Peace to Paradise

Right about now I would be getting ready to head out to my favorite vacation spot. I would be packing a few things to spend a few relaxing days at my personal paradise the way I have done for more years that I can even remember. We made reservations over a week ago and I was truly excited to be heading out.

We realized mid-week the weather was taking a bad turn. We didn't know until a few days later it was worse than we ever expected. Reservations cancelled, mandatory evacuation, and all plans changed as the eye of a hurricane stormed through my personal paradise.

Instead of packing this morning I've spent too much time viewing videos of the aftermath of a devastating storm. I've had to hold back the emotion every time I recognized a familiar spot that now is a pile of rubble. I can't help but wonder of the 10,000 residents and how their entire lives have been blow and drenched and scattered. I want to get out there and pick up pieces but realistically I would be caught in flood waters this way or that. So I watch and listen to the wind and rain outside my own window in respect.

I won't be heading out this morning. I'll refrain from watching too many more videos. I'll bow my head in silence as the nature around me keeps me humble. And I'll count all my many blessings.
TT

My first quilt

I decided to learn something new. At the end of July I started taking a serious look at the possibility of making a quilt. I can sew and thought I might be able to give this project a good effort without having to find and take long classes to cover the basics of sewing. I already knew that part and wanted to keep with the overall idea of quilting of not spending bunches of money to complete the task.

I started doing a little internet research. It didn't take long to find blogs that went step-by-step of each part of the process with pictures. I was able to get the general idea of what supplies I needed and how to take the first steps in getting it all together. I also checked out some YouTube videos for specific items like the proper way to cut these small pieces of fabric evenly. The research was easy to find and very specific, loaded with free tips.

So I started with a few new supplies, like my pizza fabric cutter and clear rulers. A few bits of fabric and I was on my way.

 

I didn't realize I picked the smallest squares to try. I cut 2 1/2" squares when they could have been larger. Now I know. Those small squares were sewn into blocks of nine squares each. I ended up with 101 blocks which means it took 909 small squares. But that was good and when I was done I had the top of my quilt.

I went on to the next steps and padded it and as the blog suggested, I used a flat sheet I never use as the back. So I had a sandwich of top squares, cotton padding, and flat sheet to pin and start sewing together. This is what makes the quilting. I sewed along each seam line of each square in long rows one way and then the other.

This was a first try and considering I was using only blogs and a few videos as instruction, I think it turned out pretty well. I now have an idea of how this is supposed to work and excited to start another that I will put more thought into the design.

This one is 68" x 55" which is a good size. It covers the top of a queen size bed but I would like another larger. I will use larger squares for that and pick fabric with a more thought out pattern.

 



It's not too bad for a first attempt. I could do this again!
TT

Change of plan

I completed my challenge of 5 days of 5Ks.

That was a day or so ago. I skipped out yesterday and somehow the morning time got away from me today and I didn't get out again. I might need to re-think plans to rearrange time.

Wouldn't that be an amazing and complex concept to try to take on. The idea of rearranging time could and is daunting. I will give it some thought but I'm sure I won't be able to give it any justice.
TT