Sunday, November 17, 2024

Fuzzy Poms and Sticks & Stones - Sew & Tell ~ November 18, 2024

Another day... Another week gone by!  The feet of snow we had received over three days has diminished greatly.  The sun has been out most of the week and temps were well above freezing, 45 degrees F one day and the rest of the week held in the 50s and low 60s.  The snow is melting down more each day and we now have mud.
  

As the snow melted away so did my cough.  YAY!  I improved with each day that went by... and then I had one small cough that caused a rib to go out.  Thankfully I was able to get assistance from my chiropractor the next morning and am back on the mend... still a little sore, but, again, getting better each day.

I have decided that I need to get back to doing some daily stretching and core muscle exercises.  I have been lax in that area since Shelby's health had started to decline.  Our daily walks went away since she was not able to make the distance anymore.  But it is time!  I know I will feel better both physically and mentally.

Of course, as I pondered this plan I was sitting and taking in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons as I slow-stitched several blocks to get me closer to the finish of our Camping Journal Quilt.  I designed a ladybug block for one of the nights/days while in IL for the wedding.  I don't recall ever seeing so many ladybugs.  They were in camper... 3 or 4 at a time... even several days after leaving that campground.


All of the signs have been made.  They just need to be embroidered.  I have two patterns that need to be purchased from Fiona Sandwich to complete the top.  

If I can exercise some self-control, I will wait until her Black Friday sale.  In the meantime... I made a few adjustments in the spacing of the embroidered lettering, in hopes that I could get them done... To no avail.  Everything was still a mess.

While I figure out when I can get my sewing machine back to the repair shop, I turned my attention toward a couple different projects.

First up, remember those furs that I shared in March?  With Christmas on the horizon and approaching quickly, I decided that now as a good time to start with a small project of repurposing a muff to make pompoms for some stocking caps.  


I devised a plan and then thought it might be a good idea to seek some help from a "professional".  I attended high school with a guy that became a fashion designer, and we reconnected in recent years through social media.  What luck to find out that he had a full line of clothing that featured fur at one time!  They guy is fascinating to talk with and full of knowledge, skill and experience and is so kind in telling me that he looked up to me in school because I was "good at all of the skills required for the home economics classes."  Well, look at who has the big name now? ;)

Anyway, Mark was more than helpful and called me when he was free.  He confirmed my plans and then we briefly caught up on life and a few other classmates.  Here's what I ended up with!  It was a fun Saturday morning project. 




Even while making these hats my mind was back in the quilting studio dreaming of making a new Sticks & Stones quilt with a stack of fat quarters that I picked up in August.  The pattern calls for two sets of jellyrolls, but I'll cut my strips from these FQs for the sticks and use a medium-powder blue as the stones.

I think it will come together fairly quickly and hope that I have a finish to show off by Friday. 

Just as fast as the snow has been melting, it seems that the Pieces of My Life Quilt will be wrapping up.  I released block #22 ~ Jacob's Ladder ~ last week.  You'll find the whole story and the link for the pattern here.  There are two remaining blocks to finish up Section IV of the QAYG layout, both are 6" finished, and will be released by the end of the month.  

How are you doing with your quilty projects?
Have you started sewing any gifts for the holidays yet?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

It is now time for the randomly selected Sew & Tell feature... Cheree over at The Morning Latte shared a WIP - Petite Lace.  It is a sweet looking thing!  I love the scrappy look and the delicate appearance as the primary and secondary patterns reveal themselves as your eyes move across it.  Well done, Cheree!  

She also shared an interesting recipe for gnocchi that is made with pumpkin. 

Be sure to stop by for a visit to learn about both of these featured items.  You will not be sorry. ;)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m


 

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Pieces of My Life ~ Jacob's Ladder


Welcome back!  Today's block, #22/24, in the original "Bride's Quilt Story" is the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves (the husband and wife) on earth and God in heaven.  It is a pretty simple block made up of four half-square triangles and five four-patch blocks that create a "ladder" diagonally in both directions, thanks to color placement.  Some of the questions included in the memory pages approach more of a steps or progression in a career/job.  

