Pineapples!

I have finally gotten back on track with various projects.   Currently, I'm making two blocks to add to my pineapple block collection.   I've been following the RSC colors each month for a while and adding a few multicolored blocks here and there as will and whim allow.  

This month I'm making four brown blocks which I'll put togethr to make a 12" block, and I'm making four multicolored ones from my string basket.  I laid them out at random today and really love the way they look.   I think I'll make five more 12" blocks and call it quits, because the quilt will measure 60" x 60" by then.  

My Austen Jubilee fabrics arrived yesterday, so I'll work on some more blocks next.  When I finish those, I'll wait for the next issue of Quiltmaker to put them all together.  It's going to be a busy weekend with a Friends of the Library coin drop Saturday morning and a guild sewing session in the afternoon.  On Sunday we hope to get our COVID boosters at a state-run walk in clinic, so who knows how we'll feel after that?  Hoping not to notice.

COVID

Well, I have it.  After all this time, avoiding crowd situations, wearing a mask when no one else was, and just being careful, I think I caught it from the church secretary Tess and I visited last Thursday to discuss set up for the state quilt guild meeting.  Elizabeth had said she'd meet us at 8:30 am sharp Saturday to unlock the building, so we were surprised to see another lady, Sandy, who merely said, "Elizabeth is very sick."  Oh, brother.  

I had woken up with a slightly scratchy throat and a slight cough.  By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but I figured it was because I had had to run the meeting, introduce speakers, and keep things moving along.  I'm usually tired after such a long day.  I did take a COVID test, which was negative, so Paul and I went out for salads.  But by Sunday, I was much worse, and my next test was positive.  The doctor has prescribed Paxlovid, which Paul will pick up today, and I hope it speeds recovery.  This is the worst sore throat and drippy nose I've had in a long time, and I just want to sleep!  

I just hope Tess, Paul, and all the people who came to the meeting don't get it.  I sent various messages to people I've been in contact with since Thurs.  So far, both Tess and Paul have tested negative, thank goodness.  I won't be going to tonight's quilt guild meeting, yoga tomorrow, or Thursday's genealogy club.  My dear friend Cindy is flying in Thurs. from California for her granddaughter's college graduation, We had planned to get together Friday and, hopefully, I'll be well enough to sit with her outside to catch up.  We were so looking forward to this, and we had also planned to drive down to NH to visit another friend on Tuesday.  One day at a time!

Time flies when you're doing nothing

Until a day or so ago, it was (for Vermont) terribly hot and humid.  I did almost nothing - no cooking, no sewing, no reading - just the bare necessities, it seemed.  A little gardening, a little house cleaning, some writing, a very little quilting.  At least I did call a friend who I hadn't talked to since early April and found she had had a stroke in the meantime.   Now using a wheelchair, Sandy and I will get together for lunch on her birthday Sunday.  I'll bring lunch and learn what happened.

The last couple of days have been cooler with much-needed rain, giving me some energy.  I finished machine quilting the Heart of Vermont Sampler, trimmed it, and cut pieces for the binding.  The cross hatched setting triangles seemed to take forever.   I finished knitting the front of the sweater and am now working on the back.  It's grown a lot so is quite uncomfortable to sit under on a hot day.  I also am back working on the 3" melon blocks for the next round of the virtual round robin.  When the weather's nice - and it should be today - I like to sit outside to applique since the light is better.  I need 40 blocks and have done 12, so I have a way to go.

The state quilt guild board has decided not to hold its fall meeting which I was looking forward to.  Our speaker was coming from Connecticut, and I hope she can come next spring.  Her talk was to be on the creative process and her specialty is using scraps and selvages.  I made a quilt based on a pattern she designed and was looking forward to showing it.  Guess that'll have to wait until May now.

This morning, I'm off for my weekly session with two other Friends of the Library in the booksale room.  We have a lot of books to sort through and get ready for storage.  Then I'll go shopping for the Mutual Aid group.  We have a family in quarantine that needs supplies to cope with a child's COVID.  A friend will deliver to them.

On my to-do list for tomorrow is making a few more masks as the need seems not to diminish.  I have a lot of novelty fabric that would be fun to use and a new, shaped pattern that I want to try.

Social distancing

Almost everyone is staying home these days, and that's good.  This weekend there were a lot of people out walking in the neighborhood because it was sunny, but today Paul and I seemed to be the only ones.  We had a skim of snow this morning but it has all melted by now.  When I went to the dentist's to have my teeth cleaned (all is well), they told me they are closing for a month.  The library and restaurants are all closed, although some restaurants are offering delivery or curb-side pick up.  I hope we can do this soon to help keep those folks receiving some income.

Meanwhile, I finished putting together the 6" blocks for what I'm calling Corona Cabin.  It's made with strings from my vast collection of strings and red squares from my 2.5" square box.  I have a nie piece of flannel for the back, but no batting.  All my larger pieces of batting have been used, so I may have to take a trip to the quilt shop sometime.  Meanwhile, I'm sorting through the UFOs.   Which should I work on next?