Hey, Boo

I love haunted house. I don't mean the kind that pop up all over this time of year and charge people to enter and be threatened by fake monsters, fake chain-saw wielders, and fake blood and gore. I don't like like those at all. The last time I entered one of those places (several decades ago), I came out in need of a stiff drink with my hair standing on end and several screaming teenagers clinging to me like baby possums riding their mama's back. I don't like to be startled--and I certainly don't like to have to drag along a bunch of terrified teenagers. 

No, I like old empty houses that have their histories written on their facades--the ones you see and think, "Oh if only the crumbling wallpaper could talk." I like to imagine the generations of people who lived in those houses, whose essences likely still float there. I love real haunted houses, houses haunted not by Freddy Kruger and Michael What's-His-Name, but by their own histories.

Although I'm still flaring, I have done pretty well with the push to stay active this weekend. Yesterday, Ramey and I went to church then had lunch at Irondale Cafe (the original Fried Green Tomatoes eatery). In the afternoon, I watched some "Rocky Horror Picture Show" marathon and quilted on my "Trick or Tree" quiltlet. 

I've sworn off the news channels on tv, at least until after this ridiculous circus they're calling an election. I might go back to being informed, depending on whether or not that Trump Thing goes away after next Tuesday. If it's still with us, I'll be off the news channels for the next four years. That thing is scarier than any haunted house or chain saw killer I can imagine.

Jesse started his new job today. The doctor told him his ankle, though greatly mended, is still not 100%. So of course I worry that he'll hurt it again. 

And now, on this wonderful Halloween Day, I think I'll climb the stairs and have some fun in the sewing room.

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On 11/02/2016, Dondi Murdock said ...

I am glad your flare seems to be retreating into history. I also agree with avoiding news about this messed up election. Yesterday I had a most uncomfortable listening experience with a grown up son lecturing me about my vote in this election. He hasn't learned yet to disagree agreeably. It's a beautiful season with so many blessings. I wish to count my blessings. I honestly think no matter who is elected, America will survive! I don't want to wish the next 7 days to disappear so I am into avoidance as you are! Hears to happiness and joy!
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Quilted and Dry

The Farm Girl Sampler and the "The Hooty Bunch" (owl quilt) both came back from the the quilter this week. Another great job by Lena Colley and her quilters at New Traditions in Birmingham, Alabama. When I picked these quilts up, I dropped off two more: "Dancing Leaves" and "Autumn Charms." I hope to have at least two more ready for quilting by the time I pick those up.

The Hooty Bunch...

...and their predecessors, the Brady Bunch (who remembers?)

I haven't got much work done in the sewing room this week, except for completing a few red string blocks for the Talking Turkey quilt. I have been trying to push through a full-on fibro flare with accompanying back pain, and, as those of you with chronic pain/fatigue issues know, it's not easy. Every time I have a bad flare, I think, "This is it. This time it's going to take me down." But I just keep pushing and pushing and groaning and moaning--and eventually I'll be rewarded with a few days or weeks of feeling better. The last respite lasted quite a while. Long enough to get a lot of quiltmaking done. I'm hoping for another one of those soon.

The drought continues here. The last rain I can remember was in August (with the exception a about a dozen raindrops one Sunday about a month ago). This week, my town of Leeds experienced a very scary fire on the outskirts near the interstate. Homes and businesses were threatened, including the home of a good friend of mine. But the Leeds and Moody fire departments, as well as many volunteers, sprang into action and saved the day. No structures were lost and no one was injured.

But still we're on pins, needles, and tenterhooks, just waiting for the next one. Last night at a little after midnight, I let the dogs into the back yard for their last pee pee, and I could smell smoke. There are woods very near me, and half my back yard is a mini woods, so I had a hard time going to sleep wondering if there was fire nearby. Today it still smells smokey outside, but there doesn't seem to be any fire near me.

True Story: When my sister Ramey and I were little kids, we liked to pretend were Indians. One sunny summer day, while we were well into our Native American characters, we decided to do a rain dance, which we did with enthusiasm. About 30 minutes later, my dad pulled up in his pickup truck. It was midday, not near time for Daddy to be home from his job as a bricklayer.

"What are you doing home so early?" my mama asked him.

"Darnedest thing," he replied. "There was not a cloud in the sky one minute, and the next we got a downpour."

