Spontaneous Fun

I didn't plan to see the girls yesterday, but it worked out nicely.  We video chatted, and they told me they had been to Costco with  Dad and got HUGE hot dogs, of which I got to see a little more than I wanted.

I got to see the new space where yet another tooth used to be.  Those teeth are coming out pretty fast now.

Some old containers of slime were revisited and enjoyed.

And it got a little silly, as usual, but fun.

I texted Emily and told her I wanted to take the quilt tops over to see if we needed to add the border or not, and that was such a fun visit.  We picked out a backing, Michael Miller Fairy Frolic Pixie Dust.  Name sounds about right.  :)

I didn't think about it having enough purple for it to work, but the girls love it so much.  I think it will be perfect.

There was another cute fabric with crowns on it that I showed them, and Graysen especially loved it, but we thought that might be too busy considering how much the front has going on.  I might order just a little bit to piece a row into the backing.  It's Sandra Clemons Applause and is really cute.

There are a lot of sweet prints in this line.  I might order some fat quarters for masks since the girls will be needing a lot for school.

Now my next step is to figure out how much of the backing fabric to order and go ahead and get that coming and get the batting this week while it's on sale.

We decided to add about 3 more inches of the contrasting border, and I'll probably bind it in the same fabric.  But that crown fabric might work for a binding.  Or the design might get lost in a binding.  We'll see.

We're just excited that I've gotten past my quilter's block and am moving forward.  The girls couldn't stop looking at all the dresses and designs, and I think they're going to enjoy it.  In fact, Katherine wrapped herself up in one of them and said she wanted to keep it.  Now.

I went back on the blog and found where I first started it, and I'm ashamed to say this was planned three years ago.  No excuse for waiting this long.

Michael Miller "Dream and a Wish"

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I'll face the task of actually quilting it when I get there.  I'd love to have it professionally quilted, but it's not in the budget right now.  I know it will be hard, but I want to stitch the borders and sashing down and then put a design in each of the blocks, either with free motion or hand quilting.  I've had the thought of letting them draw simple designs themselves and letting me hand stitch around them.  Again - we'll see!

Emily reluctantly asked if I would take a look at this old, old favorite.  She was hesitant to let me take it home because she was afraid she wouldn't get it back, and she NEEDS it.  Every day.

I've repaired it before, and I'm still not sure what's making the stitching fail in some places.  This is probably one of the first quilts I made, and the fabric is good.  It was a class I took in Montgomery, and I think I had good supervision.  Maybe the thread was not up to par.  I doubt I knew about good versus bad thread, but I feel like I would have been guided to use good.

I just don't know, but it is bothersome.  

It's not frayed at all, and she says she washes it gently and doesn't take it out in the sun.  It's just turning loose in spots.  I wonder if I used too long a stitch in places, like a basting stitch.  It looks normal.

It was such a fun quilt to make that I want to make her another one, but she wants only this one with these unlikely fabrics.  We're both surprised she liked the "old lady" fabrics when she was so young, but she has loved them and says it's like an old T-shirt from high school - soft and comforting.

I'm going to do my best.  I think I'm going to try a decorative stitch on my machine, maybe a feather stitch.  If it's pretty, I'll just do it over all the seams and maybe give it a few more years' life.  It was a stitch-as-you go project, each seam stitched straight to the batting, so it would be impossible to repair otherwise, I think.  I'm up for the challenge right now, so we'll see.

On the way downstairs, I was shown the Lego table.  Graysen said, "We're really into Legos right now."  Such a grownup.

We sat out back for a bit, and Emily and I finally got to have a conversation.  We had to talk fast and remember quickly, because we don't get this many opportunities.  She had to run pick up some restaurant gift cards for a co-worker who has a new baby, so I offered to water the garden for her.  On a whim, I asked if the girls wanted to walk down with me, and it make my heart feel so good to see how excited they got about it.

