Winter in November

Winter has arrived - over a month early with temps more conducive to January than November - I have lived here for nearly 40 years and I don't remember a winter that started out like this.  We are slated to set the record low maximum temperature today - the old record you ask - 26 F back in like 1880 or so.  Right now it is 16 and the overnight low was 8.  Believe me when I tell you that these temps are 25-30 degrees colder than normal.  I remember Thanksgivings when we had to run the Air Conditioning!!

Any way - life does continue.  Hubby is talking about buying me another car - he looking at a 2013 Ford Fusion.  My other 2 cars average age is like 15 or 16 and the Cougar needs some transmission work and both cars need new tires.  I guess it is time - I've staved off losing the Cougar for probably 10 years but I guess the time has come.  He is afraid of it leaving me stranded in the winter cold somewhere - I guess I can understand and thank him for caring that much.

Been busy working on Loyal Union Soldiers Sampler Quilt -

Manger Block

Campfire 

Manassas

These are just a few of the new blocks I've made.  I'm quilting the Lovely in Lavender quilt and it is going very well so far.  Soon I'll be in the borders and that might get a little tricky.

Found a book on barn quilt blocks - the blocks that were painted on barns.  There are also Barn blocks themselves.  I'm planning on making a barn quilt with a panel I found - but to add the barn blocks that were painted on the barns and to actually read about the reasons behind the custom is going to be a lot of fun.

Well, I need to get off of here and hopefully get some work done on my Storm at Sea quilt today.  I'm on Blocks 18 and 19 of 35.  Getting there - but still a ways to go.

The time has Flown by

Here it is, the first of November - the Summer has gone and now Fall is in it's closing days.  We have had some beautiful days this fall - far more than I expected after the less that stellar Summer.  I have completed a quilt and started several more.

This one is called Spring Garden - and I completed it in September.  I had originally planned to keep it, but then I listened and just knew it belonged to my friend.  I was invited to her surprise birthday party last week - so I gave it to her.  It is a throw quilt - not large enough for a bed but great to cuddle up with on a cold Illinois winter evening.

We had mirror tiles on our entryway wall for many years.  It is a 12 foot tall about 6 foot wide wall and I liked the mirror tiles.  But one night a few weeks ago, one of the tiles fell off the wall - scared my granddaughter out of 3 years growth and shook up hubby.  Anyway they cleaned up the tile and the next day we decided to tear down all the tiles.  Good thing we did as about a dozen more were ready to fall.  We have patched the wall and picked up the paint for it.  I'm also making a wall hanging quilt for there.  It is burgundy and eggshell with gold flecks - in a Storm at Sea Pattern.

This is one form of the Storm at Sea Pattern.  This one is for my Loyal Union Soldier Sampler and is in different colors.  But it gives you an Idea of what it will be.

This is the wall we are redoing - the tiles have been removed and some of the patching is completed.  it is a big job, but will certainly be glad when it is done.

I feel like it was yesterday since I last wrote a post - and it has been nearly a year. The time has just flown by - yet it has been a trying and stressful year. We did finally finish the basement after the flooding and it was looking really good. It was a very very hard winter - for us a nearly record snowfall and harsh temperatures plus winter didn't ease it's hold until late in May. My Azalea never did bloom as it was simply too cold for it. Hopefully it will bloom again next year.

The summer has been unusually cool which helped with the electric bill, but we didn't really have a summer. Early in the summer, my husband hurt his neck and arm and was unable to do anything for the pain. He couldn't even drive. So many things I normally do had to be set aside to care for him. Three doctors later we found one who could actually help him, but he said it would take 3 - 4 months. Here we are 3 1/2 months later and he is so much better - he can drive for extended periods of time, he can start the lawn mover and he can do other things he was unable to do in June. He is not completely back to where he was in May, but he is well on his way and I am so grateful.

We wanted to go to a could of reunions this summer and visit Gettysburg and Manassass but that was not possible this summer. We are planning a day trip to Chicago to visit our grandson and go to the museum - he wants to take his Grampa to the new U-boat exhibit. I'm not into tight enclosed spaces, so I will opt out and go for the doll house or the electric train display.

 I have completed a couple of quilts this year:

This is Sunbonnet Sue around the year and was a gift to my sister.

This is the Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt and was a gift to my Brother.

I am working on several others and hopefully will have more completed soon.