Living under Stay at Home Order Part 5

There are days when everything seems relatively normal and there are days when I feel like the entire world has fallen apart and nothing will ever be normal again.  I usually recover from that fairly quickly.  But I haven's been out to do my regular things - quilt clubs, aerobics, Quilt shop hops, lunch with my granddaughter and friends, quilt shows, church, Bible Study all the things that gave my live routine.  Now I have trouble remembering what day it is and even what time it is.  That is the hardest part is the lack of the usual routine.

I am managing  the last few days have been really nice and we did get all the yard work caught up, and also got both decks scrubbed down.  Yesterday we went for a walk down to the creek.  I was surprised that I could easily walk that far.  Since my knee surgery I have had trouble walking distances - but I guess cleaning the yard and scrubbing decks helps!!  I did find some wonderful flowers while I was out. 

The Violets brought back so many memories from when I was a girl.  We lived in an very rural setting and there were woods behind our house.  Every spring the floor of the wooded hillside looked like this.  I would spend hours picking violets and brought home large bouquets to my Mom.  Those were really good memories.

Another sure sign that the world is continuing to move forward are these gorgeous Daffodils from my neighbor's yard - actually they were closer to the ditch by the road - but it doesn't make them any less beautiful and  sign of hope.

I never saw Virginia Bluebells until I moved here - and I used to live a lot closer to Virginia than I do now!!  I think it's just a name.  I love the fact that the buds are pink - a beautiful shade of deep rose pink, but when they bloom they are this lovely blue.  I haven't seen any bluebells for a few years, but the entire hillside was covered yesterday when we walked by the creek. 

I'm still working on my quilting projects, Hue is coming along - I have the center medallion about half quilted and I am finished with the National Day blocks for April - not photographed yet but I will get around to it soon. 

Made more note cards, most of these ones have been sent out also,  want to get a couple more make and then I will have to order some more card bases as I only have about 3 more.  I'll work up an order - there are other things I'll be needing but nothing really urgent.  We are actually hanging in there fairly well.  Hubby does the shopping for groceries - I don't go anywhere - I'm at a much higher risk than he is although his risk factor is up there, but he's being careful and we are trying to eat well and take care of ourselves.  The Governor just put us on Lock Down for an additional 30 days - until the end of May. 

Talked to my daughter yesterday and we decided to hold a huge family Birthday/Anniversary/graduation/Mother's Day/Easter/and possibly 4th of July party when this is all over.  Since this started and before it ends (if it ends on May 30) we have 5 birthdays, 2 anniversaries and 1 graduation in the family.  One of those birthdays is a most important 1st birthday!! 

 

Living Under Stay At Home Order Part 4

It has been a crazy, informative time - There are many good things about the Quarantine and there are many less than good things.  There are things I thought I would miss and don't and things I didn't realize I would miss and do, and things I knew I would miss and I really miss them.  I miss seeing my grand kids and my great grand kids so very much, but then I knew that.  I miss the big family get togethers - you know the ones - they are exhausting and exasperating and so much fun!!  I miss lunch with my girls - daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters - lunch with my friends, & Coffee with my BFF. I miss Church and Bible Study and that Fellowship - but am grateful to my pastor for posting everything on the internet so we can all keep up and keep in touch.  And I miss my quilt gatherings and friends, and I miss the road trips with my quilt buddy.

I've found I have more time to help Hubby with the Spring Yard work - not something I'm thrilled about - I hate yard work - he usually calls me in when he wants something to die - if I tough a growing plant - it dies.  I have two black thumbs - I can only grow Dandelions!  I have more time for cleaning - UGH - not my favorite thing either!!

I've actually been doing laps in my driveway now that the rain has eased off and the temps are back up to something resembling Jacket weather.  I mean would you believe it - we had a couple of 70 degree days and then in one week we had TWO - not one but TWO - snow storms.  Not little flurry things but 4 - 6 inches of wet sticky stuff.

Snow on the Maple bud trying to come out.

