Wyoming Breezes

 12.5 inch star blocks June 2021 After trimming the bonus HSTs from Diamonds in the Rough , I paired them with 6.5 inch squares to make stars for a Quilt of Valor. The bonus HSTs will make 12 star blocks.  I started sewing these during Sunday's FaceTime call and had to switch sewing machines because the machine I had repaired last month began acting up again. It sewed perfectly for numerous hours as I worked on Diamonds in the Rough , and then suddenly on Sunday, it quit pulling fabric through the feed dogs again. I tried everything I could think of to remedy the problem: turning the machine off, changing the needle, changing the bobbin, cleaning out the dust bunnies under the feed dogs, changing the spool of thread, but nothing worked. This issue is frustrating because it didn’t act up in the repair shop; hopefully this time it will. 

Diamonds in the Rough 63 x 79 inches Quilt of Valor #204 Diamonds in the Rough was finished last week, and used a LOT of 2.5 inch scraps. The Missouri Star pattern, Sunny Skies , turns even the most random colors into an attractive quilt. I used a 2.5 inch white frame around the center blocks, and added a 5.5 inch border on all sides.  If you look closely, you will see three stars as well as three diamonds. 

I've worn glasses since fourth or fifth grade, and over the years, I've worn a wide variety of frame styles. I've never been completely happy with the frames I've worn, but it's difficult to select a frame when you can't see well.  In the early 70s, I wore a small oval frame, and later changed to large frames in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. In the 90s, I opted for an oval frame style, but since the mid-2000s, I’ve worn a rectangular frame.  Since I've had cataract surgery on both eyes, it's time to think about selecting a new frame. I'm leaning towards another rectangular frame in either blue, black, or charcoal gray.  What frame styles have you worn? 

sneak peek at the latest Quilt of Valor June 2021 Even though it seems to be taking forever, the sixteen patch Quilt of Valor is progressing bit by bit. First, I tackled the scrap bin to make four-patch units and then sewed them together into sixteen patch blocks .  The gazillion pile of four-patch units made 39 sixteen-patch blocks, 24 of which are used in this quilt. The remainder will be used in another Quilt of Valor.  This quilt will need borders before it can be declared finished. 

Alpine Shire socks June 2021 It will be fun to wear this bright pair of socks when the weather turns cold. The striping sequence was totally unpredictable, yet the yarn was a delight to knit. I hope the yarn wears and washes well.  This color way would also make a colorful shawl or cowl.  Yarn : Queensland Perth (Alpine Shire) 80% super wash wool/20% nylon Needles : US size 2 Stitches : 64

cutting down Grand Villa trees June 2021 This week chainsaws  and cracking wood can be heard on the morning air -- more trees are being cut down. I was very sad to see the two trees to the west of my front door come down last week. The trees supplied wonderful shade, and I was able to sit on the bench to knit, visit, or read. With the trees felled, it is too uncomfortable to sit in the sun.  both trees were felled in short order I was told the insurance company strongly suggested the trees come down and be replaced with types that did not get as tall.  The Aspen and pine trees will be spared the chainsaw, but all the other species will be felled.  The tree that was planted recently on the south side of my apartment is a Buckeye , and the replacement for  my shade trees will be Hawthorns .

Wyoming COVID vaccination rates (click image to enlarge) I was disappointed, but not surprised, when I saw this graphic two weeks ago. The areas on the map are the individual counties in Wyoming. I live in Albany County. Wyoming residents were upset last year when Governor Gordon issued a mask mandate and restricted gathering sizes. Wyoming residents pride themselves in being independent, and the mandates and restrictions created feelings that the government was infringing on personal freedoms.  I don't see the statistics changing much even though it's possible to easily be vaccinated without an appointment.  What are vaccination rates like in your community/state?

ready to add to 16-patch blocks June 2021 These units are ready to add to the 16-patch units sewn a couple of weeks ago, and by making them, I ended up with a . . . ninety-six half-square triangles It's great to use every bit of fabric when making a quilt. These 96 bonus HSTs will be used to make stars for another project. 

nesting deterrent May 2021 For the second year in a row, a pair of doves have tried multiple times to build nests on the top of my patio lights. I got tired of picking up the twigs, etc., so I used a tip from Brenda: tying a grocery sack around the light.  It worked! No more mess and no more frustrated birds.  I'll remove the bags later this week. 

