march 24 2020 Tuesday.

[purrfect-lady]

Good morning,

It was another one of those sleepless in Seattle nights so I was up reading for 3 hours and slept in a bit. Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I actually had a good birthday in spite of our situation. It was an unforgettable one for sure! I got in my walk, baked cake and cupcakes Then we had a nice drive around some of the back roads around here that we haven't been on in years and dropped cupcakes on the porches of our 3 best couple friends, face-timed with my two daughters, talked with my brothers and sisters, and face-timed happy hour with more good friends. And I made several masks. I'm almost out of elastic and hoping my big spool arrives when promised - by April 1st. And that I can get out to the UPS store to pick it up. And I listened to our governor who has issued a modified shelter in place order. Only essential businesses stay open. People stay home unless considered essential. He is allowing restaurants to stay open for take out and we can go pick up orders. Which I think we're going to do tonite.

SHERRY, I think we all realize our homemade masks aren't going to be used for sterile use. But there are other uses that hospitals and clinics can use them for and that frees up the sterile masks for procedures that require them. Many hospitals in the Olympia area are requesting them and my veterinary hospital is ecstatic to receive some from me. Besides, it gives us purpose and focus and something to do to 'help the cause'. Here they are begging for blood donations so I have an appointment to do that, too, next Monday.

JUDI - kind of nice to have at least one person who is considered essential so he can be out and get groceries for you. In the old days, masks had ties and we're going old school on a lot of things lately! So sew on! I'll be doing ties shortly myself if my elastic doesn't arrive soon. It has been shipped.

JANA - a lot of 'rockin' and rollin'' going on at your house! How are Kate and Aaron doing with their job/home situation? They both have high risk jobs with two little girls at home.

CINDY - thanks! How is Don doing? When is his next chemo. My hands are taking a beating, too, from the sanitizer and extra washing. My dermatologist told me not to use hand sanitizer or very hot water but I doubt he was envisioning times like this when he issued those orders! I'll be making an appt with him when this is all over for sure!

LORI - I DID have cake! from scratch! Yum! And we ordered pizza and picked it up while out on our cupcake ride yesterday. Best pizza I ever ate! Are you able to take dog walks with your shelter in place order? We can still get out for walks and bike rides as long as we stay 6' from anyone else. Hardly any traffic so if we pass another person on the road, someone walks down the middle line!

MARY Q - hope your Evie had a good birthday, though I'm sure she missed her gramma!

LOIS - we ordered our elastic from CTSUSA.com. 144 yrds of 1/4", braided (flat can't be found). $36, free shipping.

On today's schedule is walk, shower, sanitize all the touch points in the house and sew masks. And go fetch our mail. Our stay home order doesn't take effect until tomorrow at 5pm-ish. Fortunately, we need nothing at the store so no need to go stand in the early line with all those 'old people'!

Stay home, safe, well, and busy!

mary z

[Quiltmom]

Good morning all! Today first day of required shelter in place in Ohio except to grocery shop or go to pharmacy. You can also go to Lowe's and other home repair places probably so the men won't go crazy and have time to do repairs at home.

I just drove out to the end of my driveway and picked up my paper from the box. Went yesterday to stock up on cat and dog food just in case. Couldn't believe how empty the cat and dog food shelves were also. Got enough to us through also found one pack of paper towels so grabbed that since I am low. The place was packed and most had big carts and they were stuffed full. I paid for my animal food and paper towels and left. I have plenty of food for me here. At least 2-3 weeks worth left from my winter stash. I just can't get over the hoarding of some people.

I am glad to read about making masks. On the news last night they talked about people who made them but were turned down when they tried to give them to places. Guess it just depends on where you live.

Well better go get breakfast for us. Going to work on my UGRR blocks today and my cross stitch project while watching DVDs. Boy do I miss my sports.

Hope everyone has a good day and stay safe.

