nest drama

if you've been reading this blog for a while, you know i follow the eagle's nest at the norfolk (VA) botanical garden.  this year the dad had to find a new mate.  he has courted 3 females so far and #3 was getting settled into the nest; sleeping there at night, eating when he brought food and generally considering it "home."  however, #4 female came on the scene a couple of days ago and was chased off by dad.  problem is, #3 hasn't been seen at the nest for 2 days and #4 is trying to get the male to cozy up to her.  on thursday #3 and #4 had an altercation and locked talons but no serious injury to either.  the male has yet to mate with #4 but she is getting pretty comfy around and in the nest the male has prepared for eggs.  it's getting late for eggs to be laid--end of march is usually the latest--so unless things settle down soon, there probably won't be any eggs in this nest this year.  today there are over 13,000 people watching this drama play out in nature that is better than any hollywood script. 

snippets fun

what do you do when you have only little snippets of time here and there?  why, you work on your hexies of course!  and not those itty, bitty, teeny, weeny, under 1 inch things either; mine measure 3" across the middle and i wouldn't have it any other way.  these are for an amish-y honeycomb twin size quilt in the works.  as for when it will be a flimsy is anyone's guess.  these are mostly hand-dyed solids from cherrywood fabrics and are they luscious both in color and quality.  they advertise a suede-like feel and they are so right.  i can recommend them highly.  i can't afford the yardage--it's pricey--but these are from one of their grab bags of small pieces.  i need a total of 202 of these hexies, 12 half hexies and some little triangles (not sure which kind) to make it rectangular.  it's an ideal grab and go project....for the time being anyway.  ***** back to cold temps today but not for long.  if we don't get anymore snow, it won't bother me a bit.  easter is late this year--mid april--and i've seen fast-moving blizzard-type conditions on easter sunday before, so we can't rest easy yet.  ***** national quilting day is one week from today.  it's not a hallmark holiday at all but no less celebratory to us of the quilty persuasion.  lots of related events going on of which to partake and enjoy, not the least of which are the online retail therapy kind.  web surfers beware!

would you believe?

picture it:  midnight - march - maine - 50 degrees, that's right 50 at midnight in maine in march!  simply unheard of.  in the daytime it was 60+ degrees, the record being 60 back in 1878.  that means in our 1970s era cluster apartments it was quite warm.  that's how it is.  when it's bitter cold out, the place is freezing; when it's warm out it's also warm inside.  the promise of "control your own heat" is a complete fallacy. and tonight?  a mere 24 hours later?  the weather heads are talking snow.   

a few more

though i'm primarily sewing the little swap piece, i did have a few moments to finish up more little baskets.  i think they are sooo cute!  with all the repro fabrics i have, there are endless combinations.  i know i'll be making more of these, though i doubt they will end up as a full-size or bed-size quilt.  ***** my little dresden plate quilt is nearly ready to bind, so i guess i'll have another finish in march as well.  i have 3 bed-size quilts basted and the center diamond that just needs the last border quilted, so i've plenty of projects to choose from to be tackled next. 

a handy item resurfaces

when new, the old viking came with this handy dandy extension table.  i admit it has been hardly used.  last week i saw someone with a newer viking using her extension table and thought, hmmm, i have one of those.  today i was working on a small quilt so decided to pull it out and am glad i did.  it is useful indeed.  and, as you can see, my little quilt project is paper pieced.  i printed the pattern from the computer onto my carol doak foundation papers.  i can't show you yet, it's a swap gift, but rest assured it'll go on display as soon as possible.  and the magnetic poetry?  it reads, "my still sweet friend and apparatus always"  and "winter sings as tiny bitter diamonds,"  what can i say...i'm an English major....LOL  **** am i the only one who feels terribly rich just watching the devastation from those tornadoes?  i doubt it.  my loved ones are the real riches here, not the stuff i use or collect.  it isn't that i don't know that absolutely, but it's easy to forget sometimes.  i am humbled by those who are persevering in spite of this terrible destruction and devastation.  if you feel the same, send your donation to The Salvation Army, the tangible face of caring in any disaster.

