Clue 4--the One that Almost Made Me Behind

Clue four of R Trail is a doozy.  I was pretty sure this one was the one in which I would get behind even though we have three extra days before the next clue.  However after finally getting all of it cut (I cannot find, or used up, all of my strips of the size needed for this clue so I had to cut a zillion strips before cutting the triangles...had I realized I would have replenished.  Maybe I misplaced them, but think I used them all for Winter Blues (in Green).) I set a goal of X amount per day so that I could be done by the next clue.  I got behind, but yesterday caught up again.  I did not count today in my figuring because I knew we were going to be at my daughter's and I would be more than tired but I decided to get in here and sew for an hour (while watching Wheel of Time episode 5) so now I feel a little ahead.  So right on track to keep up!

Also still reading and listening like crazy.  Malibu Rising was a little soap opera-ish, but I enjoyed it. 

The Flatshare is not my usual kind of book, but I really enjoyed it.  It was a romance, but the couple does not even meet in person for a super long time in the book which made it fun.

Children of Blood and Bone was decent, but I do not feel the need to read the next book in the series.  Trying to read more fantasy but I do not always love it. 

 Hazel has more than 110 spoken words (yes, we counted) and so many signs I stopped counting.  She shows me several new ones almost each day.  She is so entertaining!  Here she is showing me NUMBER, WOLF, and TREE.  Her signs are not textbook (of course) but she is consistent in them.  She already puts two signs (or words) together.  HELP OPEN (for open the gate or other things) and MORE CHEESE (her favorite food).  She just turned 15 months old yesterday.  So much fun!

Many years ago two gals (think it was Allie and Cheryl) started "Christmas Through the Year" and when she gave it up, another gal (Darlene at Quilting Daze) took it over.  I joined in for a few years at that point.  For this next year I wanted to join again and went looking for it with no luck!  I guess it faded out.  I really enjoy making something and checking it off my list each month.  Sometimes it is one thing (like an apron) and other times it is five (like a pillowcase).  So I started a list of things I have made that I may make again (so many years have passed I have a new batch of kids to sew for) and I hope to be sewing one item each month.

Things I have made previously (and that are on my blog already) pillowcases, wine bags, the Simple bag, burp cloths, dolly buntings, dolly quilts, potato bags, aprons, pencil cases, hexagon trivets, Christmas tree napkins and I am sure there is more! 

I am hoping to get started in January with a bunch of Pocket Pillows.  Shabby Fabrics has a free pattern.  I can think of ten kids at least to make this for (My oldest son's wife has six kids and one grandkid with another on the way and he has adopted the youngest child as she had a different father, so always looking for things for them and it adds up fast!).  

Does anyone know of another Christmas Through the Year type thing to help keep me motivated and on track?  

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays!

Three Quilt Finishes, a Clue and some Reading!

Pine Tree Point made for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge made its way to Arizona to Melissa who quilted it (and the B2 quilt) in a jif and mailed it back to me!  I love how both quilts came out.  This one is for my daughter and her hubby.  It is quilted with stars.  Linking up!

We got our little tree up last weekend and so far the cats and Hazel are leaving it be.

I managed to get clue 3 done for R Trail.  Pretty happy with it so far.  Clue four is out and I just made one test block which turned out great, but no energy to cut all the parts for it...we have over a week for this clue though so no worries.

I finally finished up my Mourning Crosses quilt with my Dad's shirt pieces.  I made three others for family and just never got to mine.  Luckily I quilt better now than I did then, so this one has baptist fans all over it.

I stuffed and sewed up both Hazel's H is for Happy pillows for her baby dolls, but tucked one away before getting a picture.

My book secret Santa sent me this book and I have read the first couple stories.  Strange!

Here is the BQ2 quilt I made for Rachel and Bryan.  It is quilted with flames.  They will love it!

