Wyoming Breezes

I haven't seen any robins yet in the area around my apartment, but a pair of doves have been trying to build a nest on the top of the patio light. I don't think they will succeed, but at least they get an A for effort. A couple of weeks ago, one of my neighbors had five deer outside her building, nibbling on the shrubs. A resident rabbit and squirrel family have been scurrying around the various trees, and a pair of crows have appeared by the hedge, but no robins.

Dot to Dot fun during social distancing April 2020 Last summer, I spotted an unused, Dot to Dot booklet in the local Goodwill store for $.50, and on a whim put it in my shopping cart. While cleaning out the magazine basket beside my knitting chair last week, I found the booklet and began working on a few of the pages. The numbers are tiny, and my eyes are old, so a magnifying glass is an essential aide. It has been fun watching the images appear under my pen. My niece asked if it was therapeutic: in a way, I suppose it is. Since the booklet has 98 puzzles, I'm certainly getting $.50 worth of enjoyment out it. Have you discovered some unexpected distractions while social distancing?

A10 - Pointed Fun mystery QOV completed 69 x 76 inches Quilt of Valor #179 The final clue for the A10 - Pointed Fun mystery QOV was released last Wednesday. So far in 2020, I have met my goal of sewing two Quilts of Valor per month.

scrappy sewing April 2020 I grabbed a shoe box full of 2.5 inch squares and scraps to sew into two-patch units during a FaceTime call with Marilyn and Brenda. Before I knew it, the box was empty and the stack (before pressing) was over 3 inches tall.  We have scheduled these calls on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons since March 28th. It's  great time to chat and work on projects.

from Facebook If you don't understand the image, then this information on the Van Gogh Gallery site will help explain it.

clue #5 completed April 2020 The individual pieces are starting to become larger units for Scrap Dance Twist mystery QAL. I worked on these units during a FaceTime call with Marilyn and Brenda on Sunday afternoon.

preparing to trim excess batting and backing from a recently machine-quilted QOV April 2020 Two Quilts of Valor (QOV) were recently sent to a volunteer longarm quilter in SD, and last week the quilts were returned to me to finish. When I sent the quilt tops and backing, I reassured the longarmer that I had been self-isolating and that my area (at that time) had only one positive case of COVID-19. When she returned the quilts, she stated she and her husband were also homebodies and hadn't been in contact with the virus or any sick individuals. The national QOV foundation has included a disclaimer on the request for a volunteer longarmer that the those filling out the form agree with quarantine conditions, i.e. social distancing, not working on projects when ill, disinfecting surfaces, etc. No QOV will be awarded to veterans until June or possibly later, depending on public health timelines. Hopefully, these guidelines will give volunteers the peace of mind to continue maki...

clue #4 April 2020 Clue #4 of Pointed Fun resulted in a completed middle section of the quilt.  The edges of the quilt, specifically the cornerstones, will be trimmed flush with the setting triangles before adding the final border.

starting with a 500 piece puzzle April 2020 Wanting a different distraction, I selected a puzzle (500 pieces) from the shelf in the garage and got to work. I haven't worked on a jigsaw puzzle in months, yet this one came together very quickly. tackling a 1,000 piece puzzle April 2020 After the smaller puzzle was assembled, I worked on a 1,000 piece puzzle of various china cups and saucers. It was a challenging puzzle but fun, too.  I prefer puzzles with irregular pieces, and this puzzle's cut was ideal with small and large odd-shaped pieces. I have several new puzzles stashed in the garage, so between them, my knitting, and my sewing, I should be able to keep myself busy, challenged, and entertained for several more weeks. What kind of puzzles (jigsaw, word, number) do you like to tackle?

funeral service Facebook Live Laramie, WY Monday, April 13, 2020 A member of my church family died recently after a long battle with cancer. In Wyoming, under social distancing requirements, only ten or fewer people can gather together in one room, and they should be up to six feet apart. Based on these requirements, the family gave the pastor permission to stream the funeral service for the rest of the congregation and family friends. It broke my heart to see the empty church and the gentleman's family separated in the first three pews on the right. One of the pallbearers sat in an adjoining room with his wife. While watching the service, I reflected on this sad reality caused by the coronavirus. COVID-19 has changed our world and continues to change our daily lives and behavior.

