they were down the hatch in a flash. I think there's a life lesson in the strawberry patch. Wonder what it is....

News From the Studio

Snail Mail

Trumpet Vine

This is a project inspired by a Jenny Doan quilt called You've Got Mail. I finished the top except for the last border, 2 years ago! I finally got it done.

Tips and Techniques 

Wish I'd invented that

For years, I have whined about, and tried many alternatives to the problem of keeping binding up off the floor while applying it to my quilt. I even emailed one of the notions companies begging them to invent a winder that doesn't use electricity.

FINALLY, some one did!! I saw it in the latest Keepsake Quilting catalogue: The Easy Binding Winder.  Check out the video demo. The winder is available on Amazon prime for the same price as everywhere else.

Learning for the Week

Sadly, my ex-father-in-law passed away yesterday. I was not close to him, at all, but I had a real grief reaction, deep enough to surprise me. After thinking about it,  2 reasons for my reaction came up.

First, I have a real compassion for the ex, here. He is now an orphan. With both parents gone, the stability, support, and unconditional love they had for him is no longer available. He is now going to have to look to the rest of his family and his wife for the support he needs. I know nothing about his relationships now, and pray that they are all there for him and his brother. If you are an orphan, as I am, remember to cultivate close friends, mend any broken family relationships, and love unconditionally.

Second, there is a loss of some of the continuity in my own life. My ex-FIL had been my FIL for over 30 years. No matter what the relationship was between us, he is no longer present in the framework of my life. We need that sense of continuity. Somehow, it gives us a framework, a container, and frame of reference, for our lives.


Ok, enough serious philosophical musings. Y'all enjoy the week!
Now, let's go quilt something.