Sherry

[WeeOne]

I'm back from Safeway and seniors getting a chance at first grabs. Mostly a bust! No toilet paper or paper towels. I wanted an extra of each for when we return but it will have to wait. I did get some food and ice tea for my trip.

My brother, Larry, thought he could get Dad moved, maybe next week to the new place. He didn't even get a chance to ask Mackenzie Place if it was going to be possible, because he first went to Parkwood Apts where Dad lives now and was told NO you cannot move him out at this time, we are on lockdown and we can't have that many people coming in and out. Actually, I'm thankful because Dad is familiar with where he is and we can still get in and see him. I don't think the other place would allow us to visit because they're closer to a nursing home status.

Belated Birthday wishes to Becca and MaryZ.

Praying for all of you to stay healthy.
Lyn

[fabricgirl]

Good News I scored 144 yards of elastic on ebay.

[maryq]

Good Morning Girls

Happy Tuesday Everyone...

Kathy: Must be ESP, I was thinking about going for a drive today.. not stopping for anything, but just a ride in the country to get out for a little bit. Normally I'm quite content to stay in, but I'm starting to get the hee-bee-jeebies! I'm not sure if MN has declared total lock down yet, but I'm kind of scared to go into a store. Kind of wonder why anybody would take a baby shopping! but perhaps they had no choice. I've seen people taken tiny babies to Las Vegas... in the Casinos! CRAZY

Suzette... My Canadian kids are out of school the rest of the year... seems like a lot of school to miss. But they are setting up online classes for them. Maybe they will do that in VA too. Now I know I am so grateful for my fabric stash. I think I have fabric I bought in 2007 and it's coming in handy for making masks!

Lois... So frustrating to not be able to find what we need to help out! I ordered some elastic on line too, but in the meantime I'm just cutting pieces to be ready. In my stash I found about 1yd of Nurse print! I was so excited. I might venture to the dollar store today and see if they have elastic hair ties.. OR might dig around and cut the straps off some old bras! There's a gal on FB here with lots of elastic but she wants $50. for 300yd.... can't take that out of the budget right now. FOUND SOME ON EBAY TOO! Should have by Monday!

Becca.... If I don't get the elastic I ordered soon, I think I'll have to resort to ties. I have seen where some nurses prefer them... but the pattern that the FB group I belong to is using elastic. Who knew that elastic would be so hard to find.

Velda.... You'll be heading back to IL soon... Gosh I hope your trip back is safe. Good thing is you don't have to be in a real hurry and have your own home right there with you.

Jana... How nice you can give the boys their haircuts! Years ago I cut my boys hair too... and DEX's... I'd do it outside on the deck.. one year we found DEX's hair in a bird nest! Good thing Ethan has some online school work.. you know bored kids get in the summer without school.

Judi... You were lucky to find ground beef! I may have to drive down to Sara's dad's meat market to find some... I have enough chicken to last a little while. I was going to ask how long the tie pieces need to be... I tried one bias tap ties, but made them too short! Yeah for 20lb....

Flo... A HUGE thank you to your son for staying on the road.. I hope folks he meets along the way are generous in their support for him and all the truck drivers that are trying to deliver much needed supplies.

Cindy... Oh my goodness.. yes my hands too are getting so dry! Even under normal circumstances I'm kind of a nut about hand washing... but the hand sanitizer really does a job on them. On my next shopping list is bag balm, which is pure lanolin... supposed to work great for chapped hands. How is Don doing? He is on my daily prayer list too. Is he still driving? Not the long hauls he used to do I hope.

Maryz… I did facetime with Evie yesterday... She is loving being out of school. This week is their spring break, but next week they will start some online classes. DIL is working from home now too, and Shawn only goes out to work occasionally, he's a land surveyor. Oh how I would love to be able to donate blood... but alas, I had hepatitis as a kid and can't. Wonder if they could use even my plasma? Probably not.

Sherry... I agree folks have gone a little bit nuts, but the folks with full carts may be buying for others that are shut in too. At least I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt. But hoarding for the sake of hoarding is so wrong. We're in this together, we need to share!

