Saturday January 24th

[maryq]

Good Morning Girls

Yippee!!! We've warmed up to only about 13 Below and we're going to get up to 2 Below! Still under cold weather advisory until noon or so, but doesn't matter to me, I'm not going any where! I'm more concerned about y'all down south as it looks like you guys are really going to get a mess. Snow is bad enough but freezing rain ahead of time is much worse!! Stay Home and Sew!

Judi... Gotta love a guy that will bring you a cup of coffee!! Every morning when I ask Alexa what the temp is, she's been reminding me that exposed skin can get frostbite in 10 minutes in these temps!! So not a bad idea to stay in I'm thinkin'! Katie usually goes and picks up the mail for all of us in out little quad here, but it's been too cold to even go do that! Chinese dinner sounds so good -- does Colleen make from scratch or order in?

Maryz... Did you get Red Keds shoes? I remember, must have been mid 60's when that was THE shoe---I mean you were cool if you had Keds shoes! Though my mom always bought "generic" of everything (my first Barbie Doll was a generic one ) But it was really cool if you had the ones with the little Keds logo on the heel! With bobby sox of course!-- or no sox in the summer!! I really should make a list of the quilts I've made. I'll have to go back to the postimages site to see them all. Any idea how many you've made over the years? You've been quilting longer than I! Good to hear from Sue and Cindy, and glad that they still keep close together for each other. Did they know each other before the forum was formed in 2007? Amazing the friendships that have been made here isn't it!

Tinab..... Do you remember an old "Cheers" Episode where Norm says "Women..... can't live with 'em.... pass the beer nuts" The same is true of men.... Can't live with 'em.... can't live without them... pass the beer nuts. Most times I think we just walk around shaking our heads at them---and they probably do the same. I'm glad he likes the quilt tops you made!! Do you take your quilts to somebody to LA for you or are these ones you tie at your church? The local catholic church here has a group of ladies that make them and just tie them. I'm saving some of the scraps for them.

Jana... Oh I bet that little boy with get the hang of nursing!! Isn't it amazing the pumps they have these days! We just had those little bulb things!!

Diane.... Glad you have the generator ready to go. We have this really cold right now and our snow season isn't over, but I haven't heard of too many folks worried about losing powers. Minnesota is just so used to this stuff, that I think the electric and Natural gas companies make sure that the power grid can stand the extra heat! If summers get really hot and a lot of folks run AC, then the electric company gets a little nervous and asks everyone to take a break once in a while.

Lyn... Glad the new glasses are working out! Hope you enjoy your day puttering around and that you'll get to spend a little time in the cabin--even if you just stand and stare at it and imagine all the great things you will be able to do out there eventually. Back in 2009, when I'd spend my weekends with my Mom, I thought of all the things I could be doing if I could stay home on the weekends--I was still working full time. I reminded myself that someday Mom would be gone and I would cherish those moments I spent with her. I know that someday... you too will cherish the memories of the days spent with Garry and you'll be glad you put your life on hold for just a little while.

Denise... Oh so good to see you peek in from time to time!! I have a little needle case that you made for me years ago--Secret Santa maybe? I use it all the time and marvel at your beautiful handwork. I've been doing some hand embroidery lately so I keep the needle case close by!

Chriss... It's going to be another putter around day here----how about you? Oh I hear you, Amazon is dangerous!! It's so darn convenient! especially when it's so cold and I don't want to go outside! I found a cool pattern I want to do, but it needs a Strip Tube Ruler, and dang wouldn't you know it... Amazon has it!! Not that I NEED another ruler, but I'm thinking I'll have much better results if I use the ruler the pattern calls for!

Lori... I'm guessing back in the pioneer days before real furnaces and electric heat, a lot of people in MN froze to death! When we lived in northern MN we heated the house with wood. It was an all electric house so if we didn't use wood our electric bill would be about $400-500 a month! Hence we hauled wood! It was a PITA and I never wanted to see firewood again after we moved from there. Thankfully I only had to endure 2 winters there.

Normally, since it's Saturday it would be chore day here, but I just took a shower so I'm nice and clean and I don't want to get stinky sweaty washing floors and scrubbing toilets, so I'll postpone chores until tomorrow. I do need to tidy up a bit, unload the dishwasher and clean up the mess I made on the couch last night. Usually I sit and knit baby hats at night, but I got bored with that so I pulled out some hand embroidery projects that have been sitting around. I finished a little winter panel that I bought who-knows-when and a red work panel that KC gave me. That will keep my hands busy until I get bored with that and I go back to knitting. Always lots of options around here!

Won't see you all tomorrow morning, but I'll check in in the evening and see if the server job is all done and we can be back up and running!

In the meantime... stay warm and cozy and tucked in as much as possible!

