By lee | January 20, 2012
We’ve already put in quite a bit of work to get ready for the kitchen construction to start. First we had to make sure we had the money. We had to work with the kitchen designer to come up with a plan we loved. We had to interview contractors to find one we felt comfortable with and confident in. We’ve had to look at appliances, countertop materials, lighting, tiles, hardware, cabinet styles and paint colors. And I’m sure I’m leaving something out of that list!
Now it’s almost time for the demolition to start and we realize we have to pack up everything in the kitchen and find somewhere to store it all while the remodel is going on. Okay….. But before we do that, we have to decide what to leave out for the temporary kitchen we are setting up in the basement. I’m starting to panic because with me having surgery Christmas week, I’m not strong enough to do this all myself. And who comes to the rescue, my Thursday knit group! You’ve seen them on this blog many times over the years. They all offered to make a day of it and just get it done.
The kitchen was an absolute mess. We had two packing stations set up, lots of packing paper and what I thought was enough boxes.
We packed twenty boxes in about an hour and a half and had to stop because we ran out of paper and boxes. We got all the dishes, glasses, pots, pyrex, baking stuff and those miscellaneous weird items we all have. I definitely found my item for next years white elephant exchange!
There was much laughter and joking along with the hard work. So afterwards we sat down to a lovely lunch and then birthday cake for Elaine. Rick and I thank you angels from the bottom of our hearts. There is nothing as wonderful as good friends.
By lee | January 18, 2012
It’s been a really long time since I wrote on this blog. I contemplated restarting it several times last year and have finally decided it’s time. Why now? We are getting our kitchen remodeled (!!!!!) and all our families back east want to see what’s happening. The construction is starting on Jan 25th, (wow, next week!) and we are busy getting things moved around, taking stuff to Goodwill, consigning old furniture with an estate sale dealer, and selling books to Powells. Basically we are doing all those chores that you usually put off forever. There are walls coming down and furniture that won’t make the cut, so stuff has to go.
If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to since last April, well there have been trips, surgeries, a quilt retreat, meetings with my regular knit group, sewing days with the monthly sewing group, Tuesday afternoon knitting at Happy Knits, and many happy days spent with friends. If you were breezing through that last sentence and noticed “surgeries” in there, yes, there have been several surgeries in the last nine months. My cancer is not going away, but we try not to dwell on it after the initial surgery-recovery time and instead try to dwell on having fun, loving our family and celebrating the small stuff.
I invite you to check in and come along for the ride. I will keep you up to date with pictures of the remodel along with pictures of any crafts that happen along the way.
This should be fun. (Remind me that I said that about two months in!)
My mom is wonderful. I wasn’t the easiest child to raise. With the exception of getting arrested or coming home pregnant, I pretty much misbehaved in every way possible and then some. But she loved me through it all, she never gave up on me, just kept on being there when I needed her.
When I had kids of my own, I finally realized how wonderful she is and how much wisdom she has to share. I came to rely on her for guidance when things got difficult with my kids.
Mom is older now but she is still as full of life and adventure as ever. She is on the go a lot, I’m sure her social calender is much fuller than mine! She is active, eats well, and is so healthy, she is on no medications. Rick says she is our role model of how to grow old with grace and fun.
Mom has visited us here often over the last 11 years. She has come to help out when we’ve needed her and she’s come just to have fun. Last time she was here, we made her a new quilt together. And seeing how she was instrumental in encouraging my enthusiasm for sewing, how appropriate.
I am grateful for every day that she is still in my life.
Mom, you are the best and I love you so much. Happy Mother’s Day!
I was getting a bit tired of working so diligently on the vegetables and I needed another project that I could also work on. You know, so I could have a bit of a change of pace. And I am totally committed to this being the year where I complete all my unfinished projects. Yeah, I know, you can stop laughing now. I really mean it.
Anyway, I was going through the bins of my UFO’s and came across this.
This quilt got started in the late 1990′s as a group project when I worked at ThimbleCreek. There were probably twelve or so of us on staff then and we would pick a quilt and each of us would make 12 blocks exactly the same and then we would exchange blocks so everyone walked away with 12 different blocks. I think I participated in four such projects while I was working there. It was a lot of fun and I’ve gotten some gorgeous quilts because of those group projects. This quilt is the only one that I never finished.
When I opened up the box, I just had the ten pieced blocks.
Also in the box were the fabrics for the applique blocks. Yes, it’s applique again. Real change of pace right? There were only six whole blocks and ten setting triangles that needed to be appliqued. I’m happy to say that I have finished the six whole blocks and am mostly finished with two of the setting triangles.
It’s been pretty quick and I’m pleased with how it’s looking on the design wall.
I can’t remember the name of the book this pattern was in, I just remember it’s from an antique Pennsylvania Dutch quilt. The pattern calls for a pretty elaborate applique border but I don’t know if I’ll do that. Although now that I’m thinking about it, the quilt is so complex and rich, it would probably look silly with a simple, plain border. That means more applique, hum, we shall see. I’m really loving it.
Well, here, there and everywhere. And soon to go again. No really, it’s true. Two months away from the blog is a long time especially with no good bye, no howdy do or anything. From here on out, I’ll try and let you know if I’m going to be away or not blogging for a long period of time. Promise.
Liza and I had a lovely time in New Zealand and she is now back in Boston, looking for work. Rick and I were away for a few weeks visiting family on the East Coast. We had a great time with all our family, ate a lot of really good food, and the weather was lovely. We came home rested and happy.
Then we had to get through some major surgery for me and that’s kept me close to home since. It has allowed me some major time for hand work and for some reason, I’ve really been in the mood for applique. This is a block of the month project I purchased back in 1995 0r 96, can’t really remember which. It’s called the Victory Garden and is by Susan Powell. I’ve been loving it and have finished FIVE (!!!!!) blocks in the last 4 weeks. Here are the first six all sewn together with the sashing and posts.
And here are a couple of close ups.
I’m working on the eggplants, but I think it’s finally time to take a break. There are twelve blocks in all and the eggplants will be number eight so I’ve gotten pretty far. I think it’s time to knit or crochet for a bit.