OH MY--WHAT A RIDE---

It took----me at age 76--ok--76 1/2 and my friend Carolyn at age 81--three days to pack me up and to move all the light weight stuff down to the new apartment-- it was alot of work and walking--her cell phone said together we did over 1.5 miles--just the first day!!!

We would start at the old apartment and pack boxes for awhile then we would load up 2 large laundry carts and made a trip down to the new apartment and then back to old one--where we would sit a little bit and drink some water and rest--then it was back to packing and another trip--it was a long walk--the old apartment was on a long wing on the north end of the building and the new one was down one floor and as far south as the building goes--with a long  hallway going east to west in the middle that we had to walk--and then there was the elevator to deal with on each trip!!!   I always sent Carolyn home around 4pm--rested some and then I was back at it--sometimes bringing down a couple more loads--

MY question is---where does it all come from--????  do things multiply while we sleep??????  Or do quilters just have a lot of 'stuff'?????  the fabric did go into medium sized boxes for the staff to move on Monday--I really wasn't ready yet for the move and on Monday-- I had to go on the Van to Walmart--

The 2 men on staff showed up at 1:00 and the taller of the two--'was mean and nasty' though it all--we got to my bed almost last-and he turned to me and asked me what he was suppose to do with it--??  Well, move it of course!!!!

Now I do have a nice new white bed frame and new mattress in a box--and they are both still in the boxes--hopefully that is the plan for tomorrow--to set them up and my son coming for the old but still useful bed for one of their spare bedrooms!!

OK let's talk--new apartment--it is on the second floor and is an end unit--when I go out my door and turn left there is a smaller elevator- I can ride it down to first floor and there is the door to go outside--though it is the back of the building--but it is a nice walk around the building to the front--and now I get more fresh air and sunshine if I go that way--or I can still go through the building to get to the lunch room, mail boxes, ect.   I had been praying that when I moved back to Ascension Manor in a year or so-( oh after this move I am not ready to move anything in the future!!!!---that I would get one of the apartments there that have the new step in showers--WELL--God decided not to make me wait--this apartment has one--the toilet it low to the ground--(where as my other one was a tall one!!)  And the kitchen---it was designed for a giant!!!  At least someone taller than me--and a totally different cupboard set  up that the other apartment--so have alot of thinking to do as to how to organize the things I need and use all the time!!!

So lots of changes to deal with--it took 4 full days to pack up and move the old apartment to this new location and so far 6 days of unpacking--though I am not organized yet--and there is still the new bed to put together and a new desk--(everything comes in pieces now and you have to put everything together--challenging???)

Therefore--I have not  had a needle or sewed a stitch since all this  started--two nights ago I did pick up the knitting needles--but boy did my fingers fight and hurt--had to keep stopping and rub them--they finally got a little better--

time to go--need to move some things around a bit so we can move the old bed to set up the new bed--it's always something--to do---

TAKE TIME TO BUY A VETERAN A CUP OF COFFEE TODAY OR A MEAL TO SAYS 'THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE'--

HUGS, DI

SOMEONE THREW A MONKEY WRENCH--

 INTO-- the moving plans--

The office told me the move to another apartment would be Nov 7th and the men would be here at 9am--

Been a rough week--knowing I am moving--but they wouldn't tell me which apartment--so it was hard to schedulethings, like the transfer of internet cable and such--!!!!????????????

I get a call this afternoon around 3:30 pm (office closes at 4pm) and the manager tells me that I can pick up the key to the new apartment at 1 pm tomorrow--Friday--and move my small personal stuff in over the week end--and they will  be moving the big stuff on Monday at 9am--didn't even ask if I had any plans on Monday morning--which I do!!!!! So will see if  they can do it at 1 pm instead--but this place does their own thing-when they 'want' to do it--ouch!!!!!!!!

This is really confusing now--I hadn't really started much packing--thinking I had a week yet to do it!!!

