Cleaning in the Dark --

I told The Hubster “It Feels Like 11pm!”

I had been washing windows, scrubbing appliances, doing detail work in the Quiltville Inn kitchen to get all things ready.

“It’s 7pm.” was his reply.  

GAH!  I just can not wait for the Winter Solstice to happen.  It’s dark when I wake up, it’s dark when I go home – and I am solar powered.  I am ready for jammies 2 hours past dark, and ready for sleeping 2 hours past that.  My eyes were closing during NCIS last night – it was only 9pm.  This morning?  Up at 4:15am.  THIS IS SO STUPID!

But the kitchen is looking great, isn’t it?

The gas stove grates are off the top.  I brought them home to try some more deep scrubbing on them.  I think I will have to resort to the “ammonia in a bag” soaking trick.  As much as I love this house, there were things that were just neglected over many years, and the stove was one of them.  I’ve never seen so much cooked on grease on gas stove grates in my life.  I even tried cooking them in the oven on CLEAN cycle.  All that did was turn on the smoke alarm! LOL!

It is SO VERY DARK OUTSIDE!

The window will get winterized tonight.  We never got around to ordering up a storm window for the outside, and we want to avoid the blowing of paper towels that was evidenced LAST winter when the wind comes through the cracks.  I am not replacing the kitchen windows – they have sweet stained glass in them and are only a problem in the dead of winter.  The shrinky plastic doesn’t look that great, but warm is better than cold.

All of the dishes, glassware and stemware have been ran through the dishwasher and are CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. The only thing I haven’t gotten to in here beside the stove grates is the floor and I will wait on that a bit as there is much traffic going through here right now.

THIS has been a pain in the EVERYTHING.

Old hexagon tiles with years of build up and grime.  I have used a steamer, a scraper, several different scrubbers, elbow grease and Ajax.  It isn’t the grout, it’s the surface of the tile and no matter what I do it doesn’t look clean.  But I guess that is just the way it is.

 I am going to try Brillo pads and Barkeeper’s Friend next. My floor steamer usually does a great job – it got paint off of the hardwood floors downstairs and some other tough gunk as well – but these hexagon tiles? Just old house, I guess – and I am not replacing them.

I pretty much found myself working one hexagon at a time.  Who has time for that? 

Maybe folks will spend more time looking at walls – than floors?

Loads of questions have come in about our wood stove!

I’m putting the info here so I can direct folks to it.

It’s an L. Lange & Company cast iron burgundy enameled wood-burning stove from Denmark!

In the research I’ve done, I’ve found this stove to date to approximately 1979. These stoves stopped being imported into the United States in the 1980s, but can still be found used. 

When we burn wood in it, the enamel turns a dark brown.  It puts out plenty of heat.  I can’t wait for the gals in the Hen Den to enjoy stitching around it.

Flock of White Flamingo Lamps!

And they will have these tasks lights to see by!

From IKEA.

They assemble easily, the light height can be adjusted by sliding it up and down the pole.  They emit a lovely circle of LED light which can be directed just where a quilter needs it.

The Hen Den is next on the list to be detailed, and the lamps will be put into place by each stitching chair.

Warm Hands, Warm Heart!

Pattern writing happened at the QPO yesterday! Kit assembly will be up next on my list for my Quiltville Goes to Bavaria travelers! December 1st is quickly approaching and there is so much to be done.

Be looking for Warm Hands, Warm Heart to also be a new digital pattern release through The Quiltville Store upon our return home from Bavaria and Austria!

I really loved working on this one – the stitchery was quick to finish.  I started it on my flight to California for Alex Anderson’s retreat early October, and finished it on my return flight home.  And the borders were fun to piece.

I carved out an hour for this!

Another cushion cover gets its backing and binding. I love having the Singer 201 set up and ready, walking foot always on just for this purpose!

Small projects are all I seem to be able to work on lately. But I'm glad I have them, as it drives me nuts to have nothing for my hands to do in the evening.

Binding finished last night!

Small projects give such a great feeling of accomplishment!

All I had was a partial fat quarter of this green that has been in my stash for a long time.  So happy it found a place as binding on this cushion cover.

This was the best way I could think of to preserve parts of a vintage quilt that was falling apart. There are more pieces, some smaller.  One has a tulip applique that needs to be restitched before I can turn it into a cushion - but there were so many good parts to this quilt and I am glad they can be enjoyed around the inn.

There is also another shredded quilt where the CENTER is good…I may be turning that into a table runner.  Could I find time to apply a binding to that today?  Maybe – just maybe!  But what color of binding will it need?

I also want to take a moment to thank everyone for the lovely sweet condolence cards you’ve sent in regards to Sadie’s passing.  Every day I think the hole in my heart will get smaller.  Every day I try to rationalize with myself that “She was a dog.”  “Nothing lives forever.” “This is just part of life.”  “She had 13-1/2 good long years.” “How much longer could she have lived?” And other things….but it’s still a hole.  So thank you.  From all of us. Your kindness has been felt by us all and is so appreciated.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

This is speaking to me this morning. I am surrounded by folks who show kindness in so many different ways.

Thank you for being such an example to me.

Yes, truth is important, but kindness first.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone!