A Blustery Thursday!

This photo is a bit zoomed in and shot through the window in the back porch door.

Someone is feeling a bit more comfortable with people each and every day.

For those asking about Flash - we think he has been around since Tula was dumped - that winter a couple of years ago when there were three kitties who had taken up residence under the old general store.

He is so very very feral. (or was)

The third one got hit by a car/truck and Hubster Dave did the deed in burying it.  It was also a stripey one.

We'd see Flash from time to time - remember when we were first trying to catch Tula in a live trap so we could get her infected leg seen to? And he ended up in the trap instead?

"We've caught the WRONG CAT!"

When we opened the trap - he was gone in a FLASH (And this is how he got his name.) And it was another day or so before we caught Tula to be able to get her to the vet.

I don't blame him for being so feral - but this winter was rough and he started to be seen in the mornings when I would put Tula's food out. I think he was coming around at night to see if she had any leftovers...

Now he knows that feeding time is about 10 am when I get to the retreat to check on everything, and he is usually waiting by the back step.

You can't get more than 6 feet from him or he high-tails it and is gone <in a flash> But here we are.

Thanks to the dewormer he looks so much better than he did just a few months ago.

Will he ever let us get close enough to pet him? Doubtful.  But where he is now is a huge improvement.

Something fun going on in this corner!

I walked in while some who arrived later on Wednesday evening were still sleeping after evidently burning the midnight oil in the sewing department.

We had been under a wind advisory since Wednesday evening - and Thursday morning was blowing with a gusto that only increased through the day -

It was the kind of wind that will wind your flag round the flag pole.

Cute cute cute!

I removed the table decor from the back porch tables - and yes, the wind had knocked some of the rocking chairs over - I just left them that way.  The wind was increasing through the day and they were just going to blow over again.

Besides - they were holding down the new rug and keeping it from flying away too!

More string blocks on the table!

This is one of Joanne Hubbard's patterns and the size is adorable. As you can see, this one has a fabric foundation so there is no paper removal.

Denise is also making this one!

Love these Bear Paw blocks on steroids!

The pattern is called Prairie Tracks.  

And we have a landscape art quilt beginning here!

I needed to leave for appointments at 1:45 to be at the bank by 2:30 and the chiropractor at 4:00.

When you live this far out you try to do "All the things" at once - 

Before I left I counted and clipped sets of 10 together.  I'm at 50.

My method?  To get me out of my chair and to keep the counting easy I'll sew 10 blocks, trim 10 blocks, depaper 10 blocks and clip them. Add them to the pile. I need more than 200 so there is a long way to go yet, but I'm having fun with it.

While we were sitting in the waiting room at the Chiropractor we got a phone message that power was out for both the cabin and the retreat - due to the wind.

The generator had just run it's weekly test on Wednesday and we just had the tank filled so we knew the quilters would be okay.

We stopped back by on our way home - by then the power had been restored and the generator had done its job - and all was well.

The wind was also starting to die down, thankfully.  The cause of the outage? Probably tree limbs coming down in the wind and knocking out the power.  It happens out here quite a bit - hense the generators.

This comment came after yesterday's post. 

If you have  Juki like mine, or a brand similar - you can remove the bottom.  On my TL-2010Q there are 6 screws in the bottom.  4 in the feet, and two in the center.

Just remove the screws and the bottom comes right off.

I use a brush to get as much of the lint out of there as I can, and then use an air compressor to get t the fuzz the brush won't reach.  I don't use the "canned air" because it has propellants in it. Just get it as clean as you can, and put the bottom back on. 

I don't oil anything under there - I just oil the places that the manual tells me to.

I hope this helps!

Not ALL machines have a removable bottom - but since the Juki's are built much like vintage sewing machines are, I CAN get in there and clean out the lint that has accumulated in that space.

Great job Linda!

I love the rainbow effect!

Linda shared this to our Quiltville's Open Studio Group on Facebook.  I love seeing the finishes that everyone is sharing - and no, they don't have to be Quiltville quilts.  All quilts and quilted items are welcome.  It's just such a great community of sharing and encouragement.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the marvelous response to our Summer Picnic

PDf pattern release and gift-away!

Did you get your entry in on that post? 

We'll draw for our 2 winners on Tuesday, 5/27/25.

The PDF pattern for Summer Picnic is currently 25% off in the Quiltville Store through Saturday 6/31/25. No coupon needed.

Stars For The Win!

Stars and Scraps were meant for each other! Create this stunning star quilt in scrappy plaids from recycled shirts or with your own stash yardage. Piecing options, full color photos and graphics and many tips for easy piecing pleasure included.

Quilt Size: 72’’ X 72’’

I'll be drawing for two lucky winners who will each win a Summer Picnic PDF pattern from me and a Paw Paw's Shirts fabric roll from  Cotton to Quilts.

The Paw Paw's Shirts roll is so cute and will enhance your own fabric stash!

And check out their selection of neutral cotton rolls to add more cute neutral prints to your collection.

Today?  The gusty winds are over, but it's going to be med to high 50s today - not exactly porch weather, but there are quilts to be made and we are good with that.

What's up for your Friday and the weekend ahead?

It feels weird having Memorial Day this early in the month, but that's how weeks roll from year to year to year.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

In my world - all roads lead back to the sewing room!

And I'm headed there right now -

Happy Friday, everyone!