Lyn.... For now, it's probably good Dad is in a safe place. A lot of facilities here aren't taking new admits either.

It's taken me almost 2 hours to type this note.... you know how bouncy I am... so I'll close and get butt in gear.. Am scoping out Ebay for elastic since Lois found some there! Crossing my fingers that I can find some that will arrive SOON!

Stay safe everyone

[auntjana]

Just got a e-mail from one of my friends in the Ward. They are suggesting making a happy sign for your front window - big enough to be seen as someone drives by. A inspirational thought, what ever floats your boat. Poster board size, or several pieces of printer paper taped together. Sounds like a fun idea for us or kids to make, to help someone who needs a smile during this time, yet staying safe. This is what we do - band together to help others!

Use what we have, markers, glitter, fabric, whatever craft supplies hiding in your Batt Caves!

Jana

[grammiequilts]

Good morning ladies,
I'm up early my dd sent me a text lastnight she wants me to make mask problem is there is no 1/4 " elastic I tried to order on line but I wouldn't get it till may .

Judi how long do the ties have to be I will make strips at least they will be able to tie them.
Kathy so glad you were able to get your meds
I dont know what people are thinking bringing babies out especially this time when people have to be careful.
Suzette enjoy your sew day.

Well that's it for me everyone have a great day
Prayers go out to all.
Lois

Lois I was told between 18 and 20 inches on each corner,,I am hoping this will get to your post

[KATHYSQUILTS]

Hello I'm here to check up on you.

I finally got some sleep still feel a little drugged. I need to do a few uglies.
Just got off the phone with my sister, she's going crazy with nothing to do. Washed her windows!

Love & prayers..........Kathy

[zfatcat]

Maryz, we can still walk the dogs in the neighborhood. I just take different routes to mix it up. I'll continue to do so until the instate Marshall Law. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Hi Cindy. Hope Don is doing okay.

Well I went to the grocery store today. They had way more stuff, and not too many people. Still no paper products. I'm thinking of trying a different store. I know Stater Bros orders in bulk, and when they run out that's it until the next shipment. So I will try elsewhere. We are good for a while.

I started quilting a top that's been sitting around for a while. Hoping to get it done by tomorrow.

Have a great evening.

[Marilynsgrammy]

well it's almost bedtime but I thought I'd come here for a quickie.

At work they handed each of us a letter in case we need to show authorities. The letter basically says where we work and that we are essential.

Don't you love the catchphrases.? and how quickly we all learn them. Essential. Flatten the curve. Social Distancing, etc. And why on earth is the go to item toilet paper?

Maryz, Moose doesn't wear a head ruffle, he gets his head ruffled. I personally think you are a few rungs above dispensable on the ladder.

Maryq, we haven't had sunshine for a couple of days either. but I sometimes like this grey rainy days. glad you are good for a couple of weeks.

Lori, your projects are coming along nicely. I have a quilt to layer and quilt for quilt club. then finally I am going to start my parents quilt. I was going to do the pattern Maryz gave me but have decided on a Jacobs ladder instead. that is unless I change my mind

Kathy, by now you should be itch free. yay you.

Velda, from what I have seen here there is very little toilet paper and almost no hand sanitizer. There are "recipes" on google that will tell you how to make hand sanitizer. Where I work it goes out as quickly as it comes in.

Jana, funny Sarah is banning the word NO. what a hoot.

Lyn, I have to say I am glad Dad is staying until it's safe to move him. sorry shopping was a bust.

Lois, yay for getting elastic. you go girl.

Cindy, you can't come here and post something and not let us know how Don is doing. Not that's just not fair.

Lori, I hope it doesn't come to Marshall law either. Guess we will wait and see.

It just started pouring rain here I'm watching This Is Us and will soon go to bed. Hope you all have a marvelous tomorrow.

Take care, and keep your distance.
Chriss