I think it's high time Ramey and I put on our rain-dancing shoes and started stepping.

 

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On 10/30/2016, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...

Oh, yes, Please -- you and Ramey need to be stepping high for a long time, and please send some of the results eastward. Doesn't Lena do a great job? I met her once at a retreat in Odenville.


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String Blocks and Scary Movies

My first four string units for Talkin' Turkey

I managed to whip out four red string squares yesterday for the Talking Turkey quilt. But today, nothing so far. I got the kitchen cleaned and my bed made--and that's about all. Oh, and the dogs and Jesse fed.

Jesse has a new job starting in a few days. So he went back to the doctor today to have his ankle ex-rayed to make sure he's fit to work. He's walking good now and can drive. So I'm hoping when he returns from the doctor, that he'll have good news of a healing ankle.

One of my favorite things to do in October is watch scary movies. I'm sort of tired of my old standards--"The Shining," "Hocus Pocus" (which is more funny than scary), etc. But last night I found a new-one-to-me called "The Box"--not scary in the sense of monsters, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, etc. I guess you would call it more disturbing than scary.  It is based on a 1970 Richard Matheson short story entitled "Button, Button."

Both the story and the movie center around a mysterious stranger and a box he delivers to a young couple, promising they'll receive a large sum of money if they push the button on top of the box. The bad news is, if they push the button, someone somewhere that they don't know will die. Up until the point where the box is delivered the only striking difference in the story and movie is the amount of money promised: $50,000 in the story that was first published in Playboy in 1970, and $1 million in the movie which was released in 2009. I supposed $50,000 was not deemed enough in '09 to temp someone to commit indirect murder.

After the stranger leaves the box and makes the offer, the plots of the two diverge significantly. The story follows a simple, almost Hitchcockian plot, and is very short--too short on which to base an entire movie. So the film maker added something about Martians and getting struck by lightning and space/time portals, and this, that, and the other. Quite complicated, much of which I didn't completely follow. But still a good movie. However, if I had to pick a version as my favorite, it would be Matheson's short story. Check it out if you like weird fiction.

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On 10/27/2016, Jane said ...

Love your red string units. This is the method I used to make my very first quilt (while living in Tehran in 1976 and attending a quilting group sponsored by the American Embassy---yes, THAT American Embassy).
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Weekend Work and Play

FRIDAY

I cut lots of fabric strings from my red fabric stash, which I will sew onto 5 1/2" squares foundations cut from telephone book pages. These will be cut into triangles like the ones above to use in my Talking Turkey blocks.

SATURDAY

The mailman brought this wonderful quiltlet that my friend Barbara made for me.

Here's the back. Barbara added small triangles at the top corners so that I can use a pencil or small dowel to hang it if I choose. Or I can use it for a rug mug or just to grace a table top during the Halloween/Autumn season. Thank you, Barbara. I love it.

Also on Saturday, while I watched the Bama Crimson Tide beat the stuffings out of the Texas A&M Aggies, I did some hand quilting on the "Trick or Tree" wall hanging. I got about 3/4 of the tree quilted. I'm thinking when the tree is finished, I will quilt spider webs into the background and probably follow the swirly design that's in the border fabric to quilt the border.

Sunday

My sister Ramey and I attended a play at our local Leeds Arts Council. It was a murder mystery with a fun twist. The actors were excellent, but the chairs were hard and straight and made my back hurt. 

I'm going to have to get myself one of those ergonomic back cushions that I can take around with me to make away-from-home seating more comfortable, even at church.

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On 10/25/2016, Nancy Morey said ...

Loving your quilt projects! We are still in the throes of moving (envision Ma and Pa Kettle in a pick up truck.). As an idea for Halloween tree----somewhere in that sack of fabric I gave you was a spool of glow in the dark thread. I was originally going to use it to quilt spider webs. Spooky?

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On 10/26/2016, Pat said ...

Love all you do! I have the Strings book. So many projects. You're an inspiration!
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Wednesday's Work

I thought and I thought and I thought, and then I decided on hand quilting for "Trick or Tree." Machine quilting is very stressful for me. And I'm never satisfied with the results. Since this is a small piece, I believe I can hand quilt it by working in small blocks of time. So I basted it this morning and will start quilting this evening.

Look what came in the mail.

