Why It All Happens at Once!

Do you ever think WHY does this always happen to me?

Well--I don't (at least anymore) because it happens so often, I finally got used to the unexpected.

Now, that doesn't mean I don't get frustrated, but just keep on trudging thru to the other side.

So here is a little catching up pre-vacation that I forgot to post.

Why, well because it all came at once, welcoming home grandson, packing for vacation, saying goodbye to said grandson and then leaving.

Dear Grandson graduating from USMC Boot Camp, San Diego, CA

Home on leave for a few days then back to  ACT (Advanced Combat Training) 30 days and then

14 months of schooling for his specialty (don't really know what that is, Classified)

I do foresee a California trip in my future though.

Vacation WrapUp

The last few things I finished on vacation were:

Putting Dear Jane together into rows.  

I have 3 blocks left to finished row #10 and then 3 more rows to complete the inside.

Outside triangles are finished on 2 sides.

Also put together these leader-ender 3" blocks.

Quick turn-around once we arrived home on Saturday the 15th.  Unloaded the truck, checked on my Dad

and then showered and changed and drove to Pere Marquette Lodge for my cousin's wedding.

Lots of family in from out of town, so we had a really great time.

Sunday was mostly putting everything from vacation away, quick trip to the shop and washing up all of the clothes with napping between chores.  Dinner with family later in the day and they requested an Angel Food cake and Almond Poppy Seed Loaf.

Monday at the shop was catching up on paperwork, customers and the like.  Also some packing for the next "adventure".  Tuesday was much the same, but visiting with Free Sew quilters and a tad more fun and loading the car.  Wednesday (the 20th) was last minute things I forgot and off to Springfield by noon.  Manning the QOVF booth at MQX. Thanks to Susan and Margaret for coming up to help. We had a great time!

Anyone out there think their sewing space is too small.

Meet Eric Long.  Eric made this quilt

IN HIS TRUCK!!!!

Eric is an over the road truck driver and takes his sewing machine, iron, etc. with him on the road.

During some of his down time, he is busy sewing in the sleeper section of his truck!

He and his wife (the longarmer and quilter also) have a fantastic studio at home in Tennessee.

I couldn't make it home in time on Saturday night (22nd) to see Granddaughter and boyfriend Sam

going to the Bethalto Homecoming.  But the pics are fantastic.

With September almost over with, I though I could breath a sigh of relief.  

Then, I found out that the GREEN strips I had cut out for October  Blockswappers were the wrong color.  How could this happen when I wrote the color calendar?

So, grabbed the blue tonal I had picked out and quickly started cutting to get them done by Oct. 1

I can't tell you how many times I have hear-----

Your blocks always look so perfect, you never make mistakes!

Well, that's because YOU NEVER SEE THEM!

They are always made in the middle of the night when I am sewing!

So here is a real doozie of a mistake.

Did you notice anything wrong?  Unless you are participating in our Blockswappeer program this year, you may not.  After carefully stripping, pressing, sewing and pressing again all 24 blocks, it wasn't until I was on the last couple to square up when I realized it!

THEY ARE 6 1/2"

And they need to be 9 1/2"

So quick trip into the "vault"

picked out ANOTHER blue tonal and white print and started over.  And they were all perfect-hardly any trimming necessary.  The correct size were completed and turned in on Monday, October 1.

Smooth sailing the final week in September, or so I though!

Despite the size mixup above, all was going smooth until Friday!

The dreaded black (or blue) screen on the computer when it wouldn't boot up that morning.

Quick trip to Ace in Bethalto, fretting all weekend-final call-

Dead and must reinstall Windows 10.

Lost all!

So, I am now working from my old Windows 7 computer, trying to get by

until mine comes back and then days reloading all of the programs on it.

In the mean time, here is the latest block from my Lori Holt BOW.

Oh yeah-on Monday I ran the needle through my finger on my longarm!