A Little Snowing, but Not Much Sewing

It's been a busy couple of days here at the Three Cat's Ranch. Yesterday I ran around doing errands prior to going to my guild meeting in the afternoon. It was my guild's Christmas party, and so we had potluck and played fabric Bingo. Kind of fun, but the whole day was shot. I did manage to get a couple more rows tied on the Salt Water Taffy quilt, and then I did a few more today. I have eight of twelve rows tied now, so I should have the rest done tomorrow or the next day. Then, I'll be ready to bind it.

Mike has already told me that he's looking forward to this one. I think I had in mind to put it in the trailer, but for now, it'll stay in the living room. It's been so cold, one can truly never have enough quilts to bundle up in. And, speaking of cold, we got a little dusting of snow last night. With the cold weather we've had, I was hoping for more. It's supposed to warm up to the 40's as the week wears on, and so I'm afraid this whole cold snap will pass without a good proper snowstorm. Bummer. I know some folks hate the snow, but I like it for a little while each winter. Ours never sticks around for very long.

So today I needed to go to the grocery store, and I went swimming. I've only been swimming once per week for the time being. I was disappointed to learn that they are closing the pool at the end of this week for some badly needed repairs. Today, I was heartened to learn that the nearby YMCA will be accepting our passes during the closure, so I can keep up with my swimming. My goal is to add another day after the first of the year. For now, I'm taking it slow and easy. It does flare my knee up a little, but it doesn't last more than the afternoon. Also, I walked with my friend Sue last Friday for the first time in months. We didn't go far, and again, my knee was hurting a little more that afternoon, but better by morning. Little by little, I'm getting there. I have a propensity to hurry my recovery from injury too quickly, and then I pay the price. It goes against the grain, but I'm taking it very slow this time.

When I got home, I tied a few more rows on the Salt Water Taffy quilt, and then I used the rest of the afternoon to paper-piece the skirts for my little turquoise rainbow ladies. I'll have time to finish this block tomorrow, and that will be all the blocks. Hurray!

It's been too cold for Smitty to be outside much, which makes him very unhappy. Also, there are no vermin to hunt, and that is quite a demotivator for Mighty Hunter Cat. I have appreciated having fewer feathers to vacuum up during this period of time.

But things got a little more lively right here because Gracie made a rare appearance in the sewing room.

Smitty took the opportunity to get a good sniff of her nether regions. You have to keep up with what a cat's been doing, you know.

"Hey, Bucko, watch where your putting your nose."

"Oh, uh, sorry. Not."

So speaking of cats, I've had occasion recently to have a little email chat with Robin Kingsley of Bird Brain Designs. I absolutely love their patterns. In the process, I shared a picture of the Love Me, Love My Cat quilt...which, I am happy to say, you voted as the "Best Pet-Themed Quilt" in this year's Pets on Quilts Show. Thank you. Anyway...I shared this picture with her.

Today, I received the nicest email from her, to-wit:

I don’t know if you are aware of our Redwork Challenge and special exhibit at Road to California in January. That is a BIG show and our favorite.

http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/t/RedworkChallenge

Wondering if you would consider sending your super Love Me, Love My Cat quilt to the exhibit??? I am a kitty lover too with my 6 outdoor feral (getting friendly) friends outside and Oscar inside. 

Hope you will consider “taking our challenge”, your quilt will be well received! 

Robin 

Now, what did I say recently about massaging my ego? I said, that if you massage my ego, I'll do just about anything. So, after reading her email, I ventured into the stairwell where the quilt is hanging to have a good look at it and decide whether I'm proud enough of it to submit it to the challenge. In a major Doh! moment, I discovered that I had neglected to quilt a portion of it.

I used one of the fancy stitches on my sewing machine to quilt the sashing, and look at that sashing to the right of the star! No quilting! As I was saying, Doh! No problem, I can fix that. I think I had the stitch lengthened out a little bit, so I might have to fiddle with it to get it right. Note to self: write down your settings next time for future Doh! episodes.

Anyway, once I fix the quilting I decided that, indeed, I will enter the challenge. It's always a little scary to mail a quilt off to some faraway destination, and since I can't attend the show this year, it'll be a major leap of faith to do so. I'll have to make a different sleeve for it since the one I put on it won't work for the show. Also, I'll have to label it. Bad quilter, not labeling all my quilts. In my defense, I'll say that no quilt leaves the house without a label.

It's not a large quilt, so that won't take very long. Anyway....if you're attending the show in January, be on the lookout for my quilt, and take a picture if you're so inclined!

So that's about it from me today. I have physical therapy tomorrow, and I'm behind in my housework, but I should still have some time for sewing the next couple of days. 

How are all of you doing in the Big Chill of 2013? Is it getting any warmer where you are?