Whirlwind

Things just aren't slowing down! When last I wrote I was waiting for my son to find out when his surgery would be. Meanwhile, I was working in the yard, on the garden shed and on graduation quilts. 

About noon on that Monday I got a call from the boy and his surgery was scheduled for the next morning! I finished my weeding, took a shower, ran a few errands, threw some clothes in a suitcase, jumped in the car and headed across the state! The surgeon was hopeful that he would be able to repair the meniscus instead of removing it to help Jakob avoid arthritis and a knee replacement. I arrived about 9 PM and we visited for a bit before heading to bed. Surgery was delayed until about 12:45 but we were well taken care of by the hospital staff. The procedure lasted about 1.5 hours and the doctor came out to let me know that it went well but that they had to remove 50% of the meniscus on the inside of his right knee - it was shredded! We headed home after he had a meal and got training on crutches. 

The day after surgery he was up and about some and getting ornery! I stayed around for one more day and then headed home. He is doing well and sees the doctor this morning for his post-op check.

I came home and got busy around here! So much to do! I had farmed out one of the graduation quilts to get the binding hand sewing done so when I got home I just needed to get the labels done. With everything else going on I ended up finishing that project on Sunday morning before church! 

I dropped the quilts off at church to be given to the grads but I couldn't stay. During the night I got  back spasm and I was in pain! I went home and struggled to find a position to be in that would let it relax. Finally, it relaxed enough for me to get a little napping done and by evening I was able to be up and about, even making dinner.

Over the weekend everything got moved into the garden shed and my husband and daughter got shelves, etc. for pots and implements. Here are some pictures from the weekend. There is still a bit of work to do: a new counter top and some pegboard for starters.

The first picture shows our old bathroom sink mounted on the wall. I will be using it for potting plants. There is now drain pipe so that excess potting soil will fall into the bucket below. In the wall next to the sink are shelves for most of my pots. 

These next to pictures show the parking area for the larger equipment. Hanging on the walls you can see all the shovels, rakes, hoes and other tools. In the wall on the side are all the wooden stakes, ranging in length from about 1 foot to 5 feet.

Here you can see a shelf up about the window and countertop. Hooks were added for the sprinkler, hanging pots and two old calf-feeding buckets (unfortunately the nipples have deteriorated and broken  off). On the shelf are some old pots and dishpans that may or may not ever be used. 

Finally you can see our former utility room counter/drawers. Inside you will find gloves, strings, seeds and more pots. The loft area is filling up but it will take an awful lot to get it totally filled.

This week the weather has been pretty nice so I have spent time outside working in the garden and flower beds. The garden is looking awesome and the strawberries are starting to produce. We are enjoying unlimited strawberries! Last night I made a tasty beverage in the blender with lemonade and fresh strawberries. I have also been able to spend some time enjoying the Sky Chairs. 

Today my body is telling me that we are not working outside so I am not too sad they are forecasting rain! Besides, the garden could use some water! I will be heading to the grocery store and hopefully doing a bit of sewing. I am working on a couple more comfort quilts.

Almost finished!

We had a fun, busy, crazy Memorial Day weekend! Our daughter had 4 days off so she and the grandkids and the granddog came over for a visit. It is always interesting when there is a houseful here!

Saturday Larry and I worked on the garden shed getting the roof trim finished so the roofers can come and get the roof on (that will be happening on Friday). We had lots of help from our grandson. He especially liked filling Papa's water cup using the dispensers in the freezer door! He also ran loads of wood scraps to the burn pile in his big Tonka dump truck. His little sister was busy also but seems to be going through a growth spurt so she climbed on the couch and took a nap! While we kept the kids busy their mom spent some time in the sewing room making a couple of wall hangings for two fellow grad students. 

On Sunday Papa got the last of the siding on the shed and I quilted the two wall hangings with the little girl's help. Her mom and brother did a little shopping and went to visit my parent's graves, planting some flowers there. We went to my niece, Katie's new house for dinner so Chelsea and the kids could see it and the kids got to spend the night - her first overnight guests.

Chelsea left Monday morning to pick up the kids and head home. Larry and I spent the day installing the garage door, 'man' door and window in the shed. The window is an old one that got replaced in the garage and it does open. We have it covered with piece of plywood right now until the roof is done - it would be a shame if it got broken!

I am excited about getting things installed inside. There will be a counter under the window for potting, etc.

The yellow stripes on the door won't stay, they are just a protective film for shipping.

I have gotten two of the graduation quilts quilted and hope to do the third this afternoon. If I am lucky I will also get the bindings on. 

Tomorrow is Relay for Life so I will be heading to the local high school track for 24 hours or so. A great event but exhausting!

