A Little Yarn On The Side

Theoretically, this would make for a great sewing day.  However, our county is now in a state of emergency, so we had a few things to do.  We received another 3-5 inches of snow this afternoon, but this particular storm system is projected to bring more snow, freezing rain, and rain this weekend, leaving us at risk for downed trees and power lines, flooding, and power outages with temperatures below freezing.  So we have spent the day shoveling snow, shoveling snow for neighbors, prepping for potential power outages, filling water containers, Andy did a grocery run, and I baked bread--more because I wanted bread than as a survival technique, but it is sourdough-oatmeal.  It's a bit unnerving as I have never seen a winter like this in Boise, but the good news is, I am wearing hand-knitted wool socks every day, and everything I've made for us out of fleece is FABULOUS.  If it stays like this, I am making fleece underwear.

It has finally stopped snowing here, and since Andy handled the 8-inches on Wednesday, I did the remaining 2 yesterday: I grew up with much more snow, but since Boise doesn't really get much snow, the county doesn't own many snowplows, and never, ever, EVER plow roads like ours.  This has been record-breaking snowfall for us, with 15-inches on the ground, but that also means 15-inches on the ROADS.  Schools have been closed for two days, and one of our local pizza companies earned HUGE points for closing for the safety of their drivers.  Emergency services were asking people to stay off the roads unless it was absolutely necessary, so I'm disappointed more businesses DIDN'T close.  Luckily, Andy telecommutes and I haven't found a new job yet, so we're good.  We're getting a break from snow as it's -7 right now, and while there's debate about whether or not it can be too cold to snow,  -7 makes it extremely unlikely to snow.  Since ...

Okay--100 finished projects.  I can do this--and have done it many times. But it is a bit daunting when one is at zero. For the first Me Made Monday of 2017, I wore what I call my "clown" socks.  They're so loud that I put a bobble pattern on the leg: which didn't go as badly when we went snowshoeing as I had thought.  It's been too cold here to do more than a mile, but since we're in the middle of yet ANOTHER snowstorm, it's nice to have snowshoes to be able to negotiate the local streets.  Subdivisions never get plowed here--they barely do the main streets--so my little Toyota Corolla is going to be safe in the garage for a bit.  Thank heavens I haven't found a job yet! I took down Christmas decorations yesterday, but I did take a break to start the stippling on the second runner,  and am working on it again this morning over morning coffee: (Note to self:  make sure at least SOME coffee has kicked in before trying to sew.) While I...

......and I'm not going to make it to 100.  There is a level of insanity which exceeds even MY limits.  I did finish one more table runner: and here's a little tip for you: stippling is really, really SLOW.  Even if you're not doing it very well.  The second one is pinned and ready for quilting as well, but even if I get a chance to start it today, that would only put me at slightly over 95 yards for the year, and I've got a lot of things I need to get done today.  What I am happy about is using up one of the fabrics that was my "last hurrah" purchases from December 201 5. Not most of them, but one more.  I wish I had realized the border would shift a bit when stitched together, and perhaps that one of the table runners would end up sporting an inordinate amount of mutilated Santa Clauses.  I think these won't be going to homes with really small children.  And, I'm back on the fabric wagon.  I waited two more days, made my planned ...

Thanks everyone!  I have to admit, I didn't think I'd make it a full year without buying fabric as my previous attempts have failed spectacularly.  I'm struggling to make it to 100 yards for the year, but today I'm at 92.76 yards used up so far, and with NOTHING coming in all year, that's a dent.  Maybe not a big dent, but a dent all the same.  In case you were wondering why I haven't made more progress this week, I have taken up a new hobby called "snow shoveling."  We have a corner lot and a 3-car garage, plus some older neighbors who can't shovel snow, so it's become a time-consuming hobby.  While I can do it without injuring my back/hip, it does wear it out pretty thoroughly, and Mother Nature being a bit of a jerk, we get the most snow when Andy isn't here, so it's often a solo hobby.  I think I'll be giving it up as soon as possible.  Boise gets snow, but it rarely sticks around this long, and until a heat-wave of 30 de...

I MADE IT!!!!!!! I haven't bought fabric in 366 days!!!  I finally did it! And I've been up for 2 hours already and haven't yet ordered any fabric-- which amazes even me.