Had a doctor's appointment for bloodwork (they are testing me for Lyme) on Thursday so since Kathy took the day off to use up her PTO, we stopped at a Goodwill nearby.  I found these books, yay!

Finished this one this morning.  I enjoyed it, but will not plan to read the sequel.  

This was the latest Once Upon a Book Club selection.  I did not really like it.  It is about a cop shooting a black boy and tried to get to you see both sides I guess.  Just too close to home and not at all "entertaining" though an important topic.  I cancelled my membership since it is expensive and I mostly resell the boxes after (though several have not sold).  I am still getting the Halloween box (shipping issues) and the special Christmas box that I ordered, but after that will only get a few here and there or used.

I listened to this book and really enjoyed it!  
 Hazel is signing and saying words like crazy now!  She is starting to put two together.  Her latest signs were TIGER, STAR, COW...she also is waving at me for attention which is super cute!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Choices for Next Year...

Still reading a lot....finished "The Obsession" by Nora Roberts.  I was never a Roberts reader but this one was really a page turner and I enjoyed it.  

Got clue two of Rhododendron Trail cut out earlier this week.  Been more fatigued than usual most likely due to doing some deep cleaning of the living room and sewing room on Monday.  I had to do some, rest some, and Kathy helped but I was so glad to do it before we put the Christmas stuff up.  It needed it.  

Today I got the last geese sewn for clue two.  Clue three comes out tomorrow.  Hope it is easier.  I did my geese the Bonnie way since the wings were different colored and mirrored.  I just did not want to wrap my tired head around trying to figure that out Eleanor Burnes' way.  I have gotten pretty good at making geese this way after so many Bonnie quilts!

Barb worked on hers all day long the EB way and managed to mix up the cutting on the neutral and color fabrics.  She made it to the last step before discovering (sewing ALL DAY) that her geese will not be the right colors so she has to start over.  She is thinking of skipping the entire thing at this point.  Bummer, I like having someone to keep me going and Kathy is not doing it this year either.  She is still working on Frolic, though has only sewn three or four times in the past year and a half.

I am trying to decide what block to make for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge next year.  I am pretty sure I will make some butterfly blocks so I can make a doll quilt for Lily (since Hazel will get the H is for Happy) and thought it might be fun to make a few each month in rainbow colors.  Then I was thinking Chain and Hourglass or Log Cabin Love from Bonnie's Quiltmaker columns.  Barb thinks I should do Change of Heart from the current Quiltmaker.  I am leaning towards the Log Cabin Love.  Which one do you think?  Linking up with Angela at SoScrappy!

 In my health saga...diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on meds.  Naturopath thinks I may have Lyme's so will be tested for that again soon.  A few other things were off in my bloodwork.  I saw a new PCP today and really liked her.  She put in for a walker for me.  Crazy how fast your health can go.

RT Gets a Start!

I quilted and bound both of Hazel's doll quilts.  They have unicorn fabric on the back.

                                                    

Reading a lot still.  I found this one annoying though I did want to know how it ended.  In its defense, it is a YA.  I do not plan to read book two!

We went to Hannah and Jeremy's for Thanksgiving.  I brought and made my turkey and wine gravy, and completed pumpkin pie and pumpkin roll.  My ex hubby and his sister (and her hubby) and one grown daughter (my goddaughter) and her boyfriend came too.  We played Bang! afterwards and Hannah won--if I remember right.  

My Secret Santa from my game group spoiled me with this!

                                                

My fabric color pull for Rhododendron Trail (hereby known as RT!).  I always wait til the clue comes out and pull the correct size strips in the colors and use those before I cut into the yardage.  Sometimes the yardage just gets put back on the shelf.

On Friday I made it this far with clue one.  I did get to sew with BJ and Barb on Facetime.  We had Hazel here and I had a killer headache/migraine that morning so was in slow motion all day. On Saturday I ripped the paper while watching a movie.

Ironed them all up while Facetiming Barb today.  She got her clue to the ironing stage too!

