Back on Task

Good morning, my friends. Our overcast sky and cool weather continues. It was cool enough yesterday that we both wore sweatshirts, which seems just crazy in August. I expect warmer weather will return, but for now, the break from the heat is appreciated. And no rain, which makes being outside nice. While I was out watering the annuals yesterday, I found a cat on a mission. 

He was pretty sure something was moving in the grass. If something was there, I sure couldn't see it. Eventually, he gave up and followed me back to the house.

Our grassy field goes dormant in summer. Mike usually mows once in late May or early June. After that, it doesn't usually need mowing again until about now. The grass is still dormant, but the weeds are doing just fine, thank you. Yesterday I noticed we're getting these little morning glory vines growing among the dandelions and daisies.

But the dahlias are the most watched things in the garden right now. This is the Checkers dahlia.

When it opens, it will look like this:

The poor thing fell over while we were traveling last fall. This year, I gave it a stake to keep it upright.

Also, this one. This is the Bumble Rumble dahlia.

When it opens it will look like this.

The remaining two dahlias have buds as well, but they aren't as close to blooming. 

On the other hand, the gerbera daisy has been allowed to produce three flowers without any critters chewing them off.

The poor geranium has done less well. The squirrels keep biting off the flowers before they even have a chance to open.

Back inside, I've nearly finished the collage part of the Spices quilt. I expect to finish the collage part today. After that, I'll have to think about making some kind of background. It will probably involve a trip to the fabric store next week. I have a return appointment to see my dermatologist, whose office is conveniently located near my favorite quilt shop. And even if I don't need fabrics for this quilt, I'm thinking a trip to my favorite quilt shop might happen anyway. Here's your peek.

After that, I went back to work quilting the New Mexico Kitchen quilt. The Taco Salad block is finished now.

It was the fourth block I've quilted using the monofilament thread. For some reason, I started getting plagued by thread breakage yesterday. And why? Nothing had changed. I tried switching to a different needle. Same thing. I tried switching to a bigger needle. Same thing. I tried rethreading the machine and the bobbin. Same thing. Finally, I decided it had to be something about this jerry rigged thread path I'd set up. 

The monofilament thread wants to jump out of the the first elevated hook it runs through. It comes off the spool vertically and through this t-shaped thingy. (Technical quilt machine terms.) So, I had an alligator clip closing off the opening, but I think the thread was getting hung up there somehow. So I changed the position of the clip like you see above, and then ran the thread through the silver part of the clip. You can see it if you look closely. It's nearly level with the original thread path. It should work, right? And the correct answer is yes. When I did this, the problem went away. Phew!

By then, I had just enough time left to do one more block.

When I went downstairs, I found Smitty snoozed out in his chair. After so much hunting in the morning, the cat was plum tuckered out.

Sadie was napping in her studio apartment outside in the catio. She spends a lot of her time here. There's a heating pad for her to lie on. It's one of those that is only activated when she's lying on it, and it was a nice warm place to spend a cool afternoon.

So there's nothing on today's to-do list. I should have plenty of time for sewing. I'll get in a walk on the treadmill too. Probably I'll make up a menu and shopping list for our Friday morning grocery shopping pleasure. What's going on in your neck of the woods today?