FABRIC STASH - WEEK 12, 2017 (3/26/17)

Used this Period: 0 yards 
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  38.67 yards
Added Year to Date:  3.5 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2017:   35.17 yards

 

Should I or shouldn't I?  I'm having an internal struggle as to whether to post this week or not.  As you have probably guessed, there is no movement in my stash--close, but no cigar!  I have another quilt (saw a picture on the internet and just "had to make it") almost finished--blame the CA Lhasa as he kept coming downstairs and bothering me yesterday!!  I'll go finish the quilt after I post this--next week there will be something to report.  

 

The forest floor is peeking through--another couple of days of sunshine and all the undergrowth will be showing.  Our yard is still "knee deep" in most places, but making progress.  DH has vegetables started under a grow light in the garage.  We had another heart-stopping moment Thursday evening when we encountered a small herd of elk on the highway--one standing in the northbound lane, 6-7 in the southbound lane (we were driving south).  DH went to the center of the highway and threaded through them--so thankful they all went to their respective sides of the highway!  A new truck is NOT on my list of most-wanted items!

 

And now off to finish my quilt! 

FABRIC STASH - WEEK 10-11, 2017 (3/19/17)

Used this Period: 12 yards 
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  38.67 yards
Added Year to Date:  3.5 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2017:   35.17 yards

 

A finish--yea!!  I should have finished this quilt on Saturday, but I procrastinated (because borders are not my favorite part of making a quilt!) for a couple of days and then rode with DH on Monday.  The quilt measures 69x85, and both the backing and binding are made.  I don't think it is as pretty as the lavender/purple funky teapot quilt; I didn't have as many blues to choose from.  I ran out of the sashing fabric so the two borders are different than planned--but both fabrics are used elsewhere in the quilt.  I did a little decorative stitching on each of the teapots, either in gold or in blue, and also did a blanket stitch in blue around each piece of each teapot.  The backing fabric was purchased in 2005 in my former home town for $2/yard at Hobby Lobby; it has a great hand and was the reason I made a second funky teapot quilt.  So glad to have the March quilt finished! 

And then there was this:  Just right--newly finished afghan on newly finished pew bench (DH made from recycled pews from old Church).  This yarn was purchased many, many years ago--I'm not even sure how long I've had it and I surely don't know what I originally thought I would use it for!  I would have liked to make it larger but was restricted by the yarn available.  So it will be my lap afghan--for use when resting in the recliner and maybe eventually for a wheelchair (thinking ahead!).  It feels soft but is heavy since it is all single crochet.  Most of my yarn stash is now depleted--and I will start working on the baby afghan that is about half done.  Yea!! 

We had quite an adventure Saturday evening--encountered a rock slide in the Canyon on our way to Mass.  The highway patrol had traffic stopped, and the State crews were busy clearing the highway.  We only had to wait about 15-20 minutes before they let us through, and spent that time watching as mud, snow, rocks, and boulders came sloughing off the mountain.  The ground is so saturated that I think more of that particular spot will slide in the near future.  At least no one was hurt or buried by the mud as was the case a little further north in January--a boom truck was covered by a mud slide then.  So thankful that no one was pushed off the highway which would have caused a tumble down the mountain and into the river!  The highway was closed shortly after we were allowed through the slide area; it was still closed as we headed home after Mass.  We decided to join a few other brave souls and wait to see if it would reopen before morning.  Several vehicles turned around and headed back as there was no ETA for when it would be open.  We had blankets, pillows, etc. in the vehicle, and DH had just gone to sleep when they opened the gate and let us progress south.  The highway was closed about 5.5 hours.

Monday when we drove north, one of the mountain goats was in the highway; it jumped about 5 feet to the top of a snowbank on the side of the highway--thank goodness no one hit it!  We always watch for the goats, but this one was further north than they usually venture and we weren't expecting it.  They are such beautiful animals; they come down onto the highway to lick salt from the roadway.

 

Here it is the end of another week--and there is another slide in the Canyon!  This one is centered under the highway and is causing cracks and a collapse of the highway.  The highway was closed on Friday evening and reopened after 3 pm on Saturday.  It may close again at any time if the situation deteriorates.  This time we decided not to risk getting stranded; we'll attend Mass in the Valley tomorrow morning.  It has been a year with a lot of moisture (which we need); the downside is predicted flooding in the valley and slides in the mountains.  What will next week bring?! 

FABRIC STASH - WEEK 9, 2017 (3/5/17)

Used this Period: 0 yards 
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  26.67 yards
Added Year to Date:  3.5 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2017:   23.17 yards

 

Nothing to report this week, but a lot of progress was made on the March quilt.  All of the 20 blocks are fused, and 7 of the blocks have blanket stitching (by machine) around the various parts of the blocks.  After I get all of the blanket stitching completed, I will do some decorative stitching with rayon thread on each block--and then I will be ready to do sashing and assembling of the quilt.  I'm aiming for completion by the end of the week.  

 

I continue to work on the ripple stitch afghan in the evenings.  I should be able to crochet 4-5 more groups of 6 rows each before I run out of yarn.  So many projects, so little time!