gardnergal970

Dubib...OK....I've been working to improve the dirt in my raised beds. In a couple of them it's pure sand so anything added quickly gets "burned" out. Love it when I can stand up and plant tomatoes. Got that done yesterday along with some basil and leeks. Also weeded out some more raspberries that were trying to take over and put cocoa hulls on my one rose bed, I had planned to do more this morning but DH announced he wanted to go to Champaign so it's a road trip for me today.

carriem

Just thought I would say "hi". I've started working at a hotel as a housekeeper 3 mornings a week. It means not as much sewing until school is done since the days I work we have school in the afternoons and that takes until oldest DD gets home and then time for supper, etc, etc. I am still working at the quilt shop once in a while...1-2 days a month, but the 7 hr days got to be too much for my head. I have two afternoons a week to sew right now. Yesterday I cut out the next 2 star blocks (50 Fabulous Stars) and then I will sew them on my next free day.

No new flowers for me this year. DH does a mini-garden on the deck (tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers)...last year he did them in pots, this year he is building a "trough" on the rail.

Anyone else have hummingbirds? We have a lot of them....they are drinking almost a quart of sugar water a day. We tried putting up a 2nd feeder last year, but they wouldn't touch it. We didn't think it was that much different, but guess they didn't like it. Of course we can't find one just like what we have so the hover around the one until there is a free "flower".

Honchey

Hi Everyone, I am jealous of all you gardeners....I can't plant a garden with going back & forth to NC..I tried some things in pots and bringing them along but they don't flourish...

Carriem, don't spread yourself too thin...

I like to figure out patterns from looking at them and the 2 recent patterns mentioned here fascinate me..
the Ohmygosh has 2 blocks, one a 9 patch and the other is Churn Dash??? it looks like a Shoo Fly block to me..the side 4 patch in the center in the square the pieces are larger than the others in the 9 patch..so when making the colored patches for the shoo fly block they need to be 1/16" larger than the patches in the 9 patch in order to end up with a 9" block with 3 " sections... 9 patch strips 1.5"...shoo fly strips 1 - 5/8" strips..

Like Jan, I like to make blocks and I also like to figure out patterns in my head...

I am going to work this afternoon...I'll be playing with some fabric for sure...

QuiltE

Good to see that GGal and OKSGlad have found options, to avoid colonoscopies!
You got my attention, and that is a "sometime" possibility. I can see it as a great scrappy project and good for Leaders/Enders. Of course, OKSGlad, would be an endless Mini 9P project for you!

Now who all are joining the Insanity with OMG and Mini Jacks and Nearly Insane??

Good to see so many of you have been busy with your gardens. I only have my flower beds, prepped ... but still too cool to plant anything new. I think this is going to be a minimalist year, so I can really get a good assessment as to the perennials and how they should be moved, pruned, etc. I think it is time for some detailed notes and plans to be made for an overhaul in the fall and next spring.

GGal ... thanks for sending the nicer weather. The rain seems to have eased and the sun is a'shining! Glad you are seeing results with your garden work and too, to be took a quilting break. Any new PP tips?

MiraB ... hahahaha not starting anything new!! hahahaha some MORE!

JanRN ... stop the guilt trip! Look at all the other things you have COMPLETED while I have been doing DJ and other things! Along with all your 50 Stars! And and and!!!!!!!!!! ....... Oh how sweet that your DGD wants her baby quilt, re-made as a grown up quilt! Cute!