I didn't take any pictures, but they rode their scooters, and I watered.  It had gotten really dry in just a couple of days, and I'm afraid my balcony tomato is not going to make it.  It has quite a few tomatoes on it, but the leaves are all curled.  Sad.  Graysen spent her time circling the gardens on the little road around the fence - fast.  She was sometimes on one scooter and sometimes on two, using Katherine's like skis.  I got a little nervous when she went out of sight at each end, but I'm trying hard to relax with them.  Katherine spent her whole time picking blackberries and making a small pool of water from the hose.  And talking and talking.  Sweet girl.

They're such good conversationalists now, and I can't get enough of how Katherine will say, "It's blackberry-picking season, you know."  And how they still call thorns "storms" and restaurants "rester-nauts."  I wish time could stand still. Well, it kind of is standing still right now, but they're growing too fast in spite of it.

Nothing But a Cute Kitty Cat

This little guy, Bowie, has worked hard on overcoming his aversion to humans over the past months.  He plays like crazy with his best friend Layla, sits on the balcony watching people and dogs go past, and romps all night, it seems.  He just doesn't see much reason for people to hold him or cuddle him.

But he's gradually gotten calm around us and doesn't run away when we approach.  He'll allow petting while he eats and actively comes and stares at you until you get out the laser mouse for him.

Ryan asked me last month if we wanted our cat tree back - or one similar - since they now have two, and we tried it again.  It sat there empty for a week or so, but this morning, I got to see this comfy scene.

 He did give me the sad look about getting any closer, so I didn't.

It's not the most beautiful corner in the apartment, but it's lovely for the kitties to sit or lie there and see all the action beneath them.

I knew putting the quilts on the floor to measure would be hard to resist, and I was right.  There's something about a quilt and cats....

And that gives me a chance to boast about finally getting the first borders on.  It's always a good feelings when both lengths and both widths come out exactly the same.  I'll be so glad to get them ready for the batting and backing and guess I'll do a simple line quilting on them myself.  And maybe some hand-quilted designs in the big squares.  Since I've already procrastinated a year, another few weeks won't matter.

I can't say what this week will bring.  I play Mah-Jong tomorrow morning and hope to get to the gym to watch the girls at gymnastics Thursday.  The we'll have our usual Friday lunch.  I'd love for it to be a little warmer so I can enjoy sitting on the balcony in the late afternoons.  I guess we aren't having much of a summer.  

I Love Our Fridays

 Fridays are my special day with the girls.  I might see them briefly during the week, but we know Friday we have an appointment for lunch and the afternoon to do whatever takes our fancy.

I called to get the McDonald's orders, and they wanted burgers this time and fruit punch slushies.  Ryan asked if they really wanted a toy since the latest ones have just gone straight into the trash - as opposed to hanging around a day or two before going to the trash.  Both of them thought just a few seconds and said, "No toy."  Such grown-ups!  

Every time I get out on a beautiful day like this, I always wish that I would get out and drive somewhere every day.  It just cheers me up so much to see the blue sky and clouds and the mountains sparkling in the background.  Not so yesterday when it was comparable to a day in late November, and no one can be blamed for staying inside.  

This is the only picture I took on the trip to North Bend, and I can't quite aim the camera and look for pedestrians too, although it's sure different nowadays in downtown Snoqualmie.  Usually by Thursday, the visitors are filling up the town and shopping and going to the Falls.  I know some of the shops are open but not all of them.  It makes driving a lot easier, but it still makes me sad.

After lunch, the girls wanted to ride their scooters somewhere, so we decided to go back to the apartment and see if we could find some friends to hang out with.  

We did get a few blackberries on the way.  I'm not totally comfortable with them riding anything on my watch.  They're just so fast and confident, and Katherine especially will ride way ahead, out of my sight.  I feel like I'm always toddling along yelling, "Katherine, come back!!"

We passed by a house where a little boy about 4 years old was jumping on a trampoline by himself, just the cutest.   I'm sure a parent was nearby, but he stopped jumping and said, "Hi.  My name is _____.  How are you today?"  We stopped and exchanged names, and he made sure he pronounced each of them and asked where we lived and where we were going.  Then he said, "This is my house.  It's huge.  I'm sure it's much bigger than any other ones, even yours.  I have a brother.  Do you have a brother?"   Graysen said something to me as we passed by him with a hedge between us, and he said, "I can still hear you talking, you know."  Haha.  Then he said.  "It was nice to meet you.  Come back and talk to me next time you're walking by."  These days are rough for little kids when their only brother is a baby.

