Wyoming Breezes

March 2021 The HSTs mentioned in Monday's post are slowly being prepped for the blocks they will become. I've used the pattern ( Tail Feathers ) once before and liked the finished quilt .   Unfortunately, I made a mistake when I was cutting the white setting triangles; I don't have enough fabric to recut and fix the error, so I'm shrugging off my mistake and forging ahead. This quilt with have a unique "design element."  I'm sure once the blocks are sewn together it will be noticeable to the Quilt Police, but every block will have the "error," so it may not be obvious to non-quilters. 

March 2021 It's been a long time since I knit a pair of socks, so I pulled a ball of the Perth yarn, ordered in January , from my stash. I have never knit with this yarn before, so the socks are somewhat of an experiment.  This sock yarn is more of a fine (light) fingering weight than most of the sock yarn that I have in my stash. The strand is often plied with two colors which creates the gradual color changes. I love the dark rose and gold, but the orange and forest green don't really appeal to me in this ball of yarn. I doubt the socks will be a matching pair, but that doesn't usually matter that much to me.  This color way is Great Barrier Reef #122 The yarn knits well and creates a nice fabric with only a bit of splitting. Since it contains 80% Superwash wool and 20% nylon, the socks should wash and wear well. The price was very reasonable ($13.50) for a 100 gram ball - 437 yards. I hope the yarn does not pill or bloom after washing, as that is the ultimate test of an ...

ninety half-square triangles trimmed and squared March 2021 The only things I've actually accomplished in the sewing room lately are piles of HSTs - 120 HSTs last week and 90 HSTs this week. The HSTs are for two Quilts of Valor that I'm currently making.  This week's HSTs required making six of each fabric, so I made them two at a time. Last week's project required making multiple HSTs of the same fabrics, so I made eight at a time. I was pleasantly surprised that each method resulted in very little waste and each unit squared accurately without any trouble. 

one hundred-twenty HSTs March 2021 Sunday's FaceTime call resulted in 120 HSTs for a new Quilt of Valor. The technique used by the pattern made eight HSTs from two 10 inch squares of fabric. This week I will press the HSTs and hopefully square them before next Sunday. These pieces will be used to make Friendship Stars.  I received the second Moderna shot last Thursday. The side effects have been a sore arm and fatigue for a couple of days, some joint aches, and some mild itching at the injection site. The first shot resulted in a spreading rash at the injection site one week after being vaccinated. That rash grew to 3 inches in diameter and itched like crazy for nearly two weeks before it faded. Because of the rash after the first dose, I had the second shot in the other arm. In my case, the rash is a delayed reaction, so I will keep a watchful eye on the injection site for the four/five days. Did you have any side effects from the vaccine?

Snowman in Depot Park Laramie, WY  March 2021 It took several days for Laramie to dig out from the blizzard (winter storm Xylia ) that hit last weekend. Snowblowers and heavy equipment were the workhorses after the storm. Some people moved snow with shovels, but it was hard work lifting the heavy, wind-packed snow.  Grand Villa walks cleared with snowblowers March 2021 The grounds crew at Grand Villa typically clear the sidewalks and driveways with a small John Deere and blade, but the aftermath of Xylia was too much for the little tractor. Heavy duty snowblowers were brought in to cut through the drifts, and heavy equipment cleared and piled the parking lot snow.  I was relieved that I didn't have to deal with the removal of the snow. 

side one March 2021 Last week, I finished the second Silver Lining Hat, made with scrap sock yarn. This one was knit according to the pattern, but with sock yarn instead of lace weight.  The pattern is free online; although, it can also be purchased on Ravelry..  Free pattern is available here Ravelry pattern is available here side two March 2021 I took the completed hat to Cowgirl Yarns for their current hat drive. 