April 2020 Clue #3, released last Wednesday, placed all the churn dash blocks on point in five rows with sashing and cornerstones, if desired. I like how the colored cornerstones break up the sashing and add another design element to the top. The next clue will be published today and will probably include cutting and sewing the setting triangles to the rows and then sewing the rows together. This mystery has been quick and easy. I like the look of this mystery Quilt of Valor.

Social Distancing 57 x 72 inches Quilt of Valor #178 With the large piano key border at the top and bottom, it seemed appropriate to name this QOV Social Distancing .  I'll finish it with red binding after it's quilted. I used the  Movie Star pattern by Villa Rosa Designs for this quilt. I added the gray frame around the center star to allow it to "float" and to also add width to meet the QOV minimum requirement.

cloth ties April 2020 Like many other quilters around the world, my sewing room has turned into a factory. I've been making masks for friends, family, and members of my church. So far, I have produced over 50 masks. My community has four confirmed cases of COVID-19. The local hospital has been receiving medical-grade mask donations from businesses and the University of Wyoming, so I decided to donate masks to community members. I anticipate once the pandemic rate has leveled off and the Stay at Home orders are lifted, individuals will be asked to wear masks in public for a period of time.

From my house to yours  Happy Easter! Even though many are celebrating the resurrection  by streaming a church service, it does not dampen the joy  He is Risen!  He is Risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

I completed the census form online. It was quick and easy.  Have you been counted?

forty four-patch blocks completed April 2020 Originally, the clues for Scrap Dance Twist were scheduled to be released monthly, but due to most of the country being under Stay at Home orders to flatten the COVID-19 curve, the clues will be released twice a month on the first and third Fridays. project basket with completed clues and fabrics cut for future clues.  I'm happy to have two mystery quilts in the works and pleased that I'm keeping up with the clues.

spring socks in progress April 2020 Most of the bloggers I read regularly live in warmer climates. The photos on those blogs are full of spring growth, blossoms, and color. Spring will not arrive here in the high plains for several weeks, so my craving for color has to be satisfied with knitting and quilting. Searching my stash, I found a beautiful skein of sock yarn, received from Valerie in a swap several years ago . This luscious yarn is divine to knit! April 2020 I'm working on the heel flap and with any luck, this pair will be finished by Easter. Thank you Valerie for this beautiful skein of yarn!

four completed churwndash blocks with red background April 2020 Clue #2 for the mystery QAL - Mystery A10 - Pointed Fun - resulted in four additional churn dash blocks, made with red fabrics. The nine blue blocks were completed for clue #1

We the People #2 60 x 72 inches Quilt of Valor #177 We the People #2 was fun to make, using a free pattern Pillars of Strength by Elaine Theriault. I would definitely use this pattern again.

completed Old Fashioned Peppermint socks March 2020 I didn't attempt to match this pair because it was nearly impossible to know which section of red would produce which stripe. I just let the yarn do it's own thing, and in the end it doesn't really matter. This is the first pair of socks completed in 2020. The first pair I've knit since August 2019 - seven months! October, November and December I knit Sockhead cowls from scrap sock yarn, but for two months (January and February) my knitting needles were idle: I had zero interest in picking up the needles. Social distancing is providing ample time to knit socks, using sock yarn stash. I found a perfect "spring" yarn for the next pair of socks.

trimmed half-square triangles March 2020 It's satisfying to tackle and complete a dreaded task. I've been meaning to trim/square these HSTs for nearly three months, but I kept putting it off. On Sunday afternoon, I finally took the time. The HSTs range in size from 2.5 - 5 inches. I don't have a plan for how to use these HSTs: something will present itself, and when it does, they are prepped and ready to sew. I also managed to tidy my sewing room. I feels good to complete tasks I've neglected too long. Is social distancing helping you complete some neglected tasks?