Sorry about the weird shadow in the lower right corner...
I began working when I was 17...well, I did some babysitting before that, but my desire was to work as a secretary.  I enjoyed typing, filing, organizing, etc.  

My first job was at a farm loan institution.  The men were the loan officers and women managed the office.  I had the opportunity to learn all of the different positions... receptionist - how to answer the phones, transferring calls, taking detailed messages and making sure the guys received them (didn't lose them and actually returned the calls).  One of the receptionists was also responsible for taking dictation (you know... shorthand) and typing up letters.

Tracking and double-checking journal entries was a tedious job, though it was made tolerable when two people did it together - one reading amounts from receipts and the other verifying the accuracy.  The year was 1982 and this was a time just prior to computers being available and used in all offices... especially small offices like the one I was working in.  It played havoc with my eyes and that was when I realized I needed reading glasses.

The payroll office was always a fun office.  The ladies in this portion of the office took me under their wings and allowed me to calculate the payroll check amounts first.  They would verify the number of hours reported, the hourly pay rate and the various withholdings.  If there was an error, I was not reprimanded for it.  Rather, they gently explained where the mistake was made, made the correction and then moved on.  

Of course, there was always "Girl Friday" responsibilities in the office as well.  You know... the one that made coffee, made sure there were pastries or snacks around, tidying up the board room after meetings... and shredding old documents.

After completing my college education for a "Secretarial Science Certificate" I landed a temporary job in an accounting office.  The Secretary/Receptionist was out on maternity leave for 3 months.  I enjoyed the position and was lucky enough to be able to transfer to the main office when she returned.

It was at this job that I had the opportunity to learn how to file basic tax returns.  Again, this was before computer generated/auto-fill forms.  The accountants would complete worksheets, plug in the numbers into the proper lines (hand-written) and then make a pile on my desk.  I would gather the necessary forms and, using a typewriter, make the final returns.  I would always double-check the accuracy of their math.  They in turn, would always double-check the accuracy of my typing.  Teamwork!

There were still opportunities for taking dictation and letter writing.  Shorthand was not one of my stronger skills, though I managed to get by just fine.  Most of the time, the accountants didn't mind if I made a few changes.

Over the years, I continued to use my secretarial skills and still use them to manage the "office" of my husband's business, Nolan Quality Customs.  

I have worked in the front office of a manufacturing plant as a receptionist and an insurance processor (employees would bring their medical bills to me and I would send to the insurance company).  It was an office full of women... and that office was divided.  If you worked with so'n'so, you weren't allowed talk to certain others.  I was able to get along with everyone, but eventually the backstabbing and nastiness of the whole thing soured me, and I quit after 6 months.

I enjoyed working in an architectural office that was full of men.  They were kind to me and treated me very well.  It was another short-term job since I became pregnant and chose to be a stay-at-home-mom.  As the girls grew up, I held a variety of part-time jobs.

The biggest change I have seen in my career is the implementation of computers and data entry.  Computers have changed the world!  They
 have basically eliminated the need for dictation and many executives write their own letters (at least the ones I have worked for).  I would only need to tweak the letters for proper layout and correct any grammar or punctuation necessary and make certain that any supporting documents were included.  It is no longer politically correct to say that I am a secretary or receptionist... Administrative Assistant or Administrative Professional is the title.  

I have worked in offices of primarily men... as well as primarily women.  And I would choose to work with men over women every time.  I am fortunate that I had very good experiences when working with the men.  Never did I feel taken advantage of or treated improperly.  I do realize that is not the norm for many women.  For this I feel badly but will not linger there.

Could I have climbed the ladder to become one of the executives?  Confidently I say, yes.  Did I want that responsibility???  Nope.  My family and home came first.  There were two particular jobs that I held where I was doing all that was involved and required by a person in the position of the Executive title... as well as performing a full-time job in a part-time position.  It wore on me and affected my health.  I had to make a choice and have never regretted my decision to leave those jobs.

It was after leaving my last job in 2009 that I began my quilting career.  And I have absolutely no regrets of making that shift.   It has fulfilled my creative spirit and brings me joy each and every day and a new excitement as I begin each project.  I have enjoyed each and every sew along I have hosted, and I can look back and see how I have grown as a quilter, made improvements in color selection and placement as well as pattern designing and writing.  PLUS I have all of you that have trusted me and participated in the events.  I am so blessed to have you here and am grateful for your helping me as I changed "ladders" and careers.   