I saw Bonnie Hunter's "Talking Turkey" quilt on Pinterest and decided I wanted to make a version of it to hang in my foyer. I did a bit of research and found that the directions were to be found in her book String Fling, so I ordered a copy from Amazon.

My version will have only four or nine blocks. I don't know for sure yet since I have to measure the space where I plan to hang it and see how big a quilt will fit. I'm hoping nine blocks will fit. I believe that will be the prettier quilt.

Bonnie Hunter is coming to Birmingham Quilter's Guild in, I believe, March. Anyway some time next year. It turns out, she will be teaching this very block in a workshop then. But I hope to start my piece before the workshop, I'm already collecting red fabrics for the turkey tracks and cream and tan fabrics for the backgrounds.

Anna is downstairs cleaning, so I'll be in the sewing room for a couple more hours. I think I'm going to create some binding for the two quilts that are at Lena's for quilting. They should be coming home soon.

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On 10/19/2016, Jane said ...

I'm also tempted to try hand quilting but I always give up and machine quilt. I love machine quilting. I saw where a woman did primitive hand quilting using embroidery floss and large, noticeable stitches. She wanted the quilting to show up and give movement to the piece. Gonna try that! Happy quilting, Susan.

Jane

Your Birmingham Quilters Guild sounds like a good one!

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On 10/20/2016, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...

Bonnie's quilts are lovely but all those little pieces drive me nuts. Or maybe I'm just a coward.
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Mums the Word

Look what Andy brought when she came over to clean the litter box (which she has done regularly since Jesse broke his ankle). I love mums this time of year. I usually would have already got a pot to set on the front porch but just haven't got around to it this year. I love these. So lush and pretty. Thanks, A. Forgive the picture quality. I took it with my iPad because I didn't feel like going upstairs to get my camera--which is also the reason I'm not in the sewing room today. Bad back problems.

I'm happy to report that Jesse is doing much better. He even left the house yesterday (for the first time in three weeks). He drove over to a friend's house and spent most of Sunday. Since the break was his left ankle, he's able to drive, now that he can get up into his Jeep

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Last night, I finally got around to watching "Hateful Eight" on my Roku through Amazon. For the most part, I have always been a fan of Quentin Tarantino movies, although they can be pretty violent. But even though this most recent Tarantino offering had super cast, a good story, and an intense setting, I would not watch it again. The movie maker just went too far with the blood and gore, and that completely took over what could have been a great movie (in my opinion). That's all I think of when I think of that movie. Not the great acting of folks like Kurt Russell and Samuel Jackson, not the awesome cinematography or wonderful setting. No. I see guys projectile vomiting blood and heads exploding all over the place. By the time the movie was over, there was so much fake blood and brain matter about that I could only think how awful it would be for the folks who had to clean up the sets. Jennifer Jason Leigh stayed plastered with gore throughout the movie, collecting more and more as the movie progressed until, at the end, you could not tell who she was. There was even one unforgivable scene in which a huge jar of jelly beans was murdered. But at least no dogs died. The upshot is that I can't recommend this movie unless you are as thick-skinned as a dinosaur.

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On 10/17/2016, Wanda Doehne said ...

My husband checked out the DVD of the Tarantino movie from our local library, and he expressed much the same opinion as you did. I didn't watch it, and I'm not going to. Thanks for your movie and book reviews.

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On 10/18/2016, Andy said ...

You're welcome.

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On 10/18/2016, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...

Oh, I so agree about that movie. Watched it a few weeks ago with friend and thought it as awful. She's seen it a number of times and I can't for the life of me figure out why. Hope you're back sewing soon.
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Determination Pays

This morning, I decided to play a little game, a game of pretend. I would pretend there was no pain and no fatigue. I would pretend that my arms and legs didn't feel like they were made of concrete. I would pretend my vision wasn't blurry and my hands weren't stiff. I would sew.

It worked. Well, sort of. I was able to go deep enough into my imagination and pretend I felt good, deep enough to get a little sewing done. I've got the borders on the "Trick or Tree" wall hanging, and I also stitched up the backing for "Autumn Charms" and blanket stitched all the pieces in one of the Dollhouse blocks.