In this area, gasoline prices typically increase around Memorial Day and stay that way until tourist season ends in the Fall.  Currently the price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is hovering around $3.00 Thanks to the COVID-19 shutdowns, I used only two tanks of gasoline from March 2020 through April 2021. I drove so little, that the car battery had no life in September 2020. After that, I set a reminder to drive the car every week to keep the battery charged. Now, that life is returning to “normal,” I won’t have any worries about a dead battery.  What is the cost of gasoline in your area? 

Alpine Shire socks June 2021 I managed to do a bit of knitting over the last days - finishing one sock and nearly through the cuff on the second sock. The Alpine Shire color way makes me smile as I knit.  preparing to plant June 2021 Besides knitting, I planted a few flowers by the front door, swept and hosed the dregs of winter out of the garage, cleaned the patios and took the furniture out of storage, The weather has been wonderful, and the warmth is definitely welcome. I sat outside soaking up some natural vitamin D while knitting a few rows on the second sock.  On Thursday, I joined three friends for a lengthy lunch and visit at Applebees.  U-haul trucks and trailers are common sights in my neighborhood as university students move home for the summer. Traffic is down considerably around town, and the slower pace of summer is settling on the community. 

fluffy cotton from cottonwood trees June 2021 It's that time of year when the air is full of "cotton" fluff from the area cottonwood trees. The fluff is a nuisance, especially on my patio where it rolls around on the cement and forms large globs. Whenever the door is opened, a fluff ball manages to sneak into the apartment. Some years, it blows through the air like snow.   I'll be glad when the trees stop releasing their seeds encapsulated in the fluffy "cotton."

Patriotic Crackers 65 x 73 inches Quilt of Valor #203 Several of you mentioned that Ritzy Crackers was an odd name for the blocks in this quilt, but I think "cracker" applies to the British Christmas "cracker" rather than the flat crisp that Americans call crackers (i.e. Ritz, rice, saltines, snack, etc.) Whatever the definition, the blocks are quick and easy to make, and in my case, used a lot of red and blue 5 inch squares from my scrap bin. 

door painted with the likeness of Butch Cassidy Laramie, WY Laramie is the home of the historic Wyoming Territorial Prison where Butch Cassidy was imprisoned from 1894 to 1896. Cassidy was one of Wyoming's most infamous citizens, and his exploits are woven throughout Wyoming's early history.  The door with Butch Cassidy's likeness can be found in the alley between First and Second Streets at Ivinson and Grand. 

ready to be planted May 2021 Even though Arbor Day is officially the last Monday in April in Wyoming, it can be quite cold then to be planting trees. Thus, almost a month later, the maintenance crew took advantage of the nice weather and planted several young trees along Binford Street.  You may remember the snow storm that hit this area last June and all the damage that occurred to the trees . Many of the trees in my apartment complex were damaged in that storm, and numerous trees were marked for removal. Since last June, maintenance has removed the problematic trees and their stumps in preparation for the new trees.  It will be fun to watch the trees put down roots and mature. 

nine Ritzy Cracker blocks May 2021 Sunday's FaceTime call was a productive one. Not only did I begin joining the four-patch units (see yesterday's post ) but I also finished the Ritzy Cracker blocks I started a few weeks ago. I now have enough of the blocks to make a Quilt of Valor. The top will include 56 red, white, and blue blocks and have two simple borders added.  Last week, I received a QOV back from a volunteer longarmer in Oregon, so I trimmed the excess backing fabric and prepared a label. I hope to get the binding sewn on this week before the second QOV arrives in the mail from the same longarmer.