Helping Hands!

A week or so ago I related the story of how a crazy windstorm took out one of our porch blinds.

I don't think I even got photos of it as son Jeff had already done the job of picking up all of the wood slats that had fallen to the ground below the porch when the string (and zip ties!) holding the old blinds together gave way.

I have no idea how old those old wooden roll up blinds were - they were there when we bought the house, 7 years ago now.

Wood and string are things that nature definitely takes a toll on, especially with our extreme weather patterns here in the mountains.

So with the breaking of one blind - a big decision was made.  It was time to replace them.

Wood slatted blinds were not even an option unless we wanted to special order at great expense.

Instead - we went for these fabric ones that are opaque - yet dark enough to stop the sun from glaring in the late afternoon.

We have a blind like this in front of our porch slider off the dining area at home.  There, the morning sun from the west will blind anyone trying to eat breakfast in the winter when the trees are without leaves. 

This time, we bought three 10 ft blinds to cover the back porch.

And instead of ropes and hooks to let them down, or wind them back up again - there are cranks.

Jeff, trying to make a getaway as mom snaps photos!

I really love that you can still see the creek and the mountains through them, even though they will provide adequate shade, especially for those eating out on the porch and facing the scenery beyond.

Well done, guys! And thank you so much -

I couldn't do any of this without you.

I'm sure the retreaters will thank you, too!

Other small changes making me happy.

The upstairs front bath got new floor decor yesterday in the form of new bath rugs.

The old ones lasted 5 seasons until they could no longer be washed due to the backing coming off in the washer.

This is something that continually irks me.  Am I wrong in remembering for more than 30 years when bathroom rugs could be washed and the rubber backing did not come off in the washer?

I knew not to put them in the dryer ever because that would kill the backing - but it seams now that you can't even wash a throw rug without the backing coming off in chunks and messing up the washer.

At any rate - these are pretty and really look nice with the butter yellow color of the bathroom walls above the wainscoting.  

And is it weird that even after all of this time the hexie bathroom floors still make me giddy?

Funny in the mail from Jeanne -

LOL!  Just about the time I think I've taken care of the last of the Y2K Millennium fabrics, some more show up to take the place of those I've sewn down!

And how is it even possible that there is one I've NEVER seen before? What kind of trickery is this?

I swear - I've not seen this one until I opened up this package yesterday.

Thanks, Jeanne - you will keep me laughing as I attempt to sneak tiny unrecognizable pieces of Y2K fabrics into my scrap quilts..what a riot!

Where are we now on piece count?

Only about 20 left to go!!  Whoo-hoo!  I can do this! 

It has to be making a dent in the shirt strings.  It just has to.....doesn't it? Or is this like Rumpelstiltskin spinning straw into gold?  Or some goose that keeps laying golden eggs?

Whatever it is...the simplicity of string blocks at this time of my life is helping me to keep moving forward with my sanity somewhat intact.

And for those who asked....yes, I know it's been almost 3 weeks since I had that ultrasound on the barnacle growing beneath the surface near my scapula.  It feels like someone just put a grape in there.

I contacted my provider about lack of report and they said they hadn't heard anything back yet either, so they are notifying the imaging department to nudge the results along.

So I still wait.  Me and my grape.  At this point I think I'm going to have to give it a name.

It makes me think of this favorite scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding: (Hysterical!)

 One of my favorite movies of all time - if you haven't seen it, you need to.

Maybe my grape is my "twin?"????? 

Today - in come the June Quiltvillians with all of their stuff, their laughter, their creativity and I know we have a marvelous week ahead.

There are just a few finishing touches to do at the inn and we'll be ready for them by this afternoon.

How is your own week shaping up?  Here it is Wednesday - with Monday being a holiday, these week already feels short sheeted and half over.

Just a reminder -

The PDF pattern for Summer Picnic is currently 25% off in the Quiltville Store through this coming Saturday 5/31/25. 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’’

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Give yourself some grace and stop beating yourself up for things that you didn't know before!

 
The great thing about each new day is that we have the ability to move forward from here.

 
I needed a bit of this encouragement today, and maybe there's someone else out there that needs it too.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!