A lovely day and "Marilyn"

 My Thanksgiving cactus is beginning to bloom!  I call her "Marilyn" because she was owned by my late next door neighbor who went to Florida every winter.  I kept an eye on her house and went over periodically to water her plants, including the cactus.  Unfortunately, Marilyn the neighbor passed away suddenly in Florida about five years ago, and in cleaning out the house, her children offered me any of her plants.  Of course, I wanted "Marilyn," not so much as a reminder but as a very reliable bloomer.  

Sometimes the flowers are more pink than they are right now.  But there are lots of buds, with blooms continuing through the winter.  My orangey cactus tends to bloom closer to Easter, and the hot pink cutting from Chris' Christmas cactus is a bit too small to bloom much.

All that aside, Monday was a lovely day for a drive, even though we woke up to snow on the ground.  It all melted when the sun came out, and by then I was about an hour south, close to Hanover, NH, where my friend Polly lives.  On the way, I took a slight detour to the King Arthur Baking Co. (their new name) shop.  The last time I stopped there, it was so busy that I turned around and left.  This time, it was busy but one could still walk around and - importantly - find a parking spot.  I bought a loaf of yummy bread and some sourdough starter.  I'll work on the starter this afternoon.

Polly and I went downtown for lunch at a burgers/salads place.  We hadn't seen each other for three years, so we had a lot of catching up to do.  When we lived in Montpelier, we belonged to a women's group that met weekly for about ten years.  Through the years, members came and went, but of the core, she and I both moved (me just 7 miles away), Cindy moved to California, and Sandy passed away.  I got Polly interested in quilting long ago, and I miss going to quilt shows and shops with her.   A trip to our favorite shop near Burlington is something we need to do in the near future.  Anyway, we had a very nice time, and the drive home was simply lovely with bright blue skies and, as is usual for Vermont any time of year, beautiful views.

Pre-holiday projects

 In the last few days, I've finished four table runners, three 12" table mats, and 3 potholders, most of which were made with "Snowflake Bentley" fabric.     The two table runners that had other fabric in a disappearing nine patch pattern will be going down to the florist's shop for sale.   I just need to update my written list that I always take along with the items.  I'm wondering, too, if I should take the fall items home or leave them there for a few more weeks.

I'm planning to give the Snowflake Bentley items to various family and friends for the holidays.  My next door neighbors are a blend of religions, so the winter theme might be particularly good for them.  After I finished those gifts, I started making tissue cases, mostly out of holiday fabric.  Each little case takes just a 6" square and an 8" square, so they are great for using scraps.  Here are the first 12 I made - in just an afternoon!

These are going to be given to the library staff at the Friends of the Library's annual staff appreciation lunch.  I'm a little worried that there are three men on the staff, but then I figure they can hide them in their desks or give them away.   It's been several years since I made gifts for the staff, and I always enjoy doing it.  I have run through my repertoire, though, and am already wondering what I can make next year.

Because these were so easy and quick to make, I made 12 more, even though I am out of little packets of Kleenex.  Those are on order and should arrive next week.  While I was online ordering the tissues, I came across several books that family members might like to receive for Christmas.  Almost all of them like to read and also depend on my suggestions sometimes.   The titles are now in my Amazon "shopping list," and I'll review them in a week or two and then pace an order.  I like to get my package to relatives in the Netherlands out by Thanksgiving and, for those stateside, a little after that. 

This morning I did a little sewing with "strings" and this afternoon seems like a good time to curl up with a good book.    Several pre-ordered ones have arrived on my Kindle.  I'll probably be reading them tonight while the World Series gets underway.

Finally - sun!

We had some very chillly, gloomy days this week, but yesterday it started looking very nice, and today it's even better.  I finally snapped a picture of the bowtie quilt which I hope to get to Bags of Love very soon.  It was made with swap blocks from my online group.  Most people made one or two blocks to swap, but Debbie and I decided to swap 10 blocks each.  I made enough extra blocks to make this crib-sized quilt.

I took part II of my online walking foot quilting class on Thursday and, while my Elna doesn't cooperate when it comes to using fancy stitches to quilt, I did learn quite a bit that I can use right away.  In fact, yesterday I quilted two Christmas table runners using things I'd learned in class.  I just need to put the bindings on (by machine of course), and then I'll be able to take them down to the florist's to sell along with some Christmas stockings.   Everyone seems to be getting an early start on their holiday shopping, me included.

I have a few other things I want to quilt right away, but those I'll save until gift giving time during the holidays.  Most were made with "Snowflake Bentley" fabrics .  Wilson Bentley was a Vermont farm boy who was the first to figure out that each snowflake is different from all the others.  Beginning in 1883, he photographed the ones he caught, and his photos are now in the Smithsonian.   Marcus fabrics has a line featuring a panel with 8" individual snowflake blocks.  So far I've made two table runners and several hot pads and potholders with the blocks.  I'm running low on accent fabric, unfortunately.

This morning we took a quick trip over the antique mall.  It's usually closed for the winter right after Halloween, but this year the owner says he isn't reopening in May except to hold a closeout sale.  We wanted to wish him a happy retirement and to see if there was anything we couldn't live without.  I found a "Delft" (made in Belgium) plate that looks nice among all my other Dutch-themed things in our powder room.  I have been looking for a small table for our front hall, but no luck.  The plant stand covered with a quilt will have to continue there, maybe forever.