I read this book yesterday and today.  Was not what I thought it was and skim read some of the uninteresting stuff.  I also read an ARC from NetGalley "The House at the End of the Street" which was quite good.  Depressing subject matter (the south during the 60's for one timeline) but well told.

Currently reading and listening to this one.  It is a very strange version of Romeo and Juliet.  There are monsters (sea monster) and insects and lots of death from all that.  I am liking it though.

Today I also cut and sewed this little apron for Hazel for Christmas.  It is the ninth one I have made with my Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild buddy Jona's pattern.

 

Books, Games, and Pine Tree Point is a Flimsy!

I got a surprise package the other day!  You may remember I ordered a second blind date with a book from Book_Bestie's Etsy shop.  Well, it was lost in the mail so when I contacted her she immediately sent me a new book.  Weeks later the lost one arrived.  So I get a bonus Blind date!  I DNF'ed the replacement book "Wolf Hall" as it just was not doing it for me by the half way point.  Excited to try the original second one!

I did the Booktube spin #1 and so my chosen book was Jurassic Park.  I love the movie but had never read the book.  Lots of good dinosaur info and it is a bit different from the movie.  I enjoyed it.

Read this one about the plague from 200 ish years ago.  Sounds worse than current times.  At least dead folks are not piling up in the streets.

I got another book box and read this one too.  It was good.  I thought it was going in one direction but it did not.

Currently reading and listening to "Wives and Daughters" which I really am enjoying.  I am so happy to find another classic author I like.  Taking my time and savoring this one, and I already ordered another one by Gaskell.  

I decided to type up all the books I have on my Nook, Kindle, Audible, Chirp and shelf to see what all I had and how many.  My total was 578!  I was shocked.  So since I want all the books and cannot afford all the books (still waiting on disability) I am trying to commit myself to getting through some of those on the TBR this year.  I decided that the booktube readalongs and such can help me pick from the list.  Might make it more fun.  If I do not care for a book, I am going to DNF it and put it on another shelf electronically or get rid of it if a physical book.  I had an empty journal type book so I am going to add and subtract books as I go.  LOL, I ordered a copy of a book about reading your TBR someone wrote which I happened to see on Booktube right after I made this decision.  Luckily I am finding these books on abebooks or ebay, etc.  Not paying full price.

We watched Hazel at her house last weekend while they car shopped for a larger car.  They picked out a Forester I think it was and will get it in January (along with their long ordered couch!).  After they came home we played Cobra Paw.  Hazel really enjoyed rolling the dice for us!  Next we played Bucket of Doom and halfway through Hazel was ready for bed.  Not long after that, I was too!  She is still learning signs like crazy (OPEN, GORILLA, BEANS, CEREAL, ORANGE and so many more).  So fun to see her ask me to open her pouch of fruits/veges, the gate, etc.  She understands the concept clearly!  

I spent some of last weekend working on the borders for Pine Tree Point.

Got out the strings. I pulled all the neutrals from my mixed bag and added them to the neutral bag.  I sewed and sewed.  Thought I needed far more than I did!

I trimmed them to size and then sewed them to strips and removed the paper on Thursday.

And added them to the top!  This flimsy is done. I need to choose a backing and get it longarmed. I would like to give it to Hannah for Christmas if we can swing it.  Linking up with SoScrappy for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  What a fun year of trees I had sewing along with her and all the participants.  I need to pick a block for next year!

Bonnie's Quiltville Mystery this year is Rhododendron Trail and the first cutting and sewing clue comes out next Friday on her blog.  The paint chips are her colors.

I am pretty sure the flowers and paint chips will be my colors. I have not pulled fabric yet.  

Kathy is not planning to do it this year.  She stopped on Frolic and since we moved has not sewn much at all so she wants to finish that one before doing another.  If she did do it, she would maybe do the strawberries' colors.

 Are you doing the mystery?  What colors did you pick?  Such a fun time of year to be sewing!