What changes have you seen in your career over the years?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

It is now time that you can hop over to my Payhip store for the Jacob's Ladder pattern.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

PS - Blogger has made some changes recently so that I cannot simply respond to your comments via email.  I will try my best to reply here on the blog, but I'll be honest... I'm not very good at following through with that.  I never know if you actually see my response...  You can always send me an email at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com if you want.  

Be sure to return after you get your block completed to join the block parade. :)  



Sunday, November 10, 2024

Epic Snow Storm ~ Sew & Tell ~ November 11, 2024


 I finally got the summary of our fall trip posted last week.  Woohoo!  If interested and you missed it, you can find it here.  Since my energy level had been a little low, I spent time getting an order of photos from 2019 printed via Shutterfly.  They were kindly reminding me that I needed to place an order (minimally, every 18 months) in order for all of my photos to be "stored" in their space.

I first obliged them by placing an order for a 2025 calendar featuring pictures of my Pieces From the Past quilt/sew along.  It was an idea that I had begun moving forward on a few years ago... and then got busy with other things.  Since the photos had already been uploaded for such a use... I finished mixing up the lemonade. ;)

It was at that time that I decided to order photos from 2019.  With these on order, I'll be able to get another year of life recorded in our scrapbooks.  With that done...

I wanted to get going on the postcard blocks for our Camping Journal Quilt... and since it was snowing feet(!) of snowflakes outside (for 3 days!), I had nothing better to do... I enjoyed some binging of Call the Midwife as I stitched the Gateway Arch block.  

All Most blocks have been selected and being prepped or made. (The sign blocks are Machine FPP.)

I am still unsure of a few of them, but I know inspiration will strike at the perfect time.

This trip does, in fact, finish the quilt!  I don't know if I'll get if quilted by the end of the year, but I do know we will be sleeping under it when we take a spring trip. YAY!

My binging session ended on Friday when my assistance was required to remove snow from the top of the carport.  The upper left photo in the collage above shows that there was 3 feet of white stuff sitting on it and the snow was still coming down, and it was collapsing.  We were fortunate enough to get the truck out from under it and get it propped up, but it now has a flat roof. Not good!  We'll be contacting our insurance agent to determine whether it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. **sigh**

The snow finally stopped by Saturday morning.  The sun was out, and temps were in the low 40s by mid-morning.  The snow started melting quickly and the ground was turning muddy fast.  We worked to clear the front and back doors and then started getting some weight off of the roof of the house.  What a chore!  My ribs still hurt from coughing while I was sick, and now my arms and shoulders are sore.  Oh, how I wish we had our hot tub to soak the soreness away! Dave so gently reminded me that we still have to shovel sidewalks at my Mom's house. I asked him "Why do you have to be so mean???"  lol.  We really need to sell that house!

Enough whining from me... Let's take a look at the featured link from last week's Sew & Tell party.  (This was one of my largest parties, BTW! Thanks to everyone for sharing.)  Wendy over at Pieceful Thoughts shared her Spicy Neighborhood.  What a fun little story she told about the various houses... The Curry House, Chili House, Turmeric House, the Clove house and the Beet Family.  Very entertaining as well as an adorable table runner.  Go check it out!

It is now time for the new party to begin... Link up your latest projects. Ready? Set... Go!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m



Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Fall Kicks on Route 66

It all began bright and early on Tuesday morning, 10/15.  We had packed and prepped for days before and we were more than ready to hit the road.  Day one we traveled north through Eastern Colorado, along a quiet two-lane highway - CO71 - with our sights set on Ogallala State Park in Western Nebraska.

Ogallala has the big lake - Lake McConaughy, formed by a dam - where we stayed in summer of 2023.  We had been told by many that it was a fun park to visit.  It certainly did have some nice sandy beaches, but we were not impressed.  As we made our arrival at that time we spied another small park on the lower side of the dam.  It looked to be more our style, and we had filed the possibility for another visit in the archives.