I think we picked the wrong time of day to try to find friends, but we sat on the bench in front of the office, and the girls immediately started playing a game - school, ponies, unicorns, lunchboxes, etc.  Tom, the maintenance man, drove by on his golf cart and brought them out a Capri Sun.  He's the most popular guy around.  We were hoping to run into Lunala the cat or the Jones children, but it was as quiet as could be.  Katherine took some pictures for me.

A salad.

Carrots and sushi.

We decided to go play in the garage where it would be cooler and there would be some old toys to play with.

They immediately found several boxes of donations that Ryan had brought over, and Graysen was telling her old baby clock "Hiiiiii, little clocky.  Why are they giving you away?"

I sent the picture to Emily and asked her, and she said, "Probably because they never used it even one time."  Funny how precious things become when you don't have them any longer.

Like Bella, the yellow cat.

And the crawling tunnel.

I got tired of '80s Ken and his pirate outfit, so I changed his clothes.

It's so nice to have the girls old enough to share my sense of humor, and we were laughing so hard and making up our own stories - three different ones.

The Jones children did show up later, and they rode around with them a little bit on their scooters.  Thank goodness it didn't last long, because those kids ride crazy fast.   Or probably just like normal kids!

Behind the bush is my sunbathing neighbor.  I don't know him at all, but I do know almost everything ABOUT him, whether I want to or not, as he talks on his phone a lot right there.

Once we got to Steller, Ryan and Emily were working in the yard, and I read some more of the latest Geronimo Stilton book to the girls.  Ryan has been working like crazy on the yard, but he forgot to replace a slat in the fence, and Quincy, the neighbor dog, came over for burger leftovers.  She's a sweet girl, and they all love her. 

Walking Quincy home.  I'm not sure whey thy didn't send her back through the fence.  I guess because she wouldn't have stayed.

Bye, Mimi!  I can't compete with Quincy.

Good-for-Nothing Day

I loved it.  I knew it was going to be cold and rainy, so I prepared for it.  Nowhere to go.  Nothing to do.  Good plan because I woke up with a sniffly nose, sore throat, and headache and just feeling blah.  I took my temp, and it was around 97, so I ignored the symptoms and felt better as the day went on.  

I pulled my windows down, turned the heat on in just the bedroom, put on a sweatshirt, and pretty much did nothing all day.  

I listened to the end of the book I'm listening to - The Guest List by Lucy Foley.  It was just fair but good enough to keep me listening to the end.  We can now start picking up our library holds from before the closure but at North Bend instead of Snoqualmie.  I'll miss the library being two blocks away for sure and in the next town.  I feel sure I'll keep on with audio books when they're available.

While I listened, I finished this dish cloth.  Not perfect but who cares?  I'm using that yarn!

I also put on one side of the narrow border on one of the quilts.  One-eighth of the borders done, and it was easy enough.  I just don't have a big table and hate doing it all on the floor.  The measurements were spot on though.  That's just one quilt though.  I have two of them to finish.  

I'm just happy to be making a little progress on it.  I'll do the other side border tomorrow and possibly gets enthused enough to complete all four narrow borders.  Saturday, that is.  Tomorrow is McDonald's day for the girls.  We haven't seen each other all week except for video visits.  

I'm about to fall asleep while I listen to the rain fall.  Elise and I decided we've missed the rain.  It's like an old friend come back to visit.  

I'm Being Watched

I was minding my own business yesterday and just knitting and listening to my book when something caught my eye over the next-door balcony.  It was a huge wing.  I couldn't see the bird then but knew it was right behind the eaves.  As I watched a giant bird walked up the roof and perched there on the top and stared at me.  Or that's what it looked at.  I'm sure it was a bird of prey looking for the bunnies that sometimes hop out of the little green area.

I'm still not sure what it is, but it sure looked ominous, especially in the blurry photograph I was able to take before it flew away.

