Seeking Inspiration…

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I easily talked myself into staying out and running errands for the afternoon.  Seems that when it’s hazy, hot and humid - getting in and out of the car isn’t that appealing.

After lunch I visited my MIL at rehab.  Even though she has gotten the cold my FIL had (a full time resident at the same facility) – she has been able to (knock on wood) not get quite as sick with it as he did.  They started her on cough meds right away and she is still having the breathing treatments for her lungs which I’m sure helps keep her ahead of this.  I sat while she finished her OT and waited while the nurse came by to visit her… then we headed outside to walk around a bit and go sit in the gardens.  Well I walked and pushed while she was along for the ride.  This facility is built on the top of a hill in the area and has a panoramic view of the communities and farmlands all around.  I took this picture with my ipod from the parking lot – so it’s not a great photo – but I think it gives a sample of the view.

When I left I just could not talk myself into going back home.  So I decided to just drive around the back roads and enjoy the countryside.

I still need some fabric for the Four Patch Swap blocks so I decided to visit Weavers Dry Goods over in the outskirts of Lititz.  They expanded their building this past spring and I hadn’t been over to see how it turned out.  It is very nice as they opened up the back and side of the building and added stairs leading to a lower level where their sale fabrics are kept.  I was looking around down there to start but another shopper answered her cell phone and I just couldn’t stand being around her while she talked too loudly about someone's doctor appointment.  And since I could hear her everywhere downstairs I headed back upstairs to shop.

Is it me or is there just not a lot of inspiring fabrics out there?  I had stopped out at Sauders Fabrics last week and had the same problem shopping… nothing is speaking to me… oh goodness – I hope I haven’t developed a case of fabric deafness.  I think I may need a trip up to Southampton Quilts… there is always fabric calling my name there!

Anyway between the 2 stores I found several combinations to use…

Maybe I can get these cut up this week and then I’ll sew as I have time over the next couple weeks and be done.  Since I need to mail my blocks in it makes sense to mail them in bulk. 

My other stop was at what I consider my Local Knit Shop – The Ball & Skein Shop in Brickerville.  I’ve taken a couple classes there and Edna – the owner – has bailed me out of a couple problems in the past.  I missed her Christmas in July sale last week – so I wasn’t planning on shopping for anything in particular - I was just killing time and looking for inspiration.  I did put my name on a waiting list for a shawl class she’s offering later this fall. 

Another beautiful day going on out there so I guess I best get going and try and get some gardening done.

I Wonder?

This morning as I started a small load of whites… I wondered just how many times I’d have to wash that same load of whites before I actually got them into the dryer… You see I originally threw them in the wash on Friday morning.  Saturday morning I realized that they were still in the washer.  So a little dash of bleach this time and a refresh cycle should do the trick right?  Except that I left the house that morning and then I never thought about laundry at all… so here on Monday morning I realize that the same small load of whites was still in the washer… I’m glad I added that little splash of bleach on Saturday – I’m sure that’s what kept the clothes from getting smelly.  This time I put soap, bleach and hot water to the task and washed them yet again!  And I’m happy to say they are now dry – and bright and sparkly too.  As annoying as those machine beepers are I do need the reminders… Apparently I just need to be inside the house for it to be effective.

 

Last Wednesday I went to the shops at Kitchen Kettle Village on the Old Philadelphia Pike in Intercourse, PA.  I was looking for a book as a gift and thought I might find it down there. I cruised in and out of many of the shops and only found a new purse to replace the one I’ve carried non stop for over two years – but nothing close to what I had in mind for a book.  Since I was there I wandered into the Lancaster Yarn Shop and ended up with some new yarn and the info for a Ravelry Pattern called Leftie (in that you would use up a lot of leftover yarn scraps).  They had a couple samples of the Leftie there and I was intrigued… I love this Kettle Dyed yarn (Tuscan Green) that they carry and the Zauberball will fill in for the leftovers I don’t have.

In chatting with the lady there she suggested I might find a book across the street at The Old Country Store.  I actually went upstairs to the Quilt Museum and found a book there.

All that to say on my way back across the street I fell… now in my defense it was the roads fault… LOL really!  Well that and the fact I should have been a little more careful.  There was traffic so I walked up the street waiting for a break.  When the lull came I didn’t look down to evaluate the surface I was stepping onto.  (Even though my knee has progressed well and I can walk with barely a hint of a limp and I can walk faster - I am usually very careful on uneven surfaces.)  I hadn’t expected the uneven surface I stepped onto.  So the first step was a bit off because of the ruts in the road from the buggy traffic - the next step wasn’t any better… and I think I must have taken another step because when I did fall I was in the middle of the road… very much doing the side stroke - I am positive I would have scored a 10!  I landed on my left hand and hip.  The bag I was carrying protected my hand from road rash but not completely from injury.  I have a sprain at the base of my thumb but my knee and hip are none the worse for wear.  The quick care place took x-rays and ruled out a break and gave me this to immobilize my thumb/wrist… I can move it but it does hurt. 

When I went into the ER I asked if this was the place I could pick up my sign?  The attendant looked at me and then smiled when I said “you know – my stupid sign”.

Life Beyond Reader…

By now anyone who used Google’s Reader program knows that it is kaput.

After a little bit of looking around I selected Feedly to use as my reader both on my PC based computer and my Apple iPod – and if and when I finally upgrade my ‘not as smart as it use to be 5 1/2 year old cell phone’ it will be installed there as well.

I have had someone ask about receiving the posts from Blogger via email… I didn’t know that was a possibility but after poking around I found a place in the Blogger Settings where I can add email addresses for those that wish to receive the postings that way…

So Gwen… I hope you get this via email… and I’m especially glad you choose to hang out here and listen to me ramble from time to time!  Thanks!

And to keep this post from being truly boring - here are a couple pictures of my 9 & 4 year old grand kids surfing recently.  Great pictures – I’m really proud of both of them  - they are even entering contests in the area.

Here they are ready to go out…

I had previously posted some pictures of my granddaughter surfing so here are some of the boy.  At 4 he’s getting pretty good with his balance…

Shaka!

Oh my….

It’s been about a month since I last rambled through here…

During that time:

• I put 4,000 miles on my car – to SC, on to TX, back to SC, and back home to PA plus all the driving around the Ft. Worth area
• Took my 9 and 4 year old grand kids with me on my road trip
• Celebrated my parents 60th Wedding Anniversary!
• Enjoyed visiting and reconnecting with family
• Ate biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast 7 days in a row
• Walked the “Ft. Worth Historic Stockyards” at least 3 different times
• Watched the Stockyards Cattle Drive 3 times (herd of about 18 Longhorns) 
• Watched 4th of July fireworks from a parking garage
• Went to the Science Museum twice
• Laid on a bed of nails! Twice!
• Visited a Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum
• Ate BBQ and Mexican food whenever I could
• Returned home a few days early
• Spent a week sitting in the hospital with my MIL

A few pictures…

New boots and belt… and eventually a hat and vest.

He would lay out his clothes at night…

He wore the boots, belt, vest and hat everywhere and everyday of the rest of his vacation…

Miss K All decked out with boots, hat & vest…

Yeee Haw!

My baby girl trying to get a kiss… but he was too scared…

I had fun, the kids had fun and were on their best behavior… I would take them again in a heartbeat!

I’m tired of all the sitting around in the hospital… hospital furniture is not comfortable and I think I have a permanent kink in my neck from knitting while sitting.

I went to the gym yesterday… and quickly began to regret a few of those biscuit and gravy breakfasts… not all… but a few.