The opportunity for it to be our first stop on this trip was the time to recall that info.  It was all we could have hoped for.  Given the time of year, it was a quiet park with few campers and pleasant weather.  We settled in quickly and enjoyed a bike ride on a trail.  It was the first time in over a year that we have actually pedaled our bikes, and it took a little extra attention to stay upright through a few sandy spots on the trail.  Don't ask me how I know this... ;)  All is well that ends well... It was a lovely evening!

Day two was a much shorter drive since we were making a stop in Omaha to visit with friends that we have not seen in over 20 years.  There was a small recreation area and pond that had campsites available on a first come-first serve basis, so we got an early start.  The campground host told us there was walking path that went around the lake.  After touching base with our friends and getting settled we went exploring.  

We discovered that the path did not actually go around the lake (at least we did not find that part of the path).  It was a very nice path that wound its way through several subdivisions.  We ended up walking our bikes along the side of a heavily traveled road (without sidewalks) in order to make it back to the campground.  Oooops! oh, well.  With the help of the GPS we made it... though we found out that it would not be the first time we argued with "Mo" in the trip.

Dinner and conversation were fabulous.


Day three was a long day of driving... all the way across Iowa to Elgin, IL where we called the Paul Wolff Nature Preserve "home" for 4 nights.  We arrived just before sunset and were able to enjoy a quick walk around the campground before it turned dark.



We were excited that we were settled in for several days and we looked forward to the opportunities for more bike rides.  Friday morning was such a chance.  This trail had a few hills, roots and ruts.  Let me state that this time, I was not the one that struggled to stay upright.  Again, all is well that ends well. ;)  The colors were swinging into high gear for showing off.  It was beautiful, and again the weather was pleasant and would be in a holding pattern throughout the weekend.

We joined two of Dave's HS classmates for dinner... again, fabulous dinners and conversation.  Though one of the classmates had admitted to not feeling 100% so we avoided handshakes and hugs.  (I believe this was the little bug that has had me under the weather.  Boo... :( )  

Dinner was briefly interrupted by a phone conversation with the realtor of Mom's house telling us we had received multiple offers and that a bidding war would be taking place.  Thanks to modern technology all paperwork was able to be managed electronically.  (In the matter of a few days, an offer was accepted and contracts signed... only to have the buyer then terminate the contract because they did not like the results of the inspection. Well, darn it!)


Time with family at the wedding was precious.  It was evident that the Bride and Groom were happy that their day had finally arrived.  <3  


There was an opportunity to catch up between the ceremony and the reception when some of us dropped into a small cantina for some quesadillas, chips and salsa and drinks.  The reception followed a short time later at an upscale country club, the likes of which many of us will likely never see again.  WoW!  Though we should not have been too surprised since the invitation did state "black tie optional". 

The bride is the oldest of five children and the only daughter.  Daddy-o did not spare a single expense.  The live band was excellent and had a wide variety of songs that they played very well.  The food was top notch, and they were able to meet my special dietary needs without complaint or questions.  Because the evening was a little cool, there were wraps for the ladies.  There was a cigar bar available to anyone that was interested, and a photo booth.  A few hours after dinner there was a "snack bar" with sliders, hotdogs, French fries and more... as well as a donut board with small to-go boxes for the donuts.  They also had small coffee cup carriers with small packages of coffee.


It was a fun evening that carried over to the next morning for Dave as he enjoyed his coffee and chocolate donuts!

Following Sunday worship, we loaded our bikes into the back of the truck and headed to the Prairie Trail bike/walking path.  The day was absolutely gorgeous as we traveled the path from Carpentersville to Algonquin where we enjoyed lunch along the Fox River.  When we finished our portable charcutier board we rode from Algonquin to Dundee (and then back to the truck in Carpentersville).  Round trip, it was 10.6 miles... and we didn't even break a sweat!  


It's easy when it is relatively flat and a much lower altitude than at home.  (Have I mentioned that we are considering riding in a Dirt Road race that has become an annual event here in Trinidad?  They have 3 courses... 40 miles, 70 miles and 110.  Being the novices we are, the 40-mile course will be our goal. But we have a loooooooooooooong way to go and train.)

