Selling the Millie, waiting for action

 I'm still nursing my back fractures and (somewhat) patiently waiting for my surgical appointment in October. 

The new Tempur Pedic bed arrived on Saturday and we slept on it that night. The two sides of the split king mattress moved during the night, and Penny was fuddled by falling into the dip it created. I researched what other people have done to resolve the problem, and Mr Wazoo spent Sunday taking it all apart and trying to fix the problem. Last night was better, but I think it would help if these adjustable bed people would get a fix! Anyway, the bed is comfortable and I am able to turn over with minimal effort and pain.

I have my Millie for sale on the APQS site, but am having difficulties finding it there. It figures...I posted it on August 7th, and have had no response, so I looked for it today and couldn't find it. I made a new post in the forum area for machines for sale, but it still isn't there. I need to re-group and put it on line on other longarm sites.

Meanwhile, I saw a new post on Youtube from Timothy Totten about 3-D masks. The mask doesn't touch your mouth and stands away from your face, keeping your glasses from steaming up. I wore mine on the shop hop and it was comfortable and effective. I'll be making more today with a few tweaks.

See how it pokes out in the front? That is where all the breathing and talking takes place.

Your glasses sit on the top piece and there is no fogging! The bottom piece fits under the chin, completing the gap free fit on the face. I chose batik fabric for its tight weave and added a layer of fusible interfacing to the inside piece.

The three amigos traveled to Tennessee to the shop we couldn't visit last time, and a smaller shop right down the road. I bought some 'low volume' (I hate that term) fabrics for a quilt I would like to make, a new book and a pattern. I also bought some fun fabric for masks. As everyone knows, I just don't have enough fabric!!

I also found this cool Wisconsin Panel and hope to make a  pillow out of it.

I like this Cluck Cluck Sew pattern and have a jelly roll to use with it. The book has several great pre-cut quilts that appeal to me, and passed the 'Don't buy it unless there are three projects you'd like to make' rule.

Penny has started in on her second Yak Cheese Chew. These things are great! They don't get slimy and gross, she works on it for long periods, her teeth are nice and clean, and it doesn't smell! This is her new one so you can see the size of it. When it gets too small for safe chewing, you soak it in water, then microwave it and it becomes an edible cheese puff! No waste at all. Thanks to my sister for the first bag. I'll be ordering another one soon.

The pointy end is where she has been chewing. It is about 3/4 inch thick.

Who'd of thunk it? Yak cheese?!

Penny is back in her element, running and happy in the yard.

Its good to be home.

A new daily routine

 Wake up, drink a glass of water, take the puppy outside, make coffee, take morning pills, sit and recover. That's how I start my day. That bit of activity makes my back begin to ache. After 30 minutes of rest, I make and eat breakfast, get dressed and take Penny out for her run and fetch. Another 20 minutes of sitting, this time outside enjoying nature, then its off to the studio. I finished the two armchair antimacassars and sent them back to Florida. It took 2 1/2 days to quilt two 20x22" pieces of fabric. Ugh...

After a good drink of oil and a warmup, Millie did her job and helped me quilt the two pieces of fabric.

I didn't get a picture of the finished products, but you can see the Rounded Square panto here.

I got out one of the quilt tops I made in Texas and added the borders made from the fabric I got on our shop hop south. Tomorrow, we'll be on a shop hop north!

This was a jelly roll project. I like the prints and colors of the collection. I made the green backing and hung it all back on the rack.

Today I paid some bills, did a load of wash and tried a new mask pattern. I made three duds before I got the gist of the directions and had some success.  I'll try it out tomorrow. I need to make some more as ours are getting rather tired and worn out. I'll have one of the girls take my picture tomorrow for you.

Supper is over, the clothes are put away and I am recovering again. Next stop, bed!

Mini Shop-Hop

 I had wonderful day yesterday with my quilting posse. We went on a mini shop-hop to Dahlonega, Cumming and Jasper. Starting in Dahlonega with the Common Thread shop. They have a nice selection of traditional and contemporary fabrics in a bright, well organized shop. If you want to see how the shop is set up and where things are, there is a great Youtube video: the Common Thread in Dahlonega Georgia. Actually, they have 29 videos there! Go and take a look.  Type in www.youtube.com, then type in the common thread in Dahlonega  GA.

                                        

Here is a look at some of the offerings in the shop from the balcony.