[Marilynsgrammy]

Good morning. It is so foggy outside that I can't see to the end of the driveway. But that is nothing compared to the weather that a lot of you are having. This space heater I have is wonderful if you are sitting right in front of it like Moose and I are doing. But get up to refill the coffee cup and instant cold. My furnace is to be installed Monday and I am so very grateful for that.

Today I will do more work in my sewing room. I've gone through my books and patterns, and I refuse to admit that I had 3 of the same book and more than a couple of duplicate patterns. I blame all the thrift stores and garage/estate sales I've been to. I'm going to work harder on not just buying it, and only getting it if I really want it. My current philosophy is that "it's only a dollar" I should put those dollars in a piggy bank when I think that.

I bought myself an immersion blender, it came yesterday. I don't own a mixer or a blender so this will fix that. I've seen some great creamy soup recipes and want to give them a shot.

Lori, sounds like the excitement will start happening at your house. It's fun to redo the kitchen. Hoping that you love the outcome. Glad Jonathan will stay warm during this storm. I really hope that the hype is just that and that it ends up fizzling out. I still need to work on my bathrooms. When that's done it will be floors and painting, then I will be pretty much done, and can get going on the garage and outside. I want to redo my yard and the fence around the pasture. The fence will likely just be a dream.

Judi, I have never and don't plan to ever experience that kind of cold. I pray it's over quickly.

Maryz, love your dino quilt. I bet you get that library quilt done long before the deadline. Thanks for the update on Sue and Cindy. Got my ghost book yesterday, the fabric will be here on Monday or Tuesday, it's in Kansas City Mo. I hope it thaws out before it arrives. If Richard wants a tool he goes out and gets it, but, my dad has made it known that every tool in his garage goes to Richard. Dad was a mechanic on his days off from the fire department. He has every snap on tool made and more. Lucky Richard, ha ha. I'm not sure I have thousands but maybe a thousand dollars worth in tools and tool boxes. Mine aren't anything special, just a lot of them. The frustrating part is that in 22 years Jerry never organized them, it's a mess.

Tina, you'd be half crazy to drive or even go out in this weather. I think you are wise to stay home, it will guarantee that you are available for the next church event. Glad DH has changed his tune. Maybe he was just having an off day.

Jana, glad that Spike is doing well. stay warm.

Diane, hope you get to stay indoors, keep warm.

Lyn, amazing how many things need to be attended too. Thankfully most can be put off till hte next day. I will also toss my sheets in the washer today, hope to see you in the laundry room. Amazing how that washer puts in the right amount of water for the load. whether you choose to travel to see Garry or not during this weather I pray you stay safe and warm.

Denise, I like when you show up, it's good to see you. glad you are still doing that beautiful hand stitching.

Lois, high five to Olivia. that's a lot of money, hope she gets some amazing perks. wow, what a gal.

Maryq, yep, another putter around day here too. Get the ruler. My goal for February is to not buy anything that I really don't need.

Dinner tonight will be that sausage and cabbage concoction I was going to make yesterday, thankfully I found a small head of cabbage. and today I plan to work in my sewing room a bit more.

Have a fantastically wonderful day
Chriss

[zfatcat]

Judi, oh how I wish I could sleep that long. The cold hurts my hands and face too.

Maryz, I think you're right about your gait being off. New shoes can do that. Love the dinosaur quilt. I tried the muscle relaxer the doctor prescribed and it did nothing. So I quilt taking it. I've just been icing more and that seems to help. I like sewing at home, but sewing with friends is really fun. There's more chatting and laughing than sewing. I got a few small things done. Fried rice sounds good. Maybe I'll do that for dinner too.

Tina, I think I would stay home as well.

Diane, I hope you don't have to use the generator, but it's good to have just in case.

Lyn, have fun unpacking. Stay warm.

Jana, you're having a heat wave in Utah.

Hi Denise, Oh my that is really cold. I would definitely stay inside.

Lois, did you get your coffee? That's a must in that weather. That's great news about Olivia.

Maryq, that's a lot for electricity. I think I would burn wood as well. I've heard that electrical heating is more expensive than gas. The dust isn't going anywhere and neither are you. Enjoy your day.

Chriss, I hope it's more hype than actually storm too. I try not to buy new patterns because I have so many books and patterns, but sometimes I can't resist. I haven't bought the some on twice though. I've been looking though my books for ideas on using up fabric. I need more ideas. I also need to purge some stuff.

I had a fun day hanging out and sewing yesterday. We were talking about knitting and that we haven't done any in a while. I bought a book that came in the mail yesterday that's called "Meditative Knitting." It has simple patterns and talks about the calming affects knitting can have. I came home and pulled some Alpaca yarn I bought in Sister's a few years and started knitting one of the patterns out of the book. The yarn is absolutely yummy soft. Today I'm going to finish up my Wonky Hearts and figure out a table runner pattern for them.

Dinner will be baked potatoes w/chili and cheese.

Have a lovely day. Hope everyone stays warm.