Life with Joe

It's time for a Joe story. Every now and then he does something so, so, so whatever that it has to be written about.

When I got home from the shop on Wednesday, I knew I had a lot to do and places to go. Things seemed fine until as I was cooking dinner, I could hear the sump pump -- running and running. I asked Joe if it had been running all day and he said, no he hadn't heard it.

I went down to check on it and knew I needed to put on my junky clothes to really make sure it was ok, but I didn't have time to do that. So I gave it a shake for a temporary fix (that actually works some times) and left for my two events.

First, I went to Weight Watchers where I had lost 3 pounds. Hurrah for me. Then I went to Kai's fourth grade choral concert. While waiting for it to start, I noticed that my son-in-law was on the phone. It was Joe -- asking Jason to come over after the concert to fix the sump pump--something was wrong with it and he had had to turn it off. Hmmm. That wasn't the case when I was at home. I told Jason not to come over but that I would take care of it when I got home. Kai's concert was great and they all looked so cute!

Ok, now I'm home, in my grungy clothes, and in the basement with the sump pump -- which is turned off because Joe has accidentally disconnected the pipe which carries the water from the pump to the outside. He went down after I left and broke the sump pump.

The pipes can be reconnected, but I will need a new clamp "thingy" to hold the two pipes together. The old one is so rusted I won't be able to turn the screw which tightens it. In fifteen minutes, I am on my way to Lowes (Still in my grungy clothes as Lowes expects you to look like that) with the old "thingy" in my pocket for comparison. I ask when I walk in the door and am told those thingies are in Aisles 14 or 15. I find a two pack of thingies and then go in search of a larger screw driver as my flat screw drivers are all too small to get any torque on them. Twelve dollars later, I am on my way home.

Back in the basement, I shove the two pipes together with a new clamp thingy around them. Joe is still insisting that I won't be able to fix it by myself. I place a paint roller pan under the elbow of the bottom pipe to support it while I tighten the clamp with the new screw driver. The two pipes are now connected, crooked, but stuck tight together. I adjust the setting of the sump pump (which was its original problem). I always get all wet when I do that which is why I needed the grungy clothes and didn't want to do it before I left the house earlier. The sump pump is turned back on! TaDah! It works.

Another Joe crisis over!

Being a Bobcat in Buckeye Land

This year the Heart of Ohio Guild is doing a spirit quilt block of the month which can be made in any colors but the idea is to make a quilt that honors a school or team. Of course, living just outside of Columbus, the meetings are full of scarlet and gray blocks.

I am also making one of scarlet and gray (for son-in-law #1), but since my husband, both daughters, son-in-law #2, and I went to Ohio University, I also started one in green and white. However, the blocks need more than two colors so gold and navy have migrated into the design. As much as I am liking this, it's more Notre Dame than OU. My husband will love that but it wasn't my intent.

I am continuing with my two sets each month but I would really like to add a third if I could figure out what would keep it looking more like a Bobcat quilt than a Leprechaun one.

Feathers

I am having fun with feathers - as a quilting design. The formal feather is ok and looks great as a border, but I have discovered some freehand doodles that are more fun and easier for me to do. I have even done an entire quilt with a feather meander.

I quilted one top with feathers over all, took a good look at it, and went back and doubled every feather. Being able to echo the designs, add stems and frills, makes the feather versatile for traditioal and non-traditional quits.

Feathers are also a design I can put on in every direction without taking the quilt off and turning it. That is an amazing discovery since I hate turning a quilt. Ahhh, feathers!

New Things to Take Up My Time

I am learning a new skill--Facebook. My younger daughter has a brand new adorable baby boy and is posting pictures on Facebook. Of course I want to be able to see any and all pix of Jack, so I now am also on Facebook and it's a little different but fun! I had resisted going on when invited before because all things like that take time, and I sometimes spend too much time on the computer as it is, instead of quilting tops that people will graciously give me money for. But Jack is worth the effort and I am glad that I am doing it. Some people play games and do all sorts of things on their sites. I think I will do well to post occasional pictures and comments.

Jack himself is going to take up some new time and that is totally delightful. Joe and I can't wait to babysit. We get our first chance at our house this weekend. Our older grandchildren are looking forward to Jack sharing their traditional Saturday night sleepover. I don't think his parents are quite ready for that, but his mommy did help me get me a packnplay and a bouncy chair, and we look forward to using them.

Another new time taker upper is actually an honor. I have been chosen as the Featured Artist 2010-2011 of the Heart of Ohio Quilters Guild. I was both surprised and pleased and yet, OMG, as I know it will be some work to get ready for some special events, especially the Quilt Show in October, 2011. But, honestly, it's wonderful to be honored by my peers.

I closed the shop for the two weeks around Jack's birth and then he came early so I actually have been in and out and not officially open for almost three weeks. I am going to get back into regular hours next week and get busy.