Hurricane Irene

First an earthquake. Next came Hurricane Irene.  Luckily, my home hasn't sustained any damage. Tomorrow I begin my 3rd year of retirement. Having been an teacher for 26 years, it's still difficult not to not think the new year begins tomorrow.  Have a super school year, all you teachers out there.

Earthquake???????

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!

A 5.8 earthquake rolled under my home (6 miles from the White House) at 1:51 p.m.today. It's epicenter was about 100 miles away, very near Richmond, Virginia. Now, I am getting ready for hurricane Irene. She's due here Sunday morning. What else will Mother Nature send my way?

Frustrated!

Frustrated!!!!!! why you ask?    I joined Aunt Pitty-Pat's Halloween block swap. (Thanks Aunt Pitty-Pat for organizing this swap.) The RULES" said- please have all blocks in by Aug. 20th.  Since I knew when I signed up that I was going on vacation from Aug. 13-20th, I started immediately; my blocks were completed and in the mail the first week of August;  and just as I expected, nearly half of the participants have NOT sent in their blocks.  I think we had at least 3 months to make 13
blocks.  On averaage that would be 1 block a week. I guess I must be "old fashioned". A due date is a due date, be it for bill paying, or handing in a research paper and/or a a report at work. Now that I have this off my chest... I think if you sign up for a swap, no matter what it is, and you do not adhere to the timeline, you should not be invited to be a participant in another swap being held by the same organizer. I now wonder if I will have enough time tocomplete a Halloween quilt.

THUNDERSTORM

Thunderstorm has knocked out power. So I'll not be participating in FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN.  Thank goodness the laptop is fully charged.

I'm Back

Where have you been? you ask.  Working and vacationing.  Even though I've retired from teaching I've been doing a lot of ,and I mean a lot of substitute teaching.  For the last 7 weeks I have been teaching 1st graders.  In March, I spent 3 days in Ft. Lauderadale with  a dear friend. This year for Spring Break I headed back to Barbados. The first week I spent with my son, and the second week was spent with my daughter. Of the 2 weeks, 3 days were spent with both adult kids. Needless to say I had a FANTASTIC time.  This is my son, Steve, heading out into the world famous surf spot, known as the Soup Bowl, in Barbados.My daughter, Erica, and I went to an  orchid garden. Breath takingly beautiful. In May, my daughter and I flew up to Buffalo, N.Y. to attend my neice's bridal shower. Back to Buffalo the first week in July for the wedding.

 This was the mug rug I made for Aunt Pitty Pat's Easter mug rug and mug swap

Joined this swap . 5 blocks finished. My theme is Candy corn.  I just love this stuff. I can feel my sweet tooth aching.


Participating  in Kelly of Charming Chatter's quilt along.  I've never sewed 1 1/2 inch squares. Wish me luck.  So far it isn't going so well.  The white fabric I ordered, White Snow by MODA, isn't a bright white. Went to JoAnn's Fabric to pick up 2 more yards of white. Found it, but the 50% off coupon I took, wasn't valid until Sunday, and I was there on Saturday.

Just 6 more days of school!
Promise to be better at keeping up the blog.

Sewing Party- FINIS!

5p.m., the party is over and I just finished the heart mug rug!  Thanks for visiting. 'Til next time... the word is DECLUTTER!!!!!

Update-Word Up Sewing Party

The scraps from this heart placemat project made this:

a pouch for my sunglasses.

Here's my next project:

While going through the scrap drawer I came upon a 6 by 6 patch.  Thought I just saw this fabric in someones recent project. It was in Kelly's latest tutorial: Valentine hearts.  All I need to do is sew on the binding.  This will be done by hand.  A Valentine mug rug for someone!