I'm b-a-a-a-c-k!!!

Actually, I haven't gone anywhere; I've just been burnt out by work and the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was get on the computer. Instead, I've been doing my best to finish up some projects, relax, and watch Brothers and Sisters, my new favorite show. I'm still in Season 1, episode 20 or so, and I am already dreading when I run out of episodes and have to say "goodbye" to my new friends. Seriously, I felt like my friends had moved away when I finished the 7th season of Gilmore Girls, so I know this one will affect me, too.

One project I started and finished since my last post is a pair of ragged edge placemats. I had seen some done with this method in a magazine, and decided to design my own and see how they came out. I drew a deisgn on paper, laid it over three pieces of fabric pinned together, stitched on the lines, tore away the paper and then snipped away one or two layers in each section with a quarter inch seam allowance to make the design appear, then snipped all the seams like a rag quilt. After washing and drying to get the fringed edge, I was thrilled with them...

...until I noticed that I had accidentally cut a hole in one of them. (Can you see it there on the right side of that yellow square?)

It is a hole that defies fixing (I know, I've already tried). Don't you HATE that, when you work so hard on something only to see that it wasn't a success? Oh well, I can still use them - I don't care if my placemats are hole-y, but there goes my idea of giving them as a gift. I think I may just purchase some SNUB-NOSED clippers and try again.

In the meantime, swim lessons have begun for my boys. For me, that means 30 minutes of hand stitching time three times per week while they splash away in the pool. I'm committed to completing my 4th of July tablerunner this week, and hopefully my martini girl, too.

That's all for now. My stomach is calling - it would much rather I eat than blog during my lunch break. Hopefully, I'll find a chance to catch up on all the blog posts I've missed in my two week hiatus soon - I've missed you guys!!!

Placemats

I finished the bindings on my placemats while watching Steel Magnolias. Just what I needed - a good cry, and a chance to put everything in perspective. My life may seem like it sucks right now, but things could always be worse.

Anyway, I made two of these,

and one each of these (I'm using scraps of fabric, so I didn't have enough to make matching sets). I altered the pattern a bit, but that shouldn't surprise you.


Aren't they fun? Here are the backs. I got the pattern here.


I'm tempted to make a couple more - I'm not used to finishing projects quickly; I could really get used to this. But, there are other pots on the stove that I need to attend to. And I mean that literally. I am melting yet more snow for water. The water guy thinks he can have us in water for Christmas. Of course, that meant someone had to stay home to facilitate that, and I lobbied that it be me. After all, it is my husband's mother that is in the hospital, and I think it is more important that he and and kids be there than me. So, it is just the dog, the cats, the fish and I here at home. It is a bit lonely, but quilting will keep me busy. A good thing about having quilting as a hobby is that there is no water required.

But, enough for today. I am in the midst of reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, and I have Jennifer Chiaverini's The Quilter's Holiday lined up to read next. I may just call it an early night and go to bed.

Some days are diamonds...

But not lately. This is the least relaxing vacation EVER. The plan was to go to my mother-in-law's house for a week. The plan is still to go there. However, we found out just before leaving that she is in the hospital. So yesterday morning as we were loading up the car, we were already in a more subdued mood than you would expect. We set off, the hubby, the dad-in-law, the two kids, the dog and I, towards the interstate the back way. I'm not sure why, except that it is shorter. However, the back way is usually not such a good idea when you've just gotten over 2 feet of snow the day before, especially in a state like Virginia where the Department of Transportation, despite their best efforts, is not prepared for snow in that magnitude. Not 8 miles from home, we got stuck, and stuck GOOD. Eventually, we got out, but not before blowing a tire. So now, we can drive, but we have to find a place in the road not covered in snow and ice to change the tire. The kids, the dog and I just started walking home. We needed to do something - the kids were very well-behaved, but I knew that just standing around outside the car wasn't going to be a good idea. We sang Christmas carols to keep our minds off the fact that our feet were freezing in our sneakers. About a mile or so later, the hubby and dad-in-law showed up with the spare on the vehicle, and we set off again, first stopping by a service station to make sure the spare had sufficient air.

It felt like such an accomplishment to make it onto the highway, but only until we actually got on the highway. It looked more like a parking lot for tractor trailer trucks. Four and a half hours after leaving home, we made it to the next town 30 miles away. We stopped to eat because the kids (and I) were starving. At that point, we made an executive decision to head back home and try again another day. Seven hours after leaving home, we made it back, having traveled a whopping 60 miles.

If that were the end of it, I wouldn't complain. However, when we got home, we had no water. Not much you can do on a Sunday night. This morning, I started calling around, and finally found someone who could come today. Of course, I thought he meant today during the day. He arrived at 8 PM. In the meantime, we all loaded into the car to go to the gym at the University where my husband and I work to take showers and brush our teeth. And I melted snow. Melted snow to wash dishes. Melted snow to flush toilets. Melted snow for the dog and the cats. Melted snow to brush our teeth. At this rate, there won't be much snow left out there.

So, the water pump guy is still here. No, not working on my water pump - he needs a new control box, which he didn't have on his truck. He'll have to come back in the morning for that. No, he's still here because he managed to drive his truck into a snowbank, and then over an embankment and into my neighbor's yard. It is 10:15 PM and we are waiting for the wrecker to come pull him out.

I am so tense that my shoulders ache. I keep wondering what else could go wrong. I'm probably looking at this the wrong way. There is so much I should be thankful for. We have heat and electricity and food, and a way to make the water we need. My kids are in great moods because I have let them watch all theTV they want today. And this unexpected time at home has given me some unexpected time in my quilt studio. I thought I'd whip up a quick placemat that I found online earlier this year.

Oh boy, so quick and easy, I made FOUR. I am currently sewing down the binding - photos when I am done. But first, I am dragging my tired and slightly defeated butt off to bed. Last night I told myself that tomorrow had to be better, but I seemed to have jinxed myself. Tomorrow will be what it will be.