Quilting MeMe

We had heard of the coming Frankenstorm all weekend.  We were visiting my sister and brother-in-law and knew sometime later on Monday all hell would break loose.

Rick and I went home and kept an eye on the forecast.  A lot of West Virginia was on blizzard watch and the epicenter of the snow event was on our heads.  As the afternoon wore on, Rick decided we weren't going to get any snow. The snow was predicted for the county next to ours.....and our house is 2 miles from the county line.  I wasn't as secure as Rick that the storm knew to stop at the county line...but he seemed sure.  Sometime after dark, I noticed that there was an occasional flake in the rain. Five minutes later Rick checked and the deck was covered. Hmmmmm.  I went to bed.

At 3:00 a.m. Tuesday morning the electric went off.  When we got up the next morning, we found we had gotten a foot of snow through the night. So much for the storm knowing about county lines!

We were really quite comfortable without power.  We had heat (gas fireplace in the living room and another gas heater in the basement to keep the pipes from freezing.  We just made the center of our operations in the living room except for sleeping, and we have a comforter that keeps us toasty.

Rick went out to survey the damage and try to move the snow.  The snow was heavy and wet and was frozen onto the trees.  It took 2 different rounds with the snowblower to get the driveway cleared.  It also required chain saw work.....the trees were breaking in half and mature shrubs were splitting down the middle.  First survey showed one 20 year old rhododendron split to the ground, one tree bent in half with the top blocking the driveway.

As the day progressed and more snow fell, we kept hearing "pistol shots", which were actually limbs cracking and popping.  I hate that sound and always wonder if whatever is breaking is coming through the roof! 

Rhododendron split and blocking the driveway.....

Broken tree bent and blocking the driveway....

We have a gas water heater so we were squeaky clean. We also used our Hillbilly Freezer so we were barely inconvenienced there!

We also had beauty in the midst of it all.
If I hadn't already bought my Christmas cards I would have gotten these made up.  Maybe next year!
It has mostly rained overnight and the snow has come off of the trees.  Our yard now looks like a war zone.  It will take forever to get stuff sawed up and dragged off.  We have numerous "widow makers"
hanging down that we will deal with as we can and is necessary.  We sure don't have the $$$ to make them all go away at once! 

But all in all, we are fine, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are dealing with so much more devastation.

Blessings,
Becky

(as always, click to enlarge photos)

I have been wanting to go spend some time here (wait for it) for a few years now since we discovered it on one of our drives.  So part of the intervention therapy Rick planned for my depression after my calamity included a 5 day visit.  I was so excited for weeks prior.  I was ready with quilting, puzzle books, reading material to fill our days without phones and internet.  There was satellite tv, but it mostly was playing Big Band music.

So here's the photo tour.  We made our first stop in Davis, WV to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Sirianni's.  While we were there, someone yelled, "FIRST SNOW!!!!". Sure enough, there it was.

As we ventured further on our journey we got some slush and fog.
When we arrived at our cabin, I was sooooooo ready to soak in the beautiful view I was waiting for....



HUH???????!!!!!







Where's the view?  
The fog continued throughout the evening and the night.  We heard coyotes in the night. So by noon the next day.......HERE IT WAS!!!


Couldn't you just lose yourself in that vista!!! I know I did.  So I absorbed as much of the wonder of God's creation as I could and felt ready to come home and face the world again.  The fabulous place we went was Germany Valley Cabins.  And as small as the world is, wouldn't you know that as I was visiting with the proprietor, Luci, we found out that we have family connections!!  We are cousins several times removed.....nonetheless cousins.  Here in Appalachia, finding cousins is never unusual, and family is always embraced and treasured!!  

I hope that more trips are in store for us to visit here again!!

Blessings,
Becky

First, I suffered a calamity mid-June.  I fell (for no reason whatsoever) and broke my left ankle and right wrist.  That shot the heck out of summer.  Just lovely, huh.
 
I never even went upstairs to my Roomio for almost 2 months.  After all the casts, etc. came off I was in such a depression that I was looking for a hole to crawl into.  Bless Rick's heart, he came to my rescue with a little travel therapy.

First stop, Pittsburgh, for a Pirates game (when they were playing really well)

It was the first time I had put on make-up in two months.....didn't really remember how! Yeah! That's my excuse!!