I spent my time in the sale room, picking out backings for a couple of the quilts I made in Texas. Hopefully, I will ba able to quilt them once I get my back fixed!

Next, we travelled to Cumming and my favorite shop, Thread Bear Fabrics. This shop occupies two store fronts and has so much fabric it is a quilter's nirvana. Janet, the owner,  has the passion for fabric that die hard quilters share and it shows in the mere volume of fabric variety in her two stores. I snapped a few pictures  for you so you'll understand what I am talking about.

Here is our driver and my buddy Gail, following the mask rule and picking out her fabric choices. We go to this shop frequently, so have a good idea where each type of fabric  is located.

On the ceiling are many of the panels they offer. Janet knows where every panel, and fabric is!

More fabric and notions

Some people would get overwhelmed with the stacks and shelves,  but I think of it as the thrill of the hunt. I love looking in all the boxes and examining all the shelves.

With my other quilty friend Audrey at the check out in the distance, I was perusing  the batik rows for another backing fabric.

So many to choose from. I found the perfect selection and had the owner's husband and store partner Randy cut it for me in the other half of the shop. In his half, they have wide backing, the sale area, fat quarters and fabric arranged by manufacturer.

I could set up a machine and a cot and live here!

Visit the website at www.threadbearfabrics.com

You won't be disappointed.

Off to Jasper over lovely country roads studded with quirky shops and houses varying from ramshackle to glorious. It was a pleasant drive, ending at the Pickens County Mercantile and Quilt Shoppe. This is a fairly small space, located in the old railway depot. Three area are well organized with fabric, yarn and embroidery supplies and a classroom. We spent our time searching for the fabrics to finish projects at home. I got the backing for two more quilts there.

                                                            

                                                   

                                                  The store is in this quaint building.

Need thread, floss, yarn, needles, notions and more? No problem here

Looking into the fabric room of the shop.

They have a  great selection of reproduction, contemporary and blender fabrics. Fabrics by collection, batiks, flannels and pre-cuts.

Look at the rainbow selection of yarn!

Some of the flannel and woodsy fabrics on offer.

The website is www.pickenscountymercantile.com

If you're a quilter and in the area, it is well worth stopping there.

Back at home, I had to lie down for a while. I have been doing a lot of porch sitting and contemplating my future lately. I spent a couple of hours outside last night, enjoying the quiet and thinking about life. Maybe there is a good thing to come from this injury. I'm forced to slow down for a while. Not for too long, I hope. The itch to quilt is strong and I need to scratch it!

One day at a time

 On Tuesday I attended the first longarm quilting group from my day guild. I think we were 9 quilters, but I may have forgotten someone. Sarah did a wonderful job keeping things moving, and everyone seemed excited to come again next month. 

Because I am not actively quilting, I feel funny posting on the blog. I hung up the 12 tops I made in Texas, put away all the supplies and kits, and uncovered and tuned up the Millie. Then, I had to go sit down. This back thing has really put a kink in my activities.

Penny and I sit out on the porch while I sip my morning coffee and enjoy the coolness of our lush green landscape. Here are a few pictures I took on a trip around the yard.

Home sweet home. Mr Wazoo has made a beautiful place to come home to.

Most of the flowering plants are spent and the greenery has taken the stage

My favorite shrub is the blue-green one in the front.

In the side garden, the hydrangea are exploding with huge clusters of snowy blooms.

The blooms are as big as my head!

In the back yard, the gnome watches over the bird condos and the rock slope.

The 'Christmas tree' trellis Mr W built has finally got a vine growing on it. We have to be patient and it will eventually be covered with greenery and flowers.

I'm sorry, Texas, but this is wonderful.

Tomorrow I am taking a road trip with my two quilting buddies. I expect to enjoy their company and the countryside more than buy more fabric. We will visit a couple of shops and have some lunch before coming home. 

I loaded a small customer project that came in while I was away, (two 20 x 22" arm covers for the customer's husband's chair) and have the quilting half done. The machine is fine, but the computer is still my nemesis, causing trouble with each row. I'm ready to sell it, and will research the best way to do it while I'm laid up. Good-bye Millie. 

I am taking stock of what I want to be doing, and weighing the possibilities when it comes to longarm quilting. I will always make quilts, but may close up shop on customer quilts. We'll see.

For now, I'm going to the shops!!