Plus I am getting some furniture--which I only ordered yesterday--cause I didn't want it till the move in day, or so--these apartments are small--and everything has to be put together--soooo---

one of the purchases is a bed frame--and new mattress--the mattress is suppose to be here on  Saturday--but the frame won't be here till Tuesday--oh my--life is gonna be complicated for a few days--

I have also ordered a new TV stand--that won't be here till Wed or Thurs--but was praying it would be here in time for the move--so now that means I may have to move the one I am using--until the new one get's here--and I had planned to do a rummage sale here--the day after the move--but now--I have no idea when that will happen--or where??????????????????????

So while you are munching out on Halloween candy and treats--

you can 'send' a thought or two my way--on how to do this --updated move!!!

so I am pretty sure there will not be a post on Sunday--

THANKS--SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY--

HUGS, DI

TRICK OR TREAT--SMELL MY---

 Smell my feet--for what ever reason this is one rythme I will never forget--not sure why--we did not celebrate Halloween or trick or treating much when I was young--and even when I had kids we didn't go every year--when I did take them I made their outfits!!!

Yesterday--Saturday--I walked to the Harvest Thyme cafe two doors down the street and this is what greeted me--

A real 'Tin Man'---it seems that whole downtown area was having a 'trick or treat' day-- the business's where handing out 'goodies'--he even had 'water' in his oil can so the kids could 'oil' his joints!!!!  I went inside and ordered a slice of the Artichoke and spinach quiche--and watched as all the little ones and some big ones marched up and down the street collecting their goodies --I seen some neat costumes--even alot of the parents were dressed up!!!  

On the little table where I sat--was this beautiful floral display--

such pretty fresh flowers--had to take a photo of them--!!

I was not able to go on the Van shopping last Monday--tummy issues--which continued most of the week--think-- now it was the new vitamin I was taking--so have ordered my 'old' one again, to take--plus being low on potassium I guess didn't help either as for energy and well being???

I did get the 3rd Fall piece embroidered--

Then I decided to just keep going with it and the other '2' and did a wall hanging--and by --golly--I got the whole thing finished for hanging--

I found the fabric with the acorns on it and knew it was perfect--only--I was a bit 'short' so went looking in my orange bag of fabric and found the rusty looking solid and with putting a strip of it between the blocks I had just enough of the acorn fabric to do the outside borders----so got it layered that day and next morning got it basted and then away I went with the hand quilting--had even cut the binding fabric --so it got sewn on --and a finish is done for the week!!!

I also finished the Crow and mouse Cross stitching this morning--

And --of course mine is a bit different--I did fall colored leaves--instead of all green leaves and did not do the big fancy stars--I think I need a name for the mouse and the crow--seeing I have more of these critters to stitch ?????? now to put this into a finished for display piece!!

And I did get another sweater knitted--

This sweater is a green green-much darker than the photo!!!

It was a 'slow' moving week--I did keep busy--but in slow mode--so am happy to have gotten done what I did get done--

Now I need to get busy on packing up the apartment for the move on Nov 7th--but I honestly don't know where to start--but I am sure 'time' will tell me--but first this afternoon is a race'n afternoon  and some slow stitching and knitting will get done--and tomorrow is grocery shopping day with a stop at JoAnn's fabrics for a couple things--!!!!!

SO  HAPPY TRICK OR TREAT DAY--AND DON'T FORGET TO 'TREAT' YOURSELF WITH SOMETHING 'SWEET' THIS WEEK---

HUGS, DI

IN THE 'BLUES'---

 Didn't have time to get in a blue mood as far as moods go--was really busy all week--with '3' trips to go shopping--As usual started Monday off with the Van trip to Walmart--and again a full Van load of  residents--I picked up a few things I will need for packing and getting ready for the move the first part of November--wanted a small electric screw gun--(need to remove some curtain rods that are holding my quilts on the walls--the gal who put them up--used her own gun)!!!!  Well--Walmart had them and some other tools in a locked glass case and there was no one around or  even in asking--for someone to come and unlock it--S0000--I will order a pretty pink one from Amazon instead!!!!