Time to get back to work ... and if I am a good little beaver, then I can skidaddle to the sewing room later this afternoon! yippeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

oksewglad

So glad everyone is out and about. The weather decided to be "normal" the last couple of days. Just got off the lawn mower--still have a lot to do, but it's dark now. A very full day again today. Worked over 4 hours in one flower bed. Found where I have to add plants--lots of winter kill this year. After the marathon weeding I took the pickup to the local nursery--they sell wood chips by the skidsteer scoop. Got three scoops for $16 a scoop. Each scoop will mulch 75 sq feet of beds. I don't think I'll have any left over once I get started. Then went to 5 yo school program--it was short so hopped on the lawn mower for 2 hours. Now I'm ready to call it a day especially since it started at 6:30. Yikes am I becoming an early bird. I love spring, but boy is my body feeling it tonight.
Carrie I have more orioles than hummers this year. There must be a half dozen pair flying around. This year orchard orioles came..and already have 2 nests built. The hummers are going to be enjoying apple blossoms soon. The cedar waxwings will come in then too. Do take care of yourself...hope the housekeeping job is less stressful for you.
Night all.

QuiltingNinaSue

Nice to hear from everyone. Spring has skipped on through the area and its into summer here. .. and no air conditioner up and running yet...soon....I hope.

No gardening plans what so ever this year...just the flower beds out front and maybe the RR tie perennial bed...if I can get the weeds out that has a head start already.

Plan to work on 'Mama and kittens' today and reject the ones that do not measure up and remake them...to the right size and shape...if I can do this project, then its on to finish the other projects started on QB...SYE four blocks to finish, 50 stars, Dear Jane two ways, and Sylvia and TW. And the I SPY small quilt....along with a couple or three mini quilts that has me busy on the side with the smaller projects.

It is going to be a good day....enjoy it one and all.

carriem

Honchey--I may cut back to just a couple days a week at the hotel when school starts again, it just depends on how things go. Three teenagers are expensive so the extra income will be helpful to the family budget.

OK--we had orioles on the hummingbird feeder last week, but I think as the hummers increased they chased them off! I think there were about 15 of them out there just a little bit ago.

Honchey

QuiltE, I haven't decided on OMG or Jake..I did show them to my employer yesterday and she loves both of them... She wants me to teach a 3 session class 2 hours each...they generally run over to 3 hours.. the classes would be for newbies and sometimes they are new to their machines and have no concept of the ins and outs of fabric..difficult sometimes to understand.. They want the quilt on the wall not the one they end up making.. This would have to take place after my knee rehab and in between trips to NC.... also several ladies want to learn PPing...My boss looked at me and I rolled my eyes.. I did have fun yesterday.. picked up some greys, white & yellows for another sample to make for the gallery.. Joann's is remodeling the whole store starting in August and the Gallery is going to be brand new also...I might be getting a nice long table for a very good price.. we'll see... I'll have to start figuring out how to move it...
I still can't find my camera and it aggravates me to no end... I have the kids later today..my DS will now have them on his day off instead of a set schedule..easier for everyone and more time for him with them....The youngest requested Chicken gravy and shells and it's now cooking on the stove...I have the new fabric to iron.. starched it & put it in a baggie last nite so it's ready to press... I've also been gathering some colorful scraps..maybe play with them & make a OMG block... The rain has final started to fall and I have less aches & pains when that happens and For some reason I feel very energized...I wonder??? I didn't receive any batteries from Mirabelle...
I better get off my a_ _ before I get too comfy on the couch....

janRN

I used to laugh at my grandmother then my mother when they'd say "It's going to rain, my arthritis is acting up," thought that was an old wives' tale. Well, I'm an old wife, and my joints are killing me yesterday & today. Rain is predicted but not here yet. I hope it gets here soon. (My boss explained that the pain is caused by an increase in atmospheric pressure and the air pockets around the joints expand causing pain; isn't it funny how so many old wives' tales have a basis in fact?)

Working on DGD Asian themed quilt. I had a pic in my mind when I started it but can't get it to translate into the fabric. Back to the Bat Cave!

Anael

This morning the 4yo from nextdoor came to visit me. He's very interested in KK as his mom is very afraid of cats so they don't have one themselves. He wanted to know how she used a washcloth I told him how she does that without! Than he asked me if she's going to the toilet. I explained and showed him the litter box. He had a look and asked me 'how does she flush??'