Afternoon Windows and Late Night Drives -

These west facing upstairs windows are getting “sun glasses!”

This is the upstairs back hallway window, original to the house.  Single paned.  An energy sucker!

I didn’t have the window folks replace this one last year because I feel it is integral to the originality of the house – and such lovely light comes through these windows.

However, the a/c has had a hard time keeping up now that summer has arrived.  The afternoon sun just bakes through these windows and it was time to do something about it.

We did the same to the big picture windows at the front of my Quiltville Post Office, and it is amazing how much heat these prevent.  71%!

We could feel the difference instantly!

It was a big job that went from 5pm to about 8pm – and we haven’t finished yet.  I think one more day will do it.

And I have to say that rotary cutting tools really come to the rescue here.  My big long ruler, a rotary cutter and a big mat.  It worked better to pre-cut the sizes from the film than to use a piece too big and trim down later with an exacto knife.

But the real excitement of the day came when trying to track a load of boxes destined for the Quiltville Store including 200 Essential Triangle Tools. 

No tracking information was ever sent to me, and when I contacted my publisher – they were able to ascertain that the boxes were delivered over a week ago to my Wallburg, NC address (WHAT!?) and according to UPS they were set by the garage door.

IN THE OPEN.  While we have had copious amounts of rain.

I am not blaming the publisher, other than the fact that I never received tracking info on these boxes, and had I – I would have known where they were headed and been there to receive them.

I am SERIOUSLY TICKED at UPS!

This is 11pm last night after driving 100 miles to get there – in the rain.

The boxes were SOAKED!

I was in panicky tears as I tore in -This was OH SO AVOIDABLE!  

Because next to the garage?  Is my covered FRONT PORCH.  However, it would have meant carrying boxes up 3 steps and I guess UPS just couldn’t be bothered to think that things might not be safe at the front of the garage in the RAIN!?

And this is where luck steps in.  My packages were double-boxed.  Smaller boxes of merchandise were inside the bigger boxes and packed all around with packing paper.

Things were dry, but “humid” inside.  I think we will be okay.

You guys – this was just such a huge ‘could be’ disaster.  So avoidable, and so many balls dropped along the way.

It was after midnight by the time I got to bed – my heart was still racing.  I did grab a laundry basket and filled it with “summer clothes” something I didn’t have here in Virginia yet as I didn’t know I would be here for the really long haul until all of my 2020 teaching venues were canceled.

I was back on the road at 6am this morning – back to the cabin by 8am and here I am writing out this frazzled story.

The Snail’s Trail quilt is gowning!

And has become a welcome distraction in many ways.

Today something special is happening – and that is why I am also so frazzled.  All will be okay. I just need to breathe.

I have 5 friends coming to take over Quiltville Inn this weekend – arriving today by 11am.

They have been self quarantining over the past 2 weeks so they can keep company with one another.  They will set up their machines, one person per work station and the workstations are more than 6 feet apart.

They will stay one person per bedroom -

The whole reason?  I need some practice getting the sanitizing protocols in motion, finding out what works best for folks. What is ENOUGH sanitizing and not too much? Where are the could-be problem areas?

And I need to know if the window film helps with the a/c and folks can sleep comfortably at night in bedrooms 4 & 5.

Will everything work for the retreat of 9 ladies also on self quarantine currently – and due to arrive next Thursday?

I told the gals arriving today to expect the window film activity to continue while they sew downstairs.  All will be done by bedtime and things will be put back and they'll have their cozy bedrooms back.

And because there are five of them – and we have 6 workstations – guess where I’ll be?

I need to be surrounded by laughter and stitching and fun and good food and time on the porch and loads of talking – chairs around the fire pit, s'mores in the making -

And that’s where I’m headed right now to get it all ready.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

When was the last time you kicked your creativity into gear and followed its lead to a new direction?

Today just might be the day!