Monday afternoon my RN --Emma came to see me--all seems good with me--she is due to have her baby sometime this month--a baby boy--!!

On Wednesday morning the Blood lab lady came and sucked some blood out of me--later, Carolyn and I went on the bus to Publix--In the afternoon I started on this project--

My Blue Heart quilt--

 I got 4 rows all laid out  and sewn together--

On  Thursday the Dr office to tell me my Potassium level I

is low and that they called in a prescription to Publix for me--opps--I don't take those kind of prescriptions--plus it was gonna cost me $17 to pick it up--even with my insurance --instead, me and Carolyn went on the bus--(that is after some 'drama' here with the bus--???)--but we got there--and I, in the meantime had looked up foods high in potassium--and shopped for veggies and banana's--also did buy a bottle of regular potassium vitamin--and the Insurance paid for that Vitamin!!!! 

Came home and got the second 4 rows of the quilt sewn together--but had 6 of the applique heart blocks left and some of the 4 patches left--so I added a row at the top and the bottom of the quilt with just them--and got the first outer border sewed on--

So on Saturday--I was back at the sewing machine doing the outside border and making the backing--then the fun of all the pressing and layering and wrestling with it all-it is a larger quilt for me than I usually do--this one came out 48 by 57"--it is all pinned and on the big white table for basting this next week--

Do you remember me telling you that I was doing some special blocks for this quilt???  Well-those are the embroidered blocks in the photos--I designed some heart embroideries using a couple of my embroidery stitch's books--!!!

And yes I did do some other things this week--

Got Melisa's October embroidery block done-

and here is where I am on the counted cross stitching project--

That is gonna be one big crow!!!!

And here is where I am on the 3rd Fall design I am doing--

There is still some little fall leaves to stitch and some tiny acorns--!!

And another little heavier sweater got knitted--

 

Oh and don't forget I am hand quilting on the Christmas Sunbonnet Sue quilt--I do work on it alittle each evening--before I knit for awhile--

I got my 'new' desk in on Saturday--of course it is all in a box--in pieces--I ordered it from Amazon--and here is a bit of a story for you--my friend Carolyn came by to help me with checking out a couple new things I want/need for the apartment--one was the desk--I had in my cart at Amazon--I noticed the price was $129--but I was pretty sure that wasn't the price when I put it in the cart--so clicked on it and it went back to the regular page and sure enough it was only $99--we did decide it was a good deal and was --hopefully is--what I need--then we seen I only had 14 minutes to order it for that price--so I reput it in my cart deleted the other one and also seen I could get $10 off too--which more than covered the sales tax--so my final total was only $96!!!! And it came already--and that box is heavy--but won't be putting it together till I get moved!!!

Well--it's time for racing--so need to go--

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK--TAKE TIME TO ENJOY NATURE THIS WEEK AND AN OUTING WITH A FREIND AND LET ME KNOW ALL ABOUT IT--

HUGSS, DI

MESSY MESSY MARVIN!!!

 That was me this morning--

I needed to repot some plants--so did lots of reading and then ordering two weeks ago for some new supplies--like--Coco peat moss--Perlite--Vermiculite--charcoal bits--new pots--and a special pair of garden scissors  --(forgot gloves!!!!) But then the hurricanes came and all attention was on that--I was 'bad' and watched too many u-tube and tic tac videos of NC hurricane damage and then we had another one here for most of the state of Florida--(but still really not bad compared to what Helene did in those states above us!)