In my endless quest to lose weight, I started rowing this morning.  The nurse practitioner I saw suggested that I row at least 5 minutes a day until Thanksgiving at which time it will have become a habit I won't be able to stop.  I don't know about that, but today's session wasn't bad at all.

A great class

Thursday I zoomed a class with Beth Ann Williams called "Easy and Effective Machine Quilting with a Walking Foot."  It's a two part class, with more good info next Thursday.  Beth Ann showed a number of marking tools that I have but haven't tried very much, as well as those I haven't heard of.  I'm heading to the quilt shop this morning to see if I can find some.  Here's a link to her blog updating her test of marking tools.

We went over various ways of echo quilting as well as stabilizing the sandwich and moving it without turning.  Her hints were very helpful, and I enjoyed working on the homework.  That involved practicing marking and stitching.  If you are looking for a useful class, I would recommend Beth's.  She is practical and very approachable.  

Beth said that physical limitations have led her to quilt most things with a walking foot these days, and the quilts she showed were really nice.  I have stopped trying the do free motion quilting myself because I find it stressful.  I can never seem to regulate the tension and length of my stitches, but my walking foot stitches turn out great.  When I want curlicues, I take a quilt to a long armer.  Much of what she talked about, I already knew to some extent, but it felt good to dive a little deeper into the subject.  Can't wait til next Thursday!

Fall fun

 It's going to be a cloudy high 40s today, and I see the wind blowing.   That means it's chillier than it looks.  The foliage is still pretty, but I don't think I'll be going outside to do any yard work.  There is laundry going this morning, and this afternoon I have signed up for a machine quilting workshop online.  It's about using a walking foot more creatively, and I hope to pick up a few pointers.

Yesterday we met Diane and Bill for an early dinner downtown.  It was $5 Burger Night, and the burgers were really good.  I checked on Noom before ordering so found that my burger was within my range, thank goodness.  I am finding Noom quite interesting, but I don't know that I'll renew after my three months are up.  I'm not sure I've lost any weight this month.  Anyway, walking back to the car, Paul had to stop for a picture.  If you can enlarge it, you'll read some funny epitaphs.

 

Bow ties

Earlier this year, I participated in a bow tie block swap with some online quilting friends.  Most swapped two blocks, but Debbie and I exchanged ten with each other.   These 8" blocks were incredibly each to make, and a lot of fun to arrange.  I'm curious to see how Debbie arranged her blocks.

I finished putting the blocks together and got them ready to quilt last weekend, and this Saturday I finished quilting the little quilt which is destined for Bags of Love.  The binding has been sewn to one side, and, because it's raining today, I'll probably get it sewn to the other side today.

I have a few small quilt projects to work on after that, but I am nearing the end of a good book, too, so I'm not sure how I'll spend the rest of my day.  Yesterday I tried a new recipe for baked chicken breast which involved brining briefly and a rub.  It was a huge success, and we have quite a bit left to enjoy this week in a chef's salad and maybe enchiladas.  This means I'll spend a little time in the kitchen today, too.

I had hoped to do some more yard work, but it looks a bit too wet out.  I edged a little bed around the birch tree in our front yard.  It was a bit difficult due to all the roots there, but I am hoping to get some bulbs in before mulching for the winter.  I also need to trim the hydrangeas out back.  The tag on the bush said it was a "mini," but it has turned out to be "maxi" and needs human intervention to stay in its spot.  The flowers have surprised me by slowly turning from white to burgundy, so I've been a bit slow to remove them.

Gorgeous weather

 

We are having a lovely fall.  The temperatures are between 65 and 75 almost every day.  Every morning's fog promises and delivers a sunny day, and the night temperatures are perfect for sleeping.  This is why we live in Vermont.  We know it will get lousy out eventually, but right now, it is a perfect place to live.

We try to get out for walks most days, and yesterday's showed some of the fall colors to perfection.  I like the colors best when they aren't quite at peak.  Every view is a gift!

I did do some sewing yesterday - finished quilting the bow tie quilt and sewed the binding onto one side.  I need to sew it to the back and may start that later today.  Yesterday I went to a Calico County Quilters meeting.  It's a small group and we usually bring out own projects to work on while chatting.  I finished my sashiko and now have to figure out what to do with it.  I think I will turn it into a wallhanging with a colorful border since the background is a charcoal gray.

This morning I was back outside, working under the birch tree where I removed some ungainly junipers earlier this summer.  I edged around the area covered with leaves and will get Paul to help me mulch tomorrow.  Here's a view from the tree.  Isn't that red tree amazing!?!  I can see its top from my computer, too.

It's been a relaxing weekend, which is good because the week looks like it will be somewhat busy with appointments and social events.  Not a bad life, retirement. 

Fall foliage

Here in Central Vermont at this time of year, the mornings are always foggy.  The leaves are slowly beginning to turn, and we anxiously await their "peak."  My friend Samantha recently took this photo from Green River Reservoir, about an hour north of us.

There is really no place prettier than Vermont in fall!