Saturday Business!

Some days there is only time for cutting!

My plan was to spend as much time with my son as I could – but while he and his dad went off to run some errands, I quickly made time to cut out about a dozen more Nearly Lemoyne block kits.

I actually thought I’d get more than that stacked by my machine – but hey – any progress is progress.

The other night while talking to my dad, and needing to do “quiet multitasking” (his hearing aids pick up everything and even the sound of a sewing machine in the background is too much) I turned to pressing a newer batch of neutral fat quarters that I hadn’t cut into yet.  I wanted new neutrals to work into the Scrap User’s System, and their first job was these block kits.

When I am cutting from fat quarters with the intention of stashing strips, I’ll look at the size of strip I’m working with and determine how many is “just enough” of that size from this piece.

I didn’t want to cut up the entire fat quarter because sometimes I need other sizes of pieces.  I wanted “just enough” so I took the fat quarter, cut it in half, put one half back into the neutrals box (it is now a fat 1/8) and cut the remaining piece to what I need.

Some to use now, some to add to the other neutrals so I’ll have more variety later.  It’s a win/win.

What was the guys' project?

A kennel for Zoey Jo!

She has a crate inside the house. And we can leave her for a couple of hours.

But what if we wanted or needed to be gone for more than a couple of hours?

We had hemmed and hawed about where to put a dog run or kennel, but my main concerns were – SHE DIGS.  (She could dig to China in 10 seconds flat.) I wanted somewhere that she wouldn’t get muddy or have other weather issues, not to mention my OWN not wanting to traipse across snow or mud covered ground or possibly in the rain to retrieve her when we got home from wherever.

I suggested the walkway beneath the front porch.  The windows are into the garage.  My sliding glass door to my basement studio is just a bit out of the photo.

Now she has weather proofing, wind protection, she can see down the driveway to watch for us coming.  There is no mud, rain or snow problem.  And there is a hose and faucet for hosing down any necessary messes she happens to make while waiting for us.

She also has a dog house for napping and keeping warm. Sometimes the best place for a kennel is in the middle of everything where you live.

Kennel and dog house are from Tractor Supply.

We will be testing it out this afternoon (I’ve already done short runs – she is in there while I write this morning’s blog – she has her bone, her chew toy and her purple snake. She is good!) when we are going to bike the Virginia Creeper Trail.

We’ve decided it’s a 2 car experience.  Two cars to Damascus – and then one taking us back up to the top of White Top to start our ride.  Ride back down to Damascus, pick up the other car, drive back up to White Top to retrieve the second car.

It’s the only way to avoid a packed shuttle full of stranger-people in the time of Covid.  I refuse to cram myself with 14 others in a 15 passenger van up a winding mountain road wearing masks.  Just not doing it.

Late August along the New River!

Peeking in on folks fishing!

Where there is goldenrod, there is ragweed!

Keep the Zyrtec coming!

I love peaceful walks down a country road -

Being towed by Zoey!

So that’s the plan today – Biking late this afternoon when most people are LEAVING the trail on a late Sunday afternoon.  We have our own vehicles and aren’t tethered to any shuttle schedule.  Perfect.

And for some more quilty eye candy:

Absolutely loving Ellen Reilly's Emerald City quilt displayed over the porch rail! How lovely! Beautiful job, Ellen!

Pattern from my book String Frenzy available in the Quiltville Store. Have you started this one yet?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I know we are surrounding ourselves with people virtually right now, but it still counts!

Look for the good in others, and in yourself. You'll find it!

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!