Rainy Days and Sewing

Since I didn't get to got to my daughter's graduation, I decided to head over to my daughter's house to see the grandkids and also to deliver a metal desk and some planters to my son's apartment. Daughter, Rebecca, came along. Unfortunately, the grandkids were sick with high temps and colds but we did get some cuddle time and managed to stay healthy in spite of it. Also spent some time with my son, Jakob, helping him plant his little seedlings in the pots I brought for his balcony garden and doing a little shopping. It was fun spending some time with all three kids together.


We came home and on Saturday we helped my husband get the ramp on the garden shed but boy were we tired! There was digging involved.

And framing.

Hubby got a good deal on the Trex we used. It was two colors which made some nice subtle stripes.

Still have some more digging to do so we will be able to drive the lawn tractor right in.

Just a few more smaller steps left to do along with the doors and windows and then this project will be done, well, except for the painting which could take a while. Luckily, someone else will be doing the roof!


The rain returned on Sunday which meant I could legitimately spend as much time as I wanted in the sewing room. My first job was making a dog sling for my Jakob's little dog, Mandu. Jakob likes to walk but, as much as she would like to, Mandu just can't keep up on a long walk! I didn't have Jakob and Mandu here for sizing but I did what I could and got it together on Sunday afternoon and brought it over to my friend's house so her daughter could bring it over to Jakob the next morning. I haven't heard yet if it works.


Because there was a need for another comfort quilt at church, I got the top I had finished quilted and bound and delivered.

Then I worked on getting the next top put together and I have one more from this pattern cut out and ready to sew.


My friend, Maurianne, finished the 3rd graduation quilt for the kids at church and gave it to me so yesterday I got backs made for all three out of flannel I had in the big flannel bin and even got them all basted. I am hoping to get one quilted this morning before I head out for my errands for the day.


It sounds like we will have company for this holiday weekend - our daughter, Chelsea, and grandkids will be here and possibly Jakob. This means we will also have the addition of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and possibly a Maltese to add to the fun and excitement!

Construction in two mediums

In spite of me feeling a bit under the weather my garden shed is getting closer to completion. Our SIL was home for a few days and with his help and the continued help of our daughter, the rafters were finished and the plywood is all up. 









It sounds like it shouldn't take too long to get the roofers out once the roof is ready. It sounds like the garage door should be available next week sometime so maybe that will be our Memorial Day project.


The kids headed out for a short getaway to Sequim, the Dungeness Spit and Port Angeles on Monday and Tuesday and I continued to recuperate and did some sewing. I finished up the first comfort quilt from the blues and greens. I am really happy with the results and look forward to finding some other patterns that will work well with this bunch of fabrics.

I finally got a picture of the second graduation quilt so here it is.

I don't think I have shared the pictures of the baby quilts I worked on for such a long time! Here is the one for my great niece in Maryland. Her mom sent me pictures of her enjoying some tummy time on her quilt.

Here is one of the frog quilts for the boys. Remember I made 5 tops, 4 of which have been finished and delivered to their new owners. I understand that the boys especially like the eyes. 

Hopefully I don't decide it is a good idea to make 5 tops of one type again anytime soon, especially one that involves 16 frogs with 32 eyes!

Change of Plans

Right now, if things had gone as planned, I would be playing with my grandkids. Instead, I am recovering from a stomach bug. I got sick on Wednesday evening and yesterday I laid around a lot and ate little. I am improved today but only back to about 80%.


The plan was to spend the weekend on the other side of the state so we could watch our oldest daughter receive her Masters degree in Plant Science but we will just have to hope someone takes pictures for us. We were also delivering a desk to our son and some planters for him to use for his balcony veggie garden. but I guess that will wait too.


My hubby is taking advantage of time off to get things done. Yesterday he helped #2 daughter finish installing her door and finished planning out the rafters for my garden shed. Last weekend we got the siding on all 4 sides.

Here is the view from up on the loft floor. Can you see Lucy curled up on my jacket?

Today Hubby and #2D are working on getting those rafters up.

I spent several days this past week or so cutting pieces for more comfort quilts. The bin I pulled out had lots of blues and greens so I found a pattern to use and cut out enough blues, greens and background for 2 from that pattern and there are extra pieces I will use for another one or two tops from another pattern. I started sewing up the first one and if I am feeling up to it I might get some more done today.

I have been able to spend some time outside. The garden looks pretty great. I got the squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, dill and zucchini planted and the peas, beets and lettuce are up so we might get some produce this year if the weather keeps up. There is still lots of work to do but once I get myself back to normal I will be out there working at getting it all done.