So today was the day to 'play' in my dirt--I got these Coco disks--they are so cute and small--but expand really well with alittle water--the water is the hard part--each little disc only needs about 1/3 cup or less of water--but I also discovered I needed a bit of potting soil and luckily I had some in the storage unit--so added that to the mix with everything else--except the charcoal--I am going to put some of charcoal on the top of soil when the plants are all done--and unfortunately I am not done--but need some actual potting soil--good thing the plan is to go to Walmart in the morning--so the mess is half cleaned up---!!!!

Oh--you say this is a Quilt blog--not a garden one--

Well--have no fear--some stitching did get done too--

I actually did do some sewing machine work yesterday morning-and I finished up '3' cross stitch projects into finishes--

I got this one finished on Friday--and --yes--this is a design of Melisa's and yes I did change it a bit--I filled in each pumpkin with just orange and did not do the quilt block design in each one--yes--a bit lazy maybe--but then I am not a fan of quilt block designs on things--with barns being the exception!

and this is the fabric on the back of it--

I got the Sunflower one of Melisa's--

and I had gotten this crow fabric recently and thought is was perfect for the back--

And finished the Hello Fall one that Melisa showed us on her blog--

and decided this fabric was a good fit for this one with the leaves and acorns!!

And I got the second embroidery block done that I purchased from Kathy S. online--

This did not get pressed before I had to take it's photo???  Have started the 3rd one for this series!

And I have worked on the embroidery for this months heart block from Melisa's blog--but again forgot to take a photo--next week--ok???

Kitty's and pumpkins--

And I fell in love with this print at JoAnn's this week and it will go on the backing of the Mr. Jack quilt I did 2 weeks ago--but this will go in the bag with the top and be put in 'time out' til next year sometime--there is no way I can get it finished for this year!!

I did get a small start on this one-by Melisa--with hopes I can get it finished by Thanksgiving--cause --

I have also started this one--

I do have more done on this one since I took this photo--(again on this one--I am not doing the quilt design that is on the pumpkin--I am up to the mouse on the pumpkin--

I got another in this series months ago--it is a winter scene--and this  a couple weeks ago, I found a Christmas one I wanted to do--and a summer one--and this one--so guess I am doing a 'series' thing again--(oh and I found a spring one to do--but not ordered it yet???) Now--here is the punch line--if you remember I chose to use and have the whole line of Cosmo's embroidery threads--but these call for DMC--so--I broke down and ordered the DMC threads they used--(too lazy to match up Cosmos' threads!!) then discovered I didnot care for the color grey they used on the mouse or the colors they used on the big crow--so ordered different colors for them--I know--I know--I am a bit pickycrazy--but----???????

Oh and I did get a baby sweater knitted--

And 'no' one arm is not longer that the other one--it's just the way I folded it for the photo!!!!

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Life Update:  Hurricanes--tornados' --rain--!!! I did have a small leak problem in the living room--ceiling got wet--and the plaster dripped down on my table with the TV and the electronics on it---Had to go get a neighbor to help me move the stand out away from the wall--was able to move it back yesterday--after cleaning everything up!!

 Big part of my life, and as well as many others the last 2 weeks so it had been hard to concentrate on stitching and moving--!!  I did get a couple drawers cleaned and sorted out for the move the one day we had no Internet or Cable--and a couple other small jobs done--so that was good--

And I have a list of the quilt projects I want to get tops done for this week and hopefully a couple more hand basted next week--cause I will not be putting up the big 6 ft table in the next apartment for a few months--hope I can get it into the storage unit--but????

And yes--still problems with the neighbor--I don't even have to look at the clock anymore--can pretty much tell the time by the 'oder' in my apartment--I sure do pray that I don't have neighbors around me in the new location who smoke --ect!!