The poor Robin in the back tree trying to avoid the snow.

I have also had plenty of time to work on my sewing.  I've been working on a Block of the month called Sophie's Garden - it is part cotton fabric with applique in wool.  I haven't done a lot of work with wool so this is a new challenge.  I also have my second Quilt of Valor  Ready to be quilted, that is going to happen as soon as I get the center of my Hue quilt Quilted.

I've also been working on my National Day Quilt  These ones are all my own design as Angie decided to take a break.  That's okay as I have been having a lot of fun with it.

April Fool's Day
Find a Rainbow Day
National Unicorn Day
Easter Sunday

I have the rest of April's days planned and/or completed but not finished and photographed.

Today I plan to try my had at making a face mask, finishing the center of the Hue Quilt and working on a Challenge put out by my favorite Quilt Shop  The Quilt Box.  Might have to help Hubby clean the front deck if it warms up a bit.

Been doing a lot of reading too mostly by comfortable, familiar authors:

Alien Allure by Hope Callaghan
Broken Bone China by Laura Childs
The Killer of Pilgrims by Susanna Gregory
Emerald by Phyllis Whitney
A Minute to Midnight by David Baldecci
Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly Mcrae

I'm looking forward to many things - a big family birthday party, a road trip to see my great-granddaughter in Chicago - a road trip with my Quilt Buddy/BFF, a Road trip with my Hubby, and a Church with all my church family.

Stay safe and Healthy.

Living Under Stay at Home Order Part 3

Our Order was supposed to be lifted on Tuesday, but things are not going well over in Chicago so the Governor has locked us down until the end of April at the earliest.  We had planned a trip for out 50th anniversary and my sister and her husband planned a party for their 25th with their daughters flying in, one from Oregon and one from Australia - but I don't believe that is going to happen.  Life is on hold for the foreseeable future.  The thing seems to be that what is separating us is also drawing us together.  My family is all seeming to be talking to each other even though there were little spats before all this started.  By talking I really mean texting - but it is still communication.  We are all cooking - my daughter was making a pot roast the other day and I've actually been cleaning out all those "Planned overs" I had in the freezer for a rainy day - well I think the rainy day has come. 

My other thing is clearing out all those old projects that have been sitting around my sewing room for YEARS! 

 This Chevron Quilt started live about 7 or so years ago when my Quilt Sister and I went to Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, MO.  I ended up not getting enough Charm Packs  so on another trip to Hancock's of Paducah I found more light that would work.  It ended up still not being enough and I scrounged to find things that would work.  Finally drew it all together and finished it - a bit smaller than I planned but done!!  It is going to the Charity pile. 

This is the 11th of my Monthly Silhouettes - I've been working on the 12 of them for at least 6 years.  They aren't all that hard to do as they are appliqued - and I do Machine work for that - it is just doing it I guess.  Anyway it was completed in the last couple of weeks.

This is a relatively new one.  It was started January 2019 as an internet BOM from Quilt Doodle Designs and the last of the blocks was posted in January 2020.  I completed the quilt on March 30, 2020 and I plan on keeping it but Don't know for sure yet.

National Crayon Day
National Puppy Day
National Quilting Day
National Real Tolkien Day

This as caught me up on my National Quilt Blocks to the end of March.  I'm working on April 1 but it is not done yet.  Hopefully Kellie will be back soon with some ideas to continue on.  It's not always easy to find a day you can transform into a quilt block.  Like what do you do with National Burrito Day!!

I am staying home and finding things to do.  We have spent two afternoons so far cleaning the yard up after the crazy winter we had.  We have at least one more day on the front yard before it begins to look normal.  I had trimmed back a couple of bushes in the late fall and didn't get them cleaned up before the snow and rains hit.  The leaves didn't get cleaned up as most of them didn't fall before the snow and rains hit, and the wind took a lot of small branches and sticks out of the front trees and all that has to be cleaned up.  What a mess!!  Oh well it gets up out in the fresh air and sunshine, both of which are good for us. 

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.