Last week we had a snowed-in-down-day for us here at the farm and I spent part of the day rummaging through my Morrell fabric boxes organizing the next few blocks to be made. I have not worked on it since the Shipshewana retreat in April. Actually, it seems that I only work on it at the retreat. I wanted to have some blocks prepped and ready to pick up when I felt like stitching something other than cherries. But then, I realized I will never complete the BTCT quilt if I keep finding something other than cherries to stitch on.
Many bloggers are all aflutter about the 2020 Weather Quilts. I like the idea. I also like the 365(6) Day Circles. I even thought about combining the two. You know make a circle each day for the high temperature on a square for the low temperature. Then I realized that I am pretty much circled out right now. So then I considered making melons kind of like on the corners of the 1857 quilt for the 2020 Rainbow Scrap Challenge. But I am still working on the Corn and Beans UFO and I had considered bringing Bright Jane out to play again. And, if I am going to make 20 more Morrell blocks, where will I have time to make 4 bocks a month for Ella Maria Deacon? I also thought it might be fun to take part in one of the many mystery QAL that keep showing up. Then thoughts of hand quilting Beyond the Cherry Trees dance through my head, kind of like a freight train.
I have not started any new quilts in 2019. I held to the commitment. Barely by a thread some days, but I have not started anything new. Instead, I worked on a few old ones. And I wrote. Lots of pages. Still have many hundreds to go. My prayer team suggested I put aside my manuscript until the new year and I have. Interesting how that seriously de-stressed my head and that is probably why I am reading new blogs and finding all kinds of new quilty temptations out there. Sigh.
We will have 17 here for Christmas dinner on Sat. It is supposed to be pot luck and I was told I would not have to do anything. As if I could do nothing. The cleaning lady is coming in an extra day to help move a few things and set up 14 feet of tables in the living room so we can all sit in the same room. My husband's suggestion. I have stacking chairs in the one guest room no one is living in that will need to be brought down and washed up. They have not been used since the last time we hosted my family here 5 years ago. There were 23. I made 2 turkeys that year. This year I am cooking roast beef and ham. I love leftovers. One of my brothers is doing the smashed potatoes. Another brother and his wife are bringing no less than 4 desserts. I like desserts and she makes great pies. A sister is bringing a vegetable something or other. There will be tobogganing if we get more snow and it turns cold. Also, there will be Lego wars in the quilt room.
The problem with going to bed at 9 pm is that you are wide awake at 4:45 am. So, I put on a load of laundry so I have something clean to wear to church and washed up yesterday's dishes since I went to bed so early without doing them. The little girls are already up and Gay will not be posting the new Ella Maria Deacon QAL blocks for hours yet. I had pie and a cup of green tea for a pre-breakfast snack. Real breakfast will be in a couple of hours. In the meantime, I have ribs in the crockpot for dinner and there is no line up for the shower. Yet.
Blessings,
Chris
kathy's slow-sunday-stitching. oh-scrap. wednesday-wait-loss. design-wall-monday. canadian needleandthreadnetwork. frombolttobeauty.
Many bloggers are all aflutter about the 2020 Weather Quilts. I like the idea. I also like the 365(6) Day Circles. I even thought about combining the two. You know make a circle each day for the high temperature on a square for the low temperature. Then I realized that I am pretty much circled out right now. So then I considered making melons kind of like on the corners of the 1857 quilt for the 2020 Rainbow Scrap Challenge. But I am still working on the Corn and Beans UFO and I had considered bringing Bright Jane out to play again. And, if I am going to make 20 more Morrell blocks, where will I have time to make 4 bocks a month for Ella Maria Deacon? I also thought it might be fun to take part in one of the many mystery QAL that keep showing up. Then thoughts of hand quilting Beyond the Cherry Trees dance through my head, kind of like a freight train.
