friday goal met!

that would be the churn dash flimsy....i added the vertical row with a few squares left over...placemats anyone?  thank you chooky for organizing this sew along!  now to pick up a batting for it and get it finished....UFO be gone!

it looks very much like the pattern only smaller, although my colors are brighter....so i consider it a success.  *** also finished is this little fall cross-stitch piece that'll be a bowl filler at some point....

next up is to finish the christmas one...both of these got started on vacation.  and quilting on the gift quilt continues...that is october's focus.  the sooner it gets finished, the sooner another UFO goes in the hoop.  lastly, if you are not a regular reader of "quiltmania" magazine, i would encourage you to pick up the latest issue...

there is a feature article on my quilty pal Wendy Reed from Maine who is single-handedly responsible for the resurgence in potholder style quilts---but before that, she won many prizes for her beautiful and expertly hand quilted quilts.  even without the quilty part, she is a kind, humble, gentle and funny person whom I'm blessed to know.  ***  Ian has arrived with a rainy weekend in store...just perfect for quilting!

today's the day

the chooky churn dash sew-along ends and at least flimsies must be done...happy to say that i'm at least VERY close to a flimsy and by end of day today just might make it!

as you can see, have a pretty good layout and yes, the red is a bit strong, but i'm leaving it because i like that block....designer's prerogative!  i've enough blocks left of the 10" size to do a vertical row along the side, giving it a finished throw size at least.  i really didn't want the full size from the pattern and goal of using up many of my odd prints was met.  some are now gone for good and others have moved on to the scrap basket.  have decided to designate a month in 2023 to purely scrap sewing so stay tuned...

up early as busy morning ahead....get post done before morning meds slow me down....next cardio visit possible downward adjust of dosage...expecting a weekend visit from Ian so warming soup on the menu.  and since October is just a mere 18 hours away, i'll sign off with this...hoping my mom is putting up her "boo" piece too!

change

for good or ill, change is always present.  my september mini is titled just that...."change"....once again, linking up with wendy and other monthly mini makers!

it's the chinese coins pattern done with lots of autumnal fabrics.  i have a lot of them and it's difficult to choose just a few, so a perfect pattern.  only 3 more minis for me as i'll be giving up the sew along when 2022 ends.  my UFO list isn't dwindling as fast as it should and needs more of my time.  ***  fall weather is here finally!  *** growing up, "putting by" for the winter was an all-consuming task.  jams, pickles, veggies, fruit...all colorfully displayed on shelves promising a taste of summer all winter.  i no longer preserve anything but do try and put some veggies in the freezer for later.  and autumn cooking returns, firstly with these cider donut muffins.

the recipe calls for dipping tops in melted butter then sugar but i like them without.  next up is pumpkin bread!  ***  finally, finally getting over the nasty, stubborn cold.  no fever at all, but congestion that won't let go.  was it covid? don't know, didn't test, wouldn't have made a difference.  lots of extra rest and empiric treatment (cough remedies, vitamin c, tylenol and a bit of extra aspirin) slowly doing their job.  some of it was from exercise holiday AND more dietary slips than usual, so getting back into the cardiac lifestyle groove has helped also.  *** featherweight was unpacked and feeling more like sewing....the churn dash blocks are next.  "sunny", my mom's 1960s era singer, will be joining us late october. 

along with muffins, murder is back on the menu as well....LOL!  the bookmobile stops here regularly and i've lined up enough suspense to see me thru the winter!

the brevity of time becomes more apparent in autumn.   how many more years can i quilt?  sew?  read?  travel?  like the elders of my family, just keep on keeping on i guess, doing things as usual every day, ignoring the calendar and delighting in every birthday.  our family reunion in august once again reminded me of the resilience and fortitude in my genetic makeup....here we are, 140+, on the Whitney family farm in jonesboro, maine. 

and always, thanks be to God for His provision and care every day!