MY HEART AND THOUGHTS GO OUT TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN SOME WAY FROM HELENE OR MILTON--SENDING YOU HUGS, DI

  

Update

 I am fine no damage right here but no internet or cable yet 

Hugs di

WELL--IT IS GETTING CLOSER

 Hurricane Milton is getting closer and closer to Florida--

the track has moved a bit more South--

Which is not good news for where I am here on the East Coast in Brevard County--

I am mid point or a bit south of mid point of the county--

we may get the eye--

Only time--will tell how bad this one is and how much damage across the state it does--

I am staying  here in the Senior building with alot of other residents--this is suppose to be hurricane proof--they have put up storm shutters on all the big windows in the downstairs lobby area--and I learned at lunch time that '2' kitchen staff people will be staying here over night--so they provide some kind of lunch for us tomorrow--so that was a surprise!!

They did shut off our garbage shoots as the dumpster is full and even though they  were suppose to empty it today--they are not going to come and do that--so we will have to keep our garbage in our apartments until at least Friday!!!  I am in good shape that way--took mine out late afternoon yesterday--yea for me!!!

I do have to move all my plants from around the window and on the window sill and see if my window blinds will come down--I have not had them down for 4 1/2 years--no body can see into my apartment and I love watching the clouds and birds fly by!!!

The main thing is--I am all stocked up on dark Chocolate--!!!!!

Hopefully I will talk to you soon--

Take care--hugs and blessings, di

HANG ON --IT MIGHT BE A WILD RIDE--

 This week with hurricane Milton headed this way--to us--on Wednesday!!!!  It is gonna hit the west coast first then travel across the state--but remember this state is only--is only-- 361 miles across at the top of Florida--but from Tampa straight across to us--is only 113 miles--(but to get here by car it is 134 miles cause you have to go south--then back down north--crazy highway!!!  So we will be getting alot of Milton by the looks of things--they are saying a Cat. 3 for sure--hummmm!!!!   So hold on to your 'hats' and tie everything down---

Let me talk about quilting and stitching first--It is the only thing that is keeping me grounded these days--

My newest morning Cross stitching is coming along--

The pumpkin I am stitching on now--it has one very large pumpkin!!!!

I did get October's Woven Wreath all stitched--

I just can't believe there is only '2' more of these squares to embroider--just Nov and Dec--!!!

And yesterday I got the 4th and final 'truck' embroidery done--

I need to get out the other '3' and decide on how to stitch them all together??

I did get some blocks all put together this week--Last year's Mr Jack series--

Remember I added a couple other black cats to mine--this is already 48" long--and I did not add this block to it--

I am thinking I will use this block for a tote bag????

And I got this  Country quilt all hand quilted and the binding sewn on it--

So now I am hand quilting on the Sunbonnet Sue Christmas one--

it will probably take me till Christmas to get all the hand quilting done on this one--

I also got this pink heart quilt all basted--

So it's in line to be  hand quilted--

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For me it was another rough week--

Though I did get a phone call on Monday for a move date for within this building for Nov 6th--I am on the 3rd floor now--but will be moving to the second floor--the work men here will move all my furniture and everything that is boxed up--Soooo--I will be getting me some boxes and try to 'box' up everything for them to move it all!!!  The day before the move this building is getting a big Inspection of some sort--Insurance or something--so all this week and Mon and Tues--the office staff is going door to door and doing some kind of inspection to get us ready--I will probably have mine Monday afternoon--They are taking a long time in each apartment--not sure what they are looking for--maybe 'gold'--hope if they find some --they will share it with me!!!!!

Oh My Oh My---my heart is broken for all the flooded folks in GA<NC<SC<VA>TN---soo soo many lives lost (count on the news is way  way too low???) How can soooo many thousands, millon, people all rebuild or find housing--I know I 'whine' about here--and now I am ashamed of myself for doing that--so I am sorry--I am working on a box of quilts and some kids color books and story books to go to  Carolina's --but not quite yet--especially with our own hurricane headed this way--but thinking about what to send helps me a little bit --feel better--!

DO YOU KNOW HOW FAST HALLOWEEN CHRISTMAS IS COMING--MY OH MY--IT WILL BE HERE TOMORROW AT THIS RATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BLESSINGS AND HUGS, DI