Home

 We pulled in the driveway at about 8:15 yesterday evening and I stepped out of the car and cried. It was so quiet and sweet smelling, I was overwhelmed. I never realized how much traffic noise 24 hours a day affected me. The park my dad and Nancy live in is about 50 yards from a six lane interstate  highway and the roar of semis, motorcycles, cars and emergency vehicles never ceases. Here in the north woods of Georgia, it is calm, with only the soothing chirp of a bird or buzz of the frogs. At night, we hear crickets, frogs and whirring katydids, with the occasional coyote in the woods.Sitting on the porch outside...no mosquitoes, only the blinking of fireflies. Honestly, I cried. Then I fixed myself a stiff drink and took Penny for a run in the backyard. Everyone is happy here.

Day one: Sunrise in Texas

Penny enjoying the scenery with her tongue lolling around.

On the trip there were some hiccups with traffic and weather. In Louisiana, the traffic was backed up for miles and miles because of a huge accident. We said at the time how lucky we were that it was on the other side of the highway...until our side came to a halt and crawled forward at a jerky snail's pace! There was another wreck on the bridge going into Baton Rouge, our home for the night.

Yikes!

At first it looked bad...

then, it looked really bad!

Just  a few miles onto the Achalafaya Basin Bridge, the weather turned nasty and this is what we saw. The bridge is 18.2 miles long with no turning back, once you're on it. We drove about five miles per hour until we reached the other end.

After the rain came the bridge wreck that held us up even longer. 

Trust me, I had a big drink at the hotel, too.

Penny made herself at home in the hotel room while Mr Wazoo and I ate salads from Wendys.

Day two started at 6:00AM.

There were some things that were lovely along the way. We stopped at a rest area in Mississippi that was absolutely beautiful. Big stands of live oak trees, a lake and a wonderful visitor's center.

Several areas had stands of these trees, shading the picnic tables.

Looking back at the visitor's center from the dog walk area.

Mahi-mahi swimming across the lobby

A stingray in front of the ladies room

Mr Turtle at the information desk

And a giant octopus on the way out!

There were lots of other fish tiled into the floor, but I had to get back on the road!

Somewhere in Alabama, the traffic was diverted off the highway by Highway Patrol, so we scrambled to see how to get back on track. We had a nice tour of the Alabamabackroads before finding our way back to the intended route.

It was already a long day when we were on the approach to Atlanta. Unfortunately for us, it was 5:00. Rush hour. Driving at any time of the day in Atlanta is hair raising, but rush hour takes the fear to a new level. Mr Wazoo did his best negotiating the gauntlet, but missed both exits to get out of the city and on the way home. By the time we found a way out, we had to take a route that criss crossed the countryside until we got to Highway 19 and the trip over Blood Mountain. We're used to that road, even though it is winding and steep. 

We were home by 8:15.

I will Never live in Atlanta

Getting closer to the exit...

I took this picture the day before we left. Home never looked so good as when we returned!

Now, to see if an old lady with a broken back can still quilt!

On Monday I see the doctor and then try out the longarm.

Finally ready to go.

We waited forever for Safelite to have a windshield for the car. Today, we went to Brownsville and had it installed. Then we went to dinner at the barbecue place and packed the car. Unfortunately, we have so much stuff we had to get two duffles from Bass Pro Shop to strap to the roof of the car! I tried everywhere to get a car top carrier, but you have to order one. Nobody has them in the store. What seemed like hundreds of phone calls later, the nice man at Bass Pro suggested the big duffles sprayed with water repellent. Done and dusted!

I am exhausted. Mr Wazoo is exhausted. Time to go to bed and get ready for the long drive home. I took Penny to the local Petsmart and had her toenails clipped and smoothed, a bath and brushing, and a little trim. She's ready to roll!

Here are the last pictures from Harlingen, Texas.

I finished my blue and white quilt with a blue grunge border. Of course, Penny had to photobomb the shot...

Here is the obligatory photo showing my face! And more of Penny's backside.

Meanwhile, I'm not the only klutz in the family. My youngest daughter broke her arm roller skating! She can't believe at 44 she did something this silly. The next day she went camping, but without the planned hiking. Hammock resting in the great outdoors was the order of the day.

Tomorrow, bright and early (or dark and early...) we hit the road for the journey home. We'll be in Baton Rouge for the night, then home to Georgia on Friday. I am so ready!