I sent the cropped and zoomed photo to Emily and Ryan and asked if they thought it was a hawk.  The coloring is right - light to dark brown, but that shape.  It's bigger than any crow I've seen and the wrong color.  It looks like a small eagle.  I just wish it had stayed longer so I could get a good look.  

I told Susan across the alley about it and mentioned that it might have heard that there were three cats on her balcony at times.  They walk along the area between the banister and open space, and it scares me.  

That's about the extent of my otherwise quiet day.  Blue sky, hummingbirds, cool breeze.  My own little seedless watermelon.

I tried to get a good picture of the hummingbird's silhouette, but it wouldn't cooperate.

Ryan came and got my car so I could borrow their extra one for a few days because of my tires.  I cleaned it out thoroughly and asked if I should hug it then, but it's parked at their house, and he's not going to get rid of it right now.  Hopefully, we'll go car shopping this weekend.  I like the way their car drives really, so I'm okay with just driving that one until it dies for now.  

So this week?  Mah-jong at 10:30, grocery store maybe after that.  I printed some pretty coloring pages for the girls yesterday and will deliver those with some paints and slime I have here that I worry will dry up if they don't get used.  Elise and I might go to Target tomorrow since I now have wheels.  We were considering buying a little fan for Elise, but we've only needed one 2 days, and fall will be here in about 3 weeks!  Thursday is free (rainy and cool) and Friday is my afternoon with the girls.  Sounds so full and exciting.  I'm sure there will be plenty to keep me busy.  

I talked to the young guy next door yesterday as I was cleaning my car.  He was mainly walking around in his garage and yawning, but from the looks of things - and his mother working in there - I got the idea he was moving and asked him.  He said he was leaving for college in Montana.  I guess some colleges are going to be open?  His truck is the one right under my bedroom window (with the windows open for now), so I hope the new renters will have a quieter car and less inclined to play their music so loud.  Otherwise, I've enjoyed his guitar playing and enthusiasm for life.  

Now I need to go do a practice game of MJ before the others come on.  

Monday Morning Pick-Me-Ups

Sometimes it's a struggle, this new way of life we have.  I'm not ashamed to say it.  I just have periods where I can't lift my feelings of gloom, and I have to keep looking for ways to pick myself up.

I usually love Monday mornings because of a new week to start, but this morning I woke up too early and was roaming through the house wondering what to do.  I made coffee.  That's always a good choice.  It was too chilly to sit outside, but I did see the hummingbird feeder and remember to smile about how I've been a bad bird mama.

When I replaced their water last week, I had several things on my mind and was heading somewhere fast.  I know the proper ratio of water to sugar, but something made me miss the mark (and how I remembered I did that is amazing in itself).  Instead of 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water, I added 1/4 cup of sugar to the 4 cups.  Since I added some ice cubes to get it outside faster, I even added an extra tablespoon of sugar.  So funny.  

I was feeling so proud of myself the next day when one of the beautiful hummers came flying up and was telling it how it now had clean and delicious food.  But it took a sip, looked at me and flew away.  It took several days of no HB participation before it finally dawned on me what had happened.  I brought in the feeder, made a new batch, and watched a grateful visitor drink and drink and drink - and keep on drinking.  Surely I'm not the only feeder around!  Maybe it's the bright flowers they're attracted to.

Before I threw out the Seattle Times that I had barely skimmed yesterday, I decided to look at the inserts.  They're usually geared to Seattle, so I don't always find anything to interest me, but there were two articles that caught my eye.  

A friend and I were talking this week about how there is only one Chic-Fil-A that I know of and that not within my comfortable driving range.  I can't think of any fried chicken places that I've noticed up here, although I'm sure there are plenty - just not in my area.  Then I saw this beautiful picture and for some reason read the article.  The most interesting thing about it is that it is served on a pickle fritter instead of a bun.  I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I would like to try it one time!  

Another article in the At Home section was one on how to enjoy pools when they aren't open nowadays.  Because of the short hot season, almost no one has a backyard pool here, and there are few, if any, pools open.  Our apartment one looks very pretty - but empty.  I wonder if we could go in and use the lounge chairs properly distanced for visiting.  Probably not.  It would be too tempting for a few of the kids to take a leap in the pool.  

