Pages

Friday, January 9, 2026

New Quilt Start


The Chookshed Challenge number for January is 3 and I started a new quilt. That was a harder decision than I had expected. I have a list of 12 kits ready to go. Six were purchased somewhere along the past 20 years. Six I had gathered all the fabrics and put them into labled project boxes over the past few years. Thinking about starting is quite different than actually starting. When I was cutting the fabrics for Stonefields last summer, I took time to slice one inch strips of each of the fabrics in preparation to one day start Omigosh.  Only 443 more 4-patch blocks and 549 nine-patch to go. This is my 2026 Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. This is the first time I have seen a Tracking Sheet. Going to need it for this one.

In November my Sweetie and I went on a Cross Atlantic Cruise. We flew out to Italy with our daughter and her family to board the MSC Grandiosa which was our home for 16 days. With 10 days at sea, I had lots of time to sit and glue baste pieces for Lucy and Stonefields. I could only work on them for short bits of time. We stopped in Marsaille, Barcelona, Las Palmas, St Maarten and Peurto Rico before disembarking in Miami. It was colder in Southern Europe than we expected and a lot warmer on the balcony on the cruiseship than we thought it would be. 

This was my third cruise of the year. A few things I have learned about cruising. They say its all about eating and sleeping. Yup. We ate and we slept. But you have to circle the buffet a few times each meal to find just what you want to eat. So lots of walking. And then can go back for seconds. No cooking. No dishes. No grocery shopping. Someone makes up the bed every day and brings fresh towels. 

We do not drink or gamble but there were lots of sporting activities to keep the guys busy. There was a different show every night. One of the highlights for me was the excursion to the rainforest on the mountain in Peurto Rico. I got to see Monsteras in there natural habitat and it gave me ideas for mine here in the SonRoom. 

No phones. No internet. No TV.  I got lots of writing and journaling done. And we learned how to play Uno Flip. What a crazy card game. We really enjoyed spending time with our daughter and the boys. They were very helpful to this slow moving Gramma. David decided that when he gets married, he will marry a disabled wife because we get all the special perks when traveling. 

Blessings,
Chris
linking with: melvalovesscraps.

11 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had such a good time on the cruises, it sounds like fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cute that he wants a disabled wife for the travel perks.
    O My Gosh is on my challenge list this year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. David is a hoot! That sounds like an amazing cruise. We have a family one planned in the summer to Alaska. We will see if all 4 of us are alive at the end!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The cruise does sound wonderful. I've been on a few - and yes, you get a lot of walking in every day. And it was nice to be as busy or as relaxed as you choose. And they treat you like royalty.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We just finished a 16 day cruise this past December, but around S. America. Love cruising, but don't do it as frequently as you. I'm impressed you were able to get some prep work done. Looks like you are off to a great start in 2026.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It sounds like you had an amazing time on your cruise. It sounds like you found a way to slow down on your vacation and still see some great sights. Those blocks look great. Glad you were able to get the prep work done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cruising is certainly a popular holiday, it seems. But I've never been cruising, although I have embarked on several long distance train trips.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your cruise sounds lovely. OMIGOSH as a rainbow scrap challenge will be a fun quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Loved reading about your cruise, Chris. And how special to enjoy it with family too. I've been on three cruises and loved each one so much. I also took stitching each time and enjoyed finding a little nook on deck somewhere to sit and stitch and watch the waves.Great memories here with the snow falling outside Ottawa.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your cruising trip sounds wonderful, with great family memories too! Have fun starting a new project, these blue blocks are pretty.
    Thank you for sharing and linking up!

    ReplyDelete