Advice

I take some advice very seriously. For instance, eat when you're hungry-- I just ate lunch, despite it being before 11 a.m. still. My husband is always grateful that I follow this piece of advice since, to quote him, I turn into the Hulk when I'm hungry. I'll probably have a decent-sized snack around 1 or 2, and then dinner will likewise be whenever I'm hungry.

I also followed a recommendation I read in a health article over the summer-- eating garlic and onions is supposed to help allergies. If my morning is any indication, it's true. I was sneezing and sniffling for three hours, but now, just 5 minutes after finishing another serving of that delicious homemade bruschetta, I'm starting to feel better. Just to be safe, though, I'll probably drink some tea with honey this afternoon (another natural remedy). These two alternatives are much more pleasant than the dizzy, loopy feeling I get from over-the-counter allergy medicines!

I feel ready for a sneeze-free midday nap now. There's some more advice I follow- sleep when you're tired. And so I shall. Maybe I'll dream up another project... it wouldn't be the first time...

The "zombies" return

The zombies have returned with a vengeance!!! I woke up at 6:30 with a nose bleed from my darn allergies... It's an awful feeling to wake and realize there is blood all over your face, but this is not the first time. It used to be all-too-often of an occurrence when I was younger.

Enough grossing out news.

Since I'm up, I might as well get to quilting! i may end up making up for the time I'll lose because of class tonight. Or, I may just sew, sew, sew this morning and then take a delightful nap later... that sounds good, too!

I shall leave you with the poem I wrote 2 weeks ago in class from a prompt...

Brief Moment of Panic # 317

I couldn’t find it, broken underfoot, the

thick steel needle snapped still holding thread—

The strap was just too much.

Delicately, tugging pieces out

without snagging the dense weave,

finally freed and sighing, now

the machine ceases to beep but

when I press my foot down

the line is no longer straight, it

was never even made, just broken

when the threads gave. I should have known

but stubbornly I rationalized insanity.

What will Sally think when I show

her what I’ve done? Cut up

pieces only to break the thing

with ambition. I just wanted a satchel,

a catch-all of ideas to carry my extra

words, phrases, and a sweater.

Tedious= Rewarding

I did not sleep well last night. Sadly, it was mostly due to allergies and obsessive thinking about the project I started last night. Have you ever been to excited to see how something turns out (or if it will even work) that you can't sleep?

Well, I got up this morning and resumed working on the pieces I had cut last night. I cut a few strips from the stash fabric, then began piecing... and piecing.... and piecing...

I used the little box to hold the pairs so that each "goose" would match on either side.

I spent a couple hours working on it this morning before I went to JoAnn's and treated myself to some clearance fabrics (I may be a member of Stashbusters, but I am still building a stash in some respects... joining Stashbusters was something of a preemptive strike, at least to help keep control since we hope to be moving soon!). I also bought 2 tools-- Tri-Recs and Easy Angle-- which, frankly, is also a treat. But, i am forcing myself to wait to play with them (Cathedral Stars are calling...) until after this top has been finished.

Progress as of 9 p.m.

I think I am about 2/5 done... I know I'm not quite halfway, but I also know I'm close to halfway, so we're going with 2/5 done. Right now, there are 8 rows and 9 columns. I altered the pattern from the book so that there are three segments with three columns going the same direction... the original had every other row going the opposite way. The original also used 3 1/2 inch strips, not 2 1/2, but I'm working with what I have and the point was to use the pretty jelly roll I bought as a treat a month ago.

Along the way, I have discovered a problem with precuts: My allergies! The finish on the fabric is making my hands itch, and this morning I rubbed my face and eyes while sewing which left bright red blotches until I showered. I wish they wouldn't put a finish on fabric!!! I go through this with clothes, and have to wash EVERYTHING before I can wear it, so out of habit I ALWAYS wash fabric first. recuts thus present a problem, since I don't want them to fray. Sigh.

On the bright side, I do LOVE the way this project is turning out. I'm even using the cut-off triangles from the flying geese to make squares which, if I have enough, will become a border (or at least be worked into a border). Waste not, want not!

I think I shall go sew a little more before heading to bed, hopefully for better sleep tonight. The quilt shouldn't keep me up since I see what it's going to look like and I love it. Maybe the allergies will abate enough so i can breathe to sleep... I can dream, right?