I have not started any new quilts in 2019. I held to the commitment. Barely by a thread some days, but I have not started anything new. Instead, I worked on a few old ones. And I wrote. Lots of pages. Still have many hundreds to go. My prayer team suggested I put aside my manuscript until the new year and I have. Interesting how that seriously de-stressed my head and that is probably why I am reading new blogs and finding all kinds of new quilty temptations out there. Sigh.
We will have 17 here for Christmas dinner on Sat. It is supposed to be pot luck and I was told I would not have to do anything. As if I could do nothing. The cleaning lady is coming in an extra day to help move a few things and set up 14 feet of tables in the living room so we can all sit in the same room. My husband's suggestion. I have stacking chairs in the one guest room no one is living in that will need to be brought down and washed up. They have not been used since the last time we hosted my family here 5 years ago. There were 23. I made 2 turkeys that year. This year I am cooking roast beef and ham. I love leftovers. One of my brothers is doing the smashed potatoes. Another brother and his wife are bringing no less than 4 desserts. I like desserts and she makes great pies. A sister is bringing a vegetable something or other. There will be tobogganing if we get more snow and it turns cold. Also, there will be Lego wars in the quilt room.
The problem with going to bed at 9 pm is that you are wide awake at 4:45 am. So, I put on a load of laundry so I have something clean to wear to church and washed up yesterday's dishes since I went to bed so early without doing them. The little girls are already up and Gay will not be posting the new Ella Maria Deacon QAL blocks for hours yet. I had pie and a cup of green tea for a pre-breakfast snack. Real breakfast will be in a couple of hours. In the meantime, I have ribs in the crockpot for dinner and there is no line up for the shower. Yet.
Blessings,
Chris
kathy's slow-sunday-stitching. oh-scrap. wednesday-wait-loss. design-wall-monday. canadian needleandthreadnetwork. frombolttobeauty.
It's annoying to wake up so early but then it's nice to have time to read blog posts. Your applique is so lovely! Circles get tiresome appliqueing them all but when it's finished, it's wow!, so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI considered participating in the circle a day project that was popular 4 years ago but didn't. They're lovely quilts though. Enjoy yourself whatever you decide to do this year. I'm not ready to start Stonefields so you don't need to consider that one. Happy Stitching!
So many tempting things out in blog land. You have done really well with not starting anything new this year. Christmas dinner sounds great. My Mom always made a french roast - roast beef smothered in pepper and onions. It was so yummy.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've had lots of thinking time this morning, and have got your quilting ideas for the new year all laid out! I'm intrigued by the temperature quilts, too, but I know I don't do well with anything that has to be done every day. Enjoy your big Christmas dinner on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have your work cut out for you. Sounds like a great Christmas dinner. I'm waiting for Ella Maria Duncan to come out too!
ReplyDeleteI agree about going to bed early and rising early, it's a battle we all get caught up as we get older. I tend to stay up later and get up early and have been forcing myself to stay in bed and if I fall asleep it's like the best sleep. I can see why beyond the cherry tree screamed at you such a pretty quilt.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I love waking early in the morning way before the sun rises. It is my favourite part of the day as everything is still. My goodness your Christmas sounds as if it will be busy but wonderful celebrating with your family. Your tiny cherries are looking fabulous. I wonder what pretty quilt you will start in the new year??
ReplyDeleteThere are always so many things to tempt us quilting wise when a new year starts. I fizzle out too soon on waiting for the next month and a new pattern or instructions, etc.
ReplyDeleteYour cherries are very sweet! Can you really ever have too many? I've been thinking about weather quilts, too ... and then I smack my hand. LOL! :)
ReplyDeleteWow you are so focused! Many temptations out there but you stuck to your plan and got a lot done in 2019. I hope to do the same in 2020. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteThe day has so much potential when you get up early. I gave in to temptation and did a number of mystery quilts this year, didn't do much for my finishing numbers. Need to figure that out for 2020. Have a wonderful holiday celebrate with your family.
ReplyDelete