10/16/13

Gracie's Bad Day



"When gusty winds and random tumbleweeds swiftly roll by your feet, you know it's time for a mortifying storm!" I'm sure that is what Gracie must be thinking this morning. She's having her teeth cleaned today, which means we picked up her food when we went to bed last night, and we haven't fed her this morning. She can't believe it! And anyone looking at that pink belly would know that the poor cat will be nothing but fur and bones within the next five minutes.




Speaking of fur and bones...or not...I took the first images off the bird cam yesterday. Actually, I tried taking the first images off earlier in the day but discovered, surprisingly, that there were none except the test images I had taken when I set the whole thing up. "Hm," I thought, intelligently. It was disappointing because I'd seen the Flicker several times during the day and I was sure I'd have caught him on virtual film. Upon investigation, I discovered I'd left the camera on "laser light" rather than turning it to "On". Doh!

So after my second try, I discovered that out of 78 images, I'd captured 3 with an actual bird. That isn't a very good score, but I was thrilled nonetheless. I believe this is a female goldfinch, but any ornithologists out there can feel free to correct me.




She almost looks as if she knows she's being photographed, doesn't she? While it's tempting to go outside right now and grab the memory card form the camera, I'm going to wait until around noon today. The Flicker tends to come around in the morning, and I'm determined to catch him today.

Yesterday while my bird cam was busily shining its laser light on and on and on, I was sandwiching the White Trees quilt. The quilt is 58 x 74 inches. If you recall my rule about only quilting quilts no larger than my ping pong table, then this quilt is as large as I'd want to tackle on my domestic sewing machine. The top fits with just two inches to spare, but I did have to wrap the bottom around the edges of the table during this process. Of course, this size limit has nothing to do with my sewing machine. It has to do with my willingness to get on my hands and knees to sandwich it.


A very dear friend sent me a video of Sharon Schamber sandwiching a quilt in a very smart way. Maybe I'll give this a try one day, but since I like to spray baste, I'm not sure how I could this. I have to take things outside when I use the spray baste, and then bring them back in to sandwich. Nevertheless, Sharon's method is a good method. If I were bent on quilting a quilt larger than my ping pong table, I would definitely give this a try.

For now, I sandwiched the quilt in my usual way and left it just like you see it below. It's ready for me to take the first stitch! I doubt I'll have time for that today because I'm taking Gracie to the vet, then doing my grocery shopping, then going to physical therapy. For sure I'll get started on Thursday.


Well, I had hoped the shutdown would have ended by now because I wanted my protest pictures to all be from different states. Now, I've plum run out of new states, although I haven't run out of parks. Nevertheless, I'm starting back where this all began 15 days ago (!) in Yosemite National Park in California. This image of the full moon over Half Dome was taken in October of 2007 from Glacier Point. 


There were terrible fires burning in Southern California at the time, which accounts for the pink plumes in the sky. Given the looming debt ceiling, it seemed a picture of darkness falling was appropriate today. Congress, get your act together! Vote to end the shutdown! Power to the People!!

And to you I say, have a wonderful Wednesday!

19 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Oh, poor Gracie - Mamma won't feed you. What a face! You have a busy day today - I have wasted half the day trying to figure out what to work on next.

Sheila said...

What a beautiful cat Gracie is, even when she is protesting NO breakfast :) I saw a demonstration similar to Sharon's at a quilt show this summer, it looked sew easy, but I have yet to try it either.

Lee said...

I came across that same S. Schamber video quite awhile back, bookmarked it, thinking I'd give it a try one day too - IF I ever get any quilts to that point again! I'm sure Gracie will be quite happy as soon as she's home and can have brunch or lunch.

Betty said...

Poor sweet Gracie, she will be needing extra treats and nip when she gets back home!

Jeanie said...

Good luck to Gracie! Such a traumatic experience but she will feel much better with clean choppers. Hope she gets some extra TLC when she gets home!

Martha said...

Oh poor Gracie. I hope she does ok. Going to the vet is never fun.

Junebug613 said...

Poor Gracie! My kitties don't like it when I take them to the Dr. either. Even though everyone there is extremely nice with them. My kitties are home bodies.
She reminds me of my girl, Multi. She is set in her ways and not fond of any newcomers. I'm liking your birdie cam! I'm guessing that it is motion activated? I am really interested in seeing how you quilt this one!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Poor Gracie is starving! ;)

Vicki W said...

I hope Grace had a successful visit. You cam takes great photos!

Brown Family said...

Hope Gracie is doing OK. Kirby is up for that next month! Hopefully you will have more bird pictures tomorrow and will not have to post a NP photo!

quiltzyx said...

I do hope that Gracie has been saved from wasting away to mere skin & bones! She is much to beautiful for that to happen. Give her an extra pet from me.

Seems that I vaguely remember hearing about that way to baste, with the boards. I may have to try that too!

Lyndsey said...

Poor Gracie, but what a fabulous photo of her. Did having an empty stomach make her willing to be snapped in the hope of food?

Love the quilt. Looking forward to seeing how you quilt it.

Kate said...

Poor Gracie! Drama Teen is in much the same boat this morning as she can't have anything for 6 hours before her visit with the oral surgeon. We are hoping she sleeps up until time she has to go in. At least that way she won't notice it as much.

Beautiful picture of half dome. I see your protest worked. Congress finally got it's act together.

Dana Gaffney said...

Poor Gracie, what a horrible existence she has to endure.

Dar said...

I know exactly how Gracie feels when you are expecting a delicious breakfast and there is none!

I have used Sharon's methods 3 times over the last 7 years and it works great. In fact, I still have one that is ready for quilting that has been basted for almost that long. It was much easier than crawling on the marble foyer to pin baste my big quilts (queen and king size) since I'm not as limber as I once was. And darn, that floor is murder on my knees crawling all around.!

Diane Wild said...

I think Gracie is very lucky to have a mommy that worries about her teeth. Yay for Gracie. Getting the quilt basted is not my favorite job but it does give me a chance to ponder how I'm going to quilt it. By the time the last pin goes in I have a plan, usually. Good luck.

Tami C said...

Sad for Gracie having to go without eating. It's all worth it though, and she'll be able to eat when she gets home. Good luck getting some good pictures of the flicker. I agree wholeheartedly with your size limit for quilting. I sure wouldn't like having to get on hands and knees to sandwich it.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Poor Gracie, I understand how she feels! I don't like a teeth cleaning either!

Michele said...

I hope Gracie has recovered from her vet visit. Those things aren't pleasant but so necessary.