Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Taking car of the car and flowers

After work I had to go get the oil changed in the car. While I waited (an hour and twenty minutes!) I stitched on this sampler. I am almost done.
Here is what it looked like the last time I posted a picture of it May 13th
I left the dealership and headed to the drug store. I needed some OTC allergy meds. I had only a couple of Benedryl pills that I took on Satarday and they seem to help more than anything else I had tried. I went to head inside the store and found this in the center consule.
I figured out quickly that it was the antenna. I guess they took it off when they ran the car thru the car wash. I am tired and crabby from the two shows and the allergy coughing and blowing my nose constantly so I wasn't too happy about this. I headed to another store since the drug store didn't have any Benedryl pills. The next store did so I bought two boxes just so I would have them.
Once I got home I was going to reinstall the antenna, but I couldn't reach it. I was too tired to get out a ladder but not too tired to call the place and tell them my displeasure.
One of the guys at work is 6' 5", so he had no problem screwing the antenna back on for me this morning.
Once I got home I got something to eat, watered the flowers and went to bed so not sewing happened. I'm still tired.

Monday, July 13, 2026

Saturday's show, a big box of fabric and pink quilt progress

The band had another show on Saturday. Friday's show we had left at 12:45 pm and I had gone to bed about 12:15 am. Saturday we left at 10:30 am to head to Cadiz, Ohio to the Sally Buffalo Park. This is a campgrounds a bit more than 2 hours away. I was still tired from Friday, but I had the bench seat at the back of the van all to myself so I could stretch out and take a nap on the way to Cadiz.
We had a hard time finding the venue, but when we got there we were surprised how nice the place was! A big backstage parking area
A ramp to the stage that was a straight shot
The green room area had a big bathroom, shower, and a fridge with an ice dispenser!  They also had food for the band and plenty of cold drinks which doesn't happen very often.  
Here's the stage and where we set up the merch booth. There was also an electrical outlet in that column right beside the merch booth so I could plug in the fan. Whoever designed this place knew what they were doing!
The crowd was very subdued and a lot of people didn't show up until we were halfway done with the set. They started getting their spots for the Headliner which was a Bon Jovi tribute band. There were a few people that were at the top of the hill watching the show. I waved at them and they waved back.
We got out of there at 8:15 pm and the sunset on our way back treated us with some spectacular skies. At first it was pink and lavender
then about 25 miles up the road we headed north and the sky was yellow
another 25 miles and the sky was brilliant orange
I got to bed about 11:30 pm. My SIL gave me a box of chocolate covered carmels for helping out with the booth and making the pillow cases.
When I got home there was a box at my front door from Wanda. She has been working hard organizing things and had some fabrics she knew she wasn't going to use - mostly large print batiks. I am the lucky receipant of these which I will use for thread beds and tote bags for the merch booth. I had to weight the box for fun - 10.2 pounds of fun! Thank you Wanda!
Sunday I was pretty tired so it took me a while to get moving. I spent most of the day quilting on the pink t-shirt quilt. I circled the area that is now quilted. I am close to being half done.
I did have to stop quilting to mow the front and the one side yard. My yard is such a mess! I did pull out or break off the tops of some of the thistle that was getting ready to go to seed. My center flower bed is full of it even though I have pulled a lot out. We have some cooler temps coming next weekend so maybe I can get some serious weeding done.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Another road trip and thread

Friday night the band had a show in Lorain Ohio. I made shortbread cookies. It was hot and muggy, but there was a good crowd.
I stopped at Barnes and found some thread I needed for the pink t-shirt quilt. I haven't had time to quilt - maybe tomorrow.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Pink t-shirt quilt progress and a visitor

The pink t-shirt quilt was pin basted yesterday and I managed a small start with the quilting. I needed to make the meander small for this shirt so I could sneak between the swirly ribbon. On the other shirts the meander will be a bit bigger.
While I was pin basting I was enjoying the view out the studio window and seeing my coneflowers.  They have spread over the last few years.  They started out as a couple small plants I bought over 5 years ago.
Then I saw this little fellow show up so I had to head outside to get it's picture.
After encouragement from Kathy who is a blogging friend, I when ahead and tried to start some zucchili seeds as she said it was not too late. This morning I saw that one of the seeds had sprouted. The seeds were several years old so I wasn't sure any of them were still viable.
I put the little plant into a pot, gave it a drink, and set it outside to do it's thing.
So are none of the jalapeno seeds have sprouted.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Pink quilt progress

Yesterday was a rough day but I still managed to get the backing sewn together. I went ahead and taped the backing down, added the batting and laid out the top. I only got a start on the pin basting before I was just too tired to do anymore.
I dug around to find pink quilting thread. I only had this one spool and that is not going to be enough.   I didn't have any thread that will go with the more coral pink shirt. Looks like I will be headed to the Barnes Sewing Center after work to get quilting thread.
I spent two hours in the dentist chair yesterday morning. The temporary/permanent cap on one of my molars was showing signs of decay underneath it. Turned out the decay was worse than the dentist thought. There is not a lot of tooth left above the gum line so it made it a real challenge to build a new cap. I was tense the whole time trying not to move and breathe thru my nose. Then an hour's drive back to work and I was beat. Later on, once the numbness went away, my gum was thumping so I took some acetaminophen. I went to bed early and my gum feels fine today.  Eventually I may have to have an implant, but I am good hopefully for a few years.  

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

One more seam, two more bunnies, and more deer

It took longer than I thought it would to get another row of pieces sewn together to make the backing for the t-shirt quilt. There is some polyester in the fabrics and some of the fabric is very lightweight I got out the spray starch to add a bit of body. I only have to sew the newly constructed row to the other two rows and the backing will be done.
This morning there were two bunnies sitting in the neighbor's driveway. I walked by one last evening to check the chipmunk traps and it didn't' even move.  
Last evening I spotted the other doe and her fawn. All accounted for now! I hadn't seen them for a month at least.

Monday, July 6, 2026

Quilts are done, another t-shirt quilt, and loose ends

I spent Saturday and Sunday staying inside to stay out of the heat, humidity, and rain! I finished up the binding on both quilts and ran them both thru the wash.
I then started working on a t-shirt quilt for the sister of someone I work with. She wanted a small quilt so this measures 65.25 x 68.75.
I decided to take the leftover pieces and make the back for the quilt out of them. I have it partly sewn together.
My SIL sent me a photo from the show on Friday night. Look how dark the sky got! This was right before the storm hit.
Here is Michael and his girlfriend. After the trailer got loaded there was a break in the storm,  the fireworks were set off. Michael said nobody was there. They are both soaked to the skin from the rain, but still having a good time.  I had already headed home; I had no idea that they were going to shoot off the fireworks.  Not sure I would have stayed anyway. 
My neighbor sent me a picture of the banner at the wedding and the mirror with the seating charts. She calls herself a stationaire which means she takes care of designing the save the date cards, invitations, seating cards and any other paper items needed for a wedding. She also does the welcoming banners with the one this time being cloth.