Daily Report

Last evening before the sun set I spent some additional time with a flash light in my sewing room trying to organize things and find two BOM packages that I want to take to my retreat in October. I found the packages and put them in my work satchel for the retreat.

We are still without power after 70 hours. I look at pictures of the aftermath of Hurricane Ike from Texas and know I have it easy compared to them. Still the thought of a shower or a clean set of clothes (Sunday is laundry day in our home) is really foremost in my mind. Our daughter got her power back yesterday and has invited us to her home for dinner, showers and a load of laundry. I am definitely planning on accepting this invitation.

DH is having difficulty dealing with the power outage. I hope that visiting our grandson will help him.

Have a great day, Karen

I keep finding things

Yesterday after work and before the sun went down I went into my old sewing room with a flashlight (yes, we still don't have power after 48 hours) and started rummaging around. I found several of my BOM packages that I plan to take to my quilt retreat. I also found another Kid's Komfort that needs layering and quilting.

It was really too dark after supper to do much. I don't see how our ancestors did any needlework with light from an oil lamp or a candle. How did they do that?

The dogs are adapting to the lack of lamp light. Although I think that they think we have gone crazy with the flash lights and oil lamps. I even am using a different alarm clock and they haven't figured it out yet. I get extra sleep time. Yeh!

DH is trying to adapt an inverter from his truck driving days to recharge his cell phone and laptop. Then he is going to try to get the refrigerator a little colder. We may be able to save some of our groceries.

Well, have a great day, Karen

Hurricane Ike

I hope that everyone who can read this and has dealt with the hurricane and its aftermath is okay.
Here in the Cincinnati, Ohio area we were struck with the remnants of Ike in the form of very high winds and gusts of wind of hurricane force. The greater Cincinnati airport was closed for a number of hours as they had to evacuate the tower.
My neighborhood had houses with shingles and aluminum siding blown off. Many people are using their grills to cook.
My employer is open for business as usual, but my home has been without power for 18 hours and I expect that everything in the refrigerator and the freezer is ready for the garbage man.
My prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones and their homes. May the Lord or higher power that you believe in guide and protect you in the coming days.
Karen

Update

Last night was spent organizing my quilting supplies with the goal of being ready for the Crafty Friends 2nd Annual Retreat in October. I found the hiding place of several of my supplies and organized them with the retreat in mind. I also labeled some of my mini storage boxes so I know what is in them without opening. A simple solution to something that has driven me to insanity from time to time.

I am on countdown to the retreat. With DH health declining so rapidly I do not think I will be to many more retreats in the near future. Until he is so ill that he cannot be left alone and must be institutionalized, by primary role with be caregiver. I don't know how I will juggle work and caregiver, but with each passing day the definition has become more clear and even with rapid changes, I seem to adapt. God says He will never allow something in our lives that we are not already prepared to handle. I am leaning on the promise with all my belief.

Today I completed the minor pick up of clutter in the dining room. I moved the knick knack cabinet that my MIL gave us to a corner that is a little more out of the way in case DH falls in that room. Then a quick dust and put back with crystal that is stored there. I also moved one of the extra chairs in the dining room to a more convienient place so that DH can walk around the dining table with ease. Just a little thing to make his day easier. The other extra chair is where I lay my purse and carryall bag when I get home from work. A few things had piled up and I sorted them and put them were they belong. My mother always said a place for everything and everything in it's place. I am trying to apply this more and more to my daily life.

This afternoon I will be running some small errands and then home to more straightening. If I get all my goals completed I will allow myself all Saturday evening and all day Sunday for quilting and piecing. Now that is what I call a reward and there are no calories involved.

Have a great day, Karen

Another quilt layered and basted

Well, well, I have the NICU quilt layered and pin basted. The thumb is recovering from all the pin pricks and will be fine in a few days. The backing fabric will not be a good choice for reverse quilting. The clowns are too random and far apart.

This weekend JoAnn's has a fantastic sale with many 40% coupons. I will try to take advantage of as many of them as I can justify.

Cleaning continues one item at a time. Since it is supposed to rain most of the weekend, I hope to get quite a lot done in the family room. Perhaps I can start to move my sewing area into the smaller area in the L shape for the time.

Works continues as normal. Today is payday and I have a little left after all the bills were paid. I think we are going to dine out somewhere inexpensive this weekend just for a change.

Have a great day, Karen

Alaska Baby Quilt #2

The Alaska Baby Quilt Trip Around the World #2 has been layered and pin basted. This morning I am wearing Neosporin on my left thumb and middle finger. Only two actual cuts, but lots of mini scratches in the upper layers of the skin. Luckily the left thumb is not used for touch typing, but the right thumb is used for the space bar.

Enough of my injuries.

DH had a good day yesterday. He mowed the lawn in the front and back of the house. It looks really nice since it is about 8 inches shorter than it was. I am amazed that my neighbors hadn't complained. During the winter one of them actually shoveled the drive and walk way for us. We have wonderful neighbors and I thank them for all the help!

I have another quilt I want to layer and baste tonight. It is a NICU quilt that started my walk down the road of Trip Around the World. I have the perfect backing fabric for it and I am thinking about reverse quilting by using the backing fabric as the pattern for the quilting. The bobbin thread will quilt the top and be totally different from the pattern of the fabric. I will have to mull over this idea and look at the top and fabric before trying this. I do not want to practice a new machine quilting skill on as important a quilt as this is. At the same time it would be a wasted opportunity.

The house cleaning continues to be one item at a time and it is starting to show. How nice.

Hurricane Gustav was declared a catastrophic loss, but our company was not hard hit so we did not set up cat loss reporting for it. Now we may have to deal with Hurricane Ike. Time to watch and see what it brings to the company. It is hard to see large losses both for the insured that we help and for the company itself in these hard economic times. We are fortunate to have good investment gurus here at the company and that makes for a tighter bottom line (no pun intended) on the balance sheet. Our stock has been taking a roller coaster ride lately, but seems to be on the road to recovery. That is good because my pension and my personal stock in the company is the basis for retirement.

Have a great day, Karen

Alaska Baby Quilt Finished

The binding is completed on the first Alaska bound Trip Around the World Quilt. It is folded and on the stack of quilts to be turned in at Guild.

I have two quilt tops that I want to layer tonight. That will be my only goal for quilting today.

Slow progress on the family room. One item at a time as I pass through.

Have started my specific list for my October retreat. Also, I have been contacting various agencies to see what I can do to insure that James gets the proper attention.

Have a great day, Karen