Anyone who uses a CPAP machine knows that the flow of air can dry the nose and throat, so most CPAPs have a humidifier attachment. I have used a CPAP since 2003, and the manufacturers recommend using distilled water in the humidifier.  Typically, I can purchase distilled water in the grocery store for about a dollar a gallon. Recently I ordered supplies online for my CPAP therapy, and saw the "Hydration Fluid" on the website. Supposedly this is a patent-pending product purer than distilled water and will reduce contaminates and build up in the humidifier.  At $3.99 for 12 ounces, it would cost over $41.00 to purchase a gallon of hydration fluid. That is ridiculous! 

shredding files March 2021 Over the last few days, I spent a lot of time preparing for the storm, cutting fabric, and shredding old files. Since downsizing to move, I minimize the paperwork/files that I keep. When the most recent taxes are filed and the paperwork has been returned from the accountant, I place the papers in the designated storage bin and remove the oldest file (keeping only seven years of paperwork) and shredding the papers.  Before I moved, I kept way too much paperwork, and my small shredder could not manage the bulk. The Print Shop in Riverton sold large bags that could be stuffed with paper to be shredded and then sealed. A shredding truck picked up the bags and shredded them.  By removing and shredding an old file once a year, my small shredder can easily handle the task. How do you manage your old files?

fabric and pattern selection for a Quilt of Valor March 2021 On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I pulled and cut fabric for two Quilts of Valor. One will be made with a "new" pattern and one from a pattern I used previously.    fat quarter selection for a Quilt of Valor March 2021 While technically not Fat Quarters (FQ), these fabrics are too small to use by themselves. The pattern requires fifteen FQs, and as luck would have it, I had fifteen small pieces of fabric in my stash.  All the fabrics have been cut to the patterns' specifications, and all I need to do is find time to sew. 

preparing for a power outage March 2021 Early last week, meteorologists predicted a massive snowstorm would hit the area over the weekend. They warned it would be slow moving and would have the potential to become a historic storm with accumulations measured in feet, not inches.  Blizzard warnings were issued in conjunction with this storm, so I began to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  I have a stocked pantry, so I did not need to shop for provisions. I got the oil lanterns out of storage, found candles and flashlights and batteries in the closet, and retrieved a portable propane heater from the garage. Snow began on Saturday evening and continued through Sunday. The wind howled all night, and all day on Sunday. It's impossible to determine how much snow fell because of drifting, but unofficial reports on Sunday afternoon, stated Laramie had received 18-20", and it is still snowing as I write this. Thankfully, the electricity stayed on and I didn’t need to use th...

Has someone sprinkled you with kindness lately?

nearing the end March 2021 I'm on the home stretch of the second Silver Lining hat: I have 1.5 inches left to knit before beginning the decreases. This hat has a more subtle color change because I used the same variegated yarn throughout and two solid colors - pale blue-green, and cream . On Saturday afternoon, I knit while watching The Call , starring Halle Berry. It was an excellent and intense movie if you like psychological drama and horror: I'd give it a five-star rating even though it rattled me a bit.  Have you watched a good movie recently?

women's size 4 1/2  February 2021 Julie ( JulieKQuilts ) and I have read each other's blogs for years. She is a scrappy quilter, a compassionate nurse, and an online friend. She told me recently that she tried to knit a pair of socks and quit in frustration. Julie wanted to send the yarn to me, and I told her I would gladly knit her a pair of socks from the yarn. Julie has teeny tiny feet and knitting the socks didn't take any time at all. I just wish that I had completed them before the cold snap hit Texas because Julie didn't have any heat in her house. To keep warm, she wrapped herself and her poodle (Rosie) in some of the beautiful quilts she makes. 

Bicentennial 60 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #200 It took eleven years to reach the milestone of making 200 Quilts of Valor, but I did not reach this point by myself. I had a lot of help along the way.  I want to thank LuAnn W (Michigan), Sharon F. (Virginia), Jean F. (Iowa), Judy M. (Virginia), Marilyn M. (Colorado), Teresa C. (Tennessee), LeAnn H. (California), Connie H. (Minnesota), Marty S. (Tennessee), Jo K. (Iowa), Karin H. (New Mexico), Sue O. (Wyoming), gMarie, Pat S., and Karen V.  These individuals donated blocks, fabric, patterns, kits, UFOs, and backings for Quilts of Valor. Another group that made the 200 QOV possible were the volunteer longarmers from across the United States.  I am grateful for the support of these generous individuals. Together we were able to honor 200 veterans for their service to our country. Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen! Update — November 2021 presented in Idaho November 2021