the greatest thing....

since sliced bread, as the saying goes...that would be this seam guide.  no, it's not a vintage guide that originally fit on phoebe but a newer version.  nonetheless, it's ideal for keeping those seam allowances straight and consistent.  i never used one before but just trying it has made me a life-long convert.  as for phoebe, she is running like a dream.  a bit noisy, i think, but maybe that's just her.  i've removed the bottom plate and oiled/lubricated every spot indicated in the directions.  i've adjusted the belt, wound bobbins and sewn itty bitty perfect seams.  i see now why this machine is so highly sought.  it's virtually indestructible, completely self-maintenance and i have to say the stitch quality surpasses even the old viking.  i didn't think that would be the case but it is.  no, i haven't abandoned the old viking but i am completely enamored with phoebe's stitch.  today i'm off to get a new light bulb so i can see that perfect stitch all the better. 

finally here!

not sadie hawkins day, noooo; it's phoebe!  she was here when i got home from work yesterday and was immediately unpacked and inspected, found to be in very good condition...."born" in 1955!  after some cleaning and oiling, she was up and running like new.  the case smells musty, of course, but that has been remedied.  i replaced her belt too; this is really a DIY machine for sure!  she's my present to me for returning to work.  *** speaking of work, going fine, still getting used to having less expanses of free time to do whatever.  it actually makes me more productive by being more organized and procrastinating less.  also results in shorter, less rambling posts too!

15 minutes

even though i worked yesterday, i still found at least 15 minutes to quilt on this little UFO.  i'm hoping for another finish early in march.  simply cannot abandon a little playtime; it'll just have to be planned for the next couple of weeks.  this piece is nearly ready for binding, which is all prepped and waiting.  next have to baste/quilt the "variety" piece and then work on a little swap piece.  **** had my hair cut a bit so now it's even less maintenance than previous.  my perm will be gone by may or so when i'll get my summer short cut, the wash and wear do.  *** oops, gotta go and get dressed!

time on your hands? NQR (not quilt related)

the norfolk botanical garden eaglecam has been on for a few weeks now.  last year's dad eagle, whose mate was killed by the airplane, is back and has a new mate after trying out a few different ones.  she is youthful (what else is new...are all men the same?), about 4 years old and hasn't gotten her white tail feathers yet; still has a few specks of brown on her head as well.  while they have been seen mating several times, no eggs laid yet.  she is, however, spending more and more time in the nest that dad adjusts on a daily basis.  she still has time--the garden biologist says end of march would be the cutoff--to lay an egg or maybe more.  in the meantime, new cameras have been installed and repositioned to satisfy the thousands of voyeurs to this real-life saga.  one caveat:  watching can be addicting, especially once eggs are in the nest.  the moderator comments are informative and funny as well.  if she is unsuccessful in producing an egg after several mating attempts, dad will drop her and find another mate for next year.  **** in another update, one of last year's chicks, the female released in august with the transmitter, was eating carrion and struck by a car.  she was rescued and returned to the wildlife center to heal, which she is currently doing.  it's phenomenal to see the size of this yearling and for her latest progress, just go on over to the wildlife center and take a peek. 

first february finish

so here's little red quilt #3, now all quilted and bound and labeled....meaning, it's officially finished!  i know, there are no windows in this traditional block, but i like it better without the windows for a more rustic, folk art feel.  i've already started quilting another little quilt, dresden plates, that might or might not be a february finish but with the extra day this year, who knows?  **** my ultra-quilty weekend has flown by.  i got my autumn change quilt basted and ready to quilt on friday.  i spent part of saturday at the quilt museum and got to see a civil war quilt up close.  today it's prep clothes and get a haircut for work starting tomorrow.  i imagine it'll take a bit to get back in the groove but looking forward to having less empty time to fill with whatever.  **** our spring-like winter continues.  we aren't home free yet, though; march can be snowy and stormy too.  it'll be mid-april or so before we can be confident of winter's end.