How Dry I Am

Ever since our plumbing fiasco, we've had a bunch of fans and a dehumidifier running in my sewing room. Fortunately, we can close the door to the downstairs so that we don't have to listen to them. Still, from the living room, it sounds as if hoards of wasps have moved into the basement. 

 The guys were here today to check on the state of things with their handy-dandy moisture meter. They declared that the closet was still damp, and so they moved the fans around. They'll be back in the morning to check on it again. I inquired about the reconstruction, and they told me that once their equipment is removed, "someone from the office will call" me. That sort of thing always makes me nervous, but I guess I won't worry about it until Monday. (Clearly I am already worrying about it.)

This morning I walked with my friend, Sue.  In keeping with my commitment from D-E Day, that was my second walk of the week. Now, if only I could make that weight loss ticker move a little faster, I'd be a happy blogger.  Next week, I intend to continue my twice-weekly walks, but I'm also going to add one morning of swimming.

I spent the rest of my day making salsa.  I used the Marisa McClellan's recipe from her new cookbook.

You can read Marisa's blog of the same name at Food In Jars.  I made a few minor adaptations to Marisa's recipe.  I used more tomatoes and fewer jalapenos.  I think the salsa is too mild, and so I want to play around with it before publishing how I did it.  But I still think it looks pretty in its jars.

It tastes good, but it's not spicy enough.  I need to use more jalapenos or else add some chili powder or Tabasco.  For now, I'll let the experts--my family members--chip in their two cents and see what they think of it.  I used all San Marzano tomatoes from my greenhouse, which are comparable to a Roma tomato.  I still have lots and lots and lots of tomatoes, which thrills me to no end.  Undoubtedly, I'll be making another batch of salsa in a few days and I'll tweak the recipe a little to get it right for my taste.

In the meantime, I wanted to show you what the letter carrier brought my way.  First, she brought two identical blocks from my partner in the Block Swap Adventure.  Rebecca sent me these blocks, and they are so pretty!  I love the fabrics she used.  Very nice, Rebecca.  Thank you.

I would have ironed them, but my iron and ironing board are, you know, buried in the rubble.  Thank goodness for my little helper.  He was able to get into all those little nooks and crannies where everything is piled up and verify that, indeed, they are unobtainable.

Then yesterday, my friend Lisa in California (the one whose granddaughters have the doll quilts I made) sent me this little magnet showing a painting from one of the artists who lives near her.  Cute, huh?  (Lisa apparently knows something about what I like.)

Can you read the little verse around the side edges?  It says:

"A cat improves the garden wall in sunshine, and the hearth in foul weather."

The artist knows cats, I think.  Lisa also sent me one of her delightful hand-made cards.  Take a close look at the picture in the center.  Lisa explained that it was painted by one of her aunts (now deceased), Willa B. Sell.

Isn't that precious?  See the cat, and the quilt?  It's a Grandmother's Flower Garden.  What a treasure, Lisa. Thank you.

That's about all I did today.  Fortunately, I had my little helper again working hard to increase my productivity.  What would I do without him?

Of course, I haven't done any sewing, but I've been working away at my embroidery.  I'm very close to having the August block finished for the Promises & Borders quilt.  It feels as if I've been working on it for months...and I suppose I have.  I'm ready to move on to the next stitchery for the Love Me, Love My Cat quilt, so I think I will go work on that after I finish up here.

Several of you had some good suggestions for moving my sewing machine somewhere else to sew.  The sewing machine is still where it always is, but it will have to be moved when the room is painted.  With all of my supplies in such disarray, I think it will be difficult to do any cutting or piecing.  It occurs to me, however, that I could do some free motion quilting.  I think next week, I'll move the sewing machine up to the dining room and do the Free Motion Quilting challenge.  Then, I'll probably tackle one of the two quilts sitting in sacks waiting to be quilted.  That would be easier than trying to find everything else.  So that's my plan for now.

Have a good weekend everybody!