Deja vu All Over Again

Hi everyone! Good evening! Oh what a difference a day makes. Yesterday was beautifully sunny, 37*--- the roads and walkways finally shoveled, plowed and dry. 

Mo and I had two long wonderful walks enjoying the fresh winter air. We even went to Mo's beach bench, though sadly it was behind a big snowdrift. Mo was happy to do his tricks on the dry pavement instead.

Then today:

It is actually a beautiful snow, but who wants it?! Not us. Arctic cold to follow, brrr.

Mo was content to play briefly on the deck. I finally had been able to open the door enough to squeeze out and do some shoveling for him. 

In bad weather we play a modified Pug Fetch. I sit at my computer, and throw a treat as FAAAR into the living room as I can. Mo finds it, eats the treat, and runs back to me. For some reason he refuses to fetch a toy.

And Jeep Roadside Assistance came yesterday morning, quite promptly, and started my car. My friend has driven it for me twice now, but honestly, I do not trust it anymore. 

Working indoors today, I decided to mostly ignore house chores and we spent the day in my sewing room. Here is the view looking out past my cutting table. 

Now at 5 PM there's a slight clearing and the storm is ending. The snow-frosted trees are glowing an ethereal pink, so beautiful. 

I worked on hearts for my etsy shop. I make them year round, though I do regret not having more to offer for Valentine's day.

I made the pattern try-out for Blue Pineapples. And glad I did because refinements and changes were quite needed. 

Here is the machine appliqued/ straight stitch leafy top. I like to do a straight stitch sometimes because, when washed, the cut edge frays softly and creates textures and dimension.

First of all the thread I ordered is horrible and much too dark. I hope I can made do with my small spools I use for hand applique, the only green thread I have.

Other issues---easily fixed, the corners were hard to square up. Better to cut a blue rectangle and put notches, then sew/ press/ trim.

And the green topper and the blue body didn't fit exactly.

I also considered  using the pieced topper from Baby Ps. It looks good, but this is supposed to be a deck throw/ beach blanket, not a work of quilting art. 

Focus on function! I told myself. 

Remember the showcase the gorgeous blue batiks. 

Keep it modern and casual.

OK!

And I couldn't resist starting to piece the eBay antique Wagon Wheel blocks. I love them! Spacers to make the three across wider/ and five down. 33" x 45", plus possible borders.

I will not fix the crooked cheddar rims or not-round center circles. The piecing [as opposed to the applique] of the spokes is beautiful. Most perfect tiny even hand stitches. I'll show you next time.

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Cold weather is coming! I also did the alterations on Mo's newest parka. It had enough Velcro to close a snowsuit for a plus sized human skier. I redid the fastenings for fast on/ fast off and trimmed away the tummy coverings so Mo could potty easily.

                                                                   

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Still eating leftover pot-roast! It is far better after a few days and slices nicely when cold, before reheating. Added gravy from a jar. The veggies were mostly discarded though.

Have a great week. 

                                      

Gully, winter of 2010, 11 years ago. He was back again yesterday, 

and many winters in between.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Snow Days

 

Hi guys. Here we are on this Monday night, snowed in and crazy. 

Whatever happened to snow days, they used to be so fun? Hot chocolate, oatmeal cookies, red cheeks and wet woolen mittens. Those days are gone.

I can't get any of the doors open! All have drifts up past the door handles. Can't expect anyone to come dig us out, the roads are closed. My car has died an untimely death, so if flooding occurs or the power goes out, Baby Mo and I are stuck here, waiting to freeze to death. [If only in my dire imagination.] So much for counting on my Jeep always. .Its computer/ dashboard went berserk Sunday, a reaction to  those coldest days, Thursday, Friday. And you know, it really wasn't all that freakin cold, mid-20s. [The gale winds made it awful but that shouldn't affect a car. My Jeep was serviced and winterized just six weeks ago, too]. I am upset, stranded, disappointed. My friend will try to come Wednesday or Thursday to work on my car, no worries.

Mo too is very unhappy and confused. Even if he cannot go out he likes to peek out and decide for himself. But the doors, as mentioned, are firmly drifted shut with heavy wet snow, about chest high on a human. And he refuses to use his potty pads, poor little man. 

In honor of the coming snow, yesterday I made pot-roast in my new Crockpot. The result was---I'd give it a D-, not a Fail because the beef tasted good. But it fell apart in dry dry dry strings. And the veggies were grey. Needed some of that browning stuff my mom secretly used: Kitchen Bouquet? Edible if the power goes and/ or if I have no car to drive to the store. But I expect more than that from a labor intensive and fairly expensive meal. Recipe link, previous post.

And did I mention my Kindle died? My friend had an extra, brought it over yesterday when my car went wacko. Who has an extra unopened Kindle just lying around anyway? They cost about $175.oo with new chargers. I was amazed. 

I am rereading all the early Robert Parker Spenser books. LOL--- they have car phones! Kindle is pretty awesome how one's library just appears on the new device, like magic. But the Spenser books are before my time, before Kindle time, so not in my archive, not free.

................................................................................................

The past week I worked on a few white linen hearts. [sold] 

and a couple more suncatchers.

More to come. Made when ordered, so email me if you want a rusty heart suncatcher. I only have two or three to offer.

This is my Weird Collections haul from January alone. I always think that rain/ snow/ windy weather make the odd disks rise to the surface.

How strange.

Wonder what will show up when the snow melts this February.

How much snow did you get?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....