Anyway, the article is about how people all over the country are coping during a pandemic by ordering various sizes and qualities of pools.  I was actually able to find a link to the article.  It was surprisingly funny.  People do many strange things to cope with the way life is now. 

So now it's normal waking-up time, and I'll go have that second cup of coffee and get busy.  I also discovered two ideas for the Win-Bin's shade garden.  Ferns and bleeding hearts.  The girls are fascinated by the name, bleeding heart, of course, and have never seen one in person.  I've had them in several flower beds and am going to be on the lookout for one.  That might be hard since I'm not going anywhere, but I think I can call a nursery and do a pick-up if they have them.  

I found these from my pictures from 13 years ago (that long?) when I had the best yard ever in Columbus, GA.  

I hope today is happy.  I need to make time to see the family if only from a distance.  

First Harvest

I received a text Saturday morning that the family was working in the garden and I should come visit if I wanted to.  I did!  I was over there pretty quickly, eager to see that giant squash I was hearing about.

This sure didn't look like the squash we were used to, but after Googling it, we found that it's called a Lebanese White Squash, so we decided it wasn't past its prime.  

There are plenty more of these and the zucchini.  I'm going to try squash bread instead of zucchini bread since they taste the same.

My free lunch!  I had half an onion I needed to use, and the squash was delicious.

Along with some pork roast and the blackberries the girls and I picked while Mom and Dad worked in the garden.

Those two round objects are some type of tomato.  I don't think they're entirely ripe, but I don't really expect them to taste good.  Hope I'm pleasantly surprised.  I just used about a third of the squash, so I'll roast some along with the zucchini tomorrow.

My Better Boy is looking a little tired, but he was planted nicely and firmly in that good rich soil on a cloudy day, so I think he'll be okay.  I don't miss carrying 3 or 4 cans of water to the balcony every day, sometimes twice a day, to keep it moist.

A winter squash of some sort.  I was hoping for Delicata, but Emily said she couldn't find any of those.

Teeny Brussels sprouts.

The girls and I wandered around and picked berries and took some more pictures while Emily and Ryan watered and weeded.  The carrots are surprisingly not doing well this year, and the strawberries have been kind of lost under all those leaves, but the kale and other greens are great.  Even the pumpkin is flowering.

The dahlias didn't come back this year, but the gladioli are beautiful.

We always look to see where this cute little rabbit is hanging out.

Neighbors are growing a few stalks of corn.

I enjoyed seeing my girls even for a short visit.  They were full of news from a play date and school and so many things.  We talked about whether bears eat berries or not and how they pick them with their big paws.  We made plans to pick a bunch more when they get riper.  I love them tart but the girls not so much.

Dressed perfectly for a day of gardening - or scootering or taking a walk.

Katherine showed me her NEW cougar claw necklace that Anne and Bryan replaced after she lost her other one.  So sweet of them.  And she wanted me to see "our favorite president" on her shirt.

Emily has the green thumb in the family and loves digging in the dirt as much as her Grandaddy Humphrey.  He would probably smile at this little plot compared to his Ponderosa and give some of those veggies funny looks.  I know Grandaddy Windham would have something choice to say about the Brussels sprouts!

Today has been quiet and peaceful except when one of the smoke alarms started beeping.  Ryan was nice enough to come over and remove the battery, and I'll get maintenance to look at all of them this week.  I could have taken some daytime beeping, but I don't think it would have been good to try to sleep with it beeping.

I'm not sure what's in store this week.  I know I'll be playing Mah-Jong Tuesday with the group, and that has turned out to be fun.  I'm trying to play a few games on the computer so I can get used to the 2020 rules.  

I hope to have a couple of short family visits too and a few walks.  The kind of week I like.  No hotter than 80 degrees and rain only on Thursday, but that rain is coming with a high of 67, so I'm going to take a snuggle inside day.  Which is pretty much what I do every day, but I've actually missed the rain.  A bit.