Cleaning up

 The hydro crews are still working at restoring power in some areas and the clean up is ongoing.  Pretty much every house we drive by here in town has a mound of tree limbs waiting for crews to come along and deal with them.  It will likely take several weeks before it's all cleared away.  Luckily the second storm wasn't nearly as bad although we did have a few hours of ice pellets and snow mix.  Our power stayed on so we were among the lucky ones.  Some people have power but no access to internet or tv.

I spent my time (when I wasn't huddled beneath blankets) working on the latest landscape and the embroidery to this point...

AND....big excitement when the UPS driver delivered this....

I won one of the giveaways celebrating Donna's 16th blogiversary and she sent me all these goodies!  There's a book she wrote about counted thread embroidery, one of her sampler patterns, along with some beautiful DMC threads, a packet of tapestry needles, and a project bag.  Lucky me!!   Thank you Donna!!!!

- THIS is a cute redwork quilt design you might like.

- HERE is a nice Easter basket that would be fun to make.  Not only for Easter either!

- THIS is an awwww thing.

- I thought some of you might be interested in THIS.

Here is your quote..."Don't leave anything for later.  Later, the food gets cold.  Later, you lost interest.  Later, the day turns into night.  Later, people grow up.  Later, people grow old.  Later, life goes by.  Later, you regret not doing something...and you had the chance"

From crashing to sawing

 Sunday and Monday we heard a whole lot of cracking and crashing as limbs and entire trees came down due to the load of ice.  Now we hear the sound of many chainsaws as people deal with the aftermath.  All in all we had over an inch of ice in about 24 hours.  We were extremely fortunate that there was no wind or it would be doubtful if we'd have power for days.  As it was, we lost power twice - once for over five hours and the second for just over 24 hours.  Luckily the RC and I have lots of blankets and wearing multiple layers of clothes helped keep us warm.  Luckily, too, we have a can opener and could scrounge things like cold beans in our pantry.   UPDATED NOTE: They're saying there's another ice storm heading our way, although not supposed to be as bad.  If I disappear for a day or so, you'll know the power has gone out again.

- THIS would be a great use for an orphan quilt block.

- If your ironing board is looking a tad sad, perhaps THIS tutorial might be useful.

- If you're looking for some fun small quilt designs for spring, have a look at THESE.

Today's quote is from Maya Angelou..."Every storm runs out of rain"

Hunkered down

 We certainly had an interesting weekend which centered around a huge ice storm.  Our power went out at 7:30 Saturday morning and, due to the heroic efforts of our hydro crews, came back on around noon.  Thankfully it stayed on but keeps flickering on and off.  Other areas haven't been so lucky and they are still without power.  There are trees and lots of limbs down in the park just across from our building and more falling and by all reports there are lots more down around the area.  

This is the view from our balcony looking towards the river.  You might be able to see one downed tree on its side (to the right in the photo) and another root (middle of pic) with the tree in the river itself.  The next two pictures - a brave little woodpecker chipping away at the ice coating on the suet feeder....

.... and this is what greeted me when I opened the bedroom curtains.  Not a great picture but it was taken at a distance.  You might be able to make out the thick coating of ice on the tree.

Update  to add....been through 2 power outages.  Latest for just over 24 hours.   Had over an inch of ice on our balcony.  Trees and power lines down.  God bless our hydro and emergency services!  Will visit you all once we're sure our power stays on.

My efforts towards elbows up

 After several starts and rippits, I managed to convert a pattern for maple leaves into a hat that I know my family will like better.  The original pattern is THIS one which I changed by using the ribbed pattern for a brim from THIS hat that I know our family likes.

- As a coffee lover, I couldn't help but drool over some of THESE.  

- If you're a fan of granny squares perhaps one of the designs found HERE will inspire you.

- I thought THIS was a fun design.

- HERE is a tip you might find of use.

Today's quote is from Maximillien Robespierre...."The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant"

Design flaws

 

This is me.

(for those of you who get offended easily, you'd best move right along)

I have reached the conclusion that bras HAVE to have been invented by a man.  A diabolical, sadistic, and brain-dead man.  No woman in her right mind would design such a thing.

To explain....your writer has rather large 'girls' so really should wear one of those instruments of torture.  She also has 'Arthur' in her shoulder which means that the normal contortions required to do up a bra no longer apply.  So...she has to do up the instrument and then attempt to wiggle into it by putting it over her head.  That means much wiggling and floofing in an attempt to settle the girls in place.  Meanwhile, at the backside of the enterprise things are rolled up (and cemented thereby) which requires yet more contortions to get unrolled.  THEN....to compound matters (and here's the real design flaw)...the strap unsnaps itself from the back of the instrument and sproings away, striking your writer in the mouth, who by this time is uttering words not the least bit lady-like.  There's no hope of reaching behind to reattach the sproingee - so - after much more wiggling and uttering sweet nothings, said instrument is removed.  The sproinger is resnapped and she begins the entire enterprise again.  Why, I ask you, does said instrument have the sproing-ee strappy thingie do-upper (very technical term, only found in a Funk and Wagnall's tome)  at the BACK when it could just as easily be at the FRONT?

Now before you offer up interesting suggestions like maybe try a front-loading instrument or (horrors) a sports bra....those have all been tried and pronounced dead to me.  Front loaders mean that there's a huge 'hole' in the middle of my front...handy for holding a salt shaker, but looks absolutely disgusting beneath clothes.  Sports bras (see above for description of contortianisms, only multiply them ten-fold).  Going instrument-less is always an option but tucking 'em into my pants is a whole 'nother element of pain.  

Yep, had to have been a man....

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS artist.

- HERE is a quilt design that would be nice to make and use as a fundraiser for breast cancer.  I know the link there takes you to a paid pattern, but thought I'd share it anyway.

- There are some cute free designs HERE.

- I rather like THESE - something a little different for Easter.

Today's quote..."We seem to live in a world where the intelligent must keep quiet so that the stupid will not be offended"

Foggy progress?

 As you can see I've made some progress on the latest landscape.  I'm striving for the effect of fog but not sure how successful I've been.  I still have to finish working on the tree and it will have some 'bits' of fog added too.  Then it will be on to the embroidery.

- THESE would be cute to make for Easter!  And THIS too.

- There are some really nice block designs HERE.

- THIS is a cute little item that would serve many purposes.

- I think THIS is intriguing.

- THIS is an awwww-thing.  While you're there, scroll through all her amazing free designs found HERE.

Today's quote...

Now what do you suppose...

 .....I am going to do with this?....

Reminded myself of how to paper piece to create this.

Here's a little gardening 'tip' from the Resident Chef....if you use a Keurig (or know someone who does), save the plastic pods.  Clean them out and they're perfect for starting your seeds.  They already have a drainage hole in the bottom.  He's also discovered that they fit into an egg carton bottom to keep them contained.  

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I guess I should mention that yesterday was my 18th year Blogiversary.  Who knew I could mumble on for that length of time!

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- THIS solves a burning question I'm sure you all have (hah).

- If your sewing machine skips stitches, check out THIS article.

- And I learned something (actually TWO somethings) when I read THIS.  

- I rather like THIS.  

- THESE would be cute additions to your Easter decor.

Here's your quote of the day....