Cabin Fever...Winter of 2017

Cabin Fever...yep...it has settled in big time today. After my last post, it just dumped snow Tuesday night and into Wednesday. We had an epic snow storm here which resulted in the governor declaring a state emergency. Schools and businesses have been closed and the road are still difficult for driving anywhere. There is another wind advisory posted for tonight. The temps have been kept down in the 20's so we just can't get rid of this snow and ice.

These are pictures of the snow late Tuesday night. It just piled up at about an inch per hour .

The wind was blowing so it didn't pile up as easily...but most of Portland and the suburbs ended up with about 10-12 inches in that short time!!! Unreal.

Jim's car was getting buried and you can't see our driveway.

Here we have a shot at our cottages and the backyard Wednesday morning.

Wednesday is our day to babysit Otto. That sure didn't happen. His mommy sent a couple of great photos. He just LOVES to play with his cars and trucks....even in the snow!

He looks pretty happy playing in the snow. Mommy and daddy got to stay home the rest of the week.

The snow stopped falling and Jimmy got out to dig a path down to our cottages. He was trying to work on his items for the upcoming antique show, but things just we going against him and he actually has canceled. We are to get tons of rain after this cold spell and he just can't get his things over from storage and it's going to be a mess trying to set up on Thursday. I think he is relieved to just let this one go. The next show is the first of March and that really isn't that far away.

Here he is out front shoveling away.

This is my Mary Englebreit book that LaVonne sent me for Christmas...WINTER. it is very cute and runs from Christmas through St Patrick's Day.

I had to laugh at chapter 4...Cabin Fever! Oh yes, how true.

I have had a lot of time indoors. I decided to spend some time working on healthy dinner recipes.
We have had turkey meatloaf, yogurt chicken and turkey stroganoff. All were good. I have some recipes that I used in the past in this little book when I was on Weight Watchers. Now that I am on a low sodium diet, I have to eat differently. Some of the recipes were ok to keep, but others had to go. I will use it for new recipes now.

I did make Jimmy a small batch of blueberry muffins and some chocolate chip cookies. I only ate one cookie. I had time to bake too.

A couple years ago, I bought a cutter quilt. I used it to make Christmas stockings, runners and a tree skirt. I was sorting through a few things and found the rest of the quilt that I hadn't used. I decided it was time to cut it up and be done with it.

I was able to get many large hearts and some tiny ones for dolly cards. It was fun to work with some fabric.

I am not sure what I will do with them...I have a couple ideas I am working on. It's been fun to have some time to be creative again. Plus, I am feeling so much better and have more energy now.

My miniature show was cancelled today....another day inside. I started watching the Cranford series on cable. I have never seen the entire series. I also started working on some hexies. I like English paper piecing using the glue gun system. I had ordered these precut pieces and the papers, so got them all glued and ready for a few projects. There are 52 pieces. I also cut out and glued 14 more pieces in a different grouping of fabrics for another pin keep. I really love making these. These are 3/4" pieces.

We still have lots of snow and ice after 4 days. Jimmy took a little fall yesterday on his way to the mailbox. He is taking it easy today. Luckily, nothing was broken and he didn't hit his head.
The east wind is blowing so hard again tonight and we are under another wind advisory for the night.
You can imagine how much wood we have been using. I am so thankful for all the wood our good friends the Pietzold family gave us this fall.

I just hope it all ends soon. The weather man is keeping a close watch on things as we transition out of this Monday evening now. We may get more freezing rain. I am longing for spring. 

Sew N Go Quilting Retreat

This Charm Pack of fabrics sums it all up....HAPPY! I was asked last fall to attend a quilt retreat this weekend with some old quilter friends. Most of them used to attend my quilt retreats and I also was able to go to other retreats with them. I wasn't able to join them for anything for a few years. They were so kind to keep trying and inviting and finally, it all worked out. I drove over to Vancouver WA on Friday morning to Sew N Go for the retreat. It's located in a lovely rural setting and the sewing room is in a charming little room.

Oh yes, signs of quilters working...a leaving for shopping or a nap or a meal or just doing nothing! After all, this is a retreat and a break from the hectic lives we all live.

Lisa worked on this beauty the first few days and was able to finish it. It will be a gift for her oldest son.

Lisa was reading a quilt book with Dana's beautiful work behind her.

The quilting room is just filled with little items tucked here and there. Isn't this a sweet little idea for Christmas?

This is Nancy's granddaughter's quilt that someone made for her...so very sweet!

And here we have yet another wonderful quilt by Dana. It was just stunning and actually was a boo boo.

More work in progress.....

I'm not sure what Kathy and Tierney were so serious about here!

My roomie Barb at work with Donna cutting out her quilt at the cutting table.

Dana....

Debra.....

I LOVE the Farm Girl's Vintage style. Last summer my Tasha friend Nancy Crockett introduced me to this. Our quilting retreat host Nancy runs a block of the month group of 8 ladies who are working on this. My daughter Gina gave me the book for my birthday. I am thinking about joining-maybe. I'm behind, so I would have to catch up.

I spent most of my time continuing my work on Melinda's A is for Annabelle quilt. This is Nancy's picture. I got most of it done and hope to finish it up at my quilting group tomorrow. My friend and long armer, another Nancy, will probably do the quilting on it for me. Yeah!!!

Both of these are Barb's quilts. The black and grey quilt just wowed everyone!

We sure don't work every minute at the retreats. Lisa and Tierney put on a little skit for us. They used their new LED lamps as microphones and had us all in stitches...ha ha ha.

Tierney was so good about getting her daily walks in! The last two pix were also taken my Nancy. There I am in the background.

Dana is the maker of this darling purse. Lucky Tierney received this as a gift. She also had hand spun yarn inside.

Quilter's have to eat! Nancy is a wonderful cook as well as a wonderful quilter!!!!

We played a few games after dinner on Saturday night. We really had a lot of fun.

Yes, the host is has quite a job description! She always had a great attitude...what a good sport.

The gals had Secret Sisters and would leave little presents at their partner's sewing machines. It was so fun to see what they came up with for their "sisters". My friend Lisa, was so sweet to include me. She was the sneaky person who left me treats...lots of treats!  She made the shopping tote bag from a piece of the fun toweling that is available now for crafting as well as kitchen towels. Thank you so much Lisa.

Such fun gifts for the quilter. My most favorite gift is this blue packet of blue fat quarters. I just adore the prints. Lisa said it was a MUST to show her what ever I decide to make out of the group. Hum....need to come up with something cute to showcase the fabrics.

I hope you enjoyed a look at my fun weekend!