Sun Cleared some Ice
Whatever fell from the skies within the last several days is no longer on our concrete causing ice. The sun wasn’t out all day but it sure did the job of making the ice disappear.
What a great day of having things go quite well. The usual first floor ditties are always the place to start on any day. It has all become habit forming and thus nothing is amiss. I had vowed to not put any news on today. Even radio KNUJ was not turned on. The peace that passes all understanding. Nothing political for me today. I didn’t inquire of Dennis what he had on in the patio porch.
Going into the sewing studio, the first thing was to oil the sewing machine and put in a new needle. The affirmation quilt blocks I am doing take up to several hours of stitching each. It makes everything run like a top to pay attention to the machine.
As the stitching was going on the module of the machine, I decided to be brave and begin the process of working towards finishing the Santa quilt top. After all, I had the batting whip stitched together . . . what was holding me back! I have no idea how I am going to quilt this project under the needle. In time to come something will pop up. Getting the backing and batting and the top together in itself is a challenge. No puckers, no lumps . . . that is the quest. I do get a fair amount of walking exercise done going around and around my church tables. It’s not a 100% to navigate, but dang close. Bending and stretching does the job. When I felt that I was as taut as possible . . . out came the goodie bag of safety pins.
If I had room, I would entertain the quilt rack such as what my mom used. They were nothing more than 1″ x 4″ boards that could be clamped together making the basis for the sandwiching of the quilt. Mom’s always were tied onto the dining room chairs. Nothing fancy. Working from one side or the other, the 1″ x 4″ was rolled as the quilting progressed. Mom was also stressed for room, so the dining room table could be found dead center under the frame. When the quilting was towards completion, the table was scooted out from underneath. It worked. So . . . my safety pins will also work.
My main goal is to maintain the layers for a time as the quilt will be wrestled severely under the needle of the sewing machine. The finished quilt top will be 65″ x 65″ and doable for the process of moving it around so that the needle can work its whiles. I don’t close the safety pins at this time. Right now they stand as sentinels doing their job of holding and holding fast. When the entire top is secured with pins, I will take my time and close each and everyone one of them. Trying to work with pins that are open . . . not! I did get a good amount of pins in today and tomorrow will be another day. It does get hard on the back and I choose to quit before the back can begin to ache.
Dennis brought in the last squash from the garage from the fall harvest that our neighbor shared with us. It was a treat to have had Dennis halve and clean it for me. It is in the oven and it is beginning to fill the kitchen with a wonderful aroma.
Each day I putter on. Each day I have given local effort to the wellbeing of Dennis and me. Proud and self-sufficient is what Dennis and I strive for each day. Label this day as mission completion.