We rewarded ourselves with a happy hour drink and a serving of ice cream.  And then joined two of Dave's sibs and their spouses for dinner.  Again, a great meal and fun conversation.  Alas, it was time to say our farewells.  

Day 7 was the kick-off of our Route 66 adventures.  We picked up Rt66 in Dwight, IL, where IL-47 and 66 intersected.  There was a cute little service station where we stopped to drop a pin in their map and snap a few pics.  We were the first to mark Trinidad, CO :)  Go figure!  

We definitely had fun along the way!  Though we ended up arguing with our GPS a time or two again as we made our way to a campground at the IL State Fair Grounds in springfield, IL.

Dave is such a social butterfly, he quickly made friends with a couple that was nearby - Paul and Vicki.  We enjoyed the evening as we all shared stories of camping adventures. (This is the second possible contamination point for the nasty cough, as they were both sick.  They did not reveal this matter until well into our visit... and they both extended handshakes.)  We got some tips from them about some sights to see in Springfield.


Day 8 was spent visiting Lincoln's Tomb, his home, the State Capitol and the Dana-Thomas home that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  There was also a "Route 66 experience" located in the State Fair Grounds that featured an assortment of neon signs.

I was disappointed in the FLW house... aside from the fact that the tour guide had a nasty sinus infection that disgusted both of us nearly to the point of gagging (exposure #3?), photos and videos were not allowed - the ones I have here were downloaded from the internet - and there was no gift shop... of any sort!  No pamphlets or brochures with information.  Nothing!

On day 9 we had a destination of St. Louis.  It was just a short jaunt, but via the original highway, it was slow.  We argued again with our GPS and ended up on a little detour taking us to a brick section of the original route, but we missed the covered bridge that we had desired to see.  (For those wondering, we were using the roadtripper Route 66 app. There were features that we disliked... like there were no voice commands and the map would not rotate when you turned the phone horizontal.)  We did discover the Cahokia Mounds that were quite interesting.


St Louis was within our sights from the top of the mound and the Great Archway was to be our next stop.  We ended up doing a drive-by because it was nearly impossible for us to navigate the area while towing our trailer and find parking.  We should have done a little more investigation before trying that.  Lesson learned. 

We quickly made our way to our spot for the night... a hipcamp spot that our friends have.  They own a beautiful home on the side of a rock bluff.  The driveway was quite steep, but we Dave navigated it well.  We got settled in and made our way to their home at the top of the road.  

We met Ivan and Meghan at church 14 years ago.  They were pregnant with their first child.  I was blessed to be able to offer daycare for Caia from age 6 weeks until they left in 2013.  In the short few years that they lived in Trinidad, their family grew to four.  Their family has continued to grow over the years, and they now have seven children.  All such a delight to be with.


After saying a quick good-bye to our friends on Day 10, we made a stop at the Meramac Caverns, it was an interesting tour and we picked up some small gifts for the grands and Dave purchased some chocolate/peanut butter fudge.

As we left the caverns we were arguing, once again, with the GPS.  We were needing to get some distance behind us, so we decided it was best to follow the interstate to Springfield, MO.  

Neither of us have ever traveled through Missouri and I have to say it was beautiful with the rock bluffs and the fall colors.  Stunning! And it is an area we would like to explore further.



As I researched sites to visit in Springfield, MO, we decided that a visit to the Pythian Castle was in order. 

Unfortunately, the only tour we would be able to make was an evening "ghost tour".  I was interested in the history of the building and its use as a POW prison during WWII.

At this point, we were beginning to be weary of the routine of driving and searching for a place to land for the night.  Our campsite on this night was in an RV park that was in the back parking lot of a "cafe" located quite close to a major intersection of interstates.  We kept reminding ourselves that we just needed a place to park for the night. ;)  The need for heat was gone so the use of the AC fan to mask some of the road noise helped us get through it.

Day 11 was started with a quick stop at a Walgreens to pick up some supplements to stave off the tickle/congestion that was beginning, though we both tried to ignore it. :(  

On our drive to Tulsa, OK we passed over all 17 miles of Route 66 that crosses Kansas.  We had to make a few stops for photos, of course!  Dave needed a picture of the truck/trailer on the Rainbow Bridge.