I might do a little more. Since I have done most of the work sitting down, my back is still doing pretty good. As long as I don't think about how wonderful it would feel to lie on the couch and read, I think I can get a little more done. I want to machine quilt "Trick or Tree," but I don't think this is the day. I'm really not good at machine quilting. To do an even halfway decent job, I have to feel more in control my hands and arms than I do today. There are a couple of new quilts (small ones) that I want to start. Or I could make a couple more pillowcases for Children's Hospital. So many projects; so little strength.

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On 10/14/2016, Jane said ...

Hang in there, Susan! Mind over matter------cute tree!
Jane (I know you from FB too)
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It's Been Too Long

I don't have anything to show--unless you'd like to see some emergency laundry or emergency grocery shopping or throwing together some meals. I've been feeling very poorly for the past week or so.

Every night, I vow that "tomorrow I will go to the sewing room." But tomorrow comes, and a few minutes on my feet proves too painful, so I get off them whenever I can. And the fatigue and weakness are horrible. I keep thinking if I just don't fight it, relax, and let the condition have it's way, it will get bored and go away. But so far, that strategy hasn't worked.

Maybe tomorrow.

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On 10/13/2016, Dolores Tanner said ...

Here's hoping you feel much better sooner rather than later.

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On 10/14/2016, Stephani in N. TX said ...

Sorry you are feeling under the weather at this special season of the year. In TX, it's between heat and freezing and can be so-o wonderful. Hope you feel better soon and get to moving along on your reading and quilting, and writing on your blog. Look for you every day,

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On 10/14/2016, Linda Enneking said ...

Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I haven't been feeling well lately either, and also haven't gotten any sewing done. I keep thinking I will do it tomorrow, but we know tomorrow never comes. I try not to let it bother me, bit it does. I hope you can find something to do to pass the time and keep your mind off your pains.
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Trick or Tree

I am happy to say that all the tree skirt is pieced and all the segments are put together into a tree. All I have to do now is sew on some borders, quilt it, and add some Halloween ornaments. I'm going to try machine quilting this one, a technique I'm almost as good at doing as I am at paper piecing. But with all the seams and fabric layers, I think hand quilting is out of the question. I would need an auger instead of a quilting needle to get through them all. I hope this is quite the end of paper piecing for me.

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On 10/05/2016, Trudy Abernathy-Neill said ...

This is cute! I am so glad that someone besides myself do not like paper piecing....it is too much for this aging brain of mine to deal with. I can work out kinks in other patterns, but dealing with all the paper is beyond me. Love the tree skirt on this too. All the best....Trudy
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When Will I Learn

Every time (which isn't often) that I delve into a foundation-pieced (paper-pieced) project, I am reminded rudely of why I hate foundation piecing. Then I vow to never do it again--until the next time.

I spent two days working on these eight foundation pieces. TWO DAYS! Then I spent two more days resting up and never wanting to look at the thing again. But now I'm back, ready to tackle the very last foundation piece, the tree skirt. When that is done, I am going to make a huge sign for my sewing room that reads: NO MORE FOUNDATION PIECING! Just to remind myself that I don't want to be pulled into another one of these maddening projects.

I know some people love paper piecing and do it well. I think my brain is just not wired for this kind of sewing. To me, it's like having to think backwards, and sideways, and upside down. And then sewing with my eyes closed. I end up having to pull out about every fifth seam, a none-too-easy task when working on tissue paper, as this project is.

I'm not doing it again. I swear I'm not. Never. Ever. Not nohow. But I think I'm going to love my Halloween Tree when it's ever finished.

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On 10/04/2016, Sandra said ...

I love your Halloween tree, good job, but I'm with you on the paper piecing, can't do it,won't do it!

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On 10/04/2016, gail said ...

It looks good though and will be cute when finished so keep going.......

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On 10/04/2016, Lyn said ...

You have done a great job with your tree. I love foundation piecing but instead of paper, I use a tracing vilene which I can leave in and it makes it so much easier. In fact, just about all quilting projects I now do are foundation pieced from bags to large quilts.

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On 10/06/2016, Pat said ...

I love paper piecing, but it drives me nuts! Love your tree-great job!

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On 10/10/2016, diane wingo said ...

No paper piecing for me. My brain does not function that way. I love all of the paper piecing quilts that I see but ....not for me. I love your tree and it will be so cute when you decorate it.
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October Makes Me Happy

Happy October to all my blogging friends.

This month won't last long enough for me.

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On 10/04/2016, Thelma said ...

I could not agree more!
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