 Then, a surprise week at the Lake!
I actually began stitching and knitting while I was there. I don't know what I would do without this guy.....he is my rock and took care of me like a champ!
The band Rick and Corey are in had a public appearance, which is rare. They usually play private affairs like weddings, corporate parties, etc.  But we love this place up at the lake and they play there twice a summer.  Corey on drum kit and Rick on percussion.....
Corey has such a big smile on his face!  Why, you ask??  Because his mother is getting sprayed by a sprinkler that is on top of the shed that douses the crowd in the heat!  I'm gonna get you for that, Corey!!
I'll save the most beautiful trip for the next post.....that way I will definitely do another one!!

Here's what I have been working on.....

I made the 3 girls Tooth pillows.  I used a chintz skirt that was my mother's for the pillow part, and one of her vintage hankies folded for the tooth pocket.  I'm going to use one of my dad's hankies for Joe....he's not quite ready for a tooth pillow yet.


I also finished Joe's Mountaineer quilt - finally!!!  It's a disappearing 9-patch.

To those that have talked to me via Facebook and e-mail.....I thank you for all of your prayers.  This time of calamity has been one of the most difficult in quite a while for me. 

Blessings,
Becky

As a result of a Facebook discussion and a lack of consensus of the difference between a Sewing Room and a Studio, I have dubbed my space "My Roomio".  Always relegated to the dining room table, basement, or part of a bedroom, I was ready to have a space for just me.  I love the light and airiness of it and enjoy time just being there!!  Just a little tour......

 Ironing/Entertainment corner.  Also the big orange quilt that is being quilted and the felt to make me a design wall.  I plan to attach it above the closet door and rig it so it can be rolled up for closet access.




Sewing area.




 This table is where my serger will live when I get it upstairs.



 The whole sewing area....



 Working corner....Comfy chair, Ott light, table with Ipod dock, phone, pincushion, etc.  I am looking for a larger surface table.  I keep a lot of junk sewing implements handy.

The new ironing board cover I made yesterday for my 50's ironing board.  It is a tank.  It used to be my Mother-in-law's and I love it!!

There is still plenty to do....but I can't wait any longer to hide begin sewing!!  My boys all had a hand in it.  Rick helped me carry stuff and assemble all the bookcases....all 10 of them!  Corey carried some stuff out that was going to live elsewhere. Chris picked up my hollow core slab doors and delivered them to me.   It took so long because I had to wait till the stars aligned to get my helpers available (and motivated) to help me.  But it has been worth the wait. 

I am excited to near giddy!!

Blessings,
Becky

I have been working as diligently as possible on my sewing room/studio......which has now been dubbed The Roomio.  I can work so far in there, then have to wait until the stars align again and things I need help with get done......then I can proceed.....then wait.....you get the drift.

Rick has been a dear to help me.  Corey has helped immensely by painting it.   We have to carry stuff up the stairs, carry other stuff down stairs....and we haven't even started on the stuff that needs to come up from the basement - fabric, patterns, fabric, serger, Fabric, unfinished projects, FABRIC. 

I am so excited as each little thing gets done. 
Here are the pictures from the middle of the mess!  Click to enlarge.

 Wow!  I'm happy to say it has changed dramatically!

Keep checking in!!

Blessings,
Becky

Becky

A quick note......I will be more specific in other posts.

1) I made a commission quilt for a dear friend who is going through Chemo. A group of friends wanted her to have it to take to treatments. It was a Comfort of the Psalms quilt and I backed it with flannel.

2) I knit a couple of ruffly scarves for the daughters. That was weird, but fun and quick. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of them!!

3) I STILL haven't finished poor Joe's Mountaineer quilt. I am so close to having the top finished it's unbelievable....and I am sending it out to be quilted......pitiful, just pitiful.

4) The big reason for my dippiness......other than I am always dippy....is that I am trying to convert one of the upstairs bedrooms into a studio. Since money is tight, I can only get things along and stack them until I can make something happen. Well, we're getting closer. I have come to a place where I need help......what's that, you say......well, I don't really have an answer. Hence, we are stalled. I need a couple of "lifters". If you see any wandering around, let me know! I will get some "before" shots....well, actually it is too late for that....we are in the "during" process, where there are just piles of stuff. But it will give you an idea of what's going on.

So, I hope you will hear from me soon....

I do read all of your blogs and occasionally comment...I love seeing what you are up to!

Blessings,
Becky