I Tried

Vann and I made a good team: I was the writer, he was the photographer--award-winning photojournalist, actually. Somehow neither of our talents rubbed off very much on the other. As you can see by my pitiful attempt at photographing the "pink" moon last night. Now if Vann had taken that shot, you'd be able to see the flag that the astronauts planted in 1969. I haven't yet figured out why they call it a pink moon. I guess I ought to Google that.

I worked on the secret wall quilt yesterday. Got section 2 done. But it required some seam ripping and resewing and quite a bit of cussing. The instructions for that little piece are quite challenging. I'll show a photo later.

I ordered another puzzle from the same ladies (eeboo puzzles) that I got the rabbit puzzle from. Can't wait to show you. If you love jigsaw puzzles, I suggest you check out their site. Their puzzles are well made and charming.

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On 04/27/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

I saw the moon last night and although it looked really large, it didn't look pink at all. I, too, wondered why it is called The Pink Moon.
Wishing you well on your secret project. What would we do without seam rippers?
I look forward top seeing your new puzzle. :)

Hugs!
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Rainy Day Ramblings

This is the latest puzzle, which I finished about a week ago, but I like it so much I've been reluctant to take it apart and box it up. I think I'm going to transfer it to the dining table (which I won't be using for at least a few weeks) and enjoy it for a while longer.

I finally got my tax stuff together and delivered it to the accountant who does my returns. I always put this chore off till the last minute (glad we had a extra month this year). I just always dread doing it. Don't know why. But it's done. Thank goodness.

On this dreary rainy day (the kind of day I like, actually) I'm going up to the sewing room and make some friendship quilt blocks for a friend and bee sister that is moving away to Georgia. We're going to miss you, Mary U.

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On 04/24/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

Love the puzzle and it's quite an accomplishment to deal with 1000 puzzle pieces!

How sad your bee friend is moving away but with email, Skype, and telephones, you can keep in touch. We cannot hug anyway. You know she'll love the friendship star blocks.

Hugs!

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On 04/25/2021, Linda in PA said ...

Love your puzzle! Where did you purchase it? It looks like one that I would like to do.
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A Clue

One section of my new secret wall quilt sewn today. You can probably guess what this will be. But I doubt you can guess the subject of the entire piece yet.

***

Holding in my heart all my African American brothers and sisters across this land this afternoon. God bless you all.

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On 04/21/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

Oh, whatever shall a partial rooster become with time, creativity, more fabric and thread?!

I joined you in prayer for all of our fellow people in hoping for a just verdict and was elated with the outcome, announced late yesterday.

Hugs!
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Ready for Quilting

I finished this while the Merry Maid was cleaning today. I think it's small enough (28"x31") that I'll be able to machine quilt it. I believe I'll give it a try.

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On 04/17/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

How perfectly delightful! Won't this little wall quilt add happiness wherever you choose to hang it? Live the Irish Chain background for the flowers and stars, too.

Yes, I think you'll be able to machine quilt it easily.

Hugs!
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From the Back

Covid has truly changed my life. I've grown my hair long for the first time in many decades. I've stopped wearing makeup and almost stopped wearing a bra (unless I'm going into a store, doctor's appointment, etc., which isn't often). My daytime wear is most often pajamas. And I've come to realize that not going out that often is fine with me.

But then it hasn't been very good for my house. Although I have a regular cleaning service to keep things liveable, I really haven't paid much attention to the house otherwise. My Christmas Tree quilt is still hanging in the foyer. Nobody ever sees the house except me and Jesse, and Andy about once a week or so (and the cleaning lady). If I ever get back to hosting quilt bee and book club, I'm really going to have some work to do.

Speaking of book club, we're Zooming in just a few minutes to discuss a book by James McBride, The Color of Water. You can read my brief take on this book in the sidebar on the left under "Books Read in 2021."

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On 04/13/2021, Nancy said ...

If I thought my hair would look that good grown out, I wouldn’t visit Alana either! But I feel safe in her little shop. And I don’t go more than every 8 weeks.

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On 04/14/2021, Nicole said ...

I love your long hair!

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On 04/14/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

Your long hair is lovely, softly and gently curled.

Each day I dress in sweats or a sweater atop sweats if it's chilly and in comfy slacks if it's warmer. I wear earrings and cologne but no make-up. In the evenings, ofter put on flannels, a tee, and snuggly robe. Oh, yes, and socks because I'm often cold. DH says I cannot be a reptile because I'm colder than my environment! :)

Hugs!
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A Long-Haired Hippie Person

"And the sign said
'Long-haired freaky people
Need not apply
So I tucked my hair up under my hat
And I went in to ask him why"

I don't think my hair has been this long since back in the day when this song was popular ("Signs" by Five Man Electric Band, 1971), or maybe even before that. It has been at least a year and a half since I've had a haircut.

Below is me in 1969, so I know it was long then. But never since, as I recall.