I had insisted that we stop in Catoosa, OK to see the blue whale.

After the night in the previous night's parking lot, I had thought that would be the worst night... Ummm... nope.  We felt lucky to find a spot that was open on a Friday evening, even if that meant that the spot was located next to a convergence of interstates again... this time next to a storage unit facility and surrounded with some long-term rental spots that looked... well, I will simply state that I just hoped no bugs or rodents would decide to jump over to our rig!  Ugh...  Again, thanks to the fan on our AC unit, we were able to get a little sleep.

It was now Saturday morning and Day 12, and we were bound for the OKC Bombing memorial site.  Thankfully, we were able to locate a place on a street in a safer looking area within walking distance to the Memorial.  It was a somber and deeply emotional morning, but we are so both glad that we were able to make the visit.  


Dave had stated that he didn't really remember hearing much of the event.  As we reflected on why, realizing that we had just made the move to CO (having a new job and trying to stay a step ahead of the students) and had received the news that his Mom had been placed on Hospice care... We were simply waiting to receive the phone call stating she had passed away (which came just three days later).  It is pretty interesting to look back and see the difference in the media coverage that took place in 1995 vs 2001, just 6 years later when the Twin Towers had been attacked.

After a lunch in the camper, we hit the road again and found a small campground a little farther off the highway near Foss, OK.  There wasn't a lot to see in the way of scenery... no rolling hills or rock bluffs, not much color, and a much drier climate.  But the sunset was beautiful!

Based on the Route 66 app, Amarillo would be our next major stop.  Via the old highway it would have taken 5+ hours to get there.  Based on the maps app, we could be there (via interstate) in 1-1/2 hours... and home in about 7 hours of driving.

If we continued with Route 66 we would be 3-4 more days on the road.  We were watching the weather reports and high winds were to be arriving in 2 days, which meant we would be driving our last leg of the trip in the high winds. :/  It was at that point that we opted for the jaunt home.

We will someday pick it up again...

We were both a bit disappointed that we didn't "finish" what we started, but we were in agreement that it was time to return home.  We learned that we definitely like to stay put in one place for at least 2 nights and want to have the chance to explore more small towns. The more we travel, the more places we discover that we want to investigate more closely... Like Missouri and I'd love to explore some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder homesteads and sites.

Is there a particular area that you would like to visit and explore?
(Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!)

Throughout most of the trip I refrained from doing much quilting so that I was able to fully enjoy the road trip and views (and help navigate/argue with the GPS).  We listened to several books via our Libby App, including... (finishing) Where the Crawdads Sing, Dances with Wolves, Come Rain or Come Shine (a part of the Mitford Series by Jan Karon), and The Shack.


Once we decided to head home, I pulled out my hand-quilting project since we were in familiar territory.  

For now, the camper has been unloaded and winterized... though that doesn't mean that we can't still go camping in November.  That is if this snowy weather we have had this week will allow for the return of an "Indian Summer."  We have enjoyed several trips in our area mid to late November!

I will soon be prepping the camping journal blocks that will represent this trip.  Thanks for tagging along with me on our journey!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m



Sunday, November 3, 2024

Sew & Tell ~ November 4, 2024

 

Welcome back to another session of Sew & Tell.

I am still struggling with the recovery of the cold Dave and I caught while on our trip.  For this reason, I don't have the summary of the adventure. Sorry...  Dave plummeted quickly Sunday night after getting home.  He started to improve finally on Tuesday... just as my body was crashing. 

Natural remedies have been slow in helping me, but F I N A L L Y! I am on the mend.

Since I have been stuck in a chair, sitting up so I coughed less, I did finish quilting the little table topper that helped to pull me out of my creative rut.











































Despite being under the weather, I still managed to get Block 21 of the Pieces of My Life Sew Along published ~ The Maple Leaf Block... as well as the newsletter that accompanied the link for the pages of the Memory Book.  This was made possible thanks for some forward thinking and preparation before our trip. :)  I do love when technology complies with my wishes and works well.  If you missed it, you can find the story that focuses on fall activities HERE.

Time to link up your personal Sew & Tell!  

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m