I couldn't wait to be fully vaccinated so I could visit Alana and get the stuff cut off. But now that I am fully vaccinated, I've lost all interest in getting a haircut. If I get it cut short again, I'll have return for a recut every four or five weeks to keep it that was. For some reason, and it has always been true, I just hate to go for a haircut. I don't know exactly why. Maybe because it takes time away from doing stuff I want to do.

But anyway, for now, i'm allowing the mane to grow. I can do a ponytail now, so when the really hot weather arrives (and I don't think it's far off) I can get it off my neck.

Almost time for Zoom Church. I'm going to have my bowl of mini-wheats so I don't go into a low blood sugar attack before church is over.

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On 04/11/2021, Denise Fischer said ...

I also hate going for a haircut, they always talk about it being like a spa event, and I say no.
I have what I call Covid hairstyle, it got cut once in October and is now growing out white because I also stopped coloring it.
Your hair looks great!

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On 04/11/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

Your hair looks fine to me and I love the headband to keep it out of your eyes. All the better to see, doncha know?!

I'm with you and Denise in never enjoying getting my hair cut. It's naturally curly, so it was always kind of a toss up about how it would look and often I'd wet it and comb it out when I got home.

I'll have to send you a photo of me in 1970. :)

Hugs!

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On 04/12/2021, Shasta said ...

Your hair looks wonderful as it is. I haven't had a haircut in more than a year too, and eventually I will get it cut, but I am not ready either.
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Small Progress, Big Satisfaction

It's not a lot, but it's stitching. During small segments of time this week, I have completely cut out a new wall quilt that I've been wanting to make. I'm not going to show a photo of the pattern. I'm going to wait until I have my project farther along.

After I finished cutting out the new quilt this morning, I started top stitching the flower pot wall quilt that I stitched a while back. But I had made only a little bit of progress when Skipper decided to go downstairs and start barking like we were being invaded by hordes of something or other. So of course, I had to stop and go down to see what the commotion was about. I found no cause, of course--just a little dog gazing out the window. Probably a car went by or a leaf blew across the lawn. So I let Skipper out the back door and sat down on the sofa to wait to let him back in. During my wait, I lost all interest in climbing back up the stairs to do some more stitching. I hope to get back to it tomorrow.

But for today, I'm going to watching Episode 2 of the PBS Hemingway documentary. I watched Episode 1 last night and found it interesting, even compelling. It will not, however, endear you to Ernest Hemingway. He was quite a, hmmmm, I can't think of a polite word for S.O.B.

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On 04/09/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

Applause, applause! My Aussie quilting sister says if you do "a bit of a stitch" daily, you can accomplish amazing things. She had quilted two double bed size whole cloth quilts that way.

I'm intrigues by your new secret project and hope it's a lot of fun to make.

Love your machine applique, too.

I'm making HSTs for a UFO I abandoned in 2013 and will use any leftovers in two other projects.

Hugs!

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On 04/09/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

Please make that second sentence in the 1st paragraph read " ... HAND stitched ..."

hank you. :)
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A Quilting Dry Spell

But I did get another puzzle done.

The stairs to the sewing room are paved with good intentions. I seem to have hit a sewing block. Every morning I wake up determined to get in some sewing. And then I start with the excuses: laundry, animals, pain, cooking, blah, blah, blah, blah.

I think maybe that with my physical difficulties, maybe the thought of making a full-size quilt intimidates me and causes me to avoid the sewing room. So I have a plan. I'm going to put away all the full-size projects for now and work on small pieces. I have several that I want to finish or make, so I won't want for material. Maybe if I'm able to get into and actually finish a small piece, it will give me the inspiration that I apparently lack to work on any size project.

Yesterday was Jesse's birthday. The only thing he ever asks me for his birthday is to make chicken and dressing. So I made it for him. Along with that, I made mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and sweet potato casserole. Andy brought a Honey Baked Ham, a giant chocolate chip cookie (which Jesse wanted in lieu of a cake), and Dutch chocolate ice cream. The birthday boy (man) was greatly pleased, and he (and his grandma and mom) ate way too much. And we have a refrigerator full of leftovers, so maybe I won't have to cook today. I told them I'm not cooking for Easter. We can get KFC or order a pizza. I don't care. But all my holiday cooking for this holiday has been done. ANd I haven't done a smidgen bit of Easter decorating this year.

After a stormy, rainy day (no tornadoes), and a very chilly night, we have a beautiful, sunny day to welcome April. I haven't been out today, but I'm hoping that all that rain washed away the pollen. My allergies have been in a frenzy the last week or so.

Rabbit! Rabbit! Happy April, everyone.

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On 04/02/2021, Barbara Anne said ...

My sympathy about the aches and pains that make it a problem to get upstairs to your sewing room and to have fun while there. I enjoy making wall quilts and table runners that aren't more than 40: square so I can machine quilt them myself (humbly!). I've made seasonal and holiday wall quilts for our home and they make nice gifts, too.
The large quilt I'm making has been in process for a year but am slowly getting the blocks sewn together. No hurry.
A belated Happy Birthday to Jesse! His party and the food sound perfect.
Happy Easter!

Hugs!
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